Growing From The Pain

5

I caught him as he fell. I picked him up and brought him to my room. I went back to get the food that was left for me. When I came back he was rousing from his sleep. I rushed to his side and kneeled next to the bed. "Lance. Lance," I said hoping for a quick reply. I wanted to make sure he was alive.

I received a coughing fit which was fine enough for me. A small smile caught my face for the first time since the ordeal. I watched as his eyes flitted open and he gained control of more of his muscles. "Where am I?" He rubbed his eyes. "Huh? Keith? Why are you here?"

"Do you not remember what happened?" He knocked his hand against his head.

"I don't recall something happening." I grab his arm and show him the now light scars along them. He stared at them for a few seconds. Then his neutral expression changed into one of sadness. "Oh," was all he said. He moved his arms away from me and turned in the bed to face the wall.

"Lance, can you please look at me?" I got no response. "Lance." Nothing. "Lance! Goddamnit!" I jumped on top of him. "Look at me!" He squeezed his eyes shut. I shook his body profusely. My door slid open and in its entrance was Coran.

"Keith, Lan-" he started, but quickly paused. There was a long moment of silence. "I'll leave you alone to your Earth mating customs." A tick appeared on my forehead.

"It's not what you think," I yelled as he ran off. Lance pushed me off of him and stood up. The attempt was feeble though because he immediately joined me on the floor. I helped him back into the bed. Then, attempting to intimidate him, I tower over him. "Fine. Sit there and tell me nothing and be in your little depression bubble all you want, but know this: I will not let you out of my sight." I narrow my eyes on him. I point between them and him just to make sure he understands.

The corners of his mouth lift for a second before quickly falling again. It makes me smile. I straighten up again and sit next to him. We sit there awkwardly for forever. Eventually I start to get drowsy. I look over to Lance who seems wide awake. "Why aren't you tired yet?" He shrugs.

I nod slowly. I pull him down to the covers and lay next to him. His long legs accidentally intertwined with my own. He looks to me. I was drifting away slowly though. I made it worse by tangling them more and then holding on to one of his arms. Soon I was asleep.

🌷 🌷 🌷

My eyes shot open and searched my surroundings immediately. "I wonder if this is how you usually wake up?" My still blurred vision caught the form of a figure in front of me. When my eyes focused I was able to recognize Lance. He had a small smile on his face.

"Probably." I sigh and stretch a little. Lance hisses making me alert immediately. I see his hands shoot to a place below his waist. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all," he says bringing his hands up in defense. I ignored what was obviously a something wrong and untangle our legs. I stand from the bed and walk to the restroom. There I brush my hair, tie it back, and wash my face. "You are such a pretty boy." I turn to my tan companion with a condescending smile.

"Really? Oh please, Mr. Bag-of-Douches, tell me how that can be so?" I step back from the mirror and motion for him to take a step to the plate. He gladly obliges. He messes around with his own hair and washed it and his face. It's like the scene in "The Little Mermaid," where she flips her hair. I stare in awe and wonder at the shining radiance that is Lance.

Becoming aware of my oogling eyes and drooling mouth I look away from the scene as quick as possible. "And that's you." He turns to me, who is trying to hide a blush. "Are you okay Keith?" He gets closer to me, water drops still shining in his hair. Come on Keith. Think. Think! Lightbulb. "Keith are you okay?" I shake a little. My cheeks are blown up a little making the red color look less like a blush.

"Keith! Why aren't you speaking? God, I wish those words never left my mouth." I break into uncontrollable fake laughter. I end up on the floor and, somehow, produce a real tear at the corner of my eye. "What the hell Keith! I thought something was wrong?" I could see his face growing red with fury.

"Sorry," I say in-between breaths. "It's just- I know that is not how I look." He huffs and crosses his arms. "What? I don't look like that." I was being honest. I'm not- well, hot.

"Then how exactly did it look?" I rub the back of my neck. "Hm?"

"I can't do it like you."

"Then you'll just have to accept the fact that that is what it looked like." He walks out. I follow close behind him. "So what are we gonna do today?" I shrug. "Wanna get something to eat?" I nod. "Let's go." We get up and walk outside. We head to the kitchen where an excited Romelle is making food.

"Hey Romelle," I greet. She smiles and waves at us before going back to work. "Is there any food ready?"

"I'm making lunch now, so just wait in the dining hall. I'll be finished soon." Walking into that room was like a blast of painful and happy nostalgia. I looked over to Lance.

"Oh god," he says. He walks to his old seat. "So many memories. As a team. As friends." He sits down. I sit next to him. Together we close our eyes and remember all the amazing memories that were had around both tables. "Remember the goo." I chuckle. "Allura cuffed us together and we we're supposed to spoon feed each other."

"Kinky," I say wiggling my eyebrows. He punches my shoulder playfully. We both break into laughter.

"It's good to see you're doing alright," Coran says walking in accompanied by a few Altean attendants. They take seats at the table as well. Coran takes a seat across from us. Romelle walks in a few minutes later with plates of food. More follow behind her and soon the table is filled with Altean delights. "Let's eat!"

I watch as Lance shoots his hand across the table grabbing multiple items at once. His plate is filled and emptied about three times before I finish my first. He empties two more before stopping. "Woo, I'm full. I still have room for dessert though." I stare in astonishment at his appalling appetite. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

I shake my head. "No. No, um- it's just I've never seen you eat that much." He chuckles.

"Well you haven't really seen me in the past years now have you." I chuckle. Then an interesting idea pops into my head.

"Speaking of knowing you more, are you still up for me coming back to Earth with you?" He looks up from a plate of some kind of dessert.

"Depends. What do you want?" He rests his chin on the back of his hands. A smirk graces his face.

"I guess I want to move in with you." He chuckles. "Yeah I know. Sounds dumb."

"Actually no. That would be nice. It won't be so lonely anymore." He finishes the plate in front of him. "Sure let's do it. Let's become roommates."