(Lance’s POV cuz I forgot to write it in third person lol. Basically a captured Keith AU. Keith was in a healing pod and Lance went to sleep bc he was waiting for Keith to wake up but he was too exhausted to stay awake and Keith woke up while Lance was asleep)
Klangst Week day 8: Free Write/AU
I woke up and immediately I heard a scream. I bolted up and ran to the healing room. I was rested and had much more energy than before, so I got there twice as fast. Keith was curled up in a corner, gripping his hair and screaming in fear whenever anyone got near him. He was crying and hyperventilating.
He was having a panic attack...
"What the hell happened?!" I shout. everyone but Keith looks at me, while Keith curls in on himself more and grips harder. I start moving towards him, but Shiro holds me back.
"Don't, Lance. Every time we've tried, he's screamed and got worse..." Shiro said. I pushed his hand out of the way.
"Trust me, Shiro. I know what I'm doing. My little sister had a panic disorder, so I know what to do to calm him down." I said. "Let me do this." Shiro looked at me before putting down his arm. I nodded a thank you before slowly making my way over to Keith. He looked up at me and backed away, only to realize he was already against the wall. His eyes widened and his skin was really pale other than his bright red cheeks and his bloodshot eyes from crying. I smiled gently at him and he started whimpering.
"Hey, hey. It's okay, Keith. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." I slowly went down to a knee in front of him, my hands hovering in front of me. Keith's breathing calmed a little, but not enough. I gently lift my hand.
"Is it okay if I touch you?" I asked. I know for a fact that not everyone is okay with people touching them during a panic attack, so I always ask before touching or hugging them. Keith gave me a faint nod, and I cautiously wrapped my hands around him. Keith surprisingly flung his arms around me and started sobbing into my shoulder. He sounded terrified.
"P-please d-don't let them h-hurt me...P-please... I d-didn't m-mean to... I-I d-didn't know!" Keith yelled. I rubbed his back gently while he cried. He was trembling and hyperventilating at this point.
"Do you want to get out of here?" I whispered. The number one thing my mom always told me to do if someone was having a panic attack was to let them know that they don't have to stay where they are. Keith nodded quickly and gripped onto my shirt.
"Okay, come on." I said quietly. I helped him up, but he immediately collapsed like he did in the galran ship. Only this time, he fell to his knees and slammed his hands over his ears, forcing his head down. He screamed and started sobbing hysterically.
"P-PLEASE D-DON'T HURT ME!! P-PLEASE I C-CAN'T!!! N-NO MORE, N-NO MORE!!!!" Everyone took a step back, including me, but it immediately went over me and I crouched down next to him, placing a hand gently on his back. I looked up at the others and knew that if Keith just wanted to be alone while I helped him, then...
"Could you guys leave for a bit...?" I ask. Everybody looked at me questionably before walking out. I sighed for a second before Keith screamed again. I jumped a little before trying to comfort Keith more. Keith was still hyperventilating and he was only getting worse, and in addition to the panic, he was a trembling, sobbing mess.
"Keith, look at me. Breathe- Hey," I said, but Keith tried to bury his head deeper and gripped his hair tighter. I pried his hands off of his head and lifted his head with one hand. I used my other hand to lift his face. His eyes were wide in terror and I realized I was probably squeezing his hand too tight, so I loosened my grip, but Keith started whimpering again.
"- Hey, Keith, focus on me. I need you to focus. Can you look at me?" I ask gently. Keith's eyes eventually made their way to me, and I sighed in relief. I rubbed his hand gently.
"Okay, that's good. Now, I need you to breathe. Follow me, okay? Breathe in for four seconds, breathe out for eight. Follow me. Can you do that?" I demonstrated and soon, Keith followed.
"Good. Okay, you're not hyperventilating anymore, that's good." I whisper. "Okay, Keith, can you name three things in the room?" I ask. He looks around the room, still shaking.
"I-I..." He stuttered. His breathing started picking up again and I rubbed his shoulder.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. I'm right here. Don't worry. Breathe. It's okay, Keith, you're okay." I said. He calmed his breathing down, but he was still shaking. "Can you name three things you can see in this room?" I rub his hand gently.
"I-I see a-a H-healing pod..." Keith started. He was starting to shake less.
"Good, two more. What else?" I said gently.
"I-I see m-my hands..." Keith said. He was starting to calm down a little more. I smile.
"Okay, One to go. You can do this, Keith, I believe in you." I say quietly. Keith went silent and started whimpering and shaking more. I was about to Tell him I was with him and he would be okay, when Keith's eyes widened and he tried to get away from me, but he fell backwards. He started gripping his hair again. He rocked back and forth on his heels and started hyperventilating again. I took his hands and gently took off his fingers.
"Hey, no. Easy, Keith. Easy. You're okay. It's just your body preparing itself for defense. Nothing's going to hurt you." I say quietly. Keith shakily got up and he stood for a second, but his eyes rolled into his head for a second as he fell backwards.
"Oh shit-" I got up, quickly caught him and eased him to the ground. "Hey hey hey hey, Easy. Shit, Okay, It's okay. Calm down." I said to him, although at this point, I didn't know if I was calming him down or myself. Keith hid his face into my chest and whimpered, his whole body shaking. He was gripping my shirt and his eyes were closed, tears pouring down his face. I was cautious at first, but I eventually wrapped my arms around him.
"Hey, hey. It's okay, Keith. Shh, I got you, I got you. Shhhh." Keith cried harder and regained his grip as if he was trying to make sure I was still there.
"Has this happened before, Keith?" He nodded rapidly and sighed as I shifted him up. I rocked back and forth, trying to soothe him. Keith was still sobbing into my chest and he was starting to hyperventilate again, so I did the only thing I could think of doing. While rocking him, I started singing to Keith. I didn't know if it would work, but it was the only thing I could think of.
"Sleep on me, feel the rhythm in my chest, just breathe..." I heard Keith gasp lightly, but I kept singing.
"...I will stay so the lantern in your heart won't fadeThe secrets you tell me I'll take to my grave
There's bones in my closet, but you hang stuff anyway..." I felt Keith's head hit my shoulder and he was trying to find a comfortable position while I continued.
"And if you have nightmares, we'll dance on the bed
I know that you love me, love me
Even when I lose my head
Guillotine, guillotine
Even when I lose my head
Guillotine, guillotine
Even when I lose my head..." I look down to see Keith asleep on my shoulder, his arms still wrapped around me. I smiled and lifted Keith into my arms. I carried him back to his room, which now didn't feel so empty. I placed him in his bed and tucked him in. I wasn't leaving him alone after what just happened. He looked so peaceful now, and I was so glad he was finally at peace. I kissed his forehead and whispered,
"Welcome back, samurai." Sure, Keith had a lot of nightmares during the night, but they were easier to calm down than the panic attack. He eventually wound up falling asleep on my chest, and he didn't wake up for the rest of the night. He still had a pretty high fever, but I didn't want to wake him and risk a higher one. I could get him medicine in the morning. But all in all, I was happy that Keith was home, and as was everyone else.
