The Time They (almost) Got Caught - [boyxboy]

×10 [FINAL]

Alan stood frozen, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open slightly while Austin tried to form words, but instead sounded like a blubbering mess. This was it. They'd been caught, and there sure as hell wasn't a way to lie their way out of this one, because it was obvious from the few hickies littering both of their necks and the loud sounds coming from inside the bathroom.

"I- we-" Austin sputtered out some kind of words, but it wasn't helping their situation at all.

"I knew it!" Tino said, though he didn't sound mad due to the smirk forming on his face.

"Know what? Th-There's nothing going on," Austin said and Tino gave him a deadpan look.

"Seriously, dude, do you think I'm that dumb? It's obvious something's been going on with you two," he said.

Alan felt his heart drop into his stomach. Had they really been that obvious? Were they not careful enough, and how the hell did Tino know so easily? If he knew, what were the chances the other guys did also?

"How- How did you know?" Alan asked, his voice trembling slightly. He felt so sick, because this was like one of his worst nightmares. He didn't want to be outed like this, he wanted to do it on their time, and it's not like didn't love Austin, it was just that if his band mates knew, then word would get out and soon enough the entire fan base would know and everything would no longer be private.

"Al, seriously, come on. You two have got to give a little more credit," Tino said, rolling his eyes. "I've known you both long enough to read you like the back of my hand, and it's very obvious when you both get in a relationship cause you're much more... peppy, I guess, but I had my suspicions for a while now, and it was only confirmed when I saw you two in the hotel, waiting for the elevator and kissing."

Alan and Austin mentally smacked themselves for being so open about that, for not being a little more careful, but neither of them could say or admit that they regretted it.

"Do the other guys know?" Austin asked, and when Tino nodded, Alan just felt completely sick. This wasn't how things were supposed to go, he felt like the world was spiralling out of control at this point.

"We've all kind of known for some time now," Tino said, the ginger groaned and let out a huff of hair as he pushed his head against Austin's back, letting it rest there. This was such a mess. "And to be fair, I'm actually really offended that neither of you told me. I think it's cool and quite romantic that you guys are together."

That made things only a little bit better.

"Alan and I didn't want to tell anyone yet, we were waiting for a good time," Austin said, reaching behind him and managing to find the gingers hand.

"How long has this been going on for, exactly?" Tino questioned, genuinely curious.

"Since the beginning of our last tour? Maybe at the end of the one before? I'm not too sure, honestly, but it wasn't anything serious up until a few months ago," Austin explained, feeling quite bad about all this; bad because he knew how upset the ginger boy behind him was.

Tino just nodded, not saying another word, though he was still smiling, but when they heard the front door opening, the smile faded and Alan could feel his heart hammering in his chest, it threatening to beat out of his chest.

"Guys, were back," all three of them heard Phil say, along with some rustling, but none of them moved; Alan was too scared, Austin not wanting to let go of the gingers hand, and Tino, he just didn't know what to do.

"Guys?" Phil was getting closer to the hallway, sounding concerned and a little confused when no one came into the kitchen. He rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks, seeing Tino, Austin, and Alan together in the hallway.

Alan lifted his head, letting out a little breath and staring at his band mate. He guessed now was the time.

"We've got something to tell you and Aaron."

。。。

"Seriously? That's it?" Aaron asked, sounding surprised. "I was expecting so much more."

Alan and Austin glanced at each other. That went well, surprisingly, though they didn't expect anything less. These guys were like their brothers, they'd been through thick and thin together, and they'd been told so much worse before. It was like Austin and Alan coming out as being together was something they heard almost everyday, but Alan guessed that because they had all already known, it wasn't much of a surprise.

"Yeah, that's um, it," Austin said, instinctively pulling Alan closer to him. He knew that the ginger boy was still upset, and since they were in a room with their band mates, it's not like he could exactly kiss him- well, he could, but having to hide their affection in front of the others for so long, it was going to take a little time getting used to being able to openly kiss the ginger and hug him.

"I think it's wonderful," Tino said, once again voicing his opinion about their relationship, because he really did find it great. He knew Austin would treat Alan well, and Alan would do the same. They were exactly what they needed for each other, seeing as their past relationships went so bad.

"Don't get me wrong, I do too, I just can't help but feel a little... hurt, I guess you could say, that you guy's decided to keep it from us rather than be straightforward and tell us!" Phil said, sounding much like Tino earlier, and he, too, didn't sound mad about it.

"Alan wanted to wait and so did I," Austin said simply. "I mean, at first it wasn't even a relationship, it was just fooling around, so there wasn't much to tell there."

"I'm happy for you guys," Aaron said, smiling.

Alan felt happiness fill up inside of him with his friends acceptance, though even if they didn't accept, he wouldn't have cared. All that mattered was his and Austin's opinions, no one else's, but it was still heartwarming knowing his friends were so happy for them. It meant so much in the world.

Soon they all left for the studio, Alan feeling all giddy inside as he and Austin sat in the backseat of the car, the brunettes hand on his thigh, subconsciously drawing shapes against the fabric of Alan's jean, or giving his thigh an occasional squeeze. They both were so happy they could be opened about their relationship now around their band mates instead of just hiding away and sneaking around.

"Do you think all of this was really worth it?" Alan asked quietly, though he knew none of the guys would be able to hear them due to how far back in the car they were.

"Of course it was, I can finally do this," Austin leaned in and pressed a sweet and almost reassuring kiss to the gingers lips before pulling away, "Out in the open without having to wait all day, craving it, until we're finally alone. Do you think it was worth it?"

"Most definitely," Alan said without a single moment of hesitation, his cheeks burning slightly from the kiss. "Every single moment of having to sneak around, hide away, and try to cover everything up was well worth it, and honestly, if I had to do it all over again, I would." That was the truth.

Austin smiled brightly, kissing the gingers lips once more. "I'd do it all over again if to, too," he said, and so much love and adoration filled his eyes as he looked at his boyfriend. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Alan said, pressing a kiss to Austin's cheek before turning to look out the window.

And to think, their relationship in the beginning was nothing but screwing around, no feelings attached and hid away in secrecy, but now, it was nothing but love and happiness and it definitely had feelings. Austin and Alan were finally happy, that's all that really mattered.

。。。

it's over! this is the end and I'm sorry that it's taken me so long or that it's not the best, but my heart isn't exactly in this anymore and it's best that it ends, because again, it's supposed to be a short story.

But thank you all so much for sticking around for so long and dealing with the very little updates that came, it means so much to me :)

so yeah, this is the end. there won't be an epilogue because it feels like it ended right where it should and it feels like a very good chapter.

but thank you again and maybe check out my other stories if you  haven't already :)