'such a pity, a boy so pretty'

14. start telling the truth

"Lance what happened? Why do you have a massive bruise on your stomach? Because I'm damn sure that me falling on you wouldn't cause that." Keith said, his voice raised, and Lance pulled his shirt back down and looked away.

"It nothing Keith." He stood up and rubbed his stomach a little, walking to get his trainers. Keith followed him.

"It's not nothing, don't avoid me. You've been distant lately." Keith snapped.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lance questioned and thanked the guy for his trainers, handing him the skates in return, pulling his trainers on.

"You haven't been calling me back or you won't hug me as much, and I probably sound stupid right now but you're just acting as if you're not there anymore. So please tell me, what is going on with you, and how did you get that bruise?" Keith said getting his own shoes and following Lance as he walked outside.

"Keith it's nothing I'm fine okay?" Lance half pleaded his boyfriend.

"That." Keith pointed at Lances chest. "Is not fine." He took Lances hands in his own. "Just tell me." Lance sighed, he could sugar-coat it a little.

"It was just some homophobic jerk, it's nothing." Lance looked Keith in the eyes to reassure him.

"I need a name." Keith stated simply, his expression turned angry.

"No, it doesn't matter, he won't do it again." Lance said simply hoping Keith would drop it, he didn't.

"Lance you need to start telling me the truth, who was it?" Keith questioned, standing in front of Lance, his arms crossed. Lance didn't answer however and just stepped forward and unfolded Keith's arms, Keith raised his eyebrows and Lance hugged him. "Stop, this isn't going to work, I'm not going to just forget about-"

"It was Jones. Happy?" Lance rested his chin on Keith's head, Keith wrapped his arms around Lances waist. "I told you he was an asshole."

"I'm gonna kill him." Keith said, and Lance just laughed.

"No you're not, he's twice your size. And he's not gonna do it again so don't worry. Okay?" Lance let go and looked at Keith. "Okay?" He asked again. Keith looked down and mumbled his answer.

"Okay." He said and wrapped his arms around Lance. "But if he ever does anything to you again-"

"I'll make sure to let you know." Lance said sternly but with a chuckle, still hugging Keith who was extremely confused, he wanted to trust in Lance, to believe him, but something was...off. Lance's breezy tone felt too forced and Keith didn't like it. He wanted Lance to feel safe with him, to be able to trust him too.

Keith longed for a relationship built on trust, he'd couldn't remember the last time he'd fully been himself around someone, except Lance. It felt easy, natural, not forced and faked, and Keith basked in that feeling. He loved it, dare he say, he loved Lance? Keith mentally shook his head, it was too soon.

But he did, he did love Lance. Or maybe it was just the idea of being with Lance? He couldn't be sure, he didn't know if he wanted to be sure. Keith was very confused. But Lance was right here and so was Keith and that's all that mattered, to Keith.

Lance on the other hand was conflicted, he liked Keith, a lot, really really liked Keith, but was too afraid to admit how. Guilt washed over him as he smiled at Keith again, to reassure him he was fine, when he was anything but fine. He didn't want Keith getting hurt too, Jones would get bored again, and leave Lance alone, or so he hoped.

The two stood outside the rink for a while, Keith listened to Lances steady heartbeat and Lance smiled at his boyfriend, until a thought struck his brain.

"You won't tell Shiro will you?" He asked Keith, and they broke apart, Keith looking intently into Lances eyes with an 'Are You Serious' look. "It's just, if he goes to 'talk' with Jones, he could get kicked off the team." Lance moved his hands in the way for a speech marks effect. "And we need him, he's the best on the team, and basketball is Shiro's life, besides Allura." Lance chuckled looking at Keith fondly.

"Fine I won't tell Shiro, but I will be having a 'talk' with Jones." Keith said sternly. Lance just rolled his eyes and sighed, he knew Keith could handle himself, whereas Lance couldn't. Not against his dad, nor against Jones. Lance sighed again.

"Just don't hurt yourself." Lance said finally and everyone else came filing out of the rink, Pidge pointed the couple out to everyone else and she sauntered up to them.

"Why did you guys come out here?" She asked them, giggling a little. "Talking about your kinks?" Even Shiro began laughing as Keith just rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, we're all going to McDonald's, come on lovebirds." Allura told them and they all got in their cars, Hunk with Shiro and Allura, Pidge, unfortunately for them, with Keith and Lance. She talked the whole ride, usually just mocking Keith and Lance.

"So have you guys actually done it yet?" Pidge smirked sat in between them, fiddling with the CD player and radio. Keith turned red and looked out the window, which he'd been doing the whole ride anyway. Lance nudge her and slapped her fingers away from the radio, turning it off as she changed the radio station yet again.

"Stop that I'm trying to drive, and anyway it's none of your business." Lance kept his eyes on the road, turning into a round-about, concentration etched on his face, ever since he'd got his licence he'd always loved driving.

"I'm just asking, you know making conversation. So have you?" She smirked again leaning back in her seat and putting her feet on the dashboard, Lance scowled at her and tickled her.

"Legs off, you know the rule." He smirked as she giggled, pushing his hand away and taking her feet off. Keith had teared his gaze from the window and watched them, smiling. Lance caught his eye and smiled back. "No we haven't." He watched the road again.

"Why not?" She asked again, Keith rolled his eyes. Luckily Lance had just pulled into McDonald's, driving into the take-out route and stopping behind what they recognised to be Shiro's car. "You didn't answer my question." She said.

"We don't have to." Keith muttered beside her. "What do you want?" He said looking at the menu.

"Just a chicken burger and a coke. Still there must be a reason why you guys haven't had sex yet." She said bluntly.

"Yes but we don't have to tell you about it." Lance snapped. "Babe what do you want?" Lance asked Keith.

"Awwwe 'babe'" Pidge smirked mischievously and started laughing. Lance nudged her in the arm, and turned back to Keith, who was bright red. Keith told him his order and they drove around to pick it up, meeting up with the others in the parking lot, and deciding to drive to Shiro's.

The drive to his house was quiet as Pidge had fallen asleep on Keith's shoulder. Even without her constant rambling, Lance still thought about what she had said. Why hadn't they done it yet? Well Lance didn't want to ruin anything, and he didn't want to pressure Keith. Things were fine the way they were, nothing needed to change. Or did it?

end of chapter 14