It was a half day to get ready for the upcoming holiday he was going to come home and take Lance out for lunch to help him relax. But when he got home the house was quiet. Maybe Lance was napping. He walked up the stairs to check on him and this was something he didn't want to ever see. The bayard as a gun pressed to Lance's head. The look of panic in Lance's eyes as Keith started to run to his side. When Lance's eyes shut tightly as he pulled the trigger and how the panic grew in his eyes as nothing happened.
When he got to his side he smacked Lance in the face the bayard falling to his side and returning to its normal form. "What the hell were you thinking!?" He shouts shaking Lance by his shoulders as tears spill out of his own eyes falling onto Lance's cheek mixing in with Lance's. Lance's head turns away and he whispers an apology. Lance doesn't know what to do. This far wasn't planned out. None of this was planned out. This was supposed to be over. He's been alive for four minutes too many. If Blue just let him end it he wouldn't be crying. He wouldn't have to watch Keith break down in sobs in his arms.
His world starts to go quiet. His sense of hearing isn't working anymore, he can tell Keith is yelling at him but he can't hear any of it. He can only see his lips moving as Keith yells at him for- "Trying to kill yourself? How could you?!" It's loud and he sits up covering his ears as he pushes Keith away but Keith pushes him back, pinning him against the cold floor. "No you can't keep pushing me away Lance! I've lost Shiro twice. I don't want to lose you twice too!" He grabs his shirt and shakes him. Lance feels lost, all he can do is sit up and wrap his arms around Keith and whisper apologies. Together they just lay there. Lance rubbing Keith's back until he falls asleep in Lance's arms. Staying still Lance takes his turn in crying, just staring up at the ceiling. They aren't tears of sadness, it's all anger. He is so mad. Why didn't it work? Lance could have shot all the cans he wanted to but god forbid he try and shoot himself and Blue decides he is a waste of a shot. How dare she kick him out twice and then choose she cares enough to keep him alive when all he wanted was this to be over. He can't think of Lotor, of everything, if he was dead.
Lance tried to move but Keith had woken up and pushed him back down, waiting until Lance fell asleep to call up Shiro and Pidge. "Pidge just get over here you live like ten houses up- Yes I know it's late but it's Lance so get some shoes on."
It takes a while for the two paladins to make their way over and sit on the front porch, taking in everything Keith has just told them. "He tried to what?" Keith turns his head away from Pidge who has started to cry at the news given to her and looks over at Shiro. He shakes his head. "He really tried to kill himself?" He squeezes Keith's shoulder and Keith nods.
"Why would I joke about something like this? He needs help…" They head inside and sit down. Talking. Trying to figure out a solution even if it ends up only being temporary.
When Lance wakes up his head hurts. He feels exhausted. Looking over at his bedside clock he checks the time. It's already seven. Keith should be getting ready for work if he hasn't left already. Rubbing his tired eyes he rolls onto his other side only to make eye contact with a tri-colored corgi. Startled he falls off the bed and scrambles to press up against the wall. "I think he's awake…" He hears Shiro's voice from downstairs and sighs and moves closer to the dog who is just sitting there obediently. His fingers run over the vest it's- the vest she is wearing. Dragging his hands over the service dog patches he smiles. She is such a fluffy dog, thank goodness they have central air. Taking a deep breath he picks her up and makes his way downstairs. Shiro and Keith are eating breakfast. "Ah, that's where she went."
"Is she yo-"
"Oh no my dog is in the yard, Keith picked her out for you."
Keith looks up from his eggs and nods digging into his pancake. "We got after work yesterday, I kept her at his house to surprise you. Shiro noticed her when he got his own dog. Her name is Chuleta, I thought you might like her." He says with his mouth full, Lance takes a seat and puts her down just staring at his lap. "She is registered under your name so you can take her with you and with us to work so go get dressed." Frowning he stands up and moves to his room. He moves through his clothes and sighs grabbing his lucky jacket. He goes back down the stairs and spots Chuleta on the couch with a large golden retriever. That must be Shiro's dog. He smiles and pets her looking around for a leash. Keith walks over and clips it to her vest. Taking her by the leash they step outside and Lance slips into Shiro's truck with Chuleta on his lap. Sitting in silence as they drive off to the Garrison.
He clings to his new dog as they continue driving. Wondering how much has the school changed since they vanished from the planet. The solar system. The entire Galaxy. It had been years. Something has to be different. Looking up he takes a deep breath. The car has stopped. Oh. They have arrived. Lance squeezes the leash and steps out only to be grabbed by Shiro who flashes the softest smile. "You going to be okay, sharpshooter?"
"I sure hope so…"
Together they walk in Lance standing at his side as his badge scans. Lance keeps his head down as Shiro waves goodbye. He has his own room to go and teach in. Lance looks up when he feels a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go before the kids get let out of meal time." He nods and looks at Chuleta whose small stubby tail won't stop wagging. They walk off and move through the hails to the science lecture halls. A bell chimes and kids are walking around. Lance picks up Chuleta and dodges the smaller figures. He forgot how excited he used to get for breakfast. How the lunch ladies were so nice and gave him extras when they could tell he was having a rough day. He wonders if anyone of them still work here. "You can put her down, we are here." Keith's voice snaps him out of his thoughts and he nods letting her go. He expected her to run around but she stayed put. At his side. What a good pup.
"Than-"
"You don't have to thank me for her. We planned on getting her for a while. They have to be trained to their owners special needs. So...so don't think it's because of last night we got her." Lance shifts awkwardly and takes a seat next to his desk once kids start filling in.
" Morning Mr. Kogane! " Lance snorts. Mr. Kogane? How funny. Keith shoves him and glares hitting the top of his head with a book. It'll be so weird to watch him work as a teacher. He never thought of him as someone who would teach. At the Garrison nonetheless. It's entertaining but being surrounded by so many people all day is draining. He hates it. Not the being surrounded by people but the fact that it's draining to him. He used to love it. Love having people around him. His family is huge. He looks over at Keith and tugs on his sleeve.
"I wanna go hang out with Shiro for a bit... I'm tired." Keith frowns and nods.
"Just wait a bit longer, this period is almost done and I have students going that way anyway. They can show you the way." Lance sighs and sits on the floor with Chuleta. Cuddling into her soft fur. Waiting for the time to pass. He can hear his mother scolding him. A watched pot never boils.He sighs again and shuts his head pulling her close and onto his lap. His head shoots up at the sound of the bell ringing. He looks over and stands up. "Okay who here is going to Professor Shirogane's class?" A few hands raise. "Alright, I'll give you all late passes if you guide Lance to his classroom." Three students walk up and smile at the blue Paladin. "Go, tell Shiro if you do end up going home...I'll tell the holts to invite you over okay?" Lance nods and follows behind the Kids. Who just ask him a bunch of questions about Keith. He answers them, thinking it'll be funny if they torture him in class with this newfound information.
They guide him through the halls kids stopping and staring at him and Chuleta. He let's them walk in the classroom first before stepping in. "Oh, Lance what's up?" He smiles at Lance and places a hand on his shoulder.
"I was getting bored in Keith's class so your students showed me the way." Shiro squeezes his shoulder and lets him sit at his desk He lets Chuleta sit at his feet alongside Shiro's dog. He tiredly spins around in the chair and follows them to the simulator room. Not much has really changed. As the kids run through their simulator tests Shiro puts his hand on his shoulder again. Lance looks up at him. "Keith texted me saying you wanted to go home. It's almost time for lunch stay for a bit longer so you can eat." Lance sighs and moves to lean against the wall. More kids come up to him and ask him about Shiro this time.
"How do you know Mr. Shirogane?" Lance stares at the back of Shiro's head for a while. His hair is starting to grow and he has given up on the undercut he even pulled it into a very tiny pony tail just like Keith did. He smiles and looks back at the students.
"We are teammates. Teammates for years before that he was my Hero. I still try my best to make him proud but it's hard to do when he's...Him." They nod in understanding and Shiro scolds them for leaving the group that their punishment is to go up next. Lance chuckles and walks over to Shiro's side Chuleta in his arms. "So I heard Iverson got fired." Shiro nods and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Turns out once we all disappeared Iverson was trying to figure out what was really going on and wanted to get justice for the wrongdoings of the Garrison. They fired him for continuing to push the movement. That's why we got our jobs, how Keith got his job. To keep quiet about everything that happened." Lance blinks and stares up at him. Iverson tried to help them? It's hard to believe. A bell chimes and Lance looks up as the three students get out of the pod. "Good job you guys, not a single error. I seen great things happening for your team."
"I guess you could say there's a one hundred percent chance that in this reality they'll succeed." Lance whispers to Shiro whose face reddens and he turns to playfully shoves the other paladin.
"You are the worst." The two chuckle for a moment causing the students to stare up at the adults. Shiro claps his hands together and wipes a tear from his eye, from laughing too hard, and smiles. "Well, that's it for today, you guys can get out of your suits and line up before the bell rings." The kids walks out Shiro stays put and Lance's side while they have the chance. "Lance I was wondering...And no I haven't told Keith about it. Would you be happier if you went back to the castle and lived with the others?" Lance goes wide eyed and shakes his head. He would have to think about it. He doesn't want to be that far away from his family ever again. "It's just an idea, we want what's best for you." Shiro pulls him into a hug before leading him back to Keith's room so they can eat lunch together.
"You didn't go home?" Keith says as he spots Lance walking in behind Shiro.
"Always trying to get rid of me aren't you Keith?" Lance snorts and cuts Keith off before he can say anything. "Relax it's just a joke, Shiro told me to stay for lunch." Keith nods and cleans off his desk making room for them.
"Good because I ordered pizza. I'm gonna go pick it up." Keith leaves them alone in the room and Lance rests his head on the desk. Tired. He's going to go home after this. Hoping he doesn't pass out on the way there. It is a long walk. But he knows he'll be able to take the best nap afterwards.