The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 33: A Kid with Depression

Keith was sat on his bed, flicking through a random book he'd found when his phone began to blare out his ringtone. Confused, Keith reached for it and answered, forcing out a tiny, "Hello?" It wasn't often he got calls, let alone ones from a number he didn't already have in his contacts.

"Is this Keith Kogane?" The authoritative tone of the speaker made Keith sit up straighter. "A patient, James Griffin, wanted us to inform you that he is awake and stable."

Keith was already halfway through tugging on his jacket when he said, "I'm on my way." He slipped on his shoes without bothering to tie up the laces and took off in a sprint down the hallway.

-

James decided to skip the friendly greeting when he watched Keith walk into his hospital room. The first thing that tumbled out of his mouth was, "I'm so sorry."

Keith didn't even look at him. His gaze remained frozen on the floor as tears began to gather in his eyes. "Why did you do it?" His voice was so fragile that it instantly triggered the onset of tears in James's eyes too.

"I can't fail my exams, Keith. The Garrison might kick me out if I do but I don't have anywhere else to go. I can't lose this scholarship."

"That doesn't mean you should take drugs!" Keith didn't mean to shout: it was just a festering of all of his inner fury finally making its way to the surface. It must have registered that they were in a public space because, the next time he spoke, his voice was a low monotone. James thought it was so much worse than the shouting. "You'd have passed anyway. You're the smartest in your class."

"I'm not..."

"You come top in every test and score perfect on the simulators every time, James."

"Last time I got top by one mark."

"That's still good! You can't seriously expect to always be better than everyone else," James hung his head and paid more attention to a loose thread in his hospital gown than Keith. "It's just a fact of life that you can't always be the best."

"It's all I have," James's voice was trembling so much that Keith was impressed at his ability to suppress sobs. "I don't have a family to push me and help me succeed. When my dad-" James's breath hitched so he left the clause unfinished. Both James and Keith knew what he had been trying to say anyway. "After I tried... I tried to kill myself... teachers kept taking me out of lessons and saying they would understand if I needed time out of class. They just pitied me. I was just a kid with depression and a dad that had vanished out of thin air."

Finally, James hunched over and sobbed. The sound seemed to echo around the room, so deafening that it made Keith's ears ring. "James-" He started, wanting him to know he wasn't obliged to continue. James cut him off.

"I had to prove myself to them... so I worked harder. I barely slept because I was studying so much. I was so tired all the time that I could hardly concentrate. I did some research and realised ADHD prescription meds might help. I wasn't in the right state of mind so... so I found someone who'd sell them to me. The first time I took one, it was like a miracle. It made me feel so much more awake and focused... so I took more. Eventually, I had to take more pills at the same time to get that same effect that I wanted. I felt like I needed them to keep me focused. The night I-" James swallowed. He gave himself a moment to compose himself so, the next time he spoke, his voice was steader and more coherent. "The night I overdosed, it was an accident. I took a few and they didn't help so I just kept taking them. I didn't realise what I'd done until it was too late to go back."

Keith chose against saying anything and, instead, climbed onto the small bed alongside James. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and pulled him towards his chest. Sobs shook James as Keith rubbed circles onto his back.

James sounded vulnerable and afraid like a small child who had lost his parents when he murmured, "I need help." In a way, he was that child but, not only had he lost his dad, he had lost his way in life too. He was a soul that had lost its way, wandering through acres and acres of forest that all looked identical. It meant he couldn't trace his steps back and was stuck circling the same places over and over again without any hope of getting out.

"I know," Keith whispered into James's hair. He closed his eyes and breathed in the soft scent of James's coconut shampoo to ground himself. He blinked, letting a single tear trail down his left cheek. "You're going to get help and we're going to fight this addiction... together."

-

Keith turned his head as someone wandered into the hospital room. James had seemed much more stable since he admitted his need for help but, still, he didn't expect any visitors beside his boyfriend (who else would care about him anyway?) When both his and Keith's eyes settled on the man clad in police uniform, their hearts plummeted to the floor. Keith was certain he was about to be arrested for killing James's dad, despite the case of his disappearance being terminated.

Surprisingly, the officer- Bentley, Keith recalled- smiled fondly at the pair. "I would like to apologise," He pulled his hat off his head and held it up to his chest as if he were a child hugging their favourite teddy bear. He even bowed down ever so slightly before he spoke again. "I was wrong about you and the rest of Voltron."

"What do you mean?" Keith murmured. He strengthened his grip on James's hand to fulfil his own selfish desire for comfort.

"I accused you of murder and presumed you were a bad person but I couldn't have been more wrong. The other day, during your fight with the other ship, I was there. I saw it all. I was out with my partner and baby at the time and a building almost crushed us but a member of your team saved our lives. The yellow one, I believe."

A smile tugged at Keith's lips, though he hadn't seen the building collapse himself. It was just like Hunk to be the one to dive in first to rescue civilians. Pride for his team sweltered in the pit of Keith's chest. He made a mental note to thank Hunk for putting Keith in the clear with the police officer. "It is our duty to protect the innocent."

"I can't thank you enough... You and your team are all good people; I'm sure of it now. You helped me realise just how short life is. I'm not sure you care but last night... I proposed to my girlfriend," The grin on Bentley's face practically radiated throughout the room like a beam of sunlight. Despite all of the anxiety the police officer had given him, Keith couldn't help but feel happy for him. "Thank you so much. For everything you do."

Keith nodded his head. "Congratulations for getting engaged."

"Thank you... if it weren't for you and the rest of Voltron, I would still be too scared to ask." Bentley held out his hand for Keith to shake but ended up pulling him into a hug instead. "You're incredibly brave. Keep it up, son."

"I'll try my best." With one last smile, Bentley walked out again, leaving James and Keith in shock. They exchanged a look as if to say 'what on earth just happened?' before Keith wrapped his arm back around James and let silence wash over them again.