Bookstore - Klance AU

Part 5

Only a day has passed since the incident with Keith, but Lance is back, sipping gingerly at his sweet tea (on the house, for services rendered). His eyes flash as they zip back and forth over his book. He's almost done, only 80 pages left.

Lance peeks over when he sees Keith take his booth. Keith. Lance feels giddy every time he thinks of it. He knows the gorgeous man's name.

When Keith sits down, he pulls out his book, but doesn't open it. Instead he reverently lays a hand on its cover before pushing it to the side. Lance watches from the corner of his eye curiously.

Keith tugs a large Calculus textbook and a red notebook from his back pack. He groans as he flips them open. Lance understands his pain since he has his own Calculus final in a few days.

Lance returns to his book.

Twenty pages later, he's startled by a loud thump. He, and the other studiers nearby, glance over to Keith, who's fist vibrates on top of his notebook. Keith mutters an apology to everyone, his cheeks dusted red.

Maybe this is a chance for Lance to introduce himself to Keith.

If Lance can get his sorry ass to move. Get up, lazy! Go talk to him. He's just a person. Just a person? As if! Keith is a god among men. A dreamer, a reader. One who is struggling in Calculus.

Lance would give his soul to this god. A simple service like this should be given without a second's delay. What is Lance doing, sitting around when this god needs his help?

Lance stands abruptly from his booth and snatches his book and bag. He walks over to Keith's table. The one he'd been fantasizing about for the past week. Is it strange that Lance can't swallow? Or feel his feet?

Now, he is standing awkwardly over the beautiful man. Keith turns his face to meet Lance's.

Lance's heart, no joke, stops as does time. Time definitely paused when that angel, that god looked at him.

Indigo eyes, much more vivid and lively up close, stare questioningly at Lance, as he searches his brain for something to say.

"You're working on Calculus? I'm pretty good at Calculus. Well, actually my friend Pidge is much better at it than me, but she explained a lot of it to me," Lance rambles, "I can help you, if you want. Not that I think you need help! But if you want it, I can..."

Lance's face heats, and he slaps his hand to his face. He should go dig a hole and die in it. This is mortifying.

"Really? You wouldn't mind? I don't understand volumes of rotation," Keith says in his husky voice. Lance brightens in an instant.

"Of course! Let me pull out my stuff. Do you mind if I-?" Lance sits on the small bench next to Keith. The bench is not technically meant for two, but this is the easiest way for Lance to tutor.

Lance tugs out his blue notebook, opening it to where he copied down Pidge's explanations. He does his best to ignore the heat from where Keith's thigh meets his own.

After doing a few practice problems together, Lance deems Keith able to do a few on his own. Lance pulls out his book to read a bit while Keith works. When Keith finishes them, he peeks over at Lance.

"Crooked Kingdom? I love that book!" Keith says, a bright smile splitting his face. "I reread it not long ago."

Lance blushes. "I know. I saw you reading it the first day I came here. You laughed and cried because of it, and I wanted to know what it was that made you feel like that. I must admit, you have excellent taste in books."

"Thank you. I'm flattered that you were interested in reading it because of me," Keith says, his dark lashes fluttering.

"No, thank you. I'm also planning on rereading Percy Jackson after this."

They talk excitedly about books until closing time despite Keith having a math exam the next day.