Langst One-Shots

Return -Part 2-

-Keith's POV-

Why would Lance think we would replace him? I frowned as I watched Lance's figure recede down the hall.

"Did Lance just ask us if we replaced him?" Pidge whimpered.

"It appears so." Allura said, gaze on the floor. "Don't be so surprised." Shiro's gruff voice rang loud and clear, "Who knows what the Galra did to him. If a Druid got in his head-" Shiro shuddered, "Let's just keep an eye on him, okay?" I shrugged. "Whatever."
I turned down the hall and followed Lance's trail.
_____
-Lance's POV-

I shuddered as I traced the scars along my chest, wincing as the memories of how I'd earned them reappeared in my brain. After a while of being the Galra's prisoner, the hot water felt good sliding down my body.

Who knew a shower was so great?

I adverted my gaze to my arms, hating the white slashes and burns that littered my skin. The Galra had left their mark on me; forever.

Though I was done with the past, the past wasn't done with me.

I sighed as I turned the water off, stepping onto the cold metal floor. I quickly got dressed in some jeans and my favorite jacket. I glanced at the mirror, and gave in to the urge to do my skin-care routine. Hey, even if the rest of my body was a total wreck, my face should be absolutely gorgeous.

Not like it wasn't gorgeous in the first place.

I slowly made my way back to my room, collapsing onto my bed.  "Oh my quiznak...." I groaned, feeling the softness of the bed. Compared to the harsh metal of the Galra cell, it was like sleeping on a cloud. I heard a loud knock on my door. "Come in." I muttered, voice muffled by the covers. "Uh, hey." I looked up to see Keith standing in the doorway. "Uh, hey?" I said, confused. Keith looked away, obviously uncomfortable. "Dinner's ready." He said, and walked away. I rolled over and buried myself in the covers. "I'm not hungry." I whispered, closing my eyes.

Food could wait.
_____
-Keith's POV-

Dinner was silent.

Even after 3 months of silence when Lance was captured, we still weren't used to it. "Where is Lance?" Shiro asked, gazing at the Blue Paladin's empty chair. I shrugged. "Dunno." Hunk looked down at his plate, worried. "I'm sure he's fine." Allura stated, "We should give him time." The silence was heavy, unbearable. "I'm going to look for him," I grumbled, pushing my chair back. "This silence is driving me insane." I headed down the hallway, stopping at Lance's door. "Lance?" I asked quietly. No response. I slowly opened the door, the light from the hallway shining on an empty bed. "Nope." I muttered. I trekked down the halls of the castle, each one devoid of a certain Blue Paladin. I sighed angrily. Oh well. I turned to walk away before a noise caught my attention.

It was coming from the observation room.

I slowly peeked through the door, eyes widening as I saw Lance tucked away in the corner of the window, face buried in his hands. I quietly entered the room, silent. I froze as Lance began to mutter. "They shouldn't have rescued me." He said, voice wavering. "They risked their lives to bring me back. And what am I doing now?" He laughed, a sad empty sound. "I'm sitting alone in the most lonely room of the castle." He raised his head, tears trailing down his cheeks. My hands curled into fists. How dare he think he wasn't worth being saved! "Maybe the Galra were right. Maybe I'm just the Seventh Wheel. I mean, I thought that before they even took me, but-but they made me realize how utterly pathetic I am." Lance sighed, his jacket sleeves falling down to his elbows. I cringed at the scars that painted his skin with a ghostly white.

"Lance?" I called out, rounding the corner that I hid behind. "Oh. Hey Keith." He said, gazing out at the sky. His jacket sleeves were  pushed back up, the tears erased from his face. The only evidence that he had been crying was the slight red tint around his eyes. "Dinner started a while ago. The others were wondering where you went." I said gruffly. Lance smiled. "Oh quiznak! I must've lost track of time! Thanks Mullet!" He grinned and raced out of the room.

I frowned.

Lance was a master actor.

I trailed behind him, watching as he froze in front of the kitchen. An emotion briefly flashed across his face.

Fear?

Lance took a deep breath and plastered on a smile. "Hey guys!" He laughed, "Miss my gorgeous face?" Pidge laughed. "Suprisingly, yes. But don't you go around gloating about it!" Lance feigned hurt. "Me? Lance McClain? Brag?" He gasped, plopping down in a chair. "Yo Mullet!" Lance called, come in here and join us! Don't be such an emo!" I growled. "Watch it Lance. Just cause you just came back doesn't mean I won't kick your a*s!" I threatened. Shiro glared at me. "Keith! Language!" He warned. Lance smirked. I huffed angrily and sat down in my seat.

Minutes passed.

Lance just sat there, food untouched. The silence was deafening, everyone dead silent. No one moved a muscle until Tomi whispered something in Lance's ear. Lance nodded and carefully stood. "Thanks for the great meal, Hunk. Nice to see you all again." He smiled and followed Tomi out of the room.

"Well, that was unexpected." Pidge's voice cracked. I slammed my fist onto the table, earning a squeak from Pidge. "This is ridiculous." I growled, standing up abruptly. "I'm tired of this game." Shiro glared at me threatening. "You have no clue what he's been through. He lived through 3 months in hell. I'm surprised he's not shattered." Shiro said, his voice like ice. I turned and stormed out of the room. I came to an abrupt stop in front of Lance's room. I swung the door open, ready to talk some sense back into that idiot, when I froze in my tracks. Lance sat sobbing on his bed, Tomi holding his hands and whispering words of encouragement into his ear. "You can do it Lance. Breathe, just breathe." Lance sobbed harder, "I c-can't. Sitting in that room with them reminds me of how much better they are." Tomi shook his head. "Do you remember what you told me everyday after you came back?" Lance raised his head slowly and gave Tomi a weak laugh. "I-I'm Lance M-McClain, the s-strongest man alive." Tomi smiled. "You survived the Galra for 3 months. You can survive this too. Just try to sort out the false memories in your brain, but if it feels like too much, just breathe." Lance took a shuddering breath. "Y-You'll help me, right?" Tomi nodded. "You need to get that witch's magic out of your head, okay? Just close your eyes and tell me what you see." Tomi spoke reassuringly. Lance closed his eyes. "I-I see my family. They're all laughing and playing- wait. I don't think we had a dog. Did we? I-I can't remember." I flinched. Lance had a family back on earth, and he couldn't even remember if the memories he had were true or false. "It's okay." Tomi whispered. "I see Haggar and Lotor." Lance's voice shook,

"They never got Keith did they?"

My eyes widened. "No, that memory is false." Tomi said strongly. Lance sighed. "Thank Quiznak." He grinned, "And the arena memory? Is that one false too?" Tomi shrunk into the bed. "No. That one is true, Lance. I'm sorry."

The smile slipped off of Lance's face.

"Oh. Okay, well, now I know that the memories with the rest of the team and Lotor aren't true," he opened his eyes, "And that's all that matters. If they're safe, I'm okay." Lance hugged his pillow,

"I'm okay."