Chapter Text
"Keith should be arriving soon, hurry up everyone!” I say, as I rush around the kitchen looking for that one molding thingy, for the cupcakes
UGH.
God, what is it called again?!
Pidge groans from her spot on the kitchen counter and I have to stop myself from massaging the bridge of my nose for the tenth time this afternoon.
“Jeezzzzz, Lance," She starts and I turn around, my mum face already on "Calm down, Keith, won’t even actually care for stuff like this " She continues complaining as if him not caring matters like, at all!!
Everyone knows it's the thought that counts, the thought of the other people, that are gonna see me do this for him, I mean, I'd be crazy to do all this just in case Keith, alone. Might like it!!...
Yeah...
I'm totally doing all this because I care about how other people perceive me and not because Keith Kogane. My ex, my soulmate, and a lot of other things to me that I don't wanna think about!! might want it...
Holy mother of christ, am I pathetic!
I'm snapped out of my mini pity party when Pidge, who was still ranting practically yells in defeat, "Hell why are we even doing this?! he won’t care!” and I decide I've had enough right then and there.
My hands fall from where they were on my hips, and I cross my hands instead, shifting to my other foot with a very menacing glare, the one I would use when Id call Keith out on his bullshit
She seems to get the hint because she straightens, but doesn’t bother hiding the eye roll that accompanied the action.
As I turn back around, after another moment (for good measure), back in my own world trying to find the damn cupcake molder thingy and not think about a certain mullet haired ex, who the said cupcakes were for,
Hunk lets out a little yelp from where he’s standing near the oven, his right hand clutched to his chest and I immediately rush over to him.
”Hey, Hunk, you okay buddy?”
I ask carefully, my hand on his left shoulder, my face pinched in concern
Pidge huffs and, very unhelpfully, adds “Geez, your such a Mom, Lance”
I completely ignore her.
”Yea, I’m alright buddy,” Hunk starts, and my face eases a bit “ I just forgot my baking mittens, when I tried to take the cookies out of the oven” Hunk finishes with a sheepish grin
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Pidge open her mouth to, probably add another unwanted grumpy comment, and I shoot her a dirty look.
She shuts her mouth… for now.
I turn back to Hunk. The gears in my head turning.
Hunk is a professional chef now, and even before, we all knew he was an exceptional cook, and it showed too.
And since he cooks for, pretty much everyone, all the time, Hunk is not one to often get injured in the kitchen because of his skill, and experience.
The only time that he really gets hurt anymore is when he’s not focused, and that’s normally when his anxiety works himself up, and that hasn’t happened in years after the war was over.
I subtly turn back to face Pidge, when Hunk looks down at his hand, with a concerned expression, and she gives me a look, before I roll my eyes and signal to Hunks hand, she looks over, her face split in mild disinterest and confusion for a moment, before the genius finally seems to understand what I’m thinking.
Her face scrunches up again, in concern, an expression that is sure to mirror mine.
We meet each other’s eyes and a kind of serious understanding washes over the both of us, the room is no longer filled with jokingly frustrated teases. After a moment, we seem to have come to an mutual agreement of sorts, because I turn back to Hunk, clearing my voice.
“Hey, Hunk, Buddy, we think you should go sit down, and take a breather” I say as softly as possible.
Hunk, stands straighter, his face twisted with guilt, “What, no, Keith’s coming, I can help you guys, my hands fine now, see—“
“Hunk. Go sit down”
Pidge says using her own no bullshit persona which she too, used solely on Keith. Well back when he was still around for her to use it on him. Point is the woman spoke, and left no room for argument, in her normal Pidgey way.
Yet Hunk just blinks, obviously not expecting to be the one on the receiving end of the scolding, for once. He looks between the two of us, before sighing in defeat.
My shoulders ease a bit at the sound, and I see Pidges do the same.
Good, we can talk to Hunk about what’s up later.
“Go to Rachel, she’s probably still setting the picnic outside, she can patch you up with the med kit we have lying around the house somewhere,” I say, “It’s probably in the bathroom, but Lisa might have moved it, because of Silvio and Nadia, so you might wanna ask Lisa for it, instead” I add in thought
“And after, you go sit down, on the beautiful couches that Lances mum and sister in law picked out, got it?” Pidge says in a very stern tone not so diffferent from her usual one I can't help but note with great humor.
Ha! Ever the bossy one, Pidge.
Hunk Chuckles, “Look who’s acting like a mom now!” He say in between laughs, and in the blink of an eye the mood turns lighthearted. I don't bother fighting my own laughter as Pidge blushes furiously in embarrassment and tries to deny the motherly accusations being thrown at her.
“Anyways, Call me if you need anything, got it?” Hunk says, once we've all calmed down a bit, his non-injured hand is resting on the side of the doorframe his body facing us.
Me and Pidge look at each other, with a grin, before we turn back to Hunk and yell a small “Yes, Mom!” at the same time. My words are said with a small, salute, while Pidge’s are uttered with an eye roll, nonetheless both actions are arguably fond.
Hunk just smiles, his worries and guilt seeming to ease a bit. He turns and I hear, him asking someone where Rachel is, from a distance.
Pidge must have too, because she yells “In the backyard! Setting up the picnic! Weren't you listening?!” And I hear a very Hunk sounding, “Thanks!”
I smile, but its gone when I meet Pidges eyes. We look at each other in understanding. The mood serious once more.
I turn away, walking towards the baking mittens, hung on top of the oven, I put the both of them on,
“It was a one time thing, he doesn’t need to go back to Dr. Smith yet, Katie”
I mutter, just loud enough for Pidge to hear, sensing her thoughts and using her real name in a rare act of seriousness between the both of us.
”But he might need to if this is a long term anxiety inducing problem”
“I have a feeling it’s not” I say in a particular tone, picking up the platter of cookies from the oven carefully.
“You think, it’s because of Keith coming?”
Pidge questions, catching on to what I was hinting at quickly, sounding intrigued.
I sigh knowingly, putting the cookies down on the counter carefully.
”I know it is” is all I say and she hums thoughtfully, before adding,
“You should book an appointment with Dr. Smith for the next week or so”
I don’t bother turning to face her, taking off the baking mittens, “Have a little faith, would you” I say with a sigh
She grunts, ”Oh please, we both know that this shit show is going to end up needing about 4 years of therapy from people way more experienced than Dr. Smith ” she pauses, then continues without a hitch,
“And that in itself is saying a shit ton considering that woman is highly skilled in her work”
she stops before adding “I was just trying to be a little polite, only suggesting a weeks time of professional help”
”I know” is all I respond with.
Its quiet for a moment, but not the uncomfortable kind, just in mutual understanding, I put the cookies in, my sister in law, Lisa’s little leftover goodie bags
she had made them for her kids birthday party last week, she was insistent on having some for Keith and the Blade members, she almost made another two new dozen batches of them, but the rest of the family managed to convince her that the leftover ones would be plenty enough.
As I finish putting the last of the cookies in the bags, and tying them into pretty little pink bows, I let Pidge know that,
“I already booked 3 weekly appointments with Dr. Smith, for the the next two weeks”
“Well at least your more self aware than I give you credit for but like I said, your gonna need more therapy than that”
Pidge says and it should sound snarky but it really doesn’t, it’s sounds more exasperated than anything, and I get the sudden urge to hug the genius of a woman.
Instead I sigh in agreement, I know that this particular team reunion is gonna be a shit show, as Pidge put it.