"Would you like a straw?" Keith had been deep in thought and the voice pulled him back. He looked over from his seat at the bar to see Lance stirring the strawberry lemonade he had made for them both. Keith still couldn't believe how good he looked. He reddened a bit seeing he had been staring.
"What? I'm sorry.." He apologized but Lance just smiled a bit.
"A straw? For your drink?" He asked pulling out a small container holding blue striped straws.
"Oh! No thank you." Keith smiled as Lance plopped one into his own and carried the two glasses over.
"One fresh strawberry lemonade for you! These strawberries are from my garden too!" He said excitedly sliding the glass over to Keith. Lance sat on the stool next to Keith and sipped his lemonade. He moaned a bit with a smile.
"Man. This is good." Keith watched the boy next to him savor his drink with a small smile. He took a sip himself and had to agree. It really was good.
"This is actually great. Thanks" He said and sipped it some more. Lance stayed quiet enjoying his drink too much to speak. They sat in a comfortable silence as they finished their cold drinks. Keith looked around some more. The place was really open and bright. Glass windows let in the sunlight perfectly and everything was so neat and tidy.
"This place is awesome Lance." Lance spun around in his stool to admire his place.
"Isn't it? I can barely afford it but hey! I enjoy it too much to care. Plus it's only like, a 5 minute walk fro the beach! How cool!"
"Do you still work at the Black Lion?" Keith questioned. Lance grabbed their now empty glasses and went around to the sink to rinse them out before placing the glasses in the dishwasher.
"Yep! I don't work as much anymore. My therapist said I need to take it slowly for a while. More 'me' time. Man was he right. Like, I hadn't realized how much I had been working." Lance leaned against the counter watching Keith. Keith felt like he was looking at a completely different guy. The Lance he had met before was nothing compared to the boy that stood in front of him now. His eyes were bright and you could tell that he wasn't hiding anymore. Keith had thought he had been the prettiest thing back then but now, now that he's finally happy it's breathtaking. Just he way he glows. He seems so happy and it makes Keith's heart hurt that he hadn't been here to see more of it.
"Keith? Earth to Keith?" Lance had been waving his arms to get his attention.
"What?" Keith asked perking up a bit. Lance rolled his eyes a bit but threw him a wink.
"Stop undressing em with your eyes and let's go to the beach!" He pushed himself off the counter and walked off and down the hallway. Keith was as red as a tomato but didn't object. Lance reappeared holding some swim trunks.
"I'm not sure what size you are?" He wondered holding them both up. Keith stood up and walked over taking the red ones.
"These look like they'll fit. " He smiled at Lance's excited little bounce.
"Yes! We're going to the beach. We're going to the beach." The boy sang as he walked back into his room. Keith walked into the bathroom to change and couldn't help but laugh at Lance's little song he was singing as he was changing. Keith looked at himself in the mirror once his trunks were on. He was so pale compared to Lance. He threw his shirt back on feeling a little self conscious. He came out to see Lance throwing towels into a bag. Lance turned around and frowned a bit.
"Aw. Come on Keith, Don't get shy on me now!" He said looking at the shirt in pity. Keith crossed his arms across his chest embarrassed.
"I'm so pasty." He said quietly and Lance rolled his eyes and grabbed a bottle of something before coming over to him.
"Take off your shirt." Lance said opening the cap to the bottle. Keith sighed but soon his shirt was off and tossed on the couch. Lance squirted some of the product into his hands and rubbed them together before coming up to Keith. His hands started at his shoulder and he worked his way down his chest humming softly. Keith wasn't sure what it was but it smelled good. Smelled like Lance. Lance continued to his back until all of Keith's upper half was glistening in the oil.
"What exactly is this?" Keith asked not minding it but curious.
"Tanning oil! You won't be pasty much longer" He smiled before starting on himself. Keith watched him amazed, he looked good dripping in oil. Keith cleared his throat and averted his gaze unable to keep thinking these thoughts. Calm down Keith.
"Can you get my back?" Lance held out the bottle to Keith and turned around. Keith groaned inwardly at the though of touching his perfectly sculpted back and his shoulders. Lance must know this was torture. Keith squirted a good amount into his hands before gently placing them on his back. His skin was so warm under his hands. Keith worked the oil into the skin admiring the shimmer it gave off.
"There. " Keith said once he had finished. Lance thanked him and grabbed up the beach bag.
"Ready?" He asked. He slipped on some boat shoes before grabbing his sunglasses. Keith nodded and had luckily packed a pair of beach shoes. He would have been stupid not too.
"You're so excited to go to the beach. Even thought you probably go like every day" Keith mused as the two walked out of the apartment. Keith was already uncomfortably hot being outside of Lance's nice air conditioned apartment.
"The beach is amazing Keith. I could literally go everyday and never get sick of it." Keith admired Lance's passion. The way his mouth quirked up in the corners and how his eye twinkle. Keith could listen to him chatter all day. Lance was filling him on more details as they strolled down the sidewalk together. The pavement was quickly replaced by a sandy trail leading down to the water. Keith had to admit it was a beautiful day for the beach.
Lance stopped looking left and right before starting off again. Keith followed and soon found out Lance had been scoping out a good spot. Lance pulled out their towels before fluffing them out and laying them down. Lance lowered himself onto his towel with a sigh of content.
"Man. This is perfect" He sighed resting on his back. He pulled his shades on and rested on his arms. Keith joined him quickly and nodded in agreement. The sun felt nice and the beach wasn't packed so he could actually hear the waves. Keith found himself getting a little sleepy so he forced himself to sit up before he fell asleep. He looked over and to his surprise Lance was already sound asleep looking comfy as can be. Keith smiled a bit but let the boy sleep. Keith watched the ocean and the few kids splashing around. Lance woke up not long after stretching out with a soft groan. Keith raised an eyebrow slightly as the boy sat up. His hair was sticking out all which way and he was absolutely adorable.
"Morning Sleeping Beauty" Keith snickered and Lance just shrugged with a small smile.
"Beach naps are by far the best naps dude. " He said in his defense. The two boys laid back enjoying the view together in silence. Keith didn't mind one bit. He was more than happy to just be in his presence.
"The trial's over." Keith looked over a bit surprised at Lance. Lance was gazing off into the water seemingly miles away. Should Keith tell him he already knew? That Pidge and Hunk had updated him?
"They gave him the worst of it. If all goes as planned he'll be facing Death Row. It will probably take years but at least he's locked up for the time being. So he can't hurt anyone else again."
"I'm sorry.. I should have been there.. for you. I can't imagine what you must have gone through." Keith watched Lance closely but didn't see any anger. Just a look of peace. Lance turned to look at Keith and he knew there was something else to. Hope.
