Citrus. Klance AU

Chapter 10

"So why won't you text me if you have your phone back?" Keith asked as he passed over my hot chocolate. He had given me one on the house because he considered me a friend. He even gave me an extra marshmallow which made me my heart flutter. It was the tiny gestures that added up to a lot. I avoided his gaze, focusing on a picture on the wall that was hanging above the tables at the back. It was of a robotic lion; one that matched the logo on Keith's shirt. It looked like something right out of a cartoon and I wondered if Keith had drawn it himself.

"I just can't and, if you really want to know, I don't have my phone again." I muttered, sipping at the hot chocolate and licking the cream off of my lips. I could have sworn I saw Keith's gaze drop to my lips but I more than likely just imagined it.

"Why not?"

"I broke it again."

"Again?"

"Yeah."

"You must be pretty careless then..." He didn't seem to believe me but didn't push the subject. I was thankful for that. "So how are you?"

"I'm okay... you?"

"I'm good... Can we do something weird?" I raised my eyebrow because, without context, that sounded extremely bizarre. "Can we ask each other questions? So I can learn some more stuff about you. The stupid stuff." I nodded, secretly thinking that it was a good idea. I wanted to learn more about Keith, even if it did feed into that tiny little crush I had on the other man. I didn't want to like him but a small part of me couldn't help it. "What's your favourite colour?"

"Easy, blue." It was the colour of my eyes and the colour of the ocean. The colour of the sky and all of its endless possibilities. The colour of sapphire and the colour of my favourite t-shirt. Pastel blue was soft and beautiful whilst navy blue was powerful and deep. It was such an amazing colour. "Favourite animal?"

"My favourite colour is red," like his shirt, "And I like wolves."

"I'm more of a turtle kind of guy." When I was a kid, I had begged my mum to let me get a pet turtle but she had refused. I still wanted one but Lotor wouldn't let me get one either. Maybe one day.

"Cute," Keith leaned forward, his hair falling over his face. I resisted the urge to brush it behind his ear: I was in dangerous territory. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Two brothers and a sister but I don't really see them anymore."

"Shiro's kind of my brother. Adopted family."

"Ah. What's with the drink names?" I gestured to the menu hanging above the counter and Keith raised an eyebrow. "Ever since I walked in here the first time, I wondered what they actually meant. Seriously, hydra's hot chocolate? What does that even mean?"

"Oh," Keith's lips quirked into a smile as his eyes grazed the names listed. "They're all constellations. The entire theme of this coffee is based on this old show Shiro and I loved as a kid called Voltron. It was about some robotic lions that could form this giant robot to defend the universe. Hence all the lions and references to space."

"That's so awesome! Much more innovative than Starbucks."

Keith chuckled, "Yeah. What was your favourite subject at school?"

"Maths or physics. I was quite smart back then."

"I'm sure you're still smart. I liked physics and business. It's your turn to ask a question."

I bit my lip as I pondered what to ask. I bought some more time by taking a long sip of my hot chocolate, appreciating the warmth as it travelled down my throat. "Favourite memory?"

"I don't know really. Opening this place maybe. I remember my jaw hurting because I was smiling so much. Shiro did most of the work so I suppose it isn't my achievement but yeah. I was proud. We spent hours coming up with the names for the drinks and finding the theme and stuff. It was our dream and we didn't think it would actually happen but... it did. Our dream came alive."

Keith's lips formed a small smile as he spoke about the memory and it was adorable. The smile looked so fitting on his face, especially when his expression was usually one that was neutral. "My favourite memory was probably when I went to the beach with my old friends. There were only three of us and one of them drove. He had just gotten his license so we were literally ecstatic to go out together. We ate fish and chips and a seagull stole Pidge's chip and it was hilarious. They were so angry that they started to chase the poor seagull up the beach." I was smiling but tears were beginning to collect in my eyes. I didn't bother to wipe them away because they were inevitably going to fall.

"Lance-"

"We went to the arcade and we spent so much money but we didn't care. Pidge won a stupid teddy bear for Hunk and it was just so great..." Keith leaned forward and brushed a tear from my cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I'm sorry... I miss them so much."

"If you don't mind me asking... what happened?"

I rubbed my eyes with my fists and exhaled deeply. "They don't like me anymore." Lotor had reminded me of that every time I brought up talking to them again. I missed both Hunk and Pidge to the point that I didn't care whether they liked me or not. I just wanted to hug them both again and go back to that day at the beach.

"How do you know that? Did you argue or something?"

I shook my head, my jaw tense. I was fighting more tears and Keith must have noticed because he placed a gentle hand onto my thigh. "I can't talk about it, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah... I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing that the minute hand was very close to twelve and the other to four. "Shit! I need to go." There was no way I could be late two days in a row. I scrambled up to my feet, rushing out of the shop without saying a proper goodbye. I knew it was rude of me but I didn't want to have to face a punishment.

I didn't realise I was running until I stopped outside my apartment, breathing heavily. Lotor's car was in the drive, sitting there as innocent as ever. I pushed the door open and dumped the spare key down on the side before Lotor could even notice I was home.

"Two days in a row, Lance? Seriously?" I turned around to see Lotor had appeared in the doorway, hands rested either side of his hips. His voice was deep and menacing; not a good sign. I backed up into the wall, holding up my arms in defence.

"I'm sorry. I lost track of time again." I squeaked out as Lotor raised his fist into the air. It came in contact with my face before I could even consider dodging. My hand flew up to my eye, elapsing half the world into blackness.

"You aren't allowed out anymore."

"For how long?"

"I don't know but you need to learn to behave. If I find out you've gone out, there will be consequences and I will make you regret it. Do you hear me?"

"Okay... I'm sorry, Lotor." Obviously taking away my phone and banning me from leaving the house wasn't enough because he then made sure to deliver countless punches to my body until I was left aching all over.