Broken fingers //Voltron high school AU

Part 12: Popcorn

Lance sat on the couch with Keith, talking about school.

"It was really weird. No one's ever been so hurt that they've had to stay out for a week. There was this awkward air around the whole school and everyone was watching Griffin, Ezor, and Zethrid. Some people were mad, if they're on the bottom of the food chain. Others found it funny. I've never seen anything like it." Lance explained. Keith did that crooked half smile he did when it wasn't a full laugh, but it was a little funny.

"Good to know I can make such an impact." He leaned back against the pillows, which were soft and warm from coming right out of the dryer. Keith seemed to not notice he was in pretty much pajamas, or if he did notice he didn't care. Lance also thought he looked nice with his hair back, his violet eyes easier to see.

"You're like an exotic animal to these people. I would no. I was also a new kid back in fourth grade," Lance said. Keith looked at him with curious eyes. His cat, Sky, was purring peacefully in his lap.

"Really? Where'd you move from?" He asked. Lance thought he hadn't ever seen Keith curious before. He got a shine in his eyes that showed his hunger for answers.

"Varadero. It's in Cuba," Lance explained "we moved here when I was nine. The whole 'better life in America' thing." He shrugged, secretly loving that Keith looked interested.

"That's cool. Was it like it is now? Was everyone shocked?" Keith asked, sitting forward a bit.

"Yeah, but it was a little calmer. This was a time when the most important thing was what your mom would make for dinner..." he trailed off. Keith seemed to stiffen at any mention of mothers. Lance remembered the previous night when he had shouted "my mother is dead." It had been shocking. Keith was never so open.

"If you don't mind me asking," Lance said quietly "what happened to your mother?" He had felt a wave of courage to ask that question, and he'd rode it.

"I, uh, I-I..." he stammered, his shoulders curling in. Lance started to apologize, but Keith spoke "I don't really know. My dad told me after I was born she went back to working as a marine and died in an accident when I was four. I only have vague, blurry memories and pictures of her. Hold on." He got up and hurried out of the room. He returned a few moments later holding something. Keith sat back down and handed Lance the picture.

"That's us. My mom, my dad, and me. This was when I was three." He stared down at his hands nervously as the other studied the small picture.

It showed a woman and a man, both very happy with big smiles, holding a laughing baby. The man looked a lot like Keith, just older, and with a scar cutting through his eyebrow.

"I've been told I look a lot like my mom," Keith mumbled.

"She's beautiful," Lance observed, not even realizing that was indirectly calling Keith beautiful. Not that that was incorrect.

"After She died, my dad changed. Or so I've been told. He got a lot more religious, as if he could pray her back to life. I was raised with the belief that some day I'd get my mom back. There was this old lady at church that would give me a rain check. She'd say 'you're mother's up in heaven because God wants her there. Don't be like your father and try to take her out of paradise'. Her name was Margaret." When Lance looked up at Keith, his eyes were distant. He was obviously remembering Margaret, or his Dad or something. Lance smiled slightly.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked, when Keith looked at him in confusion, he added "your stomach and arm, I mean. Is it any better?"

"Well I had pain killers this morning and that kinda helped. But they're wearing off now. So, no, not really. But it's ok, it's only been a day." He took the picture back, setting it facedown in the coffee table. He was talking like he always did again. When he had been speaking of his mom and dad, his words had been rushed and shaky with nerves. Now he was back to his cool, smooth tone as if he had no cares.

"I hope you get better soon. I want everyone to go back to normal," Lance said.

"Thanks, I can really feel how much you care," Keith said sarcastically, wearing that crooked half smile.

"And I want you to be better! I care!" They laughed together. It was a nice moment. "You're an asshole, you know that?" Lance said, not actually meaning it.

"I know," Keith shrugged, smirking "anyways, you wanna stay and watch a movie? Shiro and Adam won't be back until eight and I might go crazy from boredom," Keith asked.

"Sure," Lance shrugged "I don't do my homework anyways," he said, jokingly, even though it was true.

"Great," Keith said, "I'll make popcorn. You pick the movie." He stood and disappeared into the kitchen."

Lance smiled as he's rolled through Netflix in search for a movie.

Note: sorry it's a bit short. I was busy today.