Red (Sequel to Blue)

Chapter 12

Lance shifted a sleeping Clarissa on his hips. She fell asleep a good two hours ago, and they'd been walking for about three. Why couldn't they just call a fucking uber or something? Keith turned and looked at him, his eyebrow raising.

"Do you want me to taker her, love?" he asked. Lance shook his head. 

"It's fine," he said. "I can make it."

"Don't worry, paladins." Allura said. "We should arrive at Pidge's dwelling soon." 

"Thank God!" Pidge said in exasperation."

"I thought you were an atheist?" Lance asks.

"It's an expression Lance, jesus."

"Oh, so now you're insulting Jesus Christ our lord and savior?" Lance asked, smirking when Pidge rolled her eyes and groaned loudly.

"Lance, Pidge," Shiro called, sifting his hand through his multi-shaded hair. "It's too late for this. Bicker tomorrow please?"

"You got it, boss man." Lance said. He sniffed the air to be acquainted with a strange smell. it was salty? He sniffed again but it was gone. Weird.

"Lance?" Keith called. Lance snapped out of it. "You coming?"

"Yeah, I'm coming." Lance said, rushing to walk beside his mate. 

"Come on losers," Pidge yelled. "We're here!"

====================

The house was warm, not too warm. but perfect. Lance had set Clarissa down to sleep in a guest bedroom before he came back downstairs to be with the rest of his pack. Keith was sitting on the couch and trying his best to disappear and be one with the couch. Hunk and  Pidge were having a conversation with Mr. Holt about some technological thing while Shiro conversed with the alteans and Mrs. Holt.

Lance smiled and sat down next to Keith. He instantly snuggled into his side. "Hey sourpus," Lance giggled. "Loving the company, are we?"

"Shut up," Keith said, burying his face into the crook of Lance's neck. He took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of his mate.

"What's wrong with you?" Lance asked gently.

"There's too many people," Keith whined.

"Are you having trouble with a big crowd?" Lance asked. Keith nodded. Lance felt his omega droop at hearing that Keith was so uncomfortable. "Do you want to go up to bed?" Keith nodded once again. Lance smiled sweetly. 

"Guys," Lance called, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "We're going to bed--"

"Don't fuck in my house, Lance." Pidge glared at Lance. Lance flushed.

"That's not what we were gonna do!" Lance yelled. "We're going to sleep, Pidge!Because unlike some people, we don't have an unhealthy sleep schedule."

"I don't even have a sleep schedule!" Pidge said with a huff.

"Point proven," Lance said before reaching down to take Keith's hand and lead him up the stairs. As soon as they were out of earshot he turned to the suddenly gloomy alpha. "What's going on?" 

"I..we never really...talked about things..." Keith said.

"What do you mean?" Lance asked.

"About what I said. And...your sister." Keith said. Lance stiffened. 

"I thought we did..." Lance asked.

"No, I apologized for being dumb, and you forgave me. But what I said was uncalled for and I want to make sure you know that," Keith said, his violet eyes suddenly serious.

"I do--"

"No, Lance," Keith said again, and bracing Lance against the wall. They were standing right outside the room they were going share with Clarissa. "Those things I said, none of them were true."

"I know--"

"I know you know, I just.." Keith growled, unsure of how to verbalize what he was feeling. Lance's eyes widened in realization.

"Your alpha's hurt." Lance said.

"What?" Keith asked.

"Your alpha. It's hurt," Lance said again. "The things you said probably hurt your alpha."

"That...that can happen?" Keith asked.

"Sure," Lance said. "Just like the way my omega won't let me nest when I feel unsafe, your alpha was hurt by the things you said about your mate." 

"How do I...You know...fix it?" Keith asked.

"I...I don't know," Lance answered honestly. "This has never happened to me before."

"Has it happened before..ever?"

"I heard about in health class," Lance offered. "During the secondary gender unit. They talked about how when you say things against your destined mate you can sometimes hurt your secondary gender."

"I..."

"Keith," Lance said, staring deeply into his eyes. "It's okay. I love you."

Keith whined and captured Lance's lips in his. It was an apology for everything that he had ever said that could cause the omega pain. Lance got it, he really did. He knew that Keith was hurt and he lashed out. He didn't need to do this, Lance had already forgiven him. 

"I love you, I  love you, I love you so much," Keith whimpered out over and over again. 

"I love you too, so so much," Lance responded. He pulled away after a few seconds, ignoring Keith's growl of protest. "But now we have to go to sleep." 

"But--"

"Nope," Lance cut him off. "I'm tired and I think cuddles would be amazing right now." 

Keith nodded and pressed a kiss to Lance's lips gently. "Okay love." 

Keith and Lance then opened the door to their room and walked in, hand in hand.

Only for Lance to be assaulted with that salty smell from earlier. It burned his nose.He looked around to see where the rotten grapefruits were only to see his daughter on the bed, whining. He raced forward and gasped at how warm she was. She was sick. He turned back to look at Keith, his eyes wide in concern. 

"Keith," he said, his voice shaking. "She won't wake up."