The Koganes
Keith blinked awake with a warmth seeping through his muscles, a faint fog spinning through his mind, and the soft pressure of arms around him. The pebbled ceiling of the McClain living room slid into view, and he stifled a yawn as he sat up, Lance’s cheek sliding down his chest and landing in his lap with a faint plop and an even softer snore. Keith giggled; his boyfriend’s baby snores were the cutest thing ever. Okay, maybe only second to the pure shriek of delight Lance had given when Pidge fell out of the cryopod into his waiting arms last night. They had all agreed last night that none of them were going to sleep until their little sister was properly back in their arms, although Keith had to pull Shiro away for a tick when he saw his brother’s eyes go glassy as they trailed Pidge’s injuries. He knew that pain all too well, the electrical burns forking over Pidge’s skin and the claw marks that had been pulsing with a murky black quintessence only dobashes ago. Allura had torn it out of the wound with a quick spell, saying something about water having power over air, and vaporized it with a snap of her fingers. Keith still couldn’t believe how powerful Allura had suddenly become.
A chuckle ringing just a touch higher than his own sounded in time with his own, jarring Keith from his thoughts, and Keith glanced up to meet Acxa’s eyes as Allura let out the echo of a snore in her lap. Keith bit his lip to keep from laughing, but Acxa gave him a conspiratory wink as she ran her fingers through Allura’s hair.
“Let me guess,” she teased, gesturing to Lance. “Baby snores?”
Keith just gave a snorting giggle, gesturing at Allura’s hand snugly ensconced in Lance’s with a soft smile.
“Like brother, like sister,” he replied, yawning and stretching. “You guys got back really fast; you just left four quintants ago.”
“Coran managed to wormhole us very close to Oriande, and Allura’s mastery of alchemy gives her the power to stabilize her quintessence without the Castle. She wormholed back to the Castle of Lions to help with the gathering of allies, and then thoroughly enjoyed wormholing us home,” explained Acxa with a faint giggle. “She was most excited about this new power level; Coran was substantially less.”
“Obviously,” replied Keith with a laugh. “Hopefully that’s enough power to keep her from running herself through the ground again.”
Acxa chuckled, shaking her head like she thought that was improbable, and the two of them allowed their gaze to drift around the room. Coran was snoring beside Allura’s head like a very loud guardian angel, and the space between Keith and Acxa that had been taken up by Krolia was strangely empty. Shiro was still snoozing on the other side of Keith, squashing Matt between him and Adam. Pidge was flopped on Adam’s other side and was currently being used as a teddy bear by Hunk while Shay was cuddled up against his back looking suspiciously like she was spooning him.
Keith snickered, and Acxa passed him his phone with the most matter-of-fact expression he had ever seen before. Keith maneuvered the angle of the screen, snapping pictures of everyone as Acxa ran her fingers through Allura’s long curly hair. Her princess’ markings glowed a little with each snore, flickering out when Allura released her breath, and it was taking every ounce of Acxa’s self-control not to coo over the flashing pink flowers on her love’s cheeks.
“Hey,” said Keith, snapping Acxa out of her thoughts as his suddenly sparkling eyes locked on the luxite knife dangling from her belt, “I didn’t know you had a Blade of Marmora knife! Have you unlocked its blade form yet?”
Acxa barely managed to swallow down the desire to chuckle at the glow taking over Keith’s face (she rather doubted he would appreciate being laughed at), and pulled out her knife. She flipped it into the air with a flick of her wrist, letting the light blossom from the blade into the familiar serrated edge caught the sunlight filtering through the windows, and she snatched it out of the air with a flourish. Keith’s eyes lit up, a faint squeal on his lips, and Acxa passed it to him with a grin.
“I unlocked it during Oriande’s trials,” explained Acxa, her smile turning gentle as Keith continued to gape at the sword like it was the most beautiful thing in the galaxy. “Luckily for me, Lotor trained all of his Generals in swordfighting a long time ago, so I have a good idea of how to wield it.”
“It’s awesome!” Cheered Keith, digging his heels into the floor to keep from bouncing Lance off his lap like an excited puppy. “This is so cool, I love the edge, I don’t think I’ve seen any weapon with that other than Adam’s bread knife!”
Acxa laughed, throwing her head back even though the sound was airy enough not to wake up Allura, and Krolia glanced in from the kitchen.
“Oh, you two are awake,” she said, a soft smile creeping up her lips as she ducked out of view. “I made coffee; I figured everyone could use a kick after such a late night.”
“Given it’s still five in the morning, definitely,” replied Keith, a clock finally catching his eye. “Thank god it’s the weekend.”
Krolia chuckled, slipping a cup of coffee into each of their hands and tousling their hair.
“Indeed, your mate shall not have to take his kits in,” she agreed, sipping on her own coffee as she gazed down at the scene in front of her with a smile just barely tinged with pain. “You two ought to spend some time together today; Shiro and Adam were talking about asking you guys for a chance to babysit the twins so they could get some experience in before they adopt anyone else. They seemed particularly keen on it after last night.”
Keith bit his lip, but the roaring snores of Adam drew a smile back up at the edges, especially when Krolia gave a fond laugh and his coffee was made exactly as he liked it. “And you,” added Krolia, placing a hand on Acxa’s shoulder with a smile, “I am glad you have settled things with the princess. You two deserve happiness together. You all do.”
Acxa beamed, holding up her blade and showing off the serrated edge with a glow in her eyes.
“Thank you. And, look, I have unlocked my Blade!”
“Well, I’m glad I gave it to you then,” replied Krolia, lips pulling tight at the edges and Keith’s breath coming up short. “It deserved the chance to have another owner.”
Keith’s wide violet eyes fixed on Krolia, shattered glass strewn throughout his irises because he had told himself one thing since he was a kid, since he had been given this, that at least she gave me this, at least she thought of me, at least she gave me a chance to survive because that was all he had from his mother—
Krolia shifted, her eyes fixed on the blade as she drew in a shuddering breath, her shoulders settling back like steel.
“Did I ever tell either of you the story behind that blade?” She asked, glancing at them.
Acxa shook her head, and Keith’s hundred-degree-glare was answer enough from him, so she laced her fingers around her coffee and blew out a cracking breath. “Keith, that blade was supposed to be for your sister.”
Keith froze, and Krolia smiled like someone was tearing out her heart. “Yes, your sister. Before I met your father, I was…with another woman,” she explained, picking quietly at her nail as her eyes glazed over. “Shial. I had known her since we started to walk, and I had loved her since then too. I don’t think either of us could ever imagine not loving each other,” she admitted, tears already gathering at the edges of her vision. “I couldn’t visit often when I joined the Blade, but when I did once…she fell pregnant. By the time her message to me came through, the baby was almost two years old. I took leave as soon as I could, forging a special blade for my first child—”
Krolia’s voice choked, a single tear falling into her coffee, and Keith’s blood ran cold as a suggestion as to why she insisted on keeping the war so far from him sprang to mind. Acxa slid her hand onto Krolia’s shoulder, and the woman raised her head as if that would force the tears back into her eyes.
“I finally managed to make it back to them,” she murmured, tugging on her finger quietly. “But the Galra were invading. By the time I found the house…”
She shook her head, and Keith seized her hand in his own, silent agony spinning a thread between the two. Krolia squeezed his hand with a grateful smile. “It had caved in,” she admitted. “I lost Shial and…and I had lost the baby before I ever got the chance to meet her. I couldn’t handle it, so I took a mission as a spy. The ship I was on happened to find the Blue Lion, and, well, you know the rest, Keith,” she said with the first warm smile that had touched her lips since she had begun the story. “Your father…he helped me process and accept Shial’s death. He was no replacement. In fact, he was practically Shial’s opposite,” Krolia added with a pained laugh, “but they would have gotten along amazingly together. He was slow, gentle, and soothing where she was pure fire, reckless, and spontaneous. But they were both kind dreamers who made the world more beautiful by living in it. Keith, when I gave birth to you,” said Krolia with a soft smile as she cupped her son’s face, “it was because I wanted you. I had already accepted that…that Kazir was gone. I wanted you. And I’m glad I got you.”
Keith’s throat closed at the same time as Acxa’s, and he reached up to hug Krolia tight to him.
“I’m glad I got you too,” he said softly. “I’m glad you were my mom.”
Acxa’s mouth flailed silently, her eyes shooting between mother and son, and she slowly set her cup down next to her.
“Krolia,” she called gently, “what planet did…did Jaiva come from?”
Krolia whipped around, her eyes blown wider than moons as flames sparked along their edges, the flames of a hope that she could barely fathom.
“How…” she breathed. “How did you know her Tevanian name? We both used our Galran names whenever we spoke to each other!”
“Because…” choked out Acxa, tears sprinkling down on Allura’s cheeks as a smile overtook her own. “Because Kazir is Acxa in Tevanian! When I joined Lotor, he translated my name into Galran! I had actually almost forgotten my old name at this point.”
Krolia stood still as a statue, tears streaming from her eyes, and Keith was staring at Acxa like she had just turned white and started speaking English. Acxa gulped. “I…I, uh, remember the house falling in. Mom shielded me, but the last thing she said to me was run, so I…as soon as I was free, I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t realize anyone else was coming for me.”
“Kazir…” breathed Krolia, the name fracturing in her throat, and Keith’s face lit up like a firework.
“Well, hey,” he said, reaching across to punch Acxa’s shoulder lightly, “I always wanted a big sister.”
Krolia broke, swooping down to cradle Acxa’s head in her arms, shoulders wracking with sobs as she whispered Acxa’s name over and over again like it was the most precious thing in the world.
“You’re alive,” she breathed, holding Acxa close as she reached out to cup Keith’s cheek with her free hand, and took in a deep, deep breath like she could finally truly breathe for the first time in decaphoebs. “You’re both alive.”
She slid her fingers through their hair, tucking both of them together under her chin as her tears slid freely down onto their partner’s faces. Acxa leaned into the hug, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder as if that would hide her teary smile because she had finally found her family. And it was bigger, livelier, and crazier than she ever could have imagined, much less hoped. Keith nestled in, pressing his smile against Kro—against his mom’s shoulder. Because, for all that she had walked out on him, she had also leapt back in as soon as she could. She had left him because she thought she’d already lost her firstborn and first love to this war, and hadn’t wanted the same fate for her husband and son. No matter what she did, for better or for worse, she had done it out of love. She wanted the best for him. And, as he slid an arm over her shoulders, he sank into the hug fully, and let his shoulders lower. Acxa’s hand soon joined his on hi—on their mother’s back, and they clasped hands with a shared smile. Because they had both gone from orphans to people surrounded by the largest, craziest, strongest, and most loving family in the entire universe and, for the first time truly, neither of them would change a single thing about that journey.
“We’re here, Mom,” whispered Keith, the word almost foreign on his lips, and she pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Yes,” promised Acxa, brandishing her sword with a soft laugh, “and I really doubt anything can make us go anywhere at this point.”
Krolia let out a watery laugh, and dropped a kiss on the crown of Acxa’s head before redoubling her grip on her kids. She had thought it was impossible, that she would be all alone after she left Earth, but…but she wasn’t. She had two amazing, kind-hearted, brave, resilient children who had clawed their way back into her arms, and who accepted her for who she was.
“I’d like to see them try,” agreed Krolia, relaxing into a greater family than she ever could have dreamed of having.
And, just for a tick, she swore she felt Shial and Tex’s hands on her back, their words soft in her ears as they smiled down on the family that these three had fought to bring together. I doubt that the universe is up to arguing with a tattooed alien ninja family who have an obsession with swords, teased Shial, and Tex let out his booming laugh before fixing her with that kind stare she had fallen for as he took Shial’s hand and smiled softly. We’ll wait for you, Kro. Now, go. Go and enjoy the family you built. You have plenty of time.
Krolia took a deep breath, wiping away both streams of tears, and pressed kisses to her kids’ heads one final time before pulling back and giving them both a watery, glowing smile. They stared back, their eyes reflected in her own, and smiles soft as they squeezed her hands slowly. For once in their lives, they had all the time they needed.
“So, who wants eggs and bacon?”
Pidge’s eye twitched behind her glasses as she readjusted them, nearly catching her frizzy amber hair in the process as Lance passed her a cup of hot chocolate devoid of marshmallows, which she proceeded to nearly drop. She still hadn’t fully adjusted to her fingerless gloves, but she’d also completely refused to drop her “spy acethetic” upon her return to Earth, so Lance had to steady the hot chocolate as he made the rounds.
“…Acxa,” Pidge said, taking a long slurp. “You’re not a true Kogane until you have a mullet.”
“PIDGE, I WILL END ALL FOUR FEET FIVE OF YOUR EXISTENCE!”
Pidge cackled, dodging the pillow Keith lobbed at her head, and flashed a wink at Acxa.
“Seriously, though, I’m really happy for you, man,” she said, gulping down her hot chocolate as her amber eyes softened. “If anyone deserves to find their family, it’s you.”
“I already found my family: you guys,” countered Keith, his eyes drawing circles around the house nearly bursting with his family, and his lips tilting up without his permission. “I just added another member to it, that’s all.”
Acxa chuckled, tilting her head up to smile at Krolia, who was leaning against the couch with a cold cup of coffee in her hand at that point, but whose eyes were dancing a waltz with the lights in the room. She finally had her kids with her, gods she had both kids. She got a second chance.
Pidge’s shoulders rolled back, her lips loosening, and she flopped back into Matt with a quiet spurt of breath sliding free.
“They’re here,” she murmured, snuggling against his shoulder as he looped an arm around her shoulders. “They’re all still here.”
“Yeah,” promised Matt, tucking her a little closer to his side as Lance and Allura took their places beside their respective Kogane. “They waited for us.”
Pidge hummed a response, closing her eyes and falling into the chatter of her family, the exclamations of joy and teasing, all the little sounds she hadn’t realized was just…them. The way Lance’s tongue rolled faintly on his r’s, no matter how much he had hidden it before, felt like a warm blanket wrapping around the whole room. The gentle hum underneath Keith’s laugh, like the sand under the sea that kept everyone afloat, that supported all of them, and Hunk’s fingers tapping against the ground in a staccato rendition of the Nutcracker Suite, the classical music washing over her like one of their “technoversations” as Lance called them. The rustle of Shiro’s vest shifting with each of his hundred small adjustments, and the softest clink of Adam’s ring against his, like a quiet set of reminders that they were all together, that they were all still alive. Allura’s fingers rubbing at her hoodie strings with a faint shhh, getting used to it once again, brought the phantom thrill of nights smashing her friends in video games back to Pidge’s hands, and Coran’s periodic twang of his mustache was like a silent pat on the back.
Pidge slid her shimmering eyes open once more, taking a final tick to relish in her family’s warmth welcoming her home, and stood up. Everyone’s eyes snapped to her instantly, their voices cut short, their trust washing through Pidge’s chest until she almost couldn’t breathe. Because, for all that Allura was now dating Acxa, for all that Keith had found a space sister, for all that Lance had two kids curled up asleep on his lap who she knew only from stories, for all that Hunk’s fingers brushed against Shay’s, for all that Shiro seemed like he was finally looking ahead instead of behind him, and for all that Adam had the faintest scar on his eyebrow now, they still hadn’t changed. Not really. They were still family, they were still…they were still her family. After all, Pidge had changed up there in space too, but she hadn’t lost who she was.
And part of who she was she saw reflected in their eyes on her right then.
“Look, I’m sorry to interrupt the Kogane reunion, I really am,” she said, voice soft even as a storm pressed into her brow, “but we have a problem. Haggar still has a hold of that comet and, from what Matt and I gathered, she’s been experimenting on it.”
Allura’s eyes blew wide, and Pidge pulled out the stash of flash drives that Rover had given her before going to recharge in Green the night before, thrusting them at Coran as Keith’s lips did a strange dance behind her. “Coran, these have all the data Matt and I managed to gather while we were on Haggar’s battleship.”
Pidge dug her heels into the ground, straightening out her spine as she raised her head to level flashing eyes on everyone in the room. They could do this. She knew they could. “Haggar has already found multiple ways to weaponize the comet, including using it to shoot corrupted quintessence at you guys,” she added, turning to Keith, Allura, and Lance just in time to catch their winces, and she cringed apologetically; maybe a touch too soon for that one. “But the comet’s changing. It’s waking up. Shiro,” she said, glancing over to lock gazes with the man, “when our connection exploded, that was because of the comet.”
Shiro’s fingers tightened around one another, lightning forking across his eyes, and he sat up a little straighter.
“What do you mean? Did it attack you?”
“…Not really,” muttered Pidge, reflexively gripping her arm as if to shield herself. “The comet’s still too weak for that. But just like the Lions forged bonds with us, the comet wants the same thing. It tried to link with me and, when that didn’t work, it reached out to Shiro,” she explained, lips drawing up to bare her teeth for a tick. “I had to ask Green to blow up our bond so that the comet couldn’t get to you. Believe me, it is not a happy camper right about now. The things Haggar’s been doing to it…they’re downright cruel, so the comet is kind of just this slimy, terrified ball of vengeance. It’s not a very pleasant guest to have in your head.”
A shudder wracked Pidge’s spine, and Matt flew from his seat to her side in a tick, his steady hand on her back as Lance’s eyes flashed with an icy fury she had rarely seen. Keith’s sclera flickered a searing yellow, Hunk’s fists clenched painfully, and Shiro drew his legs back as if about to launch into space to destroy the comet with a single punch. Allura shook, her face twisted with pure rage and teeth bared, and Adam reached for his bow on reflex as his own teeth snapped together like a death sentence. Pidge chuckled, sinking into her bond with the team, their astral arms instantly surrounding her in so many hugs she wondered if she could drown in warmth.
“I’m okay,” she managed, “just still a little…drained. When Green managed to bite off enough of the ship for us to escape, she said she couldn’t touch the comet in its current state. It’s kind of like a cocoon, you know. Resilient, hard to break, and building up its strength. The comet is lying in wait right now, but when it breaks out, it’s going to be the nastiest quiznaker we’ve ever fought. On the bright side, there’s no chance it’s going to let Haggar or anyone with her pilot. On the downside…”
“On the downside, the ball of vengeance and destruction that has never known anything but ill will is piloting itself,” finished Allura with a soft groan. “Marvelous.”
Pidge nodded, biting her lip.
“Yeah. We were able to damage some of Haggar’s experiments on it, so that should slow progress, but it’s just a matter of time. And when it breaks out, Voltron’s going to need to be more than fighting ready because that comet is going to be the battle of our lives.”