It Started With A Derby (Klance Au)

Chapter 6

There may be something triggering in here.

Unedited

Enjoy~~~

"So." Keith said as he fiddled with his fingers. "Do you think she'll like it?"

"Holy shit." Lance swore as he ran a hand over the galaxy lion on the side of the car.

"She's going to love this." Matt said as he admired the drawings.

Coming from the bottom of the car were purple flames, while on both sides were galaxy lions.

Number 074 was written in purple next to the lions.

"Should I write Happy Birthday Kora?" Keith questioned. "Or wait for her to see it and see what she thinks?"

"Wait for her to see it." Shiro smiled.

"I have a feeling that she'll add something to it for herself." Adam laughed.

"Well it is Kora." Allura said.

"She's bound to add something." Pidge said.

"It was my second time designing the car on my own." Keith said standing next to Lance. "I did it the first time and then every time after that she chose. Every car I put in the Derby is not only for my father but it's for her too. Sure she has a lot of pictures of him and they're stories. But the Derby is the one thing that reminds her of him. It's what keeps us together."

"It's what keeps you together Keith." Adam said softly.

"I'm just glad Derby's helped you a lot better than what the drinking did." Shiro said. "Anyways we got to head out."

"I have to work." Allura said standing up. "I'll see you guys later."

"See ya!"

~~~~

"So." Lance said catching Keith's attention as they sat on the beach. "What did Shiro mean when he said 'the derby helped you a lot better than the drinking did'?"

Going to the beach and watching the sunset kind of became their thing. Whenever they could find the time that's what they did.

Keith sighed as he started to run his hands through the sand. "My dad and I were close. Like really close. When he died, a part of me went along with him. I tried to be there for my mom and tried to help her take care of my sister but the death of my father weighed heavy on my shoulders. So I went to heavy alcohol to help me cope with it. You weren't able to find me at home because I was always at the bar or a party. One night I was at a party and I guess I had texted Shiro while I was drunk. I kept drinking and drinking to the point I got alcohol poisoning. I was lucky that I had texted Shiro because if I hadn't I would've died. Shiro found me passed out the floor of the bathroom." Keith explained as he took a breath before continuing.

"I went into rehab for a few months. When I came out I didn't know what to do. Then I remembered my dad did Derby's. So I gave it a shot. Derby's are and were my coping mechanism." Keith finished.

Lance was silent.

Keith looked down at the ground. "I understand if you're disgusted with me. Heck, I'm disgusted with me. I wasn't there for my family." Keith could feel his eyes tear up as he recalled the times he was never there when his mom always cried for help. "My mom would cry herself to sleep every night. She would cry for help and I wouldn't help her because I was always drunk. Kora had to go and stay with Shiro and Adam for months because of how bad it was."

"But look at you now." Lance said. "You're helping them out now. You're doing a lot better than you were before. And to me, Krolia doesn't hate you for what you've done. She still forgave you Keith."