Work Text:
The world was against Keith, he was sure of it.
He could name a dozen different reasons to support that. Like how he grew up an orphan, how he had to ride a two hour subway ride to work everyday, or even how he was still slightly, barely still hung up on his ex from high school of all places.
Or how said ex is now standing in the middle of his usual station at five in the morning, looking at his phone, and looking radiant as ever.
Keith had decided then and there that the world hated him, though he had definitely made that claim before.
Either way, Keith still needed to get to work. So he resolved to stick to the corners of the station and hope that whatever train Lance needs to get on will arrive before his train does.
With that in mind, he gravitated towards a dirty pillar a few feet away. As long as Lance couldn’t see him, it did the trick. And anyway, the benches to the right were taken. He had very limited options here.
He took the time to examine Lance, his posture, as naturally flawless as ever. And hey, as much as Keith isn’t the type to focus on such trivial things as posture, it was one of the things Lance used to bug him about when they were dating.
He shook his head, ignoring the confused stares it gained him from the people in the station who could see him. He didn’t want to dwell on such times. They were in the past. Definitely.
Suddenly, a familiar sound filled the air and he almost jumped. He peeked around the pillar to see Lance grinning at his phone, a laugh fresh on his lips. Keith had to force himself to look away.
He was pathetic. He was one of the best personal trainers at a very expensive gym and an esteemed college graduate (Though he barely made it through high school before dropping out.). And yet here he was, pining after a past high school sweetheart. Could it get any worse?
He heard the speakers announce his train's arrival and felt his heart drop to his stomach. He had definitely just jinxed himself. Now he had to go and walk onto the train and risk Lance seeing him. And what was he even afraid of? It was just Lance, anyway. It’s not like he could run after Keith as the doors were closing. But then Lance had looked up and started walking towards the train, and with no hesitation (or Keith to chase after) he stepped in.
Keith felt himself cringe. Of course they were getting on the same train. Because, of course, why the hell not?
Realising that it was Monday, one of his busiest days of the week, and that he most certainly could not afford to be late for work today, he sighed and got on the train as well.
—------
Things were going well for Keith. He got on the subway car, looked around and saw no sign of Lance whatsoever.
“Keith?”
For the first 10 seconds. Because of course Lance was standing behind him.
He forced himself to turn around and try for a look that said ‘Oh, you’re here too? What a shocker.’.
“Lance? Is that you?” He asked, hoping to sound genuine. What was genuine was the warm smile it had earned him from the beautiful man in front of him.
“Hey, I knew it was you! And you remember my name this time.” Lance said, and Keith felt his eyes widen in alarm at the embarrassing memory. “That was one time!” he huffed, “And you promised that you forgot about it!.”.
Lance shook his head and shrugged while saying, “Not the first time one forgot about something. What are you doing on this train, man?”. Keith tried to ignore how cute the action looked. Lance had always been so expressive. One of the many things Keith loved about him.
“I ride this train to work everyday.” He said. He had half a mind to nod his head as he said it but he’d never really been much of an expressive person himself. Though Lance nodded instead, humming in understanding.
“Cool, cool.” Lance shrugged again, and their conversation went silent. Keith tried to ignore how obviously Lance was studying his face. How sometimes those eyes would trail to his shoulders and slowly make their way down his arms before snapping up again.
And God, those eyes. So blue and captivating and pretty and blue and so- Just so Lance.
Those eyes that just snapped away, looking at anything but him. And isn’t it ironic, or funny or something along those lines, that Keith can still read him the way he did those years ago?
Lance was feeling awkward. Or guilty. But Keith was pretty sure it was the former. His hands were fidgeting the way they always did when he was trying hard not to think about something. And Keith could probably guess what he was thinking about. After all, he was doing the very same thing. They were always so in sync like that.
Just like how their eyes glance at each other at the very same time and catch the movement so familiarly. So familiarly it hurts.
This time, it’s Keith who tears his gaze away. Though he would never admit how much effort it took for him to do so. They stand there for the while, in the middle of the subway car, gently swaying, in gentle silence.
That is, until the train hit an unexpected bump and jolted the two, causing Lance to almost fall over only to be caught by Keith, pulling him by the arm until they were barely a foot apart.
Because, y’know, of course it did.
Lance let out an awkward chuckle and Keith jolted, realising the position they were in. He carefully helped Lance, who’s strained smile was still cuter than it should be, back to his feet before they fell into silence once again. Except this time, Keith realised he couldn’t look away from the man. Instead he found himself asking, “What about you?”.
Lance tilted his head, confusion tracing his features. “Uh, what do you mean by that?” He asked. Keith pursed his lips, “Uh, I’m here for work. But why are you here?”.
He wanted to cringe at his choice of words. He made it sound like he was unwelcome. But they had already tumbled out of his mouth. And he wasn’t sure how to explain that he wasn’t. Unwelcome, that is.
But Lance’s face didn’t fall. He only hummed and brought his fingers to his chin, thoughtfully. Keith came to the frightful conclusion that maybe, in the short years that they’d been together, Lance had learned to read him pretty well too.
And isn’t that terrifying. The thought that Lance might know him as well as he knows Lance?
Absolutely.
“I’m actually headed to a job interview.” Lance said, and Keith found himself smiling and replying, “Then I wish you the best of luck.”.