[closed]

[legionnaires]

WHO: Keith, Lance, and Shiro
WHERE: Heropa
WHEN: Backdated: Early March
WHAT: Shiro's a leap year baby so belated birthday shenanigans!
WARNINGS: None currently, will update later.



Keith was probably going to die.

To be fair, the entire day was planned with the idea of constantly reminding his best friend that he was born on the leap year and therefore must only be six years old. Betting with Lance aside, he was still pretty excited Shiro even agreed to go out for his birthday. Ever since they made it to space there hasn't been too much cause for celebration.

It was nice to feel normal for once.

He shifts a bit, making sure that everything is set on the actual dinner side before he digs through the plastic grocery bag before pulling out a "Happy 6th Birthday" hat with a grin.

"All right, Shiro. I think we're ready."

Comments

[shiroics]

And just like that, Shiro's faint hopes that Keith and Lance got it out of their system in the network thread are dashed. He makes a point of giving Keith his best side-eye, before he relents and reaches out his hand.

"All right, pass it over." At least he can put the hat on himself.

[legionnaires]

"You love it."

He teases a bit, chuckling as he hands over the hat. If he thought they got it out of their system, he was definitely wrong. He doesn't often get a chance to joke around.

"Come on, you'll look good in anything."

[shiroics]

"I thought the whole point of birthday hats was to look ridiculous," Shiro says, pulling it on. Immediately, there's a problem -- the elastic chin strap is made for...well, a six-year-old. Not a six-foot-tall adult man with a head size to match.

"Ow. Okay, that's not going to--" he tugs it off, then tries balancing it on his head (well aware he looks even more ridiculous).

[lasersounds]

To his credit, Lance tried not to laugh. He was doing well, actually--stifling snickers and covering grins. But then Shiro tried balancing the hat on his head and he lost it.

Let no one say that Lance was made of stone (far from it).

"Might be better if we could hold it--" He snaps his fingers, digging through pockets before he triumphantly pulls out a handful of bobby pins. He doesn't wait for a response before reaching up and pinning the hat in place.

Sorry, Shiro. You looked ridiculous before, but this? This was a work of art.

[legionnaires]

It didn't take long for Keith to end up laughing. Shiro trying to put on a child's birthday hat was the best thing in a while. Keith actually felt relaxed, trying to stifle his chuckling as Lance swooped in and saved the day with some bobby pins.

At least it wasn't the "happy birthday princess" hat he had originally planned on.

"How long have those been in there?" He asks, wondering why Lance even had them to begin with.

"So you guys ready?"

[shiroics]

Shiro sighs the sigh of the long-suffering teammate, but tilts his head obligingly so Lance can pin the hat on. "You two are a terrible influence on each other," he protests. It's undercut by the twitch of a badly-hidden smile on his face.

"Absolutely not, but lead the way."

[lasersounds]

"I don't know, I'd say we make a pretty great team." Is Lance's reply, made with a slight shrug of his shoulders and an easy grin. Seriously, only a decent team could manage to rope Shiro into this mess.

"Where are we going anyway, Keith?" Questions that should have been asked before this venture started. Oh well.

[legionnaires]

Though, he was pretty sure Hunk and Pidge would have been on board if they brought it up to them. It sort of killed him a bit to know that most of their team had got back home.

"Oh, yeah so you know that Cuban restaurant you took me to for our date?" He's trying to be nonchalant about that. "I figured we could go there again."

Rather then fight with trying to find a new place they might not all enjoy -- at least he was thinking logically. He liked the place, Lance loved the place, so in theory, Shiro is going to like it too. Right?

[shiroics]

"I can't believe you're third-wheeling me on my birthday," Shiro says, perfectly deadpan. There may be the tiniest hint of a pout.

(Seriously, Keith, Shiro will eat anything. What exactly are you worried about.)

[lasersounds]

How Keith can be so nonchalant about it is beyond Lance, who is pretty sure he's a step away from spontaneously combusting. At least Shiro was taking it all in stride.

"No third wheels. Besides, this place does a killer free birthday dessert. Take advantage of it, Shiro."

Look, see. He can play it cool too.

[legionnaires]

"Shiro!" He wasn't actually trying to make him feel like a third wheel.

Now he's wondering if this was a good idea. He groans a bit in frustration, before taking a deep breath. This was fine. He was fine. This was still a good idea!

"Right!" Lance was right. Killer birthday dessert. "It's good food. Just trust me on this."

Despite feeling like he might have made a tiny mistake in the planning (crossed arms for effect!) he relaxes again once they're actually outside walking to the restaurant. He's grateful that it wasn't too far from where they lived. And really, Keith should have known that Shiro was going to tease him a bit for this.... whatever this was with Lance.

(They'll figure it out eventually. It is what it is. )

[shiroics]

Just like that, Shiro's facade of aloofness collapses in on itself like a melting candle.

"I'm sorry, Keith, I'm sure the place you picked out is great, especially if it has Lance's stamp of approval."

"Anyway," he points out later, as they walk to the restaurant, "I'm not sure why you think I'd be picky about it. It's not food goo, right? Or one of Coran's special paladin meals." Shiro isn't sure he'd pick Galra prison food over Coran's cooking, but it wouldn't be the easiest decision he's made in his life.