An Age a Month

7 Years part 1

Keith sat up in surprise as an older looking Lance stared back at him. He picked up Lance immediately and checked him over, Lance was sobbing quietly. Keith noticed a small scar that had appeared behind Lance's left ear.
"Lance? How old are you?"

Lance had quietened down before holding up 7 fingers. "Don't let him touch me, daddy please!" he begged.
Keith pulled him into a hug before promising he was safe. He picked up Lance and made his way to lounge not before calling the rest of the team.

Everyone gathered in the lounge, Shiro hung back by to door unsure of what to do. He hadn't spoken to Lance yet and didn't want to scare him, but he also didn't want Lance to stay scared of him.
The rest of the team were sitting on the couches, Lance and Keith in the middle, Coran and Allura to the left and Hunk and Pidge to the right. Keith was holding the bottle, shaking slightly. Everyone was surprised to see an older Lance, it only being two days since he was turned into a three year old.
Keith's mind was whirling, something happened last night that had terrified Lance and he had a feeling that whatever it was would be shown today.
Allura turned to Shiro and beckoned him over. "I think we should deal with this first."
Shiro walked over, Lance noticed immediately and tensed in Keith's hold. Shiro didn't come to close but knelt down to Lance's height.
"Hey Kiddo, I... I am so sorry for what happened yesterday. I don't know what happened, but thats not an excuse. I am so so sorry Lance."
Lance stared at Shiro for a long time. His little mind whirling, before he tentatively place his tiny hand on Shiro's and gave him a small smile.
Shiro smiled back before sitting down next to Pidge. Keith knew what it was time, he held up the bottle and was about to pour it, when the liquid started to glow.
"Coran? what does this mean?" Pidge asked.
"It means, that Lance has decided that someone else can see the memories too"
Keith held the bottle up towards the advisor, he had a suspicion that Coran was the one Lance chose. He was right as the liquid glowed a little brighter. Coran moved next to Keith and the liquid was poured over their heads.
The door closed behind Tom and 7 year old Lance. Lance had fallen to the floor, tripping over his feet as his father flung him into the room.
"YOU STUPID BRAT! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO NOT MAKE A MESS!"
"I'm sorry dad" was whispered, before the first slap echoed in the room.
"DON'T TALK TO ME, KIDDO." Tom spat.
Picking up the child by the arm and threw him on the bed. Tom smirked and towered over the cowering boy on the bed.
"I think you old enough for a new form of punishment." He smirked as his belt fell to the wooden floor.

Lance lay on his bed sobbing, he had refused to leave his room, even with his mother trying to coax him out.
"Hijo, darling what's wrong?"
Silence.
"Please let me in"
Silence.
Tom came up behind his wife and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Lance told me of some nasty people at school, he's recovering just give him some space. he will come to you when he is ready."
Rosa sighed and placed a plate of food outside her son's door. He had been in there for two days straight. Her husband had told her of the bullying from school but she wasn't sure if she believed him. She needed to hear it form Lance.

The scene changed as a few days later, Lance and Tom were alone in the house.
"You did good boy, telling your mother of 'the school bullies'" He sneered.
Lance stared at the floor. A fist collided with his face as his father roared at him.
"ANSWER ME WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU!"
"yes father" Lance murmured from the floor. The sheer force of the punch was enough to knock Lance to the floor a few feet away from his father.
"STUPID BOY" Tom left the room, hearing Rosa parking in the small driveway outside their house.

The scene changed once more, things had settled for a while. Lance was still tense around his so-called father but relaxed a little. Nothing had happened in a few weeks, but he was still cautious.
However this didn't last for long as once again the two were alone. Or so Tom thought. Lance had split some coffee he was making for Tom, over the floor and some paper work on the table.
"YOU STUPID CLUMSY BRAT! GET OVER HERE!"
Shaking, Lance stumbled over to his father. Slaps rained down as Lance fought the urge to scream. Screaming would lead to more punishment. But a particular hit below the ear, made Lance scream in pain. The injury never properly healed.
"OH!" Tom sniggered. "I THINK ITS TIME FOR A MORE SERIOUS PUNISHMENT!"
Lance was dragged by his arm to his room and thrown on the bed. The door closed and Tom towered over the 7 year old. The metal buckle colliding with the floor.
Unbeknownst to Tom, Veronica was in her room next door. She heard everything and called Rosa immediately. She could hear the screams of pain and terror in the room next door, but didn't dare go in alone, in fear of getting hit herself.
She ran outside and melted her mum on the drive, Veronica all but dragged her mother upstairs, who furiously flung open the door to reveal Tom and Lance inside. Rosa dragged Tom off the child and Veronica ran to Lance cradling him.
Rosa threw Tom out that day.

Keith forced himself out of the memories, tears freely flowing down his face. Lance was still in Keith's lap and as if knowing what he had just saw hugged Keith's waist. Keith buried his head into Lance's hair and let the tears flow.
Coran had also come to from the memory stared at the floor, but refused to say a word.