Lance, Please

If I Could Tell Him

Shiro had been missing for weeks now, and everyone was taking it hard. Allura had locked herself in the bridge, searching every possible lead for Shiro. Hunk hadn't left the kitchen once, and Pidge was definitely running on caffeine and murder by now. Keith had pretty much isolated himself in the training room, fighting until he collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Lance and Coran were the only two functioning somewhat properly. Even then, Coran was busy fixing the castle half the time, so it was up to Lance to take care of everyone.

It took Lance three varga to convince Allura and Hunk to get some sleep, as well as drag Pidge to their room and lock the door until they got some sleep. Already exhausted, Lance stood outside the training room, internally debating whether or not it was worth it. Steeling his nerves, he walked in.

“End simulation.” He called, earning himself a glare from Keith. “Initiate lockdown till 0900 tomorrow.” He continued, watching Keith's jaw drop in shock. “Code 1@nc3.”

“Code confirmed. Initiating lockdown mode.” A robotic voice echoed. Lance smirked as Keith huffed, throwing him a water pack.

“You need to rest oh fearless leader.” Lance teased, watching Keith pout like a toddler as he drank. Not receiving any answer, Lance sighed before talking again.

“He thought you were awesome.” He said, making himself comfortable on the floor next to Keith, leaning up against the wall.

Keith's eyes widened a bit at that, and he snorted. “He thought I was awesome? My brother?”

“Definitely!”

Keith's eyes shone as he turned to face Lance, who was scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “How?”

“Well,” Lance stuttered, before he sighed and sang softly. “He said, there's nothing like your smile. Sort of subtle and perfect and real.”

Lance saw Keith's lips twitch at that, so he kept going, voice getting stronger as he sang. “He said, you never knew how wonderful that smile could make someone feel.”

A giggle. The castle’s audio system activated and Lance stood, smiling goofily as Keith watched. “And he knew, whenever you get bored you scribble stars (blades) on the cuffs of your jeans.”

Another laugh. Clearly Keith was getting it now, and Lance turned his back, smiling widely. “And he noticed, that you still fill out the quizzes that they put in those teen magazines.”

('How do you still get those in space anyways?’ 'Fuck off Lance. And by fuck off I mean fuck off back to singing because this song is great.’ 'As you wish!’)

“But he kept it all inside his head. What he saw he left unsaid. And though he wanted to, he couldn't talk to you.” Lance sang, swaying as he neared the chorus, much to Keith's amusement. “He couldn't find the way, but he would always say.”

Lance started dancing, spinning around as he closed his eyes, letting himself get swept into the music. Keith smiled softly as he watched, chuckling as Lance swapped 'her’ for 'him', the words hitting close to home. “If I could tell him, tell him everything I see. If I could tell him, how he's everything to me.” But we're a million worlds apart. And I don't know how I would even start.”

“If I could tell him, If I could tell him.” Lance sang, sliding to sit next to Keith again, the latter grinning so hard his face was starting to hurt.

“Did he say anything else?” He asked shyly, and Lance's mouth snapped open in surprise.

“A-about you?” He manage to choke out.

Keith flailed his arms nervously at this, before stammering a response. “Never mind I don't really care anyways-”

He was cut off by Lance once more. “No, no no!” He cried laughing nervously. “Just, no, no. He said so many things. I'm just - I'm trying to remember the best ones!” He laughed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “So, um…”

“He thought, you looked really pretty-” He broke into a cough, stammering as he continued. “er- it looked pretty cool when you put indigo streaks in your hair.”

“He did?” Keith asked, brushing his fingers through his hair nervously. Lance smiled before snatching Keith's hand, pulling him up to stand together.

Outside, Coran was searching for Lance, wanting to speak to him about what to do for the others, when he heard music coming from the training room. Peeking in, He saw Lance dragging Keith back and forth, attempting to teach him how to dance. Coran smiled and closed the door softly. 'It can wait. It seems he's doing a pretty good job already.’

“And he wondered, how you learned to dance like the rest of the world isn't there.” Lance sang, giggling as Keith tried to keep up with his steps.

“But he kept it all inside his head. What he saw he left unsaid.” He went on, smiling as Keith laughed, a real genuine laugh, the first laugh he had ever gotten out of Keith.

Awestruck, he continued softer than before, Keith not noticing as he broke away to sway by himself, eyes closed and head tilted to the ceiling. “If I could tell him, tell him everything I see. If I could tell him, how he's everything to me.”

Keith joined in, strong voice wavering slightly. “But we're a million worlds apart.”

“And I don't know how I would even start, if I could tell him….If I could tell him….” Lance sang, bringing Keith into a light hug. Keith stiffened at the sudden contact, but melted into the hug quickly. “But what do you do when there's this great divide?”

“He just seemed so far away….” Keith sang softly, almost brokenly as Lance hugged him tighter.

“And what do you do, when the distance is too wide?”

“It’s like I don't know anything.” Keith sniffled, burying his head deeper into Lance's shoulder.

“And how do you say I love you….” Lance said, sitting slowly, as to make both of them more comfortable. Taking this as an invitation, Keith sat with his legs around Lance, still gripping his jacket tightly. “I love you. I love you.”

He took his jacket off, wrapping it tightly around Keith. That jacket was so large on Keith it was almost comical, earning a small giggle from Lance as he continued. “I love you!”

His voice got quieter again, singing softly as he comforted Keith. “But we're a million worlds apart. And I don't know how I would even start. If I could tell him…. If I could.”

Lance rubbed circles on Keith's back, holding the other boy as sobs racked his body. After a while, the sobs died down, replaced by light snoring.

“Really mullet? Leave me to carry you?” Lance muttered, standing up carefully with Keith still in his arms. “Typical.” He carried Keith back to his room and laid him in the bed, slipping his shoes off and tucking him in. Pausing at the doorway, Lance watched softly as Keith snuggled deeper into Lance's jacket, smiling sleepily.

Lance closed the door quietly, and almost jumped ten feet in the air as Coran appeared out of nowhere.

“He can't complain about you forgetting a bonding moment now.” Coran jokes, careful to be quiet and not disturb the people sleeping. Lance laughed, shaking his head slightly.

“Did you need me for anything?”

“No. I had something earlier, but you seemed to take care of it just fine.”

Lance's eyes gleamed in understanding. “I had a lot of practice. Being a big brother is a lot of work.” He patted Coran on the shoulder, walking past him to head to his own room. “Get some rest Coran. We can keep looking for Shiro in the morning.”

The castle was quiet that night for the first time in forever.