Grinded Gears: A Klance/Shallura Fanfiction

Chapter 3

It was exhilarating to ride on the back of Keith's bike, clinging to him for dear life as the wind whipped around them. The cold nipped at Lance's face and the exposed skin on his arms and legs, but it wasn't unbearable, especially in the summer heat. Keith was careless, and it was certainly part of the show. He had to make a point because Lance had challenged him and, being the hothead he was, Keith had to respond.

Despite that, Lance enjoyed the feeling of freedom and the movement of the bike. Keith swerved them down alleys and side streets, and Lance moved with him. The buildings he had known since childhood flew by in a whirl of color as Lance rested his head comfortably on Keith's back and watched, mesmerized. The early afternoon sun glinted off everything it touched, painting the world in a light Lance hadn't paid any mind to before now. If he was being honest, it was beautiful, and he felt at ease riding with Keith through the sleepy little town.

And then Lance remembered they were supposed to meet the others for breakfast.

He cursed under his breath. How long had they been gone? Ten minutes? An hour? Christ, the others were probably worried sick. Leaning up to Keith's ear, he shouted over the roar of the engine, "Pull over. It's important."

Though Keith threw him a skeptical look over his shoulder, he complied, pulling into an empty parking lot and cutting the engine. He removed his helmet and fluffed out his hair while Lance clambered off the bike, fumbling with his own helmet as he dug in his pocket for his phone. Keith eyed him carefully. "What's the problem?"

Lance shot a glare his way and snapped, "We don't know where we're going. I'm calling Pidge." Keith simply raised his hands in defense and turned his attention to his own phone. Dialing Pidge's number, Lance pressed send and held the phone to his ear. He waited while it rang...

And sent him to voicemail.

He tried again and again with no luck. "That little gremlin," he murmured under his breath, trying Hunk instead. To his amazement, Hunk didn't answer either. He always answered his phone. Lance called a few times and never got a response. His eyebrows furrowed. Something had to be wrong.

"Keith," Lance called grumpily, not bothering to look up. Keith glanced at him fleetingly but didn't speak. "Call Shiro. No one is answering me."

Rolling his eyes, Keith punched in Shiro's number and called. It rang for a minute before sending him to voicemail, too. He frowned but shrugged nonchalantly, hanging up. "Nope. Nothing."

Lance stomped his feet like a child and whined. "This is all Pidge's fault. She's probably got everyone distracted."

"Maybe they're ignoring us," Keith mused.

"Pfft. Yeah right. My friends would never ignore me," Lance replied confidently.

Exhaling deeply through his nose, Keith motioned him over. "Humor me." Lance quirked an eyebrow and hesitantly walked back towards the bike. "Let me see your phone."

"Excuse me?" Lance gasped, holding his phone protectively with both of his hands against his chest. He narrowed his eyes at his companion and growled, "Why should I?"

"Because," Keith hissed through gritted teeth, "Shiro shouldn't have your number yet. If you call him from your phone, maybe he'll answer." They glared at each other for a moment before Lance begrudgingly held out his phone. Keith snatched it out of his hands and typed in Shiro's number, putting it on speaker and waiting.

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Shiro's phone vibrated on the table, causing Pidge to groan. "Is it Keith again?" She asked through a bite of Belgian waffle.