Guarded Soul.

° 6 °

A/N: WARNING: THERE IS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE IN THIS CHAPTER.

•••

Word count: 3720

°°

Lance dragged his feet as he walked through the halls on his way to geography.

A couple of people that he'd made friends with over the few weeks that he'd been here waved and greeted him as they usually did. He forced a smile and did his best to look enthusiastic as he waved back before continuing on his way.

He sighed softly as he walked, looking just as sick as he felt. He didn't know what had gotten into him recently. Well... that's not true. He did know, but there wasn't much that he could do about it at this point.

Lance had always been described as a bright person, happy and bouncy and bubbly. He'd been nicknamed pup by his friends up in heaven because he was always acting like an excited puppy. Recently though, his mood had taken some major damage. He just didn't feel like laughing and making jokes and being who he usually was.

He hadn't been getting much sleep, being haunted by a nightmare that always left him feeling sadder than he ever thought was possible. He knew it was silly, to be scared of a dream, but when it hits him as hard as it does who can really blame him?

Lance saw Keith putting books into his locker just up ahead and he felt his chest ache a little. He took the opportunity to scan him over, checking that he was okay. Just like every other day.

Some would call Lance overdramatic, for being so sad about a little argument. But when he's literally dedicated his entire life to one specific person and who he is and what he's doing and making sure that he's happy and loving him, and then having that person openly hate and reject you... well Lance came to the conclusion that he's allowed to feel a little heartbroken.

And what made it worse is that he couldn't even explain himself. All because of the shitty rules.

He was about to drag his gaze away from Keith and continue towards his lesson where he would be forced to sit next to him in agonising silence for an entire hour when something happened that made him do a double take.

Keith looked around as he shut his locker and caught his eye, Lance panicked and went to hurriedly look away until he saw the look on Keith's face. He looked a little bit sad at first but his features soon relaxed into his normal expression.

And then he smiled.

Lance, who was surprised at the sudden action, looked behind him. After seeing that there was nobody there he turned back around to look at Keith who was still smiling, though it now held a suggestion of sadness. Lance felt butterflies in his stomach as he realised that yes, this is happening, Keith is smiling at him for the first time in three weeks. He felt his own lips curve upwards into a wide grin, a grin that he hadn't worn genuinely in a while.

Lance found it mind blowing how Keith could lift his mood so easily. He didn't know if it was because he happened to be Keith's guardian angel or just because he's Keith. Either way, Lance was automatically in a much better mood than before.

~~

Keith hadn't expected the bright smile that he had received from Lance. He felt his heart rate rise slightly as he soaked in the beauty that is Lance McClain, who looked so much happier already just because Keith did something as simple as smile at him. He couldn't help but notice the words that had decided to echo through his head.

'You really have no idea what affect you have on him do you...?'

'You mean a lot to him Keith. I can't tell you why but you do.'