(Lance's POV)
It's been about three months now, I can feel the flowers growing bigger everyday. Soon, the thorns will grow, and that will be the end of me.
I sigh, leaning over the edge of the counter where Hunk is baking something...it looks like cookies.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

I look up at him and smile a tiny smile.
"How I'm going to die in about 2 more months."

"You look happy about that."

I stretch my arms over my head. "Actually the complete opposite...I'm going to miss you all...and I won't even get to see my family again."

"You know, there are ways to fix this-"

I slam my fist on the table.
"I already told you guys I'm not taking either choice!!! Stop asking me to do it!" I begin to cough, running to my room.

(Keith's POV)

I'm walking down the hall after another training session with Shiro. Yawning, I decided I'd go and take a break when suddenly Lance runs into me.
"Woah!" I say, falling backwards, and barely catching myself on the wall. Lance wipes his mouth quickly, and puts something in his pocket. "Sorry." He mumbles under his breath, and I can see he's trying to keep from crying.
He gets up and starts running towards his bedroom, but I grab his sleeve.

"Hey what's wrong? You haven't been looking like yourself lately. Are you okay?" I look into his watering eyes.

"It's nothing, really. I'm fine." He looks away.

"W-well...if there's anything wrong, feel free to tell me." I inwardly face-palm myself. What is he going to think of me now?
To my surprise, he mutters a "Okay" in my direction. Now I feel like hugging him...why? I don't know. Maybe cause he looks down? So I do.
He looks surprised at first, but soon he settles in for the hug. He looks a little disappointed when I let go, and pat him on the back, quickly walking away.

(Lance's POV)

I can't believe that just happened.
Did it?
Yeah, it did happen. I can't believe that my rival, the person I'm constantly teasing, and my big crush, just hugged me. It even made that clogging in my throat stop hurting so much. I wish I could hold on to that warmth forever.
I sigh a happy sigh, glad for a moment that the pain in my heart has stopped for now. I head off to find Pidge, feeling a lot lighter and free...for now.

(Time skip)
(3rd POV)

The Paladins were working on various things, along with the two Alteans. Lance watches Pidge and Hunk as they work on Pidge's computer, who is getting bored from the things they say that he will never understand. Escaping the room quietly, he makes his leave.

(Lance's POV)

I walk out through the hall and noticed Keith staring out the open window, gazing at the stars.

"Hey buddy" I say, walking up to him.

"Hi" He said, still gazing out the window.
My cough wasn't so bad now, so I was okay with being around him, for now.
I sit there and stare out the window with him, in awkward silence.

"What are you thinking about?"

He sighs. "Nothing much."

We both resume to looking out at the deep vast space before us. Then I decided to ask.

"Have you ever really liked someone before?"

He looks up me in surprise.

"You mean like, loved someone?"

"Yeah."

He blushed a little, and smiled, looking back out the window.

"Well, yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Who is it?"

I never thought that Keith could blush, but now he's blushing even harder.

"I-I rather not say" he said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh." I sighed. That person was probably not me, I bet there's not even one in a million chances that it was me.

(Keith's POV)

How am I supposed to answer that question, when that person is you, Lance? I continue to stare out into space after Lance left. "There's no way you would like someone like me" I mumble under my breath. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't, he's always flirted with pretty girls, I'd be the last person on his mind....

710 words...yay (rn I wish I could just make them tell each other) but I'll wait ;-)
-Ki