TREES | klance ✔︎

09 | the art of letting go

edited.

he let keith push him into the ice cold creek once their deep talk was over. he didn't like being swallowed by freezing water when the sun was no longer out to help dry him, so as soon as he got out his body trembled aggressively from the massive temperature drop in his body. keith instantly felt guilty, helping him up to the tree house and turning on the mini heat lamp lance had in his emergency cabinet. they brought the backpack in just in case animals got curious too.

in this little tree house, there was a small bed in the corner. the kitchen consisted of two counters, a sink, a microwave, a mini fridge and other basic kitchen things. lance lays on the bed while keith sits on the edge.

an hour later, lances trembles we're down to a minimal and he was going in and out of sleep as keith rubbed lances temples to ease a headache from the cold.

"my fingers are tired." keith throws out, whining for the first time ever. unknowingly, he was copying a mannerism from lance.

"it feels so nice though," lance whispers gently as his lips rise into a childish smile, "huelas a..." his voice trails, breath steady and calm, "vanilla."

keith places his hands onto his lap, cracking his fingers by stretching them then balling them into a tight fist. he frowns, not understanding what lance said. he opens his eyes when realizing keith's hands aren't coming back to him. he pouts at a not-sorry keith.

"keef, massage my-"

"you are not a baby," keith shires back a snicker, "i cant baby you forever."

"oh, but you should." lance tries to act cute, pulling off a boyish grin and puppy eyes. keith isn't easily impressed by the boy. he only responds to the precious-wannabe boy by letting a grin cover his lips. he couldn't hide how funny he thought lance was for trying to trick him into massaging his head.

"is any advil in the bag?" keith asks, standing up from the bed and stretching his arms above his head. he makes a grunting sound as his back pops. lance reaches his finger up to poke the stomach that peeked from keiths short band tee. giggling, keith seats away lance.

"i don't think so. i barely remember to bring my notebooks to school. how would i remember pain medicine?" lance tries to joke, but both of them know him well enough that this was not exactly a joke. he's forgotten many school supplies before and this would never change.

keith ignores him and leans down to investigate the contents in the bag. in the first two compartments, there was nothing but random crumbs, pencils, a pack of gum, and a book. in the main compartment was an extra pair of clothes, a water bottle, some strung out wirnkled pieces of paper, and - a notebook labeled lance's thoughts. keith snickers to himself, taking out the ringed book, holding it up so that lance could see it.

"hey! put that back!" lance stammers, flustered. holding the blanket close to his shoulders, he crawls over to keith who teases him by lifting the notebook higher. "put it back, keith!"

"why?" keith questions playfully. lances ears visibly redden.

"because i'm the author, and the author never reveals their work." lance says as a matter-of-fact tone. keith quirks up his left brow, looking between the desperate boy covered in a twinkle twinkle little star blanket and the colorful diary in his hands. 

he falters, giving the notebook to a panicked lance. 

"what's in it?" 

"none of your beeswax, wolf boy." lance ridicles innocently. they catch each other's eyes, keeping an eye contact that made both of them sweat.

"wolf boy?"

"you're a furry."

"the hell is a furry?"

"you."

keith's brain dings, thinking of nothing but mischief.

"but what's a wolf boy?"

"you!"

"so what's in the notebook, then?"

"obviously you, kei-" lance covers his mouth in shock of his own words. a slight gasp sounds from him and he slaps the mullet boy across from him, "you're evil."

keith slides his top lip between his teeth to keep him from smiling. "can you show me something in it?"

"why would i?" lance sniggered, crawling back near the bed. sitting with his legs crossed, he leans his back against it. keith nears him, mirroring the way lance is sitting. he flicks through his own book of thoughts, shaking his head to himself. "there's nothing interesting in here anyway. you won't like it."

"who says?" keith challenges with a smug smile.

"me. i do." lance says sterner this time.

for a moment, keith accepts lance not wanting to share whatever that is in the book. he gets ready to drop the topic, opening his mouth to talk about school until the notebook is thrown into his lap. he looks at lance who covers his face from - assumably - embarrassment. his mutters through his hands.

"everything is in there," he explains with a muffled voice, "why i like shiro. why youre here. why i dont wanna be your friend. everything."

his eyes dont leave lances covered face for about a minute as he tries to let his words fully process within the walls of his brain.

he begins reading a random page without hesitation.