*KEITH'S POV*
I answer the phone and hear Noah's voice on the other end. I question how he got my number and question why he's calling me in the first place. He starts by asking for my help. He tells me that lance hasn't been out of bed for over a week and he's starting to worry about him. I've never know lance to do anything like this so I knew it wasn't something to ignore. I told him I could come down as soon as I'm free to see what's wrong. He didn't sound to thrilled that I would be the one going even tho he's the one who called me. I offered to bring the rest of the team with me so he'd feel more comfortable with me coming over. I leave the blade deck and head back to the castle. I gather up Pidge, Shiro, and Hunk and get them loaded in the black lion before they could ask questions. I explained what was happening on the way there.
"As you may know lance is back home with his boyfriend Noah and we haven't heard much from him lately. I got a call not too long ago and it was from Noah. He told me lance hasn't been out of bed for over a week and he's worried about him. So we're heading down there to make sure he's okay." I say
"Why are we all coming? Hasn't Noah tried to help him?" Pidge Asks.
"He didn't tell me what happened or why lance started acting this way but he did say lance won't listen to him. He's not talking or eating or anything" I say back. Saying this all out loud I feel sick to my stomach. The though of lance being like he is makes me ill. I can't bear to see him so broken. I have to prepare myself for what I'm going to see and I know I have to be strong for him.
"Did noah do something to lance? He's never acted like this and I've known him his whole life." Hunk says concerned for Lances safety. It makes me start thinking about what goes on behind closed doors at their place. Whatever it is it was enough to make lance fall apart worse than we have ever seen. The closer we get the less anyone starts talking. The heat of the unknowns has us speechless. We all are here to take care of lance but we have no idea what we are getting ourself into. When we finally arrive at his place we all crowd to the door without hesitation. We knocked on the door and Noah answered. He looked guilty and broken. Unbothered by him I push past him walking into the bedroom where we would find lance. He was wrapped up under a thin white blanket all the way to his head. I walk around the bed and meet eyes with him.
"Hey, sharp shooter" I say with a soft voice. He was pale and thin. He had large bags under his eyes and bright red cheeks. It broke me to see him. I wanted to look away but I couldn't. He didn't answer me so I keep talking him up
"We miss you back home buddy. How would you like to come back home with us." I say leaning in to brush the hair out of his face.
"No he's staying with me. I only wanted you to make him go back to normal. That's all" I hear noah say in the doorway. I look up at him standing behind the team his broad shoulders trying to intimidate us. I nodded my head giving the team a sign. They pushed him out of the room shutting the door behind them. I look back down at lance and his eyes are still locked on mine.
*LANCES POV*
When I saw keith in front of me I thought it was a dream. Then he called me sharp shooter and I could have sworn it was. I couldn't look away afraid if I did he would disappear. He asked me to come home and he touched me. I got a cold chill down my whole body when he touched me. He was really here. I was so close to getting up and walking out with him when Noah started arguing with Keith. Hearing his voice made me want to melt into the sheets. Keith could tell as Noah was no longer allowed in his own room. There I was agin ready to get up but this time my body wouldn't listen to me. I was exhausted and weak.
"I'm sorry" I say simply. My voice cracking in the process. I could see he hated hearing me say that. His expression changed when I did.
"How about we just head home how does that sound?" He says standing up reaching his hand out to help me up. I nod my head grabbing his hands. He pulled me up slowly careful not to hurt me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a standing position so he was holding me in his arms. I lay my head down on his shoulder not wanting to move anymore than this. His heart started beating faster and I felt him take a deep breath.
"Do you need to take anything with you?" He asked. I though about it for a while not knowing if I would be back. Thinking of all the things I own here but I just couldn't think of anything.
"I don't think so." I say quietly. He whispered okay and held me there for another Moment then warned me he was going to call for the other paladins to help him. They all looked at me like my parents had just died. So much worry and sympathy. It only made it worse. Shiro helped Keith take me out of the room while hunk and Pidge searches it for my things. Once we left the room I saw Noah was sitting on the couch waiting for me. He blocked the door so I couldn't leave.
"This is not what I wanted. Listen I didn't mean to yell at you or say those things. I'm sorry if I scared you it was just one time I promise it won't happen again. I just needed you to get out of bed not leave me." He says panicked.
"Scared me? You knew what you were doing to me and you didn't hesitate to do it. I think it's best if I leave before it happens again." I say finally finding an ounce of strength to say something. Keith and Shiro both looked down at me afraid for what I was meaning. I could see the way his face turned red and his eyes got larger he was going to freak out again. I attempted to move away from him but couldn't that's when Shiro stood in front of me.
"I'm going to ask you nicely to move out of our way." He says standing taller than Noah. Hunk and Pidge leave the room ready to go and to hear the confrontation.
"All I want is for lance to stay here that's all. He's safe here." Noah says pleading with shiro but you could see the anger built up behind the innocent voice.
"I think it's a good idea you move aside and we can leave without an issue." Shiro says not moving.
"No" he says Clenching his fist. Shiro doesn't take it anymore and goes to push past Noah to get to the door. Noah throws a punch and lays a solid one on Shiro's face. Shiro shoves him hard enough he falls into the kitchen floor not fazed by he punch. I started feeling light headed and the last I thing I remember was falling Into keiths arms.
* KEITHS POV*
As they stared fighting lance became limp in my arms. Looking down at him as he fades away all I could think was getting him back home. Hunk and pidge help me get lance out of the situation while shiro stayed back to make sure Noah wouldn't tru anything stupid. We settled in the ship and waited for shiro before we took off on our way home. When we got there lance was still blacked out.
"He doesn't look too good. I'll open a medical pod for him." Pidge said rushing ahead of us.
"No need. He's not physically sick that wouldn't help him. He need to be in his own bed for a chance." I tell her. Each one of them give me a pat on the shoulder or a nod before leaving me to take care of lance. They all know they can't help him. It seemed like no one can. So I took him to his room, a place that has been seemingly empty for far too long. I laid him down taking off his coat in the process. He didn't have shoes on considering he's been in bed for as long as we can tell. It's hard seeing him like this. He's never acted this way and I can't help but think it's because I wasn't there for him. I pulled up a chair and sat with him while he was still unconscious. I didn't want him waking up alone if he didn't remember ever hung that just happened. Even with me falling for another guy and me and lance clearly finished I wanted to be there for him. In ways more than a friend would and I can't just ignore that feeling. I took his hand in mine and held it while I waited. Watching him sound asleep worried about all the pain he's got inside his mind. Lance never deserved anything he's been given.
*LANCES POV*
I woke up in my room back home and for a while I couldn't remember how I got here. It took a moment for me to process everything. Keith was asleep in his chair with his head on the bed. His hand wrapped around mine. I didn't have the energy to get up yet so I rolled over to face him and tapped him on the shoulder. He slowly woke up with a yawn and once he saw me awake he sprung up letting go of my hand. He cleared his throat out of embarrassment.
"Lance, how long have you been up?" He asked.
"Not very long." I say back.
"Are you feeling any better? Can I get you anything?"
"I'm okay I'm not hungry. Does everyone know I'm here?" I ask. Wondering just how much of yesterday was real.
"Um yah. We picked you up a couple days ago and they have been checking on you every once an a while" Keith said.
"A few days ago?" I question
"Yah you have been asleep this whole time. I'm glad to see you awake." Keith says so calmly
"Oh. They all probably want to see me don't they?" I ask more questions
"Don't worry about this right now. I wanna make sure you're okay first. What do you say we get out of bed today. Maybe go on a walk or go for a swim?" Keith tries to help me.
"Can you stay with me? I don't wanna be alone?" I say. Even with all me and Keith have been through he's the only one who can make me feel better. I don't know what it is but he makes me feel good. With Noah I felt sick and abused. Keith makes me feel like I'm worth something. I was willing to get better for Keith even if I didn't want to for myself.
"Of course I'll be with you the whole time." He says calming my nerves. I reach my arm out in a way asking Keith to help me out of bed. He takes my hand and gently helps me to my feet.
"How are you feeling?" He asks worried I'd be too week.
"I feel like I could beat you to the pool if we raced right now." I joked. The smile he gave back to me just about killed me. Just a smile but he said so much by it. He was proud of me, he was worried for me, he cared for me, he loved me. His smile was the first sign of pure happiness I've seen on Keith for a long time. All because I was finally myself again. Or almost. He walked with me to the pool talking about everything we could. He respected me and never asked about Noah. He never questioned or hinted about it. I'm assuming they all have their guesses as to what happened between us but telling them felt wrong. It made me feel weak and broken. With Keith his he was to ask me I wouldn't hesitate to tell him. He's the only constant in my life. I know how he thinks and how he acts. I know him more than he knows himself and for that I trust him. I trust him with my life and I know he trusts me. Or at least he did.
