Klance :: Not So Different

Unknown

Pidge fell asleep at some point after rubbing healing gel on her arm, exhausting herself with worry. Keith let her rest her head on his lap while he waited. He wasn't sure what for, the pods weren't going to open for hours.

Maybe days.

Maybe he was just waiting for some good news. Waiting for the pod to say that it's healing him instead of dragging on his death.

Keith sighed and looked down. Pidge's hair grew pretty long since they left earth. The messy locks tumbled just passed her shoulders. Keith hesitantly began carding his fingers through her hair as he looked back up. "Pidge is right..." He muttered, eyes focused on Lance. "I am an asshole."

Tears welled up in his eyes again as hs looked at his own reflection in the pod.

He looked Galra.

Yet Lance loves him. He sacrificed himself to save him, even though Keith's last words to him were, 'I hate you.'

Keith clenched his jaw and turned away, ears flat. "How could I?"

~

Pidge fiddled with the blanket around her shoulders as she impatiently stood in front of Shiro's pod. It's been three days since Keith woke from the explosion and one day since Hunk woke. Hunk now had scars scattered up his back and the pod wasn't able to entirely heal his leg. Hunk now has a permanent limp.

Now, Pidge was waiting... The time ticked down. "Any tic... Any tic now..." She muttered, wide eyes completely focused on Shiro.

Keith reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and jumped, quickly turning to him. "He'll be okay, Pidge." She nodded, biting her lip to keep tears back. "Pidge, I... I overheard him talking to Lance several days back... He was asking Lance what he should do to fix what he broke. He realized he hurt you when he was trying to surprise you and he wanted to make it better. However, you were just being stubborn Pidge."

She huffed, but smiled. Keith glanced over her shoulder as the doors opened to reveal Matthew and Samuel. Keith sighed and gently pulled Pidge into an embrace. "I'm scared, Pidge..." He whispered as she squeezed. "I'm scared... I won't be able to tell Lance that I love him at least one more time..."

Pidge nodded. "I was scared that I would never be able to tell Shiro I love him." Keith pat her back, then released her.

A soft, hissing sound drew their attention and cool air swished around their ankles.

"Shiro!" Pidge cried, jumping in front of Shiro to catch him. Shiro grunted as he was caught, then sighed softly as his body relaxed. "Takashi!" Pidge wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Katie?" He rasped, raising his arms to weakly return her tight, desperate embrace. "What's the matter?"

Pidge sobbed softly into his shoulder, holding him tighter. "I'm sorry, Takashi... I'm so sorry..."

Shiro shifted onto his knees to support his own weight. "What for?"

"I-I love you, Takashi... I love you." Pidge leaned into Shiro, holding him as tight as she could. The black paladin's eyes widened. "I shouldn't have ignored you, I shouldn't have been so rude... I love you, Takashi... I'm so sorry, Takashi..."

"Katie..." he whispered, carding his fingers through her hair. "I love you, too."

Keith looked up from his fellow paladins to Samuel and Matthew. Both men had gentle expressions, eyes on Pidge before they turned and left to give them some space. Keith turned to look into Lance's pod.

Still nothing.

~

Everyone sat quietly, no one able to take a bite of their food goo.

Pidge sighed, dropping her fork. "Lance isn't getting better. The pod finally stopped his death from nearing this morning, but... But he's not getting better. If he comes out of the pod, he'll die, if he stays in there... We still don't know."

Hunk poked at his food, chin resting in his palm. "I just... I wish there was something we could do. He's always getting hurt, and he always is hurt the worst, sometimes. He's so... So selfless no matter how selfish he may seem sometimes. I hate how he always puts others before himself."

Keith set his fork down, eyes downcast.

Shiro sighed and nodded. "Lance acts stupid sometimes, but he's very smart."

Pidge huffed. "'Hey, guys! Wanna see me fit my whole bayard in my mouth!?' doesn't sound very intelligent to me."

Hunk laughed, leaning back in his chair. "I remember when he said that. I actually had thought he was going to try and put it in his mouth."

"He almost did." Shiro piped up, raising a forkfull of goo. "Remember? He started, but then we had to go answer a distress beacon. That whole time he tried telling us that he could've done it."

"Who kept count for how many times Lance has asked for a parade or how many times he's whined about not getting a parade?" Pidge asked, a smile growing on her face. Allura and Coran also began to smile. "At least twice while we were on the Balmera the first time."

"A couple days ago he was saying how cool it would be to have a parade." Keith finally spoke up. "He was telling me that he had a dream that Earth threw a parade for us and he was with his family. All of us were with our families."

All of them looked down. Keith breathed in, starting to shake. "I'm such an ass. How... Why did I do that to him?"

Shiro placed his hand on Keith's shoulder. "Lance will be fine. He's tough. Takes a lot more than some blasts and spears to kill him."

"Or an explosion." Hunk chipped in, getting a nod from Shiro.

Pidge grinned. "Or having just one eye." She covered her left eye and stood with her other hand on her hip. "I'm Lance and I'm totally gay for Keith! I pout and whine like a baby when I don't get a parade and I'm better than Keith at everything! I lost an eye and am still the best person and best shot in the whole known universe!" Hunk clutched his stomach as he laughed, Shiro chuckling softly. "I like to play hero, even in dangerous situations! I like to disturb Hunk and Pidge while they're working and making fun of Pidge's height."

Pidge sucked in a breath and looked down. "I'm a great big brother and saving other people is my favorite thing to do. I'd do anything to keep the people I love safe."

Keith stood as Hunk's laughter died down. Keith wrapped his arms around Pidge as her eyes water. "Thanks, Pidge."