What if your blessings come from raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears? What if you-

Next.

Say something, I'm giving up on you . . . I'm sorry that I could-

Next.

Well you only need the light when it's burning low. Only miss the sun when it starts to snow. Only know you love her when you let her go. Only know you've been high when you're feeling lo-

Lance sighed, pulling his earbuds out. These songs were way too sad for him, and they were definitely not helping the mood. He pressed pause on his MP3 player, shoving it back into his pocket as he massaged his temples with his free hand.

Looking down, he couldn't have seen what was quickly coming towards him, its little robotic legs clicking against the floor. It skittered up to him, scaling the wall behind him until it was just behind his neck. It jumped on, latching itself onto the skin.

Lance felt the contact immediately, his eyes widening as his head shot up with a gasp. "What the . . . " his eyes went blank, the color draining from them. He stared blankly at the wall opposite to him, not moving, not blinking, the only thing that proved he was still alive were his quiet breaths.

"Lance," the sudden voice snapped him back into reality, "there you are."

Lance turned to see Shiro, who's expression was a mix of concern and relief. "Oh, hi Shiro. What's up?"

"Uh . . . are you okay? Keith said you ran off." Shiro asked, stepping closer.

"Yes, I'm fine." Lance replied. His voice was calm and collected, his expression neutral.

"You sure? He sounded upset about it. Acutually, he seemed upset about a lot of things . . . Maybe I shouldn't have confronted you two . . ."

"No, it's absolutely fine. I'll talk to him, don't you worry." Lance smiled, his head cocking to the left slightly.

"Well, okay then. He's in the training room." Shiro smiled, happy that the two were finally seeming to get along.

"Cool," Lance smiled back, though it wasn't as cocky as usual. He got up from the ground, walking right past Shiro and towards the training deck. He bumped shoulders with Shiro as he walked, his MP3 player falling out of his pocket.

Shiro blinked twice, then picked the device up. "Hey, Lance, you dropped this."

Lance looked back, smiling, "I don't care about that. You could throw it into space for all I care."

Shiro quirked a brow, unable to think of a response as Lance strutted away, his eyes widening as he noticed the large bruise on the back of Lance's neck.

Lance made his way towards the training deck, not coming across anyone else on his way there. Pulling up his hood, he opened the doors to the deck, walking in swiftly.

Keith was surrounded by four training robots, and he was in the middle of slicing one in half with his bayard. He grunted, spinning around to kick the other one. It fell over, and he stabbed it square in the chest. It disappeared, then he did a roundhouse kick on the other two robots, then stabbing them as well. He breathed heavily, his hands resting on his legs.

"Training simulator off," he huffed, looking over to notice Lance, who was watching smugly, his arms crossed, for the first time. He straightened up immediately, his eyes widening. "L-lance! What . . . what are you doing here?"

"Just came to make sure you were alright. Shiro said you seemed upset." Lance smiled, walking forward.

"W-what? I'm . . . I'm fine. I, um . . . aren't you pissed at me?" Keith raised a brow.

"Pissed?" Lance chuckled, setting his hand on Keith's shouler. "Far from it. We're buds, Keith, you know that."

"B-buds? We're buds?" Keith stuttered,

"Of course," Lance smiled, his grip on Keith's shoulder getting tighter.

Keith blinked a few times, his cheeks flushing a light pink. "Even after all I . . . "

"It was nothing, really. I don't care," Lance smiled.

"B-but . . . " Keith's heart raced faster, his stomach turned to nothing.

"I'm fine," Lance's smile grew wider, leaning a bit closer to Keith.

"You . . . you're not fine, you know that. You don't have to lie to me, really. I'm . . . I'm sorry I was being such a douche bag, I-I won't say things like that ever again, I-"

"Keith," Lance cut him off, smiling. "I told you, I don't care about any of that. I know you didn't mean to say that, so it's okay."

"But it's not okay . . . " Keith frowned, "what I said wasn't okay. None of it was okay, and you shouldn't be okay with it!"

"But I told you, it's fine," Lance's smile grew wider. "I forgive you."

"But . . . " Keith trailed off.

"Keith, buddy, come on. It's fine. Let's just focus on training, and Voltron, and saving the universe, okay?" Lance's smile seemed sincere, and he leaned just a little closer, like a parent trying to level with their child.

Keith could barely believe what he was hearing. None of it seemed like Lance. He must have been shutting himself up, he realized. He must have been so hurt, so damaged by Keith, that he just shut down. He was refusing to even acknowledge his feelings. Keith felt horrible, knowing it was him who'd caused all of this. But instead of fighting back, instead of trying to get Lance to open up, he just said, "yeah, okay."

"Great," Lance pushed off Keith like a swimmer to a wall, flinging himself into a walk, whilst also pushing Keith backward a little. It was a weird move, one that Keith had never seen Lance do before. Or anyone, for that matter.

"Hey, Lance," Keith called, his voice hesitant.

"Yes?" Lance turned back around to face him.

"Are we . . . um . . . when do you think we should talk to Allura and Shiro about going back to Earth?" Keith asked, remembering the promise he'd made. He knew Earth was important to Lance, so he wanted to at least give him that, if that was all he could do at the moment.

"Earth?" Lance waved the idea away, "Keith, our work is here. We have to defend the universe that's actually in danger. We don't have time for pit stops to Earth."

"But you said we'd-"

"Buddy, come on, let's just go get Hunk for that team training we were talking about earlier." Lance gave another smile.

Keith blinked a few times. What was going on? Lance loved Earth, that much was obvious. Keith knew he missed his family, and he figured he'd probably do anything to get back to them. That was why he'd promised to do just that. When they'd talked about it, Lance had seemed so on board with it all . . . he'd seemed excited. Now he didn't even care? What the hell was going on?

Before he could even think of a response, Pidge burst into the room, panting. "Keith! Shiro needs you!"

"What? Why? Is he in danger?" Keith asked, running up to Pidge, his eyes wide in alarm.

"No, he just . . . come with me." Pidge grabbed his arm, pulling him out of the room as she ran.

He ran with her, "I don't understand, why is this so urgent?"

She looked back behind them, as if making sure they were alone in the hallway they were running in, then looked back at Keith, "we're having a team meeting."

"What? Why didn't you get Lance then?" Keith was getting more and more confused by each explanation.

"Because it's about Lance, you idiot."

"What? Why are we having a team meeting about Lance?"

She sighed, "Shiro will explain."

Keith just quirked a brow, allowing the Green Paladin to drag him into Shiro's room, where Shiro, Hunk, Allura, and Coran were all sitting on the floor in a circle-like formation.

"Okay, can someone please explain?" Keith asked, taking a seat on the floor in between Pidge and Hunk.

Shiro sighed, "Keith, this might be a bit of an embarrassing question, but . . . did you give Lance a hickey?"

Keith's cheeks were suddenly on fire, the rest of his skin seeming more and more pale. "W-what?! No! Why the hell would I give Lance a hickey?!"

Shiro frowned, "sorry, it was the only explanation I could think of that could help dispro-"

"WHY WOULD THAT BE AN EXPLANATION?! I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" Keith crossed his arms, his face now the same color as his jacket.

"Keith, shut up for a second," Pidge snapped.

Keith just scowled at them all.

"Listen team, we need to calm down." Shiro said, a hint of worry in his eyes. "We have a very serious matter to discuss."

"And what is this matter, exactly?" Keith asked.

"I . . . I noticed a large bruise on the back of Lance's neck a few minutes ago. It looked pretty recent, and . . . I'm afraid he did it to himself." Shiro said.

Coran and Allura gasped, looking to the others.

"What?" Keith was immediately concerned. "Why would he . . . " he knew the answer. The anxiety must have been worse than he'd thought.

"I don't know. But he was acting . . . a little weird, too. He dropped his MP3 player," Shiro held the device up, "and when I tried to give it back, he told me I could throw it into space for all he cared."

"What?" Hunk's jaw dropped. "Lance cannot live without that thing!"

"Exactly my point," Shiro sighed. "I'm . . . I think he's going down a bad path. If I'm right, and the bruise was self-inflicted, then . . . "

"You think he's self harming," Keith finished, the puzzle pieces coming together.

"Yes, and I think it might get worse if we don't do something." Shiro said, the fear in his voice able to be heard from a mile away.

"Oh no!" Allura covered her mouth.

"Suicide," Pidge whispered, though everyone could hear it.

Allura gasped, the very word seeming to eat her from the inside.

"No." Hunk shook his head, "no, no, no, no, no. There is no way my best bud is going to . . . would ever do . . . "

"It is a possibility, Hunk, but let's not jump to conclusions," Shiro soberly informed.

"But this isn't possible! There's no way! It never got . . . " Hunk shook his head before continuing. "I mean, he's so . . . he's just . . . Lance" he finished, though Keith sensed he knew more than he was letting on.

"We need to keep every outcome in mind," Shiro started, "and if he's showing signs, then . . . "

"Wait," Keith interjected, "why don't we go through the warning signs, and see if he fits any of them?"

"I'll find them, hold on." Pidge grabbed her laptop from her shirt's pocket, Keith surprised that it could ever fit in there. After a moment, Pidge straightened her glasses, reading from some sort of list. "Sudden, dramatic, and unexplained changes in behavior. Giving away prized possessions. Depressing statements, like being helpless, or hopeless, or worthless. Anxiety. Mood changes. Withdrawal from family and friends, or, on the other hand, suddenly talking and connecting with family and old friends to tie up loose ends. Sudden change in appearance. Sleep problems. Recent trauma or life crisis. Self-harm."

Shiro looked to the group, "okay, everyone say if they've seen signs of any of these in Lance lately. I know he's given away a prized possession," Shiro held up the MP3 player.

"He did seem to be acting kind of . . . off this morning, but it didn't seem major . . . " Hunk said.

"Would having to leave Earth and join Voltron be considered a life crisis?" Allura asked, looking guilty.

"Possibly," Shiro frowned.

"He did talk to me one day about missing home and such, on the day Sendek invaded the castle." Coran input, his voice wavering. "Would that count as depressing thoughts?"

"Guys," Keith said, his voice weak. He tried again, "guys, I think I've seen him fit everything on this list."

"What? You? When?" Pidge asked.

Keith took a deep breath, hoping they weren't all reading to far into this. He knew Lance would kill him if he found out he was doing this, but . . . "Last night, I was going back to my room when I heard a noise coming from Lance's room. I went to see what it was, and I found him having a panic attack. He said lots of depressing statements, trust me, and most of them were about feeling helpless, guilty, worthless . . . He seemed to be having trouble falling asleep, too. Besides that, he was talking about his family, like, a lot. I promised him we'd be able to go back to Earth, and see them. But then, today, we kind of . . . got in a fight, but he came up to me while I was training and acted like it never happened. Then, when I asked him about going back to Earth, he said it didn't matter, and that his work was here. Also, he was wearing his hood for once, if that counts as a sudden change in appearance . . . "

The others just stared at him, gaping. They barely seemed to believe the story, but they seemed even more concerned now that Keith had just checked off almost every item on the list.

"Keith, I had no idea that's what . . . " Shiro began to apologize.

"It's fine. To be honest though, I didn't really expect it." Keith responded.

Hunk looked at him, "he used to have anxiety attacks once in a while, but I thought they'd stopped around the time high school started. I had no idea he still . . . "

"Guys, if he fits all the warning signs, don't you think we should do something?" Pidge spoke up, the situation suddenly feeling like a ticking bomb about to explode.

"Yes, we should definitely do something," Shiro agreed. "Keith, did he seem more . . . closed about his feelings, then?"

"Yes," Keith nodded.

"Then he'll probably deny it if we ask him directly . . . " Allura tapped her chin.

"This website says not to leave him alone. Ever." Pidge said suddenly, looking up at her teammates.

Coran stood up, "I'll go be with him now, while you guys figure out a plan."

Shiro nodded as Coran exited the room, then looked back at the others.

"Maybe he's just closed up to me?" Keith said. "I mean, we did just get in a fight . . . " Keith felt horrible admitting it. He was probably adding to the problem all along.

"Maybe," Hunk looked down sadly, "but he hasn't told me anything in years . . . maybe he's trying to hide it."

"Maybe . . . " Shiro agreed.

The group went on talking about it for about half an hour, discussing plans and ways to help Lance feel loved. It was nice, and it would have been the perfect thing to do . . . if only they had been right in their assumptions.

Author's note: NO, Lance is NOT suicidal, and NO, there will be no self harming or suicide in this. I hope that was made clear by the end of this chapter. Anyways . . . thank you guys so much for your reviews! They mean the world to me! The next chapter will be up as soon as possible, but I have to take some exams this week so it may take until the next weekend. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it sooner than that, though!

Next Chapter: KLANGST AF. BETRAYAL. JEALOUSY. ALIEN TECHNOLOGY MOTIVES?