AlbeTher - Bicycle Lane

Albedo should've really been looking where he was going. The things was – he got distracted really easily. Like really easily. He could get distracted by anything really, the sun reflecting off car windows, puddles, someone talking on the phone too loudly, birds chirping in the trees, children crying. He fucking hated it, especially when it made him space out.

That day it had been an ice cream van. Albedo heard the sound of the monstrosity a few streets away when he was taking a short cut through the park. He froze, not really paying attention to where he was standing, and just listened to the noise. He thought of little children that would ran towards the van, tugging on the skirts of their moms, asking for money…he remembered when he and his friend Sucrose used to race each other to get to the van first. It was always the seashell ice cream, with strawberry sauce…

"Hey! Watch out!" someone yelled. Albedo looked up too late, and saw a bike speeding towards him. His heart started beating rapidly, but he was stuck to the cement, as if his body was part of the bikers lane, he didn't see him, he didn't-

A strong, an arm pulled him backwards at the last second. Albedo stumbled out of the bike lane, a pair of protective arms wrapping around his waist from behind, and watched the biker zoom past with a curse. Albedo was left behind, heart beating wildly, trying to catch his breath.

The arms left his waist, and Albedo was snapped back to reality.

"Are you hurt?" a warm voice asked. Albedo turned around and his breath caught in his throat because shit. A boy stood in front of him, a little taller than Albedo himself, with soft blonde hair tied into a long pigtail and worried golden eyes. He wore jogging bottoms and his white shirt was wet with sweat. One earphone was still in his ear, the other dangled near his heart. One of the boy's hands rested on Albedo's upper arm. The blonde smelled of sweat, antiseptic and freshly cut grass. "You alright?" the blonde asked again, frowning.

Albedo blinked quickly, and moved away quickly. His foot caught on the edge of the pavement and he would've ended up on the floor, if the blonde's hand hadn't shot out to steady him.

"Hey, easy there," the taller boy laughed. Albedo felt his cheeks burning,

"I'm alright," Albedo finally managed with a gulp. "Thank you."

The blonde's arm was back on his upper arm, and it spread a wave of warmth through Albedo's body. He just wished that the taller boy would move, because he started to feel really hot and…

"You need to pay attention next time," the blonde said, smiling brilliantly at Albedo, "you just stopped in the middle of the biker's lane."

"I will," Albedo said, subtlety shaking the boy's hand off. He didn't know why but the boy made him feel weird, like there was a deep itch under his skin. Albedo knew he was tomato red, which wasn't very attractive. He balanced on the balls of his feet and looked away, hoping that the blonde didn't take notice of how awkward and nervous he was. The blonde smiled, and turned away.

And Albedo was hit with a sudden sense of how wrong this was. This boy was about to walk away and the feeling wouldn't go away.

"Excuse me." Albedo began, before he could stop himself. The boy turned around, looking confused. Albedo steeled himself, trying to hide his nervous ticks by clasping his hands together behind his back, biting the insides of his cheek. What now, genius? He asked himself. "I…um, my name's Albedo. Albedo Kreideprinz."

The blonde was smiling, and it was so bright it made the shadows disappear from around Albedo.

"I'm Aether." The blonde introduced himself. The sun glinted off his hair, making it look more golden.

"I see." Albedo said intelligently, staring at the boy.

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Aether mused, "Maybe you have a concussion?"

"How about we get coffee and maybe…you'll find out," Albedo said. Then he froze, he felt his ears burning, he did not just say that. Albedo felt a wave of embarrassment hit him, and he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

But Aether just laughed pleasantly,

"Sure, why not," he said, grinning, "there's a nice shop round the corner."

"Really?" Albedo asked in disbelief. Aether shrugged one shoulder and pocketed his phone.

"You're acting surprised," he said.

"Well, boys don't usually…" Albedo frowned at the ground, "I just don't…" he didn't know what to say. This never happened to him, boys never noticed him, they never wanted to go anywhere with him. They found him odd and creepy and weird.

Aether stepped closer to him,

"Well, it's not every day that a cute boy asks me out to coffee," he offered. Albedo looked up at him, his blush darkening as he bit the insides of his cheek, "you coming, Albedo?" Aether asked. Albedo nodded, and the two strolled through the park.

Albedo was really glad he walked into the bicycle lane.