We're Going Home

18

At some point, Lance snuck into Keith's bed and fell asleep. It could have been sleepwalking. Either way, when he woke his arm was around Keith who was curled into his side, their legs tangled. His hair smelled like strawberries. He played with it absently, feeling so at peace that he almost thought it was like before. That was until Keith woke up.

Keith snorted and rolled over. "Hey, Lance." He said in a tired voice, then his eyes widened. "Lance?! What are you doing in my bed?!" He tugged the blanket up to his chin.

Lance hurriedly got out of his bed. "Sorry, I guess I must've drifted off." He put his hands in the air.

"Get out!" He threw a pillow at Lance. Lance ducked and it missed him, he promptly followed Keith's commands and exited the room. He leaned against the wall and stared at the door, wondering what the hell had just happened.

Everything had been so right, then he was abruptly torn from his daydream by a pillow throw.

Pidge came by and pointed at the door then to Lance, making eye contact.

Lance nodded.

Pidge gave him a thumbs up then knocked on the door, waving Lance away as she did.

Lance strolled to Hunk's room and rapped lightly on the door. Hunk poked his head out the door. Upon seeing it was Lance he ushered him into the room. "Hurry."

"You're in a hurry." He observed.

"Yeah man, watch this." He played a clip that seemed like a lot of spiky-ness and fuzz. It also showed a slight purple tint.

"That is quite possibly the worst dubstep I've ever heard," Lance commented.

Hunk facepalmed and shook his head. "No, that's a crossover of Shiro's heartbeat and breathing right before he flips. You know? When his eyes go purple? I also added in his heat signature as a background color."

"Okay?" Lance tilts his head. "Go on."

...

"Ugh, Lance, I just kicked you out," Keith said, rolling over and standing up out of bed. He opened the door and peered through. "What do you- Oh, hello, Pidge, come in."

Pidge smiled a little and walked in far enough for the door to close behind her then took a seat on the ground, Indian-style.

"What's up?" Keith asked, querying why she had visited.

"Lance was out of here in quite a hurry after spending the night, don't you think?" She peered up at him suspiciously.

"I asked him to stay, then somehow he ended up in my bed and I woke up to him looking at me with those eyes and smiling and playing with my hair and ugh!" He flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. "He's so pretty, and did you know his hair is naturally curly?! It's just unfair!" He sat up and looked down at Pidge, "You know?" at this point his hair had fallen into his face and he was clutching a pillow to his chest.

"Ah good! I heard you yelling and I was worried." Pidge got to her feet then crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "You've been in a surprisingly good mood lately, whats up with that. The Keith I once knew would tear Allura a new one after what she pulled."

"I don't know, everything seems to matter so much less, you know? As long as Lance is okay-" He shrugged. "I mean, don't get me wrong, he drives me up the wall, but in a really good way. I didn't think I'd ever come to love his teasing remarks."

Pidge grinned warmly, the two boys deserved each other.

...

"So, I made a clip of his normal heartbeat, breathing, and heat signature. Listen." He played another clip.

Lance pursed his lips. There was something more... menacing about the first. "That's weird. Anything else?"

"Well, while you were gone we ended up getting close enough to Zarkon for me to record the same thing for him." Hunk said, an excitement and fear to his eyes.

"Wait, hold up." Lance waved his arms. "What made you think to do this?"

"I don't know man, just watch." Hunk played another clip.

"Conclusion, Zarkon does have a heart!" He joked.

"No, not that." He did a little searching. "Okay, now listen to Shiro's first clip and Zarkon's clip. I mixed them together so they start at the same time."

...

"Pidge, are you just gonna sit there and laugh at me, or what?" Keith seemed a little angry, but it was fraudulent. He could never be mad at Pidge.

"No, it's just... you two pining kills me! I love it! It's soooo cute!" She clapped her hands together and tilted her head. "It's how I hope to be one day."

Keith shook his head. "Crushing and confused? I don't think so. Especially on Lance!" He dragged a hand down his face. "Why Lance?"

"I guess you'll have to figure that out yourself." She stood and left the room.

Keith promptly screamed into his pillow then laid back and stared at the ceiling. "Damn you McClain." He whispered.

...

Shiro had taken Matt leaving again harder than anyone knew. He kept staring at the picture of them on the Kerebos mission. He sighed and set the picture down, running a hand through his hair.

He shook his head and stood, pacing around the room while tears dripped down his cheeks. Matt was gone. He'd hurt Keith. He'd almost hurt Allura, and he'd hurt Hunk. Everything was falling apart and he couldn't even hold himself together.

He punched the wall then crumbled to his knees, tears and cries escaped his throat in a rough manner. He hated himself for not loving Allura back. He hated himself for hurting everyone. He hated himself for wanting Matt there so damn bad.

...

Hunk played another clip and Lance stared at it with wide-eyed terror. They sounded the same. Somehow, Zarkon had the same breathing and heartbeat as Shiro, as well as the same heat signature. This had to be more than just coincidence.

Hunk looked over at him and nodded slowly.

"Shiro... what happened to you?" Lance whispered.