Chapter Text
Keith is growling under his breath as his fingers tap erratically at the game controller tightly gripped in his sweaty palms. The rapid clicking blending in with the intense battle music and dramatic grunts coming from the screen projecting the dark reds of the boss he’s currently trying to beat, working up a light sweat from the stress of being watched.
Hunk, Lance and Pidge sit behind him on big fluffy pillows, in various states of comfort, Hunk being the sturdy wall, leaning back on one hand as Lance leans heavily against his right side while Pidge is sprawled out on their back with their head pillowed on Hunk’s left thigh. Hunk’s fingers idly twist a lock of Pidge’s soft hair between his fingers as he anxiously continues to watch his friend become increasingly more agitated and frantic as he tries to move the character here and there without getting hit.
Lance’s snickering makes his shoulder shake lightly so Hunk nudges him distractedly, not taking his eyes off Keith.
Somehow Lance had nagged Keith into proving that he could beat the last level on the game he and Pidge had picked up from that weird space shopping centre. Saying something about Keith proving he was, in fact, the best at everything or something else equally unnecessary and provocative just to get a rise out of him. Prodding at the red paladin until Keith had finally snapped and demanded he lead the way to the game room, glaring at the smug grin that had split across Lance’s face.
Hunk knows Lance forced Keith to do this because Lance himself had been struggling to beat the last boss for the past four days, shouting that the game was rigged and his losses obviously had nothing to do with Lance’s skill at all.
The blue paladin had dragged Pidge into watching, to “have more witnesses” to experience Keith’s inevitable failure. She’d tried to talk her way out of it, but Lance had only picked her up and thrown her over his broad shoulder, Pidge’s tiny fingers pinching anywhere she could reach in an attempt to get him to drop her but Lance had only jostled her roughly and continuing on.
So here they are, with held breathes they continue to watch Keith slowly chip away at the boss’ health bar. Keith’s fingers still pressing quickly at buttons, seemingly at random, he doesn’t look like he’s breathing either, which gives Hunk the urge to lean over and poke him to remind him that oxygen is important but he refrains, unwilling to risk distracting Keith in any way.
Hunk lightly slaps at Lance when he blithely hums out, “Any day now, he’ll give up any day now and I will happily be able to reveal that Mister Good at Everything was actually Mister Only Good at Some Things, this entire time.” Lance yelps and turns to pout at Hunk, blinking innocently when Hunk only shakes his head at him.
Keith’s shoulders had tightened further at the sound of Lance’s voice, the clicking of the buttons becoming somehow even more frantic to the point Hunk was worried his thumb would punch a hole through the controller. “I’m not at all sorry to say this Lance but—“ Keith grunts triumphantly as a loud artificial bloodcurdling scream suddenly fills the room along with the sound of upbeat victory music, “It seems that my apparent title of Mister Good at Everything, will be staying firmly in place.” He turns around to smirk crookedly at his fellow paladin with a raised brow, his face is sweaty and flushed from exertion and his dark eyes flash smugly.
Lance is already groaning loudly and pushing himself up onto his feet. Hunk’s eyes widen in shock when he see’s Lance picking the pillow he’d been sitting on up along the way before sharply tossing it at Keith who smoothly catches it and flings it roughly back at Lance.
Lance makes an undignified squeak as the pillow slams solidly into his face, glaring down at Keith when the soft projectile falls away. Keith is theatrically turning his head all about, as if looking for something before turning back to Lance with wide eyes, face a mask of innocence, “Woah that came out of nowhere! Better keep you’re guard up Lance, never know when those mysterious flying pillows will attack you next,” He grins, shoulders trembling with barely contained laughter. “Those things could really do some damage.”
The room is completely silent for a solid minute before a loud ugly snort erupts from Hunk, his hands flying up and slapping over his face as laughter pours out of him in waves, ears turning bright pink. He’s laughing so hard he doesn’t notice Lance huffing and crossing his arms while Pidge giggles and claps her hands. He also doesn’t notice Keith, whose shocked eyes are watching Hunk snort and giggle into his palms, his face slowly gaining a scarlet tint before he looks down at his hands with a happy grin.
Tears threaten to fall from Hunk’s tightly shut eyes so he shakily wipes under them as his giggles slow, and letting out one last snort before he opens his eyes with a grin and his gaze lands on the top of Keith’s messy head, still looking down at his interlocked fingers.
After he and Pidge had settled, the four of them sat around and chat idly for about an hour before Lance announces he’s going to bed, ruffling Pidge’s hair and patting Hunk’s shoulder as he passes to the door. Pidge jumps up to swat at him as she follows him out, explaining that she was going to go work on some modifications in Green quickly before the door slides shut behind her, leaving the two remaining occupants of the room to sit in comfortable silence.
Hunk jumps slightly at the quiet cough Keith makes, turning to see him already looking at Hunk, eyes thoughtful. A soft smile graces Keith’s face before he speaks lightly, “So… you’re a snorter, huh?” he raises his eyebrows and his smile grows when Hunk only blushes in response, his hand lifting to scratch at the back of his neck. Usually when people pointed out Hunk’s unfortunate laughter he’ll find he closes himself off self-consciously, but the easy way Keith asks and the sincere little grin he wears makes it easy for Hunk to just shrug and smile back.
“Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing! It’s not even the quiet kind of snorts you know? I can get really loud and it tends to attract unwanted attention so I try not to let it happen too often…” Hunk trails off slowly, looking down at his fingers as they play with his fingerless gloves, “Everyone but my Moms, Lance and Pidge seemed to find it bothersome.”
“Well I think that’s bullshit.” Keith grumbles as he crossing his arms and leans further back against the pillow he’d placed behind himself. Hunk hums in question, and Keith clears his throat and turns his head off to the side, avoiding eye contact. “I- I like your laugh, I think it’s nice.” Keith says quietly, face heating but returning his gaze back to Hunk’s with determination. Hunk’s breath stutters to a stop in surprise, he can’t bring himself to avert his eyes even if he wanted to.
Hunk finds himself giggling quietly under his breath, slightly overwhelmed with Keith’s eyes still locked persistently on his, Keith’s words running through his head on repeat. He finally moves his gaze from Keith’s and looks at the ruffled hair hanging softly across his forehead, Hunk’s fingers twitch with the urge to push it back so that the pale skin hidden underneath is free.
With a quick shake of his head as if to rid himself of those embarrassing urges, Hunk smiles shyly at Keith. “Well… Thank you? I guess?” Hunk chuckles, Keith nods quickly before he smoothly gets to his feet and reaches a hand down for Hunk, who gladly takes it and lets out a surprised gasp when Keith pulls him up with little effort. Their hands are warm where they’re clasped together; Hunk can only feel the calloused skin of Keith’s thumb where their exposed fingers brush, it’s strangely grounding.
Keith gently loosens his grip before quickly moving past him to head for the door, but Hunk catches the red flush of his ears as he turns to follow the shorter boy out of the room.
They walk together towards their rooms in companionable silence, their shoulders bumping every so often. Hunk hums a random tune under his breath as he strolls beside Keith who gives him a curious glance before looking back towards the hallway.
It feels nice, spending some quiet time with Keith, something Hunk wishes they did more often because when Keith isn’t tight lipped and broody, he’s actually a really cool dude, competitive and sarcastic but also surprisingly sweet. Hunk’s worries how rare it is to see Keith unstressed and relaxed, his smiles rarely have that genuine quirk to it, never quite reaches his eyes. The times Hunk has seen Keith’s genuine happy smile always seem to take his breath away, heats up his cheeks and turns his brain all fuzzy, but they never seem to last more than a quick moment.
Hunk slows to a stop when he comes upon his door, turning curiously to Keith, watching the flash of confusion cross his face before realisation flushes his cheeks a vibrant red. Keith’s door is before Hunk’s, next to Lance’s two doors before the one they’re both currently standing in front of.
Hunk can’t keep the goofy grin off his face when Keith shuffles his feet and awkwardly catches his eye. Nodding his head stiffly, Keith bids him a quiet goodnight, spinning on his heel and speed walking back towards his room, this small ponytail making it easy for Hunk to see the flush run down the back of his neck. Leaving Hunk to shyly rub his cheek and giggle softly to himself before unlocking his door and all but collapsing on his bed.
He lays awake for what feels like hours, his heart giddily dancing in his chest before exhaustion finally forces it to settle into a slower thump and he drifts off into a content sleep, still in his casual clothes that he’ll regret not changing out of in the morning.
He can’t find it within himself to care too much.