Break Bad

Good for you, Keithers...

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June 30th, 8:14PM.

As soon as Keith pulled into the mall parking lot, he could hear the music faintly below the purr of his bike. The faint brass instruments, and piano ringing in his mind with memories of his old work. His old life.
He wondered if it could even be considered his old life. It wasn't so old, and was his life really changed for good this time?

He doubted it, but some part of him hoped.

Keith parked the bike, and looked over the cold and dark parking lot, scattered street lamps buzzing with an orange fluorescent glow. Bugs slamming against them. A dozen cars in the whole place, most probably abandoned, some with broken glass.

Keith cut off the engine, and the jazz music only became more clear. Keith tried not to shiver as he heard it. Because then Lance, who currently still had his arms around Keith's waist, would ask questions. And Keith didn't want to lie, or play the question dodging game that he practiced whenever he spoke to Shiro....

'Right...Shiro.'

Keith was reminded of the text his brother had sent him, asking him and Lance to visit. That sort of thing was hell bound to end poorly, but Keith would have to ask Lance in a few days. After their date, and after things were completely patched up between them.

'One step at a time.'
Keith thought, erasing thought of the text or meeting from his mind, for now.
He lifted off the bike, and Lance did the same.

"What's that music?"
Lance asked.

"It's from that club over there."
Keith said as casually as he could, pointing to the strip club, then nearly groaning as he realized it was right by the mall entrance.
They'd have to walk past it.
'Who the fuck puts a club next to a mall?'

Lance looked for a moment, then took off his helmet, and locked it to the bike.
"Why is there a club next to a mall?"

"Even worse, it's a strip club."

"Oh yeah, you said you didn't like them. Something about not looking at what you can't have?"

Keith internally groaned, but kept his expression neutral.
"Uh, yeah. I don't like them, or their music."

"Sounds like jazz. I love jazz."

"Yep, best music to strip to."

Lance chuckled.
"Speaking from experience?"
He asked. At first Keith froze, until he felt Lance's playful elbows jab, and saw his smirk.

'He's joking, just joking. Calm the fuck down.'

Keith composed himself.
"I uh ....no."
'Smooth, real fucking smooth.'

Thankfully Lance paid no attention to his slow response, and began to walk to the mall. Grabbing Keith's hand when Keith lagged behind him.
"Come on you big baby. Mall night shopping is fun!"

Keith was forced to follow beside Lance. And as they approached the club, the music only got louder. Keith visibly cringed as he heard it. Thankfully Lance was slightly ahead of him, and couldn't see his reaction.

It wasn't that Keith hated the music, he actually liked it. What he didn't like was all the memories being near a club brought back. Not so much memories of the club, or his work, but everything else that happened there.

Lance squeezed Keith's hand, noticing Keith had kept slowing down as they approached the mall. He looked back to see Keith had a tight expression on his face. Like his muscles simply couldn't remember how to relax. Not that they often did.
Keith's face went neutral as soon as he noticed Lance looking.
Lance was going to drop it seeing his Keith clearly didn't want to talk about it, but so far that it never helped them in the past. So he sighed, and right as they passed the doors to the club, he turned to face Keith.