More
When he got to school, nyma looked furious.
”Keith, I swear to god if I see rolo today I’ll—“
”Its fine”
”You got kicked off the team! How is that fine??”
”They’re the ones losing their best player”
”Hunk also quit the team—I heard that he made a big stink about them kicking you out”
”He did?”
She nodded and Keith started walking in the school quickly.
He saw Hunk walking with Shay so he stopped him. Hunk looked at him and smiled “Hey!—“
”Did you quit the team?”
Hunk looked a bit nervous but he nodded “Yeah…I did”
Keith shook his head “It better not have been because of me”
”It……wasn’t……” he looked away and Keith shook his head again “Its the last game, you can’t quit?!”
Hunk put his hands on his hips “Well, I did because you’re my friend and I—“
He lowered his voice ”Look, I can’t handle if you lose an opportunity because of me—don’t quit the team” he walked away, ignoring more slurs thrown his way.
”It was kinda scary—he was all like ‘don’t quit the team’ and I was like ‘okay, I won’t’ but I didn’t get to say it though—“
”Oh my god”
”—because he walked away and Shay was like ‘woah’ and I was like ‘yeah’ and—“
”I can’t believe he didn’t tell me?!”
”—so I told the coach and he said I could come back but I just feel so bad, you know?—“
”He got kicked off—and he didn’t tell me—his boyfriend”
“—But now I just feel like, obligated to win—he was better than everyone though so I’m a bit nervous—“
”Pidge knew too and didn’t even tell me! Did allura know? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What?”
”Were you even listening?”
”Were you even listening?”
Lance leaned against the stall and rubbed his face “Oh god, what am I gonna do?”
”What do you mean?”
”He’s going through this all alone! And…honestly I can’t imagine it would be horrible if I was out too”
”Lance, don’t say—“
”No, I mean it—my mom kinda told me she knew last night. Well, she said she loves me even if Keith is my boyfriend—I don’t care about anyone else, I just didn’t want her to find out”
”Are you sure? You’re kind of impulsive when it comes to your emotions”
”I know, but I’m gay and I’m tired of hiding it—“ he sat up, proudly “I wanna kiss my boyfriend in public, damnit!”
”Okay if you say you’re ready than I’m all for it!”
”Yeah, but Keith isn’t gonna let you—“
They both jumped at pidge, who they didn’t even hear enter the bathroom.
”Where did you come from?? Also this is the guys bathroom”
”I don’t care—anyway, Keith won’t let you do that”
Lance put his hands on his hips “Well, it’s not his decision”
”He’s gonna think you’re doing it even though you’re not ready”
”I’m not—“
”I know but he won’t believe you”
“Okay then I won’t tell him—I’ll just do it”
”Don’t do anything crazy, I know you and you’re thinking about doing something crazy”
He frowned “Sorry I want my movie moment”
”Just be yourself and don’t deny stuff—that’s all you can do”
”Okay fine—do you know if Keith will be at the game?”
”No, and I don’t blame him, they’re gonna lose—no offense hunk”
”No, I know”
“We’ll boo them then—but cheer for hunk only”
”That’s what I usually do”
”You cheer for keith”
”No, someone’s gotta humble him”
They left and went to the parking lot where allura was talking to Keith outside of the van.
”Hey! We need to go now! You all took so long in the bathroom”
”We were skipping and we needed to wait until teachers weren’t there” Lance sighed.
”You’re gonna fail” she frowned at him.
”You’re gonna get wrinkles with all that frowning, honey” he pat her shoulder and she opened her mouth, shocked.
Lance looked at Keith and squinted. Keith just stared at him, unamused “What?”
“Do you know what couples usually do?”
Keith looked confused and lance smiled at him before hitting his arm “Tell each other things!”
He scoffed and rubbed his arm “What??”
”You didn’t tell me you got kicked off the team! I had to hear it from hunk after he said he wanted to quit—and pidge, who had known already! And you’re lucky we don’t have classes together this semester or else I would have yelled at you in there!”
”I didn’t want you to worry”
”I would’ve found out eventually—and I’m supposed to worry”
”I don’t want—“
He hugged him “Couples also worry about each other when bad things happen”
Keith hugged him back “Thank you”
”Ew—come on girls we gotta go already”
Lance pulled away “Are you coming?”
Keith sighed “No, I’m just gonna sleep”
Lance leaned closer, smiling “No, you aren’t—“ he looked at hunk “How horribly hurt would you be if I didn’t come to this one?”
“I wouldn’t—you’ve been to every other one—and I don’t want you seeing us lose anyway”
”Thank you” he hugged him and everyone got in the van. They stayed as they left and Keith looked at him “So what do you wanna do?”
He knew that he drove his truck today so—
”Drive”
They drove for a bit and soon, went to the scenic place they go to sometimes.
They were talking about random stuff until it was a little silent. Lance knew what he wanted to do but he was a bit hesitant to say.
The last time they did anything, Keith’s dad walked in and now he doesn’t live in his house. So maybe it’s a bit too touchy right now.
God, he wants to be touchy right now.
”You know…I’m kinda sad I don’t get to see you play tonight”
Keith looked at him, smiling, a bit too knowingly “Yeah?”
Lance looked away, smiling too “Yeah…I like it”
”I know”
Lance looked at him with his mouth open, trying not to smile “Okay, I didn’t mean it like that, creep”
”Sure”
”What? You wanted me to?”
”What if I did?” He stared at him and lances previous feelings only got stronger.
”Then I guess you’d be out of luck” he looked away, still holding back his smile.
“Close your eyes and imagine it then”
”Imagine what?”
”Me”
”You’re right here I don’t need to do that” he laughed and Keith shook his head “I’m not playing football though”
Lance raised his eyebrows “Okay, Mr. Confident, what makes you—“
”I know you like it”
Lance squinted at him and then closed his eyes, imagining it. He smiled and heard Keith move a little closer “Is it working?”
”It’s already embarrassing enough that it is—won’t you just stop teasing and kiss me already?”
“If it makes you feel better, I like it when you speak Spanish”
Lance opened his eyes, smiling “Yeah?”
“Yeah—we both have our things—“ he kissed him and soon, they were moving to the backseat.
They didn’t pause until lance got on his lap “So you like Spanish, huh?”
Keith laughed, putting his hands up his shirt “Maybe”
He whispered a few words in his ear as he pushed him back.
After they kissed for a while, things were getting heated. But as lances hand went down, Keith pulled away “Do you...”
Lance stopped “What?”
Keith really didn’t mean to stop him—he just had the sudden urge to ask something that he’s more silently wanted for a bit. Obviously not now, but it just came out—
He stopped himself though, embarrassed “Sorry—it’s nothing—“
Lance sat up, looking worried now “What?”
Keith shook his head, smiling “Nothing, really—“
”Keith”
Keith sat up, too “What?”
“What do you wanna say?”
He sighed “Just…I’ve kind of been wanting to know if…one day…you’d…” he looked away, way too embarrassed “If…you’d wanna go farther…?”
”What do you m—“ he stopped, realizing what he meant “oh…”
”It’s fine if you don—“
”I do” he looked at him— he was smiling and nodding “I really do” he sounded happy that he asked.
“You do?”
”Of course” he leaned closer “I wanna do everything with you”
They kissed again and lance started taking off his shirt. Keith followed and they started kissing again, this time being a bit more handsy.
Suddenly, lance sat up and started unbuttoning his pants “Do you wanna be on top or bottom?”
Keith froze “Oh—we’re doing this now??”
Lance stopped—looking a bit terrified “Is that not what you meant??”
”I mean—don’t we need like……lube?”
Lance opened his mouth to speak but closed it and just pursed his lips.
Then he looked down “Oh yeah……sorry, I think I got a little too excited” he laughed, awkwardly.
Keith stared at him, admiring how he looks—shirtless and a little sweaty. Why couldn’t he have been more prepared??
Then he got another idea. He smiled and lance frowned “You don’t get to make fun of me”
”I’m not” he sat up and lance kept frowning “Then what—“ Keith started kissing his cheek and slowly went down to his jaw. He felt lance smile “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer and grabbed his hand, bringing it up to his face. He smiled again and lance smiled back, looking confused, yet excited.
“There’s something else we could do”
”Yeah? Like what?” It was close to a whisper and Keith put lances hand on his face and lance smiled more.
Keith turned his head a little and kissed his hand. Lance rubbed his lip with his thumb and Keith slightly opened his mouth.
”I thought freaky stuff wasn’t for us?” He was smiling and Keith looked at him and without saying anything, he put lances fingers in a fist except two and put them in his mouth. And as far back as they could go.
This time though, he didn’t gag—mostly because they weren’t shoved in like last time—but also because he may have practiced a little…
Lance stared as he did it and once he took them out, he still didn’t say anything, looking really shocked.
”I still beg to differ”
Lance kept staring at him and Keith wasn’t worried about him not liking it because, well… he’s on his lap. He knew.
Then he spoke, still wide—eyed “That was…insanely hot”
Keith smiled “Lay back”
Lances breath hitched and he got off his lap and they switched positions.
They definitely tried something new that night. And during, Keith heard Lance say something under his breath. Something that really surprised him.
”He said ‘I love you’.”
”Okay—first of all—gross” pidge shivered after he told her what happened “Second—duh”
”What?”
”He hasn’t shut up about you since he first saw you—he obviously loves you”
”You think so?” That made him feel so warm.
”Duh”
“I don’t think he knows he said it though”
”How can—“
”Hey!!” Lance showed up, smiling happily. Keith looked at pidge, who gave him a look that he said ‘he doesn’t know’.
They agreed and walked in the school and towards their lockers. Well, lance followed Keith to his locker and pidge went to her own.
”Hey, I know at least someone won on Friday”
”Be quiet” he shook his head and turned towards him after he put his things in his locker.
Lance leaned on his side and looked down, smiling “So…I’ve kind of been thinking…”
Keith waited for him to speak.
”I want—“
“That’s bullshit—I’m sure the board would love to hear about this”
They looked at who was yelling and—Keith froze. It’s his dad.
He was leaving the coaches office and he looked angry. He was dressed for work so he must have come before he needs to go. But…why is he here?
As he walked out, he made eye contact with Keith and Keith looked away. He saw him glance at lance, who was staring at him in shock.
He walked past them without saying anything and they watched, incredulous, as he left the school.
They both stayed silent until allura showed up “Did you see a ghost?”
”My dad was here”
”What?”
He shrugged and she smiled at them “So how was Friday?”
”Much better than a football game” Lance nudged Keith and keith smiled, still a bit shocked by his dad.
”It’s crazy that they won” she laughed “I booed them really loud—except hunk”
”Thanks”
She just waved her hand and soon, more people were there and they went to their classes.
On Wednesday, it was normal day—the mocking and shit hasn’t stopped or even slowed down but the more it happens, the more he doesn’t care.
They were doing some assignment when the teacher went up to him and whispered “Coach B needs to see you”
He sighed and got up, bringing his stuff.
Now he’s gonna have to find his jersey or whatever they want him to return, which is a new pain in the ass—which I guess in Keith’s case isn’t that bad so it was just really annoying.
He knocked before opening the door. And waiting for the coach to tell him to come in and sit.
He did and Coach B(I don’t have a name for him lol) sighed “Look—“
Keith sighed, knowing he’s gonna go on some rant about whatever he wants to say. It’s already a waste of time enough.
”I just wanted to…I wanted to apologize for my reaction to certain…information I learned. I never really even gave you a chance to explain yourself…” he looked at Keith like he wanted him to say something like ‘I’m not gay it’s just rumors!!!’. Keith cares about his career. He wants to play football.
He nodded “I am gay—I hope that ends the confusion” he smiled sarcastically and the coach sighed “This isn’t the time for sarcasm—“
”I don’t get why I’m here—I’m not part of the team anymore”
He looked at Keith “Your father came the other day and raised a few moral issues that we needed to look into”
Is that why he was here…? The only moral issues his dad would probably see are letting a gay guy change in front of straight guys. But since he’s not on the team what could he have said? Don’t let him near them?
“He made it clear that we should know you—“
Here it comes
”Are an amazing and talented athlete and something small like who you want to be with shouldn’t affect your chances of being successful—and frankly—I agree”
“What?”
”I want you back on the team”
Keith didn’t respond, pretty shocked. He kept talking.
”And honestly, we need you. We were a disaster last game—and I’ve never seen hunk mad” he laughed and Keith looked at him, still shocked, but now for a different reason.
”Why would I do anything for you?”
Coach B stopped smiling and nodded “I know—I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to react to something like that. A few other guys complained and I was scared that more would and—I just freaked out and I’m sorry”
Keith didn’t speak again so the coach kept talking.
”If you don’t want to come back, that’s your decision but with the championship game coming up—I think it will really help you”
Keith looked at him, thinking. Obviously he’s not forgiving him for what he did. But…he is right. The championship game is gonna be really important if he wants to get noticed more. He sighed.
”Fine”
The next week was when coach B told Keith to start practicing with everyone. So after school, absolutely dreading everything, he walked to the field.
He went in the locker room and, pretty expectedly, everyone stopped talking and looked at him.
”What are you doing here?” James said, covering himself pretty dramatically.
”Coach wanted me back” he walked to his locker and started changing. Everyone was silent but kept on changing too, glancing at him every so often.
”He wanted you back?” He laughed “Are you sure you didn’t beg”
Keith didn’t look at him “Nope—actually, he said he needed me back”
Now rolo joined in “I think you just wanted an excuse to be around naked guys”
He didn’t say anything and rolo kept going “How am I supposed to know if you’re looking at me?”
Keith looked at him, still not giving him a reaction—he did make sure to seem a little disgusted “It seems like you want me to”
A few guys laughed and rolo scoffed “You guys are just fine with this? You know he’s into you guys, right?”
”I’m not” he said, a bit tiredly, as he finished changing.
”You’re not gay?” He frowned at Keith like he thought he was lying.
Keith looked at him “I am—just not for you”
He gave him a condescending smile before leaving and heard some other guys laughing.
After about two weeks, they all got more ‘comfortable’ with Keith back—except for James and rolo.
And besides that, things have been weird with him and lance. Obviously Keith has never had anyone tell him they love him (in a romantic sense) so he doesn’t know how to deal with it.
He’s absolutely not talking to Shiro about it because then he’d have to explain what they were doing when he said it. And pidge just told him ‘duh’ so that’s not really helping.
He hasn’t told allura yet because he’s kind of scared of what she’ll say. Cause what if she’s like ‘it was just the heat of the moment’ or ‘yeah he’s definitely in love with you’ because then that would be two people saying it and Keith still doesn’t know how to react to that.
It makes him feel…tingly?
Anyway, the championship game is on Saturday. Tomorrow.
Practice has been an hour longer every day and the coach has been much more tough on them. Keith can handle it but one guy cried. It was pretty crazy actually.
”That’s enough for today, go take a shower and get lots of rest—you’re gonna need it”
They all went, except for Keith because a few ‘anonymous’ players threatened to leave the team if Keith took a shower with them. Keith doesn’t really care, be likes not showering with a bunch of people anyway.
Once they were all in, he heard a voice shout.
“Hey!” He looked over at the bleachers and saw lance there. He doesn’t usually come to practices so he’s a bit confused.
”Hey” he walked up to him and lance frowned “Why aren’t you going in with everybody?”
”Rolo and James”
“They’re that petty?”
”Yep”
Lance shook his head and Keith sat next to him, sighing.
“You ok?”
”Yeah I guess I’m a little nervous about tomorrow”
”People already know your name—chances are they’re only going, to see you”
He looked at the locker room, honestly feeling a bit bad.
”What if it’s like this after high school?”
Lance looked a little guilty. Keith looked away, regretting saying it.
“Then change things”
He looked at lance, who was smiling. He kept talking “If people don’t watch because you’re with a guy, they don’t even like football that much anyway” he laughed “Though, I would say it’s pretty gay for a man to watch other rugged sweaty men throw a ball around and run into each other”
Keith smiled “Are all football players rugged and sweaty?”
”You certainly are—but it’s hot so it’s fine”
Keith shook his head, looking away, still smiling.
They continued talking until the team left the locker room loudly like they always do. Luckily, none of them looked over at them. Hunk didn’t either—he’s pretty nervous about tomorrow though.
When they were all gone, Keith got up “Alright, I’m gonna go shower now—“ he looked down at lance, who was still sitting “I’ll wait here” he smiled and Keith left, feeling warm.
When he got to the locker room, he started to get undressed and think about a lot of things. The game tomorrow, his future, lance, his dad, and how his dad feels about lance—and his future.
Will he even have a future in football? Can gay guys even get in the nfl? Will his dad ever even accept him or Lance? Even if he accepts Keith—will things be different?
Although, he honestly thinks he’d rather have no relationship with his dad than have an awkward, tense one. He’s already hated it the past few years, that would make it a thousand times worse.
But now that he knows he has other people and he won’t be completely alone once he loses his dad, he doesn’t know if it’ll be as bad as it seems.
He realized he had just been standing there, thinking, and then remembered lance is still waiting for him so he quickly finished undressing and went to the showers.
As he showered though, he kept thinking. About just lance this time. Not only does he have shiro and his friends—he has lance. He smiled, thinking about him. Everything about him is just…great. Keith knows he really doesn’t deserve him but god, does he like him.
He suddenly stopped, thinking about what lance said that night. Again, he feels tingly. He knows he likes Lance. He likes him so much. Maybe he…
He turned the water off, trying to push down that thought. If he feels the same way, who knows what that would mean. It’s one thing feeling it but admitting it is a whole other thing. And much much more complicated thing that he doesn’t know he’s ready for yet.
He put a towel around his waist and started walking back to the lockers. When he got there, he saw Lance sitting on the bench.
Lance looked over and smiled. He looked down, too and Keith smiled “You come to spy?”
Lance smiled back “Yes” he stood up and walked up to him. All those thoughts came flooding back. And a lot more of them.
Lance put his hand on his chest, making him go up against the locker.
But there’s something else—something more he feels.
“I really missed watching you play” he kissed his neck and Keith put his hands on his waist.
Is that love? Keith loves people in his life—shiro, his dad, his friends—lance included, and his mom. But if it’s different than that type of love then how?
As he kissed him, Keith felt so much. He feels this way every time he’s close to Lance. Every time he touches him—looks at him—
Just like how he feels—is love just…more?
Because god, he feels so much more about lance.
Keith opened his eyes, hearing a quiet noise.
He saw someone starting to walk in and before he could notice them—notice Lance, Keith pushed lance away, a bit harder than he meant to.
The guy—Ryan—stopped and looked at them—almost immediately realizing what was going on. But what Keith meant to do backfired so greatly because it ended up looking like Lance was forcing himself onto Keith.
And Ryan looked at them like that’s what was happening “Is everything good?” He glanced at Lance like he was ready to defend himself or Keith—which Keith didn’t really expect but anyway—Keith didn’t say anything, too shocked at himself.
Lance was looking at him, also shocked and very obviously hurt.
Lance then looked at Ryan, who looked a bit scared. Then he left with his head down and Keith felt his stomach flip and his heart break.
He would have went after him if Ryan wasn’t there.
”You good?” Ryan still looked scared and Keith ran his fingers through his hair “Just get out”
Ryan nodded fast and left. Keith sat down on the bench, putting his head in his hands. He doesn’t even know what to think. He’s just so mad at himself.
Not only for what he just did, but for not saying anything to Lance earlier. Every time he thought about feeling this way for him—he’d push it down or ignore it. But he can’t do that forever. He’s an idiot and well—he’s in love. He is so in love.
He doesn’t care if he has a future in football, he just wants a future with Lance.
But he may have just fucked it all up.