The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 30: Need

"James, can I talk to you for a moment?" Lance questioned. When James looked up to him with wide, curious eyes but didn't make any effort to move away from Keith, he added, "Alone."

Keith shrugged and kissed James's cheek before mumbling something about waiting in his room. James nodded before turning his attention back to Lance. The dark bags under his eyes seemed to stand out all the more after Lance had found something to alleviate his suspicion and confirm his thoughts.

"I know your secret," Something washed over James's face- a concoction of confusion and guilt- but, as quickly as it surfaced, it had disappeared again. Lance sat where Keith had been and leant forward, thinning his eyes as if he was about to start an interrogation. Suddenly, he was in the shoes of the police officer that had asked him an abundance of different questions when he had first returned to Earth. "You've been taking drugs." The twitch on James's face was so obvious that he might as well have told Lance about it himself.

"What?" James questioned, widening his eyes. "No! Where would you get that idea from?" James was panicking and that much was evident in the high pitch of his voice. His hands had moved to clench around the edge of the table and his body was stiff like a rock.

"I found them. Don't lie to me."

"Fine, I admit it. I've been taking pills..." James glanced around him and only continued once he realised there wasn't anyone else around to listen in on their conversation. "But it's only Adderall. It's not- not LSD or some shit. I'm fine."

"Adderall?" Lance's face fell as he recognised the drug as one that was used to treat ADHD. James didn't seem hyperactive at all but Lance didn't want to jump to conclusions too quickly. For all he knew, James suffered from concentration problems in silence. After all, it might be a taboo topic for someone who stood proudly at the top of the class rankings. Maybe he was embarrassed to admit he relied on pills to maintain his position. "Isn't that for-"

"ADHD, yeah. It helps me concentrate."

"Did you get it prescribed to you then?"

James swallowed and stayed silent for a moment that seemed to drag on for eternity. He stared down at his lap, tears pricking in his eyes as he tried desperately to suppress the urge to cry. "No..."

"Where do you get them from then?"

"I know a guy... he sells them to me."

Lance's mouth dropped open to form an 'o' so perfect that it would have immensely satisfied anyone with an eye for perfection and neatness. James had confirmed it. His gut was right. James was taking unprescribed drugs. "James... that isn't-" Lance was cut off before he could even contemplate the best way to voice his erratic thoughts.

"I know it isn't healthy but exams are coming up and I can't fail! I can't risk losing my scholarship and losing my place at the top of the class. I- I need to study."

"Well, of course you need to study... but you shouldn't be taking pills for it..." Silence lapsed between them as neither knew what else to say. Lance was still in shock and James was too busy trying not to sob to articulate his thoughts. "Are- Are you going to tell Keith?"

"I can't! He'll make me stop taking them and I need them. You wouldn't understand."

Lance frowned as James's head jolted up and he saw the tears shining in his eyes. James was obviously in deep, probably addicted to the pills after having taken them for who-knows-how-long. When James lurched forward and gripped onto Lance's jacket with his trembling hands, he looked borderline insane... as you would expect of a drug addict. "You're going to kill yourself, James."

"I won't," James removed his hands from Lance and buried his head into them. He clenched his jaw hard enough to make it ache. Tears were beginning to leak from his eyes but Lance couldn't see them from where he was sitting. "My exams are next month. I promise I'll stop taking them after. Just please... don't tell Keith. It will hurt him so much. I don't want to upset him or make him worry."

"I won't... just... you have to stop after the exams." The way James's shoulders trembled and his voice shook with trepidation made Lance feel sorry for him.

"I will," They met eyes so James's words seemed more authentic. "I swear."

I apologise for the short chapter but I still hope you enjoyed it :)