Boy next door

12. Transphobia

Warning: well, transphobia obviously, also suicidal thoughts

The morning after hanging out, Lance and Keith decided to walk to school together again.
It was nice, the feeling of the wind on their cheeks, the morning sun. They didn't even talk that much, but being together was enough.

At school, the boys joined their friends before walking to class. Keith and Ina has art, before going, they separated as she had to go to the bathroom. On his way to the art class, he saw James.
Ugh not him
Surprisingly, he just glared at him. He glared back and made his way to the classroom.

Ina came in not long after and sat beside him
"I saw Griffin on my way"
"Really? What happen?"
"I don't know, he just looked at me angrily"
"Hm weird"

They, again, talked the whole way through class and drew together. For Keith, Ina's compagne was calming. She was kind of like Pidge. She was smart but really nice.
Hm they'd be good together

At lunch, they had fun per usual and mainly talked about conspiracy theories.
"Guys, we have something to tell you" Romelle said smiling before looking at Allura
"We're dating!" Allura stared as she kissed her lover's cheek. Everyone said they were cute and congratulated them.
"Ugh i need a girlfriend" Pidge said, frowning
"Me too!" Ina added. Everyone looked at each other with a confused look on their face before laughing.

After school, Keith went behind it with Lance. It was his special spot. They talked and looked at the forest in front of them when James interrupted them.
"Hey Mara"
"What do you want James?"
"I just wanna hang out with you" he said rolling his eyes
"His name isn't Mara," Lance stated getting up and glaring at him
"Oh but it is, you see, on his official papers, it's written 'Mara Kogane" Keith looked at his shoes with his fists clenched
"Back of, Griffin" Lance said shoving him
"It's ok Lance," Keith said under his breath looking over at Lance
"No, it's not!" He clenched his fists and looked at James
"What are you even gonna do? You're so skinny you could slide into Mara's puss*"
Both boy's eyes went wide open before Lance punched him.
Griffin looked at him and then punched Lance's jaw and looked at him as he rubbed it.
Keith immediately punched James in the face, making his nose bleed.
"You little assholes"  he said before shoving Lance into the brick wall. He punched him in the face again.
"Let him go!" Keith yelled, tears forming in his eyes. He turned Griffin and punched him with all his strength.
They ran away, leaving James on the ground.

They walked home in silence and went both their ways, not saying a word.

"Woah, what happened to you?" Adam asked as soon as Keith entered the café. He just ignored him and went to his room as fast as possible. He closed his curtains and sat on the floor with his back up against the wall under the window. He put his knees up to his chest and couldn't help but cry.

He repeated James' words in his head. They only hurt more with time. The hot tears wouldn't stop flowing on his cheeks. He put on one of his hoodies and went on his bed, still crying.

Normally, his escape would be cutting, but he couldn't do that to Shiro, he couldn't disappoint him like that.

Then, he thought of the surgeries.

8500$

Just for the top

He was tired of being like that. He screamed in his pillow. He was sobbing and grunting in pain.
Mental pain.

  I don't wanna be there anymore
I wanna die
Why do I have to be like that
I'm not a girl
I'm not a girl!
I'm a boy

The sobs wouldn't stop. It hurt so much. It hurt not being who you want to be.

"Keith?"

He heard someone say his name but it was blurry. He didn't know who it was. Shiro? Adam? Lance?

"Keith, it's me, Shiro"

He didn't stop crying, still in a ball on his bed. Screams, sobs, crying. Why did it have to be like that.

He felt Shiro give him a tight hug, no words. He just sat there as the tears slowly stopped.

"I'm a boy" he said with a trembling voice, under his breath
"Yes, I know" he looked up at Shiro, his face was red and puffy from crying.
"Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, Keith. You are not a girl. You are a boy"
"But James-"
"Fuck James! You know who you are. James is just an asshole that was told being gay isn't normal."

They stayed silent for a few seconds and Keith rested in Shiro's arms.
"I'm proud of you" Shiro broke the silence, "And you know what? Let's start saving up for your surgeries. What do you say? You can take your money from the café and Adam and me will put some money on the side. I know it's expensive, but we'll do whatever is possible to help you" Keith nodded and stayed in the hug.
"Tak- what's going on?" Adam asked swing them in a hug.
Shiro moves his hand as a sign for him to join. He did.

They went to eat dinner but Keith stayed in his room. He'd lost his appetite. He opened his window and lit up a cigarette. His eyes were still all red from crying and he was still a little trembling and anxious.

Of course the other boy's window opened.
"Hey Keith. Wh- did you cry?" He looked worried
"Uh- yeah" he looked away
"I can come over if you want- you know, like, mental support?" Keith looked sat him nodded and smiled
"Ok I'll be right over. We can have a sleepover and watch a movie with popcorn. Then we can do face masks and paint our nails" Keith chuckled and nodded
"Yeah, that'd be nice" he looked down
"Ok, let me get the stuff I need and I'll see you"
He waved and closed the window.