Chapter Text
"Atavism"
Keith was frustrated but couldn't figure out why. He had tried working out on the training deck but, after getting beat by the level three gladiator, realized that his focus wasn't on training. In fact, he couldn't really focus on any one thing before a cough forced its way out of his throat. He trudged down the corridor where the Paladin's bedrooms were at, hoping that he could at least make it to his room before he regressed. He knew he would; his waning focus was a sure sign of it. His Daddy, no Lance he told himself firmly, had made sure he knew what the signs were when he would regress, if for no other reason than to get out of the training deck before he regressed.
Keith whimpered slightly as he passed his Daddy's room. Would he be there? No. It wasn't time for his Daddy to put that funny stuff on his face yet. Keith wanted to giggle at the image of his Daddy with that white stuff on his face and a towel on his head, but he wasn't feeling good. He raised a hand and let it drag across his Daddy's door before he finally made it to his room. He sat down on the bed and curled up under the blanket, coughing again. He really wanted his Daddy. He was just a little baby. He couldn't take care of himself!
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Lance was abnormally tired. He decided to call it an early night and started his skin care routine. He only got as far as washing his face when he heard a cough and whine from the next room. That concerned him. Next to his room on the left was Keith's room. (On the right was Hunk's room.) He quickly dried his face and left his room. He knocked on Keith's door. "Keith, buddy? Are you all right?"
Another whimper was the only answer he got. He opened the door to see Keith sitting up in bed with tears in his eyes. When Lance approached the bed, Keith looked at him, his tears falling down his pale cheeks and his arms raised. "Daddy!"
Lance gently picked up his little, blanket and all. "It's all right, baby. Daddy's here. Daddy's got you." He smoothed back the sweaty raven locks from his face. Realizing the blanket (and bed) were wet, Lance cooed to his baby. "Let's get you dry and in comfy clothes, baby."
He swiftly crossed the room and knocked thrice on the wall in rapid succession. Within ticks, Shiro appeared in the doorway. He took in the scene and his eyes softened at Keith's position in Lance's arms. "Do you want to come to Kashi, Keith?"
The baby shook his head. "Want Daddy."
Shiro didn't take offense to Keith's preference. He could tell that the little wasn't feeling 100%. "That's all right. Daddy will take good care of you, while I fix your bed."
While Lance went to the bathroom with Keith, Shiro set to stripping the bed. He was glad he insisted on waterproof covers on all the beds on the ship. True, it was only Keith that regressed, but sometimes he regressed while napping with someone else in their room. It was just easier to clean up any accidents with the covers in place. He took off the fitted sheet (and pillow case, for good measure) and wiped down the waterproof pad with an Altean version of paper towels and disinfectant wipes. He then remade the bed with a soft red sheet set complete with a fleece blanket in the same red color. As a finishing touch, he pulled out a Red Lion plushie Lance had made and a red pacifier. He put the plushie on the bed and the pacifier on the nightstand. He then took out a purple sleeper and set it (and a diaper) on the counter in the bathroom, where Lance was giving Keith a quick bath.
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Lance carried his baby into the bathroom. He turned on the bathtub faucet and while the tub was filling up, Lance undressed his little. Keith sniffled a little as his Daddy removed the wet clothes from him.
"You're okay, baby. You need to get clean before you go back to sleep. Kashi is cleaning your bed, and Daddy is cleaning you. Now, let's get you in this warm water." Lance lowered his little into the water and kept an arm around him, so he wouldn't slip under the water. He quickly yet gently cleaned his baby, washing away the sweat and urine from his body.
Once he was done, he drained the tub and, keeping an arm around Keith, reached back for a big fluffy towel with a hood. He lifted his baby from the tub and put the towel on his baby. He put the hood on his head before he peeked under it. "Peek-a-boo."
Keith giggled at his Daddy. He liked playing peek-a-boo, but he was getting cold. "Daddy, cold."
"I'm sorry, baby. We can play peek-a-boo later." Lance dried Keith's body but left the towel hanging on his head. He laid his baby down and snagged the diaper that was sitting on the counter. He quickly diapered his little before dressing him in the purple sleeper that was there too. He used the towel to gently dry the long raven locks.
Once his baby was dry and clean, Lance scooped him up and carried him to the bedroom. Shiro was still there, standing next to the rocking chair. Lance snagged the blanket and sat down in the rocking chair with Keith on his lap, the blanket draped over them both, but Keith's arms were out from under the blanket as he got fussy if his arms were trapped. Shiro handed Keith the plushie and rubbed the pacifier against his lips. The little eagerly accepted both comfort items before leaning against his Daddy.
Lance rocked Keith, lulling him to sleep as the baby nursed on his pacifier. Lance kept one hand curled around his baby's shoulders and carded his other hand through the soft raven locks. He figured he was in for a long night, but there was no place he'd rather be.
Fin