[Lance has no clue about how those words resonate with Keith, but he does sense the shift in his emotions. His brows draw together in confusion and no small amount of concern, that he has to grit his teeth against rising to levels he can't keep a grip on.
But it's hard when he sees Keith has to force himself to breathe and looks like he's creeping towards some kind of crisis. He wants to reach out to touch him and ground him, but so far every time they have gotten too close he's come close to disaster. He clenches his fists in his lap and just does his best to give his full attention to him. Try to understand or… just be there.
Then Keith finally speaks and… Lance is reminded that though dying so many times has made him sort of jaded on the subject (by necessity given his situation, but also he suspects he is genuinely used to it), for other people it's a big deal. Even knowing one can be brought back. The first person close to him to die when he came to the nightmare, was actually Keith himself, and the memory of finding his corpse and then the ghost on loop still haunts him.]
You don't have to say anything. I'm fine with it. Really, I am… [His eyes flicker from Keith to the ground and back as he considers his next words, then carefully:] seems like it threw you for more of a loop, though.
[Gentle offer to talk about what's bothering him, because Lance has a hard time with the idea that Keith would be that upset over just him dying a couple times… well, six times (not counting omega shield). Because he came back, right? He's sitting right here, talking to him, so he's clearly fine and alive and… fine (he's not fine (hah, ain't that the truth)).]
no subject
But it's hard when he sees Keith has to force himself to breathe and looks like he's creeping towards some kind of crisis. He wants to reach out to touch him and ground him, but so far every time they have gotten too close he's come close to disaster. He clenches his fists in his lap and just does his best to give his full attention to him. Try to understand or… just be there.
Then Keith finally speaks and… Lance is reminded that though dying so many times has made him sort of jaded on the subject (by necessity given his situation, but also he suspects he is genuinely used to it), for other people it's a big deal. Even knowing one can be brought back. The first person close to him to die when he came to the nightmare, was actually Keith himself, and the memory of finding his corpse and then the ghost on loop still haunts him.]
You don't have to say anything. I'm fine with it. Really, I am… [His eyes flicker from Keith to the ground and back as he considers his next words, then carefully:] seems like it threw you for more of a loop, though.
[Gentle offer to talk about what's bothering him, because Lance has a hard time with the idea that Keith would be that upset over just him dying a couple times… well, six times (not counting omega shield). Because he came back, right? He's sitting right here, talking to him, so he's clearly fine and alive and… fine (he's not fine (hah, ain't that the truth)).]