Game – Pokemon and Digimon
Characters: Keith, and the other crew members.
Summary: Keith remembers video games fondly as a way to escape, and yet struggles to bond over them.
Pairings: None
Theories: Keith and Shiro are siblings.
Warnings: Inspired by SpookyDJ's fic Don't Question Life's Gifts somewhat.
Holding the gaming console in his hands felt like freedom, a place to escape when he wasn't actively being yelled out at his foster parents who didn't care one iota about him. If they didn't leave him to his own devices forgetting he existed, they would chide him for some kind of embarrassment. The item arrived in the mail, a gift from Shiro, along with a few games.
The noise drowned out the arguing from downstairs, homework laying forgotten on the table as he pushed forward through the Kento region, his mind figuring out how to capture all of the Pokemon to become something more. Akira easily named himself Keith in the games and was able to become a different person. Then, when he and Shiro met on those rare occasions. The two would also discuss the Digimon series, a darker series story wise that seemed to fit what Keith felt in regards to his everyday life.
Having middle school syndrome and nearly being a social recluse though ended up not being a good thing, and left a sour taste in his mouth as his aunt and uncle, or whatever he was supposed to call them, as they were neither aunt and uncle, or parents biologically, but still tied to him via blood connections found out and chided him even more for being socially inept. The games became hidden, visits from Shiro became less as the older boy found the need to get on with his own schooling, forced to conform.
Then he was rescued, abandoned again, and now stuck on a ship with three others whom he had nothing in common with. He leaned back, looking up at the ceiling.
"What about Pokemon? What was your favorite Pokemon growing up?"
"I preferred Digimon." The words came out of Keith's mouth in answer to Hunk's question.
"You preferred what?" Lance shook his head. "Have you gone nutters Keith? Never mind. Probably some kind of knock off."
Keith's head darted up, his mouth pushing together. "It's not. There are just as many differences as there are similarities. The characters are far more relatable in the Digimon show than they are Pokemon."
A shiver ran down his spine as Lance stared at him. "Dude, you actually watched that crappy little kids show? I mean, I was seriously talking about the games, not that show my kid siblings watched."
The red paladin's teeth ground together. "How was I supposed to know that?"
"You could have been paying actual attention to the conversation."
Keith felt sick in the stomach, his cheeks heating up slightly. There was a small hope that his embarrassment wouldn't show through.
"Lance..." Hunk let out a sigh.
"What?"
"That was rather mean." Pidge pushed up her glasses. "What's your favorite Pokemon Keith?"
"I..."
"Man, if you can't think of one, don't but in, particularly with your whole Digimon is better."
"Digimon is better. I'm actually thinking, though." Keith stood up. "Never mind. I doubt you really care."
"I care." Shiro's voice piped up. "Wasn't your favorite Pokemon during first generation Charmander and it's evolved forms, and Umbreon second generation?"
The red paladin's eyes darted to the ground before sitting back down now that Shiro was there. The others began to chatter and debate about the Pokemon games with Shiro, while Lance gave Keith a particular look before chiming in. For some reason, the distance seemed to grow. After a few minutes, Shiro piped up again. "You guys notice you've been kind of leaving Keith out of things, right?"
Lance took a deep breath. "He doesn't exactly like the same things as we do. I mean, a lot of the shows we know, he doesn't know."
"Yet you guys found something he does know about, and yet didn't use that opportunity." Shiro stood up. "I'm going to go and get something to eat. Coming Keith?"
The red paladin stood up, not saying a word, or looking the others in the eye. When they were out of earshot, he spoke up. "I wish you hadn't done that."
"Why? It's my job."
"Back on earth, your job may be my older brother, but here you're my commanding officer. Plus..." Keith muttered under his breath. "I've got to fight my own battles. I brought that one on myself."
The black paladin turned, his mouth twisting in careful thought. "Fighting your own battles means not running from them, Keith. I can trust you when it comes to actual combat, but you're still running from social situations which make you uncomfortable."
The red paladin looked up, wanting to protest.
"Plus, I think as a team some of this is on them. You're honestly doing the best you can, and I can't ask more of you. I can though ask more of them."
Keith opened his mouth, only to look at the ground. "You don't get it. That situation was..."
Shiro sighed. "Still struggling to describe your emotions buddy?"
"Things are fine the way they are." Keith walked off knowing full well they weren't. He spent time in the training facility before retreating to his room. The door opened, and he looked up expecting Shiro to have come and chided him about missing a meal.
"So, what's this Digimon thing?" Lance held a plate of food in one hand before flopping onto the ground and shoving it at Keith. The red paladin set it aside and found himself speaking with Lance far more than he usually did, though he had to wonder if Lance was even listening, Keith honestly didn't care - it was a bonding moment.
