Keithy my love of loves…
Holy crow I miss you. I know it's only been like three days, but man, this sucks big balls. And not like NICE big balls like yours. Tho yours aren't like HUGE or anything. They are just right to hold in my hand. But yeah. Like sucks big gross hairy balls. My bed is tiny and cramped and has no purry kitty at my feet or mullet in my face or sexy boyfriend in my arms.
I hope you are taking good care of Red for me. I mean I know he's YOUR cat, but I don't want you neglecting him because you're sad or something.
So yeah, I share a tiny little cabin with Dr. Satler and Doug. I'm in the top bunk because I'm skinny, or so Doug claims. Doug IS huge. Like bigger than Hunk big. But not fat or anything. Just muscular. He might even give Shiro competition. So I guess I understand why he gets the roomier bottom and I get the cramped top (hehehe). Dr. Satler gets the actual bed, which isn't much bigger than the bunks. But he doesn't have my ass above him at least.
Dr. Satler is still cool as ever. He even asked me to call him Bill, but I can't bring myself to. I mean, I DO, but I feel very phony when I do. I know, I should consider myself a scientist NOW, but it's not easy to break out of the lowly student mindset, you know? Yeah, I can hear you telling me to stop and be proud and that I'm very nearly a professional. But STILL. How can I be so familiar?
I do call him Bill, but it's NOT easy.
You will laugh to know that I'm banned from the kitchen. Dr. Satler (see I can't even call him BILL IN AN EMAIL!) should have remembered this from the last expedition. But, like, we didn't plan on things like Dora suggested. She had the brilliant idea that we take turns making meals. She even went so far as to put together a chart of cooking duties and cleaning duties because she wasn't about to live on a boat for a month with a bunch of dirty boys. Which is unfair, Keithy, because as you know, I am NOT a dirty boy.
But to be honest…Doug is, so she had a point.
Anyway. I had cooking duties on the first day, but yeah. I burnt it. Like really bad. And, don't laugh, but it was just soup from a can. I didn't think I could mess that up too badly, but I did. I poured four cans of chicken noodle soup into the pot and turned the heat on. But, I forgot. I know. I KNOW! How do I forget? But I started putting data into the computer and it slipped my mind. Dora started screaming because all the broth had boiled away and the noodles and chicken bits and the unidentified veggie bits were all burning on the bottom of the pot.
I apologized, of COURSE, but Dora banned me from the kitchen. I felt bad, so I said if the others cooked, I'd clean up after meals every time.
Everyone agreed.
Which is GOOD because yeah, they all cook better than I do. Doug has a nice touch with fish. You should talk to him when you come to pick me up. We eat a lot of stuff we catch, so a lot of fish fish fish. But that's ok because it's all good. Especially out of the water, into the pan, and onto the plate. So yummy. You should be here just to eat.
I'll call you soon. I think at the end of this week we're going to shore to restock some stuff.
Other than that, my days are full of cutting up chunks of stuff for chum and prepping experiments. We haven't had much luck so far, but yesterday we came across some makos and got some good data. I can't wait to tell you all about it. We got a lot of videos, too, and I'll share them with you so you can see me shirtless and everything.
We are currently off the coast of Baja and plan on running into Cabo at some point. That's not where we are headed this weekend, however. I can't remember the name of the city, but Dr. Satler (still!) said it was more like a village but had a tiny little hotel that cost very little above a really yummy restaurant with spicy food that will melt our faces. Doug is excited about melting his face, and I'm excited to be on land for a few minutes. And mostly excited to hear your voice and see your cute face.
Though, to be honest, I love being out on the sea. Maybe someday in the future we can have a boat? I know the salaries of two teachers probably can't afford that, but I can dream, huh? Or we can retire and live on a houseboat and sail the ocean forever? Because, every night, I go and sit out on the deck after everyone else is asleep and just look up at the billions of stars and make wishes as I listen to the water slap the side of the boat and it is the most peaceful I've ever felt.
And I want to share that with you. The only…ONLY…bad thing is that I can't lie next to you and hold your hand and listen to your breathing and watch the stars with you. That would be perfection.
And oo! How awesome would it be to make love in the middle of the ocean with only the stars to watch us?
I love you so much and I miss my mullet more than anything. I'm having fun and learning a lot, but I'm very sad without you. Give Red a big squeeze for me (if he allows it) and don't run off with any fuckboys before I get home.
Love you!
Lance
Keith sat staring at the canvas. The painting was nearly complete and he was happy with it. It was the one he'd been working on when Lance dropped into his life. With their whirlwind romance, he hadn't had much of a chance to work on it over the past couple of months, especially since he'd spent so much time crafting Lance's birthday gift. Had it only been a couple of months? He felt as if Lance had been in his life forever.
Which made the quiet of the apartment that much more profound. He kept expecting Lance's laughter, or an excited squeal as Lance scrolled through Instagram or a "Keithy, look at Red!" shouted from the bathroom.
He'd always liked the silence in his place, especially when he painted. He rarely turned music on. It helped him get into the zone, but the quiet now unsettled him. He needed the life brought into the place with Lance.
He needed Lance.
Don't get him wrong. Keith was insanely happy that Lance's trip seemed to be going well. The first email this morning was a breath of fresh air into his stale existence. It practically vibrated on his screen with Lance's personality. It was now memorized from how many times Keith read it. Lance must have gotten a signal and dashed it out quickly. Or maybe he'd been writing it as he went and sent it at the first evidence of a signal.
The crew should be somewhere north of Cabo San Lucas by now. It was where the bulk of their research was supposed to be. Keith had even thought briefly of running down there, but he was using his spare money on a surprise party for Lance. He thought a taste of Lance would be worse than waiting until he returned. Besides, Lance had said they usually only spent one night in the town, so he'd only get to see his boyfriend for a few hours at most.
No, it was better to wait.
Red wandered into the room, pausing to stretch his fluffy body in a patch of sun. He'd been asleep on their bed most of the afternoon. Once stretched, he puffed out his hair to appear bigger before stalking over to the couch. A cursory inspection there, then a stalk around the apartment, looking for something. Keith's heart broke because he knew what Red was looking for and he knew Red wouldn't find it.
The regal cat's circuit stopped at Keith's feet and he looked up at his minion with reproachful eyes. He'd done this every day since Lance had left.
"I know, my Lord," Keith told him. "I miss him, too."
Red told Keith exactly what he thought of the situation, as he had also done every day for the past week. He rested the hand holding his palette on his thigh so he could reach his other hand down to rub Red between the ears. The majestic feline allowed his soothing, tail twitching back and forth as he sat on his haunches.
"Do I get some cuddles tonight?" he asked.
Red stood, sinuously weaving his body along Keith's hand. He took it as a 'yes'. Red had been sleeping up in Lance's spot and Keith liked to believe it was because he knew Keith was lonely. It helped a lot, and he appreciated that Red could sense his mood so well.
As Red wandered back toward the couch, Keith indulged himself a little sigh, then looked back at his canvas, eyes roaming the surface. Should he add more purple to the left corner? He positioned his palette again and dabbed his brush into the paint.
"So I know you're going to be mad, considering how I got mad at you about the whole Lance thing," Pidge said, looking away from the screen of her phone.
Keith rarely saw his best friend look this nervous. She would usually cover her nerves with snark or snappy comebacks.
"Okay," he responded, not giving her an easy opening.
"I mean, I did sort of make a big deal because you didn't tell me about him right away."
"Yeah. You did."
"So…" she drew out, then sighed. "Okay. So, I do have some big news, but I wanted to wait until everything was set and a sure thing."
Keith didn't say anything right away. When he did, he tried to hide the irritation in his voice. "So, something important that you didn't bother to tell me?"
"Ugh, yeah, something like that."
Keith did keep his calm, but he stared at his phone screen without expression, secretly enjoying the fact that Pidge was actually squirming. "What is it?"
"A good surprise?" she asked, finally looking back at the screen.
"I'll be the judge of that," he said a little harshly, pleased at how she winced.
"I deserved that," she said weakly. "I'm moving to Altea."
It wasn't completely unexpected to hear. He knew that Pidge had looked into quite a few colleges that would be good for her Master's degree. He knew she had short-listed Altea University – had indeed come for a college visit one week before he'd met Lance and stayed with him while she met with the professors in her field – Mechanical Engineering. She'd been pestering Hunk, and Lance, with questions ever since their visit to Keith's home.
"For school," Pidge added unnecessarily.
"I figured for school," Keith said wryly.
Pidge gave him a lopsided smile, though her eyes still looked wary.
"What made you decide finally on Altea?" he asked.
"Well, they accepted me, first of all. I liked the professors I had met earlier this year. And, to be honest, I missed you. It's why Altea was on top of my list. But, I guess it was talking to Hunk about the program that decided me. He loved doing his undergrad there and he's looking forward to starting his Ph.D. He talked it up a lot and it just confirmed the impressions I had myself. Plus, he's such a nice guy and, like you said, the best human on the planet. We got along great, and we came up with some awesome ideas to work on together."
Keith nodded as her enthusiasm picked up. He'd never tell her, but he loved to listen to her when she was like this because she was usually so focused on her projects or her computer that she didn't often gush like this, but every once in a while she would and it was a nice thing to see. To be honest, however, he was still a little irritated, so he kept his expression neutral.
Pidge paused when she noticed that Keith wasn't smiling or frowning or anything. "Are you really that mad at me?" she asked, her voice small.
Keith drew in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "No, I guess not. I am irritated and I still haven't forgiven you."
She winced, her face scrunching into a grimace. "Fair. I decided to accept Altea back when you guys were here, but I wanted to be sure. I mean, I had already been accepted. I guess I just wanted to wait to make sure everything was good. I'm registered now and everything. I'm moving down at the end of the year and will start in January."
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"Well," she drawled out again, looking away briefly. "I was kind of hoping that maybe we could be roomies. You know, find a place with two bedrooms and share the rent? Or, a house or something? I can't remember when your lease started."
Keith worried at his lower lip with his teeth for a moment. This threw a wrench into his plans. He had been mulling over asking Lance to break his lease and move in with him before the semester started. Or at least at some point before the end of the year. Their relationship had moved fast, but it also made sense to Keith. They practically lived together now. Lance spent every night at his place already ("Your bed is so comfortable, Keith!"). While they hadn't done anything past getting handsy (and mouthy) with each other, they did sleep together every night. Keith had grown used to the weight of Lance's arm around him as they slept and wanted to make that a permanent thing.
There was no way he'd ask Lance to be roomies with Pidge. Lance may slowly be coming to terms with Pidge; he might be on the path to forgiveness. But, to ask him so soon after everything that happened on their trip to Keith's hometown would be probably the worst thing he could do to their relationship.
"Keith?" Pidge apparently couldn't wait anymore.
"Well," he drew out, "I thought I might ask Lance to move in."
"What!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah. I mean, why not?"
"Why not? Have you lost your mind?"
"Pidge," he said frowning.
She immediately backtracked and tried to school her expression. "You've only been dating for a couple weeks."
"Almost ten."
"Still. That's fast."
"True, but he practically lives here already. He hasn't slept in his place in weeks."
"I thought you guys hadn't banged yet."
"We haven't," he said, rolling his eyes. "Just cause we're sleeping together doesn't mean we're sleeping together. I like having him with me."
"Keith…"
"Look, if he hasn't killed me by now he won't. You can't even imagine how much I miss him, and he's only been gone for just over a week."
Pidge's expression was troubled and Keith could practically see the gears turning in her head. "I get that," she finally said, making a grimace that served to raise Keith's irritation. She must have noticed because she held up her hand. "I'm sorry. I'm not meaning to be critical." She ignored his snort. "It's just so quick."
"I've been over this with you and with Shiro. You've met Lance yourself. Can you honestly tell me you think he's up to something?"
"I'm not saying that, Keith," Pidge snapped. "It's just fast."
Keith sighed, closing his eyes. The slight headache at the base of his skull throbbed into a sharper, more general pain. He hadn't slept well since Lance had left, leaving him groggy and thick-headed in the mornings. He'd be a zombie by the time Lance came home, he knew it. "I don't need this, Pidge." He could hear the harshness in his tone.
Her sigh echoed his. "Sorry," she said again. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see how sorry she looked. "I can't help worrying about you. And yeah, Lance is amazing. So are Hunk and Shay. I am happy you made friends there, though I admit I'm jealous. Maybe that's part of my problem, too." Her tone turned thoughtful as she looked up and to the side. "How did my equally introverted best friend easily make himself a friend group when I can't even get the guy at the grocery store to say hi to me?"
He snorted again, but this time with more amusement. "It took me years to make friends, Pidge. And I kind of fell into this here. I certainly didn't go out looking for it."
"True," she agreed. "I guess I want that for myself. Sometimes," she amended. She looked back at the phone. "I'm sorry. I know I keep saying it, but I am. I'm not stupid or blind enough to not realize what Lance has done for you. How much he's brought into your life. I'm grateful to him for that. I can still worry, you know?"
"I know."
"Tell me if the situation were reversed, you wouldn't worry about me?"
"I would," he admitted.
They were silent for a few minutes and, for the first time since this whole mess with her had started, it felt more like their comfortable silence and not the strained silence things had become. "So, you're moving in together?"
Keith shrugged. "I want to ask him. We haven't exactly talked about it."
"I guess I better look for another option, then, huh?" she asked. "Unless we can find a two-bedroom and share?"
"No offense and I honestly mean that, but I'm not going to suggest to Lance that you and he be roommates right now."
She seemed to realize how ridiculous the idea was and blushed a bright red. "Fair, fair. I'm sorry!"
"Quit apologizing, or I'm never going to accept it on principle alone."
"Sorry," she said again, but the little grin following it was a clue that she was deliberately pushing his buttons. And, once again to his surprise, he felt a surge of affection for her, and the desire to laugh. It felt good to him that it seemed that things were normalizing between them. They certainly weren't there as yet, but they were on their way.
Though, in the back of his mind, he wondered what Lance would think of her moving here. They'd talked about it, but having it a reality made things more urgent, especially since Hunk and Pidge had become good friends. He honestly didn't think Lance would have an issue – he'd said as much before. Talking and real life were two different things, however.
Yet, thinking about it, Pidge would be immersed in college – she'd be pursuing a master's degree and would not likely have a lot of time to hang out in the first place. Lance would be neck deep in his doctoral degree as well. Pidge living in Altea would more than likely not detrimentally impact their life. Lance and Pidge would both be busy, leaving little time for interaction. Possibly that would help move along their relationship. Close proximity, but not too much forced interaction, might be what the two needed.
"It's okay," he said when he saw her expression shifting into something worried. "I'm happy you're moving here."
Her expression brightened in a way he hadn't seen in too long a time. It gave him a good feeling inside and that surge of affection settled into the warm feeling he always associated with her. "I'm glad," she said. "I've thought about Altea ever since you moved there."
"I know."
"I'll do my best to make everything up to you and Lance," she said. "I promise."
"I miss you!"
Keith hadn't even gotten the 'hello' out as he connected the FaceTime call. He started laughing, though his eyes drank in the suntanned sight on his laptop. "Fuck, you look so good."
Lance preened at the compliment, though his eyes looked just as eagerly back at Keith. "You look good enough to eat, Keithy. I'd give anything to put my mouth on you right now."
"Soon, baby," Keith growled in a way that made Lance whimper.
"I'm gonna put it all over you."
"Damn right you will."
"Tenth date and all."
"Gods, I really can't wait anymore."
"Well, I hope you do," Lance teased. "Since I'm not there."
Keith stared at the beautiful face on his computer screen, lovely and vibrant and so Lance that his stomach soured. It had only been a week and a half, but Keith felt as if he hadn't seen Lance in a year. His boyfriend looked happy and full of life, while Keith felt flat and empty. "I miss you so much," he said quietly.
A small stab of guilt hit his heart at the way Lance's expression altered. He seemed to lean closer to his laptop which Keith could tell was balanced on his upraised knees. "Oh, baby, I miss you so much, too," he said in a more serious tone than his initial greeting.
Keith had no intention of showing Lance how much his absence affected him. Lance was on an amazing opportunity with some amazing people. A few emails had gotten through from sea by now with long paragraphs of details about the boat, the crew, his research team, and the experiments they were running.
The last thing Keith wanted to do was make Lance worry about him. But one look at the beautiful face gone from his life for a month brought all the loneliness and heartache back in full force. He'd give anything to have that face between his hands right now.
And the thing was, Keith knew how selfish it was to have those thoughts. Unhealthy, too, to be honest. He didn't want theirs to be a toxic relationship where they had to be together every minute. Of course, he enjoyed being with Lance, but there had to be times of separation. Keith knew and understood that. Only, this first one hit him so hard as he lay in bed each night that week, shivering cold in the damp heat of July, a hand on the empty spot next to him that Red tried to fill.
Having slept alone his entire life, he now couldn't without the soft snores and drool on his pillow. His apartment was too quiet, too lifeless, too empty.
This FaceTime call should have been a good and happy call. Lance and crew were on shore in a hotel for the night, to fill up supplies and get a rest. Lance's crew had all gone out to a local bar, but he shot a quick text to Keith to make sure he was awake and available to talk. Keith couldn't get to his laptop fast enough so he could see that beloved face. He was so excited to be able to talk to him, but now with Lance looking sadly at him across the miles, tears started up in his eyes.
"Honey, are you crying?" Keith could see Lance reaching for his screen as if to wipe the tears away.
"I'm sorry," Keith choked out.
"Don't be, love," Lance said, his tone caressing. "I don't want you to cry, but it kind of feels good to know you miss me that much."
"Ass," Keith said with a watery, half-hearted chuckle.
Lance's own eyes were glistening mysteriously now, and Keith felt his heart clench. He shouldn't have let Lance see him in this state. He didn't want Lance to feel any sort of guilt about being on this trip.
"I know," Lance admitted. He gave Keith a loving smile. "Believe me, I've cried myself to sleep every night. It's not the same without that mullet in my face. I can't sleep."
"I can't sleep either," Keith said, so overcome that he didn't object to the mullet reference. "Our bed is so cold without you."
"Our bed," Lance repeated. "I like the sound of that."
"I've called it that before."
"Yeah, but I don't know. After telling me you love me, it feels different."
Keith understood. They each knew they loved the other, and each knew the other loved him, but now that the words were spoken, it was completely different. 'Our' had a special meaning now, a secret, sweet meaning that meant everything to them. Not that they weren't committed to being an 'Our' or an 'Us' before, but now those terms took on a new level.
Which made Keith realize that after the tenth date, they'd take on another layer of meaning and he felt his pulse pick up at the thought.
"Yeah, it does."
Red jumped up on the bed at that moment, voicing his displeasure at Keith. "Is that my Red?" Lance asked. At hearing Lance's voice, Red came up to the laptop to investigate, so Keith situated the device so that Lance could see Red and Red could see Lance. "Hi baby boy," Lance cooed at him.
Keith smiled, his mood lifting somewhat as Lance babbled at Red. It was one of the more interesting aspects of their relationship – how his prickly cat took to Lance so quickly. Red treated everyone with disdain, but right from the start, he'd bonded with Lance. If that wasn't a sign that Lance was perfect, what was?
He wondered what Red thought in his noble cat brain about Lance on the computer. Lance wasn't there to butt his head against or scratch that one spot above the tail that Red loved. Red sniffed at Keith's computer, bumping his head on the corner and reaching a paw up to the keys, which Keith intercepted so it wouldn't cut off their connection. Without the actual Lance there, Red told Lance off in a series of growls, hisses, meows, and cat cuss words before stalking to the side of the bed and jumping down.
"Well, I guess he told me," Lance said, laughter in his tone. Keith resituated the computer on his knees.
"Yes, he did. He misses you, too."
"He does?"
"Yeah. He wanders around the apartment every day looking for you."
"Oh my God, why would you tell me that!?" Lance cried.
"Cause that's what he's doing!"
"That makes me feel a million times worse!"
"More than me missing you?" Keith asked, his lips drawing into a frown.
"Yeah, but you understand why I'm gone," Lance pointed out. "Red doesn't. He probably thinks I abandoned him!"
"He still has me!"
"You both miss me," Lance said and Keith could see his lower lip tremble. He couldn't bear to be the one to make Lance cry.
"We do," he agreed, shifting a little on his bed. "I'd give anything to have you here in my arms."
"I feel so guilty."
Keith's frown deepened and he leaned closer to his screen. "Don't," he said, his voice stern. "I miss you so much, but I'm so proud of you. As much as it sucks, I'm so happy you have this opportunity."
"I know," Lance replied in a pitifully small voice. He wiped at his eyes with his fingers. "I know."
"There's gonna be times that we're apart. I know this is a long time, but it will be worth it."
"I know," Lance repeated.
"It will make it that much sweeter when you're in my arms again."
"I want to stay there for a week when I get back."
"The whole week?"
"Yes! And never leave!"
Keith chuckled. "We'd have to go to the bathroom, or shower, or brush your teeth so I'm not knocked out by morning breath."
Lance made a face at him. "My breath is not that bad."
"After a week, it probably would be."
"True."
"Besides. Isn't there an important tenth date thing we have to do?"
Lance's expression turned coy as a blush colored his cheeks. "Well, I will be in your arms for that, won't I, Keithy?"
"Mhm. All night," he responded, making Lance whimper. "But, there's the actual date, too. I'd like to be clean for that."
"Alright. I take your points. But, I will be in your arms for a very long time when I get back."
"I count on it, sweetheart."
"Dave and Busters?"
Keith nodded, though his attention was focused on his laptop screen which displayed the party options at the chain restaurant. The laptop sat on Hunk and Shay's kitchen island. "I think he'd like it."
"I thought you and I were going to make the food for the party?" Hunk asked, a knife slicing smoothly through the bell pepper on the cutting board.
"I was thinking we could do that the next day. Sunday." Keith straightened from his slump, sighing as he felt vertebrae pop back into place during the stretch. "I thought maybe we could do that Chopped challenge thing they mentioned when we were in Garrison City."
Hunk's hands paused as he looked at Keith across the island with interest. "Oh?"
"Mhm. Colleen will be here. Allura and Pidge could probably go plan out some ingredients. We stock up with a bunch of stuff and go to town."
"Be awful crowded with three of us in one of our kitchens. Neither yours nor mine is large."
"We have three kitchens if we include Lance's place," Keith said. "We can set up something like a Zoom call so we can keep tabs on each other. And someone can be at each place to make sure there's no cheating."
"Not fair to Colleen being in a strange kitchen," Hunk pointed out as he slid the chopped peppers aside and reached for another.
"True. How about if we all used each other's kitchen? I can use this one. You can be in mine. Colleen in Lance's."
"That would work!" Hunk said, grinning at Keith. "As long as you can get your dishes here pretty fast so they're still hot."
"Easy. It's only a five minute drive. Whoever is here watching me can run the plates over after I make them."
"This is gonna be so much fun!"
"So, I figured with that, and the other plans we're starting to make with everyone, we should take it easy on ourselves and do the actual party at Dave and Busters. They cater and there are games to play all night."
"True," Hunk agreed. "Besides, if we add the people from Lance's work, and a couple of people still around from when we were students, I couldn't figure a way we could fit them all into either of our places."
"Yeah. Not like there are too many extras, but there are already eleven of us. It'll be a tight fit as it is."
"Eleven…" Hunk drawled. "Coran was able to pull himself away from the restaurant?"
"I can't believe it," Keith said with a laugh. "He never takes time off, it seems."
"Well, I'm happy he can make it!"
"Who can make it?" Shay asked, sliding onto the barstool next to Keith.
"Coran."
"Oh! Great!"
"And," Hunk said, choosing another pepper to chop, "we're planning on that Chopped challenge thing. And, Keith thought Dave and Busters might be a good idea for Lance's birthday."
"I agree. I was thinking with the guest list, we'd have to hold the party here, and I don't feel like deep cleaning."
"We will still have to. We're doing one of the Chopped kitchens here."
"Dammit."
"It will be worth it," Keith tried. It merely earned him a glare from Shay.
Keith watched Lance chatter on, filling him in on the past few days. Most of it was repeated from the email Keith received the day before, only now Lance got to expand on his stories, his expressive face conveying the excitement of the accomplishments of his team. He must have had a desk or something similar in his room, because the laptop was on a stable surface and Lance sat in a rickety chair, his hands moving constantly as he talked.
A part of Keith's brain was taking in what Lance was saying – Keith could absorb the words while thinking of other things. He was, instead, focused on Lance himself: the exuberant beauty of his motion; the way his eyes sparkled with excitement in the weak light of the cheap hotel room; his shaggy hair, which had grown in the three weeks he was gone; the darkness of his skin, a deepening of his natural color due to constant sun exposure – it glowed in a way that made Keith's mouth water.
"Are you listening, Keithy?" Lance interrupted himself mid-story to ask the question with a laugh.
"Of course I am. You were telling me how Dora almost knocked Bill's laptop into the water yesterday."
Lance leaned forward, filling Keith's laptop screen with his entire face. "Aw, you were listening," he cooed. "I thought you were spacing out from boredom."
"You never bore me, baby." Keith shifted a little on the bed.
"I know," Lance said, his toothy grin beaming on him across the internet. Keith sighed. He wanted so much to kiss Lance right now. "Aw baby, what's wrong?"
"I miss you," Keith answered. In truth, watching the vibrant and beautiful being on his screen, looking so delicious and excited, was doing things to him that he wanted to ignore. Keith wanted to pay attention to Lance. He wanted to hear his stories. He wanted to enjoy Lance's happiness. He didn't need an erection spoiling Lance's story, since it wasn't as if Lance would be able to do anything.
"I miss you," Lance said, pulling his lips into a little frown.
"So the laptop didn't actually fall into the water?" Keith directed Lance back to the story.
It worked. Lance's face brightened and he continued with his tale. Keith, balancing his laptop on his knees, shifted more. He was glad he had on loose shorts and no underwear. He'd quickly showered after coming home from a night with Hunk and Shay and hurried into his sleepwear in time for Lance's call. He should have expected seeing Lance would get him riled up.
Thinking about it as Lance babbled on he surmised that he subconsciously knew Lance would have that exact effect on him – hence only the shorts.
It was a strange misbalance in his head. He wanted nothing more than to talk for hours to Lance. Hell, he'd settle for hours staring at him. Lance didn't have to do anything. He thought of suggesting Lance leave their call connected while he slept, so Keith could lay in bed with his laptop next to him, head on the pillow, and watch Lance snore and drool.
That would be too weird to ask for, though, wouldn't it?
At the same time, he wanted to get off the call and, well, get off. He wasn't proud that he'd been jerking off non-stop for the past three weeks. Before Lance, he did do that occasionally, but nowhere near as much as he did now. Fooling around a little bit before Lance left woke up his libido and turned it up to a thousand percent. He was almost constantly horny and, with Lance gone and unavailable for a hand-or-blowjob Keith had to resort to personally taking care of it.
It was worse when they video-chatted. Thankfully this was only the third time – Lance's crew came into shore once a week and only for the night. The good thing, to Keith, was this would be the last call. When Lance came ashore again, it would be to come home. That thought teased at his brain and his dick because Lance home meant Date Ten and Date Ten meant a lot.
"Are you still there?" Lance asked laughingly.
Keith huffed. "You can see me, can't you?"
"You look like you're spacing out again."
"I'm listening. You were telling me how you tried to teach Doug how to do that Gangnam-style dance."
"Well, yeah, but it looks like you're thinking about something else," Lance said, though he didn't sound upset that he didn't have Keith's full attention. "What's on your mind, baby?"
"You. Thinking about how much I love you. How I can't wait for you to come home."
"Home," Lance whispered the word, his expression morphing into something longing. "I can't wait either, baby."
"How much I want date ten."
Lance coughed, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Keithy…"
"Don't you want it?" Keith's tone turned to lazy teasing.
"Of course, I do!"
"What exactly do you want?"
"You!"
"And?"
"What else is there?"
"My dick?"
"Ugh, when did you get so dirty?" Lance blurted out, exasperated. "You've become such a perv!"
"How is wanting to have sex with you perverted?" Keith asked, giving Lance his best sad look. "You think I'm a pervert?"
"No!" Lance insisted. "Just, damn, you talk dirtier ever since we started messing around."
"I like to see the look on your face."
"What look?"
"That blushy, fake innocent look that you get."
"It's not fake innocent! I am an innocent boy!"
"Not for long."
"Keithy!"
Keith chuckled. Flustered Lance was a fun Lance to watch. Their first time was going to be fucking amazing.
Before Keith could comment, Lance added, "What's that smirk for?"
"Now I'm thinking about our first time. I can't wait to see your pretty face when we make love."
Lance covered that face with his hands. "You can't say stuff like that!"
"I can't say you're pretty?"
"No, you can say that."
"Then what? Make love?"
"Just say 'fuck me'!"
Keith snorted. "I'm trying to be romantic!"
"I'm not used to that!"
Keith knew he wasn't. He'd learned plenty about Lance over the past month. Not only from Hunk when they were at Keith's home on their visit but also from the many calls he'd had from Lance's family. With Lance gone, they apparently thought Keith was a good substitute for talking to him. He hadn't realized Lance gave them his number, so the first unknown caller he'd had from the 786 area code, he'd ignored not realizing it was a Miami one. That earned him a slightly insulted-sounding voicemail from Lance's mother, Sofia.
Keith immediately called back and found himself in a two-hour conversation with the matriarch of the McClain family. It hadn't been his first extended conversation with her, and he found it easy to talk to the warm voice on the other end of the call. He saved her contact information, but the next day another 786 number called him, and, filled with curiosity, he picked it up only to connect with Rachel, one of Lance's sisters.
For the past three weeks, he talked three more times to Sofia, once more to Rachel, four times to Veronica, once to each of Lance's brothers, and once to his father. Abuela also grabbed the phone once from Rachel, talking to Keith for half an hour about recipes. Keith was left in awe after every call to think Lance's family already considered him one of their own.
"Why do you keep squirming so much?" Lance suddenly asked, interrupting his train of thought.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I asked," Lance said, leaning close to his screen. "You look like you're sitting on some fire ants that are biting your butt."
"Nice analogy."
"Are there ants on your butt?"
"Not that I know of."
"Then what's wrong?"
Keith was tired and horny. Seeing Lance close up wasn't helping matters, so honesty slipped out. "My dick is hard. It's uncomfortable."
Lance squawked, flopping back in his chair with his mouth open. "Keith!" he squealed, then lifted his hand to cover his mouth, looking off to the side.
"Aren't you by yourself?" Keith asked, sitting up straighter. Shit, if anyone heard that…
"Well, yeah. But Dora is next door to me," Lance hissed.
"Sorry."
Lance looked back at his screen, but Keith eyed him warily. There was something in his eyes that got Keith a little nervous. "So, you're hard, huh?"
"Mhm."
"Why?"
"Why do you think? I'm looking at you."
And, that little devil sitting in a cheap hotel room in another country leaned forward again, his voice slipping into a little purr, "I'm turning you on?"
Keith felt a throb in his dick simply at Lance's voice. "Mmm, yeah," he said, his voice rough. Dammit.
Now Lance bit his lower lip, his eyes half-closing. "I wish I was there to take care of you, Keithy."
"I wish you were here, too."
"What would you have me do to you?"
Seriously? Lance was really asking him. Was he initiating…what? Live video chat sex? Fuck, the thought turned him on so much he ached. He'd never done anything like this, so he felt awkward as he answered. "Put that mouth to better use than talking."
The fucking smirk Lance flashed him before licking his lips made his dick throb again. "Show me where you want this mouth."
Keith returned Lance's stare – a stare that was a direct challenge. It was tempting, but he suddenly felt shy at the thought of exposing himself to Lance, though Lance had already seen his dick. It felt different over the internet. "A-are you sure?"
Lance grinned, the look of the siren fading. "Only if you want, Keithy. I mean, it might be fun, but if you're uncomfortable, just say so."
There was his Lance. His caring and sweet lover. Keith knew if he were truly uncomfortable and didn't want to do anything, Lance wouldn't push him and, more importantly, wouldn't be upset about it. That alone made him want to do whatever Lance asked of him.
"I'm not uncomfortable. It's just different," Keith answered. "Hang on, let me get some lotion or something."
"You're gonna jerk off for me? So I can watch?" Lance sat up straighter, leaning toward his screen.
"I'll do whatever you want me to do."
"Wait!" Lance yelled. The video feed went everywhere, accompanied by muffled thumps and bangs as Lance scrambled out of his seat. Keith watched, laughing as the screen showed the room in a quick swing around before being blurred by Lance's arm, then a quick flash of the ceiling.
"I'm waiting," he promised. "But, I still want to grab that lotion. My hands are dry."
"Of course, of course!"
"What are you doing?"
"Getting in bed!" Lance said. "I need to be comfortable to watch this. Especially since this is gonna make me so hard."
"Are you gonna jerk off for me, too?"
"Sure, if you want!" Lance said with enthusiasm. He looked like a little kid on Christmas. He'd settled on the bed, cross-legged, and practically bounced with excitement.
"Are we taking turns?"
"How about you start?" Lance suggested. "Honestly, I'll probably join in."
"Let me set up my laptop and get the lotion."
It took a few minutes for Keith to set things up. He grabbed lotion from the bathroom – one of Lance's favorites (he'd smell like Lance at least) – shoved Red out into the hall and shut the door, much to the regal cat's dismay (he loudly complained to Keith) – and set his laptop on top of a couple of pillows. It took a moment to angle the computer screen to put himself into the camera field, but soon he was leaning against his headboard, looking nervously at Lance's expectant face.
He was biting his lower lip again, leaning forward with his arms resting on his thighs. "Can you rub yourself through your shorts?" he requested, his tone wavering.
"Are you nervous?"
"Yeah."
Keith smiled. "Good. I don't feel so bad, then."
"Pfft. Stop stalling."
Feeling self-conscious, Keith gripped himself through the baggy shorts he usually wore to bed. Keeping his eyes on Lance, he roughly stroked up, wincing slightly at how the cotton chafed. He'd definitely need that lotion soon. "Can I take my dick out?" he asked. "This kind of hurts."
"Yeah, but slowly."
"Slowly?"
"Tease me a little."
Keith could do that. He stroked once more, then moved both hands to the waistband of his shorts. He pulled them down slowly and the slower he moved, the closer Lance leaned to his laptop. "It's not like you haven't seen it before."
"Bup bup bup!" Lance exclaimed, shaking a finger at him. "Only sexy talk!"
Keith snorted a very unsexy sound. "I'll do my best."
"Look! He's peeking!" Lance exclaimed, pointing at the screen.
Keith looked down to see that yes, the head of his cock peeked out. "You tell me to talk sexy and you say that?"
"Sorry, sorry!" Lance said with a giggle. "I just miss my lil' Keithy."
Keith pulled the waistband back up. "Little?"
"No! No! No! Bring him back out to play!"
"Maybe he's too little to play."
"Nooooooo!" Lance whined. "I'm sorry! He's not little! He's big and nice and…and…and…girthy!"
"You are killing my mood," Keith said, affecting a frown.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Bring my big Keithy out to play!"
Keith rolled his eyes and let his hands return to his shorts. "I'd like to give you a good spanking," he growled, satisfied at how Lance squirmed a bit at that.
"I'd like you to try that sometime," Lance said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, to see if I like it. I don't know if I would, but I don't want to rule it out. I liked playing bongos on your butt cheeks."
"Not the same."
"To-may-to, to-mah-to."
"Your bedroom talk is probably the weirdest I've ever heard."
"You said you never heard bedroom talk from someone before!"
"No, not directly to me. But, like, in porn or whatever."
"Stop distracting me! Keep going!" Lance insisted, gesturing at the screen.
Slowly, once again, Keith crept his shorts down, exposing the tip of his cock. "You like this?"
"My mouth is watering," Lance whispered.
"Nice and wet for me to shove my cock into, huh?"
Lance let out a little squeak. "Fuck, how I want it."
Keith awkwardly shuffled out of his shorts and tossed them to the side. He noticed a paw scrabbling under the bedroom door. "Shit…"
"What?"
"Red's trying to open the door."
"Aw poor baby! Let him in!"
"Not while I'm sex videoing or whatever this is called. I don't want him to watch me!"
"You've never jerked it with Red in the room?"
"Well, yeah, I have, but this is different."
Lance sighed. "If you say so. Take off your shirt. I want to see those pretty nippies and your nice chest."
"Nippies?"
"And pinch them and bite them and nom nom nom."
"That sounds the opposite of sexy."
"Keeeeeeeeeithy!"
"Okay okay…"
"Slowly."
Keith leaned slightly forward, grabbed the hem of his t-shirt, and slowly played it side to side, almost like a teasing dance, but he suspected he looked silly. Like Lance asked, he took his time lifting it over his head, muttering a muffled "Ridiculous…".
"You needed some music for that part," Lance mused. "Bow chicka wow wow," he supplied.
"Not sexy."
"I beg to differ."
The chill from the air conditioner (finally working now after Lance put his foot down with their landlord) stiffened his nipples and he caressed his hands over them, feeling a little thrill. He'd never really played with them before, but Lance's suggestion of pinching and biting gave him ideas.
"Ooo, yes, play with your nippies."
"Stop calling them that," Keith said absently. It felt nice. Not completely erotic, but did send a nice shiver down his back and made his dick twitch.
"Pinch your left one."
Keith did, letting out a slight hum. "Mmm…"
"You like that?"
"Yeah."
"Close your eyes and think of my fingers pinching."
With his eyes closed, he could almost imagine it, but the lack of warmth at his side from Lance's body messed up the full fantasy. Still, it was a nice thought. "I can't wait for you to touch me like this."
"Soon, baby," Lance said, his voice thick now, and more serious. "Run your hand down your stomach," he instructed.
Inching his hand in a smooth glide down his stomach, he tried to picture it was Lance's hand. He tickled his fingers down the small trail of hair, bumping his hand against his cock.
"Fuck, baby, you look so fucking hot like this. Touch yourself."
He kept his eyes closed. It was easier to slip into the fantasy that way. Lance's hands on him, and not his own hands – one running fingers along his shaft and the other still at his chest, pinching his other nipple. Gods, what he wouldn't give to be able to teleport Lance into his bed right now.
"Don't forget the lotion," Lance murmured.
Right. Lotion. He scrabbled along his side until he felt the tube and, not opening his eyes because he thought he'd come by only looking at Lance, he flipped the cap and squeezed probably too much into his palm. It was too much, he realized, as he pressed his hands together to rub the silky goop on his palms.
However, it felt amazing when he fisted his dick. Keith bit his lower lip and barely heard Lance encouraging him, ordering him to go slow. It wasn't easy because all Keith wanted to do was come, but the bigger part of himself wanted to give Lance this show. His head hit the headboard of the bed and he peeked enough through his eyelids to make sure he was still in the frame. He didn't focus on Lance, who had leaned so close to the screen that it was full of his face. Instead, he looked at the smaller window.
Fuck, he was splayed out like some whore. The pillows where the laptop sat were between his calves, being squeezed slightly as his heels dug into the mattress when a spasm went through him. He could tell Lance had a closeup view of his dick as he stroked it. Beyond his dick was the rest of him, reclined against the headboard with an expression on the way to being wrecked.
He'd never felt this way when jerking off before.
Did Lance watching turn him on that much?
It had to be. That, and the string of curses and praise coming from Lance. How Keith was so good, so hot, so sexy, so beautiful. It was overwhelming. His over-lotioned left hand gripped the comforter, balling it into his fist as his right stroked himself, twisting his wrist and moving exactly how he liked it. While he now preferred Lance's hand with its unexpected moves and rhythms, Keith knew what he had to do to come quickly.
His head banged against the headboard once again as he tilted back, moaning Lance's name as he closed his eyes. He could barely, just barely, imagine Lance's mouth around him – he paused in his stroking to cup the head of his cock in his palm, trying to get some vestige of the feel of Lance. It didn't work, but he was sensitive now and it gave him a thrill of pleasure to rub himself there.
"Fuck, baby. Fuck!" Lance's voice was strained, now, and Keith wondered if Lance was touching himself, but he was too far gone to look. "God, you're beautiful!" Lance gasped.
Keith could hear his ragged breathing, Lance's words, and Red's angry yowls, but all his focus was on coming. "Lance!" he cried.
"Fuck, I want to see you come!"
He didn't immediately. He sped up and desperately chased the feeling with his hand, wishing his Lance was here with him. The release was almost painful as the spasm ripped through his body. He heard but didn't register Lance yelling as everything in his brain zeroed in on his dick. His legs kicked and his hips thrust up while cum shot up onto his abdomen and hand.
Fuck…
That was.
That was fucking incredible. Not as good as when Lance used his mouth or hands, but pretty damn close. Keith couldn't believe how much of a turn-on it was knowing Lance was watching him. Was sitting on a narrow bed in a hotel near Cabo San Lucas, watching him over the internet as he jerked himself off. His tense body started relaxing as post-orgasm euphoria stole over him. He felt a little hungry and thought about the leftovers from the dinner he'd cooked. With a content sigh, he rolled his head to the side, only now realizing it was on his pillow.
Huh? Hadn't he been sitting up?
"Keith! Keith!"
Lance's frantic voice penetrated his brain. Keith tilted himself up on his elbows and looked around. Why was he lying down?
"KEITH!"
Shit! The pillows that were between his calves to prop up the laptop had been kicked to the foot of the bed. The laptop itself lay on the bed, the screen pointing toward the ceiling and the keyboard sticking up in the air. "Fuck!"
"Keith!"
"Oh, shit. Sweetheart! I'm sorry!" Keith scrambled to right the laptop and tilted it back so his face was on the screen and not his ceiling. Lance looked as pale as a suntanned boy could look.
"What happened!?"
"I-I must have kicked the laptop when I came," Keith said, grimacing. "Or, I guess the pillows it was on."
"You came? I missed it?"
"Oh, baby, did I come? It was almost as good as if you'd given it to me."
"I missed the money shot?" Lance shot him his best pout.
"I'm sorry."
"Show me!"
"Show you what?"
"Your cum. I wanna see if you did!"
With a roll of his eyes, Keith briefly dipped his laptop down at an angle to show his stomach where a drying blob remained. "Some is on my hand," he said, waving that in the camera's field of vision. "Oh, shit. And on my computer now," he added with a frown.
"I wanted to see you come. I love your face when you come."
"Next time."
"Keith…" Lance whined. "Go again!"
"I'm not fucking fifteen, sweetheart. I'm spent for the night."
"Dammit!"
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Can't you give me a show?" Keith asked. The thought of watching Lance play with himself very much appealed to him.
"Can I rain-check you?"
"Why?"
"Uh. You scared the shit out of me, so…" he drawled, looking down. "I kinda have a dead stick."
"I thought you were, you know, when I was."
"Well, I was, but then it looked like an earthquake hit, and I couldn't see you, and I panicked and screamed! So, that got, uh, Dora to run in here, so yeah, she's here now."
"What!?"
"She was worried, Keithy!" Lance said. "I was screaming!"
"Please tell me you have pants on!"
Now he heard feminine giggling from Lance's room. Holy shit, how fucking embarrassing.
"Keithy, of course, I do!" Lance said, sounding offended now. He frowned at Keith through the computer. "I wouldn't open the door with my goods hanging out!"
"Oh god! Did-did she see or hear anything?" He scrambled to pull the blanket over his lap. Shit, he was getting his cum all over it.
"Uh, just a teeny, tiny bit," Lance said.
"Not the money shot, Keith!" Dora's voice gaily called out.
"Fuck!"
"Keithy! Baby! Sweet cheeks! Dora didn't see your wangdoodle!"
"I'm hanging up," Keith said. Hundreds of miles away from these two and his face was flaming hot.
"No! No no no! Not yet! It's okay! Dora really didn't see anything! We just heard you catching your breath is all!"
"I am never doing this again."
"So, how you holding up?"
Keith, sitting at his dining room table, now graced with the colorful runner Lance found at the bed and breakfast they'd visited in Napa, propped his chin in his upraised hand. He shrugged, putting on a little pout directed at his brother. "Hanging in there."
"He should be home soon, though, right? If my math is good."
"Despite the fact that you sucked at math, you're correct. He'll be home Sunday."
"I did not suck at math," Shiro objected. "Much."
"You were too busy sucking at something else."
"Keith!"
The side of Keith's mouth lifted in a half-hearted smirk. "Anyway…"
"How's the planning coming?"
"Good. I mean, it's not like I have much to plan. It's not a big party. Just us and a few friends that Lance works with."
"Do you need me to do anything?"
"Mmm, I don't think so. We're going to have his big party at Dave and Busters, so they'll take care of everything. Shay ordered a cake. I think we're good. Maybe for the more private party."
"Private party? You mean your tenth date?"
"Jesus fuck, Shiro," Keith said, moving his hands to cover his face. Shiro laughed heartily at him.
"I guess we can help decorate for that," Shiro suggested. "Do you want rose petals on the bed? Or maybe more of a whips and chains theme?"
"I literally hate you right now."
"No, you don't."
With his cheeks burning, Keith muttered as he dropped his hands to the tabletop, "The tenth date will be before the party."
"Ahh, so you'll be nice and relaxed, then? No wonder you think Lance will be okay with us there. You'll have mellowed him out with sexy times."
"You think you're funny, but you're not."
"No, I am. Just ask Allura."
Keith heard Allura's voice call from somewhere at their home, "Not really, honey!"
"She's not wrong."
"Wow, ganged up on by my brother and my girlfriend," Shiro said, his mouth forming a pout.
"Remember how we talked about doing a Chopped thing?" Keith asked, ignoring Shiro's sad face.
Allura appeared on the screen, scrunching up against her pouty boyfriend. "Yes!"
"Hunk and I figured out how to work that out for here," Keith said, pointing down at his table. "So, we thought we'd do that for Lance's birthday. Probably the day after Dave and Busters." He described what he, Hunk, and Shay had all planned out the other day to celebrate Lance's return and birthday. "If you can stay for a few days, that would be great. I already talked to the aquarium to get Lance that Monday off in case you guys head back on Tuesday."
"I think we can do that," Shiro said, smiling.
"This is gonna be so fun!" Allura said, beaming through the connection at him. "Oh! I heard that Pidge told you she's going to go to Altea in January."
Keith nodded. "Yeah, she told me."
Allura poked at Shiro to scoot over in his chair so she could sit, only the chair wasn't wide enough, so Shiro was poked until he had to get off the chair. Instead, he went down on his knees so that Keith could only see his face above his mouth. It took most of his power not to laugh. Allura leaned forward with a serious expression. "Are you okay with that?"
Keith nodded slowly, his eyes held by this young woman who had wedged herself into his and Shiro's life. He had liked Adam when he and Shiro dated. Adam always treated him kindly, was funny, and shared an interest in cooking. Allura, however, was an entirely different person from Adam and confused Keith at first.
It wasn't simply a surprise that Shiro, who he had always thought was gay, was interested in Allura. Her personality was nothing like Adam's. Looking back, Keith supposed that made sense. Adam had broken Shiro's heart by leaving the way he did. And, while Shiro had understood, it wasn't easy to get over someone you expected to be with the rest of your life.
When Shiro and Allura started dating, around the time Keith turned sixteen and deep into his 'emo' phase, he resented her presence in their life. He waited for her to try and take on a 'motherly' role towards him, but it never came. If anything, she was no-nonsense, practical, tactful, and honest. Her playful side appealed to him, and he came to view her more as a sister than anything. Admittedly, it was awesome to see how much she picked on Shiro, which of course made him love her all the more.
"I am," he said, happy that he meant it. "Hopefully, things will be better by then. At least it's a few months away. Gives Lance time to get used to the idea."
"Okay, good."
Keith decided to tell them the whole story. "Pidge mentioned maybe rooming together, but…"
"But?" Allura asked though he could tell from her amused expression that she knew. Shiro's eyebrows drew together, though Keith couldn't tell if he was smiling or not.
"I'm thinking Lance and I will move in together by then. I mean, he's already living here." He could hear the defensiveness in his tone and he tried to modulate it. "No point in paying rent for two places."
"Makes perfect sense," Allura agreed, darting her eyes at her boyfriend. "Would you stay in your place or find something bigger?"
"Maybe something bigger. Hunk and Shay's townhouse is nice, and I think Lance would be happy being closer to them."
Allura laughed. "Five minutes is too far right now?"
He was surprised to hear Shiro laugh at that as well. It felt as if another weight had lifted off Keith's chest. "As close as Hunk and Lance are? Absolutely." He watched as Shiro must have moved to a semi-squat. His face came more fully into the frame. "I'll bring it up to him when he gets back."
"It's a great idea," Shiro commented, and Keith could see his sincerity.
"Oh, reminds me. Did you grab a hotel for the first night?" Keith asked.
"Yeah. We're staying at the Holiday Inn around the corner from you. I can extend it if we need to," Shiro replied.
"You shouldn't have to. Once we have the surprise party at the restaurant, we can stay at Lance's and you guys can sleep here. I think Hunk mentioned that Matt and Pidge can stay with them."
Shiro nodded. "The Holts and Coran got rooms at the same hotel as us."
"Okay, thanks. I was going to call Colleen and see what their plans are. I don't have to now."
"I'd suggest you still call Colleen," Allura advised. "You don't want to be on her bad side."
Shiro looked at Allura, then back at his screen. "Are-are you sure we'll be welcome? It is Lance's birthday party and he might not like me or Pidge there."
"I think so. Lance and Pidge were doing a little texting before he left."
"He sent me a couple of emails," Shiro said.
"He did? He didn't mention it to me."
Shiro chuckled, looking back up at the camera. "I can't tell you why, but he had a question or two to ask."
"Why can't you tell me?"
"I'm sworn to silence," Shiro said. He mimed zipping his lips shut. "You don't need to know. So, I answered and asked how the research trip was. He didn't respond for a week, but when he did, it was a long email. I'm hoping it's a good sign."
Keith smiled, a pleased feeling stealing over him. "He loves to talk about his research. You asked exactly the right thing. It took a week because they don't have any signal or anything on the boat."
"That's what he said. Sounds like he's having fun."
Thinking of the other night and their video chat fun, Keith flushed slightly. "He is."
Shiro leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What's the blush for?"
"None of your business," Keith snorted. "I think it's a good sign, anyway. He said before he left that he'd like to see you all again soon."
"I hope 'soon' for him is in a week and a half. I'd hate to be the one to ruin his birthday."
"I think he'll be okay."
"I'll toss you under the bus if he gets upset."
"I'm okay with that."
Keith had little to no hope of talking to Lance on his actual birthday. He sent off an email wishing Lance a happy birthday, detailing everything he loved about Lance, with the hope that he'd get it before or on the day. He called Lance's number a few times, but it went immediately to voicemail. Keith tried hard not to feel frustrated. Over the past few weeks, he'd been able to video chat with Lance twice, had gotten numerous emails, and one phone call made it through. It wasn't as if he'd had no contact.
Today was Lance's birthday, and while it sucked they couldn't be together, Lance was back in three days. In fact, according to Lance's last email, received yesterday, they should be on their way back along the California coast, headed to Altea's marina. Barring any delay, he'd be back in Keith's arms on Tuesday. Keith had morning classes, but he was fully prepared to cancel them if the boat arrived early.
Today, however, felt very long. It was Saturday, and he didn't have the distraction of classes. Hunk and Shay were on a little adventure of their own, checking out a couple of possible venues for the wedding. He'd been invited to come along, but he didn't want to intrude on their special planning time.
He'd cleaned the apartment. Again. Then went next door to make sure Lance's apartment was fine, dusting mostly, and cleaning the floors. He'd groomed Red. Worked more on his painting. Prepped something for dinner. And, it was only mid-afternoon. He knew Hunk and Shay weren't going to be home until late, and he forced himself not to cave and text them. "Don't interrupt them," he told himself sternly.
It was a little early, but he could throw his dinner – a simple casserole – into the oven to bake. Maybe eat early and try to call Lance again. He was weak enough to admit that what he really wanted to do was wish his boyfriend a happy birthday on the actual birthday. Keith tried not to dwell on the fact that Lance's first birthday with them as a couple was spent with an ocean literally between them.
Even the beeps on his stove as he set the timer for his dinner annoyed Keith. Everything was annoying Keith today. It had been a long time since he'd felt this restless. Before Lance, he usually didn't fuss too much when he had nothing to do. Maybe a run to get rid of his energy? But, he'd just put his dinner in the oven and didn't feel up to running on a full stomach. Fuck, he couldn't think straight without Lance.
With a snort, he had the thought that he couldn't think straight with Lance, either.
Red watched him pace the apartment from his perch on the back of the couch. The majestic feline rarely lay there, but it must have offered him a perfect view of his restless minion. When he passed by the couch, he stopped long enough to give Red a quick scratch along his back, but soon returned to pacing.
Maybe he should try a FaceTime call once more. With that thought, Keith stalked to his desk and dropped into the chair. Before he clicked on the app, he noticed he had email, so he checked his messages real quick and felt his heart jump into his throat. There was an email from Lance.
With trembling fingers, he clicked on the message, noticing absently there was an attachment to it.
My love!
I got your birthday wishes today! Miracle of miracles! I tried to call, but the connection is spotty at best, even though Dr. Satler (still!) guided the boat a little closer to shore in the hopes of getting a better signal. This man is way too nice to me!
I'll be trying to send this email all day if I can. The attachment might be a problem, but I am determined. Actually, since we're cruising up the coast toward home, I'm just gonna alternate between calling you and hitting send…in the hopes one of them will work.
I hope the attachment comes through. I made it for you!
Your email was so sweet! I cried for an hour after I read it. You love all those things about me? Even the annoying things? I love you so much and someday soon I'm going to sit my ass down and list out everything I love about you, which I know will take me forever because there are so many things. I probably should make it easy and write down everything I don't love about you because that list will be a big, fat ZERO.
Only a couple more days, my love. A couple of more days before I'm kissing on you! I can't wait!
All my love!
Keith reread the short email a dozen times, soaking in the overall tone that breathed Lance and gave him a jolt of Lance's energy somehow. Gods, how he missed that energy.
The attachment turned out to be a video. Lance, who had some experience editing clips (he had done it for his Master's defense), put together a montage of their day. He watched the short, almost five-minute clip with a smile and tears in his eyes. Lance's research crew had put together a celebration for him. Doug had made a special lunch for him, Dora had a cake (Keith couldn't figure out how she managed it), they all sang 'Happy Birthday', and there were even candles on the cake for Lance to blow out. The smile on Lance's face gave Keith the best, warm feeling in his chest. Seeing Lance excited, blushing, and happy made Keith just as happy.
But it was the end of the video that made the tears fall. Lance, sitting at the front of the boat, the breeze tugging at his curls and the ocean spreading out to the horizon behind him. Lance was holding his phone selfie-pose to talk. His blue eyes seemed bluer than the gentle waves in the background. He looked at Keith through the phone with a loving expression that brought a lump to his throat.
"Cariño," he said, "I wish more than anything I could be with you on my birthday. I know you would spoil me rotten and I expect that when I return." Keith smiled at the way Lance laughed. The boy wasn't lying. "I've always been home with my family on my birthday, and Mama would make a ton of food and Papi would roast a pig in the pit. Abuelita would make all sorts of delicious desserts, and Tia Rosa always brought a terrible flan. I thought, this year, I would miss my family, and I do, but now you are the first thought I have when I think of missing my family. You and Red." Keith reached up and wiped at his cheeks with one hand. "Because you are, my love. You are my family, and I can't wait for the rest of our lives together. Stop crying and smile, because I'll be in your arms soon. I love you!"
At the end, Lance blew him a dozen kisses before the video cut out, freezing on a frame of Lance with lips pursed and hand paused in the midst of blowing the kiss toward him. His eyes were crinkled and he looked so gorgeous that Keith's breath caught.
It took Keith a long time to close out the video because he was reluctant to lose the blurry-ish paused still frame. When he quit the email program, his desktop picture filled the screen. It was a photo of him and Lance Hunk had taken at the Pickle Festival. He reached up to trace Lance's face with a finger. The pair were laughing about something, Keith wasn't sure what it was with all the inappropriate jokes of the day. They wore their pickle hats and their "Tickle my pickle" t-shirts. Keith had never seen himself look so happy.
That was the first night they did anything sexual, he remembered. Since then, they'd explored each other in all ways but one. And that one was coming soon.
He chuckled at the thought of 'coming' because yes, both literally and figuratively they both would. He couldn't wait, because he knew for him, and for Lance, it was so much more than making each other feel good physically. This was his soulmate, and the only one in the world he wanted to let see at his most vulnerable.
Lance said to stop crying, so he forced himself to laugh as he wiped the rest of the tears away. His love would be home soon, and he couldn't wait.