Casey_Emerson_Carter

"Do you have work today?" Keith asked, laying in bed as he watched Shiro get dressed.

"Yeah. I'm almost done with my classes, so I'm almost qualified for a promotion. They recommended it," he explained with a bit of excitement.

Keith smiled, "I remember. Great job, Shiro, but I think you're overworking yourself."

It was at that moment in the conversation that Lance turned, laying this time at the end of the bed. Stretched his arms and opened his eyes, "Mm... Hey, guys."

Keith leaned over and kissed Lance's shoulder, "Hey."

Shiro glanced back and smiled, pulling off a tie, "Hey, Lance, how are you feeling?"

He nodded, "Good as ever!"

Keith leaned back and sighed, "See you later, Shiro."

Shiro cupped Keith's cheek and kissed his lips, "We can finish this later."

He then turned to Lance, "See you when I get back, sleepyhead."

And with that, Keith and Lance were left in the home together.

Lance sat up, not a morning person. Keith wasn't really either, but Keith also wasn't a people person, so it worked in favour of his loved ones.

He leaned his head on Lance's shoulder, but before he could say anything, Lance stood up just a bit anxiously, "I'm going to change in my room."

It was at that moment Keith grabbed Lance's waist, "Hey. Can I tell you something?"

Lance looked back quizzically but nodded. Keith licked his lips, "I know you might be insecure about your body or something. But I know you're beautiful, and I'm here to support you. Whenever you're ready, you don't have to be as modest."

Lance felt a tiny lump form in his throat and he looked away, "Thanks, Keith.. I'll think about it." He rushed into the bathroom and sighed.

He spent about ten minutes there, just thinking about what Keith said. Maybe he could show him his binder, his scars... He wanted to get a tuck too, but they would notice the size difference in his pants. He sighed, lip quivering. Not to mention that the 'body issues' Keith was picturing probably wasn't self-harm and ftm-trans body parts/dysphoria. He sighed, shaking his head, 'I didn't need to wake up to this today...'

Lance proceeded to take off his shirt, and reached for his binder, slipping it on after he was done thinking.

Keith got a bit worried, realizing Lance had been in there for fifteen minutes and was just supposed to change his clothes. He wouldn't usually take much note of it, but he felt like maybe something was wrong after what he had said to Lance. Maybe he assumed and overstepped a bit. Without knocking, he peaked his head into the bathroom, "Lance?"

And then he saw it. He saw what was wrong. He would've closed the door for privacy, not meaning to, but he couldn't look away.

It wasn't really the binder he was looking at, it was the other stuff, despite taking note of all of it. "Lance..."

Self-harm marks. Did Lance have them because of the binder thing? Honestly, Keith was only half-certain what the binder thing was, but his worry was written across his face.

Lance began to panic, shouting angrily at his boyfriend, "K-Keith, get out!" He went to close the door, but Keith shoved his foot in to keep it open, "Lance, baby, come here." He took Lance's arm delicately and pulled his now-sobbing partner out, embracing him in a hug.

He didn't know what to say, or do really. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and texted Shiro: Emergency. Home, now. It's Lance.

(To be continued in PT. 4)