The group was waiting in line for ride bracelets. Keith doesn't remember the last time he had gone to a carnival so he was kind of excited. Just to spend time with fun people was so great. It was finally their turn and each bought their own but Keith slid money in front of Lance stopping him.
"I'll get yours." Keith said and paid for both. Lance thanked him and held out his wrist letting Keith wrap it around.
"There, all ready to go" Keith said putting his own on. The four headed deeper into the maze of game booths and rides. Everyone was debating which ride to do first and Keith was fine with anything. He had never really rode rides before so he wasn't sure what the different kinds were.
"Lance likes the Screaming Eagle if you want to ride it with him? No one else can stomach it" Pidge said to Keith who was looking over a small map.
"Okay, that sounds fun" Keith said before strolling over to Lance. "Hey, want to go on the Screaming Eagle? " He asked. Lance looked over with a wide grin.
"Hell yeah!" He said excitedly and the two headed through the crowds towards the large structure holding the ride. Hunk and Pidge opted for playing some of the games instead right now. The line wasn't too long and the two stepped in and strapped in.
"So pretty much it spins while it goes side to side" Lance explained leaning over so Keith could hear him over the noise.
"Sounds fun" Keith called back getting a little nervous. He wasn't so sure about spinning. He felt the ride start to move and prayed he wouldn't throw up, they would never let him live that down. The huge machine started turning slow at first as it swung to the left. They weren't too high or too fast right now so Keith wasn't hating it quite yet. It only took about 30 seconds for it to be quite a bit faster and Keith grabbed Lance's hand squeezing it as the boy beside him hooted and hollered as it sped up drastically. Keith had to close his eyes and fight the nausea not enjoying himself one bit. It felt like an eternity before it started to slow and then stop. Lance seemed even more pumped now while Keith could barely stand his legs shook so bad.
"See! Not so bad!" Lance said wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Kieth felt a little green and hurried off the platform in case he had to puke. Lance laughed following him down the stairs.
"Aww, poor thing" He said rubbing his back soothingly.
"Lance. That was awful" Keith muttered his stomach starting to settle a bit.
"Come on, I know what always helps with upset tummies" Lance slipped his hand into Keith's and led him through the people. They finally arrived at a Shave Ice stand.
"This is my most favorite fair food!" Lane said ordering his usual, root beer on one half and tigers blood on the other. Keith hadn't had some but ordered a pina colada flavored loving that flavor. They waited patiently for their cold yummy treat. They were soon ready and the two made their way to a picnic table. By now the sun had started it's decent into the sky casting shadows around them.
"How do you like it?" Lance asked scooping a large spoonful before piling it into his mouth. Keith only nodded too involved to stop eating. It was liquid sugar on ice but damn it was good. They ate in silence watching the people nearby. Keith stole glances over at Lance who was enjoying his treat, he had a certain glow to him. He couldn't help but think about his boyfriend, or if he had one still, Would it be rude to ask? Yes, probably. Keith finished and drank the rest of the sweet juice from his straw before standing and tossing the container away. Lance finished soon after and they were off on their way to find Hunk and Pidge. They found them at a booth, the game where you had to knock down the bottles.
"How'd you like the Screaming Eagle?" Pidge asked a bit smugly a devious smirk on her face. Keith glared realizing she knew he'd get sick.
"That's cruel" He said earning a laugh from everyone. Pidge just shrugged innocently. Lance pulled out his wallet and paid for two games.
"Here" He said handing three balls to Keith. Keith took them surprised but smiled warmly at the offer.
"Thank you,you didn't have too" Lance waved him off before taking his spot on the line.
"I just didn't want you feeling bad when I win a prize." Lance said aiming and throwing the ball. It missed by at least a foot. Three people erupted in laughter and Lance glared them down.
"Hey! I'm just warming up!" He muttered and got ready for another shot. This one was closer but still missed. Lance cursed under his breath and just threw it angrily and bumped the bottle. It wiggled but didn't fall. "Dammit!" He sighed. Keith stepped up next. His first shot the bottles were down and couldn't help but bask in Lance's astonished reaction. Keith moved down the line but didn't know the other's down. He looked at the available prizes and saw the perfect thing.
"I'll take that one" He said pointing. The guy reached over handing him his prize.
"Here," Keith said handing the fluffy blue lion plush to Lance. Lance looked at him shocked.
"What? No no, you won, it's yours" He said but Keith insisted.
"I won it for you. Plus it matches your eyes." Keith said placing the lion in his hands. Pidge and Hunk were snickering but stopped with a sharp stare from Keith. Lance was overjoyed and pulled Keith into a hug thanking him repeatedly. Keith didn't see the big deal, it was a stuffed lion, he was glad it made him so happy though.
"Let's find another game" Hunk said leading them down the walkway. Lance tucked the lion under his arm and followed the group. His heart was racing between the excitement of being there and the fact Keith actually gave him a gift.
"They have laser tag here?" Keith exclaimed seeing a neon lit building in the distance. Both Pidge and Hunk were ecstatic.
"LET"S GOO" Hunk cried as they made their way towards it. They all seemed to have the same passion for the game and got in line.
"So, me and Pidge against you and Lance, fair?" Hunk said dividing them up. "We'll be the light green and you two can be purple" They finally got in and got into their colored vests.
"Ever play?" Keith asked before helping Lance strap his vest on.
"Only once before, I get the concept though" Lance answered before thanking him for the help.
'Alright players, to your bases!" The worker called signaling the start of the game. They took their places and heard a horn go off starting the round.
"Let's go!" Keith cried out running from behind their wall. Lance let out a small battle cry as he followed. They ducked a dodged the other two but were pulling ahead 6 to 4.
"Back to base! Retreat!' Keith called and him and Lance booked it back to their wall of safety. They leaned against it catching their breath. Time for a battle plan. Whichever team made it to 10 points first won so they had the lead now. Lance moved forward to get closer but tripped over a small ledge. Keith barely caught him before he fell.
"Nice catch" Lance laughed a bit. His face got a little warm with how close they were. Keith couldn't help but have the urge to just kiss him. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to. Before Keith could break eye contact he felt Lance's lips brush his and realized Lance had kissed him. He was surprised with how soft and gently it was and it didn't take long for him to kiss him back. He wasn't really sure why they were kissing but hey, it was great so who cared. Keith knew nothing would come of this.
'5, 6 , 7 ,8!" They heard Pidge yell as their vests dinged from the hits. The two boys pulled away only to be hit twice more and the horn sounded for the finish of the game.
"Hey! Not fair!" Lance said, the two had snuck up on them!
"Well maybe if you weren't sitting in a tree you would have won!" Hunk said and the two winner high fived. Keith was beet red having been caught. He looked over at Lance but he didn't look embarrassed just a little grumpy at losing. He was pretty cute when he pouted though.
"On to the next game! " They checked in their gear and headed out of the building. They worked down the rows of activities and went on a few more rides. The moon was full that night and illuminated the ground as they were heading to Lance's favorite, bumper cars.
"I have been waiting all night for this!" He said excitedly as they got in line. He looked down and pulled out his phone seeing a call was coming through. His face dropped a bit and he excused himself to answer it. Keith watched hims step away and wondered who was calling so late. The way Lance's shoulders dropped told him it wasn't good news. Lance hung up before coming over again.
"I.. I have to go. " he said his voice full of disappointment.
"Why?" Keith asked hoping everything was okay. Lance just shrugged his face betraying him as he tried to keep a positive attitude. "Shiro wants me home" Keith hadn't heard that name before. Dad maybe? Lance said bye to everyone and thanked Keith again for the Lion. Everyone waved goodbye one last time as he walked off. Keith was a little bummed he had to leave so soon. He wanted to share a bumper car.
"Who's Shiro?" Keith asked the other two who were not so cheery anymore.
"Lance's ass of a boyfriend" Pidge huffed clearly not liking the guy. Keith felt a small pang of something. Why would Lance kiss him if he had a boyfriend still? He had thought they were broken up.
"Pidge-" But Pidge cut Hunk off.
"What? We all know he is." She said bitterly.
"Why's he an ass?" Keith's curiosity got the best of him.
"Because he's a controlling, rude, abusive piece of sh-"
"PIDGE" Hunk stopped her."Not cool dude" He said but Keith was only more intrigued.
"Hunk! How can you be like this! You know he treats Lance like crap! You've seen the bruises as much as I have!" Keith felt his stomach at the thought.
"He's hit him?" Hunk gave up trying to quiet Pidge. They stepped out of the line no longer in the mood for rides.
"Yeah, Lance always has a clever story planned out to cover it up though. The only reason we finally saw through them was because tripping down stairs doesn't cause finger print shaped welts on your neck. We've tried everything to get him out of that relationship but he refuses to leave him! I don't know why!" Pidge was beside herself at this point. She loved Lance like a brother and to know he had to go home to someone like that made her sick to her stomach. Keith then knew why Lance had been the way he was. He just wanted some positive attention. He had no idea what to have expected but this was way worse.
Hunk was the next to speak up, "They've been together almost 3 years, then Shiro was shipped out in the military for a year and a half and when he came back he was a completely different guy. He never hurt Lance before. He loved him more then anything, Lane just holds onto that and is waiting for the good side of him to come out. He's blinded to the new Shiro and would let him hit him thinking he deserved it. It's sick how Shiro's been twisting his mind like this. It's wrong and dangerous but there isn't anything we can do except talking him out of it. "
"Have you talked to Shiro? " Keith felt anger slowly bubble up unable to fathom how someone could lay a hand on someone as innocent and sweet as Lance. Pidge shook her head pushing up her glasses.
"We tried to threaten him, telling him to leave and he wouldn't find trouble but then Lance called in sick in to work for a few days and when he came back he had obviously been beaten. Shiro is a monster but we can't even look at him without him getting mad and when he's mad he takes it out on Lance." Lance, the friendly, bubbly barista he had met a few weeks ago, how much of that was pretending?Pretending his life wasn't miserable. Keith couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What about the cops?! They would have to do something!"
"Lance won't let us. He's too scared. Its bad Keith. Really bad. I know this isn't your drama but I just wanted you to know. " Keith was shaking his head bewildered. There was no way he could let this stand.
"There has to be something we can do, he wants to get out, he's just scared. He kissed me for God's sake. He clearly doesn't want to be with him anymore, he's just scared." Keith ran a hand through his hair frustrated. He never would have even guessed that Lance had such a dark history. Keith pulled out his phone and dialed Keith stepping away from the other two. Come on Lance, pick up the phone. It went to voicemail.
"Hey.. Lance. I just wanted to make sure you got home okay.. Call me back" Keith hung up and sighed. How could they have let this go on? It wasn't their fault, they just worried for his safety.
"I'm calling it a night." Keith said coming back over. "Thanks for inviting me tonight, it as fun. Let me know if you hear form him tonight okay?" They said farewells and Keith headed to his hotel. He had to get Lance out of this and soon.
