Layers of Heat

Layer 7

There, on a bench, at the bus stop, in the middle of a snowy and cold evening, Leila was sitting on Ken's lap, snuggled up against his chest, a blissful smile on her face, while his hands didn't know where to go. Ken didn't know how he ended up in this situation.

Well, actually, he did. But he never expected it and the confusion only scrambled any and all rational thoughts into dumbfounded urges.

It all started when Leila told him that she wouldn't see him after work on Friday because she had switched shifts with a coworker. Meanwhile, he had mentioned that he didn't have a gym buddy due to his friends being busy. And so, because she was free, she volunteered to be the one to accompany him. Of course, he gladly welcomed her.

While Ken went through his usual workout routine, Leila stayed on the treadmill and watched her phone, occasionally smiling or frowning from whatever was playing on the screen. He hadn't realized he was paying so much attention to her until he lost track of his bicep reps. Eventually he focused, but not before coming to the conclusion that he was too easily distracted when it came to Leila.

At the end of their workout, the two of them took their separate showers and were ready to go home clean of sweat. However, once they were exposed to the blast of winter air, Leila began shivering uncontrollably. Ken was used to the shift in temperature after the gym, so he felt incredibly guilty for putting her through such a situation. Even after he gave her his coat, her teeth continued to chatter.

After an off-comment about wishing he could give her some of his body heat, Leila came up with a suggestion.

And so, there they were, sitting on the bus stop bench, with Leila snuggled in his lap and against his chest.

Her hot breaths puffed and rose past his jaw, waving like smoke in front of his eyes. Ken swallowed, his hands still hovering around but not touching her.

After a few minutes, Leila spoke. "Thanks Ken."

He noticed her teeth no longer clattered. Instead, it was his turn to flub his words.

"No're welcome."

Ken frowned.

No problem. You're welcome. Pick one.

Unfortunately, Leila noticed and chuckled. "Have people ever told you you're too nice sometimes, Ken?"

He took a moment to think about it. "Miles mentions it once in a while."

"Well, he's right. If you don't stick up for yourself more, you'll get taken advantage of by people like me."

A gust of wind blew at them, and Leila shivered. As if on instinct, his arms wrapped around her, forgetting about his earlier hesitance.

"I don't know about others, but I don't mind doing this for you," he replied.

Ken felt her head move as she glanced up at him. In response, he looked down at her, taking in the sight of her wide eyes, long lashes, and rosy cheeks.

"Because I'm cute?"

He gawked and blurted, "Did Miles tell you that?"

"No. People call me cute all the time when I'm waddling around in the cold." A smile warmed up her face. "So...you told Miles that I'm cute?"

Hopefully his cheeks were already pink from the cold wind and she didn't notice him blushing from her words. "Let's just say the nickname Little Penguin is very fitting for you."

Leila chuckled and snuggled into his chest again. "Aww, thanks."

From her nonchalant reaction, it seemed she didn't mind him thinking she was cute. But where was he supposed to go next from that information? Actually, did he even want to go anywhere else? Wasn't what they had right now perfectly fine? Or was that thought already a sign of wanting something more? More? Like what?

Before he could form a proper conclusion, the bus arrived, and Leila hopped off his lap.

"C'mon Ken!" she beckoned him with a smile before rushing onto the warm bus, clinging to his coat so it didn't fall off her shoulders.

The adorable sight only succeeded in scrambling more of his thoughts, and he mindlessly followed after her.

—

Miles looked up from his desk when he heard the door open, and he saw Ken enter their dorm room with a dazed look on his face. And was he...blushing?

"Hey man. What's wrong?" Miles asked, concerned.

Ken met his gaze and for a few moments, he continued to wear a blank expression. But then he seemed to remember something and physically cringed, burying his face into his hands.

"I'm so fucking lame," he groaned against his palms.

"Did something happen with Leila?" Miles was aware the two of them had gone to the gym that night, but he didn't expect there to be a setback. Or was it progress? He still couldn't tell.

Ken answered, but due to his face being buried in his hands, Miles couldn't make out the words.

"Come again?"

"She...in...lap."

"Huh?"

"She sat in my lap!"

Miles was speechless. Ken was still folding himself inside out. Several moments passed in silence, and the quiet did nothing to ease the memories in Ken's head. He recalled the way he froze with Leila in his lap, as well as the way he had mindlessly followed after her, practically salivating at her adorable smiles and giggles.

"How did it happen?" Miles asked.

Ken explained, the recollection only embarrassing him more and more.

"So..." His friend continued, "What's the big deal? Did you pop a boner and she felt it or something?"

"No. Thank God."

"Then what's the issue? You didn't like it?"

"That's the thing! I liked it! Too much!" Ken stood to his full height and glared down at Miles. "This is your fault."

Miles snorted. "My fault?"

"If you hadn't put ideas into my head, I wouldn't have noticed how weird I was behaving!"

"Whoa, calm down. I didn't put any ideas into your head. If anything you did that to yourself. I only said Leila was a woman, not a penguin. Whatever horny ideas you fantasized about have nothing to do with me."

Ken froze as fuzzy images appeared in his head—images that involved him and Leila doing more than simply sitting at a cold bus stop. He groaned and swiped them away, ending the fantasies before they became more clear. But he knew it was pointless. Even if he did his best to not think about them for now, they would inevitably catch up to him in his sleep.