reunited
“We’re so close! I can see Earth!” Pidge said excitedly. “But we have to be careful. We don’t want the Galra to see us.” Shiro warned. “Maybe Kosmo can teleport my dad on the ship? Or we could send a message?” She suggested. “Yes actually, I think we can.” Allura said, tapping some buttons on her screen.
“This is the Castle of Lion, hailing the Galaxy Garrison. Do you read me?” static. “Galaxy Garrison, do you read me?” She repeated. The others all tensed, waiting for a response.
“-ura? Is that you?” Sam asked, appearing on screen. “Dad!” Pidge said. “Katie! You’re back! Oh thank god you’re back!” Sam said, tears welling in his eyes as he smiled. “Is Adam there?” Shiro asked. “Takashi?” His fiance asked, face appearing on screen. “Adam!” “Takashi! Son of a- I’m going to kill you.” Adam said, smiling. “Lance!” a girl said, standing next to the two men. “Veronica!” HE exclaimed. “Hold up, is that- it is! JAMES, GET OVER HERE!” Veronica yelled, turning her head away. “What?” A male voice responded. “We have a transmission from space!” “Unless it’s my boyfriend I don’t fucking care!” He replied. Keith stiffened. “Okay, I need all of you to stand close together and hold on to each other.” He ordered. “Um, why?” Adam asked. “Just do it.” Keith snapped. He knelt next to Kosmo and whispered something in his ear. He barked and disappeared. A startled yelp told them he’d appeared at the Garrison, and they soon disappeared, reappearing inside the Castle. Adam, Sam, and Veronica all had on Garrison uniforms, but the boy next to them didn’t. He had on black jeans and a red v-neck, and was petting Kosmo. “This is a pretty cool dog. I don’t know why you guys were so scared.” He said with a smile. Veronica kicked him, and he frowned up at her. “What?” She nodded towards them. His eyes widened. “Keith? Keith!” They ran at each other, embracing. The second they pulled apart from the hug, Keith grabbed his collar and James grabbed the back of his head and they started kissing. Allura averted her gaze and Coran just chuckled.
Kosmo kept teleporting, bringing Colleen, Hunk’s parents, Lance’s parents, and Pidge’s dog. While they reunited with their loved ones, Keith and James were still intensely lip-locked. Shiro glanced at the two, and did a double take.
James was sitting on the floor, Keith in his lap, hand still in his hair, Keith’s still on his collar.
He decided he didn't want to watch his brother and his brother’s apparent boyfriend make out and went back to talking with the others.
When Veronica looked at them, she sighed. “Guys, come on, really? Right now?”
James was on his back, shirt having disappeared, Keith straddling his hips, still lip locked.
“James, come on.” They ignored her. “James. James! James fucking Griffin, stop making out with your boyfriend and listen to me?” James broke away from Keith and glared at her “What?” “Really? This, right now?” She asked, motioning towards the two of them. “What did you expect me to do? Kiss him on the cheek and tell him I love him?” “Yes.” She said, crossing her arms. James leaned up and kissed Keith’s cheek. “I love you.” “I love you too.” Keith replied, going for his lips again. “No, no more of that. That can happen later.” James broke away again and sighed. “Yeah, cause later I’m gonna have all the time in the world to kiss my boyfriend who’s been gone for three years.” “Yes. Because they’re gonna help us win this war, so we can go back to some sort of normal. Now, get up, find your shirt, and act your age.” “But he is. He’s 21, and people of those age groups are notorious for being horny, affectionate and not liking being told what to do.” Adam stated. James gave Veronica a look like ‘Yeah, see?’ She glared at him. He rolled his eyes and pecked Keith on the lips. “Fine. I’m listening.”
“Mmhm, sure.” She said, pursing her lips.
“I’m sorry, but when did that happen?” Shiro asked. “A lot happened while you were gone ‘Kashi.” Adam said. “Keith telling us him and James were dating was one of them.” Shiro nodded. “They’re much better when they’re not aggressively making out. Normally, they’re smart enough to be out of public view when they do that.” Adam said, looking pointedly at the pair.
Both were now standing, and James had found his shirt. He stood behind Keith, his arms wrapped around him, chin on his shoulder. “I missed him.” James pouted. “Obviously.” Pidge deadpas. “This is him?” Lance’s mom asked, going over and looking at Keith. “This is him?” “Mom.” Veronica said with a sigh, like she’d been through this a million times before. “I’m just saying, with the way you said they were, I expected a little better, especially for our young Griffin here.” James blushed and pulled Keith closer, almost protectively. “Mrs.McClain-” He started, but she shushed him. “Could’ve had any girl he wanted, but he chose you. Interesting.” She mused.
“What’s happening here?” Lance asked. “Since you guys were gone, all her mom energy has been redirected to the MFES.” Sam says. “But Keith has a mom to mom him. She’s just out protecting people.” Hunk says. “Honey, let her do this. Or she’ll come for you next.” His mother said. “Any girl at the Garrison would have dated him, but his heart was already with some boy in space.” “Mom, we really should get back to Earth.” Veronica said. “We have to tell Iverson, and I’m sure the rest of our family wants to see Lance.” Mrs.McClain sighs. “Fine. But you’re not escaping from this conversation young man.” She said, waving a finger at Keith. He gulped and nodded. The two boys seemed determined to make up for the lost time, because the second they got back to the Garrison, both of them disappeared. Veronica sighed and shook her head while the others snickered.
Needless to say, this behavior continued. James and Keith were obnoxiously cute.
Before and after every mission, they gave each other a kiss, which sometimes led to them being late.
Mrs. McClain watched all of their interactions closely. She was genuinely interested in their compatibility. They may have been together since before the war, but both of them had changed substantially. Taller, stronger, smarter, and bolder. Both were a bit reckless on missions, freaking out the other.
"James! I told you guys to pull back!" Keith said, storming over to his boyfriend. "If I had you guys would've been captured." "James..." Keith started. James took his hand on his own. "Keith, I lost you once. I'm not risking losing you again." Keith's hard gaze softened and his head fell on James's shoulder. "I'm sorry." "You didn't do anything wrong." James said, wrapping his arms around him. "We both just have to be more careful." Keith nodded into his shoulder and James kissed his head.
When the paladins faced Sendak, James was watching the screens in the ATLAS intently, hands gripping his helmet tightly. When the black lion fell, he had to hold back a sob. "Keith!" He cried. "No!" He ran out of the hangar, his team following. His jet reached the lion first. They saw him pry open the lion's jaw and run in. "Keith!" He cried. His boyfriend lay lying in a pool of his own blood, a cut on his head. He picked him up and cradled him in his arms.
He ran into the medbay and paced in the waiting room for hours as the Garrison doctors worked on Keith. "James, you need to rest. He'll be fine." Ryan said. "But what if he's not? Ryan, I-I can't lose him." "James." Ryan said, grabbing the smaller boy's shoulders. "He's gonna be find. But you're not if you keep stressing about him. He's strong. But right now he needs you to be strong for him." James nodded numbly. "Come on, let's get you some water. You've been pacing for hours." Veronica sid, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and leading him down a hall. Mrs. McClain pursed her lips. If Keith caused the little Griffin this much stress, it wouldn't be good for his health.
When he was pulled out of surgery, James ran down the halls to his room. Keith was lying on a bed unconscious, and James's face fell. Tears started falling down his face as he sat next to him. "God, Keith." He whispered. "Easy there buddy." Shiro said. "He's gonna be fine. He just needs some sleep." James nodded, still crying. "James, you should head back to your room, it's getting late." James shook his head, and Shiro sighed. "Alright. I'll be back to check on him later. Try and get some sleep." James just looked at Keith, holding his hand. Shiro looked like he was going to put a hand on his shoulder, but he thought better of it.
"Is this normal?" Mrs. McClain asked when he walked out. Shiro glanced at is brother. "Getting injured? Not to this extent. Bruising and pain? Yes, but not getting knocked out. Why? Worried about Lance?" She shook her head. "Not as much. The doctors say he'll be fine in a few days. I meant Keith and James." Shiro laughed. "I forgot about that. Still watching their compatibility?" She nodded. "They're perfect for each other, trust me. You'll see." "I'll be the judge of that." She mused. "Mothers." Shiro said, shaking his head.
Krolia, Kolivan and the other Blades showed up not too long after. Mrs. McClain was surprised to find out that such a tall woman was the paladin's mother. "Who are you?" She'd asked upon seeing the alien woman. "I am Krolia. Keith's mother. Who are you?" Sh asked, getting in a defensive stance. "Calm down. I'm Rosa, Lance's mother. I thought both of Keith's parents were dead?" Krolia frowned and looked back at her still sleeping son. "I had to leave to protect him. I'm not leaving him again." She seemed to be telling that to herself more than her. "Um, okay." Mrs. McClain said. James come in, flowers in hand. They were a mixture of red roses and dark purple lillies. "Hi Mrs. McClain. Krolia." He said, setting them in a vase by the bed and sitting in the chair next to it. "Any changes?" Krolia shook her hand. "Nothing. But Sam says the healing pod will be ready soon." James nodded. "How's Kolivan?" He asked, staring down at Keith. "Better. Worried about Keith though." James brushed some hair out of his face. "Everyone is. It's been a month." "He will be fine James." Krolia assured. "Everyone keeps saying that. But he hasn't woken up yet. Everyone else has, but not him. There's been no changes in his condition for a month, and they don't even know if he's going to wake up. Everyone keeps making promises and not keeping them. I don't even know how bad it was because no one will tell me! For all I know, he's been dying for the past month. And I can't even do anything!" James spat, voice bitter. Krolia sighed and went over to him. "James, when is the last time you slept?" He shrugged. "You need to sleep." She said. "I need to know if he's gonna be okay." "I'm sorry for this." She said. "Sorry for what?" James asked, raising an eyebrow. "This." Krolia placed her hand on James's shoulder and moved it. His eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped forward, upper body falling on the hospital bed.
"Don't judge me. He hasn't slept in days." Krolia said, turning to Mrs. McClain. "I wasn't going to." She replies. "Has there been any progress?" Krolia shakes her head. "No. But Allura thinks he'll wake up soon. She's been healing him with her Altean magic. He'll be fine." With that, she walked out. When Keith decided to wake up, James was in the middle of a drill. Krolia and Kolivan were in Keith's room. They smiled at him, which was rare for the two BOM leaders. "Hey mom. Kolivan." The boy said. "Hey kit. How you doing?" Keith shrugged, struggling to sit up. "I've been better. Did we win?" Kolivan nodded. "You killed Sendak yourself. Earth is healing." "Where's James?" He asked. A flash of blue, and Kosmo was in the room, someone else underneath him. "Ugh, Kosmo. Why?" The three Ks laughed. "Hey James." Keith said. His boyfriend's head shot up, and he smiled. "Keith! You're awake!" He exclaimed, jumping up. "Why yes, yes I am. Can I have a hug?" Keith asked, lifting his arms up. James smiled and sat next to him, pulling Keith close to his chest. "You most certainly can." They clung to each other tightly, neither arming to want to let go.
They seperated and James cupped the scarred side of Keith's face gently, kissing him softly. "I'm so happy you're okay." He said once they pulled back. "I thought I lost you." "Come on Jamie. It's gonna take a lot more than death for you to be rid of me.