Cracked But Not Broken

Chapter Eight: Now We Know

"Everything?" My voice comes out breathy.

"Everything." He reassures, his fingers gently running through my hair while his other hand stays cupping my face.

"It-" My voice breaks as Keith quietly shushes me.

"Let's get you to your bed." He suggests and I nod.

Keith sits with his back against the wall, I gingerly slump against his chest. With a hum he smiles against my neck, wrapping his arms around my bare waist.

"Why do you care about me?" I ask quietly.

"Why wouldn't I?" I can practically feel him furrow his brows together.

"I'm annoying." I hold my pointer finger up. "Hell, everyone thinks I am. My stupid jokes." Two fingers. "I use them to fill the silence. The silence I've always hated, but sometimes I can't even stand my own voice.

"I pretend to be alright, I always have. You'd ask me if I'm alright. I'll say I'm fine, but I'm not fine. And I've come to terms with that.

"I'm so broken, my mind has been shattered by their torture and my own. What do you do with something so broken. I know, you throw it away. I won't blame you if you want to." I nuzzle into Keith in need of comfort and warmth.

"Maybe you are broken." His grip around me tightens, his lips grazing my jaw. "But I'm gonna be the one to put you back together."

"Thank you, Keith." I turn my head and press a gently kiss against his temple.

I can feel the heat of his face against my skin as he rubs slow circles on my stomach.

"No problem." I hear as I begin to nod off.

"-ance...Lance, the teams called a meeting." A soft voice whispers into my ear.

"Imma wake." I grumble, rolling off the bed and onto the floor.

"Lance!" I hear laughing as I begrudgingly get to my feet.

"Shut it, Mullet ." I quickly grab a shirt and rush out of the room. I'm late enough as is, I don't want to get in more trouble.

"We'll have to talk to the team, about what they said. You know what, right?"

"I-I know." I sigh. "But no one will listen to what I have to say."

"I'll make sure they listen." He chuckles.

Fingers grip my trembling ones as I speed down the hall. My lanky fingers clasp Keith's as of it is the only thing holding me together. At this point it might as well be.

"Good afternoon, Keith." Allura greets with a smile. "Lance, you are late yet again."

"Allu-" I barely open my mouth.

"Don't give me any of your stupid excuses.  I don't want to hear another word about how beauty blah blah blah." As she complains I feel myself shrinking. My arms are wrapped around my waist tightly, my head in boring holes into the floor, but I won't let any tears spill.

"This is bullshit." I raise my head at Keith's voice. "Lance arrived the exact same time as me, and he gets yelled at. Absolute crap."

"But he is always late, he need to start managing his time better." Shiro scolds.

"You're all at fault here. Lance was too nervous to come to the pods while you were there because he didn't want to get yelled at again. He told he everything his so called teammates said to him after the mission, when he should be asleep.

"Maybe you should all fucking think before you blab you're mouth. Most of what he told me is just you all taking your stress out on him.

"Now that the fuckery is done with. Let's get on with what we came here to do." Keith huffs and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Oh-okay." Allura clears her throat and starts talking about our next mission.

Keith walks up between Shiro and Allura to hear what's going on. Pidge stands wide eyed beside Shiro, Hunk stands next to her just as shocked.

I just stay back, holding myself closer. I just want to disappear.

I feel eyes on me and look up to see Keith glancing toward me. He motions for me to come to him. I do so, but very hesitantly.

He takes my hand and brings it to rest on his stomach. I get the idea and slide my other arm around his waist.

He continues to talk to the team as he places his hands on top of mine. I rest my head in Keith's fluffy, but ever irritating, mullet.

I don't care if the team is giving us weird looks. I don't care if I'll get asked a million questions later. I don't care about anything but feeling safe in Keith's arms. I don't care about anything but right now.

794 words. I'm sooo sorry bois that it took so long. But this is the end! All that's left is a short epilogue. Thanks for reading, please comment and like. I loved writing this story and I hope you like reading it. Until next time, Zoe signing off.