mazeofrelationships | Matt and Keith: Garrison Years

Matt and Keith: Garrison Years

Matt has always said that the biggest reason he's actually at the Garrison is that they needed to inflate their academic numbers. He realizes that isn't entirely true, but he'll go with that for now.

His first couple years, he was mostly just That Nerd who took every science class he was allowed to take, avoiding the practical piloting classes like the plague. He also had a secret that he was trying to keep: That he was Commander Sam Holt's son. He'd rather do things on his own merits (or lack thereof) and not because he's his father's kid. Mostly it worked. Iverson still hated him, but he tried not to care.

Now, though, a couple years on, his secret was out, and he'd made some good friends. This particular night, he is in his room, working on some reading for a biochem project that he'd really rather not be doing. His door's always open, though, for people to come in and bother him, or ask for help. Matt never minds helping people with their work.

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People who want to bother him and ask for help by the name of Keith. He walks in, not bothering to knock or announce himself properly or even say hi. He's got his face buried in papers because that's just how things have gone for the last few months. He's smart, but not book smart. Matt and Shiro are. Give Keith piloting or fighting and he's your guy. Anything else? Over his head.

"I don't know why they bother giving me these guides, they know I don't get it." He stops by Matt's desk and holds the study guide out. It's for the most basic introductory physics - things he has to take for piloting, has to know how this stuff works scientifically, even if he can just know it instinctively. Instinct doesn't mean anything on paper or something.

"Hi to you too." Matt looks up from his homework and sighs, shaking his head. "They give you the guides in the hope that you'll actually use the grey matter in that brain of yours."

There's an amused smirk on Matt's face for a moment. "Alright. The usual soda's in the fridge. Grab one, and I'll see what I can help explain." A pause. "Unless there's something else that you'd rather do. I... can't say I'd turn down a bit of procrastination."

Matt takes the papers, so Keith moves to sit on the bed. He's clearly keyed up about something but hasn't gotten around to finding the right words yet. He appreciates Matt and Shiro tolerating him at all - this quiet underclassman with no family and a lot of fight in him. Not many in the Garrison are that brave. Or stupid.

"I really think they know I can't do whatever that is. Still don't get why I have to know all that to pilot."

He's just sulking now. A routine eighteen year old sulk.

"You can totally do this, Keith." Matt sits down on the bed next to him, and pulls his feet up. "We'll go slow, and I'll show you the applications of this. I know you'll be fine." A pause. "Is there more than just physics homework, though? You're... extra fussy." Or so it seems.

Keith sprawls back on the bed staring at the ceiling. It's stupid, and he's letting it get to him more than it used to.

"It's almost holidays."

They're a military academy, it's not like they go home or anything. But it's still rough to think about with military families all around him.

The ceiling would stare back at him, but all that's up there are the glowstars (in correct constellations) that Matt has always had there.

Matt leans back against the wall, and takes a breath. Oh.

"Oh. Yeah, it is, isn't it?" A long pause. "Do you want to come over for that weekend? Mom, Dad, and Katie would love to have you."

Keith is quiet for a long time. He knows those constellations are wrong and he doesn't care about it enough to say anything. He wouldn't ever think to ask if he could join someone else's family for a holiday. Too weird, too out of place.

"Wasn't sure you'd be going back."

He shrugs just a bit, staring across the room at nothing in particular.

"Just for the weekend. My parents live in town, after all. And I think Dad's even going to be on this planet." He pauses. "I mean it, though. Mom would probably fuss at me if she knew you were going to be here moping alone."

"I'm sure."

He's met Matt's mom once, mostly in passing and she immediately started mom-ing at him, what with his wrinkled uniform and unkempt hair. Clearly someone not taught how to look after himself beyond the absolute bare necessities.

"I'll think about it?"

"Alright." It's all he can ever ask of Keith, really, to think about it.

Matt falls silent for a moment, looking up at the stars himself. "Want to go do something? I wouldn't mind a distraction."

That has his attention. He's always up for doing something if it means he can get away from... a lot of school requirements. He hates trying to figure it out, he feels caged in by it all.

"Anything in mind?" Usually if Matt suggests it, he has something he wants to do.

"Well, we could go for a walk. Or I do know how to sneak out to the parking lot if you want to go get your bike." He gets up from the bed. "It's a really nice night out there. We could find a place and stargaze or something. Or you could just zip me around on your bike."

Keith smirks a little watching him. "It sounds to me like you want a ride on my bike." It's a simple enough request, and he hasn't ridden it enough lately. He shifts to move to his feet, stretching arms above his head.

"If you wanna, let's go."

Matt smirks a bit. "Of course I do. I'd never turn that down." Is that a tiny flirt? Probably.

Stretching a bit, he grabs his jacket and pulls it on. "Heck yeah, let's go."

The smile on his face widens as he gets up to follow. His bike was something the Garrison had never seen, and Keith didn't have much explanation for it. Father left it for me was all he knew. He makes sure he grabs his jacket on the way out. Matt said he knows how to sneak to the lot to get it, but Keith's followed enough times he almost has it memorized himself. A lot of late bored nights.

Once they're close, he makes sure to stop by the garage and grab the key - kept by the staff so Keith doesn't get any ideas of sneaking off too easily and how ineffective that is - before heading out.

"Any place you wanna see? Or just anywhere."

It's almost painfully easy for Matt to go through the corridors and sneak out of the building. He knows the halls like the back of his hand, and doesn't mind using that information.

He has a car in the garage himself, but, well, no cadets should be out at this time of night.

Once they get out, Matt stretches, sighing happily. "Wherever you want to go. Just... somewhere out there with stars."

"You got it."

Keith climbs into the driver seat and starts the engine waiting for Matt to climb on. "Promise I'll find the best view."

"Oh, I know you will." Matt grins, climbing on the back. It's not the first time he's ridden with Keith by far, each time just as exciting as the last.

"Let's get the heck out of here."

"Yep."

And off they go, Keith zipping out of the lot and down the less traveled dirt road from the facility. Helmets? Sounds fake. It's always a blast when he can get into open road and going, no speed limit or restrictions. He makes sure to account for Matt's weight when he takes turns, braces when he goes up sand dunes and gets a little air from it. It's not easy to talk while driving on this thing, too much wind. But the sun's setting, casting those quiet oranges and purples into the sky in front of them when he finally pulls to a stop about twenty minutes later. A plateau overlooking the valley.

It's absolutely breathtaking riding with Keith, a thrill that Matt will always appreciate. Flying just this close to chaos, making almost right-angled turns, and speeding briskly across the desert is just almost electrifying to him. Halfway through the ride, he reaches out and puts a hand on Keith's waist, somewhat to steady himself, somewhat for the contact.

When they stop, he gasps, standing up off of the bike and just... gazing out over the area. "I hadn't found this particular spot before. This is amazing."

Keith watches him move to get a better view and smiles, leaning his chin on his hands crossed over the handlebars.

"I found it a few weeks ago. Figured I'd wait until a good time to show it."

"This is an amazing time." Matt turns and grins back at Keith. "Come over here, you. This view is fantastic."

He can't really even tear himself away from the amazing light show over the rock formations.

"Okay, okay."

Don't have to call for him twice. Keith cuts the ignition and pockets the keys. It really is quiet up here, and he'd hoped to bring Shiro too. No accounting for that guy's schedule; Shiro stays busier than the both of them combined. Keith sits on the edge and lets his legs hang over.

"It'll probably get colder up here in a few weeks."

"Yeah. If we come back, we should make sure we bring a blanket or something." Matt moves, sitting down beside Keith, still grinning out over the ledge.

"Maybe find a way to kidnap Shiro and have a picnic."

[Keith watches him move and thinks about them bringing a blanket....... That sounds awfully like something intimate. He knows there's probably a word for it, but for the life of him he can't think of it.

He laughs a little though.] What, like blind fold him and drag him out?

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Matt and Keith: Garrison Years

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