Work Text:
"Company"
Keith was sitting on the couch with his knees drawn up to his chest. He couldn't believe he was a child again. It wasn't good the first time around, and this time wasn't shaping up to be much better. He thought maybe if he had been the only one who had been de-aged, then maybe it would have been okay, but as it was, Lance had been de-aged as well.
Lance seemed to be enjoying being a child again. He was laughing and smiling even more and willing to play games and color like he was actually a kid. All Keith wanted to do was go train, but Shiro had forbidden it, going as far as threatening to take his Marmora knife from him if he caught him in there. Keith was ashamed to admit that he cried after Shiro left his room. He didn't want Shiro to take his knife.
Keith laid his cheek on his knees and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and let it out when he heard the door open. He was surprised to feel the cushion dip as the person sat next to him. He was even more surprised to feel an arm draping across his back. His head shot up, and his purple eyes met a pair of ocean blue ones. "Lance?"
"What's wrong, Keith? You looked so sad."
"Shiro threatened to take my knife if he caught me in the training deck."
Lance raised an eyebrow. "Is that the only reason?"
Keith's gaze dropped to his knees again, tears starting to build in the corners of his eyes. "No. Everyone else is spending all their time with you, and I'm all alone again."
Lance's jaw almost dropped open. Had the other Paladins been neglecting Keith in favor of him? He had thought that they had been spending time with both of them, but apparently, he was wrong. Lance curled his hand around Keith's shoulder and gave him a slight squeeze. "Well, if you stick with me, then, no matter what, you'll at least have some company."
Keith met Lance's gaze again, and the Blue Paladin brushed the tears out of his eyes. "Thank you, Lance."
"You're welcome, Keith. I love you."
Keith laid his head on Lance's shoulder. "I love you, too."
Fin