Chapter Text
On the way to the restaurant, Keith fell asleep in Lance’s lap, still holding the hippo plush. Lance stifled a laugh and snuck a few pictures.
“I hope you’re prepared for his insane attachment to that thing.” Shiro half-whispered.
“What?”
“Yeah, he probably acted like he thought it was dumb right?” Lance nodded. “Well, he doesn’t. He’s probably gonna be super attached to it for like ever.”
“Why?”
“You gave it to him. He’s not a very materialistic person, but there are a few things like that.”
“Like what?”
“I’m assuming you’ve seen his red jacket that he still wears even though it’s way too short.”
“Yeah…”
“Well, it used to be big on him. I got it for him when he first came to North Carolina. He still wears it all the time. Mom got him the gloves.”
“I’m assuming the ring is like that too? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him not wearing it.”
“Which ring?”
“The silver one with the little purple mark on it.”
“Yeah, that was his mom’s. I have no idea what it means, but his dad used to wear it on a chain sometimes. It’s one of the few things he kept when he left. He didn’t start wearing it until recently, but I guess it finally fits his finger. He also still has the book his seventh grade English teacher gave him at the end of the year.” Lance just nodded and started messing with Keith’s hair. Soon enough they made it to the restaurant. Luckily, Keith woke up on his own.
When they got in, they all ordered and started trying to decide where to go. Keith was just laying against Lance.
“I think ice skating because I’ve never gone and it seems fun.”
“You’ve never been?” Adam and Lance asked in unison. Shiro shook his head.
“Ice skating it is then.”
“Yeah, if Keith will get up.” Lance teased.
Keith: I’m not tired.
“You seem it.”
Keith: You’re warm. Stop complaining, you were all clingy earlier.
“I’m not complaining.”
They all finished their food fairly quickly, and Adam found a nearby ice skating rink. Adam and Lance were clearly thrilled, Shiro was excited to see what the hype was about, and Keith was kind of nervous. Lance could tell. As they made their way in, Keith was basically stuck to his hip.
“Why are you all nervous?” He just shrugged. “You know he won’t be here. Even if he was, I wouldn’t let anything happen. It’ll be fun I promise.” He said as they made their way to the counter to get their skates. Once they all had them on, they made their way to the rink. Shiro almost fell immediately. Keith was clinging on to Lance like his life depended on it.
“So he has awful coordination too?” Adam asked, earning a nod from Lance.
“Hey! My coordination is fine! You have to be coordinated for MMA!”
“Okay, so I should let go then?” Adam asked and pulled away. Shiro immediately grabbed his arms.
“No!’
“See?” He teased before turning to Lance. “So that one can’t dance either then?”
“Huh…” Lance said, clearly pondering the question. “I’ve never made him dance with me, which is kind of weird… Keith?” He frantically shook his head. “No, we’re dancing at some point. I mean… we have a dance at school right before New Year’s.” He shook his head again.
“You’re going!” Shiro said in his dad voice.
“Haha, you have to come.” Lance teased. They managed to make it around the ring a few times before it was time to leave. They were all tired by the time they got home, so when they arrived at the cabin, Shiro started the heater, and everyone went to bed.
Keith woke up to the smell of something burning. Lance wasn’t there. He shot up out of the bed and ran downstairs. He didn’t see Lance or Shiro, so he ran into Shiro’s room which was empty. When he turned around, Adam was walking up to him.
“Lance and Shiro went to go… Are you okay?” He asked, seeing Keith’s erratic behavior and broken breathing pattern. “Lance and Shiro will be back soon. Can you come sit with me?” He asked, trying to convince Keith to let him help. He didn’t get a response, so he put a soft hand on his shoulder and pulled him to the couch. It was clear he was kind of out of it. “I’m going to call Shiro, but I want you to come over here. I think I can maybe help. If you want to get away from me, I won’t stop you, but please at least try.” Keith didn’t even acknowledge him, so he wrapped a throw blanket around him kind of tightly, then moved closer. “I’m going to touch you. It’s going to seem restrictive, but I promise I’m just trying to help you.” He said before pulling Keith into his lap and wrapping his arms around him tightly. To his surprise, he didn’t resist. He still hadn’t calmed down, but it seemed like it was helping some. He slowly pulled his phone out and called Shiro.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“How soon can you be here?”
“Uhh… I think we’re about twenty minutes out, why?”
“I don’t know what’s happening. Keith is freaking out.”
“I’ll make it ten.” He said before hanging up.
“What’s happening?” Lance asked when he was off the phone.
“I dunno. He didn’t say.” Shiro said as he sped up. When they got back, they ran into the house to find Keith still clearly freaking out a little, but was still wrapped up in Adam’s arms. He didn’t even notice them come in.
“Here, take him.” Shiro was even more concerned now, seeing as he was even letting Adam touch him, much less in his lap. Shiro bent down and scooped Keith up, he immediately clung to him. Shiro motioned for the other two to stay there and carried Keith upstairs. He sat down with him on the side of the bed for a while before he finally calmed down enough for Shiro to be able to talk to him.
“What’s going on?” Keith leaned further against him. “Please tell me… you can sign if you need to, but I need to know what’s going on…”
‘It smelled like something was burning when I woke up, then you guys were gone.’
“I don’t smell anything now. I’m sure it was just because the wood stove was low and it was the embers. Or maybe Adam burnt something cooking. Lance and I just went to get some more drinks. It’s fine, I promise.” Keith just nodded into his shoulder. “Do you want me to go get Lance?” He nodded again and moved over. Almost as soon as Shiro left, Lance was coming up the stairs. Keith immediately wrapped himself around him.
“Hey… are you okay?”
Keith: I guess… I’m sorry.
“Why?” He just shrugged. “You didn’t do anything. I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” He just shrugged again. “You wanna come eat?” He asked after a few minutes. Keith nodded and followed him downstairs. They ate mostly in silence until Shiro finally broke it.
“So… Do you guys feel like doing anything today?” He asked, mainly to Keith who nodded. “I don’t really have any ideas…”
“We could go to that horse riding place over the mountain. I think they're still open. They do hourly rides and I think it’s not guided.” Adam suggested. Keith could already feel Lance’s smirk.
“I’m down. I might die, but it sounds fun.” Shiro replied. “How about you two, I’m assuming that’s a yes from Keith, Lance?”
“Any excuse to see cowboy Keith.”
“Okay, it says they close at five, and it's almost an hour away so do you guys want to leave soon?” Adam asked looking down at his phone. They all agreed and finished eating before they all split off to get ready.
“Cowboy Keith.” Lance laughed as he slid past, Keith just rolled his eyes.
Keith: Did you actually take your meds today?
“Yeah, Doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop.” He said as he threw on some warmer clothes. By the time they actually got ready, Shiro and Adam were waiting. Most of the ride there was spent with Lance trying to convince Shiro to give him music control. Finally, Adam got fed up and handed him the cord. His menacing laugh was interrupted by Luke Bryan.
Keith: If you're going to bully me at least play better music.
“Like what?”
Keith: I don’t know. If it has to be a country… Merle Haggard? George Strait? Brooks and Dunn? Dolly? Johnny Cash? Tim McGraw?Literally anything that doesn’t make me feel like my ears are going to bleed. Something that’s about something other than beer, corn, and trucks.
“See? You do know country music!”
Keith: I lived in the south for almost fifteen years! I didn’t have a choice!
“Nah you like it.” He said as he started ‘Just to See You Smile’ by Tim McGraw
“Hey Lance.” Shiro said with a mischievous tone.
“What?”
“Hand me your phone real quick. I have to show you one of his favorite songs.” Keith glarred as he handed his phone to Shiro. Keith huffed and crossed his arms as the intro of ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’ started.
“Not only Taylor Swift, but The Chicks too?”
Keith: Shut up.
“Hey man, no hate. They’re both iconic. I already knew you liked Taylor Swift anyway. Again, she’s an icon.”
Keith: How?
“You listen to your music really loud and I could recognize ‘The Last Time’ anywhere.” Keith just rolled his eyes. They talked about music for most of the rest of the ride. When they finally arrived at the farm.
“Adam, Lance is your kid now, sign his waver.” Shiro said as they made their way to the check-in area. When he looked over, he realized Keith wasn’t following them. “Where did Keith go?” He asked Lance, who looked beside him to see Keith was gone.
“I don’t know… Oh, I see him.” He pointed to the horses that were tied to the fence ready to be ridden. He was standing in front of a medium sized dun colored horse, petting it and talking to it. “Do you need me to go get him?”
“No, we should be able to sign in without you guys. Go over there with him though.” Lance nodded and made his way over.
“You made a friend?” He asked as he walked up behind him. Keith just nodded and kept all of his attention on the horse. “Am I gonna suck at this?”
Keith: No, I’m sure they’re really well trained if it’s a free ride place. Just don’t scare them or sneak up behind them.
“See? You’ve been here for like five minutes and you’re already bonded with a horse. You are a cowboy!”
Keith: I just like horses. I lived on a ranch until I was like nine. I learned to ride a horse instead of a bike. I basically grew up with mine until I left. He was born the year before I was.
“So instead of a dog you had a horse?”
Keith: I had cats. They weren’t house cats though… but yeah basically. He looked like the one on the end, his name was red.
“I don’t think I’ve ever even been this close to a horse… they’re bigger than I thought…” Lance mumbled. Suddenly, Keith pulled his hand up to the horse’s muzzle. Lance seemed a little on edge, which made Keith laugh a little. “What?”
Keith: Don’t be scared of him. He likes it.
“I don’t see how you’re not. He’s like ten times your size.”
Keith: He’s not even that big.
“Not even that big?” Keith grabbed his hand and pulled him down the line until he came to a huge dark bay colored stallion that had to be at least sixteen and a half hands. Lance just stared as he lowered his head to Keith who offered his hand to sniff. Then, with no hesitation, he started petting his forelock. “He could eat you.”
Keith: But he won’t.
The horse lowered his head more to where his ears were even with Keith’s nose. His nose was almost to his hips.
“His head is literally as big as your whole torso!” Keith just nodded. Lance watched as he walked to the first horse and went back to petting it. Soon, Shiro and Adam came over with one of the girls who worked there.