Chapter 82
“Hey guys, wanna help me play a prank on James?” Nadia asked. The others (Keith, Ryan, Lance, Pidge, Allura and Ina).”Sure.” Pidge said with a grin. “Good. Well, he told me last night, after a few beers, that: He likes someone in our group of friends!”
The others shrugged. “So?” Ina says. “So, we have to find out who it is. How else am I supposed to tease him about his crush if I don’t know who it is?” Nadaa says, sitting next to her. “So what do you want us to do?” Lance asked. “We all need to kiss James.” Nadia declares. “WHAT?” They shriek.
She rolls her eyes. “Not on the lips, obviously. Like on the cheek or head. That way we can find out who he likes.” “Can’t you just ask him?” Keith says, and Nadia sighs. “I tried! He wouldn’t answer me.” “Have you considered the fact that maybe he doesn’ want you to know?” Ryan suggests. “Since when have I listened to anything James tells me?” Nadia asks. “So? You guys in?” She says, rubbing her hands together.
“I think I’ll sit this one out.” Ryan says. “Me too.” Ina adds. “Looks like it’s us four.” Pidge says. “This is gonna be fun.”
Lance walks up to James and hugs him, kissing his head. The other laughs and pushes him off. “Lance, what the heck?” He asks. “What? Can’t I just show my affection for my friend?” James chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m not your siblings. Hugs are okay, but no kisses.” Lance sighs. “Fineeeee.” And pulls the (slightly) shorter boy in for another hug, which he returns.
Pidge, James and Allura are working on a MFE update when Pidge kisses him. “Hey, Lura, could you hand me that wrench?” He asks, sticking a hand out. “Sure. Here.” She says, handing it to him. Pidge gorans and slams down on her laptop. “I don’t get it! Why isn’t it working?” She huffs. James comes out from under the ship, wiping his hands on a rag. “What’s not working?” He asks, peering over her shoulder. ”The new program. I swear, I checked this a dozen times.” She huffs, tapping away. “Try this.” He says, tapping on the screen. She raises an eyebrow. “Um, okay.” She taps away again, and the ship roars. She smiles and grabs James’s face, kissing his cheek. “Yes. Thank you.” He shrugs, wiping his cheek, “No problem. Just no more kissing the gay boy.” He says, going back to the ship.
“The what?” Allura asks. “You heard me.” He says, lying back under the engine. “It’s Keith, isn’t it?” Pidge asks. James freezes. “What?”
“Who you like. It’s Keith, right?” “Why do you care?” He asks. “Nadia.” He sighs. “What’d she say this time?” He asks, going back to fiddling with the ship. “You admitted to liking someone and she wants to know who so she can tease you about it.” He rolled back out from under the ship with a huff, sitting up. “Look, who I may or may not have feelings for is none of her concern. Or yours. Besides, we’re in the middle of trying to establish galaxy-wide peace. We don’t have time for that. And if something like that were to happen, and something went wrong, it would mess us up and distract us.” He explains before going back under the ship.
“You’re not denying that it’s him though.” Pidge says.
James stays silent.
“James? Are you okay?” Allura asks. “Look, the last thing we need right now is drama. Nothing good would come of anything like that. Especially if it were me and Keith.” He says. “I thought you two made up?” Pidge asks.
James sighs again, still working. “It’s…. Complicated. Can we not talk about it?”
Allura and Pidge exchange a look. “James, what happened?” Allura asked. He stopped working. “Princess, have I ever asked you for anything?” He asks, rolling back out from under. “Well, no.” “Katie?” Pidge shakes her head. “So can you do me this one thing, and drop it? Me and Keith’s relationship or lack thereof, along with whomever I may or may not have romantic feelings for is none of any of your business, and I’d greatly appreciate it if you just stopped talking about it. And I’d appreciate it even more if no one else knew and neither of you attempted to or communicate it to anyone not currently in my eyesight unless I die.” “Stop closing all my loopholes.” Pidge pouts. James rolls his eyes and goes back under the ship.
Keith bit down on his shoulder as he came, causing James to shiver with oversensitivity He pulled out and they laid there panting for a while. “It’s me, isn’t it? I’m the one you like.” Keith states. James’s silence says what his words don’t. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Keith asks, petting the other’s hair. “You don’t feel the same and I didn’t want to accept that.” James muttered, leaning his head on the other’s shoulder. “Besides, you’re not a bad lay. Feelings might mess up this little system we have here.” “Why do you assume I don’t?” Keith asked. “You’ve never even hinted that you do. And I knew if I said anything during it that you’d either ignore it or say it back without thinking.” Keith humms. “Shower now, or later?” “Now. I hate it when it dries.” “You know me cleaning you out is gonna end up with shower sex right?” James sat up and smiled over his shoulder at him seductively. “You think I have a problem with that?”