Keith woke up before Lance. Naturally; no alarm was going off, he just simply woke up. And it was a good thing. Lance had somehow fallen off of the bed, and therefore out of the covers and Keith's warm embrace, during the night. Keith immediately sprung out of bed and checked on Lance. He didn't seem to be in any pain, as he was sleeping away. He was shivering; Lance's temperature had gone down too far. He shook Lance gently until the Blue Paladin woke up. He was confused about where he was and why Keith was there and why he was on the floor. And questioned why he was freezing. Keith turned on a light, then his stomach churned. Lance's lips were literally blue. After explaining vaguely what happened the night previous, resulting in Lance remembering and crying, Keith said that the best way to bring Lance's body temperature up was for him to have a bath. Lance objected to this notion. Heavily.
"Then how can we get your temperature back to normal?" Keith sighed hotly. He made a mental note not to use any demanding authority voice on Lance, as he is not in a good place at the moment. Lance weakly grabbed the pillow, screaming into it until we was sobbing. It broke Keith's heart. He heard Lance mumble something. Asked for clarification. Lance removed the pillow long enough to get out: "Fucking go start the bath then."
Keith entered the bathroom. He decided to make it warm instead of hot, since Lance's body temperature was already so low that the intense heat might cause a burn or a negative reaction. He made sure the bath was good to go before going to fetch Lance. His mind was so fast-paced and worried about Lance that he hadn't thought about what he was about to do. Until he came back and found Lance unmoved.
"How did you want to do this?" Keith asked guardedly. He tried to sound neutral but he was really hoping that Lance could undress himself. Lance was brought to tears again.
"I hate this, I hate this, I hate this, I hate this, I hate this, I HATE THIS!" Was Lance trembling or shivering? Keith found his eyes starting to water up.
"Lance, what would make you most comfortable?" Keith softly asked. "Maybe we can start with getting you up off the floor?"
Lance accepted Keith's help with this task. He decided to sit on his bed and wrapped himself in blankets, hugging his pillow.
"Are you in pain?" Keith asked. No answer. Lance was looking at the floor, crying, but something was off from a few seconds ago. Then the itching started. Lance came back from wherever he went in his mind to find Keith frozen in worry and not knowing what to do.
"Lance? Please stop itching. Maybe the bath will help?"
Lance's breathing was getting shallower. Keith had to do something.
"Fine." Lance choked.
"How should we do this?" Keith asked. It was best if Lance controlled the situation.
"Um… I will need help with…." Lance choked on a sob. "Getting ready." He chose his words carefully. "I need you to be, um, gentle…"
Keith was going to ask about taking off clothes, however given what had happened last night to the Blue Paladin, he worded it creatively. "Any differences between this bath and when you usually take them?"
Lance seemed to smile a little at something Keith said. Perhaps he recognized that Keith re-worded the question to be non-triggering.
"I want to wear something to cover myself," Lance admitted. Keith nodded.
"Um, are, erm, boxers or whatever okay?"
Lance nodded.
"Where should we place you?" Keith figured it would be too much for Lance to be undressed on the bed. "Should I help you while you sit on the toilet?"
Lance nodded. Keith unwrapped him from his blanket cocoon. Lance said not to carry him by snaking an arm around his torso, like they normally would. Keith did one of the two other ways he knew how to carry people; he fireman-carried Lance into the bathroom. Holy quiznak, he was cold. Together the two boys undid Lance's shirt and Keith removed the item. When it came to his pants, Keith paused. He watched Lance shut down completely while he removed the pants. When both tasks were completed, and Lance was in nothing except his boxers, Keith helped lower him into the bath. Lance seemed to relax as the warm engulfed most of his body. He seemed to be reviving; Lance's shivering stopped completely after a while. Keith could tell he was trembling now. Without hesitation, or thinking about how he felt, Keith took his shirt off. Lance eyed him with fear and confusion, more noticeably when Keith removed his pants and threw them into Lance's room.
"I don't want you to be the only one exposed. You went through a horrible thing that I can not comprehend. The best I can do is help you with the symptoms of the drug and the assault, while also helping you be comfortable."
"So you are not trying to have sex with me?" Lance sounded both relieved and rejected at the same time somehow. Keith didn't know how to answer that. He did have a crush on Lance but this was not the time to be flirting or confessing love. Lance had to be in a good mental state for that. But Keith also didn't want to lie.
"No, no sex here," he decided. Terrible but better than anything else he could think of. There was an awkward pause.
Lance started giggling. Another high. His eyes were closed but he kept laughing; why? Keith had no sweet clue. Lance was also crying from the pain. Keith had no idea what to do. He left and grabbed the tablet from the previous night, to check on information. He was mostly curious about how long the drug would stay in Lance's system. He could help Lance the best once the drug wore off. Then Keith had an idea. Could the healing pods help? He returned to Lance.
"Hey, I have an idea but we would have to consult Coran about it," Keith said.
"Coran is my favorite uncle," Lance dreamily sighed.
Keith stared at him, unsure what to make of that statement.
"Is that ok with you?" Keith asked eventually.
"Keith, duuuude," Lance slurred. "Coran is the chillest bro I know! He won't try to have sex with me."
Keith took that as a yes. Lance was obviously really up there. He told Lance that he would be right back. Not wanting to go too far away from Lance, he found the Blue Paladin's helmet and called the male Altean via the intercom system. Keith hadn't known what time it was until then; 11:00 AM Earth time. Hopefully the others hadn't noticed how they were both missing.
"Hello Lance! My dear boy, how are you doing? I barely saw you at the party." Coran's cheerful voice came in through the speakers.
"Coran, it's Keith. Something's happened. Can you come to Lance's room?"
"Oh Keith! Sure thing. Is Lance okay?"
Keith didn't know how to answer that. He told Coran just to come help and then Keith returned to the Blue Paladin. Lance had barely moved. He was almost completely submerged in water, his head the only thing above the water. Keith examined him again. Lance was still in pain. He was trying to cover up his genital area with his legs but the drug was taking its toll on his strength. He asked Lance how comfortable he was with Coran seeing him like this. Lance looked confused.
"Why is Coran coming? I'm having a bath." Lance proceeded to attempt to grab the soap, but grabbed the shampoo, slathered it all over his arms before Keith could get to him and snatch it out of his hands. Lance giggled like a child.
"He is coming to check you out and see if he knows how to help. Such as getting you into a healing pod." Keith levelly explained.
"But… what if Coran gets mad?" Lance asked nonchalantly.
"Coran won't. He cares about you Lance. We all do."
As if on cue, the door to Lance's room opened. Coran called, asking if he was good to come in. Hearing Coran so close must have brought Lance down enough because he started hyperventilating.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Lance said in between breaths.
"Lance, you said earlier that it was okay for him to come." Keith calmly reminded him.
"He isn't going to hurt me?" Lance almost whispered.
"Lance, he wants to help. Just like how I am. Well, I hope I am helping in some way."
Lance agreed Coran could come in, as long as Keith let him play with his mullet. Keith sighed, figuring it was a small thing to do in order for Lance to get help from someone more knowledgeable than he. Coran entered, a kit of some sort in his hand.
"Lance, I have been told you needed help. What is going on with you young Paladin?" Coran asked. Lance looked at Keith and gestured to his head. Keith grumbly sat in front of the bath, where Lance could easily play with his hair. He crossed his arms; Lance's hands started massaging his scalp and Keith would be lying if he claimed it felt bad. Coran looked confused. "What is going on?"
"You tell 'im" Lance whispered loudly.
"Lance was given some shit at the party and is now on a rollercoaster of emotions. One second he is high, the other he is an emotional mess. The drug or food given causes pain, intense emotional states. Do you know anything that can help Lance?"
Coran admitted that he would like to inspect Lance better. The best place to do so would be the infirmary, however he could manage in Lance's room. Keith mentioned that Lance probably couldn't walk without help, a task undertaken previously and was difficult. Keith wondered whether Lance would feel comfortable with Coran examining him. Coran was an alien but Lance knew him. Maybe when he came down from his high, he would be able to reason.
Keith helped the drugged paladin out of the bath. Keith was relieved when feeling Lance's temperature to be back to normal. Lance whimpered at Keith's touch but didn't say anything; Keith wasn't sure how he felt about it. He splayed Lance out on his bed, where Coran laid some towels. Lance began to cry again which received an odd look from Coran.
"Lance, what's wrong? I am just seeing what sorts of physiological reactions your body is having. There is relatively no archives about what sort of effect this drug has on humans."
Lance whimpered something. When he realized the two other boys didn't hear him, he motioned for Keith to come close. He told Keith to tell Coran he was sensitive to touch.
"Oh, that's irrelevant," Coran replied
It was now Keith and Lance's turn to give Coran an odd look. The Altean produced from his coat pocket a small device.
"This device allows me to scan your body without touching you. I just set it on human mode-" Coran tapped the screen a few times. The closest Earth comparison Keith could make was that it looked like a speedometer that cops have, except high tech. "-and then I scan Lance."
"Why did I have to move?" Lance softly asked.
"Water interferes with its scanning function," Coran explained.
Lance asked Keith to fetch a blanket for him and Keith obliged. He covered Lance with a blanket. Was it bad that the way Lance snuggled into the blanket made Keith have butterflies in his stomach?
"Alrighty Lance, the machine will just be a minute."
Lance wiped a few tears away.
"Coran? Before you, uh, get the results-" Lance was breathing heavy while talking "-I think you need to know-"
Lance's voice was at a squeak. He couldn't find the strength to finish. Luckily, Keith realized what Lance wanted; he asked him if he wanted Keith to tell Coran the rest. Lance just nodded. If there were any alien sexually transmitted diseases, they would pop up on the scan.
"Go outside, though," Lance's voice cracked. Keith's stomach twisted, an anger now filling him. He hated that this happened to Lance. No one deserves to be violated in the way Lance was. He was distraught, which was valid, and it was obviously taking a lot of energy out of him. Lance needed rest. He needed a break; Keith, in trying to help Lance probably overstimulated him in the process. While what he did was needed, he also needed to realize the toll it was taking on Lance.
Keith told his fellow Paladin that they would be in Keith's room for privacy, but to contact them via their helmets if needed. Lance agreed.
Once in Keith's room - Keith had put his clothes on before leaving - Coran politely asked Keith what was going on. Keith asked Coran what he knew about the planet's social norms and understandings about consent. Coran was knowledgeable, as Keith expected. Keith then asked what he knew about what proper consent on Earth was. Coran also knew that. Keith explained from his point of view, what happened. Finding Lance at the party. Going for a walk. Trying to sleep. Giving up on sleep; Coran tried to interrupt, however Keith kept talking before the Altean could question Keith's health. Keith told Coran about finding Lance sick in the bathroom. A summary of Lance's assault story. Keith was not sure how to classify what happened; it was either assault or rape. Either way, both are traumatic and horrible, and should never happen to anyone. Coran's confusion turned into sadness and empathy throughout the conversation. Keith explained up until Coran came in. The Altean was speechless, a rare feat for him. Alteans apparently were very clear about what consent was and what was sexual violence. They had low rates in Coran's time. When silence filled the room, Keith asked him if the results were in regarding Lance's body scan. Coran looked; Keith understood what it said. They returned to Lance to deliver the news.
The Cuban looked asleep when they entered, however, his eyes flashing to Keith revealed his true state of alertness. Lance let out a raspy cry for Keith. The Blue Paladin was down from his high.
"Keith? I know- I know you don't really like- like physical contact, but-but-but can you, um, sit on the bed with me and-with-with- with me and hold me?"
Little did he know that Keith had dreamt about cuddling with Lance. He definitely dreamed that they would be under different circumstances. But Keith appreciated Lance asking for what he needed, as well as getting into physical contact and affection. Going at Lance's rate, Keith would love to help him feel safe being touched.
Keith awkwardly plopped himself on the bed. He asked about what would be best, very unsure of the best way. Lance got him to sit with his back against the wall, cross-legged. Lance sat next to Keith, curled up in his blanket. Only his head and hands could be seen. Keith felt empathy. Lance hugged his pillow close to him under the blanket. It reminded Keith of a shield.
"So, Lance. One thing I noticed without the scanner was the marks all over your chest. Those, along with the similar ones on the rest of your body, can easily be healed by the Pods. You have bruises on certain parts of your body. Any parts that were in contact with 'Aliens' may feel weird sensations for the next few days. For humans those are normal. If it lasts longer than a week, come see me again. You do not have any infections or alien diseases, which would have been tough to treat. You will probably be sore from straining your body."
Coran took a break for Lance to process the information so far. He leaned into Keith; the half-Galran patted the Cuban's head lightly. Lance shot him a look of utter confusion. Keith awkwardly apologized. What should he do? Lance would probably be overwhelmed by intimate touches. It would shock him too; Keith was not one to express intimacy, especially through touch. He settled for tenderly scratching the tips of his fingers over the other boy's scalp. Lance melted a little to the touch.
"Is this okay?" Keith sternly asked.
"Much better than the tapping," Lance retorted, a smirk brushing by his face. Lance got into the motion. Keith made sure not to do anything besides what he was, out of fear that it would trigger Lance. Coran asked him if he was ready for part two. Lance nodded simply.
"The drug used was-" a strange assortment of sounds came out of Coran's mouth "-which has a long cycle in Alteans. We do not have any information about how it will affect humans but I assume it to be similar."
"As long as I'm high, I can't feel anything," Lance mumbled. Coran didn't hear but Keith sure as hell did. Lance looked up when Keith momentarily stopped his caress, begging for Keith to keep quiet.
"You may feel drastic mood changes. Once it has finished its course, it would be best that we pop you in the Cryopod again. Pidge has made an upgrade to help treat Shiro's PTSD and we can do the same for you."
Coran was barely done his talk before Lance was protesting.
"NO!" He gravelly yelled, ripping away from Keith. "NO! I WILL NOT. NO ONE ELSE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS! I DO NOT ASK FOR YOUR HELP!"
"You yelling is surely keeping this a secret," Keith sneered. He realized what he said when Lance recoiled. Lance attempted to move away from Keith and to the other side of the bed. Unfortunately the drug was screwing with his spatial awareness; Coran caught him just in time. Unfortunately, the unexpected touch caused Lance to lash out, swatting, kicking, and screaming. Coran gently placed the boy on to the floor and backed away for his own safety.
"Lance, the team needs to know at least that you were drugged," Coran started. Keith picked up that the Altean was not looking at Lance directly and was blinking more. His voice, while confident, quivered slightly. "They will surely notice that you are not feeling well, and want to know because they care about you. They probably have realized that you were not at breakfast or lunch. They love you and care about your wellbeing. We have to tell them that."
Lance tried to get up but, due to the drug in his system, couldn't get up. Or maybe he couldn't get up without unwrapping the blanket... Keith didn't question him about it. He struggled some more before getting exasperated.
"ASSHOLES! HELP ME UP GODDAMNIT!" He cried. He was done kicking and hitting.
Keith jumped off of the bed. He sat on the floor next to Lance, waiting for his crush to instruct him how to help best. Keith softly asked what Lance wanted him to do; Lance told him to just transport him from the floor to the best. Keith picked the burritoed boy up into a fireman's carry and placed him down on the bed. Coran tapped Keith's shoulder while Lance was distracted by figuring out his blanket situation. The Altean said he would be leaving after his report to get the Cryopod ready for Lance, and that Keith needed to prepare Lance for it. Which meant Keith would be putting the suit on Lance. He did think putting clothes ON Lance will be less awkward and upsetting. Possibly a bit humiliating and infantilizing for Lance. Lance huffed, which was a reaction to the trio's conversation and to signify he was ready. He was sitting up, only his head and fingertips visible.
"May I continue?" Coran asked and Lance told him to proceed. "I will let you know that I am trained in Altean psychological services and may be able to help you through finding healthy coping mechanisms."
He paused, then told Lance to consider it.
"Now, last thing Lance and then I will be going. I need to ask this because it is important." Another small pause to let it sink in. Meanwhile Keith was standing next to the bed, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He wanted to give Lance some physical space.
"Are you going to be a danger to yourself or others?"
That was a curveball for Keith. He couldn't wrap his head around Lance doing anything bad intentionally. To himself or others.
"Why would you even ask that?" Lance snipped at him. Coran levelly looked at Lance.
"That's not a straight answer."
Lance bursted out laughing after a long pause and staring contest with the Altean. But it wasn't his normal laugh. It was more loose. The laugh that Keith learned was only done when Lance was getting high or is already there.
"Nothing ABOUT me is straight, Coran!" Lance laughed so hard, it sent him into a coughing fit. Coran sighed with the disappointment of a friend after someone made a bad pun/joke. Keith almost choked on air.
Once all of this is over, and Lance is sober and has healed, we shall talk about this fact, Keith thought to himself.
"Great to know Lance. But you are dodging the question. Are you a harm to yourself or others. Be it intentional or not."
Lance's gaze fell to meet Coran's.
"Yeah," Lance casually said. Keith stood up straight, uncrossing his arms. At attention. Did Lance mean that or was it the drugs talking?
"Alright then. We will have someone watch you-"
"Coran, Lance is on a high! What if he is lying because it's funny to him like this?" Keith interrupted.
"If I was lying," Lance's voice was steady but also relaxed and nonchalant "wouldn't I be laughing?"
Keith's stomach dropped.
"As I was saying," Coran interjected "You will need to be watched. At least until you are sobered up. Are there members who you feel comfortable with? They may have to help you change…"
Lance curled into his ball more, which Keith didn't know was possible.
"Keith's pretty. He has basically seen me naked-" Lance's sentence was cut off by a sob; he started crying again. Coran waited patiently for Lance to continue, which he did through the sobs. Keith's mind couldn't wrap around Lance calling him pretty, but focused on Lance. Was there anything he could do for him?
"Shiro would probably be good too… I don't want Pidge or Allura because they're not boys. If they could watch me during chill times, maybe? But Pidge can't support me physically..." Lance trailed off in thought.
"What about Hunk? Or Myself?"
Lance sat back into a more relaxed position, the wall supporting him.
"Hunk's my best friend. I do not want him doing…. Personal care." Lance said the last part slowly, testing out the language on his tongue.
"I understand. Would you like to be present when we tell them?" Coran was calm, despite everything had done up to this point. Keith, in Coran's position, would have been pissed. He had lost his temper earlier. Hopefully when looking after Lance, he won't do it again.
"... Can I think about it?"
"It has to be before you go into the Cryopod. Which we are doing right after this."
"Can I decide at the Cryopod?
"Sure," Coran sounded tired and empathetic. Lance needed time to think.
"For transporting, I think it best if I grab the gurney and Lance can roll onto it?" Coran suggested. Lance agreed, since being carried was a lot for him, and he had already been through that multiple times within the past 12 hours. With that, Coran left. Lance looked to Keith, his relaxed demeanor still in place. He giggled while asking Keith if he would be assisting in putting on the suit. Keith said that if needed, he would have to. Unless Lance wanted Keith to call Shiro or someone. The suit was sent to Keith via tiny robot. He watched Lance struggle to get it on UNDER the blanket. The drugged boy wailed in defeat, shaking. Keith stood at the foot of the bed, concerned.
"What's up?" He asked, hoping that he sounded concerned and inviting.
"I don't WANT your help," Lance was crashing from his high "but I NEED it. And I just.." Lance screamed into the suit, which blocked the noise from being too loud. "I don't want you… touching me like that."
"What would you prefer?"
Lance thought for a second, tears streaming down his face.
"I want you to - want you to - you to - oh god - gag m-m-m-me so I don't scream loudly, and-" he sniffled "put the suit - the suit - on me. First gag. Then b-b-b-b-blanket. Then suit."
Keith found the idea to be weird; not necessarily what it entailed but HIM gagging LANCE? He hated this whole scene, seeing Lance so forcibly vulnerable and scared and upset. But he did it anyway. He found a clean sock from Lance's drawer, hovered it near his mouth until it was taken by Lance. He asked for Lance to blink two times if he wanted Keith to go slow or blink five if he wanted Keith to do it fast. Lance blinked three times, tears escaping. Keith took that as not super slow but also not too fast. He got to work removing the blanket. Keith had forgotten briefly that Lance was still only in his underwear. Lance's knees were up to his chest and it took a lot of effort to slide the suit up his legs like that. The Cuban did scream and cry during the process, but it was more in surprise and sensitivity to being touched than one to signal that he was in pain. Keith asked Lance to roll over so he could get it over his butt; Lance did so. This time, he screamed as if Keith was killing him. The red paladin did that part as quickly as half-galrany possible. He got Lance to sit up, helping him do so. Lance was able to put his arms in, then Keith zipped it up.
"All done," He said, relieved. He took the sock out of Lance's mouth. "Now we wait for Coran to come back with a stretcher. Would you like your blanket back on you?"
Lance nodded. He laid down on the bed as Keith put the blanket in a good position. Lance directed Keith to place himself anywhere except the bed and Keith opted for against the opposite wall to Lance's bed. Minutes passed by and Keith heard Lance snoring lightly.
Good, Keith thought, Lance deserves rest.
A soft knock on the door roused Keith from is daydreaming while staring at the sleeping boy. He answered it immediately. Hunk greeted him, a worried expression replaced by surprise to see Keith, not Lance, answer.
"Oh! Hey Keith. Where is Lance?"
Keith had the door open wide enough to fit his face through; Hunk was trying to look beyond Keith.
"He had a rough night," an understatement "and is sleeping. He has a few bruises and whatnot from the party that Coran is setting up a healing pod for. I'm helping him transport Lance, since he is asleep."
"Oh… Why weren't any of us told this?"
"Because Coran didn't want possibly drugged or hungover people to be helping. I did not have any of the food from last night, unlike some people." Keith clapped back. Hunk simply nodded, told Keith to fetch him when Lance was out of the pod, and went on his merry way. Just in time, as Keith caught a glimpse of Coran returning with a gurney. They were careful to load Lance on without disturbing him. Once Lance was snoozing on the gurney, Coran and Keith moved him to the med bay. They let him sleep for ten minutes before Keith gently shook him awake. Lance groggily opened his eyes, a fleeting look of bliss on his face.
"Lance, have you decided on an answer?"
"Tell them when I'm not there," Lance whispered. Keith heard and so he relayed the answer to Coran. The Altean and half-Galran assisted in bringing Lance from the gurney to the pod. Lance shook; he was visibly holding back whatever response he actually had to the situation. Keith was able to relax once Lance was unconscious in the pod. He could get some more, well needed, rest.
Coran and him went to the dinner table. Coran told Keith on the way there that he sent Shiro to grab the others for lunch. When they entered, the others were already in attendance.
"Where's Lance?" Pidge asked. Everyone had food goo in front of them but no one had begun eating.
"He's in a healing pod. He is experiencing some alien, party, and drug related injuries. He may not be in a good mood after exiting the Healing Pod and is very sore." Coran answered. Keith wouldn't have been able to answer without showing how distressed he was by the state Lance was in. "If Lance wants to talk about it, he will. But until that point, no one ask specifics. Due to the drugs unknowingly taken, he is sensitive to touch. Do not touch him unless he initiates it, the touch is for his own personal safety, or the safety of others."
Everyone started eating their food goo.
"What kinds of injuries does he have? Can we go see him?" Pidge asked amongst the goo consumption.
"Well, the drug makes him weak and not able to really hold his own weight. He is the first human I know of to take the drug, so effects may vary. I suspect that it would be similar to an Altean." Coran was letting his guard down now. Slowly but surely; his facial expression dropped, he slouched in his chair, picked at his food instead of eating it. He told the group that in injuries should mostly heal. Lance will need help with personal care and the only people he wanted were Shiro and Keith.
"You need to consult Lance regarding visitors. He is not going to be feeling good for a while."
Keith wondered how much time Coran equated to 'a while'. Lance had a long road of healing ahead of him.