Warning: None
Characters: Keith, Allura (briefly Hunk, Lance, Pidge, Matt, Shiro, Adam)
Notes: For the awesome Strawberry Seeds: A QPR Kallura zine, which is full of so much amazing talent!
Summary:
Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender and make no profit from this work.
"Date of birth please."
"April 23rd."
"Year please."
"And just why do you need to know that?"
"Because it's a requirement."
"So you can call me an old bag?"
Keith hates his job. One of his jobs at least, the other one at the bookstore is pretty cool since he mainly does stock work in the back without having to be around customers too long. The pharmacy job sucks ass though, and he wishes he could quit but he needs the money bad.
It's dead right now since the pharmacy is near closing and Keith prays that it stays that way. Then the door chime jingles and he suddenly wants to jump out a window. The interloper is a young woman who's practically gliding down the aisle (even Keith can tell when someone is that graceful) until she's about a foot away from his register.
Then she staggers and tilts forward. And, instead of just lifting the counter beside him up on its hinges, he vaults over in one smooth motion (something he's totally been practicing since it's way cooler) and catches her just before her face can hit the ground.
For a moment he waits, thinking she'll get back up, but that's…uh definitely not happening. So he turns her over and lifts her bridal style, carrying her over to the small couch in the waiting area and lying her down.
Keith looks her over for a moment and realizes that she's objectively very pretty, but in a different way from most other uni students. And how unique her long, fluffy cloud-like hair is that contrasts with her smooth dark skin. It's funny since he's the opposite, with dark hair and bedsheet-white skin. She's kinda like a princess from a kid's storybook.
He stands, walks over to the snacks section, and grabs a bag of plain chips and some fruit gummies. He actually uses the stupid hinged counter like he's supposed to and pays for everything, then closes out his register. He's done for the night and the head pharmacist can yell at him tomorrow for it.
He leaves out the snacks and goes to count out his register while waiting for her to wake up, which she does in about five minutes. "You can eat the snacks on the counter there. Already paid for them."
He keeps an eye on her, her movements measured as she slowly sits up on the couch. He's nearly done with his register before she finally approaches the counter and takes the snacks back to the couch. And he's never seen anyone eat a bag of greasy chips so elegantly, it's kinda infuriating. He decides to drop off the register while she finishes.
"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness."
Keith stops just before he reaches the back door, register in hand. Despite her being so far away, her very normal volume voice carries all the way to him. It sounds both regal and soft, yet assertive. A confidence in it that doesn't need any forcefulness. Reminds him of Shiro.
He turns to face her and has to speak a bit louder to make sure his own voice carries. "It's fine. You good?"
Her hands are resting on her lap, posture prim and proper. "Yes, I—I must have not eaten well enough. I should be more cautious from now on." And she opens the bag of gummies, working on them one at a time.
"You'd be surprised at how many college kids do this. Well uh…not pass out or anything. But they might as well with how dead their eyes look."
That gets a chuckle out of her and he can't help but snicker too. "I'll be back in a bit. You can rest there some more until I'm done, then I'm locking up."
She nods and he leaves, but when he comes back out she's gone. He didn't even hear the door open or close either, like some kinda faerie or whatever those magical shits are called.
He looks around and spots laying on the counter what looks like a business card on top of cash. A lot of cash. Holy shit that's a lot of money. He pockets it, of course, he's not exactly rolling in dough, but there's a weird sensation in the pit of his stomach when he does.
"And she left you her number?"
Keith has to push Lance's pointer finger out of his face. He never mentioned the wad of cash the woman (Allura, according to the card) left him. He's honestly feeling even weirder about the money after sleeping on it. "Yeah, on a fancy business card and everything."
Lance puts his hands on his hips and continues. "That's like…movie level meet cute."
"The hell's a meet cute?"
"Oh my god—Hunk do you hear this blasphemy?"
Hunk rushes over, a box of books dropped a little too close to their feet. "Lance, get this man a romcom immediately! Well, immediately after work."
Lance nods, then grins while resting the crook of his pointer and thumb against his chin. Keith knows this face and he hates it, because it means either a McClain scheme or Q&A is coming. "So, have you called her number yet?"
"What, of course not. That would be weird." He feels antsy just thinking about it, and grabs the box that Hunk dropped. "Unlike you two, I need to get back to work."
Lance moves surprisingly fast and snatches the box from him. "Where do you think you're going? We have plenty of time to fix this." While technically that's true, since the bookstore won't open for another few hours, he doesn't want this conversation to happen. "Later today we're calling her, Mullet."
"Knock it off idiot." And he snatches the box back. "I'm not calling anyone, it's weird okay?"
"You're just gonna leave a pretty lady waiting?"
"Exactly."
As it turns out, Lance didn't even have to make him call her. Because she walks right into the bookstore an hour after opening. And of course, Keith just happens to be in the storefront restocking some shelves when she does.
"Ah, hello there!" She approaches and he feels like a deer in headlights. It feels way too surreal and for a moment he thinks she might have followed him. "I appreciate you helping me once again. I did not realize in my haste that I never asked for your name."
"I, um. It-it's Keith. Keith Kogane. Nice to meet you, Ms…Allura?" He's about to hold out his hand, he feels a strange need to still be polite to her despite the awkward situation. But holy shit is she actually curtsying? Like medieval times royalty or something? He panics and barely remembers that he's supposed to bow in return so he does it without thinking, and becomes very aware that the other customers and employees are staring at them.
As it turns out, she really didn't know he worked at the bookstore, since this was her first few days in town. She was only there to purchase a few textbooks for class.
"I did not mean to embarrass you. Had I known, I would have waited at the pharmacy instead." Said books were purchased and are in a cloth bag elegantly hanging from one shoulder.
Keith takes an early break after Hunk was nice enough to cover for him, and the two are standing just outside for a bit more privacy. "It's fine, I was just surprised is all. Um…also. I wanted to give this back to you. I can't take your money like that." And he hands her the cash that weighed down his pocket like a stone.
"Please, I insist. I must compensate you for your kind actions."
He shakes his head. "Thanks, but I didn't help you to get rewarded. So you can have it back." He's worried she'll still refuse and he can't just force her to take it. But then she does and his stomach is a little less twisted after that.
She stares down at it for a moment. Then a smile slowly creeps on her face, and she looks back up at him, eyes bright. "If you cannot accept monetary compensation, then please accept an invitation to one of those…'coffee cafes?' I have heard so much about. Your choice and I will treat. Please text me the day and time, as you have my card Mr. Kogane."
He doesn't think to do anything else but nod, a bit thrown off by the quick-fire invite, before she strolls off as if she's gliding. He's still trying to process the whole thing when Hunk's beefy arms wrap around him and he hears the loudest wolf whistle from Lance.
It's odd, he thinks, how normally he'd rather crawl out of his skin than hang out with someone he barely knows. But it's different with her somehow. Like he wants to get to know her better. And it almost makes him forget that his coworkers had been listening in this whole. Almost.
Keith nearly chickens out, and normally he probably would. But there's a strange tug that pulls at his chest when he thinks of blowing her off. It's not right, it doesn't feel right. These thoughts swirl around his head constantly and he recognizes the need for a final push before committing to this.
Luckily he gets it two-fold. The first is from the head pharmacist, his brother Shiro, who slaps him on the back for zoning out yet again in the middle of the afternoon rush.
"Just go Keith," he says after staying behind with him after closing. "It wouldn't hurt you to make another friend, and she seems like she really wants to get to know you."
He knows this, of course. And, thinking about it, he feels wrong. Like he's closing off a relationship that shouldn't be closed.
Pidge and Matt, during their gaming night on Keith's off day, both say essentially the same thing.
"You're telling me you can pass up company with a beautiful young lady, just like that?" Except Matt is closer to Lance.
"Don't forget loaded."
"Oooo yeah that's important too!"
Keith sighs. Partially at the sibling antics, but also at the fact that Pidge is sitting upside down on Shiro and Adam's living room couch and can still execute a frame-perfect 10-hit combo to finish off his character. "I just, I don't know. What if it doesn't work out?"
Pidge tosses her controller to Matt and rights herself up. "Why are you so worried about this? Just meet up with her. If she's a jerk then leave her alone."
Matt is lying on the carpeted floor, trying to grab the controller next to him without looking. "You're never this worried about someone. What makes her any different?"
That question rings in Keith's head long after they leave.
"So lemme get this straight. You're loaded but your dad is still making you go to college with the rest of us commoners?"
Allura's forehead pinches and he wonders if he struck a nerve. It's not like he's upset or anything, just confused. Is this one of those bizarre tests rich people do with their kids or something? He sips his iced tea, glad that the coffee place he picked near his college campus is packed, which means more privacy for them. And they even scored a window seat.
She sips at her own smoothie, some green plant-based hell that he wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, before answering. "This may sound insincere but, I do not think less of anyone here. Though my Father does believe that I should not isolate myself, unlike others with wealth tend to."
"But aren't you my age? Why are you starting college late?"
"I previously attended Altea University. But then decided to change my major to what Galaxy Garrison University is famous for."
"Wait, you're majoring in aeronautics? That's my major!" At her excited nodding, he's suddenly more energetic. He can tell Allura feels the same as she leans forward, eyes shining.
Though he wasn't planning on it, they spend another two hours chatting about their major and he gives her a crash course on what to expect with class requirements. Allura is sipping on a different smoothie now, a normal-looking mango and pineapple mix, and Keith swirls around another peach tea.
"So you live off campus?"
She sighs. "My Father and Uncle are overprotective and they insisted, though I wanted to experience dorm life."
"Dorms suck, but they suck no matter what college you go to. Black mold, weird smells, bad fire alarm, the usual. And it's way too loud, all the parties and shi—stuff. Not to mention my roommate sucks, he thinks he's my rival or something."
"That sounds dreadful. It seems having my own apartment was the best choice after all..."
For a moment that last sentence almost gets away from him, as he's distracted by how she never uses contractions when speaking. But then his brain catches up. "You have your own place? Like, by yourself?"
"Is that not usual?"
Keith snorts.
She suddenly grins and points directly at him. "Fear not, once I arrive and trounce your top grades you will only focus on me."
He bangs on the table, blood thrumming in his veins at her words. "You wish. Hope you like second place." And he can't help but return her grin with his own.
Over the course of the summer, they chat almost every day at the pharmacy. Mainly at night before and while he's closing, but sometimes she'll drop in the morning too, just in time to witness some stupid ass argument between him and a customer.
Though he's glad she can see the good too, like being able to lower the price of a prescription from nearly a thousand bucks to only $30 with the power of in-store coupons, and bring an old lady to tears. She actually waits in line just to hug him tight and, after a moment of shock, he returns it just as strongly.
Sometimes she even invites him back to her place, which isn't far from campus, for study sessions since she has to catch up with coursework. The first time he's a bit weirded out since this is someone else's place and why would she suddenly trust him? Shiro promises to be ready in case anything happens.
But it goes well and, after the first hour, Keith feels…comfortable. At home enough to casually wave to her uncle Coran when he drops by to check on her and, to his credit, he greets Keith just as energetically as he does Allura.
It turns out she's a real hardcore gamer, and has a tricked-out gaming PC with the most gorgeous RGB lighted casing and the cleanest cable management he's seen since Hunk and Pidge's own rigs.
He gets comfortable enough to introduce her to his friends and coworkers (who are also his friends) and they take to her surprisingly well. Lance immediately goes heart eyes and Allura mistakes his terrible flirting for an attack, restraining him in an instant. Hunk pats a tearful yet still very interested Lance on his back, while Pidge and Keith are doubled over in laughter.
And after summer vacation is nearly over, Keith finally works up the nerve to invite Allura to Shiro and Adam's home for dinner. She fawns over Adam's cooking and the pair in turn dote on her. Seeing his brothers chat with her, there's a warmth gathering in his chest at the sight, something he hasn't felt in a long time. And he has a sudden thought that he doesn't want to lose this feeling.
Allura has never felt this close, this comfortable, with another boy her age before. From the moment they first meet, there's an odd pull at her chest. A desire, she believes, to learn more about him.
And when she invites him for lunch, it doesn't even occur to her until she returned home that letting a strange boy choose the location they meet up might not have been the safest option. But there's no sense of fear. After how he helped her with no hesitation or thought of being rewarded, she knew he could be trusted.
It feels natural to chat and banter with Keith, as if they've known each other for years. She visits the pharmacy nearly every night a few hours before closing, and occasionally in the morning to better witness gems like these:
"Ma'am, you do this every time you come here. I already know you're 57."
"Then if you know what an old biddy I am, why do you keep asking me?"
"Because it's store policy."
"You didn't deny it, you think I'm an old biddy!"
"Just give me your date of birth!"
Allura would never tell Keith (that's a lie, she tells him when he closes that night), but watching him get so worked up is one of her great pleasures in life.
"You don't have to help me finish, you know. You're not even getting paid for it."
Allura continues to fix the aisle of medicine while Keith counts through his register. She's sure he's supposed to do that all in the back but she noticed he'll stretch out any time to speak with her. And she enjoys it too. "This is fun to me, not to mention you could use the help."
He tries to hide a small smile behind a dollar bill, but she spots it anyway. "After I'm done, wanna walk around a bit? I'll carry your bags for you."
He's always so embarrassed when she does little favors for him, which makes her want to dote on him even more. "That sounds lovely. Though I think you will soon regret offering to carry my purchases. Especially once I am 'warmed up.'"
She revels in the horror slowly creeping on his face.
Allura has gone over this many times with Uncle and Father. They both approve of Keith, having met him at least once this summer, and she realizes how many traits Father and Keith share. Something that Uncle notices as well and what wins him over in the end.
But she's still nervous, that Keith might see this as too forward or odd or that she's trying to 'come onto him' as others would say. But she truly enjoys his company and couldn't imagine anyone else living with her once university begins.
She visits him at the pharmacy, purposely waiting until after closing for the most privacy. "Keith, may I ask you something?"
He's in the middle of rearranging some behind-the-counter medicine off to the side and out of her immediate view. But his voice still carries to her. "Yeah sure, what's up?"
She bunches the material of her blue floral skirt in her hands for a moment, before taking a deep breath and steeling herself. "Would you be willing to…live with me? As a roommate?"
The sound of dropped pill bottles immediately follows and Keith reappears at the counter. "What?"
She asks again, and he's silent, simply staring at her. Then he responds, whispering. "Um…you know I'm a guy, right?"
She huffs, but the affection is still there. "Is this a question in jest?"
He shakes his head and runs fingers through his already shaggy hair. "It's just…I mean no one actually trusts me, and then I'm a dude too so like. Isn't that bad or something?"
She approaches the counter, mind racing with the implications of what he said. Someone must have made him feel this way in his past and it breaks her heart. "Why should I not trust you? Do you plan on harming me?" He stutters out a no, eyes wide. "Then there is no issue. Your decision solely depends on if you feel congenial with the arrangement."
Keith chews on his bottom lip between his teeth. Time drags on as she waits for a response, but she's nothing if not patient.
"I…could I talk to Shiro and Adam about this first? I mean, like thanks for the offer and all! Just—"
"Of course! This is an important decision after all. And once you figure it out, messaging me your answer is fine. I simply wanted to ask in person."
The next afternoon, while she's shopping for apartment furnishings with Uncle, a chime sounds from her phone. She reads the message and can't help the wide smile on her face. It seems she'll have a roommate this fall after all.
Somehow, Keith is able to maintain both jobs and his grades, the former he keeps to weekends. Their roommate life is peaceful, though Keith is unsettlingly quiet at first, barely leaving his room except for odd hours. She simply can't allow this so she convinces him to cook for them daily, after tasting what was the best french toast in her life from him one day, and he enjoys it as well.
In fact, that one act blooms his personality like a flower. He's far more animated after that, and breakfast and dinner quickly become their favorite times of the day (other than the pharmacy chat and now the bookstore hangout, and oh gaming time as well!).
Around six months into their arrangements, Allura comes back from an errand to the delectable scent of beef stew and finds Keith tasting it in the kitchen. He turns to face her with a greeting and smile and, without thinking, she approaches him and pecks him on the cheek.
"Uh. Um," Keith responds.
Guilt and shock catch up to her. "Oh. I am so sorry. I should have asked before I—I do not know what came over me." And she quickly leaves for the living room.
She's not sure how much time passes with her sitting there, her eyes unable to drift from the coffee table, but Keith eventually comes out of the kitchen and joins her on the couch. She looks up, ready to apologize again, and is shocked when Keith wraps his arms around her. His embrace is slightly awkward but warm. "It's okay. It was…nice. Just surprised you would even want to do that."
Allura wraps her own arms around him. "Of course I would. You have become very dear to me."
Keith buries his face in her shoulder and his muffled "you too" makes her heart sing.
Years later and the pair are still together, living in the same apartment from their college days. When people nose around about their relationship, Allura responds with grace and pride, that they're life partners and happy to be with each other. And Keith knows he's being a sap but he can't help the warm feeling in his chest every time she says it.
And if their comments turn jeering and suggestive as to the "real" nature of their relationship, Keith responds with a lot less grace and possibly a punch to the face depending on the comment.
But that's the furthest thing from his mind right now, as they dance around the living room floor to some anime remix abomination that they both cherish regardless. The dance itself is a weird mix of tango and salsa, as they spin and dip each other, switching between Leader and Partner roles on the fly.
The doorbell rings, and they stop to answer, laughing and clinging to each other. Keith is thankful it's Lance, Hunk, Matt, and Pidge on the other side since they won't comment on the sweat clinging to his and Allura's faces.
"You lovebirds having fun without us?"
Keith can't bring himself to be remotely upset with Lance, because half his dirty jokes make no sense. Matt slaps him on the back and snorts, Hunk chuckles, and Pidge rolls her eyes but they all come in with food, snacks, and drinks in hand for their monthly movie night.
Keith takes their bags and gives Allura a peck on the cheek without thinking about it, before heading into the kitchen to drop everything off. His cheeks heat up, but it's easier showing his affection for her. And it makes them both happy. Proving it, Allura soon approaches and melts into his arms, and he returns the warm hug after only a moment, chin resting on top of her head.
Platonic Kallura is such a power couple, they own my soul. I need to do even more QPR fics, stat.