The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 4: Parting Ways

Just so you know, I have officially completed the second draft of this book so now all I need to do is upload it! Hopefully you are glad to hear that this is the longest book I have ever written and it hits an amazing 80,000 words. 81,077 to be exact :D I'm very proud of it.

Having meals with his family was something Lance had dreamed of when he was in space. He craved his mum's homemade dinners and missed his family's recounts of their days. Veronica always had something to say about her crush- Lance knew everything about her down to the colour of her eyes (hazel with some grey flecks)- and his parents always complained about their jobs. Luis was usually too busy eating to comment but, on the odd occasion, he'd bring up something that happened at school or a new video his favourite YouTuber had posted. The atmosphere of family dinners was one of Lance's favourites. However, at that moment, they had somehow become his least favourite.

The tension was thick in the air, weighing down everyone around the table. Lance's mum was clinging to desperate attempts at conversation as she asked how everyone's days had been. Lance zoned out before anyone could respond, pushing his food around on his plate. It had once been his favourite meal but something about the atmosphere was making Lance feel too nauseated to eat.

When Veronica hit her elbow against Lance's, he assumed it was his turn to reply. He looked up from his food, just to mumble, "It was fine." In reality, it had been incredibly boring. He had laid in bed until his parents had dragged him to the psychologist's and had gotten straight back into bed when he got home. His own thoughts running circles in his head made him feel exhausted most of the time; there was something about his family not trusting him that put him down.

"You've hardly touched your food." His dad pointed out, as if it was a Sherlock Holmes' level observation and not just plain obvious.

"Do you not like it?"

Once upon a time, Lance would have basked in the attention but, after everything that had happened, he couldn't do that anymore. Everyone's gazes on him might as well have been fire burning him with how uncomfortable they were making him feel. An intensity washed over him that told him he was going to be sick. It came out of nowhere but was enough of a warning for Lance to pull himself up. Not wanting to worry his family, Lance kept his face as straight as possible as he headed to the bathroom. He was only just able to shut the door and dive towards the toilet before he was throwing up what little he had eaten.

After he'd finished, he relaxed onto his knees. His breaths were heavy and his throat was on fire but he was simply relieved not to be vomiting anymore.

A long moment passed before someone knocked on the bathroom door. That someone was confirmed to be his mother when she asked, "Are you alright? You've been in there a while."

"I'm fi-" Lance tried to lie but that just so happened to be the exact moment he retched again. Upon hearing it, his mum shoved the door open.

"Hijo..." She rubbed Lance's back until that second wave of nausea passed. Then she asked a question Lance could never have predicted which made him feel sick for a completely different reason. "Did you make yourself sick? Tell me the truth."

"No, of course I didn't!" Lance's surprise was apparent in the raised volume of his voice.

"Promise me. Please."

Lance turned his head to make direct eye contact so she knew he meant every word. "I promise, mamá."

"Okay." The frown on her face seemed to suggest that she didn't believe Lance but he hadn't expected anything less.

-

"I'm afraid this is where we part ways," Allura spoke, voice solemn. Each of the paladins stared at her with frowns across their faces and thin, sorrowful eyes.