Archive of Our Own ^beta

Keefe was well aware that their relationship surpassed the boundaries of friendship.

They spent every day together teaching the children about the love and compassion of Jesus. Attend Gemstone Family eventstogether. Wore matching promise rings. Dressed and gave each other fashion advice. Shared credit cards and a bank account. They slept and cuddled together in Kelvin’s bed almost every night. Reached the pinnacle of euphoria while gazing into each other’s eyes way too many times for anyone to consider it friendly.

But Kelvin he could look past everything they did together and continue to call Keefe “Bro”.

Kelvin wouldn’t go further than a mutual jerk off or cuddlesession. He refused to kiss Keefe, hold his hand, fuck him so hard he forgot the pronunciation of his own name, or simply admit they were boyfriends.

At first the rejection stung. And that’s what it was rejection. Then Keefe could maybe see where Kelvin was coming from. The Gemstone family were stars always in the spotlight. Everyone assumed they were together and treated Keefe as such when they were out and about. Kelvin needed to move slow with intercourse because of his vow of celibacy, and Kelvin led the children by example. Keefe could maybe wait for marriage for the real thing. But the longer they lived like this the clearer it became to Keefe that Kelvin refused to see them as anything besides best dude bros.

~~~~~~~~~~

Keefe should’ve seen this coming, yet he was completely shocked by Kelvin’s news.

And now Keefe was peeved. He sat his crafted crosses aside, “I’m sorry for the trouble I brought upon you.”

“You are no trouble.”

After years of waiting and living on crumbs of intimacy. Kelvin had the nerve to demote him?!? 

If Keefe was being demoted in the church, then they would have no excuse for being together all the time. What halfcocked reason could Kelvin come up with for them living together if they weren’t working closely together?

“You saved me. And I will walk the righteous path from here on out because of you. It’s time to take what I’ve learned and put it to good use. Alone. By myself.”

“No Keefe, we’re just shifting your position.”

Keefe wasn’t stupid, he heard the rumors. Kelvin was ashamed of him, no THEM.

“I need to give you space so that the air can be cleared,” Keefe stood to leave.

Kelvin wanted to distance himself from Keefe in order to uphold his pristine Gemstone image.

“I-I don’t want space,” Kelvin said in a broken voice.

Keefe couldn’t let the inflection of Kelvin’s voice sway him anymore. Kelvin’s needs and wants were not more important than his own. “I’ll move out.”

“This is a big decision. Take your time. You should pray on it.”

Keefe would give Kelvin more than enough space, he was leaving. Why wait around for a man to only use you in the comforts of darkness? He’ll never admit to loving you.

“I’ll be out tomorrow. He shrugged, ”You Gemstones are stars, destined to burn bright. Best I step aside.”

He had to get out of there before they both started crying. The tears wouldn’t make Kelvin acknowledge the betrayal Keefe felt. After all Kelvin wanted to pretend this entire thing was about their work relationship. They would never be anything but good buddies who touched from time to time.

“Keefe”

Keefe was a whore before. Now that he was saved, he didn’t plan on being used and abused ever again.