There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 49 - They don't love you like I love you *BONUS CHAPTERS*

Shiro and Lance followed after Adam and Keith as they stormed across the infinite landscape.

"Can you please talk to us," said Shiro.

"Yeah, 'cause technically we didn't do anything wrong," said Lance.

It was Adam that spun on Lance. "That's the approach you're going to take? Seriously?"

"Lance, maybe don't talk," said Shiro.

"Oh no," said Keith, coming back to join the conversation. "I would like to hear Lance's take on how he's completely innocent."

"I didn't say that. Keith, c'mon. You must know you're overreacting."

"We're not overreacting! You're underreacting!" shot Adam.

"How are we supposed to react?" cried Lance.

"With extreme horror!" said Adam. "With a desperate need to dissect the exact circumstances as to how you two would be willing to be with any one other than us."

"Yours was just a date," said Keith, eyeballing Adam. "Lance pledged his undying love to Allura."

"Kid, c'mon," said Adam. "We're on the same team here. Solidarity. Now upgrade your hissy fit by deliberately calling his other reality bae by wrong name then storm off."

Keith turned back to Lance and said, "I hope your other self is very happy with Allur... Allur... ing? Ugh! C'mon! Why does her name literally mean attractive?" Keith turned and stormed away.

"Yas, queen, yas!" cheered Adam, clapping after Keith.

Lance slumped forward, honestly wanting a break from the fighting, but then he felt that familiar tug in his gut and realized he had to follow.

It was a long walk before Keith finally stopped, seemingly too fed up to keep going, but he wouldn't turn to face him and Lance doubted he was suddenly going to grab him and make out with him like last time they were in this exact situation.

"Keith, please," said Lance. "I get that this is a shock and it sucks, but they aren't us. We're us and I need help understanding why what they do hurts you this badly."

"Because it makes me feel like our love was just a fluke," said Keith, speaking to the ground in front of him. "That if Alfor hadn't brought us to the memory realm and created the exact right circumstances for you to tell me your feelings. We never would've happened. "

"Keith, I love you," said Lance. "In every reality."

"That's only because we soul merged and you have to love me. But... there are realities where that wasn't meant to be true."

"It was true in the B reality though, Keith. I fell in love with you long before Alfor forced me to say it. Honestly, I'm sad for the other me that he never got a chance to be with you. But I'm really sad to that Allura's dead, not because she was my girlfriend, but because she's my best friend and I want her alive in every reality."

"It's not even about Allura. Not completely. I'm not even that disappointed in you," confessed Keith. "I'm mad at myself. Even in this reality I never put myself out there with you. You had to come to me."

"Well, you had some pretty thick walls up. So did I, but we're still young and maybe in the other reality we get ourselves sorted out and learn how to be open with each other."

"I hope so. Thinking of living without you shouldn't make me this sad, but it does. And I know I should be sad for Allura dying and I am. Honestly, I feel terrible for making this about me, but you mean so much to me that I feel like my heart is breaking."