4

                                    

                                          
Lance pov
                          
What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? Why is Keith's smaller, cooler, more grizzled older brother here? I pushed past Shiro and Pidge and gaped at him. They look so alike! He saw me and looked like he was going to burst into tears. He stumbled forward towards me as I watched with wide eyes. Now that I got a better look at him...
                          
He really looked like crap. 
                          
His skin was pale and patchy with eczema and sunburns. His clothes were covered in dirt, mud, and sweat. He was just... gross. And so sad!
                          
He stood in front of me and reached out to touch my face. Something told me not to flinch away, so I watched as his shaky, pale hand (it had a tint of purple to it????) got closer to me. He was just about to touch me when his hand dropped and he seemed overwhelmed as he looked back at Keith. Keith gave the older man a short nod and he turned back to me. I looked over the man's head to Keith and raised an eyebrow and he simply mouthed "Just let it happen". I looked back to the man in front of me and a hand caressed my cheek. 
                          
"This is real..." He muttered. Tears started to roll down his cheeks and he let out a choking sob. I gulped as his arms wrapped around me. Skinny arms. Arms that were basically skin and bones. The hold was so weak... I hugged him back immediately and he collapsed into me, sobbing into my chest. I looked over to Keith and was surprised to see that his lip was trembling like he was holding back tears. The older man clung to me as sobs ripped through his body. I was basically holding him up. He was light. So light it surprised me. He probably weighed as much as Pidge, maybe less. When he finally calmed down, he didn't let go of me. I glanced over my shoulder to see that Allura, Hunk, and Coran had joined Shiro and Pidge. 
                          
"Who is that?" Hunk whispered. I felt and heard the man's breath hitch. He pulled away from me and hastily wiped the tears from his face. I was confused as to why I felt disappointed he had left. Shiro stepped forward.
                          
"Who are you?" The man flinched back and yanked his torn up sleeves over his hands. He looked down at the ground and I was filled with the need to comfort him, but I stayed put. Why? Why was I so desperate to keep this strange man safe? He looked up through his hair and met my eyes. I knew immediately. That thick fluffy black hair that was pulled in a ponytail at the base of his skull. Those purple eyes...
                          
"OH MY GOD YOU'RE KEITH!" He jumped back and hit Keith, falling on top of him. I was in shock. Not only was this older Keith, but he yelped. 
                          
"What?!" Hunk and Allura shrieked. Older Keith jumped to his feet and I felt a tug in my chest when I noticed that he was shaking. 
                          
"What..." Shiro stepped towards him and once again he flinched back, looking up at Shiro with undeniable fear in his eyes. "Are you... Scared of me?" Shiro's face was filled with pain and confusion. I winced. Shiro really hated it when he caused other people fear or pain. Older Keith wrapped his arms around himself, shrinking in on himself. I couldn't stop staring. What happens in the future to make him act like this? 
                          
"N-n-n-no..." 
                          
"That's some bullshit right there." I heard Pidge mutter from behind me. Clearly Older Keith heard too because he flinched and looked at Keith. He sighed and made his way towards us. 
                          
"Okay. I don't know how he got here or why, but this is me from the future."
                          
"Okay, that makes sense." Pidge said. She stepped forward. "Keith from future. The tiny one. How did you get here?"
                          
Future Keith looked at me, then at Keith, then back to Pidge. "I... was caught in an explosion of quintessence... And I fell and landed in front of myself..." She nodded. 
                          
"Okay. Thank you." Older Keith went over to her and pulled her into a hug. She froze. "What are you? Touch starved?"
                          
"Yes." He whispered. Keith winced and turned his head away from the scene in front of him.
                          
"C'mon, Keith!" Hunk said, lifting future Keith from the ground. "You need food!" He raced out the door with him in his arms and Coran and Pidge running after them, leaving Shiro, Keith, Allura, and I in the room.
                          
"What happened to him?" Shiro whispered. He looked over at Keith. "You saw that, right? He was terrified of me... Keith, YOU were scared of ME." Tears started pouring down his face and Keith opened his arms.
                          
"C'mere you big baby." Shiro launched himself at Keith and I watched them embrace each other, lip trembling as I thought about my own family. I thought of the time when Keith had said that we would never see earth again and guilt ran through me. I didn't mean to snap at him. He had a reason why he was even able to think that way. His family was right there. Right next to him. His family was Shiro.
                          
You don't have anyone.
                          
I winced as those words ripped through my head. That voice was always there. Always mocking me. Waiting for me to feel good about myself before it ripped away my happiness. I slapped a fake smile on my face for a few seconds before I furrowed my brows, the grin disappearing. What if that voice is right?
                          
"Lance?" I snapped my head up to stare at Allura. "Are you alright?" The princess asked, a look of concern on her face.
                          
"Yeah, I'm great!" I laughed. 
                          
"Okay, good." She walked out of the room and I realized Shiro and Keith had left.
                          
She doesn't actually care.
                          
The grin disappeared again.