Roommates (Klance College AU)

4

In the simmering heat of the crowded party, Keith and Lance stand face-to-face, tension crackling between them like a live wire. Lance had his eyes locked with Keith's, who had an intensity in his gaze that could scorch the Earth.

"You think you're so clever, don't you?" Keith shouted. "Strutting around like you own the place."

"Cleverer than you, at least!" Lance exclaimed.

Keith scoffed. "Cleverer isn't even a proper term."

"Yes it is!" Lance screeched. Lance's voice carried over the din of the party, drawing curious glances from the onlookers. Keith, unphased by the attention, took a step closer, his jaw set. "Even if it were," he retorted, his voice low and controlled, "it wouldn't change the fact that you're acting like a fool."

The tension escalates, the air thick with anticipation of a brawl. Patrons step back, creating a ring around the two men.

"You're all talk, Keith," Lance said, his voice a low growl. "Let's see if you can back it up."

Keith scoffed, a smirk spreading across his face, not from amusement but from the challenge Lance presented. "Fine," he replied, his tone laced with defiance. "But not here." He glanced around at the crowd that had formed, their eager eyes watching, waiting for the next move. "This isn't the place for it."

Lance, taken aback by Keith's response, hesitated for a moment. His pride, however, quickly got the better of him. "Afraid you'll lose in front of an audience?" he taunted, hoping to provoke Keith further.

Keith's smirk deepened, his eyes never leaving Lance's. "I'm not the one who's going to lose," he retorted confidently. Without another word, he turned on his heel and made his way through the crowd, which parted for him as if sensing the seriousness of his intent.

Lance, not wanting to seem cowardly, followed suit, his steps determined and brisk. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, their excitement palpable. Some followed, eager to see the outcome, while others stayed behind, their conversations buzzing with speculation.

Outside, the night air was a welcome relief from the stifling heat of the party. The moon was high, casting a soft glow over the scene that was about to unfold. Keith stood in an open space, his posture relaxed yet alert. Lance joined him shortly after, his own body tense with anticipation.

"Ready to admit defeat?" Keith asked, a challenge in his voice.

Lance grinned, his confidence unshaken. "In your dreams," he shot back.

The two both got into fighting stances, waiting for the other to make the first move, but nobody budged.

It was clear neither wanted to give the other the satisfaction of initiating the confrontation. The tension was palpable, a testament to their rivalry and the stakes of their pride.

Suddenly, Keith broke the silence, "We could keep standing here all night, or we could settle this like adults."

Lance raised an eyebrow, his stance unwavering. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Keith's expression softened slightly, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes.

"We talk," he said, his voice carrying a seriousness that Lance hadn't expected. "We've been at each other's throats for too long, don't you think?"

Lance, taken aback by the sudden shift in Keith's demeanor, hesitated before lowering his guard. "Talk?" he asked, skepticism laced with curiosity.

Keith took a deep breath, the moonlight casting shadows across his face, highlighting the earnestness in his eyes. "Yes, talk," he affirmed, stepping forward but maintaining a respectful distance. "This rivalry, this... tension between us, it's exhausting, isn't it? We're always at odds, always ready to jump at each other's throats. For what?"

Lance's expression shifted, a tumult of emotions playing across his face. For a moment, it seemed as if he might concede, as if the walls he'd built around himself might crumble under the weight of Keith's words. But then, something snapped within him, a spark igniting into a flame of defiance.

"For what? For pride, Keith!" Lance exclaimed, his voice rising in anger. "You think you can just stand there, after everything, and preach about talking it out? After you've belittled me, challenged me, made me out to be the fool?"

Keith, taken aback by the sudden escalation, tried to interject, "Lance, I-"

"No!" Lance cut him off, stepping back, his eyes ablaze with fury. "You don't get to do this. Not now. Not after you've pushed and pushed, expecting me to just roll over and take it."

Keith's attempt to bridge the gap between them had backfired, leaving them further apart than ever.

"I'm done," Lance declared, his voice cold, every word a dagger. "I'm done letting you get under my skin. I'm done playing these games."

With that, Lance turned on his heel, his movements brisk and final. He didn't look back, not once, as he stormed off into the night, leaving Keith standing alone under the moon's gaze.

Keith's shoulders slumped, a mixture of frustration and regret washing over him. The silence that followed was a bitter reminder of the distance that had grown between them, a chasm that seemed now more overwhelming than ever.