Chapter 8 - I Knew You Would Win

"I have complete faith in you, Keithy," Lance said from his spot on the bed. He was pulling on socks as Keith dug through his drawer for clean shorts.

"Says the guy who plans on cheating for Hunk," Keith answered wryly.

"I would never!"

Keith looked over his shoulder at Lance, who wouldn't meet his eye. "Right."

"I wouldn't," he promised, dropping his foot onto the floor. "Hunk doesn't need me to cheat for him."

"Ouch."

"To be fair, you've never made lasagna for me," Lance said as he stood. "So I can only go by what I know."

"It's pretty good, if I do say so myself."

Lance snaked his arms around Keith's waist from behind, bending his head enough to plant a kiss on Keith's neck. Keith hummed, closing his eyes and leaning back into his boyfriend. "I'm sure it is, Keithy," Lance murmured. Then. "I love you."

The thrill which shot through Keith at the words woke him completely up. He'd never get tired of those words, said in that certain tone Lance used when he said it. Why the fuck had he waited so long to say it?

"I love you."

"I'm still voting for Hunk."

"We'll see, Sharpshooter."

Keith and Hunk took over the kitchen for the Great Lasagna Bake Off on Saturday morning. Colleen had drawn up strict rules for them to follow, and both gamely entered the friendly competition cheerfully.

*No help from anyone

*No sabotage of the other's lasagna

*Must not seek advice from Colleen

*Must not copy each other

Simple enough, of course, but Hunk was used to having Lance or Shay as a sous chef. Hunk and Keith worked side by side, both courteous of the other. Both made their sauces different – Hunk used sausage and beef, while Keith used only sweet Italian sausage. Hunk measured carefully, then adjusted to taste. Keith haphazardly threw herb after herb into the pot until it tasted how he wanted.

Lance, Allura, Shay, and Shiro watched the friendly battle from the sidelines, staying out of the way, but providing commentary as if Keith and Hunk were on a game show.

"You know, that's what we should have done," Lance mused after a pause.

"What?" Allura asked.

"We should have played Chopped instead. Given them four weird ingredients and let them battle it out."

"Damn! Why didn't we think of that?"

"Colleen could play too!"

"Next time you guys come home, we can," Shiro suggested.

"I'm making note of it," Lance said, opening his phone and said as he typed it, "Next visit – Play Chopped."

Keith, stirring the thickening sauce in his pot, smiled. Things were far from perfect. Lance hadn't forgiven Shiro, though Keith suspected he probably would soon. It's the kind of man he was. Too good-hearted. He knew, however, Lance had many reservations and wouldn't trust Shiro for a long time to come. Keith was happy, though, that Shiro was making the effort. Even more happy that Lance wasn't completely freezing his brother out.

"Okay, why did auto-correct change 'Chopped' to 'Chopin'? I certainly can't play Chopin," Lance complained.

Allura laughed. "I haven't played piano in years. I doubt I could."

"'Chopped', you stupid thing," Lance grumbled, typing again. "There. Now it's official for the next visit."

"So, neither one is getting the advantage?" Shiro asked.

Lance shook his head. "Keithy thought he was. Allura promised him tomatoes and oregano from her garden. But, she also gave them to Hunk. So no advantage for freshness."

"I'm still disappointed about that," Keith said.

Allura shrugged, non-repentant. "All's fair in love and lasagna."

Shiro chuckled. "Keith's lasagna is really good. Nothing close to Colleen's, but good."

"Everything Keith makes is good," Lance declared. "Just, Hunk is better."

"See if I feed you again!" Keith called from the stove.

"I'm kidding! You know I love you!"

Keith blushed, not turning around. He didn't need everyone to see how the words affected him. Hunk, standing next to him at the counter shredding the cheese he planned to use, did and chuckled. "I might just get him to keep saying it all day to fluster you," he murmured quietly.

Keith turned his head enough to glare at his friend. "No sabotage," he growled the reminder.

Hunk's chuckle turned into a full belly laugh, which got Lance to beg them to tell him what was so funny.

"Not on your life, sweetheart," Keith said loud enough for Lance to hear.

"He's blushing cause you said you loved him," Hunk, the traitor, said.

"Not fair!" Keith yelled.

"We have a hot match up here in the kitchen, folks," Allura suddenly said, squeezing her way between them, holding a spatula up in place of a mic. Both had to step aside to allow her room. "Keith, tell the viewers what your strategy is to win today."

"I don't need strategy," Keith bragged, though the grin he shot at Hunk was vicious. "Hunk is going down."

"I heard that's more your speed, Keith, if Lance's moans last night were any indication," Allura commented. Everyone laughed while Keith's cheeks flared up worse. "Unless…" she mused, glancing over her shoulder at Shay, who also blushed.

But, to everyone's delight and Hunk's mortification, Shay gamely agreed, "Why, yes, yes he does."

"Shay!" It was Hunk's turn, finally, to be flustered. "That's private!"

Shay shrugged. "Allura asked so…"

"I didn't hear a question!"

"It was implied."

"Hunk," Allura said, turning now to him. "What is your secret ingredient that is going to beat Keith today?"

"If I say it, it won't be secret," Hunk pointed out. He placed the bowl of freshly shredded cheese to the side by his lasagna pan. "But," he added, "it's love."

Keith rolled his eyes. "I think it's more the extra basil you tossed in."

Keith's sauce was ready first. At least, he deemed it perfect. Keith checked the flavor, dipping some out with a spoon, and humming slightly as he closed his eyes. Yes, damn near perfect.

"Keith!"

"Fuck, Lance," Keith yelled, jumping back from the stove and spilling the sauce from the spoon onto himself and the floor. Lance had wandered over with the 'spatula mic'.

"Oh, that will stain," Lance commented.

"You think?" Keith sighed. He threw the spoon into the sink. As he turned back, he found the spatula stuck in his face. "What?"

"Tell us, Keith, how does your sauce taste?"

"The sauce not on my shirt tasted great. Poor Hunk won't know what hit him."

"Can your favorite food show host have a taste?"

"Alton Brown is here?"

Lance pouted as the 'audience' chuckled. "No! Me, Keithy!"

"I'm sorry. I don't think the judges should get a pre-taste," Hunk objected. "That way you won't know what to look for and vote for the person rather than the best lasagna."

"I would never cheat!" Lance exclaimed, looking offended.

"Yes, you would," Keith argued. "And I agree with Hunk."

"Don't you trust me?"

"Of course, my love. I trust that you'll vote for me just because it's me."

Lance visibly melted a little at the newish endearment, blew Keith a little kiss, and then grumbled as Keith shoved him gently away.

"I'd like to taste, though," Hunk said.

"Only if I can taste yours."

"Ooo, they're tasting each other!" Lance sang as he rejoined the others.

They tasted each other's sauce. He could tell Hunk was impressed with his sauce, which was a good feeling, as Hunk was a cook himself. It was one thing to please friends and family with his cooking, but, for someone who had a lot of talent himself, Hunk's reaction meant more to him.

Until he tasted Hunk's. Holy shit it was good. Fuck, he was in so much trouble.

Keith had started to grate his cheese, under Lance's watchful eye, and Hunk was finishing off his sauce with something from a small jar Keith couldn't see, when the Holts arrived.

"My, it smells heavenly in here!" Colleen exclaimed as she breezed into the kitchen. "Just divine!"

"Here's our head judge now!" Allura cried, holding up the 'spatula mic' again to Colleen. "Tell us, Mrs. Holt, what is the most important aspect of judging high quality lasagna to you?"

Colleen wasn't taken aback by Allura's dramatic pose. She laughed gaily, settling onto the bar stool Shiro vacated for her. "Oh, Allura," she said, "the most important thing to any food is how it makes you feel in your heart."

"Excellent, Mrs. Holt! How do you think the odds stack today with our competitors?" Lance now asked, wrenching the spatula from Allura.

She smiled fondly at Lance. "I'm already familiar with Keith's cooking, so I'm expecting a strong showing from him. Hunk is the wild card, though the things he's made this visit have all been delicious. I can tell he has strong skills."

"You ain't kidding there," Lance agreed.

Keith and Hunk wrangled a little back and forth about the oven temperature. Hunk liked it low and slow for cooking time, while Keith liked it higher and faster, which of course got some teasing from Lance, Allura, and Pidge. They did compromise, conceding that the same temp and time should work for both of them.

Everyone had to leave the kitchen as the chefs prepared their lasagna pans, so they all went out onto the deck. This was to allow for the blind taste testing. Hunk planned to add spinach to his layers, while Keith was keeping his plain. If everyone knew who was using the spinach, they could, in theory, cheat for Hunk or Keith. Colleen had made the rule after she asked if either of them planned to use anything unique in their lasagna. She didn't want to know what, exactly, but something. They both said they would, so in order to keep it fair, no one could see the actual assembly.

"Your sauce was really good," Hunk complimented him. They stood side by side at the breakfast bar, carefully layering their pans.

"Not gonna lie, my friend. I'm seriously worried about my reputation after tasting yours."

Hunk grinned at him. "Same. I did something a little different with mine," he admitted. "I think it was a risk, but Shay and Lance know what mine tastes like, so I mixed it up a little."

"Same for me," Keith said, laughing as he perfectly arranged the uncooked noodles of the next layer. Hunk pre-cooked his noodles, but Keith opted to use uncooked ones.

Keith finished, spreading another handful of mozzarella on the top. Okay, one more handful. Maybe a couple of pinches? Yeah. Can't have enough cheese. He would pull the lasagna out at about ten minutes before it finished and add more. Another sprinkling of the Parmesan and it was done.

"That looks amazing," Hunk said, glancing over at Keith's pan. "I don't really care who wins. I'm just excited to eat all of this tonight."

"Right?"

Keith retrieved the aluminum foil to cover his pan. Hunk was still layering his. "So. Things good, now?" he asked.

Keith hummed. "Yeah, I think so. I don't think Lance will trust Shiro or Pidge for awhile, but that's to be expected."

"He does have a very forgiving heart," Hunk said, nodding. He placed some of the spinach on top of the cheese layer. "I know he accepted their apologies. But, you're right. Trust will be harder. He's been burned so much."

"I guess at least this time he was burned first. He's basically taking it as a 'do over' with them. He told Shiro last night he'd like to start from the beginning as if they didn't know each other. I know my brother is surprised at that. Shiro knows what an ass he's been."

"Still, it'll take time."

"Oh, definitely. I think it will be easier once we're home. Shiro and Pidge promised to talk to him during video calls. They each gave Lance their numbers, so he can start texting them when he's ready. If he even wants to."

"He already friended them on Facebook, I know," Hunk said. "Can I have the foil?"

"Sure," Keith said, handing it over. "I'm just glad they are the ones making the effort. Lance isn't seeking them out, which kind of surprises me."

"Surprises me, too, to be honest," Hunk said, tucking the foil around the edges.

"I don't blame him. If his family treated me like that, I don't know what I'd do," Keith said, tapping his fingers on the counter. He didn't think he had to worry about that. Unlike Shiro and Pidge, every time Lance talked to his family, half the time they barely spoke to Lance because they spent all the time talking to Keith. Though it threw him off a little at first (not because the McClain's weren't an awesome family, he just wasn't used to that much of family), he actually loved talking to them now. Lance's Abuelita was an utter delight.

"Well, no worries about that from the McClain's. They see you as their son-in-law already," Hunk said. "There! All ready!"

Keith was still reeling from Hunk's casual remark and barely heard the last thing Hunk said. He stood there, a stunned expression on his face until Hunk looked at him.

"Keith, buddy, you okay?"

"Y-yeah," he stammered, shaking his head. The thought of something permanent with Lance had crossed his mind a million times, but to think the McClain's would think of him as Lance's partner like that sent his mind into a spin.

Hunk chuckled. "Scare you there? Thought of marriage?"

Keith shook his head, looking up into Hunk's eyes. "No. Marrying Lance would be a dream come true. I'm not scared of it. Just," he turned to fidget with the foil covering his pan. "We should probably hit the two month mark before we think of it."

"I knew before I started dating Shay that she was the one," Hunk said. "We still good for the three-fifty temp?" When Keith nodded, Hunk set the oven to pre-heat.

"Lance is the one," Keith said firmly. "There's no way I'm letting him go."

There were nine people in total to judge the lasagna. Allura's Uncle Coran came for the festivities, leaving his beloved restaurant to his staff for the evening. He brought many bottles of wine to spruce up the tasting.

The dining room was the scene of judgment. When the lasagnas were done, Keith and Hunk each plated, on sturdy plastic plates, a square of the steaming pasta dish. Keith placed his on one side of the dining table and Hunk on the other, and then Keith put a sign with the number one in front of his and a number two in front of Hunk's. It looked like the most delicious buffet, with rows of lasagna waiting for the hungry judges. With nine judges, the table was covered. Hunk was thoughtful enough to provide a basket of garlic knots, which he placed in between his and Keith's offerings.

No one was allowed in the house until Keith and Hunk finished setting up. When everyone came in, they were in a jovial mood, laughing and talking, all with a glass of wine in hand – even Pidge.

The judges wouldn't know which side was whose, but after tasting, each person would secretly vote, via slips of paper, on which lasagna they thought was the best. Since Hunk and Keith both used different ingredients in their dishes from what they normally would, they shouldn't be recognizable too much to the judges.

Everyone ooh'ed and ahh'ed as they came in, voicing admiration for the set up and how the lasagnas were plated. Both Keith and Hunk tried to professionally plate their dishes. Hunk had poured some of his sauce over each of his pieces, but Keith felt his had enough sauce in the lasagna itself to not need it.

To make it more fair, both Keith and Hunk ate each slice as well. Everyone was chattering to each other, comparing their thoughts and trying to figure out who did which lasagna. There were plenty of groans and complaints of having to 'pick one' when they didn't want to, but Colleen insisted they do. Of course, Hunk and Keith couldn't cast votes, but everyone wrote a number one or number two on a slip and placed it in the basket set aside for that purpose.

"Has everyone voted?" Colleen asked, gazing over the group with a glass in one hand and the basket raised eye level in the other. The plates were empty, the garlic knots were decimated, and the third (or fourth?) bottle of wine sat half-empty on the table. When everyone answered in the affirmative, she nodded crisply. "Good. I'll count the votes now."

Sam took her glass from her, giving her a little kiss on the cheek, which brought a charming blush to her cheeks. Keith chuckled, amused to see Colleen flustered. She always appeared put together and in charge, but could easily turn into a blushing teenager with kisses from her quiet husband.

To cover it up, she turned to the sideboard, plopping the basket on top with a little more force than necessary. In a ruffled state, she drew out the slips of paper, calling Allura over to oversee the count. They separated the slips into two piles that appeared even. It looked like it was going to be a close decision.

The two women conferred in whispered voices, nodded once to each other, and turned. "Can I have a drumroll please?" Colleen asked.

Everyone complied, beating a staccato rhythm on whatever surface was closest to them – mostly the table, though Lance drummed on Keith's shoulders much to his annoyance. When the sound reached a crescendo, Colleen held up her hand and everyone stopped. "Thank you for that…noise," she said. "But now to announce your winner! The champion of the Great Lasagna Bake Off, with a vote of five to four, is….number two!"

Hunk humbly raised his hand. Everyone burst into cheers for the now-blushing winner. Shay hugged him tightly, expressing her pride in her future husband. Keith was the next to hug him, thanking Hunk for being a great adversary, before he was shoved aside by Lance so Lance could jump up into Hunk's arms. "I knew you would win, Hunky!"

"Yours is different from Hunk's," Lance commented as he leaned against the breakfast bar counter. He was sitting on one of the bar stools, his forearms holding his weight up. Keith was at the sink, washing the lasagna pans so Colleen could take hers home. They had to borrow one from her.

"I hope you mean my lasagna."

"What else could I mean?"

"Our dicks."

Lance gasped. "Why would I say that!? I would never compare your dicks!"

Keith rinsed the pan under the water and put it on the drying rack. "So you have seen Hunk's dick?"

"Yeah, but not in a gay way. We've lived together forever. Of course, I've seen it."

Keith pumped some hand soap on his hands and rubbed them under the water. "Hmm."

"It's not like I had his dick in my mouth. That's saved for you."

"Lance…"

"And I wouldn't compare anyway. I wouldn't want you to feel bad!"

"Lance!"

"I did mean your lasagna. You make it different."

"Everyone makes it different." He dried his hands, folded the towel, and hung it on a drawer pull.

"No, I know," Lance said. "Yours was really good. Equal to Hunk's. How'd you make it different? I mean, other than the spinach that Hunk had."

"I don't boil my noodles. Hunk does, so mine were a little firmer," Keith explained, facing Lance across the breakfast bar, resting his hands on the counter. "And I use a béchamel sauce as well. I think it makes it creamier."

"You don't boil the pasta first?"

"I use so much sauce, I don't really have to. It cooks long enough."

"So, you go sauce, noodles, batch-a-mel, then cheese?"

"Béchamel," Keith corrected his pronunciation. "Yeah. That's pretty standard layering."

"Do you ever use spinach? I think that's what I liked about Hunk's."

"Sometimes I do, depending on my mood. Or if I'm making a more vegetarian lasagna. Adam was vegetarian, so when I learned how to make this, I used to make it that way."

"No cheese?"

"No, he ate cheese."

"What cheese did you use?"

"Fresh Parmesan, some reggiano, and lots of mozzarella. I like it really cheesy."

"Do you have a secret ingredient? Hunk doesn't really."

Keith nodded, "I used cottage cheese in the sauce."

Lance made a face. "I hate cottage cheese, Keithy."

"You ate it. Seemed that you liked it."

"It's not the taste. It's how it feels in my mouth."

Keith chuckled, giving Lance a sly grin. The boy blushed. "The cottage cheese, Keithy."

"I didn't say anything," Keith stated innocently.

"You implied."

"The cottage cheese pretty much melts in the sauce. You tasted it. Did you realize it was in there?"

Lance pursed his lips. "No, I guess not. And it was really good, Keith," Lance said, seriously. "It was so hard to decide."

"Did you vote for me?"

"You know I can't say, Keithy!" Lance said, straightening up a little, but his expression spoke volumes.

"Which means you didn't."

"I didn't say that!"

"You look guilty enough."

"Noooooooo," Lance whined. "It wasn't fair! Hunk's tasted different than he normally does it, so I couldn't tell whose lasagna was whose! It was hard to decide because they were both so good!"

Keith came around the breakfast bar and Lance spun the stool to face him, holding out his arms. Who was Keith to resist the imploring look on Lance's face? He slid himself between Lance's thighs, draping his arms over Lance's shoulders. Lance held him loosely around the waist. "I still can't believe you betrayed me."

"Don't be mad, Keithy!" Lance begged, giving Keith his best kicked-puppy expression. "It took me forever to decide and it really stressed me out cause I didn't want to vote against my baby!"

"You think pouting at me will make me feel better?"

"It usually works."

Keith snorted. "But, utter betrayal…" he said. "I think you'll have to do more than look adorable for me to forgive you."

Lance glanced to the side, where Keith had sat the night they were caught in that compromising position by Shiro in front of the chocolate mousse. "I would," he drawled, scrunching his face, "but, it's not happening here. Been there, got caught, won't do that again."

Keith chuckled. "Okay, fair point." The sound of laughter and chatter drifted from the dining room. "There's a bigger chance of getting caught right now."

"God, can you imagine Colleen walking in on us?"

"She'd give us a thumbs up, go back to the dining room, and make sure we weren't interrupted again."

"True," Lance agreed. "But if it were Matt, he'd never let you or me live it down."

"That reminds me," Keith said, flashing a quick grin. "I caught him in a car once."

"What!?"

"Yeah, him and Tammy Nagle. In the Holt's driveway. I guess he figured the house wasn't a good idea, so they were going at it in the car. I had hung out with Pidge playing video games that night and was leaving when I saw him. Ass up against the window."

"Oh my fucking God!" Lance screeched, pressing his forehead against Keith's chest. "That story just made my day! Why the hell was his ass against the window?"

"Who the fuck knows? Matt's weird." They tightened their holds on each other. Lance turned his head so the side of his face was against Keith's chest. Keith pressed a kiss to the top of Lance's head. "I love you so much."

"Aww," Lance murmured. "I haven't even made up for the voting thing, yet." Keith laughed, squeezing Lance until he made an 'oof' sound. "I love you, too. I'm sorry you didn't win."

"If I had to lose, I'm glad it was to Hunk. Anyway, I think I got a good consolation prize," he said, leaning in for it.