Fourteen Days (5 Days Left)

Day 10 (Sketch)

(Lance)
The mission was as boring as I figured. Other than getting distracted by Keith's face on the display feed in Blue a few times, we managed to go back to our normal routine, without much issue. Of course, I performed my typical daring rescue for the damsels, but my heart wasn't in it like it usually was.

'It's back with Keith' I thought, as my cheeks warmed, and I rushed a few of the refugees into the small escape pod. One of the pretty alien girls turned around and thanked me with a hug, I awkwardly hugged her back. But the only thing going through my mind was- 'Keith hugs better than this.'

I closed the pod behind them, and sent it out, then spoke over coms.
"Alrighty, I got pod Numero dos out, and launched."
"I'll grab it." Pidge said over com.

Then Shiro spoke. "I have pods three and four out now. Keith?"
Keith's breath came huffing over the speaker. "A minute, I almost have number five ready." And I heard shots in the background.

"Keith, you okay?" I asked over com. He didn't respond. "Keith? Keith are you there?" Only a few long seconds passed, but it felt like a minute when Keith finally responded, catching his breath.
"I'm fine, just got number six launched, or five. Whichever one this is."

I let out a relieved breath. "Okay, don't scare me like that."
"What?" Hunk said. I continued.
"Because, I really don't feel like being handcuffed to your dead body."
It wasn't a good cover, but it was the best I could manage.
"Right." Keith said over com. He sounded mad. 'Is he mad? Is it because I said I was worried, or the dead body thing? Damnit why does he have to be cryptic.'

My thoughts were cut short by the shaking of the ship, as it was hit by some laser or rock, or whatever else. I rushed down the hallway, back to the small airlock. Right outside Blue sat waiting. I opened the airlock, hopped in Blue, and waited to see Red leaving. Once I did, I followed right behind.

Hours later, when we were back in the Castle. The group stood in a circle in the lion bay, and I joined them. Alura and Coran were with them.

Alura was speaking, but my eyes were glancing over to Keith's helmeted face.
"I'll admit, I felt a little unsafe in all that chaos, but I knew you all would pull through on your end." Alura was saying.

"We always do." Shiro said. Alura smiled, and nodded to him. But I hardly noticed.
Her and Coran began to leave the bay, and the rest of us followed. We walked down the halls, past the rooms, past the gym, and into the dining hall. All the while, Shiro never mentioned the cuffs, instead he walked off into the gym. I glanced over to Keith a few times, he had removed his helmet, but he didn't meet my gaze.
'Is he mad?'

I couldn't get the thought from my head. So as Hunk and Pidge turned into the dining hall, I fell back, and pulled on Keith's shoulder. He didn't pull away, which in of itself set my mind at ease a little. He turned to me.

"You alright?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said curtly.

I slowly nodded, and turned that nod into a shake of my head. "That's Keith language for, no I'm absolutely not fine, I want cuddles."

He smiled slightly, and I felt a pang of hope, before the smile faded, and so did my hope.
"It's- I'm fine Lance, just... we'll talk about it later."

Then he turned, and walked into the dining hall, and my heart sank into my chest. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and not the good kind. And my mind raced.
'Was it the body thing? Did I go too far? Did I not go far enough? Why is it bothering me so badly?'

I had had crushes before, I liked and dated boys and girls before. I already knew Keith made me nervous in a way none of the others I've been with did, but this was driving me crazy.