Knee Socks and Booty Shorts Don't Mix

Chapter Nine: FRIENDLY RIVALRY

"Great job out there guys." Shiro grinned, using his proud dad voice.

"I can't believe we actually won, and with Keith making the winning shot too." Pidge smirked playfully, crossing their arms as they leaned back into their chair.

"Hey, I know I'm bad but there's no reason to rub it in." Keith pouted, looking away.

"Uhh, yeah there is, how else are you gonna get better?" Lance scoffed, tone hindering on being rude rather than joking.

Despite how everyone was confused by Lance's harshness, they let it slide, assuming he was just a bit irritated or something. Keith's eyebrows furrowed, but he shrugged and continued on listening to the rest of the conversation.

"So, we should really work on teaching Keith to play in the next practices." Allura commented, beautiful smile on her face.

"He's beyond hope." Lance jabbed, face holding a look of hatred.

"No one is beyond hope." Shiro frowned, looking at Lance curiously.

Lance didn't reply, but simply crossed his arms and slumped down still looking angry. Keith stared at him for a second, honestly a bit worried, Lance had never deliberately went out of his way to hurt someone. Hell, he'd never purposely hurt anyone in the first place.

"Let's just celebrate our first victory this season, please?" Hunk offered, attempting to change the subject to avoid further conflict.

"It's a miracle we won. After all, a team is only as good as its worst player." Lance spat again, eyes glaring at Keith.

"Lance, why are you being so rude?" Allura asked, eyebrow raising in stern confusion.

"Whatever." Lance rolled his eyes.

Everyone stared at the exchange student worriedly for a moment before they hesitantly went back to talking.

"Would you kids like some snacks?" Pidge's mom walked in, holding a bowl of chips and seeming to be oblivious to building the tension in the room.

"Thank you, ma'am." Shiro smiled, grabbing the bowl and setting it in the middle of the table.

"Oh, Takashi dear, you're so kind." She patted his broad shoulder before walking back into the kitchen and out of sight.

"You guys wanna do anything?" Pidge questioned, pointing out a few different things they could do.

There was a short debate filled with a few more crude comments aimed at Keith from Lance before they all ended up in the living room, lounging on couches as Pidge and Hunk played against each other in the old version of Super Smash Bros. Pidge had chosen Luigi, which was only natural as they had used Luigi many time against Keith and were most familiar with that character. Hunk had gone for PAC-MAN, which was to be expected.

Keith sat smushed between the arm of the sofa and Shiro, who was sitting next to Allura. Coran sat awkwardly on the sidelines, on a chair, and Lance took up the entirety of the love seat.

Pidge and Hunk's game ended quickly, Pidge being the unfair victor with years of practice under their belt. Lance jumped up, making his way to the controller, ready to face whoever dared to go against him. His happy mood was crushed when he saw Keith pushed up by Pidge to play.

Keith nervously took a seat beside Lance, looking over at him dubiously. Lance stared, emotions Keith couldn't make out swirling in the deep blue he saw. In reality, Lance was scared. He was letting Keith get to close, his attachment to the other was growing too strong too fast. He was terrified of the new feelings. So, he lashed out, did the only thing he knew how to do.

"Really, you guys are going to stick me against this mullet-headed prick? I bet he's not even good." Lance snarled, picking his character with a scowl.

"Lance, buddy, what's up with you? Why are you attacking Keith so much?" Hunk was beyond worried, really just wanting everyone to be happy with each other.

"Nothing." Lance snapped, throwing a glare at Hunk.

Hunk backed down, a little scared by Lance's bad attitude. Lance just puffed some air as he watched Keith pick his own character. Keith seemed oddly timid at the moment, not daring to speak up for fear of getting verbally abused.

The game began and Lance was surprised by Keith's skill, but Keith was holding back, letting Lance win because he was worried. He didn't want to win and cause Lance to explode.

"See, I told you this game was a breeze. Such a failure Keith is." Lance clucked, losing all honest humor in his words.

"Actually, Lance, I have been playing against Keith since we were children. I've only won against him twice in the last year. Clearly, he was holding back because he's being fucking nice. So don't you dare diss him when he could kick your ass." Pidge barked, they were done with Lance insulting Keith.

"Well excuse me, Katie, but I don't really care! This isn't your problem!" Lance yelled glaring back at Pidge.

"So you're bringing out the fucking Katie card? I thought you were better than that." Pidge quipped, laughing cynically.

"Alright, Lance, that's it." Keith cut in, standing up, setting the controller down with a little too much force.

Lance jumped up to Keith's level, using his single inch to try and intimidate him. They were caught in a staring battle for the next couple minutes before Shiro attempted to break them apart.

"Alright, alright boys, you're both going a bit too far. I think it's-" Shiro was cut off by another of Lance's insolent comments.

"Keith are you really just going to hide behind Shiro? It's like he's your boyfriend or something." Lance jeered.

"He's not my boyfriend! He's my fucking brother, that's disgusting!" Keith yelled in disbelief.

"Well, it's an honest mistake then!"

"How is it even a mistake!?"

"Because you're a fucking whore!"

"What even gave you that absurd idea?!"

"Well obviously your parents had some reason to leave you."

"Oh, ho, you wanna bring my fucking parents into this? And for your information, my father is dead."

"He deserved it for creating such an abomination! You're good for nothing and just a pest to everyone, why don't you admit it to yourself!"

That was it, it was all Keith could take. He swung at Lance, knocking him down to the ground and sprinting out of his friend's house and to his own. Tears burned at his eyes as he pulled his keys out of his pocket, struggling to unlock his door.

His hands were shaking too much to be able to put the key in the lock, and his vision was far too blurred by the tears that ran down his cheeks. After a minute of trying to unlock the door, he got fed up with it, throwing his keys to the side and slumping down.

It wasn't long before Shiro appeared, running to Keith and comforting him, pulling him into his arms and telling him it was alright. It wasn't often that Keith broke like this. When Keith seemed stable enough, though, Shiro let go to unlock the door. He directed his little brother inside and onto the couch.

"Do you want to talk about this, Keith?" Shiro asked, heart breaking to see Keith so devastated.

"No." Keith shot him down.

"Keith... I know... I know this probably isn't something you want to hear right now, but... I'm moving. Really, I'm sorry, I planned to tell you this tonight, but I wasn't expecting all this to happen. And... and I'm leaving tomorrow. I know it's throwing gas onto the fire, but I have to tell you. I'm... leaving because, I'm moving in with Allura. We're getting engaged."