Accidental Intentions

48 • Transparency

"Can I help you?"

Keith hadn't meant it as harshly as his tone implied. He had opened the door to find Lance standing there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot and looking like he would rather be anywhere else.

Lance's eyes flickered up from the floor briefly before dropping his gaze back to his shoes. Keith noticed the way his eyelashes laid lightly against his cheeks. Those lightly freckled cheeks. "Coran sent me to get you. And, um, you might want to suit up."

Keith waited for Lance to elaborate, but the Blue Paladin just offered him a tentative smile before turning to leave. Keith watched his figure retreat down the hall.

"....Okay?"

Lance had been acting really weird since his apology. Not that Keith could blame him, it was awkward as hell trying to proceed as if he hadn't puked his guts out in front of him. Not to mention all the other stuff that had happened between them. But this was a little overboard. Keith was grateful for the break, but it also left something hollow. But he didn't dare bring it up. Besides, talking about feelings wasn't his style.

He felt a concerned probe from Red. She had been really protective lately.

Shaking his head he sent her a reassurance that he was fine, it's nothing. He reached for his armor and began putting it on.

He felt her skeptical purr resonate in his bones. Fuck, this mind-link thing was creepy. But it was a sign all his efforts to bond with her were paying off.

I'm fine, Red. It's not a big deal, just something stupid.

As he reached for his helmet his mind was flooded with outside emotions and pictures. The lions didn't really communicate with words, but he got her meaning loud and clear: it was a big deal because it was bothering him.

"I'm not bothered," Keith denied under his breath as he departed from his room in search of Coran.

As soon as he stepped onto the bridge, Coran nearly pounced on him. "There you are! Are you ready to go?"

Go where?

"I guess?"

"Splendid! Now I have a favor to ask you: would you be willing to take us down in Red?"

"Us?"

"Lance and me, of course!"

"Both of you?" Sure all five Paladins had piled into Blue the day they left Earth. But Blue was significantly larger than Red. "Might be tight but, yeah, I can make it work."

Lance arrived hauling a complicated instrument on his shoulder. It appeared to be half shovel, half drill. And a lot heavier than it looked, based on the way he was carrying it.

Keith moved forward to help him, but Lance jerked away.

"I got it, cowboy."

Keith wasn't sure if it was Lance refusing his help or the nickname, but it stung. Maybe it was that Lance didn't meet his eyes when he said it.

"Ah, Lance! I see you've found the helvior alright!" Coran rushed forward.

"Where do you want it?"

"We'll load it aboard Red," the Altean directed.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Keith asked, a slight edge to his voice. There were zip-lines and things.

"Ah! Didn't think of that."

*   *   *

They had somehow managed to fit everybody plus a very heavy helvior. It was tight. Coran was smashed up against his side and Lance directly behind him.