The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[42] Let's do it

"Shiro!" Lance yelped, sprinting across the room and sliding the last few feet on his knees to reach the other paladin. "Shiro, you- you're awake?"

"Apparently." He winced, and Lance noted the stiffening of his shoulders.

"Shiro, you've been out for a while," Lance said, pulling Shiro into a semi-seated position, supporting his head on his thigh. "We had to keep you under for a bit, but then..." he trailed off. "Recovery won't be instantaneous."

Shiro winced again. "Where... you- Matt? I don't--" he broke off with a sharp intake of breath, entire body shuddering.

"Don't try to push yourself. Lotty, can you quickly grab me--" the girl was already by his side, holding out a vial. "Oh, thanks."

"No- don't put me under, I- no."

"Hey, hey, this isn't anaesthetic, don't worry." Lance said, checking the details of the vial. "I'm not going to do that to you. This is just some generic painkillers. Thought they'd be helpful."

The panic left Shiro's eyes, leaving him looking exhausted.

"So are you good for me to give them to you?"

Shiro was still for a moment, stiffening a little. "Ah, can't really... yes."

"So uh..." Lance started, prepping the needle. "We... how do I break this to you...?" he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, lining up the vial with the other. "We..."

"Amputated my leg?"

"You-"

Shiro tried to laugh, giving a dry wheeze. "I'm not... not blind, Lance. And I could-" he paused as Lance injected the painkillers. "I could hear sometimes."

"You could?"

Shiro made a noise of affirmation. "Matt- Matt's here?"

"Holy. Fuck."

A surprised laugh forced itself out of Lance as Matt dropped down next to him, ignoring the concept of personal space to both him and Shiro.

"The one time I'm out of the room and you- Lance, did you guys plan this? Is it a prank? Am I being filmed right now? The camera feeds showed him falling out of bed as soon as I got to them, but I wasn't sure if it was looping or something--"

"Matt," Lance said, voice light with amusement. "Matt, calm down."

"But- Shiro!"

"Hey, Matt," Shiro said, before frowning. "O-oh. My arm's gone."

"And so is my right to leave base." Matt quipped. Lance's brow furrowed. "Oh yeah- I just got suspended."

"Still playing catch up..." Shiro said. "Suspended?"

"Welcome Shiro," Matt said, dramatically sweeping his arm around the infirmary. "To the resistance."

"How did you get suspended?" Lance asked.

Matt grinned. "Can I blame Shiro?"

"Speaking of arms..." Lance chimed in, stiff-arming Matt into the next bunk over so he could get a proper look at said limb.

"Lotty, can you grab me the--"

"She's way ahead of you." Rolo laughed, and Shiro turned his head to see who had spoken.

Matt, seeming to have recovered from his sudden relocation, hurriedly stepped between them. Lance wondered if it was because he recalled the less-than-warm greeting between him and Nyma and Rolo. Either way, Shiro tried to sit up so he could peer around Matt.