1920s AU

[tookashirototheknee]

Post for a 1920s AU with yousayvoltron!

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[tookashirototheknee]

Beginnings

Next day's meeting

[yousayvoltron]

[Finished with his last class for the day, Keith grabs his things and hurries towards the Shadow Bay pub. It's tiny and doesn't pull in the crowds like the Shadow Lion restaurant, but it's got its loyal customers and makes enough money to pay their entertainment and stay in good shape. Keith likes that in a bar.

His heart's beating faster than it ever did when he met his past dates. Even the girls he got along with, there was just...nothing. Even Romelle, whom he went out with more than once, had declared them to be more like brother and sister.]

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt hasn't been able to focus all day. All he can think about is meeting Keith after he's done with his errands.

However, he does take just a moment after the rest of his deliveries to brush his hair a bit, wear a slightly nicer pair of pants, and a shirt with a few less holes.

When he gets there, he gives the crate of bottles to the manager, then pockets the money, going back out front to look for Keith.]

[yousayvoltron]

[Keith's still in his school clothes, but they're at least clean and pressed and he hasn't had time to get them wrinkled. He did comb his hair, though, and give the local shoeshine kid some business. He arrives at the pub just in time to see Matt walking out.]

Oh, good timing!

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt walks over, grinning, a tiny hint of a blush on his face.]

Perfect timing, it would seem! I'm... glad to see you again, Keith. Want to come find a table? The band's on in about ten minutes.

[yousayvoltron]

Hey, the feeling's mutual, Matt. Been lookin' forward to this all morning.

[He smiles, nearly offering his hand, but remembers they're in public.]

Sounds great!

[tookashirototheknee]

Me too! I almost forgot half of my deliveries because I was more than a bit distracted.

[He blushes, leading the way to a table at the side of the room. A server grins at him and waves. Usual, Holt? What do you want for your friend?

Matt grins, just waving his hand so Keith can order whatever he wants.]

Fun fact: grilled cheese sandwiches became a thing in the 20s

[yousayvoltron]

[Keith gives the menu a quick glance before deciding on a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and tomato, plus a cup of black coffee. The sandwich is a childhood favorite and the coffee is what the adult he is needs to keep ahead of the demands of college life.]

... that's kinda a neat factoid.

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt just smiles, then the server salutes them and disappears.]

You could get something stronger, you know. They don't care. But... if you don't want to, it's fine. Just thought you should know.

[yousayvoltron]

Afterwards. Gotta save something for later, plus I kinda need the coffee to function if I'm gonna finish my chemistry assignments.

[He definitely will be ordering a glass of whatever's on tap, he still wants to try out Matt's homemade booze.]

Plus I'm...a little worried I might be one of them lightweight types, y'know? Don't wanna make a fool of myself.

[He remembers a classmate of his getting so drunk once that he tried to buy an alpaca from the zoo and wound up in jail.]

[tookashirototheknee]

Got it. And good idea with the coffee. Do you want some help with it? I, uh... [He turns a bit pink] I was actually reading a bunch of stuff last night, and I think I understand it better now, and I read a bit backwards, so I could maybe go back and help you with stuff that's already been covered...

[He shuffles his feet a bit under the table. He's possibly always wanted to do Actual Chemistry.]

Also, I got your back. Even if you're a lightweight, I'll make sure you're taken care of. I know my limits.

[yousayvoltron]

Sure! I mean, I'll always welcome your help, like I said you know this stuff better than my teacher. You actually made it less boring!

[Maybe it's just that he was with Matt, though. Something as boring as cleaning the gutters could be interesting enough with Matt there.]

And thanks. I've only had a sip or two here and there, Adam and Shiro are a little overprotective about that kind of thing.

[tookashirototheknee]

From what I've heard from some people, teachers can be boring. Dad said once that a teacher almost killed his love of something he was just so boring. Anyway, I'm always happy to help.

[He's about to say something, but the food comes. Matt gets a bowl of some kind of stew, and a mug of something that smells a bit alcoholic. He smiles a bit sheepishly, holding up his mug.]

Well, uh, it seems I'm leading to your delinquency, sorry.

Post-date chitchat with "dads"

[yousayvoltron]

[Keith isn't even trying to hide his "kitty in the cream" face or overall euphoria as he floats into the townhouse. He greets his furry brother and sister with a pat on the head each before taking off his coat and setting his case beside the couch.]

Hey. Sorry if I'm a little late.

Re: Post-date chitchat with "dads"

[spaceprofessor]

[Adam's at the kitchen table, grading some papers, and looks up, raising an eyebrow at his adopted son coming in.]

You're fine, Keith. Do you need dinner? I kept some back for you in case you got caught up doing something.

Re: Post-date chitchat with "dads"

[yousayvoltron]

[Keith's stomach growls as he remembers he hasn't eaten since lunch with Matt, aside from a few complimentary crackers and peanuts in the afternoon.]

That'd be great, thanks.

[You look like you've been to the moon and back, Shiro says, guiding Keith over to the kitchen table and getting him some water. His flaring nostrils also suggest he smells beer and smoke... Whoops. Gonna have to explain that, too.]

Re: Post-date chitchat with "dads"

[spaceprofessor]

[Adam notices the smell as well, raising an eyebrow, but not saying anything. Keith hasn't ever hidden anything from them in the past, so he's inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and let him talk in his own time.

Taking the food out of the warming part of the oven, he puts it down on the table by Keith, sitting back down with his papers.]

[yousayvoltron]

Thanks.

[Keith digs in slowly, quiet for a few minutes as he eats. After a bit, he takes a sip of water and clears his throat.]

So...y'all probably noticed I'm a little different tonight. Well...I know you've always been a little worried about me and spirits, but I had my first beer tonight. And obviously I aint drunk!

[You what? Shiro frowns for a moment, Keith is short and slender and people built like that tend not to handle their liquor so well. But...no, Keith isn't drunk. Ridiculously happy, but he was walking normally and his speech isn't slurred.]

I only had the one, promise. And...well, I wasn't exactly alone, either.

[spaceprofessor]

Oh? And who was it that was with you, and how did you know where to go?

[Adam might sound a bit harsh, but he's not. Mostly he's just worried and fussy over Keith.

... also, the quizzes he's currently correcting are terrible, which doesn't help much.]

[yousayvoltron]

Well...that's the main thing. See, yesterday I met this fella at the lab...

[And he explains all about Matt, his chemistry genius, how they hit it off, their date at Shadow Bay...Matt's nationality.

Wait, Holt? That Matt Holt? I fought under his father during the war, Shiro interrupts. I knew his son and daughter, but I never had a chance to spend time with them for...reasons. I've always meant to write and ask how they are.]

So it doesn't bother you that I fell head over heels in love with an Irishman? I know you guys aren't big on hatin', but everyone else is.

[spaceprofessor]

I remember you talking about Commander Holt. I didn't realize he was Irish.

[Not that Adam cares. He's half-black, and dating Takashi Shirogane. He takes a breath, eyeing Keith for a moment.]

I don't care two shakes who you love, Keith. Just... know what you're getting into. It's not going to be easy, him being both a guy and Irish. I don't doubt your sincerity, or his, but... people are utter assholes.

... also, are you sure about this, because it is rather fast.

[yousayvoltron]

I've never been more sure about anything, Adam. I know it's fast, but nothing's ever felt so right in my life. Y'all remember how bad I was with my love life, never kept a girlfriend, all the guys sayin' I may as well be a monk for how alone I was.

[He toys with the carrots on his plate, eats one slowly and thoughtfully.]

And yeah, I know it aint gonna be easy. We talked it out, we're just gonna be real careful. I mean, Shadow Bay's a safe spot, and if we're anywhere that isn't then our relationship's none of anyone's damn business.

[Good. I know you, Keith, sometimes you used to play up the accent and country terms just to annoy your classmates, Shiro said. And you're a real firebrand when you disagree with anything. So I'm glad you're gonna play it safe this time.]

It aint just me this time. I don't wanna put Matt in even more danger.

[spaceprofessor]

That's a very mature way of looking at it, Keith. I'm proud of you.

[Adam smiles, putting his pen down and just eyeing Keith for a moment. He and Shiro have been lucky in their relationship, and he damn well knows it. Hopefully some of that luck will carry over to their son.]

We'll help in any way we can.

[yousayvoltron]

Yeah, well...I've been around here long enough to get that sometimes you gotta be sneaky if you wanna break the rules. You two've managed all this time, after all.

[Much as it'd be nice for the world to change, Keith's learned that not everyone gives up and cries in a corner when things get bad. Matt's a bootlegger, and his classmate's old friend plays the part of the sweet quiet society girl in public before she goes out dancing and drinking with her friends.]

Thanks.

[spaceprofessor]

[Before anyone can say anything else, the buzzer on the door starts going. It's oddly tentative, as if the person on the other end has somehow gotten the buzzer to parallel their own nerves.

Adam blinks. They're not expecting anyone else.]

Takashi, can you get that, please?