Watching You, While You're Watching Us (Shklance)

I Like Your New Braclets

Shiro woke up pretty early the next morning. He knew he wouldn't get a lot of sleep, but at least he had made it to 4 AM. His instincts had been firing since the start of the fire and he was sure Keith's had been too. At least now, their partner was right there and they couldn't really do anything more to help. The voice inside still screamed for something to be done though. Shiro only stretched out in the stiff chair, feeling his joints pop, and tried to get the room ready for the day.

Keith was most likely going to sleep a lot longer, and Shiro knew he needed it. This had probably dredged up dark memories and he knew it took its toll. It was around 8 AM when Shiro heard some shuffling from the bed. He figured Keith was stirring earlier than he had expected. He flicked on the lamp and turned back around.

"Morning, how'd you—" Shiro stopped himself, as it wasn't deep purple eyes that met his, but ocean blue ones instead.

"Lance? Can you hear me?" Shiro whispered and leaned over the top corner of the bed. He gently cupped Lance's cheek.

"Hmm... mm-hum." Lance slowly nodded as he hummed out an agreement.

"How are you? Do you need anything?" Shiro kept his voice low.

"Umm... you both okay?" Lance glanced down at Keith and his interlocked hand with Keith's, holding it a bit tighter. Of course, his first question would be if they were both alright.

"We're perfectly fine, I promise. Now, how are you?" Shiro slowly leaned his forehead down to touch Lance's.

"I feel fuzzy." Lance let his eyes fall closed again.

"Yeah, there's still anesthesia in your system. You should go back to sleep. I'll tell everyone you're okay. Your family and the group will be here soon."

Lanced gave Shiro a tired smile before letting his head droop back into the pillow, settling back into sleep. Shiro kissed his forehead before grabbing his phone and sending out a text to the group and Mrs. McClain, letting them know that Lance had woken up for a bit and should be up again not long after visitor hours started. He turned back to the bed and rubbed Keith's back until he stirred.

"Hmm? Shiro?" Keith glanced up at him, slowly rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Good morning, make sure to stretch from sleeping like that," Keith stretched upwards until he felt a pop, "also, Lance was up for about a minute not long ago. He was out of it, but he'll be up again soon."

Keith's eyes lit up as he turned to stare at Lance's resting face. Only then did he notice that Lance's hand was actually gripping his back. Keith brought their hands up to his cheek, resting them there. Shiro knew even a minute of consciousness was enough to soothe Keith for now. Shiro sat back down and waited for all the visitors to make their way there.

Lance's family was the first to make it there just before 9 am. Shiro ushered the five in anyway, as it was close enough to visitor hours and they were his family. Shiro gave his chair to Mrs. McClain and Lance's siblings moved to the other side of the bed. Keith made a move to get up so the family could get some time with him.

"Sit mi hijo, he needs you here too." Lance's mother softly smiled at him and he took his place back in the seat.

For a while, all of them just looked at him, taking in the rise and fall of his chest. His mother spoke again first.

"Mi idiota, what you gotten yourself into now?" They noticed that her English was a bit broken up and remembered that Lance had said he did a lot of translating for her when they first settled here.

"Siempre el hiro, es hora de descansar." She reached up and covered Lance's forehead before combing through his hair.

Shiro and Keith didn't really understand what she was saying, but they were glad she got to see him in person. What pain had she gone through, knowing her baby was like this and away from her?