WELL people wanted a reunion sooooooooooooooooooooo
I'm sorry if it's bad, I've had a very long day so idk how well it came out :/
You're my other half,
You're what makes me me.
What makes me smile,
When I fall down and can't get back, get back, get back up
On my feet.
—Beautiful Thing, Grace VanderWaal
When Sofia McClain was sixteen years old, her family got another call from the Garrison.
It had been a year since Lance had died, and her family wasn't taking it well. Mama stopped writing her books. Papa stopped working on cars ("Lance did this with me," he said, "it's too painful to do on my own."). Maria, even though she had only been seven at the time, began to act out in class. Benji, the eldest, and his family became distant. All of her siblings, including herself, had been seeing a therapist. Sofia was on antidepressants, and money was tight to pay for everything.
The crying spells had died down, but Sofia was still a wreck. She'd have nightmares of Lance dying, scared and alone, and wake up screaming. The Garrison had never officially told the McClain family how Lance had died, and it haunted Sofia. Was it quick? Was he in pain? She hoped he wasn't.
The McClain family had buried an empty casket, and it didn't feel right. Her family was falling apart, and there was nothing Sofia could do to stop it. All she could do was watch as the light left her mama's eyes, her papa retreat into himself, and her siblings try to pick up the pieces.
Sofia was on the couch, sketching. She heard the phone ring, and her mom pick it up. Glancing down, her stomach fell as she saw who she was sketching.
Lance.
Taking a deep breath, Sofia listened to her mama talking to whoever was on the phone. Her voice was shaky, and the sixteen year old frowned. What was going on?
A few minutes later, mama walked in, tears in her eyes and her lip wobbling.
"That was the Garrison." Sofia's heart stopped, "they called to tell us that they had information on how Lance…" she trailed off, and then took a deep breath.
"Well?" Sofia breathed, and her mama shook her head.
"They said they wanted us to be there in person. We're leaving tomorrow."
It had been difficult to get the family together, but they managed.
That was how Sofia found herself sitting on an airplane at six in the morning, focusing on her grumpiness to avoid panicking. There was a tremor to her hands that she couldn't hide, however, and mama took her hand and squeezed it. This was it.
They were going to find out how her big brother had died.
Everyone was silent during the flight, even Marco. He wasn't even four, but understood something serious was happening. Alessia held papa's hand and buried her face into his shoulder, trying to hide her tears. Papa's face was an impassive mask, which had been so unlike him a year ago.
The only perk of the flight was that the Garrison had paid for them, and so they had gotten first class. Sofia tried to eat a salad, but she couldn't stomach it. She was far too nervous. When the plane touched down, her family looked at each other solemnly.
It was time.
The silence in the car was suffocating. Sofia looked around at her family in the limo the Garrison just had to send, and saw the nerves on their faces as plain as day.
"…do you think it hurt?" Sofia whispered, and everyone turned to her. Mama took her hand again, giving her a watery smile.
"We'll find out soon, corazón." She sighed, and Sofia nodded.
It took hours to get to the Garrison's base, and Sofia was bored out of her mind. She tried to sleep, but her nerves got the best of her. From the looks of everyone else, they were impatient too. Marco started to complain about being bored, and that made Sofia smile. He was just like Lance when he was younger.
Looking out the window, Sofia lost herself in thought. Would she be able to handle this? Would any of them? She knew Lance like the back of her hand, she knew he'd want them to move on and be happy. He'd tell her to keep her chin up, because this isn't what he wanted for her.
Doesn't matter what he wants anymore, she thought bitterly, he's gone.
Sofia blinked rapidly. She had always been too emotional for her own good.
"Sofia?"
Sofia jumped, turning to her Papa. The car had stopped, and everyone was getting out.
"We're here."
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. and Mrs. McClain." A woman whose name Sofia forgot said politely. Mama nodded, her eyes cold, and Papa didn't even respond. It was no secret that the whole family had lost all respect for the Garrison the night they were told what had happened to Lance.
"If you'll follow me, there's someone that would like to see you." She said, leading them down a maze of hallways. Sofia could hear laughter from a room they were approaching, and she stilled.
"C'mere, shortie."
Shaking her head, Sofia composed herself. That was impossible. Her brother was dead, and they were here to find out why.
The door opened, and Sofia saw seven people standing there. Two of them with weird markings on their face, but that was where the similarities ended. One was an older man with orange hair and a mustache.
He looks like a reject Nigel Thornberry.
Snorting at herself, she turned to the young woman in the group. She had long white hair, and a pretty face. The pair were dressed quite…oddly, to say the least.
The other five people were in…armor? It seemed to be. They all had different colors, though. The one in black had a scar on his face and a patch of white hair (what the hell?), and seemed to be the oldest. The red one had a freaking mullet (again, what the hell?) and a small smile on his face. The green one was the smallest, but looked familiar…even though that was impossible. The yellow one…Sofia knew that bandana from the Skype calls with her brother. That was Hunk. That was Lance's best friend. The best friend that died with Lance.
"Hunk?" Sofia asked incredulously, and he turned suddenly. A wide smile broke his face, and before he could respond, a voice called out.
"C'mon Sofie, you talk to Hunk first?" Sofia froze.
No.
She turned to the left, and it felt like the air was punched out of her lungs. She took in the curly hair, the tan skin, and the blue eyes that were shining. He was in armor, like the others, but it was a soft blue. The eyes were different, they were haunted, but they were still his.
Lance.
Without thinking, Sofia launched herself at him. She landed a solid punch to his gut and he doubled over, cursing a blue streak.
"That's what you fucking get, you enormous ass," Sofia hissed, and she could feel tears streaking down her face, "we thought you were—were—" she broke off, and a sob escaped her lips.
When Lance looked up, Sofia saw guilt and remorse etched onto his face.
"I know," he said, "and I'm so sorr—"
Sofia flung herself into his arms, clinging to him like she was afraid he would disappear into a puff of smoke. She felt Lance's arms wrap around her immediately, and he buried his face in her hair. Sofia was wailing loudly, trying to speak, but couldn't get anything out, and—
"Lance?"
Lance stilled, turning towards his family. He was crying, but his smile was wide.
"I'm home, mama." He said, and the dam broke. The entire family rushed him, laughing and crying, and Lance was happier than he had been in a long time.
"Where—where the hell were you?" Benji asked suddenly, and Lance laughed loudly.
"You're gonna want to sit down for that one, bro."
Lance would go on to explain Voltron, and Zarkon, and how he and his friends saved the universe. His family would laugh, and they would cry, and laugh some more. Sofia, however, would stay tucked against Lance's side, wrapping an arm around his torso. Lance would tease her for it, but he was just as relieved as she was.
Her big brother was home, and the world was right again.
Thank you so much for reading!
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