Chapter Text
Keith has always been the type of guy to hang back, out of the crowd. It’s not that he was shy, or didn’t like people. More like he prefers to observe. Sure he’s a little awkward too, but that’s not what holds him back. Besides, if he had tried to engage, it’s not like anyone would really pay attention or notice. Sure, he’s the top of his class, but people just know the name, not the face that it belongs to. When test scores are hung, he doesn’t cheer, because it’s always the same. It could be from the constant studying his father made him do when he was young, and he guesses it just stuck with him, even after the accident, after he lost not only the feeling in his legs, but his father. When he was thirteen, he moved in with the Shirogane’s, who took him in as a foster child, eventually adopting him. Takashi, who told Keith to call him Shiro, was their only son. Keith was concerned that the boy who was two years older than him, would hate him, but Shiro was nothing but welcoming. They soon became close, and even now, six years later, their bond is still solid.
Shiro has always been worried about his brother. About how withdrawn he is, and about his loneliness, even if Keith told him he wasn’t lonely…Shiro knew. He knew Keith’s disability kept him from trying to make friends, and made him worry that people who tried to be in his life, were only doing so out of pity. Keith doesn’t like when people feel bad for him, doesn’t like the look they get in their eyes, but Shiro is determined to get Keith to open up. He’s accepted Allura, Shiro’s fiancé, but is still wary about the new people Shiro tries to bring into his life. Shiro thinks maybe that can change when he meets an energetic, slightly obnoxious, contagiously happy, guy named Lance.
And Lance, well, he’s not sure what to expect from the slightly hot-head introvert, but he’s all too excited to figure him out.
***
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Groaning, I reach over to my bedside table and turn off my alarm. Using my arms, I push myself up, and flip my covers off my legs. I set my hand against my thigh, sighing when I can’t feel the touch. The doctors had said there was hope I would be able to walk again, but after six years…without so much as a sensation. Disappointed, I run my hands through my hair before picking up my legs one at a time to get them over the edge of my bed. Making sure my chair is steady, I carefully move to it, lifting my legs again, to get my feet off the ground. Wheeling myself over to my dresser, I pull out a clean pair of briefs, my favorite black pants. I honestly couldn’t tell you if they’re comfortable or not, but they make me feel pretty decent, so I figured they’re pretty comfortable. I grab a black V-neck, T-shirt, and some socks. Rolling my way to the bathroom, I grunt a little when my chair gets caught in the doorway again.
“SHIRO!” I yell, frustrated, knowing I won’t be able to get out of this myself.
There’s a couple of thuds, and he peeks into the hall from his room. He smiles sadly before coming over to help. He picks me up in one swoop, with his metal prosthetic arm. He was born with an underdeveloped arm, and as he got older in order to support the larger limb he needed, they had to remove the rest of it up to his shoulder. He’s dedicated a lot of time and money into getting a high tech one, and it’s actually really fitting.
I sling my arm over his shoulder letting my legs dangle, holding my clothes under my other arm, and he lightly jiggles my chair until it’s free from the door way. Once it’s out, he sweeps my legs up, and carries me to the bathroom. I glare at him the entire time, and he apologizes, “I know we need to get a better apartment, but this was all that was available so close to campus.”
Sighing, I hold on tight while he positions me on the edge of the tub. “It’s better than the dorms. I could barely get down the halls for the tour.”
Shiro nods, his white fluff at the front of his hair, bobbing with his head, “Do you need any help?”
“Nah, I got it. Thanks though.” Shiro smiles again and turns to leave, “Um, could you leave my chair in the hall…I’ll call for you when I’m done?”
“Of course, I’ll start breakfast.”
“Tell Allura she can stay, and doesn’t need to sneak out.”
Shiro splutters, and his cheeks turn a dark red, “You knew?”
“I’m paralyzed…not deaf.” Mumbling what sounds like an apology, Shiro leaves.
Showering is never an easy task. My brother installed a seat for me, but today I don’t feel like hauling myself into the tub, and onto the seat, so I settle for a bath. I don’t take too long of one, considering we have to leave for class, so once the water starts to lose it’s temp I empty it. I leave over the edge of the tub, to grab a fluffy gray towel from the stand we keep near it, and dry my hair while the water finishes draining. With my towel on the edge of the tub, I start to lift myself up, when the towel slips, making me lose my hold. I slip back into the tub, hitting my cheek against the edge on my way down.
“Keith? You alright buddy?” Shiro calls from outside the bathroom door.
“Y-yeah…slipped.”
“I’m coming in.”
“You don’t have to. I’m fine.”
When I’m sure he isn’t coming, I try again, just to hiss and slip back down, My wrist must have twisted a little on the first fall. This time, Shiro doesn’t say anything, instead he barges in, barely giving me time to cover myself with my towel.
He grabs another towel, helps me sit up more, and he wraps it around my waist, with his arms undermine, he heaves me up and out of the tub. Setting me on the toilet seat, he hands me my shirt. Silently, I slip it on, and then he squats down, adjusting my feet into my briefs, pulling them up to my knees. Bunching up my pant legs, he sticks my feet through them, and the waistband joins my briefs at my knees. “You know the drill.” He said, lifting me up and turning me, so my back is to his front. Reaching down I’m able to pull my briefs and pants up. I unhook the towel from around my waist, let it fall, and Shiro scoops up my legs again.
“Wait, I need to brush my teeth, and comb my hair.”
Shiro adjusts me again, with my arm over his shoulders, so I have a free hand to finish grooming. He pulls at a pice of my hair, “You need a trim. It’s looking a little mullety.”
“First, that’s not a word. Second, it’s fine. It’s not like its super short on the top or anything…it’s just how it grows.”
He snorts, but doesn’t comment. I finish my teeth, quickly try to comb my hair, but it’s a bit wavy, so it normally does it’s own thing. When I set the comb down, Shiro lifts my legs again, brings me out of the bathroom, and puts me into my chair.
When I wheel myself out into the rest of our apartment, Allura is setting the table. Her tan skin stands out against her powder blue and white sundress. She smiles, and her silver/blue eyes shine. Tucking a strand of her pure white hair behind her ear she greets me, “Morning Keith. Any feeling today?”
She asks me that all the time, probably because she’s studying medicine, “No, unfortunately not.”
Shiro always cringes when she asks me, but to be honest, I’d rather that be asked than, what happened? You really cant feel anything? What’s it like getting to roll around all day? And the worst one of all, does your junk still work? Now you can see why I don’t mind avoiding people.
Rolling up to the table, I thank Allura for cooking. “Hey! How do you know I didn’t make it?”
I look at the omelet, and back up to Shiro, “Because it’s not burnt…or cereal.”
“Whatever, eat your eggs, we have to get going. I have to meet up with a friend before class.”
“Hunk or Pidge?” I ask, curious what he would need one of them for.
“Neither. His name is Lance. He’s a transfer student. Since I’m a teacher’s aid, they had asked me to show him around.”
“Oh, I guess I’ll see you after school then.”
Shiro, raises an eyebrow, “Or…you could come meet him? He’s really nice. I met him briefly yesterday while he was getting signed up for classes. It actually seemed like he was taking similar one’s to yours. You know, finishing up generals before moving onto his actually program.”
“Shiro…did you tell him to sign up for my classes?”
Allura snickers, but Shiro rolls his eyes, “Of course not. I just think you should meet him. Allura is the only person since I’ve known you, that you’ve let into your life…I know why you do it, but…please, just try to be friendly? I don’t think he’ll give you that look. He seems too laid back for that.”
“It’s not just the look…but whatever.”
“What are you talking about?” Allura pipes up.
“It’s nothing.”
They seemed to have dropped the conversation, and once we’re finished with Allura’s spectacular cooking, I grab my backpack, hooking it to the back of my chair, and roll down to the elevator, while Shiro locks our apartment up. We’re on the first floor, but the parking garage is under the building, luckily there’s an elevator, some of the places we looked at, didn’t have one.
When the bell dings, and the doors open, I use a little extra effort to get over the lip of the elevator, and curse when the wheels rub against my palms.
“Forget something?” Shiro asks, waving my finger-less gloves in front of my face, before dropping them into my lap.
I grumble a thanks and pull them on quick, and catch up to them, where they’re waiting at Shiro’s SUV. He had a really awesome sports car, but when I graduated high school, he sold it…so he could fit my wheel chair. He’s done a lot for me, and without him…I wouldn’t really be functioning. Instances like this morning in the tub happen more often then I’d like to admit.
Shiro lifts me into the car, and slides my chair into the back end. Sighing I mumble, “I’m sorry…”
“For what?” he asks, getting into the drivers seat.
Looking at him from the back I shrug, even though he can’t see it, “Being a burden.”
“Keith,” Shiro says, turning in his seat, “You’re not a burden…and I truly believe someday you’ll walk again,” he pauses, “and if you don’t I’m perfectly okay with helping you out. We’ll even get you an electric chair.”
“It’s been six years Shiro…how long are you planning on holding onto hope?”
“Hmm, give me a few more.”
Rolling my eyes I stare out the window as he starts the SUV up and pulls out of the garage and heads to Altea University.