Keith was not in a cryopod when he woke up. There was a soft surface under him and he was lying down on it. It was familiar. The blanket on top of him was warm, the scent familiar. He was vaguely aware of a presence in the room he was in. But couldn't quite open his eyes yet. Holy Bob, he felt like he was coming out of a drug-induced sleep. His feet and legs were lead as well as his head. His eyelids felt like there were tiny little weights on the end of his eyelashes. His muscles were too relaxed and felt like spaghetti. Keith's brain felt different but he didn't know quite how to describe it. He tried to move but it was too hard. A groan from effort escaped his mouth. Immediately he felt hands on him; checking his forehead, his pulse, a slight shake. He heard a voice say his name but he couldn't respond with words, groaned a response. The person said his name again and Keith groaned out a "Hello". It was Lance.

Why was Lance in this room with him? Wouldn't his session take longer than Keith's? If Lance was up and walking, why wasn't Keith? How long had he been out?

"Keith are you okay to move?"

"Mmmmmmmmm-No" Keith managed to say. He focused all of his energy and attention to his mouth. "Where am I?"

"Can you open your eyes?" Lance asked. Keith shook his head slowly. "Well, you are in your room. You were in the pod for a day and then when you emerged, the pod gave you something to induce sleep. Unfortunately it was a Galran dosage so while it didn't hurt you, it knocked you out for three days."

Keith was finally able to look up at Lance. It felt weird; they had switched positions. Lance was the one needing to be taken care of and Keith was acting as his assistant. Now Lance was here to help Keith. At least, Keith assumed that's why Lance was in his room.

"Howwww… have I…." Keith tried asking a question but the process of getting the words out was difficult. His throat was sore and dry. Lance waited patiently. "... been kept…. Alive…?"

Lance was silent for a second and Keith wasn't sure how else to phrase it.

"Well the dose didn't kill you, and it didn't almost kill you."

"3 days… food… water…" Keith was able to say.

"Oh! Well, you currently have a hydration line hooked up to you that you probably can't feel, and Coran has been giving you nutrient patches."

Keith's questions about how exactly he was getting rid of nutrients was better left unasked. He tried opening his eyes again, this time able to. Lance was kneeling down next to the bed. He looked better than before; the bags under his eyes were gone, he looked like he had kept up his eating habits. His hygiene was same as before. Lance looked relieved when Keith opened his eyes.

"Hey, Mullet," he said softly.

"Hair…?" Keith said.

"Dry shampoo" Lance answered, knowing what Keith had been wondering. Keith looked and saw the hydration drip. He looked from that the Lance.

"Gone?"

"I can call Coran and he can do an assessment. We were starting to get worried, actually." Lance replied. He flagged Shiro and Coran to come down to his room. Almost instantly both presences arrived. Shiro sighed in relief upon seeing Keith awake. Coran had the device from when they checked Lance for any injuries. Lance took the blanket off of Keith so that Coran could scan him. Keith blushed when he realized he was only in boxers. Someone probably had to take the suit off-

"You're in decent health. Until you can move, though, I am afraid that we will have to feed you like that"

"Someone… else?" Keith was trying so hard to make a full sentence. That's all he wanted was to speak in full sentences. The look on Shiro's face made him feel even worse. Coran and Shiro both looked at each other for guidance; luckily Lance translated.

"I think he is asking if someone else could feed him. I don't think he likes the hydration method."

Coran considered it and then asked Keith who he would feel comfortable doing it. Keith scrunched up his face in thought.

"Pidge?" Coran prompted.

"Tiny." Keith sighed.

"Hunk?"

"Worries."

"Shiro?"

"Yes… Gentle." Keith looked at Shiro for that one. Shiro nodded, knowing what Keith meant.

"Lance?"

"Yes…. No…. jokes," Keith said, now looking at the boy in question.

"I wouldn't!" Keith raised an eyebrow. "Wait do you mean no jokes about you, or no jokes in general. Because I would not make jokes about you being in a coma."

"Some… jokes…" Keith compromised. Lance chuckled.

Keith felt like something in his brain released a bunch of pressure, like a pop bottle opening up

for the first time.

"How would you feel about Allura or myself?" Coran asked.

"Allura, no," Keith said without hesitation or pauses. Shiro smiled a little at the improvement in Keith's speech. "You, yes."

"Alrighty. Is there anything you want or need right now?" Coran asked.

"Drink in throat," Keith managed to say. He smiled a little. The rest of his body was still heavy and he couldn't move his limbs but he was able to talk.

"Shiro, go inform the others that Keith is awake and well, but they can't come see him." Coran told him. Shiro nodded but approached Keith's bed. He sat down, facing Keith. He squeezed Keith's shoulder lovingly, telling him he was glad Keith was okay. Shiro assured Keith he would be back later to check up on him and hang out. Keith smiled softly.

"Promise?" he softly asked.

"Of course." Shiro replied. With one more solid squeeze, he left. Coran followed Shiro out, telling Lance to help Keith sit up. Lance and Keith stayed silent for a few minutes.

"How should I, uh…" Lance asked, crossing his arms and then uncrossing.

"Shirt first?" Keith asked. He hated being exposed like this. He wondered if Lance felt the way he did when the roles were reversed. Keith wanted to curl into a ball and wrap the blankets around himself so that Lance couldn't see him. Lance gave Keith with a sympathetic expression.

"You are very uncomfortable right now, aren't you?" Lance said. He grabbed a shirt from Keith's closet. It was a tight one, but a tight shirt was better than no shirt. Keith was able to expose himself when Lance needed him to that night, because he knew Lance was vulnerable. Now HE was the vulnerable one. Lance sat down on the bed. He picked up each of Keith's arms, put them through the shirt. He successfully managed to get Keith's head through. The hard part was getting it down to cover his torso. Lance wiped away a few tears that came out of Keith's eyes.

Not wanting to watch, Keith shut his eyes. Lance picked Keith's upper half up, slid behind him, and had them situated. Keith's head laid on Lance's shoulder, his torso arched slightly. They were both now in sitting positions with Keith leaning on Lance for full support. Lance slid the shirt down Keith and the half-Galran couldn't stop himself from crying. Lance repositioned them so that he could hug Keith better as he cried. Keith was thankful for the warmth but at the same time hated it. Hated it because this was not what should have been happening. He was supposed to be the one supporting Lance, not the other way around. He hated that the first time they had this kind of contact was when Keith literally couldn't move.

"Sorry," Keith muttered through the tears.

"It's okay Keith. I know that you are uncomfortable. You can cry."

Keith wasn't sure how long they were there, inside Keith's room, on the bed. But Coran knocked on the door after what seemed like forever. Lance told him to wait for a second. He wiped Keith's tears away using the sleeve of his long-sleeved shirt and then positioned them so the wall was supporting most of Keith's weight instead of Lance.

"Come in," Lance called. Coran entered with a tray, bowls of food on top. Coran set it down on Keith's bedside table, unhooked the hydration machine, and then gave a bowl to Lance.

"Most of these should not require chewing." Coran informed them. He asked if Lance needed help and he told Coran to stay just in case something happened. Luckily, Lance spoon-fed Keith without any problems arising. Well, physical problems. Keith was tired and did not like having to be fed. But he hated having nutrients pumped into him. When he finished, Lance slipped out from behind him, placed him in bed, and then went to eat food. Coran did some physical checks; pupil dilation, heartbeat, and asked Keith to try and hold his arm up. Keith couldn't. Coran said he would be back, that there might be something about an antiserum. He ordered Lance to take care of Keith.

"Lance?" Keith said. His voice was almost back to his normal tone and strength. It was still a bit hoarse. Lance looked at him; Keith snorted. Lance was in the middle of scarfing down food so he had a mouthful. His eyebrows were raised, eyes big.

"Mhmm?"

"How… are you? Did… the pod… help… at… all?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now!" Lance said cheerily after swallowing.

That was a blatant lie. Even the cryopods couldn't cure Lance's trauma/PTSD completely. Even if it cured the worst symptoms, Lance would be distraught still. Shiro was using the pods for his PTSD and it still was affecting him. Keith had helped Shiro calm down from nightmares before Shiro knew about his insomnia.

"I got out of the pod after about a day and haven't had any problems since." Lance said merrily.

"No problems?" Keith repeated, staring down Lance. Before he could say anything else, there was enthusiastic knocking at the door. Lance went over to answer it; as soon as the door opened, Pidge and Hunk stumbled into the room. They quickly regained composure. Shiro entered after, a small chuckle on his lips as he regarded Hunk and Pidge. Lance backed up as Pidge and Hunk went to Keith's bedside. He did not point out the tears in Keith's eyes at the sight of Hunk and Pidge being excited about his safety and wellbeing. Allura entered shortly after.

"How are you feeling?" Allura asked.

"Frustrated," Keith sighed. When the others looked concerned, Lance and Shiro looked empathetic and understanding.

"Well, is there anything we can do for you?" Pidge asked, their eyes analyzing Keith, as if looking for evidence to help them make him feel better.

"I can't move much. Barely talking." Keith commented. His cheeks were turning red and he wasn't making eye contact with anyone. "Space coffee?"

Hunk, Pidge, Shiro, and Lance all chuckled.

"Would you like us to give you something to help?" Coran asked. Keith's eyes flitted to where Coran was, by the door, observing. Keith shook his head, shutting his eyes.

"How about we give Keith some space." Coran suggested. "He should be walking and fighting in no time. Besides! We have a mission!"

Keith's face contorted into intrigue, despite his eyes being closed. Coran must have saw his face change.

"There is a planet that we are meeting a colony of the Coalition on. We only need the Princess plus two or three of you to go, so you can rest Keith."

"Who go?" Keith asked. Keith opened his eyes, seeing the group all looking at one another.

Allura said she was going, obviously. Pidge volunteered to go, as the technology might be interesting. Hunk said he would go too, saying he was going to analyze the food. Shiro and Lance were fine staying back. Everyone left, apart from Lance and Shiro. They left briefly to grab chairs. Keith wondered whether he was feeling gross because of whatever was in his system, or if it was due to the lack of hygiene. Keith wanted to have a bath, but he definitely was not sure how comfortable he was with any of the crew members helping. He could help others, but he did not want to be helped. When the two boys returned, Keith's bladder made the decision for him. He was kinda able to move but he definitely couldn't support himself. He waved at the two nerds who were reading books on the touch-screens. They asked in unison what Keith needed.

"Bathroom. Please."

"Do you care who helps?" Shiro asked. Keith measured up both of them.

"No."

Shiro and Lance exchanged looks and then decided that they both should in order to be safe. They assisted Keith to his feet and then put his arms over their shoulders. They carried him to the bathroom. Keith got Shiro to leave once in the bathroom, getting Lance to close his eyes as Keith did his business. Lance asked if he was good after Keith finished. Keith told him he felt gross. Lance sat Keith on the toilet after putting the lid down. Keith was strong enough to sit up on his own, thankfully. Lance sat on the bathtub side, which positions him right next to Keith. The red paladin avoided eye contact but the blue paladin demanded it. Keith got a whiff of Lance's cologne. Well, that and of something else he couldn't quite identify. The smell of Lance was heavier than normal and not due to proximity.

"Remember what you did for me when… when you found me? That night on Onyx?"

Keith nodded slightly, still not looking at Lance.

"Well, since you, erm, bathed me… Maybe I could return the favor? If that makes you uncomfortable, that's ok, it was just a suggestion. If you want me to help you with it, that's your call."

Keith huffed. He really wanted a bath. He could just be in his briefs, right? Suddenly he thought of the fact that Lance would have to help him take his clothes off. The thought both made him want to faint and excited him. He hated both feelings.

"Privacy?" Keith choked out.

"Do you mean you want privacy or you are asking about how, uh, exposed you will be?" Lance looked worried and awkward. Just like how Keith felt.

"Second."

"I mean, if you wanted to keep your shirt and underwear on, that's up to you. But also depends on how clean you want to get."

"You would have to take his shirt off anyway," Shiro interjected. His big frame loomed in the doorway. "Keith can't wear a soaked t-shirt."

"Just briefs" Keith muttered. Lance apparently heard him say something but Keith was not clear or loud enough. He repeated himself louder and through gritted teeth. Lance smiled empathetically and with knowing. He asked if Keith was okay with Shiro helping. Keith told Shiro to go grab something to help him move about the castle, which Shiro dejectedly complied. Before leaving, Shiro carried Keith into the bedroom and placed him on the bed. Since Keith couldn't support himself, they agreed that the bed would be better than the floor. Shiro left the two boys staring at each other but not making eye contact. Keith was looking at Lance's feet and Lance was looking Keith over. Lance bit his lower lip.

"Well?" Keith huffed.

"You sure you want this?" Lance asked.

"I has apparently been asleep for three days due to a space machine that registered a gene that I didn't even fucking know about until a little while ago. A machine that I was forced to go into and now all I feel is pain, exhaustion, and dirty. I can only help one of those. And if it requires you to take my clothes off, then so be it. But I am highly uncomfortable with it."

"If it makes you feel better," Lance softly said. The softness of Lance made Keith reel back on himself. He shouldn't have snapped at Lance. What he went through was much worse. "I had to help my mother sometimes with taking care of my siblings. So I have, uh, seen bodies before. Not to mention I have one."

Keith already figured Lance had helped with childcare. They air about how he did things when taking care of people showed that side of him. Even knowing that, the words of comfort did help Keith.

"Just get it over with," Keith shut his eyes and waited. He jumped and squealed when Lance touched the hem of his shirt. Keith realized, again, that someone had to have changed him. Despite Lance seeing Keith's exposed chest earlier, Keith was uncomfortable. Lance was actively taking his shirt off. And then it would be the pants. Keith wondered who had changed his clothes, but figured that question was best left unanswered as well. Lance asked if Keith wanted him to go slow or fast. Keith told him slow so that he could get used to the exposure.

"You had your shirt off when you woke up. That's how the nutrient patches worked; Coran had to monitor them."

"This is different" Keith stated. Lance continued to pull the shirt up Keith's torso, which was moving due to the whimpers escaping Keith's mouth. Lance pondered it as the shirt was off of Keith's head and he gently guided Keith's arms out of it. He threw the shirt into the closet and returned. Lance stood again, waiting. Staring at Keith's torso mostly.

"Lance?" Keith moaned. His eyes were still closed, so he was unaware of Lance's looking.

"Yeah?"

"Maybe… run the bath first," Keith quietly said, just audible. Lance quickly entered the bathroom and Keith heard the water start. He returned and sat down on the edge of the bed. Kieth didn't see his hands gingerly hesitating.

"Are you sure? Fast or slow?" Lance asked. His voice was slightly higher than usual. Keith was glad that the drugs in his system were causing certain areas to not get excited.

"Slow.. but… I'm, uh, not used to," Keith cleared his throat. "Hands… er….anyone… uh… no one has done this…"

Keith screamed when hands were suddenly placed on his hips. They were immediately removed upon Keith's reaction, a million apologizes flying out of Lance's mouth. Keith calmed down his breathing. He still wouldn't open his eyes, afraid of letting the tears out.

"Okay I am going to place my hands on your stomach so that you get used to them." Lance stated. "That sounded weird."

Keith just nodded. Lance's warm hands were on his exposed stomach and, god, did Keith wish the first time this was happening was in a different context. He shoved that thought away and focused on trying to relax. Lance's hands slowly slid down until they grabbed his waistband. Slowly and agonizingly, the pants were taken off of Keith. Lance threw them away too. Keith was shaking by the time Lance returned.

"Ok Mullet, what's the best way to carry you?" Lance asked. Keith had his arms crossed and looks like shit. Keith shrugged. Lance picked Keith up bridal style, awkwardly brought him into the bathroom, and placed Keith gently into the bath. Once settled, Keith and Lance were breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry," Keith uttered. Lance looked at him from the toilet, confused.

"What?"

"I can't imagine needing this done because of being high and after what you experienced." Keith looked at Lance and the Blue Paladin saw the intense sincerity in his eyes. Lance looked away, his fingers tapping together.

"Did you want me to wash your hair or anything?" Lance shyly asked. Keith looked down onto his lap.

"If you, uh, don't mind… I assume you have done this with your siblings."

Lance nodded. Keith sunk further into the bath. Lance examined the almost-naked man in the bathtub.

"Since you can't hold yourself up, I might wash your hair in the sink if that's okay?" Lance asked. Keith hummed in response. "But I could soap you?"

Keith choked on air. "What?!"

"Soap… You know, the stuff that cleans your body?"

Keith definitely heard him wrong. Perhaps Lance could soap his brain too. Keith gruffly told him that he would like that, and Lance got to work. He scrubbed on some solid soap, starting with Keith's legs. Lance picked up a leg from the water and lathered it up with soap. Keith was not a fan of the touch and was tense, but did not say anything. After Lance was done with one leg and moved on to the second, Keith seemed to be relaxing in to his touch. Lance did not dare venturing past the bottom part of his thighs. He held Keith's hand as he washed the boy's arm. Both blushing. Not making eye contact. ALthough one thing that Keith found cute, sad and annoying all at once was that Lance kept asking Keith if he could do something. Even the smallest thing, Lance would ask.

"Keith? Lance?" Shiro called from the door.

"In the bathroom!" Lance called. There was a pause.

"Doing.. Doing what?"

"Bathing Keith" Lance called back.

"Is he… uh… can I enter?" Shiro awkwardly called.

Lance looked to Keith and Keith nodded.

"Yep!" Shiro entered, a chair in tow. But this chair was not like any chair. This one was a hover chair. Keith wasn't sure how it worked or where Shiro found it. Shiro looked relieved to see Keith, especially when he saw the clothes he had on.

"When the others return, we are going to have a full team meeting. Would you two like to join? No pressure if you are not up for it." Shiro informed them.

"We'll see," Keith said, sounding as if he was half asleep. Keith, surprising himself, was enjoying being taken care of. Or maybe that was the drugs kicking it up in his system. Keith wasn't sure how much time it would take for the drugs to be completely out of his system, he just hoped he could regain his muscle strength soon. Lance switched to the other arm, still talking to Shiro. Keith was so lost in the feeling and his own head that he missed part of the conversation.

"-seems to be tired, but I can bring him down or call you to help if he wants to help." Lance was says. "He seems to be pretty out of it. I'm washing his hair next."

Keith had closed his eyes and did not open them. Shiro told Lance to page him if he needs help. Before Keith knew it, Lance was nudging him lightly.

"You alive, Mullet?"

"Barely," Keith grumbled. He lazily opened his eyes. How could he be this tired? He was literally in a coma not that long ago?

"Are you ready to get out? Shiro brought an extra chair that is stationary so I can wash your hair in the sink."

Keith nodded and tried to prop himself up, but was painfully reminded about his lack of control over his own body. He nodded, the tub was drained, and Lance positioned himself to pick Keith up. Keith didn't like the feeling of his wet underwear on his skin. But then Lance placed him in the chair. A chair that had a thick and fluffy towel on it. Lance asked if Keith wanted to be wrapped like a burrito and Keith told him he would. Lance put a towel on the counter so Keith's neck would not dig into the edge. Lance started washing Keith's luscious black hair. The finger nails gliding gently from the tip of his forehead to the crown of his head was hypnotic. Lance then put shampoo in his hair and massaged his scalp. Keith could not contain the moans of pleasure. Lance chuckled at him.

"You're hands are magic," Keith moaned in a trance.

"Not the first time I have heard that," Lance said in a tone that implied a deeper meaning to the sentence. Keith blushed. Due to the size of the sink, Lance was able to wash Keith's hair with ease. He used a cup to help rinse out the shampoo. Keith was breathing deeper, slower; he was almost asleep. Lance finished up rinsing the shampoo out and then decided to do conditioner. Keith was unaware; he kept moving his head into Lance's fingertips, tiny noises of relaxation and pleasure. Lance knew the context in which Keith was making those noises but that did not stop his mind from imagining it in a different context. And Oh Boy. He cleared that thought out of his head. Keith was happy and that is all that mattered. Lance focused on something else. He hadn't seen much of Keith since knowing him. Of course they had their infamous rivalry, but Lance figured they were over being enemies. They were competitors. Lance had not seen Keith so relaxed, so unattended. He was not guarded. Probably too tired to keep up his walls. Or it could be the Galra-dose that he was given. All the tension was out of Keith and it looked good on him. Lance hoped that Keith could be this relaxed and trusting more often.

Then again, didn't Keith have to be trusting right now? He could not exactly do things for himself. When the drug is gone, would Keith still be cold towards him?

Lance wrapped a towel around the other boy's hair. The other boy, who was drifting away. Lance softly spoke his name, causing Keith to come out of his half-asleep state. Lance picked him up gently but firmly and carried him to the bed. Keith was basically dry apart from his hair due to the burrito towel. Keith, with much effort, was able to sit himself up, his body weight being supported by the wall. His underwear was not dry, unfortunately.

"Are you wanting help changing out of those?" Lance asked. Keith shook his head slowly, staring daggers at Lance. Keith put the towels that were on the bed over himself. His legs and hips, mostly.

"Are you going to be able to change yourself?" Lance asked. He knew the answer even before Keith shook his head. "I'm sorry to say this but you can't stay in those."

Keith collapsed onto the bed, bringing a towel to cover himself. Lance sighed in annoyance. He was not going to force Keith to do anything, but maybe persuade him.

"Hey," he softly said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He was going to place a hand on Keith but thought that he would not like that. "Remember I was in your place a little more than a week ago. The roles were switched. You took care of me and now I can take care of you. If you are embarrassed about me seeing you, er, without clothes on-" Lance took a deep breath "-because I've seen other people's… parts… before. Not to mention that we have similar parts… but if you still are uncomfortable, maybe we can do this a harder but more comfortable way?"

Lance looked to the lump that was Keith for a minute, watching for any sort of sign. He realized Keith was crying.

"Keith?"

"What's your b-b-b-big idea?" Keith managed to spit out between sobs. Lance explained that he could wrap Keith in a towel so that his arms were down near his hips, and the towel stopped part way down his thigh. Keith could slip off the soaked item he had on, Lance pull it off, Lance put a new one on and then Keith finish dressing. Keith thought about it for a minute and then begrudgingly agreed. Lance slowly and carefully undid the towel cocoon he had. He wrapped the towel as told. Lance watched as Keith took off his underwear under the towel.

"Can you not look at me like that? Or at all? It's kinda weird," Keith scoffed at him. Lance apologized profusely and grabbed the item as it appeared out from under the towel. He slid it down Keith's legs, disposed of them, grabbed a replacement, slid it far enough for Keith to grab, then turned away. He listened to Keith swearing under his breath, and the shuffling sounds.

"Grab me a shirt and pants." Keith said eventually. Lance did as told, grabbing a random shirt and sweatpants. Both were black. Everything he owned was black. Apart from a few items, some coming from Coran and Allura to wear for fancy events. He returned to Keith.

"Your closet it very colorful," Lance joked as he handed Keith the clothes. "Did you want help?"

"No." Keith tightly said. Lance stepped back and turned around.

"You know, I've already seen you in your underwear dude," Lance nonchalantly said. He listened to Keith make sounds of struggle, waiting for him to ask for help. Keith sighed a few minutes into trying to dress himself and roughly accepted the help. He got his shirt on, but his pants were the bigger issue. Lance got to work, putting in one foot at a time. He noticed that Keith was pointedly NOT looking at him. He slid them up until he got to Keith's thighs, where the towel was still covering his waist and crotch. Lance asked to proceed, earning a slight nod from the Red Paladin. He removed the towel, revealing some solid proof (he did not expect to see) that Keith enjoyed Lance's help a little too much. Lance almost cackled, because it WAS funny, but also was embarrassed. This is what Keith had been trying to hide. He quickly pulled the pants over and sat them on his waist. Before either boy could say anything, Shiro's voice came over the communicators.

"Keith? Lance? Are you two ready for the meeting?"

Lance went over to respond. "Yep!" Lance choked out.

"Okay, see you soon."

When Lance turned back to Keith, he did not make eye contact.

"If you tell anyone, I swear to god Lance-"

"I won't" Lance interrupted. He knew where that sentence was headed. Of course Lance wouldn't tell. He helped Keith get into his hoverchair and they silently left for the meeting.