[ perhaps it's the words themselves, or the way they're spoken, or some weird twist of lance's imagination, but his initial reaction is to launch himself into a panic. keith had told him before that this was actual shiro and not the other one, but the memory of being snapped at by the clone is still enough that the tone makes him flinch. maybe he shouldn't have said anything at all... or at least waited for an answer before launching into an explanation. ]

You're mad. [ or upset, or frustrated, or any other myriad of emotional responses that aren't necessarily good. ] I wasn't- I didn't...

[ this is worse than the responses to his admittedly over-the-top flirting or his usual antics in general, and even though the man's tone has changed, lance is pretty sure that he's in trouble. somehow. in one way or another.

just breathe. think. consider the words carefully, mentally translate what he wants to say beforehand so that he doesn't say the wrong thing, and don't dig himself any deeper into a hole than he already has. ]

I didn't say that. [ his own voice is quiet, without his usual exuberance behind it. this is serious business to him, and he's treating it as such. ] I said I don't know what to do. We made a promise back when it was just the two of us that we'd do we'd do whatever we had to to get out of here, and that we weren't leaving each other behind. Then that happened, and it wasn't like either of us had ever--

[ the way shiro clarifies it -'slept as in not sleeping'- it immediately throws a red flag that lance hadn't considered before. well fuck. ]

He didn't tell you, did he?

[ that thing about not digging himself deeper? he's pretty sure that he should be reaching the center of the planet right about now. yep, he's dead. shiro's probably going to kill him, and if shiro doesn't then keith will for ratting them out. ]