34
"I FOUND IT!" Pidge shouted. She didn't care what time it was. Heck, she didn't care if anyone else was around. If she wasn't so focused, Pidge might have danced in her place. It had taken way longer than she'd wanted but finally Pidge had tracked the ship that holds Lance. Furiously typing, Pidge doesn't even realize the others have entered the room.
"Did you find the ship?!" Hunk questions anxiously.
"I did." She admits without looking away from what she was doing. "And now I'm trying to get access to their system so I can get into any cameras." Her hands don't stop. They were finally close to saving Lance! "If I can get into these I can find us a good route."
"Excellent job Pidge!" Shiro puts his hand on her back proudly. "I should go tell Keith."
In the room, Keith had been sleeping uneasily. It's hard to get comfortable with everything on his mind. How had he been so blind to Lance's feelings? Sure, they had been close, but Keith always kind of assumed that was all. He jumps when he hears Shiro at Lance's door.
"Keith did you come in here?" He sounds worried.
"Yeah, sorry Shiro." Keith stands and puts the notebook back onto the side table. He didn't need the others to know this part of Lance. Not without Lance here and deciding that's what he wanted. Finally, he opens the door to a frantic Shiro.
"Pidge found the ship!"
Keith hears the words and they hit him like a wall. He can't move at first. They found the ship...They found the ship! Suddenly, before Keith even realizes what he's doing, he is in the hall, watching Pidge work.
"Where is it?" He asks, voice full of too many emotions to decipher.
"We're nearing its location now, but staying cloaked." She responds. "I'm trying to- Keith!" Pidge hears him take off and finally stops what she's doing. "Wait! Keith, we don't know-"
Keith spins around with one hand clenched in a tight fist. He isn't sure what to say at first but finally finds the words.
"I can't just sit around and wait anymore. You found it, then I'm going. You can help me once I'm there, but I can't leave Lance there anymore." He then takes off to find his ship, ignoring the pleas to just wait a little longer so they can make a plan.
Back on the ship, Lance is nearly managing to sleep again. His body is weak and his mind is a clutter of what's real and what's only his imagination. Unable to rest, Lance takes a deep breath and looks around. It's so dark he can hardly see, but over time, he's come to know the room well. Between shocks and magic pulling at his brain, Lance has looked around. Maybe he'd be lucky enough to make a run for it one of these days. Run. Ha. Like he could run right now if his life depended on it.
"Alright Lance," He tries to motivate himself after that thought. "Let's see...sixty nine would have to be..." His mind would surely go into the gutter at any other time, but it throbs too much for that anymore. "Hunk's cooking." Lance feels his stomach grumbling and laughs. "Man Hunk... I sure miss you buddy."
Meanwhile, Pidge has gotten into the cameras and was rapidly trying to plot a course for Keith. She still grumbles, cursing the hot head's actions. Shiro had kindly reminded her that love makes you do stupid things. Pidge and groaned, "then I hope I never fall in love," had been her smart aleck response.
While directing Keith, Pidge finds the camera in the room with Lance and covers her mouth. He's broken visibly. It pains her to see him like this. But, he's talking. Some time ago, she'd silenced the radio because he was sleeping and the rhythmic breathing had been lulling her to sleep. Seeing him speaking, Pidge turns it back on.
"I remember us skipping Iverson's class to go try out that new restaurant. Man, I basically had to drag you down the street even though you had been the one to tell me about it. Do you remember that?" Lance's voice is gravelly but the laugh that follows this short story is real.
Hunk nearly dropped the plate he was carrying when he hears this story. He did remember that day. It wasn't long before they had met Pidge.
"Seventy." Lance's chest is heavy as he continues his list. He missed them all. A lot. His eyes start to water. "Pidge's jokes."
Pidge turns to the camera, watching as Lance grins sadly. She wants to keep watching but Keith was nearly to the ship. One hand is a tight fist as she listens to Lance.
"I thought you were going to just be some shy nerd when we first met." He says which makes Pidge raise an eyebrow. "But man, you are freaking hilarious Pidgeon. I love staying up and making fun of everyone with you." He laughs again.
"Seventy one is Shiro's scolding for sure." Lance pauses to cough for a while, the motion causes his whole body to convulse. "Space dad always knows best. I understand why everyone loves you. Sure, you might be more serious than you need to be, but you really do know what's best for all of us. Keep everyone safe, man."
"I've made it inside." Keith interrupts, not realizing what is going on.
Pidge quickly explains the directions and warns him which ways not to go if he wants to avoid the not sleeping guards. Then her eyes find they are bouncing between cameras, not wanting Keith to be caught but also unable to turn away from Lance's stories.
"Please hurry Keith. He's...not well." Pidge admits quietly.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Keith barks back in a hushed voice as he darts down the hall. All of his training with The Blades have proven helpful. He's hardly making a sound as he slips down the hall.
"Seventy two is Keith's stupid smile." Lance's smile fades away a bit as he says this, a tear finally sliding down his cheek. "I hated that smile the first time I-" He cuts himself off with a bitter laugh. "That's a lie."
Hunk watches the camera, tears for Lance's well-being streaming down his face as he worries for his friends. Allura had come back into the main area upon hearing all the noise and took her spot beside Hunk. She rubs his shoulder, knowing of them all Hunk was usually the most emotional.
"I don't think I ever actually hated you, Keith. That was the problem." He laughs again. "I was so envious of everything you could do. Sure, Shiro was my hero and I always looked up to him. But you were living just like me and doing so much more. You were less of an idol and more of... I don't know..." He chuckles sadly. "I'm sorry I never said more to you. I wish I had. It may be my greatest regret."
Lance stops as the door opens. He clenches his eyes shut, tired of the torture. All he wants is for the pain to end.
