A Falling Star (SHKLANCE)

Dirty Water

Hello everyone! Wow, I haven't posted since last year!
Okay the joke is overrated, please don't stop reading because of it!

Enjoy some angst my lovelies!
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***Shiro POV***

Lance has been training exclusively with Keith and I for about a week now. A week is not enough time to develop expertise in hand to hand combat, but he has been improving quickly. He seems to be coming out of of his hardened shell, at least around us two. He has returned to his lawful banter with Keith, which is better than this self proclaimed rivalry of his, but there is still some tension whenever he is alone with me. I've spoken with Hunk about how he behaved in the Garrison before all this mess. Hunk has told me that back then he was flirtatious, loud, and energetic. Sure, he's been all of those things but during this year especially he's grown in all the good ways, maturing in some aspects, and physically taller.

There are some negative changes I've noticed, he's become jumpy when he wasn't before, he's grown quiet when he would normally have made a really badly timed joke, and an even more jarring difference has been his lack of socializing. The war must really be getting to him more than we thought, added on top of his already somewhat crippling self doubt. Somehow though, whether it's our training and spending time with him or not, he's been getting better day by day.

I was just walking down the hallway when I noticed distinct laughter coming from the ship kitchen, and upon further inspection I see Lance sitting on the floor with Hunk doubled over the counter shaking with laughter. It must have been Hunk I heard. Lance was sitting, cross legged on the floor surrounded by what I can only assume is the space equivalent of Earth flour only, it's color was grey instead of white. It's everywhere! There is flour in his brown locks, his nightshirt, his legs are covered with the stuff, even Hunk was splashed by a sea of grey powder.

"See Lance, that's why we wipe up liquid on the floor! You're covered, man!" Hunk managed to rasp out, voice rough from wheezing so much. "Yeah yeah, I didn't notice I was covered in flour, Hunk, totally didn't even cross my mind whatsoever. I thought this was just clothing glitter." I roll my eyes at Lance's sarcasm it my mouth can't be stopped from quirking upwards in the corners. It's a good sight to see Lance with Hunk again, they used to cook together all the time after Coran let Hunk start making more pleasant foods than the alternative, disgusting food goo.

I chuckle as I enter the kitchen, heading towards the mess with arms crossed, I can't help but lean down and help him up off the ground. When he stands a grey dust cloud rolls over him and into the air, he coughs and waves a hand to dispel the cloud. When it clears I also apparently can't help but stare. In front of me is a beautifully tanned Cuban, with smudges of grey along his cheek, it's such a large contrast to his skin ton that it sticks out. Without thinking, my thumb wipes the residue off, only to crinkle my nose in disgust when I realize it stuck to him because of some unseen substance.

The sound of laughter invade the space and he smiles at me. "Space butter." Is all he says before I can't help but burst into laughter right alongside Hunk who has started again. Sure, I've laughed before, but the look Lance gives me is of pure pride, like he's proud to have been the one to make me laugh. Once I calm down I smile down at him, he's only a few inches shorter than me, it feels natural. I reach my hand up to his face and click my tongue. "You're a mess, you should go shower."

That's when I notice something change drastically, from happy to suddenly almost brooding, the Cubans smile looks almost fake, like he's struggling to keep it up, has he been waiting to bolt all this time? He steps away from me like he's been burned and nods his head too fast. He looks like he's unsure of what to say, was it something I said? Did I sound condescending?