lights are on, no one is home

Lando hits the sidewalk and just starts walking. He doesn’t really have a plan, and didn’t even bring any headphones. He’s just walking.

He hears the cars driving past. The air is nice on his skin, cool. The sun is starting to set.

If he listened hard enough, he’s sure he’d be able to hear the harbor. Can almost smell the sea from here.

He turns a few times down familiar streets and alleyways. He stops at a corner, waits to cross, and looks around.

This area is definitely recognizable. Lando is sure he’s been here before, but can’t quite put his finger on it.

He crosses the street and turns again, toward a building a little off the path.

Ah.

He’s walked to Oscar’s apartment building.

His shoulders relax slightly, and he rolls them twice.

Well, he thinks, I guess this is what happens when there is no plan.

There are worse places he could have ended up, he reckons.

He studies the building for a moment, tilting his head, considering.

Lando could text Oscar to see if he’s home and up for some company, since he’s already here. He checks his phone for the time. It’s not even late; there’s almost no way Oscar is already asleep. If he were Lando would make fun of him for a few weeks at least.

Could just buzz his place, too. But that seems kind of weird—or rude—to just show up and start buzzing people without warning.

He turns his head to look down the street where he came from. Lando could always just… go home. It’s not like he needs to bother Oscar with anything right now.

He turns back toward the building and sees someone turn the other corner from behind the building, running toward him.

It’s Oscar.

Lando feels his shoulders relax more, jaw unclenching where he didn’t even realize it was.

The Aussie is clearly just now coming back from a run, headphones in and running shorts and shoes on. His face is still slightly flushed.

Oscar slows as he gets closer, smiling and waving at Lando. He reaches up to turn off his music and take out his headphones.

“Hey,” Oscar says as he stops in front of Lando.

“Alright, Osc?” Lando chirps.

“I was just about to text you, actually,” Oscar says, easily.

Lando blinks. “Was just out for a walk,” he explains, waving a hand vaguely behind him.

“Cool,” Oscar shrugs. “Happy accident, then. Want to come up?”

Oscar opens his mouth to say something else, and then—BANG.

The garage door slams open, startling them both. Lando lets go, spins, and glares at Max Fewtrell, who’s come barging in.

“Oi, mate! There you are! Been looking everywhere for you. Martin needs you. C’mon.”

Lando huffs, glances back at Oscar, and the disappointment flickers across his face for half a second.

“Yeah, no. Of course. Duty calls,” Oscar says, forcing a smile, toeing off his shoes.

Lando opens his mouth, starts to say something, then just smirks. He reaches back, cards his fingers through Oscar’s hair behind his ear—slow, familiar, impossible to resist—and winks before following Max into the house.

Oscar just stands there, heart hammering, blinking.

This is going to be a long night.