Lance woke up and stretched. Something was wrong. He could tell. He had gut feelings like Hunk and something was off here. Something was missing. He checked for his picture. Unharmed. His plants, Hank, Podge, Shirpo, Kite, Luna, and Corn were all fine and in formation. His books and anti depressants and-- OH NO. NO NO NO NO NO NONONONONO NO THIS COULD NOT BE HAPPENING! Where was the T. He looked under the shelf, under his bed, in his closet, everywhere. He was in a panic.

==============================================================

At that moment Shiro got two calls at once. First he opened Keith's. "SHIRO, open your door we have something to show you!" He unlocked his door, and answered Lance's. "Shiro- oh my- Shiro it's gone I looked everywhere did you take it? Did Coran take it to refill?"

"Lance, slow down, what are you talking about?"

"MY T,  SHIRO, IT'S GONE. IT WAS THERE LAST NIGHT AND IT'S NOT IN MY ROOM I CHECKED EVERYWHERE!!"

"Oh. Okay. Well, when do you need it next?" He heard pages flipping as Lance checked his schedule.

"Two days!"

"It's okay Lance it'll turn up. Try calling Coran, he probably refilled it."

"Okay. Bye."

At that moment, Hunk burst into his room, Keith close behind. Shiro noted that they were very freaked out.

"Shiro Lance isn't who he says he is!" Hunk blurted out. Shiro's stomach sunk.

"Shiro, Lance is a drug addict!"  Keith yelled.

Shiro couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. "What on Earth gave you that idea? Keith, Lance is definitely NOT a drug addict!"

"Say what you will," Hunk intercepted, "But we have proof!" He pulled a syringe out of his pocket, and a container of an amber liquid. "This was on his shelf Shiro, we need to get him tested this could be life threatening!"

Shiro's eyes flashed.

"We know it's crazy Shiro," Keith pleaded, "But we need to intervene right now!"

"Where did you say you got this?" Shiro asked, his voice cold and smooth as ice.

"Uhhhhhhh..." Hunk muttered. "his- his shelf."

The black paladin crossed the room and radioed Lance.

"Lance, come in. I found your... stuff."

Lance was at the room in seconds, his pyjamas flapping in the breeze of his speed. He snatched the things out of Hunk's hand and hugged him in a death grip.

"Oh Hunk buddy thank you so so much I was looking all over for these what did I do to deserve you you are the best friend ever I could never have found this without you!"

Hunk looked ashamed, but surprise crossed his face when he felt a strange lump in Lance's hug.

"Wait!" Lance pulled away from his friend. "These were in my room. On my shelf, and the door, was most definitely locked. They were there last night, and gone this morning, and you--" Lance cut off, glanced down, and bolted from the room,

"you two, in your rooms, now." Shiro commanded. "Not a peep from the comms"

The boys trudged down the hall, and Shiro ran to Lance's room.

"Lance, open up!" He banged on the door.

The door slid open and Lance emerged, his PJ shirt half off, and pulled the older man into the room, locking the door behind him. He continued to change, pulling on his binder and shirt, the his jeans, muttering the whole time.

"Lance I-"

"I heard you and Pidge." Lance spoke quietly but angrily. "I don't need to be protected! I'm not some soft boi OWO tm you need to care for. I can watch out for myself!" He yelled, and then burst into tears. Shiro pulled him into a hug.

"They love you. They'll be fine with it, I'm sure of it. Also how did you say OWO out loud? How did I say OWO out loud? WHAT THE HECK?"

"No they won't. Hunk will but Keith hates people like-- people like me. I- I heard him ranting at the Garrison about the 'genderbenders of s- society.' he'd hate me Shiro. All I want is for him to love me back, but he'd hate me."

Shiro let out a little chuckle. "Lance, where did you hear him say that?"

"In room 37. Why?"

"Lance, I was subbing that day and I made the kids write essays on something they would say if they were the opposite of themselves."

"Wh- what?"

"Lance, Keith loves you. You deserve to know that. No matter who you are, no matter what you are, Keith loves you."

"I- I need some time alone now."

"Okay bud, my room's always open if you need anything."

Lance turned away and flopped onto the bed.

==========================================================================

"Shiro, I'm worried about Lance."

"Why Allura, what's up?"

"He is not sleeping. He did not come up for lunch. And he has been sitting on his bed for the past three varga, just staring at the door. He did not take his medicine this morning either!"

"That is.. concerning. Which medicine. Pills or shot?"

"Pills. His shot is due this evening though. Is he having dissonance again?"

"No Allura, it's dysphoria. And I'm not sure. Did you talk to Hunk and Keith?"

"Oh yes. Rest assured they have been properly punished, and as well trained as a peclik or fumptaps!"

"Good to hear."

Allura left the room and Pidge rolled in on her rad heeleys.

"So they did break into Lance's room while he was asleep, but we have worse news. Lance is... I think, disassociating. He wont move. He's been in the same position for the last three and a half vargas. He changed his door lock, and he moved all his stuff around. His plants are gone, and so is his picture. The books too, but his pills are still there."

"Oh no. Allura, override Lance's door lock!" He called into the speaker.

"But why?" She responded.

"We need in there."

===============================================================

The team met outside Lance's room. Allura opened the door, and they crowded in. The damage was more severe than Pidge's grainy camera had shown. His picture was gone, but the frame was on the floor, smashed. His plants and books were gone, and he finally looked up from the bed. His eyes here blank, his face expressionless. Then he smiled and spoke.

"Hey guys! If your getting this message you broke into my room. Uncool man, but whatever. So I recorded this with pidge's computer and holograph simulator.  If you're listening at this point, no I did not take the last of the cookies. If your still listening at this point, I have run away, and if your still listening at this point, I promise I didn't take Blue. You need her more than you need me. Thanks for coming to my TED talk, have a great day! This message was recorded on the third quintent of the specolian movement of the ectonth phoebe. Hump day!"

"Oh no." Keith murmered. "What have we done."