Keith could admit that he has become very close to Lance in the last few days.

He decided to keep his promise, and every day when Keith went to the hospital to visit Shiro, he spent a few hours of the day with Lance, when he wasn't with visitors or with Dr. Coran, or doing some medical examination to monitor his health.

During these last few days that he visited Lance, Keith met a good part of Lance's family. Lance's mother was always at his bedside when she could. She always looked tired, as if she hadn't been sleeping for a whole month - she might as well hadn't - but she kept smiling, despite everything, supporting her son. Lance's older brother, Luis, always showed up at the end of the night, with an increasingly bizarre story of his day to tell to Lance, who despite questioning the truth of his brother's stories, he always laughed. Veronica was always present to take care of her mother, forcing her to eat or to rest, and her brother, keeping company and teasing him, telling Keith stories of when she and Lance were kids. Keith also discovered that Lance had one younger sister and two nephews who were in Cuba.

Keith also met Lance's best friend, Hunk. For some reason he looked familiar, and he had an intuition that Hunk recognized him as well, but he haven't say anything. Hunk was a good-hearted person, and Keith could tell he was suffering from the situation as much as Lance's family is.

Keith hadn't yet figured out why Lance was hospitalized. He sometimes tried to get into the subject, but Lance always seemed vulnerable to talking about anything that would indicate why he was there, so Keith didn't press him to speak, but Lance wasn't look well. Apparently Lance looked fine, but Keith was a very observant person, and he began to notice a few things about Lance. There are days when he could be smiling, and if you asked him, Lance would say he was fine, but the truth was the opposite. Keith realized that even with a smile on his lips, it couldn't reach his eyes. In this scenario, Lance would look pale, and his hair would be stuck to his face from the sweat. On these days, Keith always tried to distract Lance, even though the boy felt ashamed to ask for his help or to publicize his state of health. Once Keith had to call Allura, even with Lance's protests, because Lance was starting to look weaker at every second.

He was beginning to worry.


"Hey Keith," a voice called and Keith stopped at his tracks, turning around.

Pidge was running toward him, her backpack hanging over her shoulders, and she waving at him. He opened at little smile at his friend, and waved back, while waiting for her.

"Thank god... I... found you," Pidge gasped as he reached Keith. She tried to catch her breath while Keith looked curiously at her. "You know how it's hard to find you and your mullet in this big fucking school? I'm too small Keith!" she complained as she managed to breathe normally and Keith chuckled at her words "Anyway, Matt and I are planning on visiting Shiro today," she announced, now with a smile spreading across her lips.

"Really?" Keith said surprised "I thought Matt was always busy half of the day at the Garrison" he continued, the word 'Garrison' leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

"He got a free time today," Pidge explained "We can go to my house and pick up Matt and then we can go straight to the hospital, what do you think?" she said, sounding a little excited at the idea.

"Y-Yeah, let's go" Keith replied. "I'm sure Shiro would like that"

The two of them walked to the next bus station and waited for the bus to arrive, as they talked about how the school is too big and the teachers absolutely hated them both. Normally, Keith went to school with his motorcycle, and Pidge would take the bus, since she thought that they'd both die if she went with Keith, because "he goes too fast". But since the accident, Keith went with Pidge and after school, walked at the hospital, would take the bus after leave the hospital.

It wasn't long before the bus arrived, and the two of them entered, paying for their tickets and sitting at the back of the bus, away from everyone else. The trip to the apartment block where they lived wasn't too long, and in less than fifteen minutes they arrived.

Keith was so glad that Pidge lived near him. He remember when Pidge told him that they were going to move from their little house to a big apartment in the same building Shiro and Keith lived.

They entered the building, and Pidge ran quickly to the elevator doors, pressing the button several times. Keith quick his eyebrows when he reached her, with an amused expression and Pidge stuck her tongue out at him.

"Pidge" Keith called, approaching the impatient girl, and held her wrist "You're going to break the elevator button"

"I don't care, I want to go to the bathroom, and this elevator its sooo fucking slow" she complained.

"Breaking the elevator button won't do much good and it won't help you" Keith told Pidge who just huffed, and crossed her arms.

They stood for a minute waiting for the elevator, the pounding of Pidge's impatient foot getting louder and faster as the elevator doors opened, and Pidge ran inside, shouting "finally".

After the wait - according to Pidge, it was the longest two minutes of her life - they made their way to the floor where Pidge's apartment was. Pidge walked quickly to the door and tried to open it, fumbling with the keys and cursing at the hurried breathing. As soon as she opened the door, she ran into the apartment, disappearing into the hallway, leaving Keith alone.

Keith chuckled and entered the apartment, closing the door behind him. He walked straight to the couch, and sit down, waiting for Pidge or Matt show up. A few minutes passed, Keith was checking the hours on his phone, when Pidge appeared, a relieved expression on her face, accompanied by Matt who had messy hair and clothes all crumpled, looking like he had just woken up from a long night of sleep.

"Look who I found lying on the kitchen table" Pidge said, pointing to Matt, who was rubbing his eyes and sat next to Keith on the couch.

"Sleeping on the kitchen table, that's a new one" Keith teased making Pidge laugh, and Matt groaned at them.

"I was tired, and waiting for you guys" he said, pouting.

"Whatever you say, big brother" Pidge said, walking at their direction when she stopped, making a confused expression "Wait, where is mom and dad?" asked, looking at Matt.

"They went out" he shrugged "Mom wanted to shop at the grocery store, and dad took her" he explained.

"Oh" Pidge consulted her wristwatch "we should go, I don't know if 'regular' visitors have the same time with the patient as the family member does"

"Allura would allow you two to stay with me in Shiro's room" Keith said, rolling his eyes.

"Of course she would, she is a gently soul, not unlike others" Matt said in an enthusiastic tone. He always spoke in that tone when the subject of the conversation was Allura.

"Are you still obsessed with Allura?" Pidge spoke out, annoyed "Dude, just move on, Allura it's not into you"

Matt gasped.

"How dare you crush my little heart, little sis" he said, pretending to be outraged. He got up from the couch, and pointed to Pidge. "I'll go to the bathroom so I can wipe away the tears and collect the pieces of my heart that were broken by your wicked words, Katie" Matt said dramatically, pretending to wipe the fake tears and headed toward bathroom, leaving Pidge and Keith laughing at his antics.

"Wait until Shiro hears about the poems you wrote about Allura's "beautiful silver-silky hairs" Pidge shouted at Matt, and they heard Matt gasp even louder from the bathroom.

Keith entered the fifth floor, accompanied by Pidge and Matt, making their way to Shiro's room, talking quietly with the siblings, passing in front of the open door of Lance's room. Keith hesitated and then stopped, looking quickly inside the room, and saw Lance sitting in the bed, talking to whom seemed to be Hunk.

"Keith" Matt called and he looked away, almost missing the moment Lance's eyes widened and turned toward the door.

Flushing, Keith walked quickly to where Matt and Pidge were waiting for him, curious expression on his face.

"Don't" he said to the two, entering the room. The Holt siblings exchanged glances and decided to say nothing, accompanying the boy inside the room. But Keith knew they wouldn't forget.

They never let anything pass.


"What is your favorite color?" Lance asked.

After Matt and Pidge said goodbye to Keith and left the hospital - Keith promised to show up for dinner at the Holt's - he still stayed a few minutes in Shiro's room, feeling the nervousness spread through his body, making him a bit tense. He didn't understand why.

If we are being truthful, he actually understood.

The fact that he was about to visit Lance, made him nervous, uneasy, and his heartbeat a little faster than normal, made him stay in Shiro's room for a few more minutes, taking deep breaths to help him loose the temper.

But it didn't work.

When Keith entered Lance's room, he found the boy sitting on the bed, his arms crossed, pout, with an extremely irritated expression. He was looking like a child when he was refused candy before dinner. Lance looked at Keith, as if expecting something, and when Keith asked what was wrong, he accused Keith of being slow to appear.

"I've been waiting for you to show up all day," he would say, the accusatory tone of voice. "And when you and your mullet finally decide to show up, you ignore me and it takes almost a decade to come here!"

Keith didn't know how to answer.

After explained to Lance that his family was with him to visit his brother, Lance's posture dissolved, and his face took on a relieved expression. Keith took his place in the chair next to Lance's bed and they went into the normal routine, talking about anything, until Lance promoted a game between them.

"What kind of game?" Keith asked, interested.

"Game of 21 Questions" Lance explained "There are still things I don't know about you, and you about me, it's the best way to get to know each other better"

Keith seemed to consider. Maybe this is a great opportunity to ask Lance why he is hospitalized.

"Okay, it'll be cool" Keith accepted "Who's going first?"

"Red" Keith answered yours?"

"Blue"

"Favorite movie?"

"At the moment, Harry Potter"

"At the moment?" Keith cocked his head, confused.

"Yes, in case I change my mind"

Keith chuckled.

Spending time with Lance was proving that it was definitely better than being in the silence of Shiro's room, alone, with only his thoughts to torment him.

After deciding to visit Lance after spending time with the Shiro, Keith felt a bit lighter, the tightness in his chest that was always there when he walked into the hospital was gone, and he was leaving the hospital more relieved. Maybe this was the best decision he has made so far.

Talking with Lance helped him, but the pretty boy with beautiful blue eyes was a little harder to get to know. Every time Keith looked at Lance's face, he always had a smile on his lips that couldn't meet his eyes, and Keith knew Lance was more than he was demonstrating.

He's definitely not fine.

And Lance was definitely a challenge for Keith. And he was willing to meet the real Lance.

"Why are you laughing?" Lance crossed his arms, pouting again. Keith rolled his eyes.

"How do you change your mind about your favorite movie?" Keith asked, amused.

"Very easy buddy," Lance explained. "Today I can really enjoy a movie, next week I can watch a new movie and like it a lot, so this movies ends up being my new favorite movie."

Keith looked at Lance, slightly indignant. Lance wouldn't stop surprising him.

"So you mean all the movies you've seen so far are your favorite?" Keith raised his eyebrow, the corner of his lips curving into a smile.

"Yes," Lance said quickly. "Ah... Not exactly...?"

"You're indecisive" Keith decided, a little proud.

He thought it was incredible that he could read Lance. He was like an open book, but some pages he still couldn't read as if he were in another language or as if the pages were blank. There was still a lot about Lance that intrigued Keith and he couldn't quite put a finger on it, but he was determined to know all the layers that Lance had.

But one thing that intrigue him the most. What Lance had that was keeping him in this hospital, and doing some sort of treatment that seemed to make him worse every day instead of helping him.

Keith wanted to know, but he was still questioning if he could ask something so personal to the cute guy with pretty blue eyes.

"I'm not indecisive!" Lance replied, looking slightly offended.

"You are!" Keith accused, giggling.

"And you're not funny" Lance pout.

Keith chuckled.

"Next question" he said, pocking Lance's arms, which were crossed in front of his chest.

Lance snorted, closing his eyes, thinking of something to ask Keith, while Keith waited anxiously.

"Hmm..." Lance bit his lip and suddenly all of Keith's attention went to Lance's rosy lips.

Keith felt his heartbeat grow a little faster.

"Favorite place to go?" Lance asked after a while and Keith had to look away, his cheeks slightly red.

"I don't specifically have a favorite place" he shrugged and then paused, thinking in his answer "...but if I have to pick one, I would choose the park near my old house"

"A park?" Lance asked, his eyes curious.

"Yes, it's a good place to go when I want to be alone with my thoughts," he began to explain, "and there's a beautiful view of the city," Keith paused, a small smile appearing on his lips "At night, the view of the park is extremely beautiful, and from there you can see all sorts of constellations, and the stars are so inspiring and give me such a beautiful sight that I can't stop drawing them... "Keith drifted, closing his eyes and remembering when he used to go to the park with his parents many years ago.

Keith was so distracted by his memories, that he forgot that Lance was present, being startled when the boy spoke.

"I didn't know you could draw" he said softly.

Keith was taken by surprise by the intensity of Lance's gaze on him, his face with a strange expression that Keith couldn't identify. Keith's throat was dry, and he was speechless. His heart was beating so fast, that Lance might actually hear it.

He couldn't take his eyes off Lance's.

"Can I see your drawings?" He asked

Keith's eyes widened at the request.

"I-I don't have them here with me," he whispered. "I..."

Lance smiled, looking away. A small shade of pink spreading across his cheeks. Keith felt a little bewildered.

"It must be a beautiful place" he spoke again "Maybe one day I could go see it ..."

"Y-Yeah" Keith flushed "And about you?"

"Easy, for me it would be Varadero Beach, back at home," Lance replied, a smile on his lips.

Keith involuntarily smiled back. Lance had a contagious smile. And a contagious laugh.

"I've never been to a beach before," he revealed.

Lance gasped, looking quite offended.

"How have you never been to a beach?" he asked indignantly.

"I've never had a chance" shrugged.

"No wonder, you look like Snow White." Lance pointed at Keith, gesturing to the boy's skin.

"Hey! It's not my fault," Keith said defensively.

"Well, Mr. Snow White, as soon as I leave this hospital, I'm going to take, you and Hunk to Cuba with me and we're going to spend a whole week in Varadero Beach, and when we leave, you'll come back looking like a shrimp, of how red you're going to be" Lance promised.

Keith laughed.

"Are you sure you want my company?" he asked, feeling a little insecure.

"Of course I want your company, I haven't made that clear before?" Lance asked looking confused.

Keith shrugged, looking away. Lance was giving Keith that look again, making him flushed. Apparently this was one of the other effects Lance had on him. Maybe he'll look like a shrimp long before Lance thought.

"What?" Lance asked

"N-Nothing," he replied quickly. He hadn't noticed that he had expressed his thoughts aloud. "It's my turn now" Keith said.

"Hit it" Lance gave him, a confident smile.

Keith thought of something to ask Lance when his mind reminded him of why he had accepted that game in first place. Maybe now would be the time for him to ask Lance what he wanted to know. But Keith wasn't sure that Lance would give him some kind of answer. He had every right to refuse to answer it to Keith.

Keith bit his lip.

He wanted to know.

He wanted to know how to help Lance.

He wanted to know, to understand Lance better.

"What kind of…" he started but when he looked away at Lance, the boy had suddenly gone pale. Keith frowned, worried. "Lance? Are you okay?"

Lance looked at him, and he started to tremble. Quickly Keith got to his feet and ran to Lance. His face was now getting a faint greenish color.

"Lance?" Keith called, starting to feel a little panic. "Lance?!"

Lance tried to speak, but no sound came from his mouth. Keith's panic began to increase and he didn't know what to do. Suddenly, he felt an icy hand grip his arm, and he looked, wide-eyed at Lance.

"Get Allura" Lance finally said, his voice weak "Please"

Keith nodded and started to leave the room quickly to call Allura and ask for help from her. He stopped when Lance called him again.

"Keith, please don't come back here today" he asked and Keith he felt a stab of pain in his heart, but he agreed.

Running to the elevator, he punched the button quickly. Now he knew how Pidge felt earlier when she wanted to go to the bathroom and the elevator had been slow to appear. The elevator doors opened, and he entered quickly, pressing the button of the first floor. He knew Allura was around there most of the time when she wasn't with other patients.

Keith waited impatiently for the elevator to come down, and jumped out quickly as the doors opened again. He ran down the hall looking for Allura when he saw the familiar figure of the nurse walking with her trusty clipboard in her arms.

"Allura!" he called, startling the friend who turned to him, her eyes wide and her hand on her chest.

"Keith!" she said, approaching the agitated boy "What are you doing here? You are not allowed on this floor"

"Lance," he said, exasperated. "Lance needs help."

Allura's posture changed quickly for her professional state and she started to walk down the hallway where Keith had come.

"Let's go," she said.

Keith accompanied Allura back to the fifth floor, his panic and nervousness still clingy on him. Allura stepped forward as they reached the fifth floor, and Keith followed her a few steps back. The nurse entered the room, and Keith stayed behind, listening to Allura talking quietly to Lance, and what seemed to be sounds of footsteps crawling around the room.

His heart was tight on his chest and he really wanted to enter the room and stand next to Lance, giving the boy his support.

He took a step closer but stopped when he remembered Lance's begging expression when he told Keith to not return to his room.

He wanted to come in.

But he didn't.