Chapter 6

"Matty!" Pidge yelled as she ran into her brother's arms.

The college student laughed as he caught her, easily lifting the tiny brunette off the ground.

"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be coming until friday afternoon." she asked as he set her down only to watch as she dove into his boyfriend's arms. Shiro smiled none the less and accepted the hug.

Now she knows what she said. Matt practically did still live at home, she hadn't lied. But the following week had been a testing week for Kerberos University. Then on top of that, the poor boys still had regular scheduled classes and work.

Matt hadn't been home for almost a week and a half.

And for Pidge, that was far too long. She was even sure that her resident emo had missed his brother as well.

Eventually, Keith appeared with the other three, giving the both of them a kind smile and a nod of his head.

He was never really a hugger but Shiro was having none of it though. Switching Pidge into one arm, he brought Keith into the other. "What's the matter keith? Don't you miss your brother?"

"Absolutely not," he joked.

"How are you guys doing?" Matt asked, shifting his attention to their younger sibling's friends.

Lance and Hunk stood off to the side, watching the sweet exchange between the siblings.

"Great, Matt. it's good to see you home," Lance offered in greeting. Matt smiled at him, extending his hand for a handshake and then pulling the lanky teen in for a hug.

"What about you Hunk?" asked Matt, going in for the same type of handshake bro hug.

Or whatever it was supposed to be. Honestly Pidge had no idea.

"I am Hunk," Hunk replied, making everyone laugh. Hunk had always answered that question the same way every time and Pidge absolutely loved it.

Not long after everyone had said hello to each other, Matt grabbed his sister from Shiro's arms and pulled her back into his, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. "Turns out testing ended early due to one of the professors getting sick. So now you're stuck with me, little sister."

"Same goes to you, Keith," Shiro told his brother.

"That's wonderful," Keith responded dryly, obviously kidding around as he leaned more into his brother's embrace, finally giving him a proper hug.

Laughing, Pidge ducked between the three boys. They were slightly blocking the doorway but lucky for her though she had an advantage to her shortness and they ended up following her inside, all laughing at something Shiro had said that she didn't catch.

Finding her mother in the kitchen, she noticed the older woman whipping up a large plate of snacks.

Pidge had texted her in class that she was going to be bringing a couple friends home from school. She knew how much her mother hated not having everything ready for guests. Even if she and Matt told her it wasn't necessary to do all she did.

Her mother worked way too hard sometimes.

Giving her mother a kiss on the cheek, Pidge thanked her mother for the snacks and took the tray into the living room.

All the boys had sat down in the living room. Matt, Shiro, and Hunk took the couch, while Keith and Lance took the floor, kindly leaving the armchair for her. Which she considered taking. Honestly, she did but with having Matt and Shiro home after a long week, she really wanted to be near them.

So she laid across their laps, her feet almost barely touching Hunk.

"Excuse you, do I look like a bed to you?" Matt asked. He was joking of course, completely loving the fact she had cuddled up to him.

Cuddling just being one of the many things they never grew out of.

When they were younger, their mother used to work long days along with their father, neither of them ever really being home besides the weekends and leaving the two kids with either a babysitter or grandparent.

Pidge, of course, felt very alone, with only being about 4 and Matt already attending school. Which meant she was really the only one who was home all day.

So when Matt got home, he would collect her and a blanket and they would snuggle up on the couch, doing his homework.

Yes, both of them. She had to get all her smarts and love for learning from somewhere.

"Give her a break Matt, she just missed you," said Shiro as he laid an arm behind his boyfriend and kissed his cheek.

All the guys, except Shiro, 'awed'.

Even Matt ( the dork) cooed at his boyfriend's affection.

The night went pretty smoothly after that. Everyone had gathered around the tv to watch a movie about some astronaut getting trapped and floating through space.

They all agreed there that none of them EVER wanted to go to space.

And Colleen had even let them order pizza half way through the film. Which was a rare occurrence, seeing as the mother always prefered to cook.

After the movie ended though, and an entire pizza later, Pidge decided to head up stairs to change as the boys suggested playing a game of Cards Against Humanity.

Her exhaustion had returned tenfold as she undressed.

Almost having a heart attack though, when she noticed Lance's blue hoodie still drowned her frame, completely forgetting he had given it to her.

Checking thoroughly to make sure nobody was watching her from the doorway, she took the neck of the hoodie and pulled it up to her nose, smelling his cologne.

The smell of pine and mint, and what she could only describe as simply Lance, filled her senses.

She was very grateful that even Cosmo was nowhere to be seen, because she felt absolutely grossed out by what she had done.

Not wanting to give up the article of clothing just yet, Pidge pulled it over her head, changed her shirt, and then put it right back on.

She would just have to hope he didn't notice.

Her contacts were replaced with big round glasses and her shorts were exchanged for comfy grey ones. But once she had rejoined them though, she realized she was way too tired to play and instead plopped into the chair to watch them.

Lance watched as Pidge dozed off. She was curled into a small ball, leaning against her hand that was propped up on the arm of the chair. Her glasses were slightly crooked on her nose, from them being slouched against her squished cheek.

Lance's heart swelled.

She looked absolutely adorable swaddled up in his hoodie that practically drowned her all the way down to her thighs.

He definitely noticed that she hadn't taken it off to give it back to him. Which he was completely fine with. He would have probably tugged it right back over her head if she did.

Lance had been so damn happy that she couldn't see his face as they were driving to her house earlier.

The blush that appeared on his cheeks after watching her tug on his football hoodie, wearing his number, was astounding; he was sure his face itself could have supplied as a heater for her.

Clearing his throat to catch everyone's attention and to clear his mind, the lanky teen nodded his head in her direction.

Matt let out a quiet curse before going to stand and retrieve her so he could take her to bed.

Hurriedly, Lance stopped him.

"I can do it," he had said.

Keith, for whatever reason, snickered and Shiro gave his brother a confused look, as well as Hunk.

Lance kinda wanted to know what he was laughing at to but instead watched Matt, as the older teen stared back at him with bewilderment.

He decided he would take Matt's silence as permission though, the boy standing up and walking over to the small sleeping girl.

"Guess that means it's time to go." Hunk spoke as he stood from the couch and stretched. The cuban was pretty sure that the big guy hadn't moved the entire time they had been there.

"Yeah, we should probably be heading home to," said Shiro as he stood as well.

"Walk me to my door?" He smirked at Matt, making the Holt laugh but then taking his boyfriend's hand anyway.

Lance chose then, to bend down and lift his best friend up bridal style. Her tiny form curled further into his arms, making his heart lurch.

He could smell how her body wash and shampoo blended with the cologne that still clung to his jacket and he couldn't have been in more of a personal heaven.

Starting for the stairs, he was being so careful and focused on the job he had given himself, which was to make sure he got her to bed safely, he didn't even notice that Keith had stuck around and was watching him.

Entering her room he noticed that her star lights shone above her bed from where they hung. The small but bright lightning showed him where to go without having to turn on a light.

As if he even needed it, with how many times he had been in her room the last 3 years.

He placed her down gently onto the bed and covered her up with her green comforter. Then he squatted down beside her, watching as she snuggled her face deeper into his hoodie.

God, what was she doing to him?

Her beautiful hair had fallen wildly on her pillow beside her head and he could see some of the strands move slightly from the puffs of air that slipped between her parted lips.

Lance sighed and then pulled the glasses from her face and put them on her nightstand where he knew she would grab for them the next morning.

After that and as softly as he could, he kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight, my pidgeon," he whispered.

Standing up to start for the door, he just about jumped out of his perfectly brown skin as he caught sight of a figure in the doorway.

Keith, stood there leaning against the door watching with what looked like a genuine smile on his face. "You're a really good person, Lance," he said quietly.

Did Keith Kogane just compliment him? And with a non-sarcastic expression?

"Um, thanks?" Lance repiled. He wasn't quite sure what to do in the event, Keith freaking Kogane, complimented him. It had never happened before.

Giving the mullet head a questioning look, he stepped by him and outside of the room as Keith shut the door behind him. "I mean it, Lance."

Lance only nodded at the asian, an eyebrow raised as he went down the stairs.

He didn't want to wake Pidge with their talking. she seemed exhausted for some reason. He figured it was just because she always stayed up late talking to him.

Which kind of meant her tiredness was because of him...Shit.

Stepping outside he noticed that Hunk and his hummer had already left and Lance kinda felt bad that he hadn't told him goodbye.

"Hey, Lance?"

Looking up, he noticed Keith had just shut the door and was standing on the porch. He wrapped his jacket more tightly around himself. Obviously trying to stay warm but failing.

Lance doubted the red leather did anything.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did," said the cuban, a mischievous smile on his face.

Keith huffed, "Fine, can i ask you two questions?" he asked, a bit exaggerated.

"You already have."

"When?!" Keith asked in frustration, gripping his hair.

"Just now."

The lanky teen had to bite his lip to keep himself from laughing too loudly.

"Lance," he deadpanned.

"I'm trying to ask a serious question."

"Sorry," he offered, smiling brightly.

"May I ask now?"

"Shoot," said Lance as he climbed on to his bike, grabbing his helmet.

"Do you care about Pidge?"

The question completely caught him off guard and the smile completely slipped from his mouth.

"Uh yeah, why wouldn't I.

She's my best friend," he answered. A serious frown took over his expression.

He didn't quite know where the emo was taking this.

"Ugh!" Keith groaned, "Not you to. Please don't, I have had enough of this bullshit today."

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"Lance, do you romantically love Pidge or not?"

And he thought the first question had caught him off guard. Whoa boy, had he been wrong.

"How did you know?!"

Keith only smirked as a reply, making The cuban teen sigh, "It's because I'm obvious, isn't it?"

The put out look on his face and most likely the enjoyment he had seeing it, made Keith laugh, "Maybe."

Lance pushed a hand through his hair in frustration. He knew his tall tale signs were showing when he was around her. He wouldn't be surprised if the entire school knew already. He just couldn't help being affectionate around her, especially since she took it willingly and even reciprocated sometimes.

He just hoped that Pidge never caught on. He didn't want to lose her friendship when she rejected him.

For the moment he was fine with what friendly contact she gave him. He always would be as long as he got to be close to her.

"Do you love her?"

That time Lance didn't even flinch as Keith asked him another question.

"More than anything."

Author's note: sorry it's so short this time.