"Where are we going?" He asked after they'd been walking for a while.

"My place." Was the simple response.

"Whoa Keith buddy! We're friends now! You can't kill me! I have a contract!" People were definitely starting to pay them some attention as Lance pleaded for his life.

"We have to walk my dog and I have beer there. Is that not what you meant?"

Oh that worked actually.

Maybe he was a tad dramatic.

Just a tad though.

"No no that works. I want to meet your dog. I just thought we were going to a bar."

"I mean we can but Kosmo gets destructive if left alone too long." Keith sounded fond despite talking about his apparent demon dog.

"Aw cosmo is cute as a name. Like space cosmos?" He asked, wanting to know more.

As much as Keith was willing to share was how much he'd like to listen to.

"Yeah but spelt with a 'K'. I was still learning English at the time and confused 'C' and 'K' a lot. He's been with me since I was a kid."

"Oh that makes sense. Guess he's like a Kardashian in spirit then, huh?" He said the last part with a little eyebrow wiggle but Keith just cocked his head again.

He had to stop doing that.

"Kardashian? No his last name, if he had one, would be Kogane. That's actually spelt with a 'K'." Feeling his grin fall flat he sighed.

"Keith, my man, it was a joke. They all spell their names with a 'K' when it should be a 'C'." Keith nodded slowly like he was filing this away for later use.

"Oh. I apologize. Here's my place though." They were in front of a nice looking apartment complex with a dog park near the front.

"You don't have a mansion Mr. Hotshot?" He teased to which Keith only shrugged.

"I'm out of town a lot. No point in getting a house if I won't settle down." That was a fair point.

Lance himself lived in a home that he shared with Hunk and Pidge. If he wasn't in town chances were they were.

"Makes sense."

Keith unlocked the door and immediately a giant blue gray blur was launched at Lance who had failed to move with Keith.

He heard a chuckle as he hit the ground, a giant dog sitting on his chest and happily panting.

"Hey there. Could you move so I could breathe?" He wheezed out.

Keith laughed again and helped pry Kosmo off.

"When you said you had a dog I didn't think you meant one the size of my house!" He hissed at the shorter man's back as they entered the apartment.

"He's only a baby. He's still growing." Keith answered back, going down the hall to get something.

Probably the leash.

"Beers in the fridge!" He yelled from somewhere down there and he walked into the small but neat kitchen.

Opening the fridge, he was immediately smacked in the face with a stray package of applesauce.

Which as he placed back in its spot, was noted as practically the only food in there. The fridge was pretty empty aside from a few cans of beer and that lone applesauce.

"You need to go grocery shopping dude. There's no food here. You'll starve."

Keith snorted as he came back, leash found and in his hand.

"Why do you care? You gonna make sure I'm treated right, McClain?" He was teasing, he knew he was teasing but that didn't stop the reply from leaving his lips.

"If you'll let me."

A flush bloomed across porcelain skin and Keith averted his eyes, calling Kosmo over and saving Lance from having to explain his own blush.

He laughed awkwardly, clearing his throat and cracking open a beer.

Thank god for beer.

It was a great eraser for his bi disasters. Like a fire to hide clues on a dead body.

"Alright. Are you ready to go for a walk?"

"Yep I was born ready."

"Lance, I was talking to the dog."

His urge to run into traffic increased by at least ten percent as he knocked his beer back for a long sip.

"Right. I knew that." He answered awkwardly once he swallowed.

Kosmo barked happily, tail wagging as he darted out the door.

Keith and Lance followed in awkward silence, Lance trying to drown himself in beer as subtly as possible as they walked.

"Hey sorry for teasing you. I didn't mean to make it awkward." Keith apologized quietly. So quietly that Lance would've missed it if his eyes weren't already trained on the bob of his co-stars throat as he swallowed.

"Oh it's alright. I'm not bothered at all. Hell we could be like that all the time if you want! Yep, no problem for me!" He rambled, now forcing his gaze forward to watch Kosmo run as far as his leash would allow.

"Uh cool."

"Very cool."

They got quiet again until Keith jumped. Lance turned his head to look at him quizzically.

Well until he felt a nerf dart hit his ass.

Keith pulled Kosmo back a bit and turned around to glare behind him.

"I told you guys if you want a nerf war that I need a gun too." He called out, irritated but fond.

"Never!"

"I'll tell your mom then. I'm sure she'd love to hear about you attacking poor little me." A few gasps were heard and a few seconds later three kids stood up.

A girl with dark braids and a mischievous grin still had her gun aimed at Lance. The other two, boys with curly brown hair who looked identical raised theirs at Keith.

But then it went to shit. Suddenly one of the boys let out a war cry and they all started firing as they ran at them.

"I have to reload!" One of them screamed and it was suddenly like being at his own home back in Florida.

"Run!" Keith yelled with a small laugh. And they ran like it was hell at their heels instead of little kids.

It was a lot of fun, even when he was a bit sweaty, leaning against a building and heaving. Kosmo seemed happy he got to run and Keith was glowing in amusement.

"Who were those kids?" Lance asked with a laugh once he caught his breath.

"Ezor's. She's a nurse and really great but her kids are a little wild. Well technically they're her sisters but she takes care of them after what happened a few years ago."

Lance nodded in understanding, not yet ready to peel himself off the wall he was against.

"They seem to like you." He commented as he leaned his head back, noting that it was a lot darker than it was when they started hanging out around seven.

"Yeah I hangout with them when I can. They're sweet and Ezor is the best. She and her girlfriend are probably some of my closest friends in this city."

And Keith immediately became a lot more attractive. Anyone who was good with kids immediately was like ten times more attractive.

"Hey you wanna get something to eat? I'm starving." Lance asked as he finally stood up fully on his own two legs.

"Yeah sure."

"We can go to my place if you want. Hunk is making dinner tonight and he's a great cook."

"Is he cool with dogs or do we need to take Kosmo back?"

"The big baby can come. Let's go Kogane."

Kosmo barked happily as if he was happy he could come and they set off towards Lance's house.

-red