[That was a lot more than Keith had bargained for. Forget about any of the stuff racing through Lance's head and slamming into Keith's skull. He had enough trouble parsing what was just shouted at him in a flurry of emotion. He pulled back, all the way until his head was pressed against the wood behind him, eyes wide as Lance let loose, and then couldn't move for a good several seconds once he was gone beneath the surface.
He took a moment to catch his breath. The only reason he knew Lance hadn't gone and swam away was because he could feel the swirl of feelings and thoughts spinning below the dock like a whirlpool.
He closed his eyes, trying to process it, but then pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes to try fighting off the coming migraine. After a bit, he slowly and cautiously crawled forward, as the feral undertone of Lance's current form was definitely there, too, and Keith could see those claw marks in the edge of the wood. He bit his lower lip and slowly peered over the edge.]
... Lance...?
[They'd hashed out something like this before... Keith could remember floating in space, stranded after they'd been caught in a storm of some sort and blown away from their Lions into empty space. They argued, Lance calling Keith out for having left the team even back then.
Keith wasn't proud of it, but he'd felt it was the best thing at the time. He hadn't known Shiro was a clone. He was just Shiro, and everyone kept siding with him during conflicts, and Keith was just failing left and right as a leader. He'd honestly thought it was best. Once he knew Shiro could pilot the Black Lion again, well... Lance's math had been right.
Six Paladins.
Five Lions.
Keith wasn't needed. He could do more for the war effort with the Blades.
So... he left. And it had hurt like a bitch. But it was better. Right? After all, it was his choice. The team wasn't kicking him out. He was making the decision for them. It was what they wanted... Shiro to be the leader.]
Lance, I-... [He sat back on his heels.] It was better for you guys. At least, I thought it was. You had Shiro back as the leader. I wasn't any good. You needed someone better than me. [But even that...]
I'm sorry I'm not the Keith that was in the dream with you. If... If you want me to leave you alone, I will.
no subject
He took a moment to catch his breath. The only reason he knew Lance hadn't gone and swam away was because he could feel the swirl of feelings and thoughts spinning below the dock like a whirlpool.
He closed his eyes, trying to process it, but then pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes to try fighting off the coming migraine. After a bit, he slowly and cautiously crawled forward, as the feral undertone of Lance's current form was definitely there, too, and Keith could see those claw marks in the edge of the wood. He bit his lower lip and slowly peered over the edge.]
... Lance...?
[They'd hashed out something like this before... Keith could remember floating in space, stranded after they'd been caught in a storm of some sort and blown away from their Lions into empty space. They argued, Lance calling Keith out for having left the team even back then.
Keith wasn't proud of it, but he'd felt it was the best thing at the time. He hadn't known Shiro was a clone. He was just Shiro, and everyone kept siding with him during conflicts, and Keith was just failing left and right as a leader. He'd honestly thought it was best. Once he knew Shiro could pilot the Black Lion again, well... Lance's math had been right.
Six Paladins.
Five Lions.
Keith wasn't needed. He could do more for the war effort with the Blades.
So... he left. And it had hurt like a bitch. But it was better. Right? After all, it was his choice. The team wasn't kicking him out. He was making the decision for them. It was what they wanted... Shiro to be the leader.]
Lance, I-... [He sat back on his heels.] It was better for you guys. At least, I thought it was. You had Shiro back as the leader. I wasn't any good. You needed someone better than me. [But even that...]
I'm sorry I'm not the Keith that was in the dream with you. If... If you want me to leave you alone, I will.