"Uh- Hey so..." Keith broke the awkward silence, finally.  "Could you not tell Pidge and Hunk about any of this this?" He gestured to his bruised up body.

Lance eyed his friend, a look of unease on his face.

"I know- I just please... I don't want them to freak out... I won't hear the end of if and I just-I can't deal with it right now okay...?"  Keith's voice was soft and genuine, his eyes pleading.

Lance seemed to ponder for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"Alright man..." He began. "I'll keep this under wraps... on one condition."
Keith raised an eyebrow at that.
"You gotta come to me if something happens again."
"I-"
"—upbubupbup! You don't gotta tell me anything okay? You just have to come to me, call me, whatever ~ just something...deal?"

"...yeah, okay... deal."

———

Lance got ready for school the next morning, sneaking a glance at the boy curled up in his bed. A mess of fluffy blanket and jet black hair sticking out at every direction, he looked comfy.
He smiled to himself, glad he was finally able to Convince the stubborn little dick to share the bed with him last night.

He thought about waking him up for school but seeing as keith didn't want their friends to know about his battered up body... Lance guessed he wasn't coming to class today.

He grabbed his coat and bag carefully shutting the door behind him and heading downstairs for breakfast.

The first thing Lance sees is his Mom, gleefully slaving away in the kitchen. A quiet radio plays Vicente Fernández in the background as she sways her hips to the soft tune, humming along.
The smell of his mother's tostadas greet him, and not long after she does as well.
"Holà, good morning! Did you sleep well amor?"

"Yes, yes, morning mamà." Lance chuckled lovingly at her enthusiasm, walking up beside her and giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
He put on a pot off coffee and leaned against the counter, snatching a tostada off the platter.
"Ai, mijo! don't get crumbs on the floor I just swept!" His mother swatted the back of his head. "Go grab a plate Lance."

"Sorry mami." He apologized, reaching above her to grab a plate out of the cupboard.

Soon after one of Lance's younger brothers came thumping down the stairs, sitting at the counter and slamming his head down in his arms, groaning dramatically.
"Ay, Simon What's the matter?" Mamà McClain said, shoving the spatula she was using into Lance's free hand and shuffling over to her son.
"Mami, I'm dyinggg. I don't think I can go to school today." He whined.

"What hurts cariño?"

"Everythingg" Simon cried.

Rosa eyed the boy, a little sceptical.
She placed a hand on his forehead to check his temperature, feeling that he was indeed a little warm.
"Hmm, okay mijo...Go back to bed okay? I'll call your school and come bring you breakfast in a bit."

"Si... gracias mamà"
Lance watched as his brother groggily stumbled back up the stairs. He's totally faking it. He thought, but shrugged it off, focusing his attention back to finish cooking as his mom left the room to call Simon's school.

———
Contact: Billy Ray Cyrus's Mullet

Lightning McClain: Hey man just a heads up im headin to class w/o u figured u we're gonna skip anyway n I wanted to let u sleep

Lightning McClain: also my little bro is home sick today so keep the sneak lvl at 1000

Lightning McClain: Oh shit I rlly hope ur phones on silent n this doesn't wake u up

———
Lance made his way to first period, still no reply from Keith which he hoped ment that the guy was still fast asleep, lord knows that boy needs some damn rest.

He walked into class and noticed Hunk was already at their desk.
"Mornin sailor." he sighed, flopping down in the chair next to him.
Hunk raised a brow at his friend. "I never thought I'd complain about this... but that sounded wayy less sexual than usual. Is something wrong?"

Damnit he sees right through me already!

Lance forces out a nervous chuckle. "Nah man I'm just tired, Was up really late last night."
As he said that Pidge chimed in, twisting around in her seat to face the boys sat behind her.
"Oh yeah speaking of that, how late did Keith stay over last night anyway?"
Shit, should he lie? I mean it's not as if it matters that Keith stayed over... he probably won't care if I tell them.

"Oh uh he was over playing outlast till like 2am so he just crashed at my place..."
Lance feigned nonchalance but judging by the way His friends were eyeing him, they weren't buying it.
"Keith slept over??" Pidge deadpanned.

"Yeah, so?"

"Nothing I guess, it's just weird..." she looked down, deep in though. "Did he... seem okay?"
Lance gulped. "Yeah... he seemed fine to me...we just totally lost track of time trying to beat the creepy doctor all night."
His stomach twisted in guilt, he hated having to lie to his best friends. He knew how mad Pidge would be if she knew that Lance was keeping this from her, Keith was her best friend.
"Oh, yeah ha Keith does suck at that part." She snickered.

"Wait uh ... if Keith stayed over then why didn't he come into class with you?"
Hunk asked, clearly confused.

"Ah, he's skipping, said he was too tired."
He shrugged.  The two seemed content with that answer, considering playing hooky is something Keith did on a regular basis. Lance was safe, for now.

The day went by fairly normal, when the bell signalling last period was over Lance wasted no time in bidding farewell to his friends. Making some excuse about forgetting to take out the trash before he left when Pidge asked why he was in such a rush.

Keith had never replied to his messages, Lance wondered if he'd still be there when he got home.
He felt anxiety creep around his shoulders, worried that the boy had left and something happened again.
He reminded himself that Keith did this often, he wasn't the most dependable person when it came to texting back. It really wasn't unusual.
So why am I so worried?

———
(11:26 am)

Keith's eyes slowly pried open, blinking as the adjusted to the harsh sunlight creeping in from the half open window. A soft breeze lifted his bangs off his forehead, hooded eyes starred blankly in a daze. He felt calm, at peace, safe...
He shifted in the bed slowly, still bundled up tightly in the duvet. He lazily felt around the bedside table for his phone. Picking it up, only to realize it was dead.

Damn.

Keith knew that Lance had a different phone than him, so he didn't bother wasting his time searching for a charger.
He groaned, burrowing completely under the covers, trying to savour the peaceful and unfamiliar feeling he got being in Lance's room, the room he grew up in.
An air of nostalgia that wasn't his own brought him comfort, he imagined what it must be like to wake up to this everyday. Soft light, clean sheets, breakfast waiting for him downstairs.
He wondered if Lance knew just how lucky he was...

Keith's train of thought was suddenly disrupted by the sound of footsteps padding down the hall and stopping outside Lance's bedroom. Keith peaked his head out from under the covers, reading the alarm clock on the nightstand. 11:37 am He was sure Lance's family should all be gone by now.

He panicked a little as the doorknob jiggled open but with no time to hide he accepted his fate.
Lance's Little brother Simon slowly peaked through the door, scanning the room before finally laying eyes on keith.
"Ack!" He squealed, scrambling backwards before pointing an accusatory finger Keith's way.
"W-What are you doing here!?"

Keith could ask him the same thing.

———

Lance came home and darted straight up the stairs and barging into his room. When he opened the door he paused, taken aback by the scene he walk into.
Keith and Simon, were sprawled on his bedroom floor giggling and playing Mario kart. He noticed that Keith was still wrapped in his blanket, likely to cover up his bruised neck from his kid brother. Lance thanked him internally.
"Keith!! You cheated!!" His brother gasped!
Keith chuckled. "I'm not going easy on you just cuz you're a kid."
"I am not a kid!" Simon pouted.
"Whatever you say."

Lance cleared his throat, since apparently him barging into the room wasn't enough for the two to take notice of him.
The boy's heads twisted around to look at the doorway. "Oh, hey Lance." Keith said nonchalantly.
Simon paled behind him, with a yelp. "Lance?! Er- W- What are you doing home so early??"

"It's 3:40." Lance deadpanned, raising a brow at his brother. "What are you doing out of bed hermanito? I thought your were 'dyyyinggg'?"
"Okay! I was faking... I'm sorry! Lance please don't tell mami!"
"Hmm I dunnooo " He teased, fighting back the grin tugging at his lips.
"Lancee" His brother whined.

Keith watched the exchange between two brothers, feeling a twinge of fondness swell in his heart. He smiled to himself.

"Alright, alright. Your secret's safe with me little bro. As long as you guys scoot over and let me beat your asses at some Mario kart." He grinned, grabbing a controller and plopping down between them. Keith smirked. "Pft In your dreams McClain."