Athelstan stumbled into the locker room, half angry and half disoriented. He was dragging a leg and he kept a hand on the top of his head as he angrily opened his locker only to cringe as it collided with a knee, no doubt leaving yet another bruise. He groaned as he tilted his head, looking distastefully at the round bald spot on the top of his head. He grumbled, cursing the football team and more importantly, the fact that he was on the football team.
He slammed the locker shut and leaned on the cold metal, closing his eyes and trying to take deep breathes, mumbling lightly.
“Another horrible day in the Viking’s high school.”
He had no idea what he was going to do about the obvious bald spot within his usually thick and poufy hair but right now he just wanted to go home and sleep for eternity.
“HEY!”
The loud and forceful voice from out of nowhere interrupted Athelstan’s inner monologue and he jumped backwards, successfully slamming his head and shoulder into the hard metal. He was still on high alert for a new beating from the rest of the team.
“Oh, Hey sorry, didn’t mean to freak you out, little guy.”
He jerked his head, still clutching onto his gym bag and leaning on the locker. Ragnar walked up, smiling broadly. The mohawked captain had always treated Athelstan better than the rest but that didn’t mean that he completely trusted the athletic, blue eyed football player who always seemed to be around. However, Ragnar had saved him from several bloody noses and broken bones. Athelstan sighed and rolled his eyes, just calming down from his scare.
“I’m not little. You all are just unnaturally big.”
Ragnar chucked, still smiling deviously.
“Yeah whatever you say, anyway I--”
He paused, just now really looking at Athelstan. He put a hand over his mouth and laughed, stumbling back slightly.
“Oh Man they really got you!”
Athelstan stood still, looking absolutely done with life as the large football player inspected the bald spot on his head.
“Who did that, man?”
He responded in a flat voice
“Your brother and the rest of his barbarians.”
Ragnar cringed slightly.
“Sorry about that, man, I’ve told him to leave you alone but he doesn’t listen.”
Athelstan pulled out his phone, pretending to be texting someone,
“Apparently..”
“Yeah, I am sorry.”
Ragnar opened his own locker, messing absentmindedly with something inside before looking hesitantly over at the pranked player.
“But you know..”
Athelstan looked up curiously.
“You would look really good in one of those brown toga things.”
Athelstan rolled his eyes and let his head fall back on the locker as Ragnar laughed at his stupid joke until he put his hands up apologetically
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But. There’s just so many monk jokes, I couldn’t help it!
Athelstan seemed completely un-amused by Ragnar’s antics and that seemed to really annoy the captain as he wiped his eyes and began to rummage in his gym bag carefully.
“But seriously, man.”
He walked forward toward the pranked player, He knew he wasn’t going to do anything but his presence was still intimidating and Athelstan’s eyes went wide.
“I feel bad.”
Ragnar raised his arms slightly, his hand balled up in a fist and Athelstan cringed defensively, his back blocked harshly by the lockers. Ragnar looked at him skeptically and opened his hand revealing the grey beanie
“Calm down, I wasn’t going to do anything, spaz”
Athelstan reluctantly stood up straight and let Ragnar pull the hat over his head, flattening the rest of his hair and keeping it straight. Ragnar rubbed the textured material and took a couple of steps back, beaming proudly at his little act of kindness.
“There, now at least you won’t get pummeled in the hallway.”
Athelstan pulled lightly on the fabric, suddenly looking guilty and shy standing in front of Ragnar.
“Um, Thanks..”
He looked down.
“And I’m sorry.. For.. You know.”
“Yeah, no problem… I--”
Neither of them looked at each other and instead had both developed a sudden interest in the details in the concrete floor as silence fell over the room. There was a slamming door just outside and the sound of confident footsteps on the hard floors and a moment later Lagertha, The only female football player on the team, was standing in the entrance looking as scary as ever.
“Hey, I-- Whoa..”
She looked around with a half grin, sensing immediately the tension in the room as the two players stood stiffly only a few steps from each other.
“Sorry, Am I interrupting something?”
They both shook their heads a little quicker than was necessary and Ragnar cleared his throat,
“No, I was just about to head over to the field.”
She nodded her head slowly
“Riiiight.”
She took a few steps backwards out of the room, now grinning.
“Anyway, Ragnar, practice at seven.”
She winked at the captain and tuned away, stating happily as she exited the building
“I’ll leave you two alone.”
Ragnar chuckled awkwardly, placing his hands in his pockets. Athelstan patted his covered head and did the same.
“Your girlfriend.. Is uh.. Funny.”
Ragnar looked up quickly, his blue eyes unusually bright.
“Oh she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Oh.. I just thought..”
“No, man, she’s got her own girlfriend.”
Athelstan took a relieved breathe, smiling for the first time that day.
“So that’s how it is?”
Ragnar nodded, grinning once again.
“That’s how it is, we’re just pals.”
They went silent for a few moments before Athelstan’s stone face cracked and he began to laugh loudly. Ragnar had never heard him laugh like that before and he looked at the shorter guy, intrigued. However, Athelstan continued laughing without explanation and Ragnar began to laugh just because he was laughing.
“What?!”
Athelstan coughed a few times and looked up at the curious Viking captain.
“It’s just..”
He laughed a little bit more and Ragnar had come closer, curiously inspecting his counterpart and waiting for an answer.
“Well?”
It’s just… Honestly, she was the most terrifying thing about this--”
He motioned to the two of them
“Whole thing and now-- Well.”
“What are you getting at?”
Ragnar’s voice had softened and he was looking legitimately hopeful.
“This”
Athelstan took a quick step and placed a hand on the side of Ragnar’s face before landing a soft kiss on the taller man’s lips. Ragnar closed his eyes and smiled as Athelstan backed away quickly, realizing only now the possible stupidity of his actions.
“You mean, you’ve waited this long because you were afraid of Lagertha?”
Athelstan nodded breathlessly. Ragnar shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Wow..”
He shut up and backed Athelstan to the metal before kissing him much harder than he had him before, grinning wickedly. Athelstan pulled away after a minute, his eyes bright.
“I’m really glad you two aren’t dating.”
Ragnar nodded before he went back to kissing the shorter man.
“Yeah me to.”
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