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[businessinfront]

"This is Keith. Leave a message."


( text ⋆ voice ⋆ video )

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[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?

[businessinfront]

[ just

shakes his head no ]

[yablueit]

Was yours cool?

[businessinfront]

[ wobbly hand ]

Cooler than Danger Noodle.

[ And he busts into a grin, because it's scientifically impossible for anyone to say Danger Noodle out loud with a straight face. ]

[yablueit]

Danger Noodle?!

[ He shrieks, completely disregarding that they may have one person in this stupid house who actually sleeps without trauma nightmares these days. But the shriek is half a laugh, because, damn, that is a funny pair of words. ]

[businessinfront]

It fits.

[yablueit]

How!

[businessinfront]

You're noodley and dangerous.

[ He says like it's obvious. ]