I'm a softball player, so I should know how this works. Trust me.
Also Trigger Warning for the F word. And I don't mean Fuck.
STORYTIME!
Roman is the kid at school who is good at everything. Well, everything accept the actual schoolwork. He may be taking all level classes, but he is the best actor in the entire school's theater program and he is the star pitcher on the school's baseball team. In fact, Roman was in the batting cages right now. He was smacking some bubblegum in his mouth and hitting 85 to 90 mike pitches off the machine. That's pretty damn impressive. He can hit the fastest pitches on all the teams. He may be a Junior, but he can whoop any Senior's ass.
Why Roman was trying to get his frustration out? A bunch of people in the theater arts program, namely a bunch of tech brats and freshman were calling him a faggot. Roman doesn't tolerate that kind of language, especially since his boyfriend is in Tech Theater. He does makeup and designs props. Patton is very sensitive to the F word for reasons neither man would be pleased to disclose to the public nor some fangirl behind a screen. So Roman clenched his teeth as the baseball spat out of the machine. Roman whipped his hands around, taking a stride and pivoting his hips. He used that power to launch the baseball straight down the middle of the cage, a bait away from the mouth of the machine. Roman kept his base stance, waiting for the next baseball out of the bucket to launch itself at him. Roman clenched his hands around the handle.
Patton decided to walk into the batting cages, continuing his search for his boyfriend. He literally pinned a guy against a wall, threw him on the ground, stepped on his chest, threatened him, and ran away. Patron, like the hopeless romantic and clueless moron (Virgil's Words not his) was looking all around campus for him. He probably should have checked that batting cages sooner. If Roman needed to releive stress, he was always pitching to a wall or batting until he had blisters everywhere. Last time, it was pitching. He pitched a dent into a cemented wall. It was that bad. At this rate, Roman could break a bat in half. It's not like he hasn't broken a bat before. He's good!
Patton watched the pitch whiz by and it be sent flying back with another powerful swing from Roman. Roman wound up for another swing, and repeated the motion. Stride. Pivot. Drive. It sounds so simple but when Roman Tried teaching it to Patton he couldn't even hit a thirty miles per hour windmill pitch! On a changeup! Patton hung on the cage, away from the ball's trajectory. He waited for the round to be done, knowing better than to distract him. He didn't want anyone getting hurt or Roman to lash out at him. He needs to get his stress out before he could try reasoning with him. That was just Roman. He has some triggers and anger management. Patron loves him anyways. Soon, it was balls in. Patron got his attention.
"Roman, can we talk? I'll help you clean up. I just need to talk to you."
Roman broke out of his frustrated trance. He took off his batting helmet. He felt instantly calmer. Patton's voice coaxing him into a calm conversation sounded amazing right now, just like a nice cold bath. He's probably the only human in the world who would want a cold bubble bath. But he wanted one real bad. Patton slide himself under the fishnet like cage and started picking up the baseballs, collecting them in his arms and pouring them into the bucket. Roman started doing the same technique. Balls in (gathering the bucket) is a lot quicker with another person to help you, especially if you're ever exaughsted like Roman. Guess who went through seven rounds of intense, high speed batting? This guy. And he wanted to pitch some too. But talking to Patton sounded better.
When everything was all set up, Patton sat on the ground in his favorite criss-cross-applesauce position. Roman grabbed the bucket and sat down on it. He's so used to sitting down on the uncomfortable bucket that he didn't care that there were too many balls for the lid to fit on, so he was literally sitting on a pile of balls. Don't let your dirty mind bite you on the way out. You sick and nasty perverts. There was an awkward silence between the couple. Roman sighed and decided to start talking. He was the one who agreed to talk it out, right? This was one of his Anger Management tactics. And Patton is so good with dealing with him.
"So... Let's talk about what happened. A guy said something that triggered us. I saw you begin to cry and I just lost it and went berserk on the guy until you screamed at me to stop. Then I ran away like a coward. I'm sorry for not being the boyfriend you deserve, Pat."
Patton jumped up from his butt to his knees and he instantly put a hand on the side of Roman's face. He knew exactly what kind of dad lecture he was going to get, so why waste time explaining his emotions when he knows what Is to come?
"How many times have I told you not to bust yourself up like that? Sure, you're egotistical and you have a lot of anger and you're strong, but that doesn't mean you're terrible or have to be! You have positives to you that make me love you! You're suave and you can make literally anyone, no matter their sexual preference, swoon! You can play baseball in your sleep better than literally any professional I can think of! And that's impressive seeing how many nights we fall asleep watching baseball and softball games together! What did that one Softball Catcher from LSU say that you've adopted as your motto? 'Things can get you down and things can get you angry. If they do, its's time to get dirty and show them that you own the diamond!' Right now you are angry and sad and feeling down about yourself! You gotta get in the dirt and take control of your diamond! I love you, Roman, and I won't let an event change that!"
Roman felt himself get a sob in his throat, but it was a good sob. Patton knew just how to make everything all better again. Roman pulled Patton close to him and into a standing position before he pressed a long, tender kiss on his lips. Is there anything this boy can't do? Oh, right. He can't help him with math homework. But that's pretty much it. Everything else this wonderful junior can do! Roman was feeling so happy about himself when suddenly he heard-
"Eww! Faggot Kiss!"
Patton became weak in his arms. It was one of the Theater Girls, salty that she was cast as an understudy for Roman. Patton grew tears eyes again, fear coursing through his veins. Roman felt that anger again. He reached for his bat and grinned at the girl. He saw the fear in her eyes. She started booking it and Roman about about to chase her when he felt a very weak grasp on his shirt tug him back. Roman looked over his shoulder to see Patton sunken to the ground, pale as a ghost. Two times in one day? His poor little heart. Roman dropped the bat and sank to his knees next to Patton. He enveloped him into a giant hug.
"I'm sorry, Patton. Let's get you home so we can eat warm cookies and watch some LGBT short films to make you feel better."
Roman literally picked him up bridal style and started carrying him home. The bat was the school's and he found the bucket in the cage anyways. Besides, he could always borrow a helmet and he was still wearing his batting gloves. His equipment meant nothing to him. Patton is all that mattered to him right now, and his job was to be a good boyfriend for his emotionally crippled sweetheart.
1370 Words
Wow, that had dark terms and themes I originally didn't plan for... whoops.
DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHO YOU CAN AND CANNOT BE!!! You are beautiful and precious and deserve love no matter who you choose to be or who you are. Be PROUD of the things society tells you to be ashamed of! Internet hugs and blow kisses!
~Eva