As always, many thanks to my ever so awesome beta Bookreader525! What would I do without you? *hugs*
When Lance sets eyes on the Castle through Blue's cockpit, he breathes a sigh of relief. He made it. He's back.
It almost feels like coming home. Almost. This feeling of home is reserved for a place far away in another galaxy on a planet he hasn't seen in a very long time. It's been so long that every morning Lance is afraid he might have forgotten something important about it, that his memories might have dampened, but it never happens. He remembers everything worth remembering about Earth. He remembers everything about his family - the sound of his father's voice, the warmth of his mother's hugs, the laughter of his siblings. He remembers it all.
Sometimes, he wonders if it's the same for Allura and Coran. Do they still remember everything about Altea? He's almost sure about it.
Getting closer to the Castle, Lance feels how a smile spreads on his face because he knows Pidge will be waiting for him in the hangar. She always is when her missions end before his, and he remembers that her mission was supposed to end a day ago.
As soon as one of the Lions approaches, there's a signal on the bridge, and when there's a signal, Pidge is sure to catch it. Although he likes to think that she knows he's close before the signal pops up. He knows he does. There's something inside him, something he can't really place, a warmth, a prickle, and a moment later, the green dot appears on the screen. Maybe it's the same for Pidge before the blue dot appears. He'd really like that. He never asked, and she never told him, though, as he never told her. It's part of their agreement.
He lands Blue, and the Lion lowers its head and opens its mouth so Lance can leave.
"Great work out there, Blue!" he says with a wink at his Lion as soon as he's out and the Lion sits back up. Blue replies with a silent growl.
Lance laughs. "Totally agree!" he says and then he turns, expecting to find Pidge leaning against the wall. And she'd smile at him and his smile would grow even wider and he'd have to fight the urge to hug, to kiss her, and then they'd chat on their way to the bridge, their hands not so accidentally touching as they walk.
He turns towards the wall, his heart doing a little leap of joy - and then it skips a beat when he realizes that the figure standing there isn't Pidge. It's Allura.
"Allura?" he asks, removing his helmet. "Is everything okay?" What he meant to ask was, Where is Pidge?, but he could rephrase that question just in time. This other question is fine, too. Allura usually doesn't wait for him when he arrives. So something must be wrong - or not quite right. Although he refuses to think what it could actually mean.
"Lance," Allura begins, and he does not like how her voice sounds. "Something went wrong on Pidge's mission. She's..."
Allura doesn't pause at that moment, but time stands still for Lance. His heart stops, his breath catches in his throat, his body freezes.
"...grievously injured," Allura goes on, and Lance's heart starts beating again. He sucks in a sharp breath, his body lunges forward. And then he's running, running to the infirmary. Along the way he hears some metallic sound and it takes him a few seconds to realize that he's dropped his helmet. As if that mattered now.
The doors of the infirmary swing open and Lance bursts inside. He immediately sets eyes on Pidge in a cryo-pod. He sees the others, too, but his focus is on Pidge. He even pushes someone to the side to take position right in front of the pod and doesn't know who it is. Keith, maybe even Shiro, but really, he isn't sure. And it doesn't matter.
All that matters now is Pidge. Pidge in a cryo-pod.
She seems like she's sleeping. There are no visible injuries on her face, so Lance keeps his eyes on her face. He doesn't dare to check her body any closer, he's too afraid he might see injuries. And he couldn't handle that.
He hears the voices around him, saying words he doesn't understand. It's all a blur.
Then one voice stands out. Allura's.
"...for a few days, then we'll know more," are the words he hears.
He nods, keeping his eyes on Pidge's face. He checks it for any signs of pain. He knows better, though. Being in a cryo-pod doesn't cause any pain.
But he keeps checking her face, and it takes him a few moments to realize that he's checking if she's having a bad dream. He remembers all too well how Shiro had suffered bad dreams in a cryo-pod once.
But Pidge's face is calm and peaceful. It doesn't calm him down, though, not one bit.
Are you scared, Pidge? he asks her in his head. Are you as scared as me?
