A Secret Crush

Valentine's Day p.2

"I don't know what to get him Hunk! Valentine's Day is tomorrow. He's probably already got me a perfect gist because he's so intuitive about that shit!" Lance ranted to his best friend on their lunch date.

"Calm down Lance. How about Pidge and I come along and help you pick out a gift?" Hunk chuckled. Even though Lance has matured, he's still hyperactive.

Lance sighed and nodded, "Yeah... but I don't even know where to start."

"We can roam around the market and see if we find anything." Hunk suggested, still smirking amusedly.

"Yeah yeah okay. When?"

"How about after lunch?"

***

Hunk called up Pidge after they had finished their food and they went gift hunting.

Pidge and Hunk found some gold dipped roses. "Hunk isn't this like, really expensive?" Lance questioned as he looked at the three roses in the vase on the booth, the clerk watching intently.

"Probably. They're pretty though." Pidge replied. "It's not really clicking Keith either... I'm looking for that gift that stands out you know..." Lance explained as his eyes glanced around.

His gaze found a blade shop and something sparked in Lance's eyes. "How about a new jacket? His looks like it's getting worn." Hunk suggested, looking at a clothing rack. "That's a good idea. How about it Lance?" Pidge agreed.

Lance scoffed, "You think I haven't tried?He's very attached to that thing. How about we look at knives?"

"Why does he need a knife? We aren't fighting a war anymore." Pidge reasoned.

"He still has a fascination for them. He has a collection displayed on his shelf and he's always looking for more." Lance said with a proud smile.

That smile slowly dropped as he continued., "He also almost always keeps one on him at all times. War paranoia. Hell, even I have a shotgun at my hip right now, and I know you have a taser in that satchel Pidge. Hunk, you have Mace on your waist band." Lance answered.

The two gaped at him, Hunk touching the mace indeed on his belt and Pidge reached in her bag to clasp onto the taser just to make sure it was there.

Lance looked between the two of them, "Am I wrong?"

"No Lance, shockingly... you're right." Pidge said, earning an annoyed scowl from Lance and a snort from Hunk.

"Shut up. I'm not stupid." Lance but back.

"Ehh... I beg to differ." Hunk teased, antagonizing Lance to playfully punch his arm.

"Come on. Let's go get a knife." Lance finally got back onto topic.

Hunk nodded, rubbing his stubble, "Let's find one he'll like!"

The trio walked up to the blade booth and looked over all the knives. Pidge held up a fancy looking switch blade and shouted, "How about this one?"

Lance perked up and scanned it, face dropping, "Already has it."

"Course he does..." Hunk sighed as he keeps looking through the blades. There were hunting knifes, switch blades, swords, katanas, and a sheathe for every one.

Lance's eye catches a glimmer in his peripheral and he looks toward it. There's a trench knife in the way back, hidden by the flashy boot and throwing knives. Grasping it firmly in his hand he looks it over.

The knife had brass knuckles on the handle and a fairly new and sharp blade. Lance opened his fist to reveal the wooden handle with an intricate carving of a hippo opening its mouth, revealing the large teeth the animals bare. Lance then looked over at the sheathe which was just a simple leather with a lake full of hippos embroidered into it.

"How much is this one?" Lance asked the seller.

"You want that one?" The clerk asked walking up to Lance.

"Umm yeah? Is there something wrong with it?" Lance asked, his heart sinking at the thought of the knife being broken or something.

"Nothing necessarily wrong. But that blade is just weird looking. I don't like the creatures on there. They are just ugly." The clerk explained, looking at the carving with a grimace. The salesman looked a lot like the blade shop owner from the super mall.

Lance sighed in relief and smiled, "Well, my husband loves these things. I'll take it."

"Since it still a good blade, I'll sell it for 85 Earth dollars. Deal?"

"Deal!"

•••

Part three will be out by either late tonight or tomorrow morning. I hope you don't mind the lateness of this!!