Chapter Text
Lance scrolled lazily through social media on his phone as he leaned against the counter. It wasn’t very busy yet, so he figured he’d relax while waiting for things to pick up. Allura was doing the same thing, but judging from the dorky smile on her face, he guessed that she wasn’t on social media, and was instead texting her boyfriend, Lotor. The two had met on the first day of freshman year, and after dancing around each other for a while, had finally gone on a date. They’d become a couple not long after, and were still dating now.
If not for Hunk and Shay’s sickeningly sweet relationship, Lotor and Allura would be the cutest couple he knew, but instead he put them as a power couple. They were both business majors, and great at it, too. Speaking of Shay, she wasn’t there yet. Her lateness wasn’t a big deal, especially since they already had some pastries, but Lance hoped she would get there before things picked up, for their sake and hers.
“I’m gonna go and check on the… ovens… to make sure they work. Yeah,” Allura said, excusing herself. The girl was a terrible liar, and she basically gave herself away with her flushed cheeks and grin, but Lance didn’t say anything other than, “Alright,” with a smug and knowing smile. She skipped away happily, leaving Lance alone.
A few minutes later, the bell attached to the door rang, signifying someone entering. First customer of the day. Lance put his phone down and, smiling, turned to face the door. “Welcome to Altea Boba! How may I help you…” The last words trailed off as he caught a glimpse of the customer. It was a pale boy, shorter than Lance, and clutching a sketchbook to his chest. He had a sort of aura that made Lance feel slightly intimidated as he stepped up to the counter. But that isn’t what had Lance stopping.
It was the sheer beauty of this boy that had his smile dropping for a more awed expression as he stared. Big, violet eyes looked up at him through long eyelashes. Full lips twisted in a thoughtful frown. Slender hands covered in black, fingerless, leather gloves held tightly to a black sketchbook that was held against a black shirt. He wore black jeans, black boots, and a leather jacket. His pale face was framed by rather long hair that looked so soft, Lance almost reached up to run his fingers through it and his cheeks and nose were dusted pink, likely from the cold outside.
Lance pulled himself from his trance once he realized that the boy’s raised eyebrow was due to his staring. He cleared his throat. “So… um… w-what can I get y-you?” The other boy glanced up at the menu. “Is the blueberry any good?” he asked. Lance only nodded, not trusting his voice. “I’ll have that please. A large one of those.” Lance nodded. “One large blueberry milk tea with tapioca?” He confirmed, writing it on the cup. The boy nodded. “Your n-name?” Lance asked, mentally slapping himself for the pitch his voice took. “Keith.” Lance wrote that down as well. “I’ll get that for you,” he said, moving to make the drink.
Lance tried to calm down by taking deep breaths. They had attractive customers all the time. Why was this time so special? It wasn’t. But still...
‘Get it together, Lance,’ he thought to himself as he carried the drink, one he’d made with surprisingly steady hands, over to the counter with the same steady hands. “Here you go!” Lance said as cheerily as he could manage with his heart feeling like it would explode. “That’ll be $7.99!” “Thanks,” Keith said after he passed the money over and took the drink. Keith moved to the corner by the window with the couch and sat down, boba tea on the table and his sketchbook open in his lap, a pencil held between his fingers.
Lance could feel the intense blush overtaking his face as he stared, only stopping when he heard a laughing from behind him. He turned and faced Allura who now had the same smug smirk that he’d had minutes before. “Shut-up,” he muttered, walking past her and into the back to catch his breath. The butterflies in his stomach were exploding almost as hard as his heart.
***
Keith sat with is back against the soft couch, his pencil poised above the paper, and occasionally taking sips from his boba tea. It was just as nice as Pidge had said. The cafe was quiet; other than the workers, he was the only one there. It was warm compared to the chilly October air, chill lofi hip-hop beats played over the speakers, and it was the perfect, relaxing atmosphere to draw.
However, Keith could not draw right now. His mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking of the handsome barista with the blinding smile and the cute blush he got when Keith walked in. It didn’t help that Keith had caught him staring before he went behind the counter. Keith was no stranger to being stared at. He was attractive. He was also no stranger to attractive boys. But moments like these, when he encountered an individual so perfectly and impossibly attractive, made him realize the extent of how incredibly gay he was.
He risked a glance at the counter past his sketchbook again to look at the counter. The barista, who he’d collected was named Lance based on his nametag, was looking at him again. They made eye contact, and Lance gave him a shy smile, one that Keith returned before looking away with a slight flush on his cheeks. Since when was he one to blush? ‘Now, apparently,’ he thought. Pidge had mentioned being close with the owner and several of the workers. He wondered if she knew Lance; he’d have to ask her later.
After another another 10 minutes without focus and with shy glances, Keith finally started sketching. He drew the boba shop, occasionally stopping to push his bangs from his eyes, take another sip of the boba that was really good, or to peek at Lance. Eventually, both of those stopped as he got into The Zone. Keith bit his bottom lip, eyebrows pulled together in concentration as he sketched the room. He always did this when he went places to draw. First drew the room, then, if he came often, started drawing people he commonly saw there.
The cafe got busier around Keith, and the hum of chatter from the many filled tables was a welcomed background noise. Keith was about a fourth done with his drawing and completely done with his boba when his phone alarm, the one that alerted him that he needed to leave for class, went off. He pulled his phone from his pocket to turn it off, replacing it when he did so, then flipped his sketchbook closed and put his pencil in the spiral. He picked up his boba cup and stood, throwing it in a nearby trash can.
When Keith passed the counter, he saw Lance and another girl with long, flowing, curly, white hair and dark brown skin taking orders and making drinks. Keith caught Lance’s eye, and gave a wave that was returned rather shyly as he walked out of the door.
The cool air outside was quite a contrast to the warm are of the cafe. Keith made his way over to his bike, pulling his helmet out of the compartment with his bag and replacing it with his sketchbook. He pulled the helmet on and swung his leg over the motorcycle, turning it on and pulling off to get to his class. It was about 10:00, which meant he had 15 minutes. He couldn’t help the small smile that found its way onto his face. He normally hated Monday mornings, but solely because of one stranger, it was one of the best he’d had in a while.
---
Keith felt even better as he exited his class. The teacher had assigned them to drawing 5 random strangers, or new acquaintances in a sort of setting that reminded you of them, and to submit them in three weeks. Luckily, not only was this something he often did, and not only did he have a brand new place full of brand new strangers, but it also gave him the excuse he’d been searching for throughout the entire class to draw Lance. Did that make him creepy? Wanting to draw Lance? He hoped not.
He checked his phone after feeling it vibrate in his pocket. It was a text from Pidge, reminding him that were having lunch that day at a restaurant not far from her dorm. He responded, telling her that he hadn’t forgotten. Then, as he made his way to his bike, he scrolled up in their messaging history to check the name of the restaurant. Arus Cafe. He switched his bag out for his helmet and drove off.
It didn’t take Keith long to reach the area, but it took longer than he cared to admit for him to actually find the restaurant. It was nestled between a convenience store and tattoo shop. He parked in a nearby empty space and put his helmet away, entering the building. He quickly spotted Pidge at a table and made his way over to her. “Hey,” He said, slipping into his seat. “Yo, Keith,” she responded, looking up from her phone with a grin, her brown eyes glinting. “How’s it going?” He shrugged. “It’s going, I guess.” Pidge nodded. “Yeah same here for the most part. I’ve been so busy for the past few weeks. Essays and software design take up so much time.” Keith chuckled.
“Why are we at a cafe?” he asked. “Aren’t those for brunch or somethin? This is lunch.”
“Their lunch is to kill for?”
“Isn’t it ‘to die for?’”
“Shut it Keith, I talk how I want. Anyway, their grilled cheese and strawberry lemonade are great.”
“Right, I forgot you’re like, 10.”
That earned him a kick in the leg, and he laughed. They went back and forth in idle chatter and jokes until a waiter came to take their order. Pidge forced him to order grilled cheese and strawberry lemonade, insisting he’d love it. They got their food, and he actually did love it, though he’d never admit it to Pidge. He’d never hear the end of it. “It’s not that bad, I guess,” he told her, trying to remain indifferent. He heard her grumble something about him probably lying before they lapsed into a comfortable silence.
“So,” Pidge said, breaking the silence and making Keith look up at her. “How was Altea?” Keith swallowed his grilled cheese. “It was good. The atmosphere was really nice. Good for drawing. And the boba was great.”
‘Plus, there was a super cute boy working their,’ he adds in his head. “Oh? And who is this super cute boy?” Keith flinched. “Did I say that out loud?” he asked sheepishly. Pidge nodded, laughing when Keith slammed his head forward on the table with a laugh. “Ugh. Yeah, there was a really cute guy who took my order.” Pidge smiled mischievously. “Do I get to hear about this mystery cute boy?” Keith lifted his head to glare at her. “So you can hang it over my head? Definitely not.” Pidge shrugged. “Fair enough. Can I at least get his name.” After several moments of silent hesitation, Keith reluctantly mumbled, “Lance.”
“Lance, huh.” Pidge said in an unreadable voice. Then, she delved into talk about her latest project, switching the subject. It seemed normal, but that was because Keith hadn’t seen the mischievous glint in her eye or the gears in her brain brewing the beginnings of a plan.