Chapter Text
- Day Fifteen -
It's ironic, really. Well... maybe a bit sentimental, too. As it so happens, the athletic couple finds themselves on a double date with their coaches at the very hotpot restaurant Keith had taken Lance to on their first outing. (Of course, that being a recommendation from Shiro himself after he apparently went on a date there with Adam.)
Either way, it's fitting that they're here, having dinner at the place that seemed to be the start of cherished evenings together, on their last night before the closing ceremonies.
Lance: "Man, does this take me back." He reminisces.
Keith: "Hm? Oh, yeah. I brought you here on our first date."
Lance: "Ah! So it was a date!" Exclaiming with zeal while pointing a pair of chopsticks at his boyfriend.
Keith: "Well, yeah. I mean, I did ask you out that night, didn't I?"
A roar of chuckles from the other side of the table interrupts their conversation.
Keith: "... Is our love life really that funny to you?" He shoots the older men a glare.
Shiro: "What? No, not at all! It's just, you..."
Adam: "You remind us of ourselves when we were younger... But thank goodness you won't make the same mistakes we did." His tone, more solemn than usual.
The man's sudden admission causes the two athletes to still, unsure of how to respond. They silently stare the other pair down until the one with the glasses continues.
Adam: "Haaaah... It's true that Takashi and I have had a history. We went to the same boarding school, and despite being in completely different circles, we got to know each other on a personal level... But we were young, naive idiots who thought we would always be together or find our way back to each other if we were ever separated."
Lance: "... What happened?" A warry expression takes hold of him.
Shiro: "we never gave each other a way to stay in touch. Like Adam said, we never thought we would need to."
Keith: "But you're both here now, right?"
Adam: "All these years later, yes."
Shiro: "And trust me, those years felt like an eternity. Luckily, you boys won't have to go through that because you've done exactly what we didn't." He offers them an empathetic smile.
Lance: "Yeah... You're right about that." Returning the gesture.
As a sign of affirmation, the swimmer then laces his fingers over the racer's. They intertwine in a mutual understanding that goes far beyond what words could convey.
- Day Sixteen (The Last Day) -
Lance: "So... this is it..." He murmurs almost too quietly.
Keith: "Yeah..."
Although they both knew this day would come, that didn't make it any easier. After retiring to Lance's the prior night, the athletes ended up cuddling until the morning rays crept in. Neither daring to let go for fear of losing the other forever, even in sleep.
When the time finally came to leave for the evening's main event, they willed themselves to freshen up as much as they could manage. Even now, in this elevator together, they're resisting the urge to turn back and avoid the inevitable parting from one another.
Keith: "Lance."
Lance: "Yeah?" Chancing a glance at his beloved.
Keith: "Come and find me when you get the chance... If you have any trouble, just give me a call, okay?"
Lance: "Okay."
Later that evening...
'Come on... hurry up, dammit! I only have so much time left here with him, just... please.'
An hour and a half into the scheduled festivities and Lance is antsier than ever. From the moment he arrived, he barely paid any attention to his surroundings. His mind fully encompassed around one thought: reuniting with his man.
Lance swears that if the officials don't give everyone the green light to go out and mingle already, he'll make a run for it. At this point, he NEEDS Keith in his arms... like, NOW. And the fact that team USA is within view makes this all the more unbearable.
Lance: Oh! Well, it's about time!"
He squawks, not at all keeping his volume in check as the sea of people starts shuffling around. No further prompting is necessary as the swimmer mad dashes through the crowd, his sights locked onto the lushous black mop in his path.
Lance: "Keith!" He shrills with his all might.
The racer turns towards the familiar voice right in time to meet those blue eyes that spotted him amongst the countless others.
Keith: "Lance." Choking out a gasp from his core.
Lance: "... I found you...I found you, Keith."
Keith: "You did, Lance." A fond smirk takes shape.
Like magnets, their bodies draw themselves to each other without the slightest bit of effort. Before either of them know it they're melting together. Embracing their shared personal space that's so homely. Savoring it for as long as possible.
Lance: "You know, going long distance might not be easy... but I believe what Shiro and Adam said. If it's with you, then it's worth it... You would make it worth it."
Keith: "You would, too... as long as I can see you, even if it's over the phone, that's enough for me to keep what we have alive."
There it is. That's all the sentiment Lance could ask for to push forward with those little words that remain to be spoken. And so...
Lance: "... I love you, Keith." He sighs into the man's ear.
Keith: "... I love you, too, Lance." Taken aback by the confession, but reciprocates the very same way.
Carefully, both of them shift their bodies. Maneuvering to where foreheads touch... then, noses... and then... mouths.
- Winter, Two Years Later -
TV Commentator: "*Good morning, viewers. For those of you tuning in, we have pair skating at the top of the hour-*"
Lance's Mama: "*Awake already? I thought you would still be asleep right now.*" The mother of the house inquires as she enters the room.
Lance: "*Well, I...*"
The swimmer pauses, contemplating what to say next. However, the knowing grin on his mother's face resigns him to the truth.
Lance: "*Okay, maybe my sleep pattern changed due to the whole time difference thing.*" He spews out all at once.
Oddly enough, it's in that instance, their conversation gets cut short by an unexpected ring at the front door.
Lance's Mama: "*Hm? Who could that be?*" She gives a perplexed look in it's direction.
Lance: "*I don't know, but I'll get it*"
Seriously, who's showing up on their doorstep so early in the morning?... Either way, Lance has prepared himself for whoever this mystery visitor is by the time he reaches for the doorknob... or so he thought.
To his surprise, there stands the vision of a finely toned man. A VERY familiar finely toned man with dark locks tied back in a low ponytail. And beside him, a young Shiba sporting a red bandana.
Lance: "Keith?" He shakily breathes.
Keith: "Hey, Lance." The man cracks a crooked smirk at him.
'H-holy shit... holy shit, Keith is here.'
Keith: "Uh, Lance? Are you okay?"
The racer becomes vocally and visibly disturbed, even Kosmo begins to whimper with concern for the man before them. But... it all fades away when Lance suddenly decides to pounce on Keith. Slinging them into the warmest embrace he can supply all the while peppering him in kisses.
Lance: "Baaabe~! You could've told me you where coming!" He booms in between pecks.
Keith: "But then it wouldn't have been a surprise... surprise, by the way."
Lance: "... Alright, you got me there." The swimmer relents.
They stay there for a few moments more, heartily laughing and caressing under the soft glow of this Cuban winter morning.
This, what they have, whether united in the same place or daily calls from hundreds of miles away. This truly is bliss. Lance knows that now and so does Keith... He found that something great that he's dreamed of having... with the charming BMX racer from America who won his heart.
-The End-