Boundaries - Klance

Chapter One

There is a certain intimacy between best friends.

Naturally, with any intimate friendships, there come boundaries. There is always a point where the water stops at the shore, drawing the paper-thin, crooked line between "goodnight, I love you," and "goodnight, I love you." And as Keith Kogane sits cross-legged on the childish Pokemon duvet cover of Lance McClain's small dorm room, he is all too aware of the water sneakily lapping the edges of their shore.

He thinks of the week prior, of the "Truth-or-Dare" induced kiss he'd shared with Lance. He thinks of they way his best friend, that idiot, hadn't pulled away, but rather extended the moment, pushing his lips against Keith's once more. He thought of the way their mouths fit together, feeling so natural, so right. Most of all, he thinks of the look Lance had on his features after, the same rosy cheeks, breathlessness, and desire for more that he knew were mirrored by his own expression.

It's the lighthearted, friendly tone of a familiar voice that snaps Keith out of his thoughts.

"Hm?" He looked up to meet Lance's eyes, which were currently being highlighted by the golden afternoon sunlight sifting through his messily-hung translucent curtains. Lance raised an eyebrow, his lips edging upward.

"I asked if you wanted to hear another song?" He was looking at him expectantly while his fingers absently strummed a C chord on the guitar resting in his lap. Keith blinked at him, not nearly annoyed as he should be, considering the fact that Lance had seemingly played a million songs already.

He opts for an "Um, yeah, I guess?" and goes back to zoning off as Lance's pleasant voice fills the room once more. Keith knows he should be listening to the song, as that's what any supportive best friend would be doing, but he can't. His attention seemed to be plastered to the passion lighting Lance's brown eyes, and the soft movement of his lips as verse after verse of tragically poetic lines graced the room.

It's when a cluster of overgrown, chestnut brown hair falls forward onto his stupidly adorable face, rising a heat up into Keith's cheeks and sending a warm feeling of attraction through his limbs that he finally decides to interrupt him.

Keith knows can't afford the distraction, and he doesn't want to leave a mess behind when he sets off for college half across the globe. The college I haven't told him about yet. He feels a surge of guilt, knowing that he and Lance were going to be touring college campuses all next week.

"I- I think we need some ground rules. . for the trip." Keith blurts, seemingly freezing Lance's hands in place over the steel strings. He looks up him blankly.

"Rules?" he asks, breaking the brief moment of silence. "What for?"

Keith takes a breath before continuing, wondering suddenly if speaking up was a mistake. "Yeah, you know, like, we need to set some rules on boundaries. It's old news that we both, er, like guys. And. . . and that night. . . it's over." He pauses, feeling awkward. "After all, we are just friends. I don't want things to start getting. . . weird." Weird? He almost cringes at his choice of words.

A look of hurt - was it hurt? - crossed Lance's eyes for a fraction of a second before he replaced his expression with his usual cheery one. He laughs, almost nervously, resting his arms atop the body of his guitar. "Uh, right. Rules." Regret surfaced in Keith's mind briefly as he watched Lance hide behind an emotion they both knew was forced. He sighed, wishing the other boy didn't always have to make everything so difficult.

They fall back into an unnatural silence. Lance breaks it once more, a smile playing on his lips.

"Alright. Rule one," Lance dramatically holds up his index finger. "You're not allowed to fall madly in love with me because of my flawlessly mediocre guitar skills." Keith let his breath out in a huff, fighting the urge to push him off the bed. He glares at Lance, despite the fact that he would probably kiss him right now if he wasn't held back by the determination not to lose his best friend.

"Shut up, idiot. I'm being serious." Keith frowns. "Actually, mediocre guitar skills aside, not falling in love is rule one." He opens his mouth to add another rule, but closes it again, reconsidering. "No, wait. That's the only rule now. No falling in love with me. We have. . . um, personal space bubbles." Keith motions around himself like a mime, as if showing the extent of the 'personal space bubble." At this, Lance laughs.

"No falling in love, and somewhat rectangular personal bubbles." Lance pauses as if considering this. "We've only kissed once, man, and I'm not that much of a hopeless romantic. So, yeah, easy, I can do it." He winks before adding, "can you?"

No. No, I can't.

"Yes, obviously," he says, rolling his eyes as if Lance were being ridiculous. He was the one to propose the rule, after all.

They shake on it, and Lance puts his hands back into playing position.

"Now that that's taken care of. . . one more song?" He grins his stupid, perfect grin.

This time, Keith doesn't hesitate to push him off the bed.