Chapter 2
Story belongs to thenakednymph @ A03
The next night Keith is startled out of his book when there's a knock at his door. He almost doesn't answer considering how late it is but finally slides off the bed, padding over in his socks.
The door swooshes open and he's even more startled to find it's Lance on the other side.
"Can I come in?" he asks. There's something vulnerable in the way he says it and instead of landing a snappy comeback Keith steps back.
"Sure. What's up?" It's late. Lance is usually in bed asleep by now. Especially lately. He's been spending more and more time either off with Coran or in his room and while the others seem content to let it happen Keith can't stop wondering about it.
Lance takes as deep a breath as he can, looking for courage. He fingers flex on the box in his hands before he turns to face Keith.
"I need you to promise me." Lance looks down at the box, biting his lips. This is harder than he thought it would be. But he's on a downward slope. He can't put it off any longer.
"Promise me you'll get these to my family." He tightens his grip on the box, on the tablets inside, each one labeled for a different member of his family. "I'm going to keep adding to them but I need-" His breath catches and he has to take a moment before he can continue, voice steady as he can make it. "I need to know they're gonna get home." He holds it out to Keith.
Keith frowns, looking at the box and back at Lance, lifting an eyebrow.
"Why are you giving them to me?" He crosses his arms over his chest. "Just hand them over when we get back."
The irony worries at the bruise in Lance's heart. He clenches his teeth and shoves the box into Keith's chest.
"Because space is scary and I might not make it back," he says gruffly. "There's no way of knowing when or if any or all of us are ever going to see Earth again and I need to know -"
He lifts Keith's hands, wrapping them around the box and fighting back the tears. His head is throbbing and rainbows reflect off the corners and surfaces of Keith's room, making him dizzy.
He has to catch his breath. "I need to know," he says softly, hands still pressed over Keith's. "Please. Just get them home."
Keith's fingers curl around the box, cradling it and Lance feels his stomach turn over with terror and relief all balled up into one.
He nods rapidly, turning to run from the room before he can break down or vomit or worse.
"Hey." Keith catches Lance's arm and holds on, leaning to the side to set the box on his nightstand without letting go, afraid Lance will slip away if he does.
"What's going on?" He asks it as gently as he can. "What's this about?"
Lance shakes his head, still turned half away from him. "I already told you." It isn't good enough.
"You've been weird for weeks now," Keith says trying not to sound accusatory but growing frustrated, coming around to face him. "More so than normal. You look like shit, you're tired all the time, and your accuracy in training has sucked lately." He searches Lance's eyes when they linger long enough but it's not for more than a couple of seconds.
