Purple Child

Telling a dream

Both Lance and Keith sat cross-legged on the training floor. Keith was quiet, trying to gain the courage to talk about one of his nightmares, a topic he never spoke about even with Shiro and now he was about to talk about it with Lance of all people, someone who doesn't like him.

"Maybe this is a bad idea-" Keith blurted, and stood up to leave when Lance reached out to grab his wrist. 

"No no, it's alright, just take your time," Lance assured with a smile. "we have all night so you don't need to rush."

Keith sat back down avoiding eye contact with Lance, he then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm only telling you what I can remember" Keith mumbles "and you can't tell anyone about this alright!"

"Don't worry I am a man who can keep a secret like how Pidge broke one of Coran's plates."

Keith glared at him.

"Relax I was joking your secret dream is safe with me." Lance smiled "besides it was the hunk who did it." 

"What was that?" 

"Nothing nothing." 

"Lance, I've never told anyone  about the kinds of nightmares I have not even Shiro

"Oh so does that make me special to you?" Lance leaned in and smirked.

Keith was shocked at Lance's words, but gave I'm a gentle smile, "Yeah, I guess it does make you special to me." 

Lance did not expect that reaction from Keith. His heart pounded in his chest and he felt warmth grow on his cheeks. 

Keith took another deep breath and began to recount his nightmare, "Well what I remember is that I was back home, on earth and there was this object in the wall and this weird colored cat that I was chasing after in space."

"Okay, not bad sound about normal for dreams."

"Yeah well the begging of my dream is actually really pleasant," Keith smiled.

"Oh! what was so pleasant about it? Did you get to kiss your crush?" Lance teased. 

"WHAT! No of course not." Keith jumped up in a panic. 

"No way you totally did, who is it?" Lance leaned in wanting to learn this juicy gossip.

"Lance, out of all people on this ship you would be the last to know who my crush is." 

"Aww, Keith I thought I was special to you?" Lance pouted. 

"And I thought you were just going to listen to my dream." 

"Alright, fine but I'm gonna make you tell me later." 

Keith sat back down and continued his dream. "After that is when things get bad." Keith paused and grew an anxious look on his face. Lance saw this and put his hand on Keith's knee. 

"Hey you don't have to tell me, we can talk about it another day or just forget about it," Lance reassured Keith.

"No, it's alright." Keith took another deep breath and continued, "After that things got dark and I was alone again. There was a fireplace and in front of it was the thing I pulled out of the wall."

"What was it?" 

"It was an old lighter with a piece of paper wrapped around it. And reading that piece of paper is where I got so scared."

"What did it say?"

"you...are alone," Keith mumbled.

"Keith..." 

"Then the lighter burst into flames... and and I tried running away but the flames and smoke were taking all the energy I had in me. The only thing that helped me keep going was that person's voice calling me, but once that voice stopped I couldn't keep going." Keith buried his head into his hands.

anymore "Wow, Keith, that's awful, but it's okay now." Lance comforted Keith

"But that wasn't the end because I kept hearing those words being chanted over and over and over again just getting louder" Keith quietly stammered out, "and when I turned to see who it was..... it was me...it was me telling myself this." After the words left his mouth, Keith couldn't hold in his tears and began to sob. 

Lance was stunned he had never seen Keith this vulnerable, he was confused on what to do.'Come on lance, what do I do, what did mama do?' Lance thought to himself. 

"Keith?" Lance spoke in a low and soft tone. He embraced Keith with a comforting hug, letting Keith cry onto his shoulder. In the moment Keith had wrapped his arms around Lance's waist, Lance was surprised at this gesture yet he didn't feel uncomfortable with it. "there there." Lance patted his head softly. 

Soon Keith stopped his sobbing and the room was quiet for a while yet neither of them wanted to move from their embrace but it was interrupted by Lance's yawn.

"Sorry, it's late." Lance apologized. 

Keith let go of their hug, "No it's okay, I've kept you up late enough." Keith stood up "I'll be heading back to my room now, night" Keith wanted to run away from Lance to hide his feeling of embarrassment at what just happened.

"Keith, wait!" Lance grabbed Keith's hand, "Do you want to sleep with me?"

"What?" 

"No, I mean, whenever I had a nightmare as a kid I never wanted to sleep alone so I always sleep with my parent," Lance looked at Keith to still see a wide-eyed expression on his face, "I mean of course your not a kid so you don't have too, I was just worried that you might not want to go back to sleep, and we have this mission tomorrow,"

"Lance, it's alright." Keith looked down trying to hide his embarrassed expression.

"O-okay then, I'll...I'll lead you there." Lance stammered.

Lance's inner thoughts

 'What am I doing? what am I saying? I'll lead you there. Keith already knows where my room is. And why are we still holding hands? Lance looks back at Keith to see his head is still down 'Yeah he hates me.'

Keith's inner thoughts

'I can't even look at him right now how can I follow him to his room? He said he wants to sleep together, HOW CAN I DO THAT NOW, and why am I still holding his hand?

After what felt like a long walk through the castle hall both finally made it to Lance's room. 

Well see you next year when I decide to not procrastinate again (also thanks for reading!)