A Chance For Him

Prolog

Here I lie in a bed of impossible roses. Big, red, fragrant roses, growing in this barren desert, with a vibrant vengeance. Just like him.

"Keith..." My voice was hoarse from lack of use and quintessence.

It's finally my time. I sigh contentedly. I can return, to a place where he is. I close my eyes hoping my death happens while I sleep in a gentle bliss. Caressed my memories of my friends, of my family, of my only love. And drift off into a long, deep sleep.

~~~~~~~

"Lance!" A rushed, but familiar voice cries. "Get up! If we're late to class again Iverson will have our heads."

I jolt awake. Iverson? Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while. I sit up and look around. I'm sitting on the top bunk of the bed in my old Garrison room. The thin, dingy blanket, the same ditch-water color I remember it being.

"Hurry and get dressed, Lance! Pidge already left without us." I turned to find the source of the panicked voice.

It was Hunk. He was much younger than the last time I saw him. Softer without the scars of war, both inside and out. Seeing that, I knew this couldn't possibly be a dream. Whenever I dream of my family it's always with the haunt of war behind their eyes. Not because that was when we were the happiest, but to honor the fact that it happened and they fought through the pain.

I scrambled off the bed overcome with emotion, wrapping my arms around him. Tears streaming down my face.

"Hunk!" I exclaim with a bit of a laugh. "Its been to long."

"It's only been a night Lance we talked before we went to bed." He laughed but hugged me back anyway.

Hunk's laugh pulled me back into memory.

~~~~~

Hunk laughed breathily, a gurgled sound. A little blood coming up as he did so.

"It's okay, Shay. I-I'm okay." He lied, stroking the head of the green-skinned woman, who thrown herself over him, sobbing as she helplessly put pressure on his wound. Lying always came easier to Hunk when he knew no one really believed him, but it might comfort us anyway.

Shay sat up, no longer sobbing as the tears spilled over her cheeks, determination shining in her eyes. This was not the time to grieve. Hunk was still alive after all. "R-right, Everything will be alright." She moved Hunk's hand to her cheek and holds it there. "You won't be in pain much longer."

She placed a kiss softer than the petal of a lily in full bloom on Hunk's lips. Hunk died smiling and loved. As his hand went limp in Shay's grasp, a sword surprised us from behind her. I quickly lifted my gun, but it was too late. Shay had already been run through.

"I... love... you..." she managed, before slumping over him once again.

Shay died smiling as well. We buried them together.

~~~~~

"Are you okay bro?" Hunk asked detrecting the slight change in my hug.

"Yeah, I think I am." I said pulling away and grabbing my uniform coat. I hadn't changed out of the rest of it the day before. "Now let's get to class before we're late."

Hunk suddenly reminded of class ran, with me on his heels.

"We are in so much trouble!" He frets.

I will save him. This time.