Chapter 3: Order of Shiro
"You go talk to him" hissed Lance, pointing at the back of Shiro's chair. Keith raised an eyebrow. "Are you crazy?! I'll get lynched. Pidge, you go" The girl in question shook her head vehemently. "Nope. Hunk, why don't you go?" she offered, batting her eyelashes. Before Hunk could say anything, there was a light chuckle from Shiro's booth. " I can hear you whisper-yelling. You can come to sit if you like"
The four flushed and nervously took their seats. Keith looked the other man in the eyes and was surprised to find no trace of the cold, unhinged look he had seen in the theater. Instead, he saw kindness and warmth and he let himself relax a little. Before he could stop himself, Lance blurted "How do you do it?" Shiro tilted his head, amused. "Do what?" Lance flushed a little but plowed on. "Scare the living shit out of me and Keith, but then sit here and eat Tiramisu like a perfect fucking cinnamon roll"
Silence. Lance was beginning to wonder whether or not he'd offended the other man when he suddenly started smiling, his eyes lighting up and his nose crinkling as he laughed. "Perfect...fucking...cinnamon roll" he wheezed. Out of nowhere, Pidge started cracking up and it wasn't long before the entire table was in an uproar.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners? Did I introduce myself yet?" asked Shiro. "We know who you are" came four voices. "Oh, well I don't know you guys. Who are you?" Pidge stuck out her hand. "The name's Kaite, but call me Pidge or I might just have to gut you" "Duly noted" Hunk beamed and offered his hand for Shiro to shake. "I'm Hunk, nice to meet you" Lance smoothed his hair back as Keith rolled his eyes. "Lance McClain" "and you are?" asked Shiro, turning to Keith. "Keith Kogane" he replied.
Just then, a waitress came over to their table. "Can I get you anything love?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at Shiro. Lance's jaw dropped. However, Shiro hardly blinked as he said "No thanks, Mia. Maybe these guys want something?" Keith ordered his usual espresso, Pidge ordered the chocolate cake and Hunk dug up the largest plate of doughnuts he could find. Lance flashed a grin at her. "Your number?" he asked suavely, wiggling his eyebrows. Mia rolled her eyes and took out a pen and scrap of paper. Writing her number, set it down in front of Shiro. "Coffee's on me babe" she winked. Once she had left, Shiro picked up the note and handed it to Lance.
"You keep it, I'm not interested" Lance looked like he was about to pass out from shock. "NOT INTERESTED?! SHE'S HOT AS FUCK" Shiro shrugged. "Not my type to be honest" The Cuban boy made a 'mind blown' gesture. "Not your type?! What is your type then?" Shiro tugged up the left sleeve of his jacket.
Tattoed on his wrist was the middle finger, colored in with the gay flag. Keith snorted into his drink. "Where'd you get that done? I need one" Shiro ran a hand through his hair sheepishly. "High school, there was a tattoo shop about 30 minutes away. Adam was laughing too hard to drive back to our dorm when I walked out of the room"
Hunk raised an eyebrow. "You were roommates?" "Yeah," said Shiro. "Yeah, dumb ass," said Pidge at the same time. Shiro raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you Matt Holt's sister?" he asked. Pidge absently twirled a finger in her short hair as she nodded. "Matt was awesome, always up to shit. Drove the teachers insane" Pidge grinned fondly. "That was him"
Keith, with impeccable timing as always, managed to spill the remainder of his drink across the table, the scalding liquid soaking Shiro's jacket sleeve. "Holyshitimsosorryhereletmehelp" rushed out of his mouth as he frantically picked up some napkins and began drying the jacket with fervor.
It wasn't until a good 10 seconds later that he realized that Shiro wasn't in pain, but rather smiling down and him and laughing. "I'm ok Keith," he said, pushing down his right sleeve to reveal his prosthetic arm. Lance's eyes bugged out of his head. "Woah, sick dude! What superpowers does it have" Shiro scratched his chin as if deep in thought. "It can do this" he replied, flipping the bird at the Cuban boy.
Hunk snorted into his food. Just then, the door of the shop banged open and Adam strode in, looking very harassed. "TAKASHI SHIROGANE" he yelled. Shiro paled. "oh shit guys hide me" Too late, Adam stalked over to their table and grabbed Shiro by the ear. "WHAT IS THIS ABOUT RYOU SHOWING UP AT MY DOOR AND ASKING FOR YOU AND HIS MONEY?!" The Japanese man winced at the volume and gently disengaged himself from Adam's grip. "Oh that, It's nothing, don't worry about it"
"Takashi..."
"Fine! He's asking for his drug money"
"AND YOU JUST GIVE IT TO HIM?!"
"This scar wasn't from a gang fight Adam!"
"Oh shit, he did that to you" gaped Adam, jabbing a finger at the scar. Before Shiro could reply, he turned to the other four occupants at the table. "Hi! sorry, I don't know you guys but can you help me murder Takashi's lazy, good for nothing brother?" Pidge grinned and picked up her fork, sticking it above her head. "Yup. One Pidge Holt reporting for duty Adam SIR!" she yelled, saluting with the wrong hand. "Matt's sister? Thought so"
Lance brandished a knife he had found in his napkin. "Sir Lancelot reporting for duty" Hunk picked up a donut. "Never fear, Hunk is here to end all your troubles and woes" Keith rolled his eyes but he was smiling as he chose a heavy mug. "Keith here" Adam grinned determinedly. "Right! Order of Shiro, on me! Now let's go kill Ryou!"
"YEAH!" The five clashed their 'weapons' together in the center of the table and sprinted out of the coffee shop. Shiro stared after them for a while. "OH GOD THEY'RE NOT KIDDING" he yelled, following the large group out the door.
