Oh snap, so here we go, installment two because I am on a roll.

A thing to note though, there are mentions of depression and I'm not sure if I should categorize mentioned human experimentation as a trigger, but just in case that makes you uncomfortable, well this fic has mentions of it. I'm not sure if it will play a huge role, but yeah, be warned.

Enjoy!~


Shiro hadn't really known what to expect when the third person arrived. His first thought was to assume that the other–this Kogane person–was part of the researchers that brought this revelation to light. Thus, he was there to explain the situation to Shiro along with Dr. Ulaz.

The only reason Shiro didn't question his arrival was because he was supposed to be in the dark about the whole ordeal. It had already been hard enough to explain why Ryou was there with him–Shiro had to tell Ulaz that he was under a new medication that prohibited from driving, so his only form of transportation was his brother. Ulaz hadn't looked fooled, but he had left the matter alone and Shiro hadn't cared too much to see if his lie stuck.

What Shiro hadn't been expecting though was the new curve ball that was thrown in his direction. How was this matter concerning both him and Kogane? Shiro's "contribution" had been explained to him by Iverson, but how did that fit in with the guy seated not even three feet away from him?

Without fully realizing it, Shiro was holding Ryou's hand tighter in his own as his eyes really took in Kogane. He was young, if Shiro had to guess he would peg him for twenty-two, twenty-three at most, and from the small glimpses Shiro had had of him, Shiro could tell that he was attractive. But when he had first stepped into the room Shiro hadn't dwelled on any of those details, he had been more concerned about that fact that he was about to be told he was a father, and then ask to see his child. But now, with the discovery that this other guy's DNA had also been stolen… how was he also involved with Shiro's child? Was he a man as he portrayed? Did his kid not have a mother because Kogane identified as a male?

Or was Shiro just speculating too much and Kogane was actually the father of another child involved in the experimentation? Just how long had the project been running that they had managed to create not just one child, but a second one? How many more children were there?

Shiro's musings were interrupted though when Ulaz said something that completely derailed him.

"As a direct result, artificial life was created. And children were made. One of those children, Mr, Shirogane, Mr. Kogane; has both your genetic make up, making her your biological child."

Shiro's head snapped back in Ulaz's direction so fast that he heard his neck crack in protest, a small flare of pain following quickly after before it was washed away by an array of emotions.

"What?" Shiro hissed as his sluggish mind tried to make sense of what was being discussed. Shiro was no stranger to the advances of technology, his right arm was a testament to that. But to create artificial life? How was that even possible? And… his eyes turned to Ryou, who was equally as stunned, though there was no emotion on his face. Ryou was a blank slate and Shiro was sure that his own face was displaying all sorts of emotions.

But before he could properly process any of them, the other other father spoke up, repeating the request Shiro had made to Iverson but was unable to have granted.

"Of course, Haxus is bringing her up now." Dr. Ulaz nodded and turned to Shiro, "At the moment I cannot reveal any of the names that were involved in the misguided act. But, I can assure you that the process has been stopped and there will be no continuation of this… project. Those who were still on premises have been apprehended and questioned. There were three children total, and luckily there were no more being… developed. The other children are being rehomed with their biological families, but our biggest concern was with your child; Mr. Shirogane, Mr. Kogane–" a knock at the door interrupted him and Ulaz sighed through his nose.

"Come in."

Shiro turned to see the door open and Haxus returned with a small body curled up against his chest. Shiro's neck protested the angle he held it in as he took in the sight of the other doctor and the bundle in his arms, but he ignored it, trying to catch a glimpse of the child he now had. A pink blanket decorated with simple lavender colored flowers was hiding most of his daughter, though, and blocking him from getting a good look at her. But as Shiro continued to look for a face to place to his new family member, he couldn't help but feel his heart stutter in his chest. There was an uneasy feeling washing over him and threatening to pull him under until he was unable to feel anything at all.

Shiro didn't move automatically, he was too paralyzed from the realization that he wasn't feeling… what exactly? Shiro wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling at that moment. The problem was that Shiro wasn't feeling anything in that moment. Shiro had wanted to see her, that was still true, but… now that he was there, now that she was there, he just couldn't move.

Shiro's throat constricted painfully as he watched–motionless–Kogane reach for her. Shiro hadn't even seen him move. One second the man had been sitting off to Shiro's right, and the next he was magically teleported across the room and extending his arms towards Haxus.


Keith hadn't been listening to whatever else Dr. Ulaz was explaining, all he had needed to hear was the confirmation that he would get to see her… Keith had to swallow. Was he truly a dad now? Keith's emotions were still all over the place and he really couldn't say that he was happy per se. But he also wasn't infuriated by the news. Keith was a little surprised that he hadn't defaulted into anger at the situation, maybe once the numbness wore off he would be mad, but not at the kid.

Keith could honestly say that he had never seriously thought about being a father. With the mess of a family that he had, he wasn't sure what he would be able to do the whole father thing out of lack of experience and the fact that he had such huge walls up around his heart. Not to mention that the entire concept of a family was lost on Keith. While it was true that Keith now had an uncle and the entirety of the Rivera family that came with Lance, that didn't really make up for all the years that Keith had lived without a family of his own.

He had seen many families throughout his years in the foster care system, but Keith didn't want to be like them at all. He refused to be like Michael's father who was mean and self-destructive and went on alcohol fueled rages every other night. Nor did Keith want to be like Joana's father who was overzealous in religion while also being controlling and overbearing.

And it wasn't like Keith could draw any inspiration from his old man. From what little Keith could remember, he had been okay but he wasn't there now, and there wasn't enough in Keith's opinion.

So no, Keith had never given serious thought to whether he would be a good father to someone one day. When the subject had been brought up a couple of times amongst his friends, Keith had only shrugged said he wasn't the father type and moved on. The only person he had given even the slightest amount of thought with had been with Lance when Keith had confessed he would be terrible at it. And when Lance had pressed him, Keith had told him that it was alot to consider, and that he didn't want to be someone's disappointment the way his family had been to him. So that had been the end of that.

All of the reservations that Keith had held at some point in his life to becoming a father were discarded the moment the door opened again and Haxus returned with a tiny bundle in his arms. Keith vaguely registered shoving the chair out of his way and closing the gap between himself and the murmuring child.

"May I?" The words were past Keith's lips without so much of a thought as he held his arms out expectantly. Now, Keith had absolutely no practice in holding a baby, but he had once seen Lance's cousin Ana Luisa hold her newborn in a cradle position so that was a start.

Haxus looked at Keith's outstretched arms for a moment, but he didn't ask Keith how much experience he had with children, and instead handed over the squirming child.

Haxus' hands lingered for a moment longer than Keith would have normally appreciated, but as it was Keith was too caught up in the warmth that overtook him suddenly. The sensation began somewhere deep and long forgotten inside of him, filling Keith up in a matter of seconds as he looked into eyes of the little girl swaddled in his arms.

Her eyes were like his. Keith noticed with a start, unsure of why he thought they would be any other color. True, they weren't exactly the same shade as his own, where Keith's eyes were a deep violet, hers were more like looking up at a starry night. The color was stuck in a perpetual transition between sunset violet and the beginnings of a starry night, right before night took over the sky. And to add onto the illusion, there were a few specs of gray caught within the iris, contrasting with the violet flare that rimmed the pupil.

Her hair too, was similar to Keith's. It was as dark as it came and though thicker than his, there was no mistaking the slight curling wave that it had, just like his own. The more Keith took her in, the more similarities he could pick out between her and himself; and then, she broke into a smile, an odd squealing sound coming from her as she then began to babble something animatedly.

The soft blanket that was draped around her and over Keith's arms was apparently loose enough that she was able to sneak her arms out and before Keith knew it, small pudgy hands were gently grabbing at his face. Keith was amazed at just how small the hands were, and the warmth underneath the too soft skin, it was a texture that Keith had never felt before–and Lance moisturized religiously.

The corners of Keith's lips quirked up without his consent, though he couldn't find it in himself to care too much, if at all.

"Hey there cutie." Keith cooed–unknowing until that moment that he was, in fact, capable of cooing–and the baby smiled even wider. It wasn't until her hands pulled away from him and returned to her with the telltale shine of tears that Keith noticed he was crying.

Keith's mind was unable to grasp why exactly he was being filled with such an overwhelming amount of emotions, it just didn't make sense. He should be distressed, angry at the very least! But how could he when the little girl, his little girl was smiling up to him like that.

Keith's hold on her tightened slightly, he was curling his body in a protective manner over her before he even knew what he was doing. Keith was operating on the unquestionable instinct to protect her, while remaining ever mindful of his strength.

"Excuse me?" A tender voice shattered Keith's momentary peace and slammed him back into reality, where he quickly realized that he was surrounded by other people.

The owner of the voice didn't let him dwell too long on the subject, however, because he followed up his interruption with, "May I hold her too?"

Keith's initial thought was to deny this man the privilege to hold his child before his brain oh so helpfully reminded Keith that the little girl was also fathered—somehow—by the man asking to hold her. Keith fixed his eyes on the stranger before him, craning his neck in order to really see who he would be entrusting his baby to.

Keith was aware that Shirogane was as much her father as he was, just as he was sure that Dr. Ulaz had explained some of the details while Keith lost himself in his own mind. But honestly, Keith hadn't cared about the how's in that moment, he had been more concerned over the burning question of: what happens now?

But that was still to be discussed, Keith guessed.

At that moment Keith had a choice to make, and the guy in front of him was waiting for an answer. Keith had to blink his eyes for a few moments to force the tears out of his vision and let him get a better look at Shirogane. Keith surveyed him silently, the smile that Keith had gained while holding the child dissolved and thinned out into a hard line as he took in the other dad. His shoulders were broader than Keith had first thought, and not only that; the man wasn't just broad, he was huge in terms of body mass. Shirogane was built with muscles Greek gods would be jealous of, and on top of that he was even heavenly gifted in height, easily towering a head and a half over Keith.

But even from that angle, Keith was able to discern a single feature that made up his mind. Right above the healed pink scar that ran across the bridge of Shirogane's nose, there was a pair of pale eyes looking back at him.

Gray eyes. Keith's mind supplied.

And it was because of those eyes and nothing else, that Keith was able to entrust his daughter to him. Father or not, Keith didn't know him and that bit of information set him on edge. But with a nod of compliance, Keith relinquished his little bundle of joy into the awaiting arms of her other father.

So, Sirogane was the reason that she didn't have violet eyes like his.


Shiro wasn't sure what to expect when he looked at the man who was holding his daughter as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Shiro knew that he had to be feeling that same elation that lit up Kogane's face, but… Shiro was coming up completely empty.

Shiro was still seated in his chair as Kogane whispered to his child.

I should be there too. Shiro thought to himself dimly. And yet, he remained frozen and glued to the chair under him. What is wrong with me? Why was Shiro feeling nothing but a growing sense of detachment?

Shiro should be over the moon with unquestionable joy. He should be right there, along with this other stranger and taking some sort of exhilaration from seeing someone who was as much his kin as Ryou was. Shiro had a daughter, and she was real—Shiro had had his doubts, but there was no denying it now, she was as much his as she was Kogane's. So why was he not making a move to get to her too?

"Aniki?" A firm hand at his shoulder pulled Shiro out of his spiraling thoughts and back to the present where he blinked at a very concerned Ryou's.

"I'm fine." Shiro stated in a hurry, trying his best at a smile and failing by the look of the frown that was given for his efforts.

"Go see her," was all his brother said in return and Shiro nodded, somehow managing to make himself peel away from the chair and take a stand.

His movements were slow and lethargic to Shiro, but eventually he was standing beside the other man who held his daughter in such a tender and loving way that Shiro was actually considering a swift retreat. Shiro had to see this meeting through though, otherwise he would be nothing but a coward.

That startling revelation was enough to shock Shiro back to his senses. He blinked slowly as the all-encompassing fog in his mind began to ebb away. What would his dad say if he saw Shiro so unwilling to approach his own child? And his mother, would she be disappointed in him? Shiro could feel a rush of emotions now, though he was unsure of which one he had to focus on.

In the end, shame was the most prominent, his parents would be nothing but thrilled of the prospect of having a grandchild. And Shiro knew that he should be feeling that same emotion, hell even a tiny sliver of it, but happiness and joy were not in his current array of emotions. No matter how much Shiro wished that he was feeling some sort of mirth, he just… it wasn't there and that scared the hell out of Shiro. His emotions were running rampant in his heavily pounding heart as he was unable to figure out why he was filled with such an insane amount of trepidation.

At least now I'm feeling something. Shiro thought apathetically and pressed his lips together before trying to get the other man's attention.

"Excuse me?" Shiro instantly regretted speaking when Kogane spun to look at Shiro with such a fierce and intent look in his eyes that spoke volumes of it's warning despite the tears that welled in them.

I will protect her. They threatened to whatever unlucky soul who looked into them, and Shiro didn't dare think Kogane wouldn't act on the promise.

Shiro would have taken a step back too, that is if he was able to move his legs in that moment. But as he had long ago learned, life wasn't always so merciful. Besides Shiro had gotten this far, he didn't want to give in just yet. It didn't matter what fucked up feelings were plaguing him in that moment, Shiro told himself it didn't change the fact that he did want to hold his daughter. And, some part of him hoped, that perhaps holding her would finally make that last switch in his mind click and that wrongness that was settling inside his heart would be gone.

"May I hold her too?"

Shiro could feel just as he could see Kogane size him up, and for a moment Shiro was terrified that his simple request would once again be denied. He was starting to think that Kogane could see Shiro's lack of happiness over the situation and keep him from holding his daughter.

But after a torturously long pause, Kogane eased the little girl into his arms.

Tears gathered in Shiro's gaze as well as he looked down at the baby in his arms. She was perfect, his mind supplied as Shiro took her in. Her eyes weren't like his, or a nearly black like Ryou's. Instead, they were the early beginnings of the night sky with a mixture of violets and a blue so dark it was almost black. His daughter was a beautiful, with soft curls any Disney princess would be jealous of and skin so fair Shiro could see some of the tiny veins underneath. And yet, the sight of her didn't move him with any semblance of pride, much less warm him the way he thought he should be once seeing her.

The smile she had had while she was being held by Kogane began to disappear the moment Shiro's fallen tears were soaked up by the blanket. It only took a matter of seconds after that for the baby's lips to begin quivering and twisting unhappily before she opened her mouth to cry and Shiro's heart shrunk in on itself.

Had Shiro been paying attention to the rest of his surroundings, he would have noticed Kogane's hands twitch at his sides when she began to cry. But Shiro was was too focused on the fact that his own child recognized what he himself was denying to accept. The unconditional love that was supposed to bloom in his chest and pour into his very soul was missing.

Shiro was more floored now than never before, and the feeling of shame and guilt came at him with a renewed vengeance until he was unable to feel anything beyond those two emotions.

His daughter continued to cry in his arms, her small hands forming little fists while her legs kicked out in her discontent as if she was trying to get away. She probably is. Shiro thought in dismay and with a heavy heart returned her to Kogane's hands with a strained smile. "Looks like you win as the favorite dad."

There was concern in the man's eyes, but Shiro didn't look to far into it and instead watched as his daughter began to calm down the moment she was away from him.

It hurt Shiro in a way that he never thought he could hurt. Shiro had known many injuries in his short term at life, but none of those experiences could ever compare to the rejection he felt at that moment.


Keith had wanted nothing more than to take his daughter back the second that she started to cry out in the other's arms. And he probably would have if he didn't know that he was also her dad. She just needed to adjust to the new hands, he told himself, maybe the prosthetic was a little cold and that had startled her.

Even though it pained him to see his kid in obvious discontent, Keith knew that he shouldn't make a huge fuss over it, both parents were important. When he was given their child back though, Keith was surprised. However, the words along with the smile he was offered ignited the one emotion he hadn't thought would be presenting itself: anger.

Keith rocked the girl in his arms as his eyes burned into Shirogane's eyes. "There are no favorites."

Keith had kept his voice low for the sake of the baby in his arms, but there was no less ice in it as he briskly walked away from Shirogane and sat back in the chair he had occupied not even minutes ago.

"So, now what?" Keith wasted no time in asking the one question that had been in his mind since Dr. Ulaz had started the meeting.

Dr. Ulaz looked from Keith to Shirogane behind them and sighed. "What happens next, of course, depends on you both, Mr. Kogane, Mr. Shirogane. As I was saying before, out of the three children created by the indiscretion of one of our faculty members, your child was of special concern. She isn't ill or underdeveloped in any way, let me assure you. But, she is the only child who was made through samples of two males as opposed to the others."

Keith heard more than saw when Shirogane reclaimed his seat, it was hard for him to mask the heavy way he sat down in a room filled with silence in between Ulaz's pauses.

"The department was reluctant to let her go, as you can imagine." Ulaz continued and Keith held his daughter even more securely, his eyes narrowing dangerously on the doctor. Keith wasn't above making a run for it, yes the door would be tricky to get through and Haxus was tall and broad, but Keith had taken down guys bigger than him half intoxicated. The building was high, but he was sure he could clear three flights of stairs easily, the next twenty-seven would be a challenge, but Keith would be damned if he didn't at least try.

"However, because the project was understandably discontinued, and as a code of moral ethics, you both were contacted. What happens next depends on you, Mr. Kogane, Mr. Shirogane." Ulaz made sure to meet Keith's gaze, and presumably Shirogane's.

"There are two choices available to you. The first being the obvious: the child is registered as if she was brought to this world as any other children is, and adoption papers will be arranged. That being said, the second option will of course be foster care–"

"Why would that even be an option?" Keith was unable to hold himself back from interrupting any longer, "Don't say that like if she was some sort of kitten we just found on the street and were maybe deciding on bringing her home or not. She's a kid, a baby–" Keith cuts off as he looks down when he feels a small warm hand curling around his finger and his throat threatens to close again.

"She's my daughter, of course she's coming home. So start the paperwork already." Keith managed to say with a steadier voice than he should have, considering how emotional he was being at the moment. But quite frankly, he couldn't have it in himself to care, he just wanted to get his daughter away from the people who saw her as nothing more than a successful project, and home where he could start to figure out his next step.

Whether Dr. Ulaz was bothered by being interrupted by Keith or not, he didn't show it. Instead he nodded. "Very well, I will have the adoption papers drawn up for you, Mr. Kogane."

There was a pause and Keith began to feel the irritation again as the doctor pointedly looked away from Keith and to the man seated to his left, "And you, Mr. Shirogane, will you also want custody of the child?"


Alrighty! So I finally have a name for our little girl here ^^ expect that and Shiro's answer in the next chapter.

Also I forgot to mention... I know Lance's fanon hc for a last name is "McClain" but? why are we giving a known Cuban/Hispanic character a Scottish origin based surname? It just doesn't compute imo so yeah, Rivera family not McClain.

So like, any of you want to send a review this way and donate to the "Help keep Authors Motivated foundation"? Remember, with a few words of encouragement per chapter, you can contribute to an author's will to write. Favorites and Follows are cool, but c'mon, help a girl out?

Till next time!~