[Of course he stops. Turns. Like he could walk out when he hears Lance shifting around, or start to speak. Even if it ends up being Lance berating him for still being here, or for having more time with the others, he's still going to stay. Still going to listen.]
[Maybe part of him figures he deserves it for letting his guard down, for all of them.]
[But what does come out feels a little more like a punch in the chest than he thought it was going to be. He ends up staring at him, speechless again. Some of that shock probably plastered onto his face. Sure, some part of him knew Lance had these thoughts. Issues. It wasn't hard not to -- sort of like it'd be hard not knowing Shiro himself was missing a big chunk of memories, or currently looked like a dorito chip.]
[He'd just never really thought it'd come down to more important than me. It's like that conversation with Jean, all over again.]
Lance, there's -- why wouldn't you belong here? You're just as much a part of us as Pidge, or Keith. [You know, in the future. But work with him, buddy.] You...
[He stops, pushing both hands through his hair. The universal Shiro Signal for discomfort. The signal what's next is... rough. It's not a Leader Speech. It's raw. Honest.]
You were the first person I told Jean about. I -- Lance I named Blue because of you. Because I wanted you here. I wanted all of you here. There were so many times... before any of you showed up, that I'd have given anything to see you again. I didn't care who. Or when or how.
There wasn't any difference.
You don't have to believe me. After today, I... wouldn't blame you if you didn't. But -- none of that has changed. That's not going to change. Not for me.
[He has no idea if it's going to change anything. Or make it better or just... crumple everything up and make it worse like it has with the others. But at least, in the end, he was honest.]
no subject
[Maybe part of him figures he deserves it for letting his guard down, for all of them.]
[But what does come out feels a little more like a punch in the chest than he thought it was going to be. He ends up staring at him, speechless again. Some of that shock probably plastered onto his face. Sure, some part of him knew Lance had these thoughts. Issues. It wasn't hard not to -- sort of like it'd be hard not knowing Shiro himself was missing a big chunk of memories, or currently looked like a dorito chip.]
[He'd just never really thought it'd come down to more important than me. It's like that conversation with Jean, all over again.]
Lance, there's -- why wouldn't you belong here? You're just as much a part of us as Pidge, or Keith. [You know, in the future. But work with him, buddy.] You...
[He stops, pushing both hands through his hair. The universal Shiro Signal for discomfort. The signal what's next is... rough. It's not a Leader Speech. It's raw. Honest.]
You were the first person I told Jean about. I -- Lance I named Blue because of you. Because I wanted you here. I wanted all of you here. There were so many times... before any of you showed up, that I'd have given anything to see you again. I didn't care who. Or when or how.
There wasn't any difference.
You don't have to believe me. After today, I... wouldn't blame you if you didn't. But -- none of that has changed. That's not going to change. Not for me.
[He has no idea if it's going to change anything. Or make it better or just... crumple everything up and make it worse like it has with the others. But at least, in the end, he was honest.]