Chapter Text
“So…How do we do this?”
Lance raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Impeccably dressed in a sapphire suit with a turquoise dress shirt.
He just recently found himself under immense pressure because ladies and gentlemen he is on a date.
Not just one date but ten.
Count to 3…
Take a deep breath…
Just the ninth person you’ve seen tonight…
Lance fettles with his number on his jacket.
“So my name is Lance, and I’m not usually like this but I find you really attractive. Why don’t you and me ditch this place and head out somewhere a little quieter?” He wiggles his eyebrows for effect.
The other person across the table giggled and casually leaned against the table. Violet eyes sparkling with mirth.
“You know, that wouldn’t be so funny if I didn’t hear you try it eight other times. I’m Keith. Nice to meet you. There’s a burger place up the street. Wanna go?”
Lance lets out a huge sigh. Flattening himself against the table. “Yeeesssss!!!!!” He pulls off his tie. Relieved and now relaxed.
The two get up from their table and take their numbers off.
“Who ever invented this, they were a masochist. Fuck speed dating. For real. Lets. Go. Now.”
So Lance met actually a cute guy at the speed “date a thon”. Go figure. And he’s not so bad. Sure he’s a little bit too quiet. Likes sci-fi a little too much for his taste. Lance is a fantasy dude himself. But. Cute guy is a nerd! So…not awful. Keith also likes video and tabletop games and just seems like a chill dude.
But.
“So Keith. Tell me more about yourself. What are your hopes and dreams? Tell me about your life! What’s your favorite color? Number? When is your birthday? I gotta see if our signs align.”
Keith nonchalantly pops another fry into his mouth, “I was a dancer which was my dream but now I work as a dietician. Which I’m happy with…My favorite color is red. My favorite number is four. My birthday is well I don’t really know…But my son and I celebrate it on April 18th.”
Lance stares at him for a minute.
“Wait. You don’t know when your real birthday is? I mean, that sucks. Dr. Keith? Wait. you have a son? Well I have a kid too! They’re super into science. They live with my…ex-husband…”
Damn. Mood killer.
As much as Lance didn’t want to admit it, he missed his family and what he had with his husband. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out. I mean, they were still friends but I guess even he still couldn’t get over the fact that Lance may be a little…arrogant?
No.
Self-centered?
No.
Selfish?
Lance mentally shook his brain. He’s getting help with that. After taking his ex’s advice. Of course. Two years too late…Anyway.
“I grew up an orphan. I didn’t even speak till I was seven. My son picked it out after my wife died. I just told her I wasn’t really into birthdays…”
Keith is now looking down at his plate. He arranges his fries in a pattern.
Shit. This conversation is tanking fast…
“Look, Keith. Let’s just leave some stuff for later, okay? I work as a writer part time and a school librarian which is also my dream. My favorite color is blue. My birthday is July 7th. I really would like to get to know you, Keith and I really hope you’d like to know me too. But I will say I come with some baggage, as I think you may too. But we don’t have to rush things. Like, this is my first date in five years!”
At that exact moment, a piece of food got caught in Lance’s throat…
“Yeah…I know what you mean. It’s been eight for me. But I agree. We can talk about the hard stuff later. Cause there is gonna be a later right? Lance?”
Keith looks up from his plate to see Lance choking. “OH Geez! Lance!”
A few compressions later, phone number exchange, and a laugh…the next date was settled on…
“I hope you don’t mind I’m an Aries…”
“Papa? Can you help me with my project? I have to make a diorama of the environment of Antarctic animals.”
Hunk was at the stove cooking when his child comes over and hands him a paper. “Pidge. This is due tomorrow! How long did you have this?”
Pidge shrugs as she turns back to her computer. If Hunk knew any better, she was coding again. Normal school assignments just don’t interest Pidge. He just ends up doing it anyway...
Hunk places the paper on the counter and turns back to the pot. If anything he might be able to help them make it out of that old Styrofoam cooler he had…maybe some old animal toys they might have…
Hunk tastes the sauce he made on the stove. He added some more spices and continues to stir.
…I wonder if Lance is eating well?
…When was that field trip money due?
…Did I file away that client’s folder?
…I have a new client at 3pm tomorrow….
Hunk turns the stove off and adjusts the headband pulling his long hair back. “Pidgey! Set the table. It’s time to eat.”
“Papa. Are you okay?”
Pidge is surprising sometimes. Because Pidge, however deeply interested in their work, they always seem to worry about how Hunk is doing.
Hunk sits at the table.
“I’m fine sweetie. Just thinking about things.” Hunk smiled at Pidge as he wipes their face from the sauce from the pasta.
“Papa. Remember. While you are braiding your hair, Count to ten in each language that you know. Recipes. Then colors. Then shapes. Then animals. Then mathematical formulas…”
Hunk smiled at Pidge.
Even though it was a while ago, Hunk still misses Lance. His blue eyes shining with mirth as he talked to Pidge about the jokes he was going to pull on his coworkers…How he hugged Hunk from behind after a crushing loss against another team. How he brought Hunk back when he was deep in an anxiety episode.
It sucks.
He’s still in love.
But is he in love with the person or the idea of being with someone?
It will be Lance’s weekend to take Pidge soon. He’ll have a glimpse of him then. Maybe he can finally put the issue to rest. For his and Pidge’s sake.