Solving Keith

The Gift (?)

Lance walked into school Thursday, feet dragging. Keith wasn't on the bus, again. Meaning he'd have to wait even longer.

He even put in a little more effort, wearing his favorite baby-blue grandpa sweater and dark-washed jeans. He left his hair without product, letting it curl naturally, a style his sister compared to a 'cute dragonfruit'.

He sank into his seat next to Hunk at their booth, frowning.

"He didn't show again?" Hunk asked, chin resting on his hand, his straight, black hair pushed back with an orange headband.

Lance shook his head, frowning deeper. "He said he'd be back today."

"You miss him that bad?" Pidge retorted, typing on her phone.

"No!" Lance huffed, arms crossed. "I'm just tired of the suspense."

"Well, at least you look very pretty," Hunk told him, patting his back.

"I know," he pouted, twirling a piece of his soft, curly, chocolate hair.

"At least you're humble," Pidge grumbled with an eye roll.

"Who's humble?" Lance heard a voice say from somewhere behind him. He whipped his head around, and looked up to see Keith.

"Holy shit," Pidge laughed. "Dude you got even taller."

Lance had to lean back to actually see Keith, realizing Pidge was telling the truth. He was even taller than before.

"Dude, how?" Hunk gaped. "How tall are you now?"

Keith rubbed at the back of his head. His hair looked just a little less wild, maybe trimmed. "I didn't realize it was that much, I didn't notice," he grunted with a shrug.

Keith's eyes fell on Lance, then, studying Lance's face. "Hi, Lance," he said, voice softer.

Lance furrowed his eyebrows, caught off guard by the gentle look on Keith's face. "Hey?" He said, the response sounding like a question.

Keith was looking somewhere at the side of Lance's head, seemingly distracted. He reached out, taking one of Lance's gold, hoop earrings into his fingers. "I like these ones." He said before stuffing his hand back into his pocket and leaning over the back of the booth next to Pidge. "Are we having dinner at my house tonight?"

Pidge nodded, cracking open an energy drink.

"What are you guys having?" Hunk asked, arm rested on the back of the booth.

"Steak, mashed potatoes, salad- all the stuff. You can come if you want," Keith told him, taking a sip of Pidge's drink. His brilliant green eyes flick up to Lance again, licking his lips and handing the can back to Pidge. "Will you come, too?"

Lance raised an eyebrow, twirling a stray curl again, "I can. Do you want me to?" He asked.

"Yes," Keith agreed, very quickly. "I'd like you to."

"But I just get an 'if you want to'," Hunk grumbles.

Keith smiled softly, canines peeking past his lips, "I would like you to come to, Hunk."