Monday rolls around, and with it lots and lots of rollouts. They work on falling almost all practice, starting with roll outs going the long way across the dojo instead of the short way, then dragonflies, and then they spread out for some fish flops. The good news is, it's almost all individual stuff, and so it's a little easier to keep Lotor at bay. The bad news is, a body can only take so many falls before it starts to hurt. It's Coran-sensei running the show today, and everyone is almost in tears because they all thought he was the nice sensei and now that illusion is shattered.

As soon as they've bowed out at the end of practice, Keith finds himself being grabbed by Lance and hauled over to Pidge and Matt and Hunk. They're all waiting patiently, and Keith wonders if Lance already talked to them about whatever is coming next.

"Okay guys: this is it. The five of us, tomorrow, the arcade. Let's do this."

"Aren't arcades kinda expensive? Like you're just spending quarters but you end up spending a lot because the games don't last that long," Keith protests.

Pidge and Matt simultaneously push their glasses up, causing the light to flash on the lenses. Hunk and Lance are both smirking.

"Please," Matt says. "The games last plenty long if you know what you're doing."

"And we definitely know what we're doing," Pidge says. Keith is a little afraid of these guys all of a sudden.

"So, here's how things will go. First, Hunk will have a go at that boxing one, because he totally owns that one. He practically sets a new record every time. Then one of us will go win you a cute stuffed animal from a crane game, because it will be so fun to watch you carrying it around. We'll split up for a while, with me going and playing some shooting games and proving why they call me the sharpshooter, Pidge going off and challenging the classic games to go achieve the maximum scores for like the eightieth time, Matt doing a few driving games, and Hunk will take over the drumming game and we'll all win a bunch. Once we get bored we'll reconvene and shoot a few hoops and then go for a round of skee ball, and then we will finish with a good ol' dance battle. Oh yeah!" Lance says, throwing an arm over Keith's shoulder and gesturing around them as if they are already at the arcade.

"And bring your stuff because we will probably be coming to practice straight from there," Hunk says. "My mom said I could drive myself so we can all leave our stuff in my mom's car."

"Then let's do this!" Lance calls, and throws his hand out. The others immediately pile their hands on top of his, and then look over at Keith expectantly. He puts his hand in, and then Lance places his other hand on top, sandwiching Keith's hand in the mix. They lower their hands a bit as one, and then throw them upwards, cheering.

As Matt and Pidge settle in as Keith's nightly bodyguards, he wonders what he has gotten himself into.

x

The arcade is full of flashing lights and noise and life. To Lance, it's like heaven. He's really excited to bring Keith there, and has to keep reminding himself that this is just a means to keep Keith busy until practice so that he doesn't wind up alone with Lotor. But after Sunday at the pool, Keith looked like he was having so much fun and it was actually the first time Lance had seen him smile like that. Keith is usually so stoic and serious, and the way his face lit up at times just squeezed Lance's heart until it was nothing more than a pulpy mush because this guy could be just. So. Cute! And he wants to see that again today. And really every day from now on, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?

As promised, they start with Hunk and the punching machine. And things take an immediate turn for the worse, because he's no sooner achieved his high score then someone is challenging it. And that someone is Zethrid. And sure enough, the rest of the crew is there as well.

Lance tries not to feel too sour as they head over to the crane games. There's one with a bunch of lions, and Lance immediately knows that this is the one. He pulls out the roll of quarters he prepared the night before, and in short succession gets five: he's originally planning on one for each of them, but then Keith makes the comment "Shiro would love one of these."

This is a problem. The lions only come in five colors: red, blue, black, green, and yellow. And it would be perfect for the five of them: him, Keith, Hunk, Pidge, and Matt. But if Shiro's getting one…

"You said before his favorite color is black, right?" Matt asks Keith, who nods.

"Then this little guy will be perfect for him. And now we get to laugh at you carrying TWO stuffed animals," Matt laughs.

And just like that the problem is settled. They do split up like planned after that, and Lance makes sure that Keith sticks with someone. He ends up choosing to go for driving games with Matt, and Matt has the good sense to lead the way to a two-player game that Lotor won't easily nose in on. With a sigh of relief, Lance heads off to his favorite zombie fighter game.

Lance is soon joined by Ezor, Narti, and Lotor himself. He's glad that Lotor is where he can see him, though he'd rather not be playing a game together. But the three of them are all pretty good. Lance has played this game on multiplayer many times before, and almost without fail, everyone dies once they reach the swamp. It's the fog. They just can't seem to handle it. But Lotor, Narti, and Ezor all keep up just fine. In the end, they even make it onto the high score board, which had previously been filled out with Lance's name. They're the bottom three scores, but still. He'll have to come back another day to amend this. His pride is on the line.

After they finish their game, Lance takes a look around. Pidge is still working on her high score, and Acxa is by her side doing pretty well herself. Her hair is slightly out of place, which is amazing because even in the midst of practice is stays perfectly arranged across her forehead. Keith and Matt have moved over to a 1v1 fighting game, and Matt is kicking Keith's butt. Not surprising, Matt has an unfair advantage since he figured out the secret to the perfect combo. And Hunk and Zethrid are going crazy with the drums, not missing a single note as they pound away faster than Lance can even keep up with.

As promised, once everyone is ready they all go over to the basketball hoops. There's enough for all ten of them to play together. None of them miss a single shot. It's getting late, and so they skip the skee ball and head straight for the dance pads. Lance convinces Keith to do the first round with him, and kindly puts it on easy even though Lance has been playing on advanced for so long he has most of the songs almost memorized. Even on easy Keith still almost falls over. The rest of them take their turns, and soon it is clear the best dancers are Lance, Hunk, Ezor, and Lotor, and so everyone else backs down while the four of them put on their best moves. Lance tries to pretend he isn't showing off just for Keith, but he totally is. And maybe it's just his imagination, but Keith seems to be watching him. It's not because he has a hole in his pants is it? Or does he have something on his face? Or maybe Keith is trying to unnerve him and make him fail. But he's dancing against Lotor right now, so no way is he going down.

x

Okay. It's official. Lance is hot.

Not that that's exactly news anymore. But it's one thing to see the guy all the time when he's rocking a judo gi and looks a bit like a marshmallow, and completely another to see him in his jeans and jacket, a slight sheen of sweat on his skin, and a gleeful expression on his face as he moves. Keith is so undone right now. It's all he can do to keep from drooling. He's totally staring, and he knows he should stop but he really can't.

And all too soon Lance is stepping off the dance pad, a slight flush to his cheeks and Keith wants to go over and gush like…

Like a bunch of strange girls are doing. They're all over Lance and Lotor right now. And suddenly Keith remembers that they are at this shitty arcade with its noise and its smells and its crowdedness, and that the only redeeming features to this place are that the games are a little fun and also it was Lance who brought him here. Lance who is currently laughing along with the girls who surrounded him and Lotor.

Keith has had enough. He claps a hand on Matt's shoulder in passing, letting his friend know he's headed outside, and leaves.

x

Lance won, of course. Of course he won. Like he'd lose to anyone at a dance battle, especially against Lotor. He's ready to leave as soon as the song is over, but he's barely gotten off the platform before he is accosted by spectators. Some of them are kinda cute, but right now there's a different cutie on his mind. So he laughs along with them and brushes off their offers to exchange numbers- an offer that just a week ago he would have died for- and realizes that Keith is no longer there. Lotor is still being fawned over, and enjoying the praise it seems, but that hardly matters because where is Keith?

"Sorry ladies, but we actually have somewhere to be," Hunk's voice says, and Lance could almost kiss his best friend for the excuse to get out of there. Hunk leads the way outside, and there's Keith, sitting with Matt and Pidge and looking so forlorn that Lance suddenly realized his mistake. Keith is not a social person. Not that Pidge is either, but she is such a tech geek and a gamer that she can still find something in an arcade. But for Keith- that must have been hell. Coming here was a total mistake.

Keith doesn't look at Lance at all on the way to practice, or during practice, or even as Lance says goodbye to him and Hunk at the end.

And Lance's heart is crushed a little bit.

x

Keith knows he is being stupid. He knows that he has no reason to feel hurt right now, or to be stress eating yogurt-covered pretzels. There was never anything between him and Lance. They're not even friends. Just temporary allies. And once Lotor is gone, they won't even be that. It's almost enough to make him wish Lotor would stick around forever.

Speaking of Lotor, these yogurt-covered pretzels are about the same color as Lotor's hair. It almost makes Keith wish he'd gone for the chocolate-covered ones instead.

It's just- how could he not get his hopes up with the way Lance has been these last few days? Yeah, it's just to keep him from being alone with Lotor under any circumstances, but they've been getting along. They've gone on dates! Dates that weren't really dates, and he knows that, but still. They teamed up for the chicken fight that never happened. They danced together. Lance helped him clean up his bloody nose. They had a heart to heart. They had coffee together. And in between all that, during practice? They were joking around. Lance had teased him about things, the same way Lance teased his friends. So was it really all that odd for Keith to feel upset at harsh reality shoving it in his face that Lance likes girls?

Keith has to dig pretty deep into the bag for the next pretzel. They're almost all gone. And he still doesn't feel any better.

At breakfast the next morning, Keith remembers he still has to ask permission to stay at the Holts' tomorrow night. His aunt readily agrees. However, things go south as he is getting ready for practice.

"Keith!" his aunt shrieks, running into his room even though he'd had the door closed. He quickly tugs his shirt down, glad he's already changed his shorts and isn't in his underwear. His aunt is holding a phone and waving it around, and she doesn't even give him a chance to answer before she continues her panic.

"Your mom says you've never been to a sleepover before! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I-I didn't think it was relevant?" Keith stammers.

"Of course it's relevant, this is a big problem!"

"Does that mean I can't go?" Keith asks. He's not sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, he was kind of looking forward to spending the night with his friends- or friend since if Lance wasn't really his friend then were Pidge and Hunk? But on the other hand, Lance was going to be there, and he wasn't sure he wanted to spend the night in the same room as Lance. Or would they be in a tent? Who knew how this was going to work.

Keith can just hear a voice emanating from the phone, and his aunt holds it back up to her ear.

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" she says after a moment, then rushes out of the room, shouting "Takashi!"

Keith puts the conversation out of mind. But then as he and Shiro are getting out of the car at the dojo, the Holts pull up, and Shiro asks Keith to unlock the dojo for him. This isn't unusual. What is unusual is Shiro going over and talking to Mr. Holt a bit as Matt and Pidge get out of the car. Matt and Pidge hover nearby as Mr. Holt and Shiro talk, their eyes bugging out a bit. And then Matt comes pelting over to Keith.

"Keith! Shiro just said your aunt wants the sleepover to be at your place since it's your first slumber party and they want to make sure you're safe!" Matt gasps.

Keith drops Shiro's keys.

"Wait what?"

"You didn't know?"

Keith shakes his head.

"Aw, this'll be so cute. Widdle biddy Keef needs his babysitter," Pidge teases, joining them.

"Don't worry, I'd have tucked you in if it were gonna be at our place," Matt says.

"It will still be at your guys's house… won't it?" Keith asks, feeling the color drain from his face.

"Oh, no," Pidge says grinning. "Dad just agreed to it readily. He and mom will be happy to have the house to themselves."

Keith groans. It's a good thing he doesn't have a social life, because this would totally end it for him.

x

The news of the change of locations for the sleepover makes Lance wonder if he's still invited. After all, Keith still seems to be avoiding him. He really messed up by suggesting the arcade. It's just- he figured it would be a bit cheaper than the movies, and less lame than wandering around a mall (not that that couldn't be fun, but he'd figured it would be a lot harder to make Keith try on ridiculous clothes as was usually a par for the course when wandering a mall with Lance), and it was either the arcade or mini-golf and the last time he went to the local mini-golf course, he got a soda dumped on him trying to flirt with a girl. A girl who worked there. So yeah, he can't really show his face there anytime soon, so the arcade was about the only option left.

But during one of the water breaks Shiro-sensei stops by to inform him and Pidge and Hunk that they should bring pillows and sleeping bags, so he guesses he's still allowed to come. Pidge, meanwhile, seems to be rather nervous about things, since she uses the next water break to go ask Shiro about something to do with tomorrow night- she doesn't specify, and Lance doesn't ask. Maybe she's worried about something girly. Or maybe she's suddenly shy about being the only girl staying over, even though Lance and Hunk have spent the night at her place plenty of times and even stayed in the same room as her (with Matt present as well, of course) so it's not like she's never had a sleepover with guys before. Pidge can be a mystery sometimes. But she's still pretty cool, so the rest of them just roll with it.

That night, Lance is the one staying late to Lotor-block. Luckily, Lotor leaves the dojo right away. Lance happens to be near the door when Lotor goes, and he watches as Lotor and his gang walk off, making certain Lotor isn't just trying to lull him into a false sense of security. Then, since Lotor is gone and Keith still is keeping his distance, Lance takes his stuff outside to wait for his ride. He's still waiting when Keith and Shiro come out and close up the dojo. Shiro offers to drive him home, and he's about to turn him down when he gets a call from his dad saying that since they don't usually have judo on Wednesdays, his dad hasn't left yet and is in the middle of helping his sister make cookies, and since his sister will make the worst mess ever if left to her own baking devices, he can't very well abandon her. So Lance accepts.

It just might be the most awkward car ride of Lance's life. Shiro keeps trying to engage both him and Keith in conversation. At first, Lance does try and keep up the chatter because he's a chatty guy, and also if Shiro is asking questions he ought to answer them. But every time Shiro tries to say something to Keith he gets a bland, monotonous, monosyllabic answer and it turns out to be infectious. Soon Lance is offering less and less information, and Shiro is asking less questions, and they've barely gotten halfway to Lance's house before the only words being uttered are Lance telling Shiro things like "turn left at that stop sign."

Maybe Lance should apologize to Keith about the arcade. But if it was something Keith hated so much, he could have said no. Or he could have said he wasn't having fun.

Except when does Keith ever say what he's feeling? And he admitted he's bad at being social. So maybe he felt too much pressure when everyone else was already on board to hit the arcade. And Keith did protest about it being too expensive, so maybe that was his way of trying to say he didn't want to go. Ugh. How can a guy who is so blunt and straightforward be so oblique when it counted most.

They arrive at Lance's house before he can make up his mind about how to apologize, and the sight of his house makes him forget all about saying sorry. It's not that there's anything different about it than usual. It's just that for the first time, he considers how it must look to others.

The yard is a mess. There's the overgrown garden, the grass that is getting long because Lance and his brother still haven't settled their argument about who's chore that should be this summer, there's toys scattered about, and a pile of dog poop is visible in the one patch of dirt where there used to be a bird bath. There's a tree on the side that has a kite tangled in its branches, and the bark is missing on one side near the base of the trunk. The paint on the house is peeling a bit, and the driveway is covered in chalk murals drawn with little artistic talent. It's always been home, and Lance has never had a single second thought about it, but suddenly he's embarrassed, certain that to Shiro and Keith it must look like an absolute dump. Or maybe just to Shiro, since Keith is determinedly staring out his window which overlooks the opposite side of the street. The houses there aren't exactly grandiose either, but at least they're not in quite the chaotic state Lance's place is in.

"Uh, thanks for the ride," Lance says, because his mom raised him to be polite even if he is dying of embarrassment.

"Sure thing Lance," Shiro says in what Lance thinks of as his sensei-voice. Which might be his normal voice actually. Shiro just has one of those voices that sounds all responsible and mentor-y and a bit dad-ish. Like he will love you and protect you always or something.

Lance is only too happy to shut the front door behind him and hear Shiro's car start to drive away.