"K-Keith?"
The red paladin crashed to the ground, red dust rising from the impact. His knees stung, but his heart hurt far worse. He choked back a sob, hands trembling as he clasped them over his mouth in an attempt to smother his cries. Lance didn't need to seethat.
Not now.
Not in his final moments.
"Keith? Are..." Lance's voice trailed off weakly, and Keith struggled to inhale.
"I'm right here, Lance. I've got you. I—it's okay," he said, voice shaking as badly as his hands. Lance's fingers flexed, and Keith recognized the silent plea for comfort for what it was. He interlaced their fingers, and a small, sad smile fellacross
Lance's red-stained lips.
"I know, Keith," he whispered. "It'll be okay. Don't be scared."
The paler boy shook his head, hot tears finally burning down his cheeks. "Don't—"
He cut himself off with a harsh sob, and Lance stared up at him with a knowing, almost apologetic gaze. Keith once again shook his head, as though trying to free himself from a nightmare. In a way, maybe he was. He wiped frantically at his eyes with hisfree
hand, before choking out, "Youre going to be okay. You're going to be a-alright."
Lance blinked slowly, before murmuring, "You don't need to lie, Keith. I'm not scared."
Keith squeezed his eyes shut, tears trickling down even faster. "I just—you can't go, Lance. Please. Please don't go."
A single tear slipped downLance's bruised face. "I don't wanna die...I don't wanna leave you guys."
Suddenly, the blue paladin's eyes were desperate, and something akin to panic cake across his face. "Keith—you gotta tell them. Make sure they know I love them, please. I never..."
He took a shallow, shuddering breath. "I didn't get to tell them."
Keith nodded, squeezing Lance's hand tightly. "I will. I promise."
Lance smiled again, and it lacked all of hisusual energy and happiness. "Can you do something else for me?"
"Anything," Keith whispered.
Lance's smile grew ever-so-slightly, but it was still only a shadow. "Make sure you remember I love you, too."
Keith's entire face crumbled, and it was between broken sobs that he stuttered out, "I love you t-too. So, so much."
Silent tears dripped from Lance's rapidly dullingeyes, but his smile only grew. Keith squeezed his hand again, before leaning over and carefully pressing their lips together. After a soft, bittersweet moment, he pulled back. Lance squeezed his hand,but
it was almost too weak to feel. The blue paladin let his eyes flutter shut.
"Don't forget," he exhaled.
"I won't," Keith promised tearily. "I won't."
But Lance was already gone.