Room 1013

Marry?!

"Lance!" Keith sprinted out of the front door to greet him, running barefoot on the morning dew of the front lawn.

In a sleepy haze, Lance caught him as he jumped up and wrapped his legs around Lance's waist. "Well, hello there."

Keith wrapped his arms around his neck and held him tightly, "You're back."

Lance chuckled, "I wasn't gone that long."

Keith pulled back and cupped his cheeks, "Four days." He leaned down into a deep kiss, "Too long."

Lance pulled away to yawn. Keith took note of it, "You look like shit."

"Yeah," he laughed, "I need sleep."

Keith drooped his arms over Lance's shoulder and rested his head. "I'll sleep with you."

Lance took in a breath of Keith's peppermint-scented hair. "Oh, I'm so happy to be back here with you." He walked inside and started up the stairs, still carrying Keith.

"Tough time?"

Lance sighed and entered Keith's room, "Ah, I guess." He lied Keith down on the bed, then plopped down next to him. "I'm alright now, though."

Keith nuzzled his cheek into Lance's chest, "I'm glad."

As Lance fell asleep, the previous days replayed in his mind over and over.

"Mama?!" Lance called for her as he burst through the front door, tossing the keys on the entryway table.

Anabelle was sitting on the couch; she looked up at him as he walked in. "Well, welcome back. Where's your boyfriend?"

Lance waved her off, "Not now, Anabelle." He inspected the room, "Where's Mama and Papi?"

She shrugged, "I think they're in the kitchen."

Lance ran through the kitchen door to find them enjoying their morning coffee. Anabelle followed him out of curiosity. His parents looked up and smiled at him when he came in. Lance's mother outstretched her arms, "Oh, m'ijo! What are you-"

"Mama," Lance cut her off and leaned against the counter. He kept his voice stern, switching his stare from his mother to his father. "I wanna marry Keith."

Anabelle threw her hands up, "What the fuck, Lance?!"

He turned to point a finger at her, "You stay out of this."

Lance's mother gasped and clutched her chest, "Marry?!"

"M'ijo," his father gave him a stern look, "You can't marry someone just because you feel sorry for them."

Lance furrowed his brows in an intense frustration, "Why the hell would you say that?! Of course I'm not gonna marry him out of pity!"

"Why the fuck do you want to?!" Anabelle shoved his arm.

Lance pushed her back, "I told you to shut the fuck up!"

"She has a point, Lance." His father stood and leaned toward him, "If it's not out of pity, then why?"

Lance's jaw tightened. He stared back with matching intensity, "Because I love him-" Anabelle muttered an 'oh my god' and his mother gasped. Lance raised his voice, "And he's dying."

"He's being treated, though!" Anabelle yelled at him.

Lance groaned and spun around to face her again, "I'm gonna give you one more chance to shut the fuck up."

"But he is!"

"He's in Hospice, Anabelle." Lance looked at all of their eyes.

She crossed her arms, "What does that mean?"

"It means he's not being treated anymore." Lance waved her off, "Now go away."

"Lance," His father put his hands on his hips, "I've put up with you going to that boy for far too long. You know how we feel about him."

"Yeah!" Lance leaned into his face. "And I think your opinion is bullshit!"

"M'ijo," Lance's mother placed a hand on his shoulder, which was promptly shaken off. "We've kept our mouths closed and allowed you to be with him, but this is too much."

"No," Anabelle threw her arms up, "Maybe you should just let him! His boyfriend's gonna be dead soon anyway."

"First of all," Lance pushed her back, "Fuck you. Second of all," he shook his head in confusion, "Thank you?"

Lance took a deep breath to recoup. He knew this was how the conversation was gonna go; and he didn't want to waste any time. He calmed down a little and looked at his parents, "We're both seventeen, which means we need your permission as well as Krolia's."

Lance's mother crossed her arms, "And what did she say?"

"She's already agreed to it."

"Of course she has." Lance's father rubbed his face and groaned, "That woman has no sense. That boy needs a father."

Lance chuckled in disbelief, "Are you serious?! His dad is working all the time to pay his medical bills. And he's a damn good father." He shook his head, "It's a simple request. I want your permission to marry Keith."

His father shook his head, "It's not that simple, m'ijo."

"Um, yeah it kinda is." Lance tapped his chest, "It's my life. I'm almost eighteen, but I'm not sure if he'll make it that long."

The room held tense silence for a minute. Lance waited in frustration for any sign of an answer.

Lance's father clicked his teeth, "We will talk about this later. I have to go to work." His statement disbanded the group.

Anabelle shoved Lance's arm as she walked out, "You're so fucking insane."