Hero // Klance

Ch. 8 - Truth or Dare

The coffee shop was warm in every way. It was closed, but thanks to years of experience and friendship with the owner, Lance was able to lead the group in through the back door. Lamps decorated with colorful beads lit the wooden interior from every corner and table. It smelled like wood polish and coffee beans, filling Lance with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. He closed his eyes and, for a moment, everything was normal.

It couldn't last.

"What's this place?" Hunk asked, breaking the trance.

"Abuela's." Lance smiled. "Owned by a family friend. She's not really my abuela, but she might as well be. My siblings and I used to sneak out at night to come here all the time. She doesn't mind." He stepped behind the counter. "Anyone want anything?"

"You're sure the owner won't mind?" Shiro asked.

"Positive."

"Then I'll have a latte."

Everyone seemed to relax then, asking for drinks which Lance made with experienced speed. Once everyone was caffeinated, Lance left a twenty-dollar bill and a note- Estaba aquí. Te extraño. Lance.- scribbled on a napkin by the register and joined the group at a table in the corner.

"So," Hunk began, "what do y'all want to talk about?"

"Not fighting. Anything but that," Shiro replied.

"Yeah," Keith agreed. Only Pidge seemed disappointed, but she didn't say anything.

"We could play truth or dare," Hunk suggested tentatively.

"Or we could not do that," Keith shot back quickly. Pidge snorted into her drink.

"I think getting to know each other is a great idea." Shiro looked pointedly at Keith, who was glaring at his coffee.

"No better way to learn everything you never wanted to know about someone than truth or dare," Lance commented drily.

"What are we, twelve?" Keith asked

"Yeah, on a scale of one to ten," Lance quipped, earning a chuckle from Pidge and Hunk.

Keith made an exasperated noise.

"We're really doing this."

"It'll be fine." Shiro squeezed Keith's shoulder.

He just scowled.

"Pidge can go first," Hunk offered, "She's good at these."

"You know it. Blue," Pidge began, "truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"You can't say a single sentence without a coffeeshop pun until your next turn."

Lance stared silently, caught off guard for a moment. Then, he grinned, his brain instantly firing off every word he could think of that could be made into a pun. Pidge was going to regret this.

"Hunk, I have a latte of ideas for you, so truth or dare?" Everyone groaned.

"Truth."

Lance couldn't think of any ways to ask what he really wanted to. Damn Pidge.

"I don't Frappucci-know if I can keep these puns up. Uh, what's the farthest south you've ever bean?"

"Actually, my family is from Puerto Rico, and we only ever went north from there." Lance has been right. There was the tiniest hint of an accent in Hunk's voice. "Most of them are still there, actually." He must have been uncomfortable, because he quickly turned to Shiro and asked, "Truth or Dare?"