Heartstrings and Homework

The next day, Keith called allura and asked if she would ride with him to the game. Lance hasn’t spoken to him yet, which is scaring him so much.

But he needs to finally tell her what happened. She’s his best friend and she can definitely help him. And she definitely won’t react like pidge.

”Well, duh”

Never mind.

”Pidge said that too how is it obvious??”

”Because it’s obvious—also why’d you tell pidge first??”

”I saw her first and it kind of just came out”

”Why didn’t you tell me after?”

“I didn’t want to think about it anymore”

”Why not? It’s great!”

”I know but at the time I was denying shit”

”Denying…—“ she gasped “You love him too??”

He glared at her and she tried to stop smiling “I just think it’s great you’re both happy” she giggled and Keith rolled his eyes.

He sighed, still feeling really guilty “But yesterday Ryan walked in on us in the locker room and I shoved him away”

She looked at him, now worried.

”I guess that’s why he’s been silent today. He hasn’t answered any of my texts”

”Really?”

”Yeah but since hunk is driving him and pidge there, she said he’s okay he just seems…sad”

Keith nodded, just feeling even more guilty.

”Why’d you do it?” She didn’t sound mad. He could tell she was genuinely asking.

”I didn’t want him seeing Lance but I wasn’t thinking”

She was staring at him, looking conflicted. He didn’t say anything, scared she agreed that he totally messed everything up.

Then she looked away “I probably shouldn’t tell you this” she looked back “but he’s been genuinely talking about letting people know about you two—about him.”

Knowing that made him feel worse “Really?”

”Yeah, that’s why it’s so obvious that he really likes you—well, loves”

”What do I do?”

”You need to do what you think is best—show him that you care—or maybe talk, I don’t know”

After pidge, very bluntly asked what was wrong with him, he told her and she stared at him with her lips pursed.

“Will you say something??”

She stared at him for a little bit longer “No”

”What??”

”You gotta work this one out yourself—I’m not getting into your relationship problems”

”You are so mean”

“No, I’m a good friend”

”A mean friend”

”Yes but also good”

”Only mean”

He laid down in the backseat and groaned dramatically “Is he like, ashamed of me?? Like he pushed me so fast”

”Maybe”

”You think so?” He sat up, scared.

”I mean who wouldn’t be ashamed to be with you—I am”

He frowned “You’re proving my point”

He laid back down and hunk—finally—joined in. But not in any helpful way.

”Can we be quiet? Sorry, I’m gonna throw up if I think any more”

”Yeah—me too—sorry” Lance said, sighing. Seriously, why would Keith do that? He thought he’s been sending signals saying he was ready to be open? Maybe they weren’t obvious enough?

Maybe Lance is just embarrassing to be with? I mean James pretty much said that the whole time they were ‘together’.

What if it’s the same? Will Keith ever want people to know about them? Oh god, he might actually throw up if he keeps thinking about it.

He closed his eyes, hoping to fall asleep. It’s a 2 hour drive so it’s a very real possibility.

He got a message from Shiro saying Keith was let back on the team and he thought, screw it, I’m calling out of work, I’m not missing this game.

This is the championship game, he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

And maybe he’ll have a chance to talk to him after. Apologize. He’s been thinking non stop ever since he saw him that night.

He isn’t losing his son over something like this. Krolia would have handled this so much better. He knows if she was here though, she would want him to do everything he can to be there for Keith. He should have been to all the other games—it obviously affected him.

God, he misses her so much. And yeah, he hated when Keith lived with Shiro back then but now it’s just worse. And he can’t imagine how hard it’s been for Keith thinking he’s lost both parents.

But he’s not letting that happen. He loves his son more than anything and he will be a better father—a better person.

And he should probably apologize to Lance, too. He’s happy he’s with him and not some stranger that heiths never met. He trusts him. He should’ve gave him more credit earlier.

Keith had no clue what to do. They got there a little late so he didn’t have time to talk to him before the game because he had to go straight to the locker room.

Immediately, James said something “Hey, you have to wait for—“

”Shut up James—he’s not fucking looking at you” someone said and honestly it felt a little good. That guy used to laugh with the other guys. Now he’s probably just more concerned with the game.

”But—“

Another guy joined in “If it bothers you so much then go—we’ll literally do just fine without you” He seemed tired with him. It seems like everyone is now.

”The coach said he had to wait—it’s just the coaches rules”

”Dude, the game is about to happen, just chill out” now even his friend was getting fed up.

James rolled his eyes and started changing. Keith finished and hunk walked closer to him, lowering his voice “Hey, you should probably talk to Lance before the game”

He nodded and the coach walked in “Game’s about to begin! Everyone hurry up!”

He looked at hunk “What should I say?”

Hunk shrugged “I don’t know but he thinks you’re ashamed of him—a certain someone made him feel that way in the past so that’s where his mind is going”

Keith looked down, really hating himself. He hates that he’s feeling that way because of him. He's gonna make it better though. He doesnt know how but he is.

They got to their seats and allura pat lances back "You okay?"

He nodded, smiling sadly, not feeling any better. Actually feeling worse. He knows keith isnt like James but he just can’t help but feel bad about himself.

Suddenly music started playing and the announcer started talking. Lance heard the people behind them start talking about the players and how some of them are ‘duds’ but one of them, Keith, was definitely going somewhere.

Lance so badly wanted to say ‘that’s my boyfriend!!’ Or even ‘that’s my friend!!’ But he doesn’t know how Keith feels about that anymore.

He saw Hunk come out with everyone and cheered, not as enthusiastically as he wanted. Pidge and allura made up for it though. They’re not gonna have voices by the end of this.

Then he saw Keith and stopped cheering, not knowing how to feel anymore. He isn’t like James—he needs to keep telling himself that.

But then why did he push him away?

He got a really good seat, I mean his son is playing and he did use that. He heard people talking about him so he looked at them, excited to hear it “He’s definitely got a future in the nfl, right?”

They nodded “Definitely—he’s crazy—his parents must me proud”

He laughed “I’m his dad—and I definitely am proud”

”Woah, really?” He laughed and held out his hand for heith to shake it. He did and they introduced themselves and started talking more about him.

The game started off with the coin toss. He chose heads.

And when it landed on heads, they huddled and Keith told them what to do and got into position and Keith was a little distracted by trying to see where Lance was sitting. He needs to talk to him during half time.

But he was distracted and almost didn’t catch the ball being snapped to him. He threw it and it was thankfully caught by the wide receiver. It was lucky though because he wasn’t ready and he kind of forgot what he had just planned.

The first quarter ended and they had gotten two points and the next round started. It had stopped mid round since the other team got a penalty for going out of bounds. Honestly, it kind of saved them because Keith can’t find where Lance is sitting.

As they were playing, heith was obviously shouting and cheering for his son. It’s been a while since he’s seen him play. He’s amazing. But something seems a bit off. He looks distracted. He hopes it’s not because he saw him here.

”I think your boy’s nervous or something”

He looked at another guy, someone who sat next to him a while ago and he continued “Ive been to all the games this team has been in. He’s really talented but he seems extra slow today. A little fumbly, too”

”Really? To me he seems perfect” He laughed and the other guy did too.

”Yeah, I mean he’s still great but he can still do better. Scouts are gonna pick up on that.”

”You think so?”

”I know so—I am one”

Heith looked at him, smiling “really?”

”Yep—I’ve been invested in him since I went to the first playoff”

”Yeah?”

“He’s really something”

He nodded ”He really is”

They continued watching till the second quarter started and they each had gotten a few more points. They got into position again and once Keith called for the ball to be snapped to him, the crowd was nearly silent.

After a few minutes, he threw the ball and someone, pretty unexpectedly started rushing him. He tackled him right to the ground and the referee blew the whistle, ending the play. When he stood up and looked closer, he saw it was someone on his own team??

His heart nearly stopped when Keith didn’t get up after the guy was taken off of him.

He moved his arm to his helmet, which was relieving. The referee held up a yellow flag and everyone was now yelling and some were cheering which kind of pissed him off, but he’s his dad so of course it would.

Keith took off his helmet, still laying down, and the player who tackled him also did and started shouting something at him. With a lot of people shouting even louder now he couldn’t here what he was saying.

But he did see Keith’s face. He knew what was about to happen. This isn’t good.

Keith got up and the other guy got closer, still shouting and pushing away other players trying to stop him.

He saw Keith say something and apparently it was good because people started cheering and laughing. keith just stared at the other guy, who just looked infuriated.

Heiths heart rate went back to normal. Keith has grown a lot more than he thought. He thought he was going to start fighting him. When he was younger, he would get into a lot of fights.

James started shouting every insult and slur he could think of to Keith for sucking so far in the game.

Once keith stood up, he was pretty pissed off. I mean, he isn’t wrong for thinking that he’s doing bad. But he forgot for a second why and just said “It wouldn’t matter how I was doing if you were any good” and even though he didn’t think that was that clever, people started cheering.

James started stammering and Keith stared at him.

Coach B was there now and stopped them, very angry. He yelled at them for a bit before forcing them back on the field. They got a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and James had to sit out the rest of the quarter, and the next.

That whole thing made him forget about finding Lance in the crowd, mostly, so for the rest of the quarter he focused on the game. He still knew he needed to talk to him, which made him rush a little too much. He had to remind himself that no matter how fast he went, they still had 15 minutes in a quarter.

But once it ended, they were close to a tie, winning by only 2 points. He didn’t forget about talking to Lance, he just still didn’t know what to say so he went to the locker room.

The coach spent the whole time yelling at him anyway.

Lance hasn’t cheered once. He’s way in his head about this whole situation. What were they fighting about? Why is Keith not doing that well?

Why hasn’t allura said anything to help him yet?? You know what?? He’ll ask!

”Why aren’t you being a good friend??”

“What??”

”You haven’t told me how to deal with what happened! And I know you know because Keith tells you everything—which I hope has its limits but I don’t know all that you know!”

She stared at him “…What?!”

He groaned “You know what happened, right?”

She nodded and sighed “Yes, I know”

”So??”

“It’s not that big of a deal”

”It is!! I thought he was ready! Or at least guessed that I was??”

”Well, maybe he just needs time? It’s a lot to process all at once and so suddenly—especially during…what you were doing”

He nodded, not thinking about that kind of weird phrasing. It’s not like he told him he wanted to go public? They were just kinda…caught.

Maybe she’s right. It really isn’t a big deal and he’s thinking way too much into it.

He leaned down on his knees and put his head in his hands, sighing. There’s no game going on right now so he’s kind of bored. He sighed again and stood up, stretching because he’s been sitting too long.

As he was stretching, he looked at people in the crowd, he smiled when he saw some signs saying ‘Kogane!!’ And even one that said Garret! That made him happy.

Yeah, he’s just being dramatic. He should stop being so dramatic all the ti—

He quickly sat down, hiding his face in allura and she scoffed “What are you doing?!?”

”He’s here—“ He slouched down really far, still covering his face.

”Who??”

”Keiths dad—he’s right over there” he gestured to some seats pretty close to them and allura looked.

She looked back, shocked “Oh shoot”

”Right??”

”Should we…say hi?”

He smiled and laughed “Yeah I’ll just go up to him and be like ‘hey sir, remember me? The guy who turned your son gay?’ That’ll go great!” He frowned and so did she.

”You didn’t turn him gay”

”He thinks I did”

”Yeah but maybe you could try again? Explain that you love Keith and—“

He sat up “Ok woah, who said anything about love??”

She stared at him “…You did…?”

”I never said that?”

She frowned at him “You told him you loved him”

He froze. He didn’t know how to respond, who or where he was anymore and why he is who he is….?

She looked confused. He finally spoke “…Huh?!?”

”What?”

”I didn’t say I loved him??”

”Yes you did?!”

“No I didn’t?!” He froze even more “Did I?”

”He said you said it the night you skipped the game” she looked away “During…something”

Ignoring that he now knows Keith does absolutely tell her everything, he grabbed her shoulders “I didn’t” he didn’t even believe himself—when he’s overwhelmed he talks so it’s completely believable if he did say it.

”I don’t think Keith would lie about something like that”

He looked at the empty field, still feeling like he’s a shell of his former self. The self that had any dignity.

She lowered her voice “Do you love him?” It sounded rhetorical the way she said it but he answered anyway.

”I dunno…”

“Lance”

He glanced at her and sighed, a little defiantly “Yeah—” then he slouched down again, putting his hands on his face “—but is it too soon? Why didn’t he say anything?? Oh god, what if I like him way more than he likes me??!”

”I doubt that”

He looked up at her “How do you know?!”

”Because he told me how awful he felt about yesterday. It’s probably why he’s not doing well”

He looked away and then groaned “So now he’s gonna bomb this game because of me—great.”

”That isn’t—“

He sat up “It is! He probably also saw his dad and me sitting near each other and he’s thinking ‘oh no they’re near each other’.”

”That was well said” pidge added in, randomly.

“Should I leave? I can’t miss this game though! What if his dad sees me leaving? What if he thinks I left because I’m mad at him? What if—“

Suddenly, all the players started coming back to the field and lance freaked out and slouched back down, shielding the side of his face that Keith’s dad might be able to see.

If they lose this game he’s never gonna forgive himself.

The coach told them to start going back and James grabbed his arm and lowered his voice “I bet I know what’s distracting you—or who”

Keith didn’t say anything, not caring what he plans to say. James continued “I’m not gonna let you ruin this for me because of him—he already—“ he stopped himself and Keith started to get mad again.

”He what?” James smiled, seeing he had gotten to him.

”He didn’t care how I felt he obviously doesn’t care how you feel. If he did he would cheer for you, which he hasn’t” he looked over at the crowd and Keith did too, finally seeing Lance. He was slouched down and hiding his face. They made eye contact and he looked at allura, worried, and said something. He slouched down more.

He kept thinking about what Lance said and what both pidge and allura said. He thought knowing where he was would make him less stressed but now he can’t even remember any plans he made for any of the plays.

He looked away quickly and took a deep breath. He has a lot of time to talk to Lance after the game. He just needs to win.

But what if Lance is blaming himself for how bad Keith is doing? Oh no, now he feels worse.

”Keith!!” His coach yelled at him, getting his attention. “What?” He looked at him, a little startled, which he never has before. Coach B even looked a little surprised.

Then he shook his head “What the hell is so distracting to you that you can barely catch the ball??”

Keith shook his head “Nothing, I’m fine”

”You better be because we aren’t losing this game—so you work out whatever this is or you’re going on the bench.”

He needs to do well. He doesn’t know how he’d handle losing this game. So he’s gonna do something. He needs to.

He looked down, nodding “Okay, but you’re probably not gonna like it”

“What?”

He started walking to the field and the other players followed him and started getting into position. But he didn’t stop walking. He took off his helmet and the players stood up, confused.

Once he got to the bleachers, he crossed the divider and looked at Lance who’s eyes were wide.

He was up a few seats so he just climbed on up there and stopped in front of him.

He put his hand on his arm and Lance was just frozen in place, but pretty understandably, this is a little crazy.

He shook his head “I can’t stop thinking about yesterday—I didn’t want him seeing you cause I wasn’t sure if you were ready. I’m really sorry.” He didn’t want to tell him that allura said he was talking about telling people. And part of him still thinks he needs a little time. But he also wanted to be honest.

”But otherwise I wouldn’t have pushed you away—I don’t care who knows” he laughed “I mean, I would tell everyone if you said it was fine but it’s okay if you aren’t ready I just—“

Lance suddenly grabbed his face and kissed him and even though there was a lot of reaction from the crowd—very mixed—Keith couldn’t hear it.

Lance pulled away, keeping his hands on him “I don’t care who knows either. Apparently I already told you why” he laughed, looking a little embarrassed and Keith smiled, hugging him “I love you”

Lance hugged him back “I said it first”

”No I think I did”

”We’ll fight more about it later—you should go back”

He pulled away and laughed “I think I may have a problem with confessing to you dramatically”

“That’s just a you problem—I love it—now go!”

He looked back at both the teams, just looking

at them—so confused.

He went back and no one said anything to him, thankfully. They continued playing and Keith did a whole lot better. Actually, he played better than he ever has. And he had fun doing it.

Heith sat there and watched his son now play perfectly. He wasn’t cheering anymore.

The scout laughed “Well, I didn’t expect that”

Heith didn’t speak and the scout continued “Did you know about that…?”

The guy who he talked to first chimed in, scoffing ”I mean obviously not—what father would let that happen?”

Heith kept staring at his son. The scout spoke again, chuckling “I’m guessing you didn’t”

Heith shook his head “I did”

”Then…?” The scout stared at him and the first guy laughed “What do you mean ‘then?’ I’d be pissed if my son pulled something like that publicly.”

Heith then looked at the scout, ignoring the other guy. He shook his head again “I’m so proud of him I don’t even know how to act”

The scout smiled and so did heith, overwhelmed by so many positive emotions.

When Keith looked at Lance, all heith could see was Krolia. Heith still doesn’t fully understand it yet but he knows what love looks like. And it was all over both of their faces.

He is so impossibly proud of him.

After the little moment he had, he really turned the game around. They obviously won and instead of celebrating with the team, Keith and hunk immediately went to their actual friends.

“You’re a lot more dramatic than you let on” pidge said, looking at him very judgmentally.

”Shut up” he rolled his eyes and allura hugged him “I thought it was really nice”

”I mean it was fine” lance looked away, crossing his arms and Keith frowned at him “I take back everything I said”

“Ok good, because that means I said it first”

Keith shook his head “You didn’t even know you said it!”

”I so did!”

”He didn’t” Allura and pidge both said.

”I need new friends”

”I’m gonna go throw up” hunk left and Allura and pidge went with him. Since people don’t usually know if she’s a girl or a boy, people never say anything about her going into the men’s bathroom. It’s kinda funny. Obviously allura just waited outside for them. She said they could use the ‘alone time’

They went to an area where only the players and their families could go and sat down on a bench where no one was around. He didn’t want to deal with people saying anything to them.

”So you really don’t care if people know you’re with me?”

Keith shook his head “Of course I don’t”

He smiled and looked down “Thank you”

”Why are you thanking me? It’s like common decency”

”Well…J—the previous guy didn’t think so”

”You don’t have to worry about that, alright?” He  pat lances cheek making him laugh “I’m proud to be with you”

He pushed his hand away but kept holding it “How do you think I feel? Mr. Awesome football guy” 

“Mr awesome football guy? What happened to broody and rugged or whatever”

He moved closer and lowered his voice “Don’t worry, you’re still that”

Keith put his arm around his shoulders, shaking his head and laughing “be quiet”

”And you were extra broody and rugged today” Lances hand moved to his waist and Keith smiled “Was I?”

He moved close to his ear and whispered “Are you driving me home?”

”I drove allura here”

Lance moved his hand down “She can ride with hunk and pidge”

Keith smiled again “I guess she can”

”She is” He leaned closer but they heard a door close and didn’t move away from each other but didn’t continue what they were doing.

But then they did move when they saw who it was.

Keith stood up, seeing his dad walking towards them. He looked a little awkward so he definitely saw what they were about to do.

”Uh—Hey” He smiled and Keith stood there, not speaking. What does he even say?

His dad spoke again “Um…you did…” he laughed, shaking his head “You were amazing”

Keith swallowed, not even being able to speak.

”I, uh, I just really wanted to see you play.” He sighed “I’m really sorry I didn’t go to your other games—there’s no excuse I should’ve put you first.”

He looked away “I should’ve put you first many times when I didn’t. I should’ve been there for you”

Keith looked down. When his mom died, he wasn’t there for Keith, when he started getting good at football, he wasn’t there, and now when he found out he’s gay, he wasn’t there either.

“And I just—“ he laughed again “God, I’m just so proud of you”

Keith looked at him and saw he was crying. He still didn’t say anything. He doesn’t want to start crying too.

”And…” He took a deep breath, stopping himself from crying. He’s never really seen his dad cry before. He’s only seen him emotionless when he was sad.

”And I’m an idiot for how I reacted to everything. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew I had lost the other only person I love in this world. And all because of who you’re with—I don’t care about any of that, I love you and I’m proud of you and I want you to be happy. That’s all I care about. I’m so sorry how I reacted.”

Keith still couldn’t speak but he just hugged him. Yeah, he wishes he would’ve said this sooner, but he’s happy he’s saying it.

He did manage to say “Thank you” though.

He pulled away and his dad looked at Lance. He still looked a little awkward “And uh, I’m sorry for everything, too.” He nodded “I’m happy he’s with you”

Lance smiled, just as awkward “Thank you”

“Hey hey hey!! Are you son’s-a-bitches ready to par—“ Pidge stopped yelling when she saw Keith’s dad.

She straightened her posture and hunk looked sick again “Uh—hey” she looked away, rubbing her neck “That wasn’t directed to you—“

”You’re good”

She smiled also awkwardly “So I have to milk my—have a thing I forgot—bye!” She left and Hunk chased after her and allura walked up to them and she started talking to them.

Once hunk dragged pidge back, they all started talking and it was really nice. Lance kept his distance a little but Keith didn’t think anything of it because honestly, he is too.

His dad left and they started to talk about plans. Lance still kept his distance which was a little weird.

”I mean I still feel sick so we should probably celebrate tomorrow or something” hunk said, looking pale.

Allura nodded “Yeah, you two did great jobs and deserve a little you time”

”Oh, speaking of that—Keith is driving me home—sorry allura” Keith laughed at how blunt he was.

She rolled her eyes “I figured—all my stuff is already is hunks car”

“How horny do you think we are?” Lance said, scoffing.

”Extremely” She acted disgusted and so did pidge.

Lance laughed “We’re guys in our prime, of course we are—and look at him??” He pointed at Keith, who frowned.

”This is getting disgusting—let’s go before I kill myself” pidge smiled at them and they all said goodbye before leaving them.

”I’m gonna go shower—“

”Wait—uh, could we just go?”

Keith looked at him, confused “Why?”

Lance looked away, mumbling something “What?”

He sighed and leaned down a bit to whisper “My mind has gone to many places in the past few hours and all of them involved you still in that uniform—and I’m not that strong, Keith”

Keith smiled and nodded “Okay, we can go”

Lance didn’t look at him and quickly said “Thank you” before walking away with him.

“You’re gonna have to drive”

Lance nodded and got in the drivers seat. Once he started driving, Keith knew he had to tease him at least a little bit.

”So I was wearing my gear?”

”No”

”You said—“

”I know what I said but you don’t get to say it again”

”I’d like to know where where your mind was going”

”No you don’t”

”I do”

“Well, I'm not saying”

”I already know you like when I play”

”So?”

”And I know how you freaky you are”

He scoffed “You’re the one who—“

”You liked it”

They were at a red light and squinted at him.

”I’m about to drop you off and never talk to you again”

”Then who would you fantasize about?”

”I do not—“ he paused “I will pull over”

”I thought that was the plan initially” He smiled at him, waiting for him to get what he meant. He scoffed “I am way more respectable than that!”

”Sure”

”I am!”

”It was your idea to let me ‘drive you home’. And judging by how the last time that happened went, I’d say I’m right”

”I’ve changed—I’m a different man than I was”

”You just told me you fantasized about me in my gear”

”I never said that”

”You did”

”Fine I changed again—I’m a different man   than—“

”I don’t like the new you”

”The new me won’t settle for the backseat—sorry, I’m higher maintenance now”

”You want a hotel room?”

”What if I did?”

He smiled “I have money”

Lance looked at him, now at a red light “You really are freaky”

”Just for you”

Lance smiled but quickly stopped himself. He pursed his lips. He kept driving and Keith sighed, the shoulder pads are uncomfortable but honestly they’re kind of worth wearing right now.

Then he heard a phone ring and knew it wasn’t his so he leaned down (as far as he could) to get lances bag, that he swears isn’t a purse, so he can get his phone for him.

He got it and when he got it, he saw something else. He gave Lance his phone and grabbed what he saw.

He held it up and looked at it—getting hot. It’s lube.

Lance glanced over at him and started stuttering. He quickly told who he was talking to he’d call them back and, still trying to look at the road, he tried to grab it from Keith’s hand. But Keith moved it away from him.

”I forgot I got that!”

Keith wanted to tease him but honestly, he really didn’t expect to find this. So he’s a bit flustered. He looked at Lance, who was still trying to focus on driving.

Lance sighed “I just wanted to be prepared…cause last time…y’know”

He nodded and looked back at it. Lance kept talking.

”I didn’t bring it for tonight—like I just bought it a few days ago and forgot to take it out. Also I thought about it and I don’t know if I’d want it to happen in a car cause like, I dunno, I just want it to be like, special, you know? And—“

”It’s fine—Thank you for buying it” he smiled at him and lance stared at him.

Lance shook his head “I want to kiss you so bad right now”

Keith smiled more and Lance pulled into an empty parking lot and right after he unbuckled, he kissed him.

They kissed for a second before Keith pulled away.

”It’s kinda hard to move in these” he gestured toward the shoulder pads and lance sighed “Then take them off”

Keith smiled, a bit mischievously “I’ll need your help”

Lance nodded “Ok what do I do?”

Keith laughed ”It’s gonna be hard to do it in a car”

He laughed “We already kinda have so—“

”I meant the shoulder pads” he kept smiling and lance looked embarrassed “Oh”

”I still have money”

He stared at him ”Oh”

”I think I saw a hotel a few miles back”

Lance nodded and started driving.

He parked and they got out and walked to the entrance together.

”Are you sure about this?” He stopped before they went in.

Keith smiled at him very sweetly “Of course”

Lance nodded and they walked in. The person behind the counter looked up at them, tiredly. He looked at Keith’s clothes though, smiling “Coming from a game?”

He smiled politely “Yeah”

”So what can I do for you?”

”We just uh—need a room”

The guy nodded and did his thing on his computer “Single or double?”

“Single”

The guy kept typing.

”So what position are you?” He asked, very casually.

Lance scoffed “Uh—that’s none of your business??”

He looked up at him, confused and Keith put his hand on his arm, reassuringly “He meant in football”

Ok Lance is just on a roll isn’t he??

”oh” he looked away and Keith answered the guy and paid. He quickly and quietly apologized before dragging Keith out of there.

Keith laughed “Why would he even ask that?”

”I don’t know! It’s just on my mind!!”

”It is?”

He pointed at him, angry ”You’re lucky I love you”

They walked up to their room and Keith unlocked the door and turned on the light. 

A bit overwhelmed by the room and why they’re in there, Lance just stood there. I mean, it’s a nice room. He just needs to force himself not to think about it with a uv light.

“You okay?”

Lance looked at him and suddenly wasn’t so overwhelmed anymore. I mean, now he’s just excited.

”How do you take those off?”

Keith lifted his jersey and started unstrapping some stuff but Lance moved his hands and started doing it for him.

Once he was done, he lifted them with the jersey and now he only had on a tight shirt on. It looks really good. He kissed him and pressed him against the door, which Keith smiled at.

He spoke in between kisses going down to his neck “I’m fine with whatever position you wanna be”

”Bottom—but I want to see you”

Lance smiled and pulled away, excited “Ok get on the bed”

Keith walked over to the bed and Lance turned the lamp on and the light off. Just to set the mood a little.

He took his shoes off and as Keith untied his, he got the little bottle. He got on the bed and Keith looked at him and lance got shivers as his eyes darted around his face.

They kissed and got undressed before getting into position. Lance kissed him “I’ll be gentle but tell me if you want me to stop, alright?”

Keith nodded, smiling.

But first, he took in the sight in front of him. How did he get so lucky? He continued, before he stared at him too long. He may never look away if he didn’t.

He’s always been skeptical of ‘high school sweethearts’ but he doesn’t care if that’s what they are because how Keith makes him feel is surreal.

It’s like he knows he wants to be with him forever. He can’t imagine it any other way. He doesn’t want it any other way.

He just wants Keith. He just wants everything do with his dumb, beautiful face and his rudeness and sweetness and everything else.

And he wants everyone to know—he doesn’t care who doesn’t like it. Because he’s happy.

He laid down beside him, breathing heavily. Keith smiled again and so did Lance, feeling good that he felt good.

”Thank you”

Lance laughed “For what?”

He looked at him, breathing just as heavily as Lance and shook his head “So much”

Lance hugged him and laid his head on his chest “I love you”

Keith cupped his face and kissed his head “I know”

Lance sat up, scoffing “You ruined it!”

He laughed and Lance laid his head back down, angrily “Jerk”

Keith hugged him “I love you too”