no i won't be afraid, oh i won't be afraid

[meowterspace]

[he didn't think he'd be so lucky to have a foster kid so soon into the program. he's got a good income, and maybe he hasn't found the girl of his dreams to settle down with, but he knows he can provide for a kid who needs it.

[they said it would take some adjusting. lance is willing to handle that. he's got keith in the car with him, on their way home from the office where they've finally met.]

So, your room is gonna be huge. You've got a big window, and plenty of book shelves to put stuff on.

Comments

[temperedwill]

[To be honest, some adjusting was putting it lightly. Keith had been in and out of foster homes for a bit now and it's become kind of disheartening for a kid to be put into home after home after home. Some were better than other and some were downright awful and those kinds of things really stick to a kid his age.

After awhile, it's hard to not question whether someone will actually keep him. To even marginally like how he is long enough to consider it.

He had been sitting in the seat quietly with his bag of stuff in his arms. It isn't a lot of things. He didn't have a lot and it wasn't too bad with all the moving in and out. Keith shrinks into his chair when Lance speaks to him. He doesn't say anything back.]

[meowterspace]

... We can go shopping for clothes, if you want. Pick out sheets in your favorite color?

[he's worried. keith hasn't spoken a word.]

[temperedwill]

[Keith stares out the window and doesn't look at Lance at all.]

I don't need anything new. [He doesn't know if the other is being genuinely nice or if maybe it's just a bribe.] I'm fine with what I have...

[meowterspace]

You might not need it, but you can want it. I want you to be comfortable, y'know?

[temperedwill]

I am comfortable with what I have, sir. [He says that despite him kind of trying to hide in his seat. That, and who calls someone sir instead of dad. Lance was technically his dad, right? At least for now.]

What I have is fine.

[meowterspace]

... C'mon, buddy, you can at least call me "Lance." I know I'm not your dad, but "sir" is a little too formal.

[temperedwill]

I wouldn't want you to be my dad anyways.

[It's blunt and maybe Lance might take it the wrong way. When Keith thinks about his dad, he just thinks of whoever was absent in his life who didn't want him anymore. He doesn't want Lance to be that man.]

My dad didn't like me anyways.

[meowterspace]

[there's a sting there, and a little bit of protective anger. this is why lance is doing this; because kids like keith exist in the system.]

Well, I like you. That's why you're coming home with me.

[temperedwill]

How do you know if you like me? Others said that too, but then they don't want me anymore 'cause I'm a problem child.

[Lance really has his work out cut for him with Keith. He's been a bit in and out for a bunch of reasons.]

[meowterspace]

Everybody's got problems, little man. Don't worry about that.

[he was warned, of course, that keith has had problems. but lance also knows that house-hopping only causes more of them. there won't be a sense of permanence if lance gives him up.]

Worry about what you want for dinner, huh? We'll get whatever you like best.

[temperedwill]

[It's probably obvious that Keith is really thinking over Lance's question. Probably considering what would be a suitable answer. Something that would satisfy Lance's question without being too expensive or too much work. He fusses with the material of his bag.]

I'm not really picky about food...anything is fine.

[meowterspace]

Well, yeah, fine, but what do you like the most?

[he's gonna push at this a little; he needs to make sure keith knows it's okay to ask for more.]

[temperedwill]

[He chews at his bottom lip for a moment.]

I really like dumplings... [He's gonna stare at the worn out laces of his shoes intently when he answers.]

[meowterspace]

Yeah? What kinda dumplings?

[there are a lot of different cultures that use those, he just wants to make sure he's getting the right stuff.]

[temperedwill]

Oh. Uhm.

[Keith actually didn't really think passed dumplings. He was actually pretty content with any kind of Asian dumpling.] I like any Asian dumpling. Any of them would be good.

[meowterspace]

[he perks up at that a little.]

Hey, there's this really good Chinese place by our house. They have dumplings. Why don't we have dinner there?

[temperedwill]

[If it makes Lance feel any better, Keith actually breaks into the smallest of smiles.]

I'd like that, please.

[meowterspace]

[it does. it does a lot.]

Alright. We'll get you home and settled in your room, and then head out.

[temperedwill]

Okay.

[He's a surprisingly quiet kid, given that it was probably warned he'd be a bit of a problem. He seems to be less tense though, and that's probably some sort of improvement.

He just doesn't have a lot to say and seems content staring out the window to watch the scenery pass as they arrive back to what will be Keith's new home.]

[meowterspace]

[lance is alright with that. he doesn't expect a ton of conversation out of the kid; he sees the clear lack of trust.

[when they make it to the house, keith will find that it's an old farm house with quite a bit of character on a rather massive field and a huge barn-like structure in the back. trees line the field, and the driveway is long. there are stairs leading up to the front porch, where a little set of furniture sits. a few huge trees dot the yard close to the house.]

Alright, buddy. We're here.

[temperedwill]

[Keith didn't expect such a large amount of land or space. He thought they were just driving by it, but apparently not. He blinks for a moment and then turns to Lance.]

You live here? There's so much.

[This can't possibly be where he's living here now.]

[meowterspace]

Yep! You like high places?

[he pulls up into his spot and kills the engine on the car.]

[temperedwill]

Uhm. Yeah. Being high up is pretty cool.

[He starts fussing with his seat belt.] Why do you ask?

[meowterspace]

[lance unbuckles and opens his door.]

Because, your room's the highest one in the house. You see that raised second on the right side? Looks kinda like a bell tower on a church, but bigger, with all the windows?

[temperedwill]

[Keith immediately wonders if he's put in the top of the house like when badguys put princesses and people in the top room and lock them in. Is that's what happening? He shakes his head to stop thinking about it.

Right. He didn't answer.]

Yeah. I can see it. [He doesn't really mind if that's his room anyways. It's closer to the stars. Even if he can't reach them. Maybe there's a building with a room that can reach them somewhere.

He's gonna get out of the car with his bag of belongings.]

[meowterspace]

It's the coolest room in the house, I bet you'll love it.

[it has bookshelves and a bay window and a lofted bed. lance loves this house.

[he takes him inside and up the stairs, pointing to where different rooms are as he gives him a quick tour on their way to his bedroom.]

[temperedwill]

[Keith makes sure not to ask too many questions and to make sure he remember what each door leads too. He doesn't want to have to ask and maybe annoy the other for not remembering.

Doesn't want to be a burden of any kind.] Do a lot of people live here?

[Does Lance live alone or was he going to have to meet other people too?]

[meowterspace]

Nope! Just you and me, buddy.

[the last stairway leads right up into the room; it's a little out of the way, but there's no door.

[the stairwell comes up along a railing, and the room is pretty nice. there are big windows other than the bay one--he has window access on all three sides that aren't the entrance. the bed is lofted above bookshelves and a desk, and there's a railing on the ladder leading up to it. in place of a closet, he has a huge standing cabinet on the opposite wall from his bed.]

I call this room "The Lighthouse." And it's all yours.

[temperedwill]

It's such a big house though.

[Keith puts his bag down so he can run over to look out one of the windows for a moment before looking around the room. There was so much space and-]

I don't need a room this big though. I don't have a lot of stuff...

[He has enough clothes to be comfortable, but only a handful of items.]

[meowterspace]

Well, not now, but there's birthdays, and Christmas, and we'll celebrate the anniversary of today... You'll get more stuff.

[he puts his hands on his hips.]

You'll have time to grow into it.

[temperedwill]

[There's the unsaid question on Keith's lips that Lance is probably aware of that lingers on the small child's mind.

"What if I'm not here for that long?"

Of course he doesn't ask, but he hasn't generally been in homes long enough to celebrate all those kind of things. Or they just never bothered to celebrate those things. Do people normally celebrate anniversaries of these kind of things?]

Do you think so?

[meowterspace]

I know so.

[lance reaches out and puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.]

You're a good kid.

[temperedwill]

We don't really know each other.

[Lance can't possibly know he's a good kid or not. The other people that took him in didn't think he was at the very least.

Also, the smol is hungry.]