Broken fingers //Voltron high school AU

Part 15: Warm Smile

The floor was hard and cold beneath Keith where he lay beside the gate that held back a crackling fire. His eyes were closed as he listened to the taunting voice of the fire, the pops and hisses tempting him to get closer. He knew better though, and stayed a safe distance away.

The doctor had said it was important to keep as much pressure off his body as possible, and keeping a straight back would help as well. So he layed on the floor, a space between the small of his back and the hardwood. He had discarded his shirt so he might let the bruise breathe. It was still large and an angry purple color that looked like the universe blotted onto his side.

The weekends had been full of moments with Lance, Pidge, and Hunk. They had visited as much as Keith would let them, having to nearly push them out the door by the time it was late. Shiro and Adam worked on weekends, which he had told the other three, and they hadn't wanted him to be lonely. But today was Monday, and they were busy with school.

Keith must've fallen asleep, because images of Goner—the name he'd given to the blurry faced boy in his dreams—covered in blood flashed through his mind. Keith couldn't figure out why it was his fault, but all he wanted to do was hold Goner and beg for forgiveness. Every time Keith saw the boy, he saw someone living with the beauty of a candle with a dying, guttering flame.

Keith suddenly woke to the sound of a knock at the front door. He gasped, sitting up quickly enough that pain stuck his side. He winced, and looked at the burning fire place beside him.

There were three types of people in Keith's opinion. The first type that lived with their flame of life dying inside them, like Goner. Then the type that had a steady glow in their soul, their flame controlled and warm and safe. Then there was the third type, the people who's fire of life burned bright like a Wilde fire and consumed the person, who let that fire control them. That person was reckless and would eventually be burned away by their own life that was too big for this world. Keith had told Shiro about his thoughts, and all he said was that Keith's fire would burn him away.

Keith stood, grabbing his shirt from where he'd tossed it onto the couch, and went to the door. He opened it, slipping the shirt over his head. When his head emerged through the neck hole, he saw Lance standing and staring, his eyes brows high with curious surprise. He was holding a folder full of papers.

"Is school already over?" Keith asked, glancing at the clock in the hallway inside. It was early afternoon. They should still be in class.

"Early dismissal. The snow was really coming down earlier," he explained. Keith let him in and they went to the living room, both sitting down on the floor behind the coffee table.

"I hadn't noticed," Keith muttered in late response.

They spent a few hours talking and laughing while the tv played quietly in the back ground. At some point they had started talking about first dates.

"Ok, but if she was walking on the edge of a fountain, would you not find a way to 'accidentally' fall in together?" Keith asked, using air quotes.

"Of course not! A lady doesn't want to ruin her perfectly styled hair and beautiful dry-cleaned dress! That's third date stuff." Lance pointed accusingly, talking like he was an expert.

"What about kissing? Is that a first date thing?" Keith asked. He had never been on a date before, finding no time to pursue relationships like Lance apparently did.

"Depends. If she's walking close, touching your arms, looking at you when she thinks you won't notice, then yes. Otherwise no," Lance said, gesturing with his hands.

"You seem like the type of guy to kiss on first dates," Keith said, leaning against the low table and smirking with the challenge that came with his words. Lance narrowed his eyes.