Blue Skies (klance)

one. colours in the dark

A/N: updates for this are going to be about two weeks apart. i just started my last year of high school so i'm dealing with that on top of two jobs, but i will be doing my best to post chapters as frequently and consistently as possible. this story is also posted on AO3 and is updated at the same time. y'all can find me on instagram @keithsgaythoughts, i don't post much but i will be using it for keeping readers up to date on this fic :)

this fic is gonna have a playlist, just for fun. each chapter will have a corresponding song. a completed playlist will be posted with the final chapter.

song for the first chapter is: "We Are" - One Ok Rock

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Keith takes his headphones from his ears, closing his textbook with a soft thud as someone slides into the chair across from him. There are notes scattered across the table, messy evidence of his work that will eventually be crumpled and shoved into his bag without a second thought. He taps his pencil against the table as the other young man slinks deeper into his seat and fiddles with the tuft of white hair hanging over his forehead - an old habit. Keith glances at his other hand, where he holds coffee in a small paper cup decorated with Garrison University's logo. It's the same as the cup sitting beside Keith's papers. Shiro's, however, is probably heavily loaded with sugar and milk, while Keith prefers to just accept the bitter taste and drink it black.

The other takes a small sip before speaking, tilting his chin towards the creased papers and scribbled words. "Working hard?"

Keith snorts quietly. "Hardly working," he says, rubbing his eyes. In the mirror that morning he had discovered that the black rings under his eyes are becoming more prominent than what is acceptable.

"I doubt it," Shiro offers him a lopsided smile. His nose crinkles as he takes another drink of his campus coffee that isn't really coffee; more like a watery brown sludge. No amount of sweeteners can get rid of the aftertaste (which is why Keith doesn't even bother) and the only reason why anyone still drinks it is because it's cheap, convenient and caffeinated. The necessary C's of university life. "If you weren't busy with classwork, I'm sure you would have agreed to meet up with me sooner."

It seems that the first month of school is taking a weighty toll on Shiro, also, who sports similar dark smudges under each eye and drooping shoulders.

Keith realizes that he's been chewing his pencil and sets it down before he bites the eraser clean off. "Sorry. I just wanted to get settled in on my own, you know?" His friend gives a gentle nod, because of course Shiro understands, he's the only one who does.

"I'm proud of you-"

"Shiro, you've said that a hundred times," Keith cuts him off with a playful eyeroll.

He looks down at the notes written in chicken scratch, coffee stains in the corners and pen scribbles along the edges, words spiraling in all directions. Keith is the first to admit that his study habits are less than satisfactory, but it gets the job done. He's firmly held his position at the top of class since day one.

Judging by the expression on Shiro's face, he is mulling over a lecture in his head, and Keith can guess the topic.

You should start putting yourself out there. School is a good place to meet people, find opportunities, et cetera et cetera.

What Shiro doesn't understand is that Keith and the other students don't really click. His restricted friend group, consisting only of himself and Shiro at this point, is more by choice than the inability to expand it. He is perfectly content minding his own business in class, spending evenings in the quiet of his dorm room while reviewing that day's notes, and not having to worry about anyone else.