Chapter Text
Keith was falling.
He was falling and crying.
There was something in his arms, something he couldn’t see, his eyes blurry from the tears. The wind blew them away, but he couldn’t stop crying.
Below him was a bright, blue ocean.
He cried harder.
He had to hold on, no matter what.
But he gasped when he saw the water shake and shine, and burst upwards to him like a huge wave. He was swallowed by it, shutting his eyes tightly and holding his breath.
The water was cold, but he felt warmth around him.
Someone held him tightly, and when he opened his eyes, his mother was rocking him gently as they sat on the hospital bed. He looked up at her, and she wiped his tears away. She looked tired, her violet eyes staring down at him.
“Don’t cry, Keith.” She said, her voice firm, but kind.
She was the strongest person he knew. He leaned into her, and clung to her shirt. He closed his eyes, and breathed in the smell of flowers…
__________
Keith opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurred. He sat up, tears dropping on his bed. He wiped his face, feeling the warmth disappear. He didn’t notice his eyes glow a golden color, then disappear back into violet. His hands trembled slightly, and he looked down too see a blue glow. He raised an eyebrow, blinking twice, but the glowing went away. He let out a shaky breath, and furrowed his brows.
There was a knock, and his bedroom door opened, Shiro peeking in. He smiled, scoffing as he walked in.
“Am I dreaming? Is that...Keith awake before nine?” Shiro asked, gasping sarcastically.
“Shut it.” He growled. He was not in the mood for sarcasm.
Shiro laughed, walking into the middle of the room with both arms up, spinning as if he were in a fashion show. He was wearing his old suit, the one with the white collared shirt, black coat, black jeans and a black tie. Keith remembered when he bought the shirt three years ago for his high school graduation. Looked like he made it last. His black hair was slicked back, making a slight mohawk.
“How do look?”
“Nice. But why?”
“I have a job interview today.”
“...`I didn’t know."
“I wanted to seal the deal before getting anyone’s hopes up. It was on an online application.” Shiro told him. “C’mon, I made breakfast.” They walked out the room, down the hall and down the stairs.
“What’s the job?” Keith asked.
“It’s mechanic work for some engineering place at the other side of town. Where the buildings are.”
“That’s pretty far.” Keith shuffled from under his light blanket, sitting criss cross applesauce.
“Yeah, but, I’m sure you won’t miss me too much.” Shiro ruffled his hair.
“I meant for you, dumbass.” Keith said, eye twitching.
Keith followed Shiro downstairs for breakfast. They sat at the table, Shiro handing him a plate of stir fried eggs, vegetables and rice. Keith picked up his chopsticks, and picked up a piece of carrot. Shiro’s phone rang and he answered, Keith picking up the sliced egg piece and biting it. He watched as Shiro spoke, saying We’ll be there, and hanging up.
“ Who’s going to be where ?” Keith asked.
“You have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. She said she wanted to see you right away, and she received your files from your previous doctor.”
“That sounds exciting.” ~*
“It’s at twelve, so make sure to be ready.” Shiro said, ignoring his sarcasm. Keith rolled his eyes and nodded, gently responded with “I miss Dr. Blaytz.”
“Me too, funny guy. He said the doctor he contacted is even more skilled than he is.” Shiro promised.
“Everyone is more skilled than he is.” Keith laughed.
“For now, maybe I can drive you to the library? Explore the town while I’m gone?” Shiro asked hopefully.
“No thanks.” Keith told him.
“...you don’t mind being here? Alone?” Shiro asked, gesturing to the house. “Weren’t you going on about spirits yesterday?” Shiro mimicked a ghost, wiggling his fingers around with a scary look on his face.
“I was alone at the apartment. Does it matter where?” Keith asked, a bit annoyed.
Shiro said nothing, and Keith felt a bit guilty at the way his face fell. It wasn’t his fault he had to work so much, it was...
“...the library sounds great.” Keith said. “Just let me get ready.”
Shiro’s phone rang again. He picked up the phone, checked the number, cursed, and waited for it to stop ringing. Keith raised an eyebrow, and Shiro closed his eyes as he continued to eat.
“Who was that?” Keith asked. Shiro didn’t answer, and he frowned. “Who’s calling you?”
“No one important.”
Keith narrowed his eyes. “...uh-huh.” Keith finished quickly, changing his clothes and using the bathroom. He took his medication and put his inhaler in his pocket, getting his book bag and throwing his sketchbook in, before jumping into the car with Shiro.
The library was on the way to the buildings in the distance. The town was still asleep, barely anyone out on that Thursday morning. Maybe it was a lazy day.
Keith jumped out, staring up at the big building. It was rectangular and small with red bricks and a grey roof. It read Garrison Library and Keith turned to Shiro.
“It’s the school library, but it’s open to everyone. And school’s out, so I doubt you’ll be bothered by anyone.” Shiro told him.
Keith turned to him and shrugged. “I’ll just plug my headphones.” They bumped fists and Keith smiled. “Good luck, Takeshi .”
“Thanks.” He grinned. Keith waited, and Shiro scoffed. “I’m not leaving until you walk through the doors.”
Keith rolled his eyes and turned back around, walking down to the double doors. When he reached, he placed a hand on the golden handle and waved to Shiro with a sarcastic smile, Shiro waving back, before walking through the doors. He peered out the window of the doors, and saw Shiro start to drive away.
Keith scoffed before walking and coming to see a shelves and shelves and tables and more tables and seats and sections and beanies and computer station with cool posters. The ceilings had golden chandeliers and the entrance rug was white and spotless. The wooden floors shined and gleamed under the light, and it smelled heavenly, like old books and joy.
“Woah…” he said in awe. He never went to the library often, and the sight before him left him astounded.
He walked over to section that had research books, and grabbed one about plants. He walked over to an empty table in the corner. He pulled out the wooden chair and sat down, opening the book. He pulled out his sketchbook, and started to draw the plants he saw. His colored pencils soon took up half the space at the table, and he was almost halfway finished with the color green.
Music blasted through his ears and he didn’t notice the girl walk over and call to him. It was only when she slammed her hand down that he looked up, violet eyes wide. He took off his headphones, raising an eyebrow. “What?” He asked dryly.
Keith wasn’t the ideal people person, especially when they interrupted or annoyed him.
“This is my spot.” The girl responded dryly.
And he could tell, neither was she.
“It’s a public library.” He narrowed his eyes.
“And no one else comes over here but me.”
Keith sighed. He considered putting his headphones on and ignoring her, but stopped when he saw her fists clench. “You can just take a seat, it doesn’t have to just be your table.”
She froze at that.
He waited for her to either walk away or take a chair. He wanted to get back to what he was doing.
“...you don’t, you don’t mind me sitting with you?”
Keith shrugged. “As long as you don’t slam your hand on the table again.” He told her.
She slowly pulled out the chair across from him, but to the left. She sat down, a small stack of books in her hand. She adjusted her glasses, and looked back at Keith, who had already went back to drawing. He had started drawing characters with plant based bodies, and had created a fighting side with a sharp plant knife. He smiled a bit at it, admiring his work. He had gotten better, and speedpaints online taught him how to shade and color properly. He wasn’t a pro, but he was way beyond amateur.
The girl started reading, and they sat there, quietly.
After the first hour, she put the book down and looked at him. Keith cracked his fingers, and yawning a bit. He noticed her stare, and raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“...can I see what you’re drawing?”
He blinked twice, a bit dumbfounded. No one but Shiro had ever asked to look at it. He wasn’t opposed to it, but...well, no one else saw his full drawings and ideas. Would she call them weird? Say they were bad? Point out the flaws? Lie and say they were good? He never understood why artists undermined their own work, and learned to love his own style all on his own.
But he never thought of someone else, someone he didn’t know, seeing it. He wanted to put it in his bag and leave.
Instead, he slowly lifted to book and handed it to her. She smiled, seeing the nervous look in his eyes, and moved to the seat beside him. She looked down at the book, and her brown eyes twinkled.
Keith watched her like a hawk. She had middle length hair in a single, long pigtail. Her glasses were a bit too big for her face, but she looked smarter with them. She had a few freckles, and wore a purple hair clip on her head in the shape of a small boe. Her hair matched her eyes, but were a couple shades lighter, and she was completely immersed in what he drew.
“You drew these yourself..?” She asked, looking back at him. He slowly nodded and she grinned happily. “These are amazing! They look just like the plants at the school garden, are you in the arts class? I heard the art kids were gifted, but you have to be the best in class.” Her words were true, like a child who got what they wanted for Christmas, or saw something they truly thought was amazing.
He smiled a bit. “No, I-uh, taught myself.” He admitted. “I mostly just watched videos.”
She nodded. “These flowers look familiar, are they Dahlias? And an Azalea?”
Keith nodded. “Yeah, and those are-“
“Amaryllises.”
And they started talking about flowers, the girl talking about how she’s had to learn to make them into herbs and Keith telling her the meaning behind each of them. Keith wondered how she knew how to make herbs, but she only gave a sheepish smile and asked him another question. She held onto every word he said, and she told Keith what to mix if he ever scraped his knees or was left stranded in a forest.
“I’m Holt Katie.” She smiled. “You can call me Pidge.”
“Kogane Keith-wait, what? Why Pidge?”
“It’s a nickname.” She smiled. “Do you have one?”
Keith thought back to when Shiro would call him Keys just to get under his skin. It would cause Keith to throw a shoe or frying pan at him.
“No.” He told her.
“Do you go to the Garrison?”
“No, I’m uh, homeschooled.” Keith told her.
“Really? ...wait, are you new here?”
“Yeah, my brother and I moved in here a couple days ago.”
“Oh, well, welcome.” She said, placing her hand out. He shook it, and they both smiled. “Where are you staying?”
“The house on the hill, near the ocean.”
“Cool, I live a couple blocks from here, near the shop-Wait!” She froze. “The big house with the well and the statue?” Keith nodded, confused. “That house is haunted.”
Keith paled. “...What-what do you mean?”
“The old guy who used to live there died mysteriously, BUT NO ONE FOUND HIS BODY. I heard it has a weird backstory, like it was built in the feudal era of Japan.”
“What else?”
“I dunno…but be careful.”
He nodded. “I will.” So it was haunted. He knew it. At least someone else thought so. He debated on telling her, but went against it. She must’ve only heard rumors, and he wasn’t going to egg it on if he didn’t have evidence.
“So, what’s the Garrison like?”
“It’s a middle school and a high school. It super big, and it’s kind of like, the town’s landmark. They specialize in the arts and sciences. They accept the best of the best, and you have to go through an interview and written exam and stuff. If you wanna do art, you gotta send in a portfolio, audition or do something extraordinary.” She pointed to her book, and picked it up. It was a space exploration book. “I’m studying for next semester. I wanna become an engineer like my dad.”
“That’s awesome. It’s sounds pretty cool.”
“It is, my brother went there.”
Keith looked through the book with her, and smiled when he saw the pictures of stars and space and the planets and solar system. It made him feel apart of something spectacular.
“Maybe you can apply too.” She beamed.
“I’ll do it.” He told her. He wasn’t thinking, he didn’t realize he might not be better by then, too enthralled with the possibility of going to school and actually having a friend. Maybe.
They spent the next hour talking about space and art, and wandered about the library, finding books to look through. When they grew tired of just looking, they started to draw in the sketchbook together, making ideas and laughing at the oddly drawn people they created.
When Keith’s phone buzzes, he looked to see a text from Shiro.
I’m outside
“My brother’s here.” Keith said, a bit sad.
“...oh, okay.” She frowned a bit. Keith furrowed his eyebrows, before smiling.
“Let’s trade numbers.”
“Really?”
He nodded, and they gave each other their phones. They first bumped, and added their contacts. Keith gathered his things, and Pidge walked him to the door.
“Let’s meet up again soon. And not like when adults say that and never meet up. I mean for real.” Pidge said.
Keith nodded, and held up a pinky. He didn’t understand the act was seen as childish to teenagers, since all they wanted was to grow up, but Pidge only smiled and lifted her pinky too.
Keith walked through both doors, and saw the black car on the curb, behind another red one. He walked over, turning around and smiling at the library. He jumped in the car, looking at the sketchbook with a smile.
“Someone had a good time.”
Keith jumped, and pouted, putting his phone away. “...yeah.” He admitted. “How was the interview?”
Shiro grinned widely, and Keith couldn’t help but follow. “You’re cool brother got it.”
“Congratulations!” They high fived.
“Yup. I start next week.”
Keith asked him for details, and Shiro asked for the same, both of them explaining their day. Shiro looked happy to see Keith had made a potential friend, and pointed out he would’ve let Keith stay longer if he wanted. Shiro told him about the head of the company, who was really cool and smart.
They both had good days, and with a smile, they thought maybe luck was on their side.
But when Keith got back, the statue winked at him, and he thought back to what Pidge had said.
...he hoped luck was truly on their side.