Where are you going
The group waved goodbye to Hunk as he climbed into his car, heading off down the road to meet up with his family.
Lance sighed, breath visible in the cold air. "Ah, another one bites the dust." Nadia chuckled. "Its not like he's dead. Just on vacation. Me and Ina are going tomorrow." James smiled. "And we'll see you off too." "Hey, where are you going for Christmas?" Pidge asked, nudging his arm. He shrugged. "I'm staying here." "What? Why?" Lance asked. "I only have my dad, and he's not exactly the cheery type." James says. "Aw come on, he can't be that bad." Keith says, throwing an arm over his shoulders. "Remember in 2nd grade, after winter break?" Keith raised an eyebrow. "Uh, yeah. You looked like you wanted to die." "I did. I spent all but the first and last day alone. My dad had some kind of business trip. He was gone for most of it, and at his girlfriend's house for the rest." James said. "Tell me you at least got presents." Keith comments. "I got to eat nothing but cookies and Christmas candy for a week and a half. And it's not like we had a small house, so there was plenty for me to do." "Dude, your dad is terrible." Ryan said. James shrugged as they entered the Garrison. "I had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach. It could've been worse." "What about your mom?" Pidge asked. "Don't remember her. And my dad won't talk about her. She's either dead or she ditched. I don't know." "That's rough buddy." Keith said solemnly.
James cracked a smile. "Really? Avatar quotes, right now?" He asked. Keith shook his shoulders. "Come on, I had perfect timing." "Did you ever have a happy holiday?" Lance asks. "Last Christmas. We might've been in the middle of a war, but it was fun. Snowball fights, cookies, even found a tree. Singing songs, Nadia got drunk off her ass after two beers, Ryan actually talked to people other than us three. It was fun." James says with a smile. "Hey! I'd never had a drink before! And you downed like 20!"James laughed. "Perks of my dad not caring. The liquor cabinet was low and unlocked." "I need to have a serious talk with your father about raising kids right." Ryan declares. Jamesa laughs again. "Good luck finding him. I haven't heard from him since before the war."
The group shed their coats, holding them in their arms when Iverson came up to them. "Lieutenant!" He called. "Yes Commander?" James asked, turning towards him. "Your father called." James's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "He what?!!?" "Your father called. He's coming tomorrow to pick you up and take you home for the holidays." James gaped at him. "Hold on. My father, my actual dad, called you and told you this?" Iverson nodded. "Yes. I was rather surprised when I learned who he was. You'd think having a movie star as a parent would be something you'd talk about." The others gaped at James as Iverson walked away. "Your dad's a movie star?" Nadia asked. James's chin fell in his chest. "Yeah. Charles Gutierrez." "The guy from the James Bond movie remakes? And a bunch of other action movies?" James sighed. "Yeah." "Who?" Keith asked. Ryan stared at him. "You seriously don't know who he is?" Keith shook his head.
"Nope. Never heard of him." "Then you're lucky." James says, heading down a hall.
"Hey, James?" Keith said, sticking his head in the door. "Yeah?" The other asked. "You sure you wanna go? With you dad, I mean." James sighed. "I don't know. But this might be my only chance. The ATLAS is taking off again soon, and he rarely makes time in his schedule for me. I have to go." Keith stepped into the room. "You don't have to go alone." James raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Keith sighed. "Well, um, Krolia and Kolivan are in space, and we're gonna do our celebration later. And you don't seem like you want to be alone with your dad so I thought, maybe, if you wanted, I could go with you?" James's eyes widened. "Really?" Keith put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I mean, if you wanted." James smiled at him brightly. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that." Keith grinned. "Great." "Um, pack a bag for three days. Meet me in the hangar at 8?" Keith nodded. "Sounds good to me." He opened the door and was about to leave when James's voice stopped him. "Hey, Keith?" He looked at him over his shoulder. "Yeah?" "Thanks." James said with a grin. "Your welcome." Keith said before stepping out.
The next day, a sleek black car arrived, with tinted windows. James walked out of the Garrison, a black backpack on his shoulder, Keith's jacket, a white shirt and black jeans. Keith followed, in similar fashion, but with a red shirt. A man stepped out of the car, a smile on his lips, showing gleaming white teeth. "James!" "Hey dad." He said, putting a hand in his pocket. "And who's this?" The man asked, walking over and gesturing to Keith. "This is Keith. He's coming with us." His dad shrugged. "The more the merrier. So, you ready for two weeks with dear old dad?" "Three days." James said.
"Two weeks."
"Three days."
"Week and a half."
"Three days."
"A week."
"Two days."
"Week."
"24 hours starting the second we leave."
His dad smiled. "Three days it is! You ready to go home?"
"What do you want?" James asked. His dad's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"
"What do you want? After 22 years, the last four of which I haven't heard from you at all, you want me to go home with you. I highly doubt you've had a change of heart. So, what is it you want? Some kind of interview? Some pictures?" James inquired.
His dad sighed. "Is it so hard for you to believe that I just want to spend time with you?"
"Yes." James answered instantly.
His dad sighed. "Fine. We, well, you, have an interview tomorrow, and we have one together the day after. Then we have Christmas eve all to ourselves. Sound good?" James shrugged. "I don't really have a choice. Let's go."
The driver came around the side, opening the door. "Hey Alex. How's the family?" James asked. The man smiled. "All well. Lily's due in March. It's a boy!" "You're going to be a father? That's great!" The man smiled and patted James's shoulder. "Such a kind lad. They're lucky to have you here." James climbed in the car, Keith and his father after him.
"Bye James! Bye Keith!" Their friends yelled.
The car pulled away, and James rubbed his face with his hand. "So, what exactly do you do here?" His dad asked. "We do a lot. Fight, fly, work on and test prototypes, go on missions to other planets, meet diplomats, act as them, explore different places, lots of things really." He answers.
"Hmm. What about you? What do you do?" He asked Keith.
"Well Gutierrez, I fly the black lion and lead Voltron. And as for what we do ok our missions and the prototypes we test, that's confidential, and you're not cleared to know." He answered with a sweet smile.
"Hmm. Tell me, have you ever been in a mansion?" Mr. Gutierrez asked, leaning forward. "Not on Earth, no. But I've been in several alien castles." James had his head leaned against the window, watching the world go by.
"Dad, what happened to my mom?" He asked.
"I beg your pardon?" Mr. Gutierrez says.
"What happened to my mom? You never talk about her. Is she dead or alive? What was she like? Did she want me or was I a mistake?"
His dad swallowed. "This is a private conversation." "I trust Keith with my life. I trust him to hear this. And I want answers. Now, Dad." James said, sitting up and leaning forward. "No more dodging the subject. Tell me."
His dad sighed. "James, I don't know. I don't think you're ready."
"So I can be left home alone for weeks on end, fight a war and fly a jet, but I can't know anything about my mom except for her last name?" His dad sighs again. "You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"I don't remember whether or not you were planned. And I don't know where she is. Or if she's alive or not. I got home one night when you were a little less than a year old, and she was gone. She left a note saying she had to go, and that it was better this way. I never heard from her again."
James nodded and sat up, looking out the window again.
"What was her name?"
"Bella. Bella Griffin."
James nodded, eyes not leaving the window.
"You have her eyes." His dad said.
James stared out the window.
"Why did she leave?"
"I don't know. The note just said it would be better this way."
Keith put a hand on James's shoulder. "You okay?" "I'm fine." He said, voice clipped.
Gutierrez smiled. "Great! We'll be at the airport in about 10 minutes, and Jordan has the plane waiting for us. Then it's just an hour flight and we're home."
He turned to the side, opening a little fridge and pulling out a bottle. "Fancy a drink boys? Its vintage." Keith waved him off. "No thanks. I'm more of a beer guy myself." Gutierrez nodded and popped the lid and poured himself a glass. James remained silent. "So, why'd you get into the acting business?" "Well, there was a place in the local theater that opened up, and I auditioned. Played Hamlet, and when my high school had their reproduction of Romeo and Juliet, I was Romeo. Someone posted a video of it online, next thing I know, I have a contract to remake the Bond movies." He answered.
"Why are you a paladin?" "The lion chose me. Well, first Red did, then Black."
Gutierrez nodded. "Interesting."
The two made small talk for the rest of the car ride and the plane ride. James said nothing. They got in another car once they landed. "Where are we?" Keith asked. "Colorado." James answered, the first time he'd spoken in over an hour.