IC INBOX

[businessinfront]

"This is Keith. Leave a message."


( text ⋆ voice ⋆ video )

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[yablueit]

...Really, man. Thanks.

[ Lance smiles, but he's only half reassured. It's weird to hear it from Keith—nice, but weird—but... Even if he knows the thing that said those things to him wasn't really Shiro, it still shaken him. But talking about it helps.

Cereal helps, too, which is why he's leaning over to snag another handful from the box. ]

[businessinfront]

[ Keith could leave it at that. He almost does. But there's a question hovering right on the edge of his thoughts, one that's been there for a long time, and he feels like if he doesn't ask it now, maybe there'll never be another time to ask. ]

... Lance— what would you do if I had to lead Voltron?

[yablueit]

If you had to— Seriously? Dude, if this is about Shiro disappearing before we got here, I know you're worried, but we'll find him. I know we will.

[businessinfront]

No, it's not— I mean, it is, kind of, but—

[yablueit]

But...?

[businessinfront]

It's not like I want to.

[ He shifts, silent for a moment, almost regretting saying anything. ]

A long time ago, Shiro said that if anything happened to him, he wanted me to lead the team. I— I don't even know if he feels that way anymore, I don't know why he felt that way in the first place, but— that's what he said.

[yablueit]

He said—okay, dude, I swear I'm not being a dick here, but what was he thinking?

[businessinfront]

I know, okay?

[ He tries not to let that sting — why should it, if he doesn't even want this? ]

[yablueit]

I mean, he knows you better than any of us. Doesn't he know you wouldn't want to?

[businessinfront]

I—

[ Keith trails off, looking at Lance for a long moment. Really looking at him, like he's trying to work through a particularly difficult puzzle. ]

... I assumed you'd think I'd want it.

[yablueit]

[ Lance shrugs, a little awkward under Keith's searching glance. ]

I dunno. I think if you'd told me a couple of months ago I would've thought you did. But, I mean, you just said you don't, and... well... you're not exactly Mr. Congeniality.

[businessinfront]

[ Keith glances down at the carpet. Picks at the arm of the couch. ]

I like things the way they are.

[ It isn't the whole picture, but it's true. ]

[yablueit]

...You think you're gonna have to for real someday, though?

[ That's only barely a question rather than a statement. ]

[businessinfront]

I don't know. But it's what I'm afraid of.

[yablueit]

That's what that not-really-Shiro thing was getting to you with?

[businessinfront]

Yeah.

[ His voice is tight — and then he lets out a sigh, shaky and quick and all in a rush. Like it's a relief to just admit it, even if it feels awful and poisonous. Bleed the infection. ]

He talked like... like looking up to Shiro means I want to replace him. And he got this idea in my head — and I know it's wrong but I can't stop thinking about it — like accepting what he's asking me to do means accepting that he might really be gone. And if I can do what he does, then he'll think we don't need him.

[yablueit]

...Dude...

[ He doesn't know what to say to that, so, for once, he keeps his stupid mouth shut and thinks before he says anything. Except nothing's coming, and the silence is stretching on awkwardly. ]

That... sucks.

[ Nailed it. ]

But, like— You know Shiro would never see it that way, right? And no matter what happens, we're going to find him. And if you have to lead us to get us there, then... [ He sits up a little straighter, determined and looking Keith in the eye. ] Then I'll have your back.

[businessinfront]

[ Keith's eyes go wide for a moment, and he freezes. I'll have your back. That's about the last thing in the world he would have expected to hear from Lance. He'd expected anger, jealousy, anything but this quiet, resolute acceptance.

It leaves him stunned. Grateful, but in a way he can't quite process. Like it's happening to someone else. ]

You're really okay with that?

[yablueit]

[ He shrugs, still awkward because he really doesn't think Keith will be great at this, but they have who knows how long for him to work at it before they actually have to deal with it. ]

Shiro's a natural leader, and you kinda... aren't. But I don't think that means you can't do it. And we're a team, right? So we'll make it work.

[businessinfront]

[ Floored, Keith has no idea what to say. So he settles for honesty. ]

That — means a lot. Thanks, Lance.

[yablueit]

That's what teammates are for, right?

[ He grins, goofy on purpose to ease the tension, but only for a moment before it softens into something genuine. ]

...Hey, you wanna go with me tomorrow to see Shiro?

[businessinfront]

Yeah, sure. That'd be cool. If he doesn't think the two of us getting along is a painkiller hallucination.

[yablueit]

[ Lance laughs and reaches for the cereal again. ]

Did he send you a weird stoned-on-painkillers text, too?

[businessinfront]

Oh yeah.

[ Keith tips the box Lance's way. ]

We have nicknames now.

[yablueit]

...Oh no. Do I want to ask? Is mine cool?