Lance had no idea how long he'd been sitting there, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. The soft hum of machinery was the only sound besides Keith's breathing, shallow and fragile, like the universe itself was holding it together.
Everyone else had left. Shiro lingered for a while, but eventually, even he slipped out, murmuring something about giving Lance space.
That was fine. Lance didn't want witnesses to how badly he was falling apart.
He dragged a hand through his hair, staring at Keith's still face. Every bruise, every burn, every quiet wince was burned into his memory. "You don't… you don't get to do this..."
His throat tightened. He stood up abruptly, pacing the room. His reflection in the glass wall looked wild. Eyes rimmed red from crying, jaw clenched, hair a mess, armor still smudged with ash.
He slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing sharp. "Dang it, Keith! You don't get it, do you? You drive me crazy every single day, but the thought of you not being here..." His voice cracked, breaking into silence.
He turned back to the bed, chest heaving. Keith looked the same as he had hours ago, unmoving, unreachable.
Lance's shoulders sagged. He dropped back into the chair, leaning forward until his forehead rested against the edge of the bed. His fingers curled into the blanket near Keith's hand. A few tears spilling down.
"I- I... can't lose you," he whispered, words spilling out unguarded. "I make fun of you, yeah, but… I need you. More than I ever wanted to admit. So you'd better freaking wake up, Kogane. You don't get to leave me like this."
The room was silent again. The kind of silence that ached.
And then...
A weak groan broke it.
Lance's head shot up, eyes wide. Keith's fingers twitched against the sheets, his lips parting with a shaky breath.
"...Lance?"
Lance's heart stuttered. Relief crashed over him so hard it nearly knocked him out of the chair. He scrambled closer, clutching Keith's hand without thinking. "I'm here, I'm right here! Don't you dare scare me like that again mullet! You already promised once!"
Keith's eyes fluttered open, hazy but searching. They found Lance....and stayed there.
"You…" His voice was raw, barely audible. "…didn't leave."
Lance swallowed hard, squeezing his hand tighter, a relieved laugh out in the air. "Not a chance."