Chapter Text
The round Keith not-so willingly paid for the pub should have been Lance’s last drink.
Should have.
But the evening is too nice to just stop and go home. Coran can be very convincing as well. And Keith’s relaxed presence, loosened up from the alcohol and the one too many stupid quips from Shiro that actually made him laugh and Lance’s mind swirl at the sound…
Anyway.
Lance is a bit tipsy. He can admit that much.
He can also admit that all the people around him can be too much for someone tipsy at times. Even if that tipsy person is usually a social butterfly in Coran’s pub.
With the excuse pointed towards the toilet, Lance sneaks away from the table towards the back of the pub. Behind the bar is a long hallway that leads towards the loo, an underground bowling alley and the backdoor of the pub.
Lance goes for the last.
The muggy air hits him like a brick as he steps outside. He takes a deep breath, steadies himself against the brick wall while aiming for the bench a few steps further, hidden behind a couple of rose bushes Coran prides himself on. He flops on the bench as soon as he feels the old wood touch the back of his calves, takes another deep breath and lets his eyes adjust to the complete darkness in this backyard.
The noise of the people almost silences out completely with the door shut, and only now Lance realizes just how overwhelmed he felt there for a second. He loves spending time at Coran’s, don’t get him wrong. But a nice group of four to eight people are much more preferable to him than a whole pub.
The door of the pub opens and closes again, and Lance groans. Five minutes alone, is that too much to ask for?
The person stumbles into the backyard, looking around for a few seconds until they spot Lance and get closer. Only when he’s right beside him, Lance can make out Keith’s silhouette. He shuffles to the side, giving Keith the clear invite to sit down as well.
Anyone else would have gotten sent away, but Lance doesn’t feel like being mean to Keith right now.
He actually feels like his presence, wavering yet steady, calm yet so energetic, is exactly what he needs right now to not bend over the armrest and die on the spot. Or do something even more embarrassing.