Chapter Text
In the wake of his actions that contradict his internal belief of ‘we’re definitely just friends’, Lance finds himself sitting next to Keith on the couch of his living room, watching a movie that he’s paid not even half of his attention to. Because undoubtedly, that “just friends” has been complete bullshit since the time his friend leveled him with some kind of fondness and signed ‘We’re a good team’ after a game of beer pong only a few months into knowing each other.
It was the most romantic game of beer pong he’d played in the year he’s spent with legal access to alcohol, and in the extra two not-so-legal ones when he’d said “fuck it” and went all out the night after his high school graduation, (a memory he most definitely regrets). That bromantic clasp of his hand and Keith’s has definitely outdone the time this one blonde chick gave him a smile when his hand settled at her waist. Keith’s got nice hands; ones that Lance tries hard not to stare at when they motion through a flurry of signs during their conversations.
It goes like this: Hunk had invited him to the Deaf club near their university’s campus, otherwise known as The Lion’s Den. He’d been in the midst of sharing some outrageous (not really, he’s just dramatic) story when his friend’s eyes flicked over his shoulder and recognized the person who would later become Lance’s ‘definitely not boyfriend why does everyone assume that?’ from across the room.
The first thought that jumped in his head at the sight of Keith was “don’t fuck this up” but soon after Hunk’s brief introduction had Lance mindlessly thrown the effort out the window when he called Keith weird for bringing a book to a club. And then, soon enough the two of them had squabbled over what kind of activities were appropriate at the place because ‘it’s not like the hearing clubs anyway.’ Which led to—
‘Earplugs?’ Keith gestured to his own ears. ‘You’re hearing?’
Lance shifted in his seat on the barstool next to Hunk. Although the position should have him nice and comfortable, for some reason Keith’s somewhat testing stance stood near them had made him feel less so. He nods. ‘My dad and sister were born deaf. I grew up learning both ASL and English.’
Keith nodded thoughtfully, and Lance hoped from then on that the sidetracked conversation afterward had distracted from their rocky start.
——
Even the face of his celebrity god— or uh, crush, Ryan Reynolds, could not distract from the sensation of Keith’s arm slung across the back of the couch behind him. The hairs there were tickling his neck a little, and not to be dramatic but he thinks that maybe it would be okay to just simply never get up under any circumstances. Maybe a kidney infection is worth it if it means holding in his inevitable bladder so long as his hot friend is within arms reach. Literally, he guessed in this case. And if the arm hairs were enough the run goosebumps across his skin, then seeing Keith’s eyes trained on him instead of the flashing screen was a much stronger wave of “God please does he like me back?” that he may have definitely not been prepared to face.
‘What?’ he furrows his brows with a confused smile. Keith returns it with fondness and his bangs flip a little when he shakes his head sweetly. ‘Nothin.’ His spare hand lolls before landing back on his leg. The statement is complete shit, or at least Lance hopes.
‘Something on my face?’ he swirls his index finger pointed toward himself with a questioning look, but Keith shakes his head again and this time the smile turns toothy and his awfully sharp and kind of adorable canines peak through. He flippantly pinches his fingers, ‘No no no.’
It’s not a date, like, dates can’t happen at someone’s house! That’s against the date rules! But Keith probably doesn’t know the date rules and Keith maybe likes him back and Keith maybe doesn’t mind when Lance rolls his eyes and signs ‘Liar’ before totally nonchalantly scooting closer and resting a head on his shoulder. The space between them becomes even less apparent, and the arm that pulls him just a bit closer has Lance thanking every deity for having the house to himself today. Keith smells so nice. And Lance is so fucked.
Only a tinge of disappointment runs through him when Keith returns to intently reading the closed captions and training his focus back on the movie altogether. He’s definitely a movie geek, especially with Marvel since that’s most of what they’d bond over while getting to know each other. Their Team Cap vs Team Iron Man argument feels like just yesterday. Which it was. Pidge had smacked their hands in the middle of it and said they fight like a married couple. Lance was kind of okay with the idea of them together like that, but then he got dragged back into Keith wildly explaining his logic once Pidge stalked away. “His eyes are so pretty,” he’d thought to himself while Keith poked him in the shoulder and exclaimed ‘You’re stupid if you actually side with Iron Man.’
‘Thanks for inviting me,’ Keith signs when they walk together just outside the front door. His motorcycle is parked in the driveway around the corner and Lance briefly wonders what he wouldn’t give to see the guy straddle that thing with those packed thighs and—
He nods politely and swipes his tongue over dry lips. It’s the best he can manage while his hand is gripping the door handle like a lifeline and the familiar flush creeps up his neck and toward his cheeks.
His cheeks. Keith leans in and kisses his right one; the faint wetness left there is something that feels practically unreal. Fuck that Olay face wash Lance bought the other day, this patch of skin is staying untouched by anything else. He’ll be sleeping on his left side tonight. The grin that stretches widely across his face aches and his dimple is surely dug deep with sincerity; there’s a reason his name sign is an L that pokes right at the spot.
As if on cue, Keith waves to him on the way to his motorcycle, calling to him through signing ‘Bye, Lance’ with a cheeky smile. Lance let’s his weight lay slack against the door and only manages a weak wave that has his hand flopping back to his side after Keith rounds the corner.
He’s definitely gotta be Lance’s boyfriend.