[The flame at the tip of Karma's tail flares up in lieu of him wagging it like a dog being told he is the bestest boy. He leans up into the scratch and trills again, glad he could help with his little tiny paws.

And Shiro is free to drink the whole thing. Lance fixed the coffee the way he remembers Shiro taking it: black like the deepest darkest black hole in space.]

You did too. Keeping us all together as long as you could. Not everything is in your control. It would be nice if it was, though...

[Lance trails off, still looking up to the sky. He doesn't expect Shiro to answer. He doesn't need him to. Lance just needs to let Shiro no one blames him for anything, would never even think to blame him for anything, that they appreciate him for what he is and not for what he isn't and could never be.]