The Secrets Within Ourselves (KLANCE)

45: Discussion

Song Of The Chapter:
Little Pistol - Mother Mother

The recognition on the guest's faces as they walked through the building to the meeting room was uncomfortable for Lance. Keith, of course, was fairly okay with the attention because he was good.
But Lance... nobody knew whether or not he was truly good or bad. At least not really.
It managed to spark new waves of anxiety in him the more he caught people's questioning, uncertain stares.
Truthfully, one phone call to the police from anyone in the building would leave him screwed. There were few exits, and this far in there was no windows to jump out of if he had to escape.
Keith could see Lance's nervousness.
He tried his best to comfort his companion, but he knew there was only so much he could do to help besides making it look the least stressful as possible.

"Ah, Slate! Frost! You have arrived!"
Sam Holt came striding over to them before guiding them into the massive conference room.
"I'm so glad you guys could come. It's important, let me tell you, and I really pray it goes well."
Inside the room stood Shiro and Pidge.
"Hey you two," Shiro smiled reassuringly.
"Hi," Lance walked over and received a hug from both.
"Are you ready?" Pidge asked sincerely.
"No," Lance admittedly said, shifting on his feet.
"Do you really think it will work?" He murmured to nobody in particular.
"I cannot guarantee anything," Sam replied to him honestly. "But I can tell you that a lot of people support you who have met you. It's surprising, honestly."
Lance let out a breath of a laugh.
Shiro came forward and placed his non mechanical hand on Lance's shoulder.
"You'll be okay. And remember that we will all be here to support what you have to say."
"Thank you," Lance nearly whispered. "You don't know how much that means to me."

Before long, it was time to start.
People came filing into the room, taking their seats at the incredibly large table.
Lance stood tall, holding tightly to Keith's hand, seeking comfort.
Keith didn't fail to meet his needs. He squeezed just as tight and together they looked at each other, sharing a silent conversation nobody would ever be able to understand but them.
"Now, you all probably know why we asked so many of you here tonight. I have to say this is probably the first time in a while that we are all gathered here together to discuss a topic."
There were murmurs of agreement, smiles passed around between those who hadn't seen each other for a period of time.
"As you are aware, this conference is being held to determine the fate of a special person, and shape not only our city, but the world's future. This person is known from all over. His name is Frost, an ex-villain searching for the mere possibility of being accepted into society as a hero. Though he isn't always viewed positively, he has a much larger story to explain his past actions and his plan for the future."
That was Lance's cue.
He stepped forward.
"Hello. As said, I am Frost."
Lance looked down and took a deep breath.
"I know you might think poorly of me. Some of you might hate me, and I can't say I blame you. Because the truth is, I'm not very fond of myself, either. There are so many things I wish I did, so many things that I wish I was brave enough to do."
Lance looked up.
"I was manipulated and abused by my father for nearly my entire life. He used me as a tool to get what he wanted, and I obeyed his orders due to the fear of his threats to hurt my family if I didn't. It wasn't until recently that I put an end to the vicious cycle of torture. And half of the reason I managed to do it was through the help of Slate."
Lance looked at Keith, a proud smile on his face.
"I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him. Through our bonding, I realized things about myself, him, and others. It gave me strength, and with that strength I managed to do what I had to do."
Lance smiled, looking at his hands.
"He was the one who taught me the true meaning of love. And it helped me want to do good. He accepted me. Now I hope that you can accept me too."

They continued to talk for a while, answer questions, and plan. Most of the people in the room seemed to accept Lance, but even so he could tell there were still some people on edge.
"Does anyone have any objections?" Sam Holt asked, getting ready to conclude the meeting.
There was a man in the farthest corner, someone who obviously wasn't trusting of Frost.
"Yeah," He spoke up, voice gruff.
"I want to ask Frost a question."
The pale boy nodded.
The man looked unstable, showing signs that Lance was all too familiar with.
"Why, might I ask," the man growled, hand shaking.
And then a sudden outburst, filled with rage.
"DID YOU FUCKING KILL MY BROTHER?"
Lance nearly jumped back, immediately tensing.
That... wasn't expected. Everyone in the room looked ruffed, nervously glancing back and fourth, as if any moment some fight would break out.
"Wh-what do you mean? Wh-who?" Lance stammered, eyes widening and throat tightening in the effort not to cry.
He didn't want to be put on the spot like that, especially when it was the discussion of a murder he might have done in the middle of a peace meeting.
"My brother was that damn shop keeper you decided to freeze into a block of ice. Or are you too cruel of a person to remember?"
Oh.
Oh no.
Lance's body shook, but it wasn't because he was cold.
"I didn't want to!" Lance cried out, slamming his hands against the table in front of him.
"I didn't want to kill him but I didn't have a choice! I never have a choice in anything! I never got to choose who I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. I was forced around!"
"FUCK YOU!" The man screamed. "FUCK YOU! YOU KILLED HIM! YOU KILLED HIM!"
Lance covered half his face with his hands, shaking.
"Kuron, get him out of here!" Sam ordered, Shiro already making his way over to the man and taking his arm.
"I HOPE YOU DIE!" The man continued roaring. "I HOPE YOU GET SHOT IN THE FUCKING HEAD AND DIE!"
Lance backed up, fear, trauma, and guilt filling him.
"LET GO OF ME-" The man was yelling to Shiro, who had to drag the man out.
Right before the man left the room, he gave one last wild, despising glare at Lance.
"I hope you burn alive," He seethed, before being pulled out of the door.
"K-" Sam had to correct himself. "Slate, get Frost out of here."
Keith was quick to his actions, taking Lance's arm and taking the petrified boy out the opposite doorway.
Once they were out, Lance ripped out of Keith's grip and ran. Down the halls, just to get the fuck out of the building. He didn't care about the other workers and visitors looking at him in confusion. No, he just had to leave. He didn't wait for Keith.
Out the doors.
Down the street.
turning the corner, and another, and another. To the river.

He screamed.

He screamed so loud that the peaceful birds in nearby trees flew away.

There he crouched on the bank of the river, holding his head as he sobbed and continued letting out howls of anguish.
He finally snapped. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't take the blame. He didn't want to be here anymore.
Lance had side thoughts of the possibility of him just jumping in the river and never coming back out, but he knew it wasn't fair to Keith.

So he just stayed there by the river, tears streaming down his pale face as he listened to the sound of the speeding water of the river.

A/N:
(I lied about not posting a chapter I'm just posting it late lolol you're welcome)
Everything comes back to bite you sooner or later, and I didn't add that death in for nothing, lol. That's a lesson, kiddos. Think wisely about what you choose to do, because it honestly can come back to you later, and not always in a good way.

Also IMSORRYFORADDINGMOREANGST.

but at the same time not really, because it is really important for a character to experience things like that. In the end it all is apart of development and healing from what he did.

He has many burns. He is on fire with what he did, and it takes time to heal.

^ Lance

....and me