Story bits

James walked up to Keith, a smug smile on his face. "Hey Keith."
The raven haired boy glanced at the slightly shorter brunette. (It was only four inches but it messed with James) "Hey James."
"So.... you wore my jacket in space?" Keith freezes.
"Wha- I- how?" James laughs. "Was shopping with Nadia and saw a picture. Even had your signature."
Keith threw his head back and groaned as James laughed.
"I knew you liked it, I just didn't think you liked it THAT much." "I was cold, okay? And yours was the jacket I had on hand."
"So you kept it around a lot?" James is grinning from ear to ear now.
"Shut up." Keith says, pushing his head away.
"I'm just saying, if you wanted one I could've told you where I got it."
"Why are we still talking about this?" Keith asks, turning to his tablet, trying to focus.
He sees James is still looking at him and sighs. "What?"
"Nothing. Just a little funny that the great black paladin Keith Kogane kept my jacket from 8th grade while he ran around in space kicking ass and taking names."
Keith had to laugh at that. "Fuck. Was it really that long?"
James nodded. "Yep. Lent it to you when you were shivering in math and never got it back. Then I find out you blew it up in an alien ship."
Keith huffed. "Get to the point Griffin."
James smiled and started to walk away. "You owe me a jacket!" He called.
Keith shook his head and smiled to himself. James was never gonna let him live that down.
Unless....
Keith grinned. James wanted a jacket? He'll give him a jacket.
--------
Later that day, he found James in the hangar, running diagnostics on his MFE. "James!"
He picked his head up and glanced around the hangar, smiling when he saw him. He waved, and Keith walked towards him, one arm behind his back.
"Hey Keith, what's up?"
"You know how I owe you?"
James chuckles. "Yeah, it was just a few hours ago." "Well, I got you your jacket." He pulled his arm out from behind him, revealing the black hoodie. James gasped. "Keith, I was just joking!" He said.
"Yeah, but I did kinda steal and destroy yours."
James takes it from him, laughing once he sees the front. "Is it really that obvious? Nadia says it is, but I don't believe her."
It's black, with a gay pride flag on the front, and the back is plain.
"Little bit."
James flushed and covered his face with his hand, smile on his face. "Oh god. Well, um, thanks." He set the tablet down and pulled it on over his uniform. It was a little big on him, and the sleeves hung off his hands.
Keith laughed. "Try not to blow it up." "No promises." James joked, smile on his face. Keith rolled his eyes and turned, starting to leave the hangar. "Bye James." "Bye Keith." He called, drawling out the H.
Keith smiled to himself. James didn't know that that was his hoodie, one he'd been wearing around the ship lately. This’d be interesting.
------
“Keith! Come here!” Nadia yelled. I sighed and walked over. “What?” “Are you and James dating?” “WHAT?!” I shriek, feeling my face heat.
“Well he’s wearing your hoodie, and normally that’s a thing for people in relationships, so…” She trails off. “Oh no. But, um, the red jacket I had? In space? Was his. He lent it to me, and I kinda stole it. Then blew it up.” Her jaw dropped.
“Wait wait wait wait. You had James’s jacket, and you blew it up?” I nod. “Yeah. So I gave him mine to make up for it.” She nods, as if that makes sense. “Hmm. Interesting.” “Nadia..” I said in a warning tone. “Don’t get any ideas. I definitely don’t want you ‘shipping’ us like you did Acxa and Veronica.” She smiled. “Oh, I won’t do anything.” Then she skipped away, almost running into a few cadets.
I sighed. She was definitely gonna do something.
------
“MFES, paladins, report to the bridge.” Shiro’s voice said over the intercom.
Pidge sighed. “Ugh, here we go again. More team building drills.”
“The last one wasn’t too bad.” Hunk says. “I had fun doing charades.” “Of course you did! You and Ina had dog! Me and James had Weblum. How am I supposed to act out Weblum?” Lance complains.
“Also, James had ever heard of a Weblum.” Allura adds as they turn a corner. “Why do we have to do these? Can't we just do more drills?” Keith asks. “You and James are the only ones who like doing that.” Hunk says. “Oh yeah, Keith and his boyfriend.” Lance says. “James is not my boyfriend!” Keith says exasperatedly. “Mhmm, sure.” Keith rolls his eyes. “Come on Shiro’s waiting.” They head onto the bridge, where Shiro and the MFES are waiting.

“Ah, there you are! Line up, we’re doing team bonding drills!” Shiro says. They fall in, making one large line. Nadia, Ina, Ryan, James, Keith, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, then Allura. “First up, we’re doing trust falls.” Shiro says. “On the bridge?” Ina questions. “Oh no. Komso?” The wolf appears and tackles Nadia, sending her flying into Ina, who goes into Ryan, and so on until they’ve all fallen on someone.
Then the familiar “Whoosh!” Of Kosmo’s teleporting sounds, and they’re in the training room, a pile of groaning and complaining 19 and 20 year olds. “Ryan, your elbow is in my ribs.” James groans. “Hunk, I think your knee has implanted itself in my stomach.” Pidge groaned. “Sorry.” they all grumbled some more as they detangled themselves.
Shiro walked in, a smile on his face. “Alright, first up, trust falls!” Nadia groaned. “We just did that.” “I know, but now, you’re gonna do it on purpose. Pidge, you’re excused from this.” She cheered and scrambled over to Shiro’s side. “Hold up, how come she gets a pass?” Lance asks. “There’s not enough people, and there’s no one her height. Now, pair up. MFE with paladin.”
Nadia got Hunk, Ryan Lance, Ina Allura, and James got Keith. “Alright, now, MFES, turn around. You’re gonna put your arms out in what I think they call a T-pose-” The teens started laughing and Allura raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What is a ‘T-pose’ and why is it so funny?” She asked. “It’s an Earth thing princess.” Allura nodded. She was getting used to there being a lot of Earth things she didn’t understand.
“Okay, do the thing.” Shiro ordered. The MFEs, still laughing, turned around and stuck their arms out. “And, fall.” James pitched backwards and Keith stepped forward, laying him in his arms gently. “Good. Now switch.” With some more laughing, they switched, and Keith stuck his arms out. “Don’t drop me.” He warns. “I’ll try not too.” He can practically hear James grinning. He pitches backwards, and feels himself fall into the pilot’s arms. “See? Didn’t drop you.” James says, grinning down at him.
“Okay, the next part should be pretty fun. Yal are gonna have a sleepover. Mandatory. Tonight, in the MFE dorms. They have more room anyway.”
“You do?” Pidge asked, raising an eyebrow. “Well, there’s only four of us. Nadi and Ina share a room, and the McClains are always passing through on their way to see Ronny. The ATLAS kinda just….. made it bigger.” James explains. “Which is why it’s perfect! Now, I’m going to trust you to do this by yourselves. But if I get any complaints, I’m sending Crutis in to shut it down.” Shiro says sternly. “Okay dad.” Lance mumbles. “Good. Now go. I’ll have Veronica get you guys the rest of the day and night off.”
They cheered and ran out, heading to their rooms and putting on civvies. Keith got black joggers and a red v-neck, Lance grey sweatpants and a white shirt, Pidge a dark green shirt and black legging, Allura had white joggers and a light pink shirt, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, Hunk had a yellow sweatshirt and blue jeans. “Alright, ready to go?” Keith called. “Yeah. Ina texted me to meet them in the training room. We’re gonna play a game.” Pidge reports. “Then let’s go. I wonder what it is.” Hunk says as they head down the halls. “Watch it be training.” Lance says. “I hope not. This is our unofficial day off.” They turned the corner and were greeted with the MFEs smiling faces.
Ina had light blue joggers and a white shirt, Nadia had black leggings and a Thrasher hoodie, Ryan had a dark green shirt and blue jeans, and James had black jeans and Keith’s hoodie. “Hey guys!” He chirped. “Lance, has Ronny ever taught you to play ‘Kill the King’ before?” Lance’s eyes widened as he squealed. “Yes! That’s what we’re playing?!?” “Yeah! Ronny said she’s gonna ref. She’s up there.” He pointed to the little cabin up top, where the higher-ups would watch people train.
“Um, what’s Kill the King?” Pidge asked. “It’s actually really simple. There’s two ‘kings’ one on each side.” Ryan started. Two bags appeared, each with a small crown on them. “And there’s two teams. Red and blue. We use these foam swords-” Nadia waved them around “-and start next to the kings. When the buzzer sounds, you’re supposed to rush the other team, and you try to ‘cut off’ the kings head, or knock the crown down. But if someone on the other teams hits you in the stomach or the side/ back of the head, you’re out. You either kneel, or like Nadia, play dead where you are.” Ina finished. “Pretty simple actually. Don’t get hit and knock the crown off.” James says.
“So, who wants to go first?” He says with a smile, and Keith can feel his heart speed up a bit at the sight.
“Hold on there James. I’m picking teams.” Veronica’s voice says. “Pidge, you’re with James. Lance, you’re with Nadia.” Said people split into teams. Lance and Nadia are blue, and Pidge and James are red.
“Ready? GO!” Ronny says, and they run at each other. James immediately smacks Nadia in the head as Lance tries to stab Pidge, who dodges and smacks his ass with the butt of her blade. “Hey!” He whines. Nadia is lying on the floor, death staring the ceiling. Lance hears a thud and James cheer. “Ha ha!” Pidge says in his face.
“No fair! You distracted me!” Lance whines. “Oh, so Pidge is distracting? Hmm.” James says, walking past him and swinging his sword. Pidg cackles as Lance flushes. “You know what I mean!” “Mmm, do I?” James questions, raising an eyebrow.
“Alright. Lance, Nadia, out. James and Pidge, stay in. Ina and Allura are next. Winner stays, loser goes.” Veronica declares.
James lets Pidge kill the king this time, after he (with much difficulty) stabs Allura and she hits Ina.
Next up is Hunk and Nadia, who almost kills James, swinging her sword like a baseball bat at his head as he laughs. While she’s busy with him, Pidge kills the king, parading around with her sword held high.
They hear Veronica laugh. “Alright, looks like Pidge and James are the kings of “Kill the King”. Ryan, Keith, it's up to you to dethrone then.”

The two boys nod and take the swords from Nadia and Hunk, getting in place.
"Ready, GO!" Veronica exclaimed.
They ran at each other, Pidge going for Ryan and James for Keith. Their swords clashed, and actual fighting ensued.
Pidge and Ryan exchanged blows, barely missing each other. James and Keith did the same, really getting into it. Throwing in some flips and leaps, dancing around each other.
Pidge managed to kick Ryan in the balls and he knelt over, groaning as she poked him in the head. "Pidge, whyyyy?" He groans. "Pidge, that's cheating. You're out." Veronica calls. James leaps over Keith, running at the king and smacking his back as he goes. Keith huffs and freezes as James does a little happy dance, smiling brightly. He strides over to the king, grabbing the crown and placing it on his head.
"All hail King James!" Nadia declares, giving him an over exaggerated bow. "Guess that makes Keith the queen." Lance whispers to Hunk, who tries to suppress a giggle. "Thank you, thank you, you're too kind." James jokes, returning Nadia's bow. "So, food or movies next?" Ryan asks. "Yes." Ina responds, heading down a different entrance than the paladins used. "Come on. Ronny came through, and we have a ton of snacks in our common room."

They lead them to the MFE common room, where a table of snacks awaits. "Damn, Ronny really hooked y'all up." Lance says. "She actually likes us. Plus, she knows if we're occupied with this, we won't bother her." James says, hopping on one of the couches. "Scoot over." Keith says, pushing his legs out of the way and sitting next to him. "What do you wanna watch?" Ina asks. "We have Marvel, DC, Charlie's Angels, a few Scooby- why do we have Scooby Doo movies?" She asked, looking at her teammates. "Cause the little McClains like them and watch them here sometimes." Ryan answers, sitting on the floor in front of James and Keith. James has slung his legs into Keith's lap, while Keith's arm is around the back of the couch. "You guys have a pretty sweet setup." Pidge says, snuggling up in the remaining corner. "Right? Nadia and Ina came up with the idea, and me and Ryan helped them put it together." James says, grabbing a bag of Peanut M&M's. "So they're the smart ones?" Hunk asks. "Hey!" James whines. "They're not the smart ones, just smarter." Ryan says. "But James is the only one who can actually use a sword. We can all shoot great, but can't use a knife or sword to save our lives." Keith and Allura laughed. "If yal want, we can give you lessons. We've had plenty of practice." She offers. "No thanks. Unlike James, we like being able to walk." Nadia says with a smirk. "Shut up." He says, throwing an M&M at her, which she catches in her mouth. "I'm just saying, when you eventually get laid you're not gonna be able to walk." "Nadia!" He exclaims, face flushing as the others laugh. "I'm just messing with you." She says. "Lighten up a bit." "Hey James, can you get that movie from my room? The second Charlie's Angels?" James nodded and got off the couch, disappearing down the hall.
"Keith, when are you gonna ask him out?" Ryan asks, turning to look at him. "Wha-what?" Pidge rolled her eyes. "Look, we all know you like him and he likes you." "How would you know that?" He shoots. "When we told him that was your hoodie, he just smiled stupidly and said it was sweet. Also, whenever you guys see each other, you smile." Ina explains. Keith flushes. "I'm working on it."
"Found it!" James says, walking back in. He hands Ryan the movie and sits back down, throwing his legs in Keith’s lap again. Ina is sitting in Nadia's, and Allura has taken over the other couch, forcing Hunk and Lance to sit on the floor.
"That was pretty good." Hunk says as the credits role. "Can you imagine fighting like that in heels?" Pidge says with a shiver. "I think any of us would be dead." Allura adds.
"Hey, we should play truth or dare." Lance suggests. "Oh yeah! That'd be fun." Ryan agrees.
“How bout no. Pidge is gonna come up with some weird stuff.” Hunk says. “Like what?” “she had us put peanut butter in Lance’s hair, Shiro had to wear makeup, Coran did some kind of alien creature mating dance-” Allura starts. “Okay, we get it. 20 questions?” Ina suggests. “That only works with two people.” Hunk points out. “Then how about everyone gets to ask a question? Like, we go around the circle, and whoever’s turn it is asks someone else a question. Then that person asks someone else a question, and so on until we do something else.” Lance suggests.
“Yeah, that’ll work. Me first.” Pidge says. She rubs her hands together and smiles. “Ok, um, Ryan. What is the deal with you and that Alexis girl?” The pilot laughs. “She has a crush on me. It’s kinda obvious. And she’s sweet and all, but I don’t think I like her like that.” He looked around. “Uh, Lura. What exactly does all that Altean Alchemy stuff do?” “Well, it’s kind of a mix between magic and science. It’s not easy. I’m not sure how my father managed to do it, let alone make the lions with it and the comet.”
She looked around. “Ina, how did you end up at the Garrison?” She shrugged. “I was smart, and my teachers thought it’d be good for me. Turns out I wasn’t too bad at flying and engineering either, so I stayed. Keith, what was it like meeting your mom for the first time?”
Keith laughed. “Oh, it was so weird. I had to go on a Blades mission to remove an operative, which turned out to be her. I didn’t even know until we were in our ship, and she said “I’m not leaving you again.” Then we got stuck on this giant creature for two years. But it was okay, because we found Kosmo.”
Said dog appears and barks, licking Keith’s face. Then he starts assaulting Pidge, licking her face and pawing at her legs. She laughs. “Kosmo, stop it. Get James.” “What- no” James starts, getting a face full of doggy slobber. “Pidge! Kosmo stop it!” He laughs as the dog sits in his lap and starts licking his face. The others laugh and Keith pats his hind. “Come on Kosmo, stop it.” The dog stops licking him, but lays in James’s lap, looking up at him expectedly. James smiles and starts scratching behind his ears. “So, Ryan, where are you from? Iverson mentioned that you three transferred from other Garrison schools, but he didn’t say which.” “Town in Arizona. My school wasn’t that far from home, so I got to go back and forth on the weekends.” He looked around, eyes landing on James.
“James, do you have any siblings?” “Yeah. Two sisters. One’s older than me, Erin, and the one that’s younger is named Cameron.” The other’s jaws drop. “Really?” Allura asks. “Yeah. And thanks to being dragged to all of their practices, I've seen way too many attempts at the arts. Cameron’s 1st grade choir ruined “Jingle Bells'' for me.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ina asks. James shrugs. “It’s nice to have a part of my life that’s only mine. Plus, they’re not even in state, and want nothing to do with space.” He glanced around. “Um, Pidge. Is Matt's real name actually Mathematics?” Pidge threw her head back and laughed. “Yeah. It was Matthew, but he got it legally changed a few months back. Now he’s Mathematics Holt.” The others laughed.
“Okay, uhh, Ina. What’s it like being the smartest one in the group?” The blue-eyed girl sighed. “It’s hard. Sometimes, it’s like I’m the only one with a brain cell.” James threw an M&M at her, and it bounced off her nose. “I’m not wrong. Allura, is pink actually the color of mourning on Altea?” The girl nodded. “Yes. Unlike on Earth, black wasn’t a very common color on Altea. Even with hair color.” Then she turned to James. “James, could you braid my hair? If you know how.” He shrugged and pushed Kosmo off of him. “Sure.” Allura sat up and he sat behind her, running his hands through her hair to untangle it. “Hey Lance, is it true that at your 10th birthday you almost swallowed some bees?” He asks, eyes not leaving his work. Lance gasped and the others laughed. “Well? Did you?” James asked, glancing up at him.
Lance flushed and crossed his arms. “We don’t talk about that.” The others laughed again, and James smirked. “Well, if we’re going there, Keith, what was your favorite animal as a child?” “A hippo.” The Black paladin said sheepishly. “A hippo? Why?” Hunk laughed. “Because they’re deadly and will attack anyone who gets too close and my dad got me a stuffed purple one and- shut up!” Keith pointed this last part at Lance, who had fallen over laughing. “I’m not the one who got chained to a tree!” "We don't talk about that!" Lance shrieked. "So one time, Lance thought this alien chick was pretty, so he took her for a ride and she-" Lance jumped at him and they started wrestling.
The others started laughing and cheering them on as they rolled around. "Loser has to kiss James!" Nadia yelled. "Fuck no! I'm not kissing Lance!" He snapped. Said boy huffed, his face on the carpet. "Asshole." "I won." "Change, winner has to kiss James." Nadia amends. "I'm not kissing someone because of a contest!" James says, glaring at her.
"And since you're doing that, Nadia, how long did you pine over Ina before she asked you out?"
Nadia blushed furiously. "A year." She mutters. "Mmhm." James pats Allura's shoulders. "I'm done." Her hair is in a neat French braid, the sides smoothed down and meeting at the bottom to intertwine again. "Thanks James." She says, smiling up at him. "Anytime."
"Hey, how bout we show them the chair game?" Ina says. "Oh yeah! And we can do the sliding one too!" Ryan adds.

“The what?” Lance asks as Keith grins. “You mean the one where we steal the command's rolly chairs and race down the halls?” James nods. “Bingo.”