Chapter Seventeen

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((Trigger Warning!! Bullying: physical, verbal))

Keith leaned against Lance as he limped down the hallway. His feet had mostly healed, but they still hurt. It had been a few days since Keith had been to school. Thankfully, Lance's mom had allowed him to stay. He felt bad for not being allowed to help with anything.

"I can carry my stuff. You don't have to do it, Lance," Keith protested as Lance grabbed his things from his locker.

"I know you can do it. You're my tough little honeybadger," Lance said, ruffling Keith's hair.

Keith huffed, crossing his arms. He looked away, blushing profusely. "Shut up."

Lance simply laughed, swinging Keith's backpack over his shoulder. "C'mon. I'll walk you to class."

Keith laced his fingers with Lance's, muttering under his breath. Lance smiled down at the omega, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. A grin appeared on Keith's lips as he looked up at Lance gratefully.

"Don't worry, baby. I've got you." He leaned down to kiss Keith's cheek, not caring who saw.

"I know," Keith replied, putting his weight on Lance as they walked to class.

"Oy! Lance! Keith!"

The two turned around to see who called them. Pidge jogged towards them, Hunk, Allura, and Romelle following close behind. Lance waved to them, beaming. Keith smiled slightly, giving a slight wave.

"H-hey, guys." He said, hoping they wouldn't say anything about him missing school.

"I'm glad you're back, Keith! We missed you," Pidge said, pushing up her glasses.

"Thanks," Keith said softly, blushing slightly. He partially hid his face in Lance's shoulder, still worried they were going to ask him about him missing school.

"Hey, Keith. I got your homework for you," Allura said, handing the omega a red folder. Keith took it, glad Allura was in the same classes as he was.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Allura motioned to their interlocked hands. "I see you two finally got together."

"W-what?" Keith stammered, eyes wide and cheeks bright red.

"I mean no offense! I think it's cute that you two are together," laughed Allura, tilting her head.

"Aw. Thanks, 'Lu," Lance chuckled, nuzzling his face in Keith's hair affectionately.

Keith mumbled profanities under his breath, hiding his face completely in Lance's arm.

"You're so cute, Keith," Romelle giggled. "I would totally date you if neither of us were gay and taken."

"Um... Thanks?" He squeaked, embarrassed beyond belief. He kept his face in Lance's bicep, not wanting to face his friends with a red face.

"We're only teasing." Allura chuckled, brushing a strand of pure white hair out of her face. "But we should get to class before any of us get a detention."

She took Romelle's hand, lacing their fingers. The two girls said quick goodbyes before they walked down the hallway together, heads close. Keith smiled at the sight of them, glad neither of them were afraid to show who they loved. The omega knew he shouldn't be fearful of what could happen to him if he held Lance's hand in public, but he couldn't help it.

"They're right. We should get going." Hunk agreed, hiking his bag up further on his broad shoulders. "C'mon, Pidge."

"See you two dorks later!" Pidge cackled, jogging after the bigger male.

"I guess that's our cue," chuckled Lance, looking down at Keith with warmth in his eyes.

Keith nodded, beginning to limp down the hall towards his math class. Though Lance didn't have math with Keith, the alpha still went with the shorter male. He didn't want to see Keith struggle to walk. He'd offered to lend Keith his old crutches from when he fell out of a tree when he was twelve while he was playing with Veronica and Luis. Keith had refused, determined to prove that he could do it on his own.

"Thanks, Lance." Keith smiled, taking his things from Lance before he walked into the classroom. He found his seat in the back of the class and he took out his math notebook. 

The first few periods went by quickly and it was lunchtime before he knew it. Lance met Keith outside the science lab with a grin. He wrapped an arm around Keith's waist, allowing the omega to lean on him. 

"My mom made you lunch. I know you don't eat much," Lance said, pecking Keith's cheek. 

Keith blushed slightly, smiling shyly. "Your mom is so nice. I dunno why she likes me so much."

"What's not to like about you? You're amazing in so many ways," The alpha said, walking Keith towards the cafeteria. 

"Ha! No he isn't. He's a scaredy-cat." An all too familiar voice came from behind them. Gruff and deep. 

"Yeah. How could you like a wimp like him? He flinches every time you even say his name." A higher, more feminine voice said. 

"Fuck off, you two," Lance growled, glaring over his shoulder. 

Zethrid and Ezor leaned against the lockers, smirking. Keith bit his lip, not wanting to deal with the two girls. 

"Oh, whatcha gonna do, Lancey-Lance?" Ezor sneered, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. 

"Nothing. I'm gonna walk away because you two are unlikable bitches," Lance retorted, malice in his normally energetic voice. 

A snarl came from Zethrid as she stepped up behind the two boys. She wrapped her large hand around Keith's forearm, yanking him away from his boyfriend. Keith yelped, dropping his things. Pain shot through his body and he felt the wounds open. 

"Aw, look at that bandage. Did daddy dearest rough you up? Is that why you didn't come to school?" Zethrid grabbed Keith's face, purposely digging her sharp nails into the bandage. Keith whimpered, tears pricking his eyes. "Poor baby." She spat. 

"Let go of him," Lance hissed, eyes flashing with anger. Nobody touched his omega without his permission. 

"Oh, so scary! The big, bad alpha's gonna do something!" Ezor cackled, sauntering up behind Keith. She slapped her hands onto Keith's shoulders, harshly rubbing her thumbs into the muscles. 

Keith cried out in pain, a few tears dripping down his cheeks. "Let me go..." He whispered,  squirming in the girls' hold on him. 

"Hmm... Let's think... Um, no." Ezor snickered, pushing down harder on Keith's shoulders. 

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Pidge's voice came from the end of the hall. Soft foot patters came down the hall and skidded to a halt next to Lance. "Let go of him, you fucking assholes!" 

"What's going on here?" Matt joined the group, arms crossed over his chest. "Let him go. He didn't do anything to you."

"Yes he did. He offended us with his wimpiness." Ezor snapped, finally letting go of Keith so she could turn her anger on Matt and his sister. 

Lance took that chance to pry Zethrid away from his boyfriend. Keith fell against Lance, trembling slightly. He hid his face in his alpha's chest, taking deep breaths. 

"S-sorry..." He mumbled, feeling bad that he couldn't defend himself and other people had to do it for him. 

"Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. It's their fault," Lance reassured. "C'mon. Pidge and Matt can handle those two. Let's just eat our lunch. Okay, honeybadger?"

"Okay," Keith agreed, allowing Lance to lead him to the cafeteria. 

The comfortable beanbag chairs in the back of the room were free, so the two took them. Lance pulled the folding table towards them before setting up their lunches. "You okay?" 

"I think so," Keith smiled slightly, opening the tupperware that held the homemade lunch Rosa prepared for him. "What's this?"

"It's arroz con pollo," Lance said, passing Keith a fork. "Chicken and rice."

"I love when you speak Spanish," Keith complimented, tilting his head. He took a bite of the rice, groaning at the taste. "And your mom is such a good cook."

"Gracias, mi amor," Lance trilled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Keith's ear. 

Keith blushed, continuing to eat the food. He ravenously shoveled the rice into his mouth, finally realizing how hungry he really was. 

"Hungry, hungry honeybadger," Lance teased, taking the bite of rice off Keith's fork. 

"Hey!" Keith pouted, puffing out his lower lip. 

"Sorry! I couldn't help myself," Lance laughed, pecking Keith's cheek.

"Ugh. You're lucky you're handsome."

"But you love me!" He chuckled, ruffling Keith's hair affectionately. 

"Yeah, actually I do." Keith admitted softly, looking away and blushing.

"Wait, what?"

"I-I love you, Lance."

"Well, lucky you. Because I love you too," Lance replied, giving Keith a light kiss on the lips. 

Keith covered his face, whining softly. 

"Finally!" Pidge made both boys jump and look up. "I thought it would never happen!"

"Oh, shut up, Pigeon," Lance muttered, blushing as well. 

"Never! You'll have to kill me first!"

"Challenge accepted," Keith giggled, looking up at Pidge with a smile. 

"Meet me by the dumpsters after school! Say goodbye to your kneecaps, peasant!" 

"I accept your declaration, madame!" Keith proclaimed, over exaggerating a medieval accent. 

"You two are so adorable. Not together, but just in general," Allura said as she sat down next to Keith.

"A funny joke! You must be the jester!" Pidge declared, smiling widely.

"You guys are so funny," Hunk said, eating his peanut-butter sandwich.  

"You offend me, Lord Garrett!" Keith stood up, crossing his arms and flipping his hair. 

"Lord Garrett?" Hunk burst out laughing, nearly choking on his food. 

"How dareth thou!" Pidge huffed, turning away as well. "You disgrace us! I condemn you to three years in the jail under the castle!"

The rest of the crew laughed, shaking their heads. Keith and Pidge looked at each other before beginning to laugh as well. 

Lance watched as Keith laughed, glad the omega was coming out of his shell. He hoped he was one of the reasons Keith was happier. He wanted to make Keith laugh like this all the time. He loved Keith's laugh and he hoped the omega would allow him to make him happy.


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