The Half of It

Chapter Ten

What humans called the school, - Keith didn't like.

For a demon of sharp wit, he couldn't quite grasp the point of bringing to life an institute solely made out of a variety of imbeciles. Walking in his shadow form behind Lance throughout the building, Keith began to feel enormous gratefulness for the vastness of his vocabulary which went past the constant use of 'and he was like' and 'omg', and maybe a tad bit grateful that Lance deviated from that common mold as well.

It made him feel powerful, knowing that he was not to be seen but that he was present as the rest of the mundane world, and he forced the unnecessary chatter out of his ear channels with an easy manipulation of centering his focus elsewhere, his attention mainly aiming the figure in front of him and the boy's mood.

Keith felt a fragment of what the tan boy was feeling trough their bond, showing off that Lance wasn't a fan of the local modernized 'dungeon' either, as his mild anxiety and nervousness spread trough the demon's veins under the steel grip of the chain's confinement. Keith had easily put two and two together and he was able to separate his feelings from Lance's, though not always effectively, and he deduced that the boy wanted out.

However, Lance's mood underwent a 180° shift, and that's when Keith figured out that they were approaching a pair of familiar faces.

''Well well well, isn't this a squad of assholes who tied me to by goth boo?'' Lance chirped.

Pidge instinctively glanced around Lance. '''Where is he?'' 

''Right here.'' Lance jabbed the space behind his back. ''What did you think, that I left him at home? He is my new BFF, I even made him a friendship bracelet.'' He sarcastically trailed off.

''Quit whining, we're going to do all that's in our power.'' Pidge dug their hand into a bag of chips. ''Hey Hunk, remember when Laura joined a cult to learn black magic spells so she could cheat on her physics test?''

Hunk thoughtfully nodded. ''That was a monthly scandal, who could forget. Does anyone know what happened to her?''

Pidge wiggled their eyebrows playfully. ''She summoned Einstein with eyeliner and he got her the top score.''

''Really?''

''No. They took her to the juvenile detention center for setting professor's car on fire 'cause she failed.''

Lance instantly went rigid. ''Pidge. Hunk.''

''What is it, Lance?''

''I have a math test today. Fucking hell.''

''Ha! I knew it.'' Pidge exulted. ''Hunk, I want my five bucks.''

-

''You didn't have to shove a book pile on his feet, Keith! He is going to hate me even more now.'' Lance hysterically whined, slamming the front door of his house shut.

Keith was still invisible, walking a couple of steps behind Lance.

''He was calling you out, and you were sitting in the front row so I couldn't just stand there and bathe in your embarrassment!'' Keith hissed, his energy detecting sensors warning him of the mundane presence lurking somewhere from the living room.

''Trust me, he is going to find a way to blame me for 'ghosts in the school'. By the end of the week, we'll be in a new part of Ghostbusters.'' Lance huffed.

''And that's exactly why he got the book pile on his feet!'' Keith argued. ''Since I have to take his shit together with you, the least of a problem for me is to play karma.''

''Do whatever you want, as long as you don't kill anybody.'' The tan boy relaxed and offered the demon a weary smile. ''Thank you for helping me with the questions, though. There is something inside of that pretty head after all.''

''That should be my sentence.''

''You little-''

''Lance!'' Suddenly, the brunette greeted him enthusiastically while peeking behind the living room's door frame, and Keith thought of her from the moment he saw her as Lance's replica, just in a female form. ''Welcome back! How was your day? And please put your shoes aside, I had to take out the carpet.''

''Alright, alright.'' Lance said in a breathy tone, as he continued. ''You are practically glowing, Veronica. So spill.'' He positioned his hands on his hips in a demanding manner, knowing that his sister was not to curl her hair for just any occasion. Something was up. Even Keith could decipher so much and he didn't even meet the girl. But from the way she was jittery, it was strikingly obvious. 

''Okay, so...'' The corners of her lips tugged upwards, her finger flying absentmindedly to play with the front curl that fell to her collar bone, and she spoke up. '' We may have a guest over for the lunch today.''

''And who is that special guest?'' Lance's probed.

''Why don't you come in and meet him? We have been waiting for you.'' She beckoned him, disappearing into the room and he immediately followed her.

As soon as Lance entered the living the room, his eyes landed on a decent looking guy who was sitting upright, all stiff with an air of sophistication around him.

He had decently long legs, decently styled cocoa hair that wave-fell to one side, a decent semi-friendly smile plastered over his ceramic face and a decent eye for fashion, considering he wore a decent white shirt that hugged him in all the right places and a pair of decent indigo pants that looked like something Lance couldn't afford with all the money he got in total for all of his birthdays.

Well, everything seemed rather decent. 

Rather.

Except for the fact that he was kissing his sister.

''Lance, I want you to meet my boyfriend.'' Veronica was sitting in the guy's lap, as he snaked an arm around her securely, eyeing Lance's expression the entire time with a scrutinizing gaze.

''Lance, this is James, James Griffin. James, meet my younger brother, Lance.'' Veronica introduced them to each other, and all that Lance could do is just offer an awkward wave as Veronica was giving him her well-known 'be polite' look.

''Nice to meet you, James.'' Lance's lips formed a thin line, as the guy caressed Veronica's side with an affecting motion.

''Likewise, Lance.'' James nodded at him, his artificial smile not faltering.

''I'll just go drop my things, and I'll be joining you in five.'' Lance explained as Veronica excused him with a bright approval. ''Sounds great. We'll be in the kitchen.''

And with that, Lance exited the living room and went for the stairs, reaching the doors of his room with a skipping step. As soon as he shut the doors and threw his bag aside, Keith pushed him to sit on the bed with a gentle force, yanking Lance's collar with his invisible hands.

''Lance, you have to listen to me, this is serious.'' Keith breathed into Lance's face, as Lance just stared forward into his idea of Keith. ''I know James. And he came here to find me.''

Lance's face scrunched in confusion. ''What? What do you mean, find you? Where do you know him from?''

''He's a demon, Lance.'' Keith rasped.  ''And he is coming for me.''