Hiding Behind a Mask

Chapter 40- A 'Matt'er of Time

"Thank you." Allura smiles. "How long have you two been best friends again?"

"Oh God." Shiro leans back. "Since we were six so... thirteen years?" He asks Matt, Matt counts with his fingers.

"Yeah, yeah thirteen years." He nods, Allura's eyes grew.

"Wow, I cannot imagine being friends for that long."

"Well I was the only one who could put up with him." Shiro teases, Matt stuck his tongue out.

"Shut the fuck up Shiro, you love me."

"I tolerate you." Shiro points out.

"Aw, it's like how I tolerate you and Keith." Allura teases. Shiro looks at her.

"Okay... ow. Feeling the love there Princess."

"Princess?" Matt chuckles. "You call her Princess?"

"Yes." Shiro nods. "Can ya blame me? She acts like a spoiled Princess!"

"I am your Princess Shiro~" Allura smirks, Shiro pushes her face.

"And you are going to be quiet now."

"Aw." Allura chuckles. Matt played with his cup and stares his friend down.

"So... what's with Keith and that Lance kid?" He asked in a serious tone. Shiro and Allura looked at each other.

"Those two are having... issues."

"They gonna break up?"

"That's the thing." Allura looks away. "They aren't in a relationship. They're faking it."

"Wha- why?" Matt was confused. Shiro began to explain.

"Only family can work in the cafe, because Alfor is nuts and doesn't want Allura to go out of business." Shiro said. "Lance wants to keep working here to support his mom since she's the only one taking care of four kids. So we told Coran, who came to check on her, that Lance was Keith's boyfriend."

"Oh... that's smart."

"Yeah... Coran knows it's fake."

"WHAT?!" Matt was so lost.

"Yeah, it was luck that he came in and told Allura that rule." Shiro said. "So I thought I'd use it to my advantage and help my brother out. He's been crushing on Lance for a while now so I used it. However Coran figured out it was fake and we told him we were trying to hook them up."

"They're starting to treat this fake relationship like a real one." Shiro explained. Matt grew a shit eating grin.

"Takashi, you sly son of a bitch. You've planned the whole thing out."

"Again, Coran was just pure luck." Shiro smiles. "But now we have an issue to block further progress... like always."

"What's going on?" Matt asks. Allura looks away.

"Lotor, my fucking cousin, has grown fawn of Lance and now constantly hits on him. He got to Lance and now Keith thinks Lance likes him more."

"Does he?"

"No." Allura and Shiro said in unison.

"So what's going to happen?"

"We never know." Allura said. "Those two always make up in the end so we just wait for it to happen. Soon enough they'll be back to being our awkward gay boys." She smiles. "Play the waiting game."

"And Allura is the most impatient person I know so this'll be fun." Shiro said happily. Allura pinches his ear.

"I question my love for you at times." She hisses. Matt laughs.

"You two are cute." He said with a smile. Allura and Shiro both turn red. "I've gotta go, see you tomorrow Shiro." Matt left. Allura slowly looked at Shiro.

"D-Do you think we're cute?"

"I thought we were annoying..." 

"No Pidge listen!" Keith spoke up on the phone. "What do I do about this? Lance hates me now!"

"I keep telling you that this isn't your fault!" Pidge shouts over the phone. "Lance was the one who freaked out. Yes you yelled but in your defense you were sick of Lotor. Did you have to yell at Lance? No, but you were just frustrated and jealous."

"But he hates me!"

"Lance doesn't hate you, I can tell that he loves you dearly. You were always important to him!" Pidge shouts.

"But what if... what if he likes Lotor more than me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Lotor is way better than I am..." A moment of silence.

"If you ever say that again then I am going to rip your dick off."

"JESUS!"

"Keith listen." Pidge cuts him off. "Just tell him how you feel... minus the yelling." She said. "Lance will listen, I know he will. He's the type to talk things out rather than fight them out. I know that you're the opposite... but clearly your way isn't working." Keith sighs.

"O-Okay, I'll talk to him."

"And hey." Pidge spoke up again. "If he doesn't listen to you then I'll beat him up."

"You are weaker than him."

"He will fear my tiny fists." She laughs. "Love ya man."

"Thanks Pidge." Keith smiles. "Talk to ya later."

"Yeah." They hung up. Keith grabs his hoodie and his keys. He walks outside hoping that this time things would go over well.