Chapter 9
Keith gritted his teeth as he stalked the pair ahead of him.
Shiro kept a firm grip on Adam's elbow, but no longer covered his mouth. The tan man threw a smirk over his shoulder at the younger man trailing behind them. The same smug smirk he used to give Keith so many years ago when he knew something Keith didn't want him to know.
Confliction between his anger at Adam and relief for finally seeing that stupid smile again hit him.
Anger won out.
"Fuck you, Adam." Keith seethed as soon as they were far enough down the hall. Away from the sweaty temptation that was Lance back in the training deck.
"No. Go fuck Lance." His brother's fiancé practically sang.
Keith tossed a middle finger at him. Their typical behavior. Adam taunted and Keith retaliated in some kind of way. They slipped back into it so easily. Like the three year gap never happened.
Again, he struggled with staying angry. It had been so long. Adam had been a big part of his life. Almost as much as Shiro was. Obviously Shiro had missed Adam terribly, but Keith had missed him too. Missed one of his best friends.
Shiro sighed. "Adam."
"You seen it just as well as I did, Shiro! The sexual tension between them is going to kill me." Adam slumped against the wall dramatically.
"It's none of our business." His older brother continued with a little frown.
"Puh-lease." Brown eyes rolled so hard Keith wouldn't be surprised if Adam saw the inside of his own head. "You're telling me it's not there?" He challenged as he crossed his arms.
"Never said that." Shiro placated him as he held his hands up in front of him. "Was just gonna let Keith drown a little in his obvious crush for at least a month or two before giving him hell."
"That's no fun!"
"Fuck both of you!" Keith snapped at them. Because of course Shiro and Adam had already sensed what he himself had only picked up a few days ago. "I have absolutely no fucking feelings for that arrogant asshole! He's loud, obnoxious, and completely idiotic!"
"It's like him discovering boys all over again." Adam whispered to Shiro in awe, completely ignoring Keith's words.
Shiro cackled and grinned so so wide. Keith felt torn. On one hand, fuck Shiro for feeding Adam's crazy theory - even if it was correct. On the other… Well his brother seemed so happy. Keith couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Shiro's smile so carefree.
"Oh god. You remember who his first crush was?" Shiro grinned impishly.
Nevermind. Guy was a dick. Every word exchanged between the two made it easier for Keith to remember why he was mad in the first place.
"Of course I do!" Adam chuckled. "But, let's get back to what just happened in there. We can touch back on that gay disaster another time."
"Let's not." Keith attempted to make an escape.
Shiro and Adam each grabbed one of his shoulders and spun him around.
"Look, I don't know what exactly is going on between you two, but you need to not be such an ass, alright?" Adam told him, sincerity lacing his tone. "Lance is a good guy, promise."
Keith sighed heavily. "I wasn't trying to be." He fidgeted with the hem of his gloves. "I just… I don't know what to do."
"Patience yields focus," Shiro told him and squeezed his shoulder. "Take your time and get to know each other. See what happens." He offered him that big brother smile.
"That's one approach." Adam nodded in agreeance. "Or…"
"Or?" Keith met his gaze.
"You're rooms are right next to each other," Adam smirked. "Just fuck and get it over with. Trust me when I say Lance would be down for that. You've matured very nicely, Keith."
"Hey!" Shiro frowned.
"Not as nicely as you, babe." Adam pecked his fiancé's lips.
"I'm leaving!" Keith shouted and stormed down the hallway angrily.
"Love you Keith! Missed you!" Adam called and Keith tried to ignore the fondness he heard laced in those words.
Keith flicked them both off as he stomped away.
He hated how well they knew him. Because even if he tried to deny it, those two could read him as easy as a children's book. Jackasses. So, if they saw it so easily then it really was true.
Keith wanted Lance.
Fuck.
What a shit show. Not only did Keith have to wrestle with his own desire, he now had to make sure to hide it well enough that Adam would leave him alone about it. Unlikely as that was. Adam always liked to be involved in Keith's life just as much as Shiro. Only difference was Shiro usually respected his privacy. Adam didn't have the same boundaries.
Plus there was that little fact that avoiding Lance hadn't worked and the guy had offered to help him with the hoverbike even! And Keith, of course, stupidly said yes. What was he thinking accepting Lance's help?
Right.
He was thinking with his dick. He wanted to spend time alone with Lance. The exact opposite of what he should be doing. Stupid impulse control.
Keith made his way back to his room. Which, of course, was located right next to Lance's. He hadn't bothered to ask why it was only them two in this section. Hadn't cared enough. But now-
"Kogane." Lance responded cooly as Keith met his gaze.
His tan hand hovered over the doorknob to his own room. Blue eyes narrowed as he looked at Keith, obviously trying to figure out if things were still hostile between them.
Keith inhaled deeply. Patience yields focus.
He could be civil. He needed to be. "McClain."
Lance studied him for a moment more. Then he dipped his head and opened his door.
"Ah, McClain, wait!" Keith sprung forward and reached for Lance before he knew what he was doing.
They stared at each other, both surprised by the hand on Lance's arm. Keith pulled it back quickly, locking it with his other behind his back. Easier to keep his limbs to himself that way.
"What is it?" Lance sounded optimistic.
It gave him the courage to push forward with, "I'm sorry."
Lance's eyes went even wider before narrowing in skepticism. "For what?"
"You know…" Why did he need to explain? Lance knew what he was apologizing for... Didn't he?
"No. I don't know." Lance released the knob. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned one shoulder back against the doorframe. "Is this apology for forgetting who I am? For ignoring me the whole ride back here? Or we talking about picking fights when I'm just trying to let you guys know what's going on and how things work around here? When I, mind you, didn't even want to."
"Then why did you?"
"Because I usually do when new people come in." Lance responded cooly. He hesitated for a half second before adding, "and Adam asked me too."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why would he ask you?"
Lance quirked a brow. "Because he's my friend."
"What?"
Adam assuring Keith that Lance was a good guy suddenly made a lot more sense. And all the… other things he said.
An amused smile spread across Lance's face as he stared at Keith's probably dumbfounded look. "Adam's a friend of mine. Has been since he got here a year ago."
Okay. That was not okay. Adam and Lance were friends. Not good. He was officially fu-
"Can we get back to that apology." Lance pulled him from his thoughts.
Right. He'd been attempting to apologize for being a complete ass. "Yes."
"What?"
"All of it." Keith began wringing his hands in front of him. "I'm sorry for all of it. Basically anything I've done or said to you the past few days. I'm sorry." Keith told him sincerely. Because trying to be distant just made him seem like an ass and well… if Keith wanted any kind of chance with Lance, he kind of needed the other man to not hate him.
Lance remained quiet.
When Keith couldn't take it anymore, he brought his gaze up. Those ocean blues pierced his soul. He did all he could not to fidget under the intense gaze, surprised that Lance could muster something so inquisitive.
"So," Keith cleared his throat. He couldn't remember the last time he was the one who broke the silence, but this one was eating at him. "We good?"
Lance nibbled his bottom lip lightly before he nodded. "Yeah," he held out his hand with a small smile, "we're good."
Keith focused his attention on shaking Lance's hand. Not on the way those pink lips were pulled in between white teeth. How they popped back to fullness as soon as they were released.
"Good." Keith forced out. He hoped it didn't sound so strained to Lance's ears. And that Lance hadn't noticed his weird attention to the man's lips. He brought his gaze down.
Lips out of view, out of mind.
But now he couldn't stop looking at Lance's hands.
How warm they were even through Keith's fingerless gloves. How much bigger they were then his own. Like, sure the guy was taller but Keith would have thought for sure he had bigger hands just by their build. But nope. Lance had those long fingers and - from the grip of his hand - unseen strength to them.
Though unseen strength could probably describe all of Lance, if Keith thought about it.
And now he couldn't stop thinking about it.
And thinking about it brought him back to the training deck. Of Lance underneath him and -
"Good." Lance chirped. His free hand came up to smack Keith's other arm. "Now get some sleep Kogane. You may actually have to do something tomorrow."
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, McClain."
"That's the spirit." He chuckled lightly. He pulled his hand away from Keith's and slipped it into his jeans. "Guess I'll see ya around."
"Yeah. See ya."
"Night."
"Night."
They exchanged an unexpectedly charged look before Lance dipped into his room without another word.
Keith swallowed thickly. He scrambled for his door, unwilling to be caught in the hallway after that exchange.
He shut the door and glanced down. His pants tented. Of course. He dropped his head into his hands and groaned.
Then he unzipped his pants as he walked over to the bed. He shook them off and then sat down. He slipped off his coat, just his black short sleeve shirt and boxers on. Sliding his gloves off, he opened the night stand more out of an old ingrained habit then anything. He knew there wouldn't be anything there, but maybe the realization would curve his sudden desire.
Dumb Lance and his pink lips and weirdly long gorgeous fingers. Like who even had pretty fingers? Why was that a thing? Was… was that a thing? Did Keith just discover something about himself?
He felt blindly around in the drawer and paused in his mental debate about 'hand kinks' when he felt paper. He frowned and pulled it out. A hand written note.
Mullet,
I know it's probably been awhile since you wanked it - no one who's as crabby as you is getting some on a regular basis - I bet my left nut on that. Plus you were travelling with your brother. I can't imagine a better deterrent then that on sexual drive. Seriously, I have two older brothers and two older sisters. If I was traveling the countryside with any of them I'd probably walk around like I had a stick up my ass too. But I'll stop ranting cause I'm running out of room on this paper. Consider this gift an apology for you obviously never getting laid in the past three years.
Enjoy,
The amazing Sharpshooter,
Loverboy Lance
Keith blinked, sitting up fully to look in the drawer. Something was there alright. He pulled it out and -
"What the fuck." He cursed in disbelief.
Lube.
Lance had given him a bottle of lube.
"What the fuck, McClain!?" He shouted.
Lance cackled maniacally from the other side of the wall. "Enjoy, Kogane! Maybe a little release will wiggle that stick out of your ass."
"I'm the one who gives it up the ass, not takes it!"
Silence.
He groaned again. Fuck. Why in the hell did he say that? Stupid stupid stupid.
"I mean-"
"Noted." Lance cut him off. There was something in his tone that Keith couldn't decipher with his limited human contact the past three years. "I'm uh… gunna shower soooo…."
"Yeah," Keith swallowed thickly, images of a naked and wet Lance now assaulting him. "You do that."
Lance snorted. "Enjoy my little gift, Kogane."
"Shut up and go shower, McClain."
"Ah, want the mental image for your spank bank, huh?" He purred through their shared wall and Keith swore he was leaned up against. Like he was trying to whisper in Keith's ear. "Thinking about a wet and naked me? About the water running down my chest, stomach… even lower..."
Keith sat stunned.
Lance was right.
And he couldn't get past the image the other man had painted. The water cascading down that tan skin. Over his chest. Down his stomach.
He gulped.
Keith would finally see how toned the man was. How tight. And from the sparring he knew there was muscle hidden in that lithe frame.
"Well, my nightly routine calls." The man on the other side of the wall hummed. Like he hadn't just been whispering dirty insinuations through the wall. "Later, Mullet."
He heard Lance push away from the wall. A door opened in the other room and then shut. A shower started up a few moments later.
Keith let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
What in the actual fuck was all that?
He pushed the thought aside. There was only so long that Lance would be showering and Keith wanted to finish before there was a chance of Lance overhearing him.
He wasted no time as he shimmied his boxers off and stripped his shirt. Then he sparasly dropped some lube in his hand. His hand spread the liquid over his shaft and he bit his lip to keep from groaning. He was harder then he had been in a long time. All it had taken a few dirty words from Lance.
A shaky breath left his lips as he began to stroke himself.
An image of Lance in the shower, smirking over his shoulder and saying, 'come get me, Mullet.' His tan hands lift up and brace himself against the wall as he sticks his ass backwards. An offering. 'You know you want it.'
"Fuck." Keith cursed quietly.
His pace picked up.
A moan left his lips as he let himself delve further into the fantasy.
His pale hands grasping Lance's slim hips. Sliding his aching cock up in between those perk cheeks, the water letting him move easily. One thrust. Two-
"Ah!" Keith cried as he came all over his stomach.
He laid there for a few moments, catching his breath. He noticed a box of tissues and wondered if Lance had put those there too.
An embarrassed flush crossed his cheeks. He prayed that Lance hadn't heard him. The shower still ran in the other room. He breathed out a sigh of relief. At least the chance that Lance heard him was minimal.
He cleaned himself up and tossed away the dirty tissues. His eyes caught the note. A small smile tugged at his lips. Leave it to Lance to leave something so ridiculous. Keith didn't know him well back in school but he bet there never would have been a dull moment with a guy like him around.
Keith examined the paper again. This time flipping it over to find more words and a drawing.
P.s And in all seriousness - sorry for whatever I did to piss you off. We don't have to be friends or anything, but I hope we can get along. We'll probably be working together a lot since we both have lions.
And then below that message was a small dabble of a red and blue lion. Obviously their own lions - playing with a ball… or something. Keith couldn't really distinguish the drawing but…
He groaned, letting himself flop back onto the bed. He had been such an ass to Lance that the guy felt he needed to apologize. Adam had been right.
Keith was the biggest dick alive.
He sighed, and walked towards his own bathroom. He showered quickly and collapsed in bed, feeling sleep grabbing him far faster than usual. There was one last thought that plagued his mind before he fell asleep.
When did Lance get into his room?
-.-.-.-.-
A few days later, Keith was on his way to the garage. It was getting later in the evening but it was the first time he could get away. Someone was always trying to show him how a certain thing was done around the Garrison now and he was itching to get his hands on something.
And he was still kind of avoiding Lance.
Thankfully they both seemed to be pulled in opposite directions for the most part. There were a few meetings with a 'board' of sorts that dragged Keith and Shiro in. Seemed that Lance and the board - which consisted of the Holts and a few other people he didn't know - were including him and Shiro on the going ons of the place. Probably because of their Garrison experience. And their lions.
Red and Black had settled in well. Red seemed to tolerate the other lions well enough. The guy didn't complain about it when Keith visited in any case. Red's only complaint was that they had to be separated.
So after that night where Keith had jacked it to thoughts of Lance - he spent the others sleeping with Red in the lions designated hangar.
He had caught Lance watching him more then once whenever they happened to be in the same room. But Keith didn't get to do much of anything before the guy would either quickly look away or flushed lightly and, well, still looked away.
Keith was wondering if Lance had heard him that night after all. Why else would he look at Keith and get so embarrassed?
"Kogane! Got a sec?"
Speak of the devil.
"What is it, McClain?" Keith asked impatiently, ignoring the heat at seeing him. The man wore a pair of tight jeans and a loose fitting black v neck tee and Keith kind of hated how hot his collarbone was. "I'm on my way to the garage."
Lance glanced around before grabbing Keith and dragging him into a nearby room.
"Hey! What are you-"
"I need a favor." Lance said as he closed the door. He sat down at the lone table occupying the small room. Probably an office before. He waved at an empty chair across from him with a sheepish smile.
Keith sighed but sat down. "Well?"
"Pidge found a base that has a firewall she can't hack into." Lance cut right to the chase.
At least this wasn't going to be about what happened a few nights ago. "Ok."
"She needs someone to implant this," he dug around in his pants pocket - how did he even fit anything in those tight jeans? - and held up a small device, "into their mainframe so she can access the encrypted files." He rushed to continue. "Normally she'd come with, but she has to stay behind to make sure that things work on this end. We finally have a working long range communication system so we're testing that out too."
"Ok?" Keith blinked, not understanding why he needed to know this.
"It's a two man mission…" Lance trailed off.
They stared at each other for a few more seconds before it hit him.
"Wait a minute!" Keith slammed his hands down on the table. "Why do I have to go?"
"Look, I'm not happy about it either! But I need someone with a lion. Pidge has to stay behind to verify it's working. So does Hunk." Lance explained with a frown as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "The only other option is Shrio and I'm sure he'd say yes but…" His voice went soft. "I don't want to do that to him or Adam. They just found each other again ya know? I wanna give them as much time as possible together before..."
Keith nodded. "Yeah… I… I agree."
"So it's you and me left."
"Okay."
Lance seemed caught off guard. "Okay?"
"Okay." Keith repeated. "I'm not willing to let Shiro go either. You're right that he would if we asked. So we aren't asking." He told him sternly. "He'll have to get back out into the field at some point. But this won't be it."
Lance smiled, a small laugh escaping his lips. "I totally pegged him as that self sacrificing type."
Keith said nothing in response. He couldn't deal with soft Lance. Soft Lance remind him of his yearning. When they bickered it was easy to get caught up in the moment and ignore what he felt for the beautiful man. He pushed the thoughts aside.
"So when we leaving?"
Lance settled back into serious. He sat up straight in his chair as he said, "tomorrow morning. Bright and early."
"Alright."
"Get some sleep, Kogane. I'll wake you up when it's time." Lance stood up and threw a snarky, "no banging James tonight."
"I'll try to contain myself." Keith rolled his eyes.
Lance hummed. "If you need a cuddle buddy, my door is always open for you." He winked.
"Get back to work, McClain." He scoffed and fought the heat threatening to overtake him. And ignored Adam's taunting words of, he'd be down for that.
The other man sighed heavily. His shoulders slumped. Body language that granted a small glimpse at the weight Lance must carry. How heavy a responsibility leading a compound like this must be.
"Uh…" Keith stopped short as those blue eyes locked gaze with him. "I don't know a lot yet about how things are run here but uh… need help with anything?"
A breathtaking smile overtook Lance's features. A chuckle fell from his lips. "I appreciate the offer, Mullet, but just some prep stuff for tomorrow and then I'll be calling it quits, too."
"Oh, uh, okay."
"Thanks, though."
"No problem." He mumbled.
"See ya tomorrow." Lance waved as he stepped out of the room.
Keith barely managed a quick, "see ya" before the other man was gone.
He huffed as he slumped back against the chair. How the hell was he supposed to get through a whole mission with just him and Lance? He already seemed to be struggling to keep his composure around the other lion owner. If they weren't fighting, Keith didn't know how to act around the other guy. Maybe he'd ask Adam or Shiro for some advice on how to handle his problem. The two were obviously convinced that they knew more then Keith did about the whole situation, so what could it hurt?
"My pride." Keith snorted to himself, his voice echoing in the room.
He kicked himself back from the table and left. His eyes immediately went to look for Lance once he was in the hallway, even though he knew the other man would be gone already. He groaned. His nerves were on end about the trip already. He needed to let off some steam.
Keith ended up in the training room.
He noticed Griffin and the few others he hung out with running drills off to the side. They were the only ones there at this time of night. Most starting to head off to bed. He ignored them and headed for the locker room. He stopped just inside the door as he realized that, despite the Garrison's mostly normal appearance, it most likely wasn't stocked the same. Meaning he had no actual clothes to change into.
"Yo, Keith!"
He peered down the locker room hall and saw Hunk waving at him with a large grin on his face, towel strapped around his waist.
"Hunk, hey," Keith responded as poliety as he could.
He knew Hunk about as well as he did Lance. Which wasn't well at all. He remembered Lance and he recognized Hunk and Pidge once he had that realization, but that didn't mean he knew much about any of them past what they'd discussed the past week. Hunk seemed nice, but he figured Pidge may be more his speed.
Plus Hunk and Lance seemed especially close and Keith didn't want to get himself mixed up in that dynamic. He already had to worry about Adam telling Lance shit that Keith didn't want the blue lion rider to know. He didn't want to have to worry about the same with Hunk.
"Looking for something?" Hunk asked him helpfully.
"Uh… well I was going to do some training but…" He glanced down at his jeans.
It wasn't like he hadn't gotten used to moving around in them. They were what he had for the past three years after all. But being back at the Garrison made him think that he should have the standard gym uniform.
"Gotcha." Hunk studied him for a moment before adding, "want a change of clothes?"
Keith looked at him dubiously, hoping Hunk wasn't offering a set of his own. "Thanks but… I really don't think we're the same size…"
The large man let out a deep booming laugh that caused Keith to jump.
"Oh gosh! Of course not, dude!" He chuckled and wiped a tear from his eye. "I was thinking of giving you an extra set of Lance's. You two are somewhat close in size anyways." He reached into a locker next to his open one and pulled out some clothes. "Here, give these a try."
Keith's nose scrunched up as he stepped close enough for Hunk to drop the clothes in his hands. "These are washed, right?"
"Oh yeah. We wash them after every use, no worries there, buddy." He grinned. He then turned around to begin getting dressed.
He quickly turned around and started swapping out his clothes for Lance's. Once he had the shirt over his head, he did a quick sniff to see if Hunk had been telling the truth. An interesting mixture of lemon and flowers met his nose.
"We make our own detergent for obvious reasons." Hunk explained. Keith peaked over to see the large man still had his back to him. How'd he know Keith sniffed it even?
"Right." He responded dumbly.
"So no worries about smelling Lance's sweaty ass." Pidge commented as she came around the corner.
Keith clamped his mouth shut to keep from shouting in surprise. Where the hell did she come from?
"Oh, yeah, this is co-ed," Hunk reminded him with a smile. "Pidge and I just finished our training routine. Lance usually joins us but..." The large man trailed off, his smile dipping slightly.
"He was busy. Again." Pidge finished without any care of being delicate as she braided her long wet hair. "You should join us next time. Maybe Lance will show up then."
"Ah ha." Hunk chuckled awkwardly and shut the door to his locker loudly. "Well we should-"
"He said he was almost done." Keith frowned. If he was busy, why didn't he tell Keith that? Did he just not want his help?
"Oh. So you talked to him already?" Hunk blinked, somewhat surprised it seemed.
Keith nodded.
"Good. Thought for sure he'd chicken out and try to go on his own." Pidge quipped. "He'll need you out there. Said you're really good in close quarters."
He frowned to cover up the bit of pride he felt at Pidge's words. That Lance had said that about him. "But wouldn't it make more sense if it was one of you?"
"No. Hunk and I have to run some tests back here simultaneously while Lance installs the drive into their system. Besides, Lance would much rather-"
"Okay!" Hunk cut her off and started pushing her towards the exit. "We'll see you around, Keith!"
"Lance's clothes look real good on you edgelord!" Pidge called before Hunk shoved her out the door.
"She's kidding!" Hunk shouted. "I mean, yeah you do look nice but, uh, not in the way… You know what? Nevermind. We'll see ya before you head out in the morning."
He heard Pidge snickering on the other side of the door as Hunk opened it then quickly shut it.
Keith glanced down. Lance's clothes were baggy on him he noted with great annoyance. The sweatpants he had to roll up a few times so he wouldn't trip over them. The short sleeved shirt was loose around his torso and way too long. Apparently their height difference was more of a factor than he thought. Keith would have thought his bigger built would have made up for it but apparently not.
He glanced around the room and sniffed his shirt again. Lemon and flowers. Keith idly wondered if Lance smelt like this.
A blush worked onto his cheeks and he quickly shoved it down. What a lame thought. He did not need to think about what Lance smelled like. That would not help him in training and it would not help them out on their mission.
Keith bolted from the locker room and immediately began to set up through his stretches. Once done with that he started a series of kicks and punches to warm himself up.
He had no idea how much time had passed before James approached him.
"Need a sparring partner?"
"No." Keith responded flatly.
He wasn't in the mood to deal with James. The two of them had a few altercations back in the Garrison days and Keith wasn't inclined to repeat them. He was trying to behave. He didn't want to cause trouble for Lance. Or, uh, well anyone.
"It'll help, trust me." James smirked.
"No."
"Come on. Just a few rounds?"
Keith turned to him fully and scowled. "If I say yes, will that make you go away faster."
"Sure." James exuded way too much smugness for Keith's taste, but he could just beat it out of him. So that suited him just fine.
"Fine."
"Fine."
They lined up across from each other. "Best two out of three and we're done." Keith told him. He didn't want to tire himself out to much. Tomorrow sounded like it would be a long day if they were getting up so early.
"Got it."
James lunged at him.
Keith flipped him over his shoulder. James landed on the ground with a loud thump. The man quickly rolled over, not thrown off by the quick take down. He readied himself again.
Another flimsy attack from James. Another take down for Keith.
"I'll let you off on the last one." Keith reminded him as he pinned him down with a forearm to his chest. "But I'm at one."
"Yeah, well that'll be the only one you get." James sneered back.
Keith rolled his eyes. If he wanted to get technical he already had his two. James didn't put up near as good of fight as Lance had. Though it seemed like James had the better fundamentals. Perhaps he just lacked the necessary experience.
He stood up and James wasted no time in trying to tackle him. Keith spun out of the way, delivering a swift kick to his ass that had the man flopping to the floor.
James sccuried up, not willing to let Keith take that as his final win. "Didn't pin me." He stated the obvious.
"That's correct." He went with it anyway.
James could probably be good at this if he had a decent teacher. Too bad Keith wasn't one for patience that teaching entailed. Plus he wasn't much a fan of James.
James jumped forward. He threw a right hook.
Keith easily deflected his blow.
His opponent brought his knee up harshly.
He stopped it with both hands, throwing it down and then twisting his body so his elbow hit James squarely in the jaw.
James stumbled back a few steps. He rubbed his chin and grinned. "So you are as good as McClain claimed."
Keiths' eyes widened. "What? He said- ofph." His breath left him as James landed a hit to his gut. His first hit since they started.
The smug smirk reappeared. "I knew it. You have the hots for-"
Keith tackled James to the ground.
He couldn't help but be reminded of his sparring match with Lance. The two men were similar. Though Lance was by far more attractive with his brighter smile and ocean blue eyes. James' muscles were too bulky in comparison. Nothing like the compact power Lance had. In his arms. In those long legs.
James elbowed his shoulder. "Stop getting distracted."
The two struggled back and forth. But ultimately, Keith pinned James down. The man on his back with Keith sitting on his stomach.
"Little pent up frustration?" James taunted. He leaned up as much as he could and dropped his voice as he said, "I can help with that."
Keith flipped James over. Another twist of his opponent's arm and James was belly down on the ground. Keith pressed his weight against him, forcing Jame's arm to bend uncomfortably. His blood pounded in his ears. Excitement from the fight and the thought of Lance stirring.
James wasn't who he wanted. Keith knew that. James knew that. And he was willing to bet that he wasn't who James wanted either. But maybe...
"Is that a yes?" James huffed quietly against the ground.
Before Keith could even play with the idea, a new voice echoed through the room.
"Whoa, uh, am I interrupting something?"
Keith snapped his head up so fast he might have given himself whiplash. Lance stood there with a sheepish expression and his hands raised in the air. Keith's stomach plummeted.
He immediately jumped off James with a hasty, "no."
"Yes." James answered a half second after.
Keith glared at him as he started to get up. He didn't even bother offering to help.
"No." Keith insisted as he fought the urge to punch James' smug face. He looked back at Lance, "just doing some sparring."
"Uh, huh..." Lance pursed his lips thoughtfully. His tone clearly stated he didn't believe him. Those sharp blue eyes studied the both of them.
Keith couldn't take the dissecting stare. "Really, we were just-"
"Are those my clothes?" Lance's eyes went wide.
Jame's gaze snapped to Keith's wardrobe. Having both men's gaze on him had him switching from foot to foot anxiously. Which was stupid. Why did it matter?
"Uh, yeah. Hunk gave them to me." Keith told Lance, James listening just as intently. He twisted a finger in the hem of the too big shirt. "He didn't think you'd be needing them since we're leaving tomorrow."
"Since we're leaving?" James blinked. "Wait." He glanced at Keith then back to Lance. "You're taking Keith?"
"Yep." Lance responded, the beginning of a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Keith. You're taking Keith."
"Yes."
"Why would you-"
"Are you serious right now?" Lance cut him off, clearly annoyed. "He just handed your ass to you, several times. I don't think you're really in a position to question my choice of partner, are you?"
Keith's stomach flipped at Lance calling him his partner. He ignored that in favor of anger at James. "What's your problem with me going, exactly?"
"No I didn't mean it like that." James tried to rectify. "I just, you just got here is all. Don't you want to relax a little?"
"Not really."
Truthfully he was getting a little antsy being in one place for so long. Him and Shiro traveled almost non stop. They'd stayed in one place for a max of a month before-
He shook his head of the thought. He didn't want to think about that.
"Sorry, Griffin," Lance said even as his eyes studied Keith, "Need a dude with a lion for easy infiltration. You'll have to deal without Kogane for awhile. But you've done it for three years, you'll be fine for a little longer."
"Fuck off, McClain." He growled.
"I mean, maybe before I go." Lance shrugged, unbothered by the jab. "Now, why don't you run along. Think Kinkade wanted to ask you something."
James' eyes narrowed skeptically. "Really?"
"Just ran into him in the hall and he was wondering if I'd seen ya." He elebraroated.
"Ran into him, huh?"
"That's what I said."
"Why would he be asking for me when we just saw each other like half an hour ago?" James pressed again.
"I didn't ask for details dude." Lance responded cooly. "If you want to know, go find him, Griffin. I'm not your personal messenger."
James scowled at Lance. He then turned to Keith and smiled. An overly bright super fake smile. "Thanks for the match, Kogane. I'll see ya around." He slapped his back and leaned into whisper, "my offer still stands."
And then he walked towards the locker room.
Silence engulfed the remaining pair.
"Just how long were you watching…?" Keith asked, afraid of the answer.
A blush crossed Lance's cheeks before he turned away. "Probably longer than I should have been, apparently. I was just trying to pick up more of your fighting style before you and James got all… frisky."
Keith's lip wobbled in a fight to either grimace or smirk. It satisfied a part of him to hear that Lance had been watching him, and only him, during his and James' match. But that also meant Lance might have heard something he shouldn't have.
"We weren't getting frisky." He denied. Because they weren't. At least… not at that time.
Keith wouldn't lie, Jame's offer was tempting. Lance hadn't been wrong when he thought Keith hadn't gotten laid in awhile. It had been well over six months and that was a ridiculous amount of time for someone who was used to getting it on the regular. Masturbation could only satisfy so much. Keith needed to be in someone.
His eyes traveled over Lance, finally taking in his appearance.
The other man wore black tights and what looked to be one of Hunk's heathered gray sweatshirts.
Lance looked mouth watering.
Keith was suddenly extremely thankful for the bagginess of his borrowed clothes. "What are you wearing?" He couldn't help but ask.
Because he had to say something. Lance hadn't said anything since Keith denied that him and James were getting frisky. What was it about Lance remaining silent that seemed so unnatural that Keith of all people felt the need to fill it?
Pink lips pulled into a frown. Lance crossed his arms over his chest as he huffed. "Well someone took my normal workout clothes so I had to make due. I usually only wear these workout tights when I know I'm gunna be alone and I just grabbed one of Hunk's shirts."
Keith's gaze lingered on those long legs. The thought of them wrapped around him-
"So do you wanna spar for a bit or what?" Lance cut him off, hands on his hips. "Or did Griffin tire you out?"
He snorted. "Hardly."
"Not much of a challenge?" Lance quirked a brow.
"Not really." He shrugged. "His footwork is there but he doesn't seem like he has much experience fighting others."
He hummed thoughtfully. "Most people don't."
"But you do."
Lance smiled. "Are you saying I'm better than Griffin?"
"Fundamentally? No. His footwork isn't nearly as sloppy as yours is."
Lance's smile dropped.
"But you've got the real world experience. You're more adaptable. You'd win in a real fight." Keith told him and hated how much he enjoyed the way Lance smiled at his words.
"Fuck yeah I would!" He puffed out his chest proudly.
Keith's gaze lingered once more on Lance's legs. How were they so long? And… his fingers twitched at his sides, yearinging to reach out and touch them. Would the leggings be thin enough for Keith to feel all the taut muscle?
Fuck, he could not spar Lance like this. He'd probably end up dry humping the shit out of him.
"Uh, I was actually going to call it a night…" He trailed off. He couldn't spar with Lance but he didn't exactly want to leave the other man's presence either.
"Bummer," Lance's shoulders dropped. "Well, I'm just gunna do some yoga if you wanna join me? Loosen up some of those muscles. Shake out some things." He wiggled his eyebrows. Obviously he was trying to make the same insinuation as a few nights ago when he said, wiggle that stick out of your ass.
"Sure." He responded. Eager to keep the conversation moving. Because Keith remembered what he'd said back to those words. Remembered that Lance had 'noted' it.
He'd never done yoga a day in his life. But watching Lance, in tight leggings, twist and bend in all those positions? Sounded like an amazing opportunity.
That would probably turn him on.
Okay... maybe this wasn't a good idea at all.
"Cool!" Lance beamed. He grabbed Keith's wrist and dragged him over to the opposite corner of the room. "I'm really the only one that does it so it'll be nice to have someone do it with me. I mean, sometimes I can convince Pidge and Hunk's tried but said it isn't for him. Which is just ridiculous!" He rambled as he let go of Keith and bent over to pull out some mats from a bottom shelf along the wall. "Anyone can do yoga! You just have to be patient and stick with it."
Keith tilted his head to the side and very much approved the view he was getting.
Lance's ass had far more shape to it then he would have guessed. What Keith wouldn't give to bury his-
"Here ya go!" Lance handed him a mat and a smile.
Keith was fucking doomed.
"Now, I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but…" Lance spread his mat out and glanced up at Keith from his knees. "Have you ever done yoga before?"
Busted.
"Uh… no?"
Lance hummed. "That's what I thought." He grabbed Keith's mat. "I'll keep it pretty simple then, alright? And I'll help you with a few poses."
Keith frowned. "Can't be that hard."
Lance lifted a brow. "Oh, don't tempt me, Mullet."
"I should be saying that to you." He mumbled under his breath as Lance's ass was up in the air again as he spread out Keith's mat.
"What?" Lance asked over his shoulder.
"I said I want a cashew."
"..."
"..."
"Okaaaay…" Lance fought a smile. "Well if we wanna get out of here at a decent time, we should get moving. So you can get your cashews from the kitchen." He teased with a wink.
He flushed, nodding. "Okay."
"Sit down on the mat." Lance faced him. "Just follow what I do, kay? I'll talk you through it."
Keith swallowed thickly. They were so close. Knees almost touching.
"We'll just do a quick ten minute stretch since you've never done it before. Let's start with a simple neck stretch." Lance tilted his head to the right side. "Now you can put your right hand on the top of your head and pull slightly to increase the stretch. If you want you can walk your left hand out."
Keith followed the instructions and was surprised at the pull he felt.
"Three deep breaths here. In through your nose and out through your nose." Lance walked him through it. "Release and repeat on the other side."
"Okay, now your hands and knees." Lance acted it out. "Inhale and lift your head up, dropping your shoulders and curving your back. Exhale and round the back and drop your chin to your chest."
This one was easy enough. He could do this. As long as he didn't watch the curve of Lance's spine as he inhaled. If he just focused on mimicking his movements and didn't look at Lance more than he needed to, he could make it through this.
"Now, right foot out to the side. I'll scoot up so we don't hit each other, hold on a sec." Lance moved his yoga mat up and a little more to the right so they wouldn't touch each other with whatever they were doing next. "Okay so, right foot out to the side. Inhale your left arm up," he did so, "and exhale through. Resting your shoulder and head on the ground."
Keith blinked, unable to stop looking at Lance's ass, basically right in his face. The movement of the mat may have made it easier for Lance to move without hitting Keith but - well the position he put himself in had Keith fighting back a groan.
Yoga was terrible.
Yoga was wonderful.
"Hand back on the floor and lift up."
Keith struggled to copy what Lance was doing, having completely missed the pose.
He walked him through a few more movements and Keith had to say it was a lot harder than he thought it would be. They did some hip flexor stretches that Keith never would have thought worked as well as they did. Then they went up into the most ridiculous pose.
"What even is this shit?" Keith struggled to say as he failed to keep his eyes away from Lance's stomach. The large sweatshirt was almost covering the man's face, leaving his middle bare to keith's wanting eyes. If he had a better position he'd probably see his chest too.
"It's called a downward dog, Kogane. It's like the basic of the basics." Lance responded easily, not out of breath in the slightest.
"It's stupid." He said as even as possible as his gaze lingered up to Lance's ass high in the air.
It taunted him as Lance peddled his feet. That glorious gift from god shaking from side to side.
"Well you're doing it wrong." Lance sighed as he got up.
Keith snapped his gaze back down.
Lance stood beside him. He pulled up on Keith's hips. Hands ran down his thigh to straighten the leg. He repeated the motions on the other side. Lance then helped bend one leg and straightened the other, repeating the peddling motion he'd been doing.
"That doesn't help, McClain!" Keith inhaled sharply. Lance's hands on him was too much.
He heard Lance laugh softly. "Okay ya big baby. Inhale," he pulled Keith's hips up a little farther, "and then exhale down into plank." He pushed Keith's hips down, guiding him into the position. "This one should be easier for you, I know you got a good core." His one hand trailed over Keith's stomach. "That's it, keep it tight."
Keith was going to die. He was going to die doing yoga with Lance. Lance in his tight fucking leggings and never even get the chance to touch that ass in said leggings. All because of Lance touching him in said leggings. Fuck yoga.
"Inhale and exhale down onto your elbows." Lance said. "Now push up onto your elbows for a simple spine stretch."
"Ugh," Keith grunted. How was he so out of breath?
"Exhale down. Calling it quits already?" Lance taunted lightly as Keith collapsed onto the floor.
"No."
"Alright. Back up into downward dog, then."
"We already did that." Keith snapped.
"You do a few moves multiple times in yoga, Mullet." He sounded irritated now. "Never mind, you're done."
"I can-"
"Nope!" Lance cut him off, his hands on Keith's hips again. "Let's just go into child's pose." He said as he pulled Keith's hips back, his stomach resting on top of his folded legs. "Arms out in front of you, reach as high as you can," Lance instructed as he ran his hands up Keith's arms to help him reach. "That's it. Now, rest your head on the floor and just breathe."
Keith did as instructed.
"You can come out of that whenever you're ready," Lance whispered in his ear. "I'm going to go through a few more poses on my own, okay?"
He nodded and Lance's hands left him.
Keith used the time to collect himself. To calm himself down because Lance touching him had a greater effect on him then he'd ever admit to. Hell just looking at Lance was affecting him. And as he raised his head to see what the other man was doing, he realized he should have stayed down until Lance was done.
Because Lance was down low in a squat. His ass almost on the floor, his dick now on display with that wonderful ass for Keith to ogle. Well… fuck. Bless yoga.
Lance walked himself forward on his hands, right into a plank. Then he lifted himself up to a downward dog. He then lifted one leg up high to the ceiling, bending at the knee. Another breath and he lifted it higher before exhaling and bringing it between his hands. He did a few more twists and moves Keith didn't know and repeated it on the otherside.
He then did a plank and exhaled to lay down on his stomach, repeating the spine stretch Keith had did and then went on to do a few more stretched before coming back into a child pose like Keith had.
He sat up and shot Keith a smile. "You stayed?"
"I, uh, didn't know if there was more?" Which was true. But he also hadn't even thought of leaving while Lance moved in those leggings. He'd been watching the blue eyed boy bend like a complete creep.
"Well thanks for staying and doing this with me. I know the first time is hard, sorry if I pushed you." Lance rubbed the back of his neck.
"No it was, uh, fine." Keith told him. "I'd… maybe we try again sometime?"
Why did he punish himself like this?
"I'd like that." Lance grinned brightly.
Oh… okay yeah… that's why.
"Well, it's getting late." Lance glanced at the clock on the wall. "Supposed we should get to bed. Early morning tomorrow."
"Right." Keith nodded as he followed Lance up.
He watched Lance put away their mats, still slightly dazed at the beautiful image of Lance bending all over. He was up for yoga again based on that reason alone. He wondered if he could just watch Lance go through it instead of having to participate.
"Thanks again." Lance told him with a slap to the shoulder. "I really appreciate it." He sounded so sincere.
Made Keith feel bad that he had mostly just watched Lance go through the motions. "I really didn't do anything." He grumbled, an embarrassed flush to his cheeks.
"Well you stayed to make sure I didn't hurt myself, so that's something." Lance told him, clearly amused by something.
Wait… did he know Keith had been watching him so intently?
"See ya in the morning!" He said as he walked towards the locker room. "Oh, and by the way. My clothes look good on you, Kogane." Lance winked and disappeared from the room.
Keith's heart lurched at the compliment.. Lance's hands against his body during yoga had been much more satisfying then the sparring match a few days ago. The way Lance guided him through those poses felt so intimate. Almost like they were lovers instead of rivals.
He felt himself getting excited again and quickly left. He had a shower in his own room. It would work just fine for what he needed. A quick release and to clean himself up.
He bumped into James on the way back. The other man must have read the desperation on Keith's face as James pulled him into a nearby closet.
Keith didn't really want to do this. But being with Lance and gotten him too hot. His resolve already weak, he gave in. "Look I don't want-"
"Me. I know." James snorted harshly. "I don't want you either."
Keith frowned. This was a bad idea. "I have zero feelings." He laid it out clearly. "There is no relationship coming out of this."
"Agreed." James nodded. "We can use each other, alright?" He offered quickly. "You can be who I need and I can be him. Blow off some steam before you're alone with him for who knows how long."
"I never said that it was-"
"Don't care." James cut him off. "Now, are you going to fuck me or not?"
Keith weighed his options for probably far too short a time.
"You got what we need?"
James grinned.
A/N: "The sexual tension is going to kill me."
Adam is basically all of us. XD And we're just hitting the tip of the iceberg my friends. There's so much more tension to come. And maybe a little torture...? Uh, what was that? Ah yes, the thing finally happened. One of our boys jerked it to the other. 😂 Probably no surprise that it was Keith that broke after his revelation back in chapter 7.
Also, the Griffin thing. I hope it doesn't turn to many people off. Seriously Keith took Lance's note to heart and is trying to figure out HOW to work as a team with him (this little trip will help 😉) and that means trying to keep it free of his high want to bang him. So he bangs James in a closet. Remember, Lance called that shit? haha anyway, my point is don't worry about it. It's not going to be much more then a background thing, like Lance and Ryan.
Endgame IS KLANCE.
They're just going to take a little time to get there. It's a slow burn, ya know? Hang in there. It'll be worth it. 😘
Side Note: The yoga routine here is legit one that I do -with slight modifications- so hopefully it was easy enough to understand. I just got into yoga so I'm not very proficient at it yet but I totally head cannon Lance being super flexible and I think he'd do yoga and have no one who would want to join him. So why not make Keith struggle through? 😉