Chapter Text
Shiro and Lance were on a routine supply mission. Get some fresh food and water from the planet they recently landed on. Simple enough.
Lance needed to stop jinxing himself like that.
They haven’t even reached any pool of water or any interesting fruit trees before Lance heard Shiro say, “ow,” followed by a slap. The classic sound of someone swatting a mosquito or the like.
Lance turned around to make a comment on being disappointed that space mosquitoes existed but only gasped sharply when he saw Shiro holding his head in pain and on the verge of collapsing.
“Shiro?!” Lance cried out in alarm just able to catch Shiro before he fell.
“Lance…” Shiro strained his head up to look at him. He focused on his face for a moment then passed out.
Oh no. This was not good. Lance pulled one of Shiro’s arms around his shoulder and supporting his weight stood up.
Lance gently pressed a hand to Shiro’s forehead, cheek, then the side of his neck. Hmm, Shiro wasn’t running a fever but he couldn’t rule out that he wasn’t sick. Lance began to drag them both to the castle, something was definitely wrong and he had to get Shiro to the infirmary.
Something neon pink caught his attention, it was on Shiro's palm from his limp arm. Lance remembered that Shiro swatted at something earlier. Was it a bug that made him sick somehow?
Lance didn’t want to risk Shiro dying of space yellow fever so he hastened his pace and called Coran for help.
Lance was at Shiro’s bedside, face tight with worry. Shiro was sleeping occasionally tossing and turning but thankfully he didn’t seem to be in pain anymore.
The cryo pod spit Shiro out after just a few minutes of scanning. There was traces of a strange toxin found in his system but it seemed to only affect his hormone levels, nothing too unusual that the scanners would consider it a danger to his health.
Coran took a sample of the bug to analyze but theorized that the toxin must have taken effect quickly in Shiro to cause him to be so exhausted that he collapsed.
“Mmm…” Shiro groaned eyes fluttering open, “Lance?”
“Shiro!” Lance whispered excitedly while using his hand to smooth back Shiro’s bangs. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. What happened? I remember getting bitten then a really bad headache.” Shiro wanted to sit up but felt utterly drained… and he really enjoyed getting Lance’s attention and feeling Lance’s soft fingers carding through his hair.
Lance explained what happened and what everyone thinks happened and not so subtly included how worried he was.
Shiro’s chest felt tight, he never meant to worry Lance. For some reason seeing Lance look so down was upsetting him so much.
“Don’t worry ‘bout me, I’ll go and tell the others you woke up. Then I guess I’ll finish the supply run we were supposed to do while you recover. Just rest up and you’ll be up and at ‘em in no time.”
“N–No!” Shiro didn’t want Lance to leave him. The feeling just overwhelmed him and left him in a confusing haze of emotions.
“Whoa, it’s ok! I’ll stay if you want. Just try to get some rest for now. You’ll feel better later, I’m sure. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Lance continued carding his hand through Shiro’s hair. The action calming him down quite quickly.
Shiro couldn’t keep his eyes open for long and before sleep took him he swore the last thing he felt was the touch of soft lips on his forehead leaving sparking sensations and a tender whisper for him to have sweet dreams that left growing flutter in his chest.
Coran nodded at the message he received from Lance reporting about Shiro and himself that he was going to stay with him.
Pidge, Hunk, and Allura were at the bridge taking a second look at scanning the planet for anything else that might be hazardous to Alteans or humans.
A ping called his attention. He took a moment to read over the analysis of the leftover of the bug from Shiro’s hand.
“Oh dear…” According to the results it was a type of love bug whose toxins makes the victim fall in love with the first person they see. And depending from person to person it’s full effect can take some time to really kick in.
Shiro drew in a deep breath reluctantly waking up from the warm sleepy haze. He felt totally refreshed, the nap helped immensely. Just as Lance said– Lance?
Shiro sat up to be welcomed by the most heartwarming sight: Lance sitting by his bedside hunched over with his head resting on his arms. He was asleep, his chest rising and falling with slow even breaths.
He really did stay with him and watched over him. Shiro felt lucky to behold such a sight, Lance was just radiating beauty without even trying. He couldn’t help but reach out and touch.
He ran the back of his fingers from his silky hair and trailed down the supple skin of his cheek. The ginger light touches were enough to wake up Lance.
“Mmm… oh you’re up already?” Lance said rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Feeling better?”
“A lot, thanks to you.” Lance gained this adorable blush that caused Shiro’s smile to widen.
“I didn’t do much, just got you back here so Coran could check up on you.” He’s so modest, Shiro thought.
“But still, I’m glad you’re doing better,” Lance continued with a warm smile, “hopefully the bugs toxin was something you were able to sleep off.” And so bright with optimism.
Lance was bright like sun, shining so wonderfully, he just couldn’t look away.
Hmmm… Lance had this nagging feeling something was wrong? Not wrong but off maybe. As he looked over Shiro he remembered how his older sister Veronica would describe him whenever he was crushing hard: the hearty blush coupled with a fond look in his eyes and complete with a dreamy sigh escaping a warm smile. Shiro had it all.
This poor guy was in love and the object of his affections was… w-w-was…
Shiro was looking right at him.
“You’re so beautiful, Lance.” The words coming out so easily and full of love.
Lance.exe has stopped working.