x

The Purity of Sin

Fifteen

Before they had to get to the logistics on how to get Lance up a fifty foot cliff face, Keith decided it would be best to scout it and make sure it actually would work for their purposes. There was no point in this if he was wrong and above was just a canyon rim.

He'd decided the far cliff wall, the one he and Lance were resting on, would be best since it was further away from the Mackans camp. He'd spent near twenty minutes hauling himself up the rough rock, hands digging into small crevices and body pressed flat against it, sweat beading his forehead even as the suns continued to slowly set.

How Lance was going to scale this blind and injured dug into Keith as surely as the rock, but he couldn't back down now. This was their best chance.

It was their only chance.

Fortunately for their plan, when Keith finally crested the top it was to a mostly flat-topped surface spanning possibly fifteen feet wide before jutting severely down again. The cliffs ran for at least a few miles or so in each direction and he and Lance could even, if they were capable by that point, walk along the top of the cliff eastwards to get a little closer to the Lions.

At this high vantage Keith could also make out sections of the plains and the area beyond the cliffs. And he hated that there was some sort of dust cloud, likely kicked up from claws against rock, a couple miles out and more west towards the entrance to the canyon trail. The Mackans were gathering, as he'd expected. He tried to ignore the icy feeling settling in his stomach.

They were going to make it out of this. Odds be damned.

After surveying the area for another minute, Keith eased his way back down the rock face, hands aching.

"Well, it will work," Keith announced as his feet hit the ground a little later. "We just… have to figure how to get you up there."

Keith could not carry Lance, he knew that. Perhaps Pidge if they'd been in the same scenario, but Lance was much too heavy and he'd pull Keith right off the cliff. Maybe some type of rope then where he could pull Lance up?

He checked the back of pilfered robe pieces. They had a decent amount but absolutely nowhere near enough for fifty feet. He sighed and Lance tilted his head at the sound.

"Don't have enough cloth to make a rope," Keith explained. "There's maybe twenty feet in here, after we account for knots."

Lance brightened though and raised his left hand and fumbled at the knot of robe tied about his neck. Keith placed a calming hand atop Lance's, slowing the movement that was no doubt causing him pain.

"You sure?" Because they still had a whole night to go and even with the half-covering Keith knew Lance was still freezing.

A determined nod. Lance knew he'd be cold, but he'd rather be that then dead. And unless he got up the cliff he may as well be. Keith's plan was a good one, a really good one, but he was the sticking point. As usual.

"Okay." And Keith's deft hands undid the knot, sliding the robe off of Lance's shoulders. He estimated they had about another twenty to twenty-five feet, which was still too short. But assuming he could affix the rope about Lance's waist that was another three-ish feet accounted for. It could be possible.

The only thing not as likely was Keith being able to physically haul Lance's dead weight up a cliff face. His arms trembled just thinking about it. And if he were to let go or if the rope frayed against the rock… Lance would plummet and likely die.

"I'll need your help," Keith said. "I know it'll hurt but… I need you to try and climb as best you can still, okay? We're still short and I… I don't think I can lift you on my own."

Lance's brow furrowed but he nodded. He'd do whatever he could to help, even if his hands were already crying with pain.

"All right then. Rest for now. I've got to get the rope together."

Lance closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the cliff, lulled by the sound of cloth ripping as Keith hacked at it. He wondered how well Keith was at tying knots. Having grown up for the first years of his life along the water Lance was very skilled in all sorts of knots and he was pretty sure he could tie anything blindfolded… or, well, blind. But his hands ached at the thought of trying to maneuver them.

Still, as he heard Keith move from separating the cloth into the quieter sounds of tying it, he couldn't help but worry. Hoping Keith wouldn't take offense, he reached a hand out, encountering Keith's knee.

"What?"

Lance gestured as best he could with his left hand, right at this point just one pulsing blob of agony that he was more than content to let sit on his lap.

"You want… the rope?"

Lance nodded.

He felt a piece placed into his hand and he maneuvered it until he felt a tight knot. He rolled it between his fingertips, following the ins and outs.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief as he identified the square knot. Nice, beautiful, sturdy square knot. So long as the cloth itself was decently strong it should hold. No falling to his death for him today, gracias a Dios.

Keith seemed more amused than offended if the huff of laughter was any indication when Lance finally handed him back the rope. "I can tie knots you know. It's a basic survival skill."

Lance gave a light shrug, as if trying to play it off, but winced as the movement pulled at the burn on his chest. Ouch. Times a lot.

"Easy," Keith cautioned. "Just rest. We'll be ready to go soon."

Oh goodie. Walking even that short distance earlier had set every ache in his body alight, although at least the dizziness had not been as bad as he'd imagined it would, and thinking of trying to somewhat scale a cliff only made the hurt intensify.

He could do it though. He wasn't a quitter and this was their best shot. Besides, Lance knew if he couldn't make it up then Keith wouldn't go up either. He'd wait, cornered on the ground, to protect Lance until his dying breath. He shook his head. No. He was not allowing that to happen.

"Okay, done," Keith said several minutes later and Lance's stomach dropped. This was it. "I'm going to run and refill the canteens again first though," and Lance's stomach righted itself. Not yet, at least. A few more minutes to put off the inevitable. "Do you want another drink first?"

Lance nodded to that and a moment later the rim of the canteen pressed against his lips and he took two heavy sips, draining it.

"I'll be right back," Keith said.

And Lance smirked as this time at least Keith didn't say 'stay here.' Apparently the redundancy had finally caught up to the mullet's brain.

He relaxed as best he could, the heat tapering off and air almost pleasant. This was the most comfortable he'd been, temperature and peace of mind wise. There wasn't the sense of immediate impending danger, as the Mackans did seem to be waiting till nightfall to attack, and it made everything more… not quite peaceful, but bearable.

If only they could reason with them, Lance thought sadly. The Mackans weren't bad. They were wrong, certainly, as it was clear they sacrificed their own kin as quickly as they did outsiders, but they weren't evil. If he could he'd have liked to help them.

But they'd taken his voice. A trembling left hand lightly touched against his throat, regretting it immediately as it touched upon the cut the one Mackan had made. And without his voice he could not get them to listen. Not that he thought they would have. He and Keith were nothing more than sacrifices in their eyes. Or, well, he was. Keith was just an enemy now. He didn't know which honestly was worse.

Footsteps that he'd now identified as belonging to Keith sounded and he was torn between the relief at having him back and the fear that now he'd have to attempt climbing the cliff. At least the uneven gait was gone and it sounded like Keith was putting full weight on his ankle. He could still try and be grateful for small things.

"All right," Keith said, sitting down with an odd jangle as the canteens bumped into each other and not wasting a second. "Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to scale up first with all of the supplies and leave it up there. I'll measure the rope too and maybe it will be long enough to reach you from the bottom."

He doubted it and based on how Lance's nose wrinkled he too, even without seeing it, didn't believe it either. Still, there was no harm in hoping.

For the fourth time that day Keith began his trek up, seeking out the path he'd traveled this last go because at least he'd found a few decent holds. The canteens weighed heavily on him and he knew now without a doubt there was absolutely no way he'd have been able to carry Lance up. Not when a few pounds of water were already exhausting him.

By the time he reached the top again Keith was panting hard and could feel blood welling on his hands where they'd scraped one too many times on rough stone. He flopped like a fish, focusing on regaining control of his breathing.

The suns were falling faster now and they had at most about an hour of good light left to see by. He needed to hurry down and get Lance up. He knew it wouldn't make a difference to the blind sharpshooter, but it did to Keith and since Keith was going to have to get back up without any aid he needed to be able to see where he was going.

Shrugging off the canteens and the food pouch, Keith unwound the coil of tied robes from where he'd looped it about his neck. Hoping for a miracle, he held it over the side of the cliff, giving himself a good foot to grasp onto.

A curse passed his lips as he followed the rope down. It was too short. Lance was sitting still, but it hung a good teen feet above his head, meaning it was about eight feet too short.

Quiznak.

What to do? Lance was going to have to pull himself about ten feet up the cliff side and then hold there while Keith scrambled up past him with the rope so he could then haul him up. Hold there, on burnt and bleeding and damaged hands and feet while blind.

Oh, this had not been one of his better ideas. And yet it was all they had. It was going to have to work. Somehow.

Keith began the task of climbing back down, hands stinging more than ever now but there was nothing he could do about it. Once Lance was up top they could disassemble some of the rope and he could use a few pieces as bandages, but for now he had to make do.

It was still nothing compared to what Lance was suffering through anyways. He'd grin and bear it.

When he touched down for hopefully the final time it was with a resolute thump.

"It's too short." No point in beating around the bush.

Lance gave an inaudible sigh and inclined his head. He'd figured as much.

"You're going to need to scale about ten feet up. I'll stay with you and help as much as I can, okay?"

Ten feet? That didn't sound too horrible. Yet as Lance shifted his right hand it sent fire burning down his fingers and he hunched over it with a whimper. Ten feet may as well be one hundred.

He felt Keith kneel next to him and a pair of rough fingers tilted his chin up.

"I know you can do it," Keith said softly, breath ghosting across Lance's face. "Don't give up now."

Lance blinked to hide the sudden tears that had cropped up at Keith's words. He really didn't know if he could. This wasn't like the cartoons where a speech suddenly gave the characters new strength and the ability to overcome. But maybe they weren't entirely wrong, as he did feel bolstered by Keith's words. He would try.

Keith's hand left his face and then there was a sound that Lance could not entirely place. He startled though as Keith's hands brushed out of nowhere just above his hips, and he hit the cliff wall with a thud in surprise. What the…?

"Sorry, sorry," Keith muttered. "Hold still, I'm putting my belt on you. Be careful, my knife is still attached."

Ah, okay. That made sense. Lance felt a stiff and warm material wrap about his waist then and tighten as Keith pulled on the buckle. He yanked a few times on it, reminding Lance of carnival ride operators, and he couldn't help the smile at the memory.

"Okay, I'm going to tie the rope to you," Keith explained, and Lance felt the belt being pulled slightly away from his stomach and cloth brushing against him. Keith repeated his tugging process a moment later, seemingly satisfied.

"I'll direct you," Keith said, trying to project a confidence he did not feel. "You'll be at the top before you know it."

Lance nodded and managed a thumbs up with his left hand, although the action left him wincing. Keith wondered again how this was going to work.

"Standing is step one," Keith said. "Let's get you up."

Keith leaned forward and placed both of his hands under Lance's armpits and heaved upwards. Lance's ascent was less than graceful as long legs struggled to bear his weight and he leaned almost instantly forward into Keith to relieve the pressure on his feet. Keith staggered slightly, but held his ground.

After a few seconds he pushed against Lance's chest to straighten him up and to his relief Lance remained in a standing position, if wavering slightly. That could just as easily be attributed though to having no sight as the dizziness.

"All right?" Keith asked, keeping his hands on Lance's shoulders. A miniscule nod.

Keith helped Lance to turn around so he was facing the cliff face. "Arms out," he instructed and Lance hesitantly lifted both, wincing as fingertips brushed against the rock in front of him.

Dios, he didn't know if he could do this. His heart was thumping loudly in his chest as the full weight of what they were about to attempt struck him.

Keith though was a steady reassurance at his back. "It's going to be okay," the former Red Paladin said softly, as if hearing Lance's thoughts. "You've got this."

Lance nodded again, more decisively. Yes. He just had to fight through the pain. He could do this. It would be over soon.

One way or another.

He tamped down that thought and forced his hands to stretch out along the sunwarmed rock, seeking any type of crevice. And of course his right hand found it. He winced.

"Bring your left hand up a little higher, right there," Keith instructed. His fingers found a protrusion. "Good. Okay, ready?"

Not really.

"I'm going to boost you," Keith said and Lance felt arms wrap about his lower legs. "Once you have a grip on the wall you need to reach up to another spot, okay? I'll hold you for now."

And without any further warning Lance felt Keith squeeze his legs and push upwards. His hands dug into the holds, both screaming silently as he forced stiff fingers to curl. He swallowed down his own actual cry.

Blindly he shoved his left hand higher up, locating another jutting rock a few ticks later. He grasped it, vision going from black to white as the rock pressed directly against his wound.

He could vaguely hear Keith calling his name and he followed the hazy sound back.

He'd let go, he realized a second later. Keith was fully supporting him and he could feel the tremble of exertion. If this happened again, higher up… he gulped, hands going back to clenching the rock.

His right hand joined his left further up and Keith shifted his own hands to free Lance's legs and was supporting him behind his thighs. Lance's feet scrabbled weakly against the cliff, seeking a foothold.

There! He finally found one and tug his bare toes into it. Keith was still supporting the majority of his weight and even so Lance's hands were weeping for release at what little they were holding up.

"You've got this," Keith panted from below. "I… I have to let go, Lance. Do you…" another harsh gasp. "Do you have a good hold?"

Lance didn't dare nod and his cheek was pressed flush against the cliff face rendering lip reading useless. But Keith must have taken the silence for a yes because the next moment the support disappeared and Lance nearly slipped back down, only sheer will and the fear of falling keeping him splayed on the rock.

He quivered violently, fingers aching for a release that he could not yet allow. His chest was throbbing and he swore he felt a trickle of blood fall on his stomach, but he obviously couldn't confirm.

"I'm here," Keith's voice said, suddenly very close. "I'm right next to you. We have to go up now."

Lance only pressed his face firmer against the rock. He had to be what, just a foot off the ground maybe? If he let go he wouldn't get hurt too bad.

"Lance!" Keith sounded that odd mixture of angry and worried now.

Lance heaved out a breath. He had to do this. For Keith, remember? If he failed and went down Keith would go down too.

"Right hand up two feet," Keith said, sounding like he'd given the command already. "You can do it. Come on."

Lance pressed his body even more against the cliff, eyes squinted closed – because what difference did it make? – and reached up. Immediately his left hand wailed with the extra weight and he nearly slipped off right then. His right hand found the crevice Keith had instructed and he pulled himself up slightly, arms trembling as his feet one after the other scrapped out a new hold.

"Good, okay, left now. Just about… your whole arm length. It's straight up."

Lance though remained where he was, body heaving. He couldn't. He knew he had to but he couldn't. It felt like there was literal fire coursing through his chest instead of blood and trying to draw a solid breath only ignited it.

"Lance, please," Keith begged next to him.

For Keith. He released a shallow breath, all he could manage. This was to protect Keith. Left hand.

Somehow he forced his left fingers to release their death grip and straighten, groping blindly along the rock for anything that stuck out. As soon as he found it he closed his hand around it and pulled his body again, silent cry breaking free as that time he definitely felt something tear on his chest.

"It's okay, it's okay," Keith chanted next to him although he didn't sound all that confident. He sounded scared and Lance let out a breathy sob into the rock.

"You're almost there," Keith promised. "Just… just two more with your left, okay? Four more up."

'Keith,' he whispered, tasting blood and dirt on his tongue. He didn't know what he was trying to say. An apology, maybe? He couldn't do it. Everything hurt too much and he wanted it to stop.

"No! No giving up! You go, I go."

And Dios, Lance knew that. It was the only reason he was even still trying to cling to the rock. He couldn't take Keith down with him.

"Right hand up and slightly in. It's a big one."

Lance whimpered and shifted his hand up, arm scratching against the rock and sending little fragments onto his face. His hand bumped into a large protrusion and he gripped it again, eyes watering from the rock dust even though he couldn't see it.

His toes were definitely bleeding now, he could tell, as they tried to support his weight, digging into the rough stone. They felt slick, sliding out of their crevice and he wrenched them back in, desperately.

Somehow he made it up again and again, Keith alternating between begging and commanding him to keep going. He could feel blood in many places now; his fingers, his face, his chest and then his feet. He must be leaving a red smear on the stone. He wondered what it looked like.

Keith was saying something again but Lance couldn't make out the words over his pulse. He swallowed thickly, as if that could make the pain go away, but all it did was set his chest alight with a new ache.

"Lance, please, come on," he heard Keith say. "Look at me. Come on."

He was scaring Keith. Again. He had to do something.

He inched his face off the cliff, feeling his feet give slightly at the movement and he cried out as he rammed them back.

"Okay, good, there we go," Keith murmured. "I need you to stay right there, okay? I'm going to go to the top and pull you up. But when I do I still need you to grip the wall, okay?"

Lance trembled.

"Okay?"

He was too scared to nod, so he mouthed 'yes' and hoped that Keith could see it.

"Hold tight. It's almost over."

He heard Keith scramble past him then, kicking down a fine dust. Lance clung to the cliff face with everything he had, but he was afraid even that wasn't going to be enough. His fingers were slipping again and his body was on fire with agony.

But if he fell… if he fell then Keith would go down too. And he had to protect Keith. He had to. He kept repeating that over and over as if it would give him strength.

When he felt the slightest tug around his middle several minutes later Lance nearly let go of the cliff in surprise.

"Lance," called Keith, and his voice sound far, far away. Lance swallowed again. How much further up did he still have to go again? "I'm going to pull up, okay? Hold onto the cliff."

The tug came again and this time Lance did gasp as the belt dug into his flesh. His body was trying to go up and Lance forced his hands to seek another hold. He knew Keith wasn't going to be able to lift him up fully. He still had to propel himself.

Still, despite the new ache around his waist the pressure had been relieved some off his hands. He could do this. He reached up, finding a crevice and held his hand there as the rest of his body shifted slightly up.

It was slow going. Too slow, but at the same time too fast. Even with the support Lance was flagging. He couldn't believe he'd felt dizzy before because that clearly had been nothing. His head was spinning now and if it wasn't for the continuous pull on the rope he doubted he'd actually know which way was up.

There was a growing chill to the air too now and he was shivering on top of the already violent tremors wracking him.

"You're almost there," Keith encouraged and his voice sounded so close. "Just a few more feet."

The burst of energy Lance had hoped to feel at the announcement though did not happen. If anything he felt more tired. But he forced himself to find another handhold, moan catching in his throat.

He made it two more arm lengths before pain was bursting behind his eyes as something – a hand, he dully realized – grabbed onto his hair. But it was a welcome pain even as reflexive tears spilled down his cheeks.

"I've got you," Keith murmured, "I've got you."

Lance reached up and this time his hand met the edge of the cliff, and he scratched weakly against more rock. Keith grabbed it though and he would have screamed if he'd had any air left as his entire chest was dragged fully against the ledge and over.

But then Keith was grabbing his other arm and short nails were digging into his back and he couldn't find it in him to care as his torso finally cleared the ledge and then Keith was dragging up forward a couple feet until at last Lance felt his feet flop onto the ground.

He couldn't comprehend entirely what was happening as he felt himself being shifted so he was on his back and then he was being wrapped up in a pair of trembling arms and pulled up in a slouch against a warm chest. It made him realize how cold he was in addition to the pain and he shuddered at the touch.

Keith meanwhile was trying very hard not to panic at how much blood was covering Lance. It was everywhere. Smeared on his face, coating his chest. His hands and feet were a mess, more so than before, and his fingers now were rubbed beyond raw and dripping.

He needed to clean him up, but right now all Keith could do was sit there and hold him, shoulders aching from the exertion of hauling Lance for almost twenty minutes and heart aching for the pain he had caused.

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled, pressing his face into Lance's dark locks. "I'm so sorry. God, Lance. I...:"

It had worked, yes. They were both on top the cliff now. But at what cost? The light was wan right now as the moons had yet to fully rise and Keith hadn't collected any more glowing reeds other than the one from previous, but he could see that Lance was pale. Too pale. His arms tightened about the shivering form.

One minute, Keith decided. They could have one more minute to sit here and breathe and just be. And then… his eyes narrowed as he drew Lance closer still.

Then they would prepare for the fight of their lives.

xxx

Author's Notes:

Did I seriously just spend an entire chapter getting our boys up a cliff? Yes, yes I did. But they did it and I'm so proud of them because at least I gave them a chance to survive now. I'm so nice like that. Two chapters of being sort of nice? What have I become? Heheh. Don't worry. I'll fix that.

As some of you may have noticed, this story will not be finished by the January 31, 2018 deadline as put upon by the challenge BUT technically it is because it is fully written :p I just think more than two chapters a week would be a bit much. There are a total of twenty-two chapters so assuming I continue a bi-weekly update (barring my confusion with what day it is xD) this should finish up sometime in mid-February. I hope you all hang out with me until then. I've missed seeing quite a few of your smiling faces - er, pennames? - so if you're still here please give a wave every now and then (*cough* every chapter *cough*)

Much love to all of the reviewers: imaginationoverload97, LishaChan, Alexa, Aiyzu, yazbk2988, imagine forevermore, Justanangryfangirl, ASleepDeprivedPineapple, Genni C, Pfeh, Guest, Subtle Shenanigans, Guest, Adrianna Agray, geekyglamour413, MandyRaccoon, Oliviadbell and PaintedWings45!

Also, I will be doing another (or really first for Sin) Q&A if you are interested in attending. For those new to it, it's an opportunity to chat with me and fellow readers in real-time and ask questions about really anything and I generally answer pretty in-depth :p It'll be held on Tuesday, January 23 at 2000 hours CST (8 pm for you non-military time folks). Link is on my profile and you are certainly welcome to submit questions ahead of time even if you can't make it.

Thank you all! Please do leave a review on your way out. I'd love to hear what you thought of the chapter!