The Pace Group – Part 2: The Last Kilometre
Gay Stories·EN·2 min read·Published 2026-11-07, updated 2026-11-07·Part 2 of 2
The last kilometre was the longest of Jonas's life.
His legs were wooden. His lungs were fire. The Brandenburg Gate rose ahead, pale and enormous, in the afternoon sun. A roaring tunnel of spectators lined the street, shaking cowbells, holding signs. A woman in a bright dress was crying and clapping at once.
"Jonas," said Idris, next to him. "Look."
"I can't."
"Look at the gate."
He looked. It was impossibly beautiful, glowing gold, a vast quiet arch at the end of a long road. His chest ached with something that wasn't just effort.
"Run to it," said Idris. "I've got you."
They ran, shoulder to shoulder, through the gate. The finish line rose ahead, striped and shining. The clock read 3:58:41. Jonas crossed it with his arms in the air and a sound like a sob and a laugh, and Idris crossed beside him, grinning, the yellow balloon bobbing over his head.
Jonas collapsed onto the grass. Idris dropped beside him. They lay there, side by side, staring at the sky, heaving.
"I finished," whispered Jonas.
"You finished."
"Under four."
"Under four."
"I'm never doing it again."
"Yes you are."
A medic hovered and was waved away. Someone handed them foil blankets. The sun lowered, golden, over the trees of the Tiergarten. Idris sat up, and took off the balloon, and handed it to Jonas.
"Hold it for a minute. It's yours."
"Why?"
"Because you earned the whole sky," said Idris.
Jonas laughed, tearful. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"May I kiss you? I've been looking at you for twenty-six miles."
"Yes," said Idris. "And if you say stop, you must run Hamburg with me."
"That's a terrible punishment."
"I know."
Jonas kissed him, salt and sweat, a trembling hand rising to Idris's shaved head. Idris kissed him back, slow and happy, tasting of electrolytes and relief. The cowbells rang on in the distance. The balloon bobbed between them.
When they parted, both of them were smiling.
"Green?" asked Idris.
"Green," said Jonas. "Very green."
He ran Hamburg in the spring. Idris pacing, balloon bobbing. They don't, strictly speaking, run for time any more.
More gay romance stories: Morning Run · Night Telescope · The Tailor's Apprentice
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