I Don't Want You to Go -- (VLD)

Just a prank

It was supposed to be just a prank. 
(But he was also supposed to be at home studying for flight school)

It was supposed to be a joke.
(But he wasn't supposed to be defending the universe)

It was supposed to be just a laugh.
(But he wasn't supposed to almost get shot out of the airlock)

It was supposed to be funny. 

But as Lance sat huddled in the airlock, knees drawn up to his chest as he tried to remember how to breathe, Lance didn't laugh.

Lance didn't think it was all that funny. 

He tried not to breathe too heavily, counting his breaths as he waited for someone to find and release him. He tried to keep himself from whimpering as the beckoning cold of space twinkled with false innocence from behind the glass of the airlock doors. 

He tried to remain calm.

He knew that Pidge hadn't meant anything by locking him in here. She had just meant to prank him, maybe get him out of her hair for a little bit. 

He was being kind of annoying. 

But that wasn't his fault! He just had to be doing something. Lance didn't like sitting still, it was boring. He was an active kind of person, something his primary school teachers understood well. It wasn't uncommon for Lance to be seen doing push ups in the corner while the teacher taught. It allowed him to focus his apparent never ending supply of energy, freeing his mind to take in the concepts being taught.

He was always in motion. Sitting still just wasn't for him.

Also apparently his brain chemistry was a little messed up and jumbled and his meds didn't really exist in space. He probably should have checked in the Earth store.

Lance wiped some of the sweat from his forehead, focusing on how the cool liquid ran down his face.
(He tried to ignore the tears that were mixing themselves in)

He would be found soon, and someone would let him out.
(At least, he hoped they would)

He was completely safe here, all traces of the Galra crystal were gone, he would be fine.
(He was definitely not fine)

Pidge stepped into the kitchen, an evil smirk marring her face as she sat down wordlessly at the table. Hunk and Keith, the only other occupants of the otherwise empty room moved back a little in their seats. That grin meant nothing good to the person that had caused it. 

"Pidge..." Hunk started tentatively, shuffling his chair back as far as he could without making it seem obvious. God, he hoped that the pint-sized lord of evil wasn't angry with him. "What did you do?" 

"Oh nothing;" she said with a smirk, plucking a cookie off the plate next to Hunk's elbow. She cautiously nibbled it, nodding when she deemed it edible. "Just a little... payback."

Hunk and Keith turned to each other, seeing the same emotions mirrored in each other's eyes.

"Pidge, come on," Hunk whined, leaning forward on his elbows. "You can't say that and expect us to let you off. We know what you're like."

Pidge raised an eyebrow, polishing off the cookie in her hand and licking her fingers.

"Just tell us, Pidge." Keith said, folding his arms.

"Fine! I trapped Lance in the airlock because he wouldn't stop annoying me." Pidge took another cookie, humming a pleased tune to herself.

Hunk crossed his arms, frowning. "That's kind of mean."

Keith was suddenly reminded of the last time Lance was trapped in an airlock. Back when the Galra crystal had corrupted the castle.

Oh quiznak.

Keith was up in an instant, chair crashing to the floor as he shoved it out of the way. He stumbled over it as he turned around, but did not pause as he broke out into a run.

"Keith, what--"

He didn't hear the rest, sprinting out of the kitchen and towards the nearest airlock. Lance wasn't there.

He ran to the next one. Nothing

The next one was empty as well.

He kept on running, knowing that every second he spent running would be too long for Lance to bear.

Curled up in the corner of the small area, Lance held his knees to his chin, shivering in both fear and cold. It was as cold in the airlock as the void outside, but he refused to look to the window. The wall pressed into his back, reminding him of where he was.

Lance couldn't take much more of this, clenching his eyes shut so he wouldn't have to look at the white walls surrounding him. He decided the solid black was just as bad, but it was something he could do- anything to help. It didn't help, but he tried to reason with his mind that it did.

It didn't help.

He opened his eyes again, breath catching in his throat as he turned to the view of space again.

Lance wanted to scream.
(Nobody would hear him)

He tucked his knees closer under his chin, only to feel his heart hammering in his chest.

He was crying now, no longer able to hold in the overwhelming panic and fear.

He was going to get shot out again.
(Keith wasn't here to help him this time)

He was going to get sucked into space.
(It was only what he deserved)

He was going to die.
(And nobody on the ship would miss him)

He was pulled by his wrist out of the airlock, tumbling into the warm body of someone slightly shorter than he was.
(He didn't see who it was, vision blurred by his tears)

"It's okay, it's okay," an awkward voice said. "Come on, don't cry. I've got you."

Keith had come to save him. He was okay. Keith was here, holding him tight. Despite Keith's discomfort as his actions, he didn't let go of Lance. Lance was okay.

Keith had no idea what to do with the sobbing, shivering bundle of blue paladin that was crying into his shoulder. He wasn't great with this stuff. Why was he even here?

Because Lance needed him.

In this moment, Keith couldn't see Lance as a paladin of Voltron. He was just the vulnerable teen who had left Earth behind him. He was allowed a moment of weakness, even if Keith wasn't the best help.

So he held Lance a little tighter, rubbing soothing circles into his back until the other boy had stopped crying. Even then, he didn't let go. 

Lance didn't either, just resting his forehead on Keith's shoulder as he steadied his breathing.

Keith wasn't really the comforting type.
(But he'd never really been given the chance)

He wasn't the nicest person.
(But then again, no one had really allowed him to be)

He should go and find Hunk, let him take care of his friend.
(But he knew that Hunk wouldn't understand; he hadn't been there the first time)

He should have left.
(But he stayed, and that had made all the difference)