Outer space | klance au |

27: laser tag

"Am I on speaker phone?" Keith's voice came from his phone's place on his desk. "Not that I mind or anything, just wondering before I embarrass myself in front of a room full of people." A slight chuckle accompanied the sentence and Lance rolled his eyes.

"Yes you're on speaker phone and it's just me in my room." The younger male stifled a slight laugh. "I'm cleaning and I need both my hands to do that." He replied without skipping a beat.

"Oh cool," Keith said. It seemed to be his favorite word. "Aren't you supposed to be studying though? Shiro told me–" Lance cut him off quickly.

"When have I ever listened to Shiro." Lance heard Keith laugh. "Besides, I get my best work done when I procrastinate." He walked over to his desk so he was closer to the phone as he talked. The young doctor sagged into the chair and gathered all the pencils and highlighters that littered the surface of his desk and deposited them into the cup where they belonged. Just with the small action, his desk looked some much more organized. He felt he had a little more control.

"You really shouldn't procrastinate." Keith chided softly. Lance was taken back for a moment because he had never heard Keith speak that softly before. He cleared his throat to ask why that was but Keith kept talking. "I wouldn't want you to stress about it later. It's better to just rip off the band-aid and do it now." He added. "I can hang up so you can focus."

"No," Lance said quickly, "I want to stay on the phone with you. I don't want you to hang up. I can't be–" He never got to finish his sentiment because Keith interrupted him with his breathy voice.

"I'm here. As long as you want me I'm here."

Lance breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Keith." He meant it. "There's something about being on the phone with you that makes me feel okay," Lance said softly, scared that Keith would hear and scared that he wouldn't.

"Really?" A sort of bitterness crept into his favorite person's voice. "I would have assumed that you would be talking with James." Lance winced away from his words like they actually stung him. They sort of did.

"Not you too." The doctor to be sighed. "He was just helping me, there was no ulterior motive behind his actions," Keith actually scoffed at Lance's words. "What?" He wanted to know what the other male was thinking.

"He was totally into you," Keith said finally. "Maybe you don't see it as anything but the fact is you're funny and kind and apparently cute." Lance didn't recognize the emotion in Keith's voice. He desperately wanted to. He was purely focused on the fact that Keith called him cute.

"Who told you I was cute?" Lance stared at the phone waiting for Keith's answer. He was curious and also a bit flustered.

"Shiro," Keith paused. "It was something that came up after you left." Lance shifted in his seat, a sly grin taking over his features.

"You guys were talking about how cute I was when I wasn't in the chatroom?" Lance said teasingly and he heard Keith cough awkwardly and quickly tried to cover himself. Lance didn't let him. "I'm kidding." He laughed.

"We were just talking about us meeting up. Just you and me. Sometime soon." Keith cleared his throat like he was embarrassed by the thought.

"Speaking of meeting," Lance shifted in his seat as he spoke. "My idea for our big group meet up is going to the laser tag place around here." He bit his lip almost anxious at waiting to hear Keith's reaction. "I mean it's kind of childish and maybe you should just forget I ever said anything," Lance laughed nervously, bringing his knees to his chest.

"You didn't even let me say anything," Keith laughed at his reaction and Lance felt himself relax. There was something about Keith's laughed that just did him in. Everything could be falling to pieces and if Keith laughed Lance knew he'd be okay. "I like it and I think everyone else will like it too. We can even form teams or something." A surge of confidence rushed through his veins.

"I like that! One thing though," Lance added shyly. "I want you to be the captain on my team." He laid his head on his knee and looked at the phone suddenly longing to see Keith's face, just to know what he looked like. Just so he could imagine the look in his eyes at that moment.

"I don't know if I'd make a good team leader," Keith said slowly like he was tasting the words.

"I think you would," Lance replied without letting any further self-doubt creep into Keith's voice. "I really think you would."

"I guess as long as you'll be my co-captain." There was an amused tone in Keith's voice.

"We'll have to wait to see what everyone else says though," Lance added suddenly aware of how stuffy his room was. He needed to open the window.

"I'm sure they will say yes." Keith sighed. "It's a great idea and I think everyone will have a lot of fun. Next time we're in the chat you should bring it up. Allura will love that you did all your homework." Kieth joked and Lance snickered.

"Okay so I'll bring it up next time everyone is in the chatroom," Lance said finally.

"Hey Lance," Keith paused. "Are you cleaning your room?" There was a laugh in his voice as he uttered the words. Lance suddenly became aware of the fact that he wasn't cleaning at all. He was just staring at his phone absentmindedly.

"No." Lance laughed. "I guess you're pretty distracting." The line went silent and he wondered if he shouldn't have said anything at all. "Keith?"

"Yeah sorry." He cleared his throat. "Should I go?" Keith sounded weird again like he didn't actually mean the words that escaped him.

"No." Lance sighed and grasped his phone and turned off his lamp. Darkness enveloped him and he went to lay down. "Why are you always trying to leave?" Lance didn't like the sound of his own voice. It felt foreign to his ears.

"I'm not," Keith seemed to be trying to convince Lance or himself. It wasn't really working. A dull ache settled in Lance's chest. Everyone always left him alone.

"You are." Lance knew something close to heartbreak tinged his voice.

"I promise you I'm not." A certain fondness crept into Keith's voice. It made Lance sort of feel better. He wanted to see Keith's face, touch his skin, know that he was truly there. It wasn't enough hearing his voice anymore. Lance felt alone. The blanket that covered him didn't stop the chill from creeping up his spine. Lance was alone in his dorm. He was alone everywhere.

"Keith, will you stay on the phone with me tonight?" Lance squeezed his eyes shut as he asked. There was this emptiness that filled the room and Lance was scared that emptiness would fill him to.

"Of course," Keith said breathily. "Of course I will." Lance wanted to sob with relief but chose not to make a sound. They stayed silent despite having hundreds of more things to say to one another. Lance plugged in his phone and got comfortable. He fell asleep to Keith's slow breathing.

Lance woke up before his alarm clock. He looked at his phone and saw that the call was still going. The dark haired male suddenly became shy. He felt incredibly awkward. He cleared his throat knowing it would still sound groggy despite his efforts. "Keith?" Lance spoke softly in case the other male was still asleep.

"I'm here." For some reason Lance blushed.