Shiro handed Keith the hand towel, "Wash your arms, I'll be right back. Lance, keep watch of him."

"Shiro-"

"Oh, hel-"

But Shiro had already walked away.

Keith cursed under his breath, Damn it.

Lance smirked, but drastically sighed, "Well, since we're stuck here together-"

"Just help me."

Lance sighed and so did Keith, but Lance reached down around Keith's wound. They had peeled the bandage off, revealing a bruise purple and green.

"Can I ask a question?" Lance paused.

"Since I can't stop your mouth from blabbering, fine." Keith looked away.

"I'm not a doctor, but your healing process has been kinda... weird. And dramatic. Like we're in a cringy fanfiction or something," Lance chuckled and scratched his neck.

Keith shrugged slightly, "Well... it's not exactly... a normal wound..."

Lance tried to meet Keith's eyes, but the other boy had his bangs in the way. Did he overhear Coran and him? Or was he just assuming out of anxiety?

"Well, I'm glad you're doing better." he decided, not adding to Keith's stress--Keith would ve reacted and mentioned it if he knew. He was just observing.

Keith nodded, "Yeah... thanks."

After a moment of awkward silence, Lance reached towards Keith's wound, but Keith flinched.

"Oh, sorry, I-"

"It's fine, just... go ahead." Keith nodded.

Lance lightly touched the soapy hand towel to Keith's skin, and Keith took a breath that he didn't release. Lance cleaned it as gently as possible. When he got closer to the opening of the wound, Keith whimpered so quiet Lance almost thought he imagined it.

"Lance..." Keith mumbled.

Lance looked up from Keith's wound to Keith's face. Keith was staring at Lance's hand, waiting for it to hurt like hell--of course, it can't hurt as bad as being stabbed, but he's the pessimistic type.

"Keith, it won't hurt that bad, I promise," Lance swayed.

Keith sighed, "Yeah, but... it'll still hurt. But I'm being a baby, just help me clean it."

Lance paused, then hesitantly put his hand on Keith's on the side of the tub. Silently, he continued. Keith winced lightly at the cloth against his wound, but focused more on Lance's hand. He hadn't expected Lance to comfort him like that. It was a... nice refresher. And he enjoyed every moment of it.