Greek Fire

Astral Plane

I expected to be engulfed by flames but instead, I fell onto the floor in front of me. No, I didn't get burnt to a crisp so my existence would cease, what a shame. Instead, I sat up, realising I was back in the castle, my room, more specifically. The team was no longer there and neither was my body. The only thing left from that gruesome scene was the bloodstains and Lance.

The boy sat on my bed, my Bayard in hand. He was still crying, it seemed.

I stood, stepped towards him and sat beside him on the bed, wondering why this had affected him so much.

"Lance," I tried to see if he'd respond,"I'm here."

He didn't respond so I figured I couldn't do anything.

We sat in silence, except for Lance's sniffs and occasional whimpers, for quite a while until he decided to break the silence.

"Keith, why did you have to fucking leave me?" Lance almost yelled through his broken voice.

I felt that empty feeling in my stomach that I dreaded so much, except I didn't gain the same panic.

It was more like sympathy.

Guilt.

I didn't like seeing Lance like this but there was nothing I could do. Even though he was rude to me at times, there's a reason I killed myself and not him. If I hated him, I would've done something against him, not me. I'm the only one who deserved it. I thought this boy hated me but he seemed badly affected by this.

Being here filled me with dread so I left the room in hopes of finding the others.

I listened for voices until I heard a shout coming from the dining room. I headed in that direction to find the team eating food so I listened in on the conversation.

"That boy needs to eat!" Allura argued to Shiro.

"It's his decision. If he wants to starve, let him!" Shiro yelled and the table fell silent.

"Remember what happened last time we gave a team member time to 'cool off'? That didn't work out well. We have a funeral planned for him and it was all our fault for not showing him that we care!" Allura tried to start slow but grew into a yell, tearing up.

"Lance won't die especially after Keith! He won't make that stupid decision!" Shiro slammed his fist on the table.

"That's not what I'm saying!" Allura was clearly offended.

This was emotionally straining to listen to so I headed back to my room.

Did Allura mean what she said? They 'cared'? I find that hard to believe... but plausible at this point. I thought to myself before I came to see Lance in the same place I left him.

"I know you can't hear me, but I want answers." I sat beside him once again,"Why are you hurt so badly but my own supposed brother seems glad I'm dead?"

No response, as I expected.

"I don't get it,"I continued,"Shiro, my own brother basically, hates me and doesn't give a shit that I'm gone but the one who supposedly hates me is in pain because of what I did. I don't understand." I choked back tears,"Maybe I should investigate."

I stood up and walked out the door, heading for Lance's room. Once I made it, I pushed the door open, unsure how the waking world would perceive my actions on objects.

I stepped in and immediately checked the bedside table drawers. The first drawer had an unorganised mess of papers stacked about. I looked through them one-by-one.

There were multiple photos of what I guessed to be family of his. Random papers with 'note to self' written across the top were also a large portion of the stack.

Train in free-time more often.

Stay away from any conflict with Shiro.

They didn't seem out of the ordinary.

As I dug through, I finally got to the bottom to find a single photo lying upside-down.

I picked it up and flipped it over to see a familiar sight: myself. It was a picture of me next to Lance. He was smiling at me but the weirdest thing was that I was smiling too.

I put the photo back and moved to the next drawer. There was a single notebook and a sloppy arrangement of pens. I picked up the notebook and opened it to the first page.

Property of Lance McClain.

I began to flip the pages, though there seemed to be some missing.

I still haven't told the team. I'm worried mostly because of Shiro. There's something wrong with him and I'm not sure what's happening but he's being a huge dick to everyone. He'd probably kick me off the team if he found out I'm Bi.

I re-read the last sentence to process it.

I'm Bi.

I turned the page, knowing I needed to press on.

What would Keith think? He'd hate me even more if he knew.

"I don't hate you," I thought aloud,"and I understand."

I can't just keep up a rivalry that was never actually there then go up to him and be like "hey, Bi the way, I've had a massive crush on you since the Garrison." Yeah I ain't doing that!

"Wait, what?" I whispered to myself."I'm dreaming, this isn't real, none of it is!" I then read the last sentence.

Whatever, I'm screwed, man.

This was something I feared to fantasise, knowing I'd be let down. This is the most unexpected thing to happen in ages.

I ran back to my room and knelt on the floor in front of where Lance sat.

"I'm sorry." Lance mumbled quietly.

"It's okay, I'll fix this." I placed my hand on his hands lying in his lap,"I'll figure this out."

Lances sobs calmed in that instant.

"Keith, why'd you leave me?" He breathed.

"Lance-" I was cut off by a fwoosh behind me. I turned around to see the same fireplace I had been brushed into before. I felt like I needed to jump back in.

What the fuck, I thought.

I looked back at Lance and stood up.

"I'll be back for you." I whispered before stepping into the fire.