Chapter Text
It has almost been a whole day since Lance has been in the healing pod. I have been here since we placed him in the pod. Even when everyone else went to bed and Shiro told me that I should get some sleep too I could not make myself leave Lance's side.
As it gets closer to open Lance's pod the others slowly come in one by one. We look into the pod hoping the time will go faster.
"I can't tell if he looks healthy or not," Hunk all of the sudden says. This causes goosebumps to run down my arms.
"I think he's breathing weird," Pidge says next. Now I am completely terrified.
"Oh, come on!" I shout while reaching out for Lance's pod.
"Not yet! A few more ticks," Allura tells me while swatting my hand away.
"How much better do you think he's gonna get a few more ticks?" I ask her pouting.
"And what exactly is a tick?" Pidge ask her.
"You know, a time slice," She informs us.
"Like a second?" Shiro asks Allura.
"What is a "second"?" Allura asks confusedly.
"Like this," Like this Pidge says while showing Allura a timer.
"I'm not sure. I think ticks are bigger. Coran, do you have a ticker?" She asks Coran while we all look over at him.
"Right here, Princess," he says while holding up what I guess is a ticker.
"think ticks are a little slower," Hunk says.
"I can't tell. We have to start at the same time," Pidge announces. Everyone's attention is slowly being drawn away from Lance's capsule and to the conversation on seconds and ticks. I stay right by Lance.
"Okay. Ready, go!" Coran and Pidge shout at the same time.
"Yes, I think we are winning!" I hear Hunk shout. Honestly, what are they winning? Some kind of intergalactic time measuring competition.
As they try to figure out the speeds of a tick and a second Lance's capsule opens up. He stumbles a bit and I put my arm around him to help balance him. "I got you," I tell him. However, he pushes me away and stumbles over to the others. I feel a little hurt but I just shrug it off a still be half asleep.
"Hey guys, you having a clock party without me?" He asks while standing behind hunk. I walk over to them.
"Aw, Lance, you just ruined it. Hey, Lance!" Hunk announces. He then hugs Lance. Lance lets out a pained moan.
"What happened?" He asks.
"We can tell you all about it while you get something to eat. Are you able to walk?" Allura asks him. I am about to offer to help Lance to the dining room when he speaks up.
"Talking? Eating? Are you asking me out on a date?" Lance asks Allura trying to act cool. I feel something in me crack.
"Yup he's ok," I hear everyone announce. I cross my arms in annoyance and turn away, "classic."
We start to head to the dining room. Lance wants to walk on his own, but I can tell he is still weak and unbalanced so I stay close by. As we grow closer to the dinning room I see Lance lose his balance and I catch him. "Are you ok Lance?" I ask him in concern. He gives me a heated look before standing on his own.
"I'm fine," He snaps at me. I sigh in frustration. Does he really not like me that much?
"He'd be Sendak's prisoner right now, if not for Pidge," Allura tells Lance while he feeds the mice some space goo.
"Well, you wouldn't have survived the explosion if Hunk and Coran hadn't gotten a new crystal," Pidge tells him shyly.
"Wow. Thanks, everybody," Lance says and I feel something warm flutter in my chest at it. "Sounds like the mice did more than you, though," Lance then says while pointing at me. I feel something in me crack again but then try to defend myself.
"I punched Sendak!" I shout. "Yeah, apparently after I emerged from a coma and shot his arm off," He retorts.
"We had a bonding moment. I cradled you in my arms!" I say hoping no one notices the desperateness in my voice.
"Nope. Don't remember, didn't happen," Lances tells me. This time I felt something in me completely break. I slump in defeat. Lance really just hates me. I ignore everyone as they continue to talk. I decide to get up and leave. Lance obviously does not want me around.
As the day moves on I try to avoid Lance knowing that he does not want me around. Having all this time to myself because I am not competing with Lance made me realize one thing. I am in love with Lance. It is why I always want his attention and so easily angered by him. It is also why I hate him flittering with every girl he sees. This information makes me more depressed since he is obviously straight.
"Hey, Keith can I speak to you," Shiro asks me as I walk into the dining room.
"Yeah," I tell him.
"What is wrong with you? You have not been the same since Lance came out of the pod," Shiro asks me. This catches me off guard and I look at the floor.
"It is nothing. I am just finally able to relax knowing Lance is alright," I lie to him. He gives me a serious look. I think I am about to be chewed out when Shiro gives me a hug.
"You should tell him how you feel. You might be surprised," He tells me. I pull away in shock.
"H-how did you know," I ask him. Not even bothering to deny it since Shiro is like the space dad of the group.
"It was easy to tell sense you would not leave his side once, and after the fight, you would not let anyone else come near him," He tells me.
"W-well I am that protective over everyone," I argue. Shiro gives me a deadpan look.
"Keith, everyone was hurt and beaten up. Including yourself. In fact, you would take care of your injuries until I forced you to," Shiro explains. I sigh. I guess that is true, but then why has Lance not noticed. Maybe that is why he hates me. "-ith! Keith! Calm down he does not hate you. Why don't you go and get some fresh air," Shiro says. I nod my head and leave the dining hall.
As the door shuts behind me someone pushes me up against the wall. I look up to see dark eyes looking into mine. "Keith! What is with you?! Why have you been avoiding me all day?! Better not be because you think you are better than me!" Lance yells at me. I quickly recover from my momentary shock and shove Lance away from me.
"I just enjoyed not looking at your ugly mug all the time," I lie to Lance. He looks at me with a heated glance.
"I can not believe you. Do you know how hard it had been to pretend I hated you just to hear you tell Shiro that you fell the same way I feel towards you!" He snaps at me. I look at him surprised. "Say it to me. Keith, tell me how you feel about me!" Lance shouts in what I think is supposed to be anger but sounds more desperate.
"Lance, I thought you hated me because you kept pushing me away. That you forgot when I held you and begged you not to leave me," I say brokenly. I can feel the tears in my eyes and see that Lance is in the same boat I am in. He then leans in and kisses me. I kiss him back. At first, it is slow and passionate but then it turns desperate.
We pull away for air. We are both red and breathing hard. "The reason I kept pushing you away is because I love you," Lance tells me.
"Well, the reason I have been avoiding you all day is because I love you!" I say to Lance in shock. I then pull Lance into a kiss. The kiss immediately deepens when we start to fight for dominance and we spend the rest of the night in my room.