[ but lance isn't looking for those kind of motivating words. sure, they'd help, and they'd definitely be nice. but he had been hoping for... something. anything. literally anything to show keith actually cared.

logically, rationally, he knows keith cares. he has to. but what he knows and what he's hearig are two very different things.

maybe keith is right, and his mistake had been in expecting anything at all. ]

I dunno, Keith, maybe I was expecting the guy I'm technically dating to actually act like he cared. You know. About me.

[ he sighs angrily, stabbing a chopstick into a half-eaten dumpling that had fallen on the ground earlier. without thinking, he shoves it into his mouth, chewing harshly. when he swallows, and he gets a little more food into his system, he's able to calm himself a little more. ]

Look, I know...

I know this isn't just about me. I know it isn't. But maybe sometimes it can be. It'd be nice, just this once.