Red String of Fate - KLANCE

19.

>>So yeah, this chapter certainly is something. Enjoy, I guess?<<

March 25, 2018 - 10:13 AM

Sent March 25, 2018 - from Lance McClain: Hi. I don't think you're interested, tbh I don't even think you're gonna read this. Anyways, my art gallery thing is today. I sent you an invitation with the address. I know we haven't talked in very long, but I was hoping you'd come and check it out. idk why I am sending this. Well, have a nice day I guess. Bye.

Keith looked at the words on the screen of his phone. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. His thumbs itched to type something back to him. Anything. Just to let Lance know that he did care. He cared so much.

He groaned and tossed his phone away before he would do something he'd regret later. He was home alone again. Shiro gone on some date with his new boyfriend. Keith didn't remember what they were going to do, Shiro had explained it but he hadn't been interested. He was sure his brother was having fun. Good for him.

He didn't want to feel bad for himself. After all, he had done this and he was the only one who could change anything about it. It was really just a matter of courage whether he'd go to Lance or not. Biting his already bleeding lip, he fumbled with his red string. The ends of the string had thinned because of the excessive twirling and fumbling Keith had done.

The string was something to hold on to. It was the only thing his father wouldn't stop telling him about his mother. He would tell him how she'd always wear a red string around her wrist. She had told his father that she wore it because it stood for the 'red string of fate'. An old legend that said that soulmates were connected by a red string. She loved the legend and said that as long as she wore the string, she'd find her destiny and soulmate.

But then, she had gotten pregnant from him. And after his birth, she had left her baby and the father. Keith had been too young to understand the weight of that, he had been seven when his father had died. He had been so angry at her when he went from foster home to foster home. It was because of her that he was an orphan. For all he knew, she was somewhere enjoying her life with maybe another husband and children. She had left him behind. Her son.

His father had never told him why she had left. There had been a time in his life when he had wanted to know. But after he got adopted by the Shiroganes, he realized that whoever said that blood ran thicker than water, was a fucking idiot. He had made his own family and knew that they would never leave him.

Still, the thought of wearing a red string like she did made him feel like they shared something, besides their looks. And, he really liked the idea of soulmates and destiny. It had been all he really had in his life. The promise that he'd be alright, that somewhere on earth he had a soulmate who would help him, and he'd help them in return. It was a nice thought.

He got shaken out of his thoughts by his phone. It had started to ring. He scrambled off the couch to retrieve it from where it lay on the floor. As he read Pidge's name on the screen he groaned, but picked up.

"Hi."

"Yo. I'm standing in front of your door. Let me in."

Keith huffed. "I'm not going to let you in." Then he added, a bit softer, "You're just going to yell at me."

"I promise not to yell. Now will you please let me in, your neighbor's cat is staring at my foot like it's a snack."

Keith snorted. "Okay, I'll be right there."

"Hurry up!"

Very slowly, Keith stood up. He felt a bit mean for leaving Pidge with Blueberry, but thought she kind of deserved it for yelling at him all the time. When he opened the door, Pidge was hopping from foot to foot as Blueberry attempted to scratch her ankles. She yelped and threw herself into his apartment.