Elements- Klance AU

Chapter 27

Keith's POV

I felt empty as I sat in my room, isolating myself from the rest of the team. Shiro tried coming in to talk to me, but knew to leave me when he figured out I wasn't in the mood for company. I twirled the ring Lance risked his life to give me, remembering our last kiss as he sacrificed himself for me and the other prisoners.

I'm sorry for your loss, I felt Red say. Blue only hummed in agreement in my head.

I'm sorry for your loss too, Blue. There was no acknowledgement in that.

I know it's not an appropriate time for this, but you cannot continue to host two elements in your body, especially two as contradicting as fire and water.

I knew that, but I felt as if I was unable to have blue leave me, them being the last thing I had of Lance. And he wasn't willing to pass it on to someone else, as if Lance was easily disposed of.

Before I could even think about it more, there was a knocking at the door. He asked me if he could talk to me. Seeing as I couldn't avoid him forever, I followed Shiro into the halls.

"Hey bud, how are you holding up?" I just shrugged, not necessarily in the mood to talk about anything. "Allura and Lotor returned from their mission. Just thought you might've wanted an update on that." I nodded absently at him, mostly reacting to what he was saying without much thought.

"That's good, at least. Did you manage to save Coran?" Shiro froze up at this momentarily, but proceeded to talk.

"Yes. They manage to rescue him from his cell. They viewed him as a valuable prisoner, so that's why they had him in that special location. And they also managed to save another prisoner. His cell mate."  This wouldn't have been a big deal, yet he was saying it was if calculated, as if he needed to be careful around me for this news. He finally stopped in front of the medbay doors.

"Oh? Why were they so valuable?" I asked, a little interested in this conversation for once. Shiro pursed his lips, thinking about his next words carefully. But before saying anything, he opened the door, where everyone was huddled around a man I could only assume was Coran.

Yet that wasn't who I focused on. Instead, I made eye contact with a pair of blue eyes I thought I had seen the last of.

"L-Lance?" Before he could respond, I threw myself at him and wrapped my arms around him. But Lance didn't hug me back. He actually tensed up from the hug, chuckling slightly as he gave my back a pat. I pulled back from him, giving him a confused look as I checked him for any injuries.

"Hello?" Lance looked around confused, as if asking for an explanation. Shiro put his hand on my shoulder, trying to pull me away with no success.

"Keith, this isn't the Lance we knew. This is the original Lance, the one Haggar used to make a clone." I looked around, expecting Lance and Pidge to jump up and say they were playing a joke. But it never came. Instead, Pidge looked just as devastated while looking at her teammate. Or at least, someone who looked like him.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not your Lance. I kinda got caught up to date with what happened and I'm sorry for your loss." That was all the Lance in front of him could say. Feeling completely empty, I took the ring out of my pocket, and held it in my hand, tears slipping down my face. Once I felt the feeling of Blue leave me, I gave the ring to Lance.

"This is yours," I said in a monotone voice as I exited the room, having to get as far away as possible.

We're in the home stretch y'all.