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Sweat was dripping out from under his football helmet, hiding his face from the glare of the bright stadium lights as he rose his head and beamed around the field in utter pride. Ezio felt like a god. He'd run down the entire field in one go and managed to miss being tackled by almost the whole team before stumbling onto the goal. His ears had been filled with the sound of the whistle as he scored the final touchdown and won them the game.

It was like a game that you might see in the movies where the team is tied and one of them has to win for the sake of their school.

He could hear the loud squeal of girls from both his high school and that of the opposing team as he removed his helmet and revealed a bright shimmering smile before he was pummelled into the ground. In seconds he was laughing as he was hugged by his team, all of them forgetting what boundaries were as they clamoured together. Even their coach was sobbing in the corner from happiness.

The boom of the speakers could be heard barely pounding through the air. "And the Wild Tigers win! Twenty to Fourteen!"

Ezio felt the mass leave him as they proudly ran off the field toward the locker room, shouting cheers.

The brunet gently shook his head and ran his fingers through his brown locks, using his arm as an excuse to hide a small disheartening expression.

He...didn't come. I...can't see him.

Just as he was used to, he plastered the great big plastic smile on his face and ran off to the locker rooms, waving to the crowd.

It was just then that a certain hooded teen was leaning over the rail, having to push and shove to get to where he wanted to be then noticing that the Italian was already heading to the lockers. With that stupid grin on his face, though it made him question if it was real or not. Pushing the thought aside, he cupped his hands around his mouth and leaned a bit more forth, pressing his curled knee into the bars to keep from falling as he called out, "Ezio!" Soon reaching his hand off to push his hood back slightly and waved. "Hey!"

This was the jock's surprise, obviously. Seeing as those around him stared, mostly the girls who were glaring and mumbling questions and somesuch. Most of them how an outcast shouldn't even be at a football game or even know 'the prince.'

But that didn't stop Altair from smiling in a shy manner, hoping that this would please the other male.

The familiar sound of his name echoed through the crowd. Yet, just as he reached the entrance, he stopped, looking up and around curiously. It was then that he spotted the hood of his boyfriend, the one waving at him without remorse.

He came...!

Ezio's true grin spread across his face, pulling at the ends of his mouth. He waved back, looking even more happy than before.

The girls, beside Altair, took it as a signal to them. They began to scream and shout, unaware that the person they least expected to know 'the prince' was the recipient of such attention.

Hearing the squeals and whatnot had the male cringe, though kept his eyes on the other male, lowering his waving hand to place it on the rail.

It was because of this that Ezio stayed silent and simply waved his hand, though Altair had no idea what coming truly meant to the football player. It meant more than just a presence. Ezio felt...his love bursting from him. He heard the call of his couch behind him and was forced to turn away, flashing a quick wink in Altair's direction.

The wink had a dash of read color his face, a bright red that caused him to fumble with his hood to hide his face so the people around him wouldn't notice who said gesture was for.

"Good job out there, son! We're having a party afterward, but I'll understand if you have to go home." The couch watched him, using a steady arm to steer him into the hall that would bring them to the locker room for Ezio to change.

Ezio smiled, too caught up in the fact that his boyfriend had come to be able to think of anything else. He had work tomorrow and he couldn't afford to be late because he stayed up all night partying, and he really wanted to see Altair before the day passed. If he went to the party, there was no way he'd be able to do what he really wanted to do which was work in the morning and see his loving Altair. "Um...I have work in the morning, but thanks for understanding."

His coach offered a small smile and pat his back. "You've done good, kid." He released his grip on Ezio's shoulder and walked off - almost in a skip - to his office.

He opened the door of the locker room and his ears met the sound of cheers and shouts.

Meanwhile Altair had plopped down on the seat behind him while everyone started to pile out of the stadium. They all chatted excitedly and the girls started giggling back and forth about things that the outcast really didn't care to listen in on or to anyone else's conversations. What he did know was that Ezio had looked so happy once he'd found him in the crowd.

The teen continued to hold his hood over his head to try and calm his beating heart.

The whole time he'd been there he wondered if it was a good idea for a surprise when he'd gotten a sneak-peek at the football player's grade. If he'd be able to catch him before he ran off and whatnot.

Slowly he let out a relaxing breath and pushed his hood entirely off of his head. It had been a good idea.
---
Once many of the team had left, saying goodbye and that they'd see him at school on Monday, Ezio finally came out. He had not been able to let his smile faulter even a second since he had seen his boyfriend's face in the crowd, looking out at him. What a surprise it had been, and now everything had made sense.

Ezio cast his eyes around to catch a glimpse of the hooded Altair, and found him with his hood off. This too was rather a surprise as Altair was less than willing to remove the hood even when his boyfriend was around. Still, he'd made the opportunity prime, by watching the stragglers make their way out into the parking lot and leaving his back in Ezio's direction.

It was safe enough that they could talk together as many of the teammates and school kids had run off to the party, which meant that they were alone for the most part. Altair was fairly in the shadows and hence the perfect place for Ezio to land an attack. He smirked playfully, walking quietly until he was right behind his lover. Then, gently, he reached a hand around and covered Altair's mouth and landed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Gotcha."

When the hand covered his mouth, Altair's breathing hitched and his eyes widened while almost retaliating. Though before doing such, he paused immediately once he heard the Italian's voice, glancing over his shoulder to look at the Auditore.

His hand fell to rest around Altair's shoulder, giving him a one-armed hug, pulling him against Ezio's chest. "Thanks for coming...it means a lot."

Blinking, the tanned teen leaned back against the other while placing his feet in a position so that his knees were curled and offered a shy smile. "Yeah...uh...surprise." Raising his right hand, he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced to the side before back to the taller male. "You must've studied a lot, I got a look at your test grade and it was high." Lowering his head, the outcast paused his hand's motion and lowered it to rest on his knee. "I actually thought you didn't believe me when I said I'd give you a surprise, so..."

The smaller form stopped talking and knocked his shoes against one another. Yes, he was rambling. Yes, he was embarrassed but no, he did not regret coming to see the game. Altair had watched the whole thing, even if he'd been getting headaches on and off due to the screaming, and had seen the jock and the others bust their ass just to rack up all those points. It had been...amazing and stunning to watch.

As Altair spoke, the hold that Ezio had tightened more and more until the brunet had his cheek up against the other's.

It was impossible to hold back now. He knew what he was feeling. This gesture that Altair made to him...it made him realize what he wanted and how he felt.

"Altair...I wanna tell you something." He pulled back, blinking softly and turning him around to face him. "You...you don't have to tell me now, but..." Ezio suddenly looked unsteady, his smile fading in worry.

When he was turned, the young Ibn La-Ahad blinked, concern flickering in his eyes once he saw the smile fall and the happy-go-lucky expression changing to something entirely different. "What is it?"

He was silent for a moment, thinking it over and then nodding.

"I love you, Altair."

Honey-colored hues widened at this, staring at Ezio and then bit the inside of his cheek with a blush on his dumbfounded expression. This he had not been expecting and what else was that those words just set his face aflame and mind racing to try and find words. Swallowing, he parted his lips, about to respond before his cell phone went off with 'Arguments' by Robots in Disguise.

Turning his attention to the phone, he gave Ezio a gesture to hold on while he got it out, seeing that it was Shaun. ...great. Flipping it open, Altair turned his head to the side with furrowed brows as the sound of shouting occurred in the background.

"Shaun...what the hell are you doing?" It seemed like he'd gotten his answer and by the way his expression went from annoyed to stunned once more he pushed himself to get up and began yelling back at the other, shouting questions and demanding answers, before snapping the phone shut. "I have to go, I'm sorry. It's an emergency..." Shoving his cell into his pocket, Altair looked over at the other with an apologetic look before breaking into a jog in the direction of the hospital.

Ezio watched as Altair ran off, disappearing into the night, the stadium lights no longer shedding light on the hoodless boy. He downcast his eyes and shook his head, cursing fate.

You don't have to love me back now. I just want you to love me someday. That's all I ask.

He smiled, hoping the emergency wasn't too serious and walked, half-heartedly, to his car. It could have ended worse. Altair could have rejected him right off the bat instead of getting the chance to think it over and Ezio could have the weight of his feelings on his heart for quite some time if he hadn't voiced them there.

"I love you, Altair. I won't stop saying it. I love you."
---
Monday, the crappy start of a school week, the one day no one seems to enjoy at all.

Especially for a certain hooded boy who had to deal with finding out that his grandfather was in the hospital due to slipping a disk somehow and for the time being Altair was trying to figure out what to do about that and how to react with the football player's confession.

To be told such a thing, after...what? Close to five months of 'dating'? How could one react to this? Sure, it had been nice to hear and it had roused something up but it just felt awkward, in a sense. Altair just didn't know what to say, at all.

The football player found himself sitting alone on the roof-top during lunch most days, due to Altair scampering off somewhere for the rest of the day. Ezio sighed, stretching his arms out above his head and cracking his neck.

He hadn't expected it to be so strange between them. Altair hadn't even told him why he was running off to God-knows-where.

Ezio poked his fork at some food he'd made for the both of them. He'd been touched since Altair had liked his food so much and had begun making it for him each lunch as a sign of affection. Still, with him running off like that, it was a little disappointing.
---
"No, I'm sure this is the answer, this one."

A tap of a pencil was heard while a certain hooded male glared at the other male across from him. The others stayed away from this kind of argument, especially when it came to Altair and Shaun fighting over a math problem. See, the Brit was considered a genius, could decode stuff, even make his own virus if he wanted to just to get back at a person who annoyed the hell out of him. Whereas, Altair knew his stuff like the back of his hand, especially when it came to critical thinking.

And both students knew their history.

"You bloody wanker, you're like two percent off on the problem." Shaun hissed, gripping his pen tightly, both still glaring at one another.

"Hey, man, calm -" Desmond started, only to see Altair raise his hand to stop him from finishing and scratching out the Brit's answer with a smirk once he got a curse out of the other.

"You're two percent too high, missus I-know-everything."

"Wha- y-you -" Shaking his hand, clutching the pen tightly and leaning forth while the young Ibn La-Ahad did the same, narrowing their eyes while the rest of the table just sighed.

At least, that is, before Lucy coughed lightly into her fist. "Shaun told us the jist of what happened, can you tell us what's wrong with your grandfather?" She turned her head away once she felt a piercing gaze resting upon her. "I mean...he called us and started freaking out when he -"

"What happened at the hospital is none of your business, so stop asking." the hooded male grumbled.
---
"I'm going to find him." Ezio stood, picking up what was to be Altair's food and walked over to the door, opening it in frustration and slamming it behind him.

It's not like I was expecting him to say he loved me back. I'm not going to apologize for feeling that way, when Altair's the one that did that...nice...sweet...

He huffed down the hall, peeking his head into each room. Where is he? It had been a while, but his football buddies had grown used to him just leaving and though a few must be curious as to where he went off to. He kept his head low and tried to not make contact with any of them.

Altair's meal was clutched tightly in his hand, almost forgotten by him as he took a few other stairs down and opened the main doors that went outside for the lunch room.

The only answer that he could come up with was that Altair was with his friends, for whatever reason. Avoiding him, lost interest in him, whatever the case was, Ezio believed that he deserved an explanation as to why there was a lack of Altair in his life.

It was just as he'd given hope, his eyes moving over many of his fellow students, that he spotted Altair.
---
"Yes well..." Coughing into her hand, Rebecca leaned back in her seat with a wide grin, raising her hands to push the large orbs off her ears, music blasting and let them rest around her neck. "How's it going being single?"

Altair rose his pencil from his paper that was scrawled with numbers and other things, pie charts, pie graphs. "What do you mean?"

"Dude, you broke up with Maria like...what...? Five months ago?" It was then that her eyes widened and covered her mouth in mock-shock. "You got together with someone already?! Shiiiiiiiiit, I gotta know who the 'lucky' person is." Rebecca broke out into a fit of laughter once she saw her hooded friend drop his pencil and a look of pure horror on his face.

No way they could have found out...though I wasn't at the table a lot...but still, it can't be that obvious...is it? Lowering his head, he grabbed onto his pencil again.

"Whatever, finish your sandwich, you techy freak."

"I'll take that as a compliment, smartass."

Lucy moved to place a hand on Altair's shoulder, a comforting gesture. "Look, if there's something bothering you you can talk to me." A smile pulled at her lips, patting the teen's shoulder before letting it rest there once more. "I'm kinda sick of football players anyway, they keep stealing everyone's girlfriends."

"I'm not..." Desmond mumbled, poking his fork to his chicken piece.

All that got was silence from the Arabian.

"'ey, Altair." Ezio walked up to the table that housed all of Altair's friends. It didn't matter to him if the group knew or not. He wanted answers that only Altair could give him. "We need to talk." He tossed the boxed lunch he made for Altair onto the table right on top of the homework that the boy was working on.

The outcast had jerked his hands away in time to avoid having them hit by the lunch box but gnawed on his lower lip once the other told him they needed to talk. Slowly he pushed to stand and gathered his things, setting the strap of his messenger bag on his shoulder. "Not here..." Grabbing onto the box, he motioned that they move away from the table for this talk.

Ezio nodded, turning his back to the group and walking off to the side where they'd be hidden from the other students without having to take the long trek out to the top of the roof.

Though Rebecca just had to open her mouth, "Sooooo...what'd you do to the football players this time?"

"Nothing." he protested, looking over at her with a scowl. "Why would you assume I did something?"

With that the raven haired girl whistled in an amused, 'I know what you did,' manner before lifting her hand and curling all the fingers except for the thumb and jabbing it in Ezio's direction. "'cause he's the star of the team, duh. Everyone knows that."

Tisking, the hooded male turned and walked away from the table.

"Touchy..." A grin crossed her features.

The football player said nothing as he walked on, feeling rather hurt that Altair had been indeed hiding out there instead of confronting him. At least when he couldn't find Altair he could assume that he was off doing something at home. He was curious about a lot of things, but what came first was what had happened between them. Clearing the air, as it were.

They walked on, away from prying eyes before Ezio spun around and looked at his boyfriend right in the eye. "So?"

Altair stopped walking once the other turned and stared at the jock for a moment before cocking his head, "'So' what?" Adjusting the container to be in his arm, the Arabian kept his gaze level with the other's. After a moment he sighed, slumping his shoulders. "...you want to know why I haven't been around, is that it?"

"Wouldn't you?" He folded his arms before him in a reproving way. "But more specifically, you're ignoring me because of what I said on Saturday, aren't you?"

Ezio sighed, shaking his head. Was it really that odd?

"You prove a point," was all he could give on that before feeling his stomach twist in a knot. Sure, what the Italian had said on Saturday would knock anyone who wasn't prepared off their balance but that wasn't entirely what the issue was. "Wha- no. No that's not it." Shifting from one foot to the other. "Okay...just a bit, but...you see - remember that call I got and I said it was an emergency? It was. My grandfather's in the hospital."

This was a surprise to Ezio, whom immediately let his arms fall to his side with a dumbfound expression glued to his features. "W-what? Your grandfather's in the hospital? What for?" He didn't want to be like the typical kid who'd ask a thousand and one questions to Altair, whom was most likely tired of explaining it, but he was worried for the old man. For Altair, even more.

"He slipped a slipped disc. On top of that other problems, what with being old and all." Moving to a clear, non-occupied table he sat down and set the box down along with letting his bag be placed on the ground. Resting his right elbow on the table, chin placed in the palm of his hand. Altair then averted his eyes, looking down on the ground. Raising his left hand, he rubbed the back of his neck, lowering his head in the process. "Now you know why I've been kind of avoiding you."

"I'm not sure that I do." Ezio moved to take a seat on the other side to look directly at Altair. "Why would you avoid me if your grandfather's the one that got hurt? I'm concerned about that too. There's no way you can deny it, it's about my confession. Look, I don't expect you to return the feelings right away. Tell me when you feel it, just don't let the fact that I feel that way bother you." Ezio pat his hand reassuringly. "I'm not going to take it back."

Raising his head, the brunet let his hands lower, crossing his arms and looking up at the other with a soft sigh. "Fine...I'll admit, I was a bit surprised by that." Placing his hands on his biceps, Altair let out a soft exhale and leaned back in the seat. "Thing I don't get is how you fell for a 'nobody' and not someone who people know well..."

Ezio's eyes narrowed as he thought over what Altair said. "Didn't we already have this conversation? You know how I came to fall for you. The real question is how you came to be in a relationship with me. I'm just this stupid, big, football jock."

Hearing the other question, in a way, why he liked the other, it wasn't an easy question to answer but he could say that honestly he had been wrong to group Ezio with those other players. "I can tell you that I'm sorry for looping you together with those idiots. But..." Altair drummed his fingers against the table with a thoughtful look on his face. "You've proven that you're different and not like them at all. If that doesn't count then I guess because...you're working so hard to do the things you like and aren't being shaped by anyone else." The outcast swung his right leg then stopped after a moment, resting his heel on the surface below. "And you even had the guts to snatch way my sketch book, not many are either brave or stupid enough to do that."

Altair turned his head to look over at the lunch box.

"...sorry I didn't show up."

"Ey, Altair. I understand." Ezio smiled. "Next time though...just give it to me straight. Doesn't matter if it'll hurt me or not. I'd rather hear it from you than let my head go wild."

A soft smile crossed the smaller male's lips at this and laughed lightly. "All right."

He reached out and took Altair's hand, pulling him into a soft kiss and pulled away with a smile. "I love you, Altair."

The kiss had the student's eyes widen slightly. A kiss, in the school, in a public place full of people. In the cafeteria no less. To then be accompanied by three little words that had the brunet turn his hand to take hold of the other's own. Responding more by action than words.

"I know..." he replied, shifting his thumb to run over the top of Ezio's hand then paused with a shy expression.

Ezio laughed, standing up and patting Altair's head. "Let's go to class. And after that, I'll drive you to the hospital so we can see your old man together."

The pat to his head had him grumble not to do that though rose his head to look up at the other, causing the shadows that usually cover his eyes to disappear into a light grey and reveal his eyes. "Sounds good." Grabbing his things, he stood, gripping the lunch the other made for him and stuffed it into his bag.

After doing so he looked over to the other, wondering if the other had seen him do so before moving to head off to his next class.

"Heeey, Ezio!"

Immediately, their hands unclasped.

Ezio turned around, seeing the only person he was able to stand on the team: Ugo.

Ugo was a nice, tall, broad shouldered boy, thin and easily slipped though the players on the field as if he were nothing. Whenever Ezio was around the group of football players, Ugo would go out of his way to talk to him. It was like he could feel that they made him uncomfortable.

"Uh, yeah?" Ezio signalled for Altair to keep going, that he'd meet up with him later.

At the hint to keep on going the Arabian did so, though headed over to his friends and swatted Desmond upside the head lightly once he brought up how jocks were jerks and nothing more. Getting a, "Watch your mouth." in the process. All of them got their things and joined the outcast out of the lunchroom. Though having a very confused Desmond in the back.

"I was wondering if you'd mind coming to the roof with me for a sec." Ugo gestured to the destination with his thumb. "It won't take long."

Ezio shrugged, smiling at Ugo with the least amount of fake he could. "Sure."

They walked off, Ezio turning around a little and smiling reassuringly at Altair before they turned the corner and climbed the stairs up.

"What'd you want to talk about?"

Ugo shook his head. "Wait 'til we get up to the roof."

He frowned, wondering what could be so important that they had to hide their conversation on the roof. What could it be about? Not going to the party on Saturday? Or maybe about the winning touchdown?

The jock opened the door and waited until Ezio walked past and closed it. He watched as Ezio looked around and then turned to face him.

"What's this all about?"

It was sudden. Ugo had Ezio pinned against the back of the wall and his eyes were staring down into Ezio's. "How long have you been dating Altair?"

"W-what?" Ezio was so surprised that he didn't push the other away until he'd fully comprehended the question. "What makes you think that we're dating?"

Ugo studied him, blinking once. "I saw the two of you after the game. I wanted to talk to you afterwards, but you went straight for him."

He blushed, moving Ugo aside to walk away from him. "Why would you wait so long to talk to me?"

"Because I like you."

Once more, Ezio stood in shock, twisting around to see Ugo staring at him with such a serious expression donned on his features.

"When did this happen?" Ezio was so confused, unsure as to what was happening.

"You're supposed to become my boyfriend, Ezio. I wanted to be the one that you said you loved. Instead this random outcast kid swoons you over? I don't get it. I've always talked to you, mentored you in football. I love you."