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[businessinfront]

"This is Keith. Leave a message."


( text ⋆ voice ⋆ video )

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[yablueit]

...Except, maybe not the part where they said we all died. That's— That part's definitely not cool.

[ He can't imagine what his family must be thinking, all this time. He called his mom at least once a week, every week, since he started at the Garrison. He can't think about what his family must be going through, having his disappearance covered up with some awful lies... or worse, the truth. ]

[businessinfront]

[ Keith feels an awful, sudden pang of guilt, mixed with a touch of something much more ugly than that — something he immediately pushes down as far as he can. There's nothing to envy about having someone back home worried sick, or mourning you. He knows too well how that feels, and being the cause of it... that would be unthinkable. ]

It was just an example...

[ It's a poor, awkward cover-up and he knows it. As though the specifics matter. ]

[yablueit]

...Yeah. Yeah, you're right, that's probably not what happened anyway. Even if they don't have any idea how to do it, they gotta be at least trying to look for us, right? My abuela would hitchhike all the way to the Garrison base and personally yell at every officer herself if that's what it took.

[ It's obvious Lance doesn't actually believe any of this, but he has to convince himself that's what's happening. The alternatives are too much for him to think about. ]

[businessinfront]

[ He can hear that high, frightened edge slipping into Lance's voice, and it makes him itch to fix it. But there's nothing to fight except the cold, inescapable truth of the situation, and Keith can't do a single thing about that. Keith's never been one for denial, and he knows he's a terrible liar. "Are you all right" is a joke, and the last thing Lance needs is a reason to think his self-appointed rival feels sorry for him.

Someone else would know what to say. Keith doesn't have a clue. ]

... Stubbornness runs in the family, huh?

[yablueit]

[ There's a tense moment where Lance is too caught up in his head to respond, but the moment breaks with Lance's almost embarrassed laughter. ]

Uh, yeah. You could say that.

[businessinfront]

[ That's better. That's improvement. ]

I figured. Guys like you don't come out of thin air.

[yablueit]

[ He's still tense with the anxiety of worrying about his family, but the distraction is helping. ]

What's that supposed to mean, huh?

[businessinfront]

You know what it means. You didn't grow up surrounded by pushovers.

[yablueit]

[ He was almost expecting a comeback with a little more bite in it, making fun of him, so Keith's straightforward response is a little surprising. ]

...Uh. Yeah, I guess I'd probably be pretty different if I had, huh?

[businessinfront]

You'd be a lot less of a pain in the ass.

[ There it is. His voice is kinder than Lance is probably expecting, though, an unspoken question in it. ]

[yablueit]

Jerk.

[ Lance laughs, surprising himself even as he does it. ]

[businessinfront]

Guilty as charged.

[yablueit]

[ Lance flicks another piece of rice at him. ]

[businessinfront]

[ Keith raises a hand to swat it away this time, snorting quietly and fixing Lance with a look — but it's with a little thrill of self-satisfaction. Keith would rather see Lance obnoxious than upset. His distraction worked. ]

And what would she say about you starting food fights in space?

[yablueit]

She'd ask me if the guy I threw it at deserved it.


...And then probably remind me several times that she raised me better than that.

[businessinfront]

So you do know better.

[yablueit]

Theoretically!

[businessinfront]

Selective memory. Not surprising.

[yablueit]

It's not selective memory. I totally remember. It's just whether or not I actually do it.

[businessinfront]

Selective Lancery.

[yablueit]

[ He snorts. ]

Sure, let's go with that.

[businessinfront]

It's the most flattering way I could phrase it.

[ Sick burn? ]

[yablueit]

Well, I appreciate the effort.

[ He rolls his eyes, but he's laughing a little. ]

[businessinfront]

Sure. Anything for you.

[ The most deadpan delivery he can manage. But Keith's relieved that they've moved past that awkward moment of vulnerability, or whatever he ought to call it. ]

[yablueit]

[ Lance laughs again, more of a soft, amused exhale, and smiles, hesitant but friendly. ]

What a pal.