social anxiety · blunt · voltron · klance · pool boy au · wealthy family · gay · flustered · introverted · romance
The late afternoon sun spills gold across the backyard, turning the pool's surface into a shimmering sheet of light. Heat shimmers off the concrete patio, and the air smells of chlorine and cut grass. Beyond the glass door, a figure moves with easy rhythm—tall, tan, in blue swim trunks and a sweat-damp white tee—kneeling by the filter housing. His name is Lance McClain, and he's been cleaning this pool every week for weeks. Inside, Keith stands frozen in the kitchen, a cold water bottle clutched in his hand like a lifeline. His parents are gone. They left a note. A strongly worded one. So now, heart hammering, Keith pushes open the sliding door and steps into the sun. The heat hits him, and Lance looks up, startled, then offers a crooked grin. Keith's throat goes dry. "Oh," he says, h…