Bodysnatchers

5

Keith doesn't think he's ever been more terrified in his life; keeping up light small-talk with Lance while his hands are sweating and he's seconds away from climbing down into a drain pipe and hiding there forever is proving to be more difficult than he'd anticipated.

Also- okay, he feels like a pre-teen with his first crush because every time his hand brushes against Lance's, he can't help but get a pang of nervousness and feel his heart rate increase just a little bit, which is just not helping the situation and he hates himself for feeling that way.

Then Lance stops, pausing, and Keith quickly falls into a halt in the middle of the sidewalk as Lance pulls his phone out of his pocket, lazily pushing down to accept an incoming call as it vibrates.

"Hey man," he says. Keith just stands awkwardly by his side, not really sure what to do. Lance grins at him, half-turning around and leaning against the wall. Keith doesn't want to look like some little kid, incapable of thinking for himself and so he just- you know, stands still biting the hem of his sleeve, agitated. "Yeah, yeah, I know," Lance continues snickering. "Oh?" He raises his eyebrows. "Right, okay. We'll meet you at the bandstand then. In like, an hour," he pauses, and chuckles. "I told you. Keith."

Keith looks up at the sound of his name, smiling and blushing. Lance winks at him.

"Yeah, alright. See you in a little bit then."

And then he hangs up, letting out a sigh and rubbing his neck. "Allura is having trouble getting the weed," he explains. "So I said that we'd meet her in about an hour. D'you need to do anything while we're in town?"

Keith shakes his head. "Uh, no. I don't think so."

"Keith," Lance says, a smirk on his face. "What did I just say? You really don't have to be so nervous around me." He smiles. "I genuinely like being around you, you don't have to worry that I'm gonna hurt you or anything."

Keith swallows. "Okay." And yeah, Keith feels kind of silly for being so nervous about Lance. He knows Lance would probably not hurt him, but fuck, that's definitely not all that Keith is worried about regarding Lance.

"No point going anywhere yet though," Lance says. "D'you wanna just- I don't know, head somewhere we can just go and sit, if you want? Have a smoke?"

"Sure," Keith nods. Lance grins, and he reaches out to clasp Keith's hand, and Keith is gone. No one is home right now, and yeah- Lance lightly pulls Keith down the street, and they quickly weave in and out of traffic as they cross the roads. A couple of cars honk at them, Lance just sends them a grin or whenever the driver shouts any abuse, he sends a wave their way, coy smile perfectly on his lips, and Keith is a little bit in awe.

Lance is a million worlds away from anyone Keith has ever known, and there is something almost addictive about his recklessness.

They walk for about five minutes until they're somewhere pretty secluded in town, and Lance lets go of Keith's hand to flop onto a wooden bench. The sky is overcast and grey, and as Keith sits down to join him he realizes that the area they're in is shadowed by buildings, and there is no one really around.

He's glad about that. Even if Lance doesn't notice the red that will inevitably cover Keith's cheeks- which he will, anyway- surely someone else would, and the many residents of their town seem to have some sort of complex that doesn't allow them to hold their tongues, and so some interesting comments would definitely fly, and that'd be embarrassing.

Keith doesn't want to assume things, nor does he want to get his hopes up- but the winks, the not-so-subtle flirting, and everything else- he wonders if maybe Lance does like him. Likes him in terms of a relationship prospect, and not just as a friend or a quick fuck.