Characters: Shiro, Keith, Ryo (from the original GoLions), Lance, Allura, Pidge, Mr. & Mrs. Holt, Hunk, Matt, Kaliban
Summary: They get Shiro back, and hold a barbeque family get-together after being gone for so long
Pairing: Keith/Allura, a Shiro/Keith misunderstanding on a few people's parts, and Pidge crushing on Shiro.
Theories: Shiro and Keith are biological siblings. Keith's unaware, but Shiro isn't. Ryo is also Keith's twin, though he doesn't know that either. Also working with the theory that Alteans and Galra are the same species.
Warnings: None
Notes: The original plan for this chapter was different, but the "idea" started to become far more complex as I worked on writing the piece, and at one point I had writer's block as the piece wasn't progressing from one point to the next like I wanted. Then the second season complicated things even more. So, I'm going with this one instead.
10. Hotdog – Family Reunion
"Can we talk?"
Keith took a deep breath at the sound of Shiro's voice, his thin body leaning over the cookie recipe he'd managed to pull up. "I know everyone else is going to be bringing something tomorrow with their families, but…"
The red paladin watched as the black paladin's mechanical hand reached out, pulling the cookbook away. "Not about that."
A sigh escaped Keith's lips, and his head lifted up to look Shiro in the eye, only for the older teen to look away. The red paladin felt his entire body tense up, not liking the fact he couldn't read Shiro at all. Normally, he found himself comfortable around the older teen, and yet the way the black paladin acted reminded him of how Allura acted towards him.
"It's supposed to be a potluck. I know that it's going to be just ourselves, but even Coran threatened to bring a paladin lunch to the thing." Keith looked down. "Well, this is kind of awkward."
Shiro began to tap his fingers against the counter. "What are your plans after this?"
The red paladin froze. His thoughts flickered to Allura, and how close they came to be since the black paladin disappeared. His head tilted to the side, wondering what Shiro would think of how close they'd come. He remembered the black paladin telling him one of the reasons he never dated was because dating someone on one's crew wasn't a good idea. "Shiro, you know you're like a brother to me, but…"
"Like…" The black paladin's voice strained, the bitterness becoming evident.
Keith's head darted up, the tone scaring him. He knew the older teen was upset with him, yet he couldn't figure out what he'd done this time. He began to gather up the supplies he'd purchased into a bag. "I think I'll ask Hunk for help. I know he's busy cooking back on the Castle of Lions for tomorrow as he's excited about seeing his family, but I think he'll help me."
"Wait…"
Keith reached for the cookbook to slip it into the bag. "I'll return your cookbook tomorrow."
Shiro's hand pressed down on the book. "I want you to stay."
"Shiro…" Keith took a deep breath. "You say you want me to stay, and yet ever since you got back, you've been, I don't know. It doesn't seem like you want anything to do with me anymore."
"That's not true."
~V~
Yet there was some truth to what Keith said.
The issue lay in the fact Shiro did want to avoid something, and yet it wasn't the red paladin. No, he wanted to avoid the truth, a truth which kept eating away at him. The problem lay in the fact the truth involved Keith, and yet Shiro couldn't find himself able to tell the red paladin. He'd held it in the entire time before the Kerberos mission. Then, Keith became distant when they met again, and there was little time to connect. The fact the young teen found out he was part Galra made things harder, as the red paladin found what he'd always been looking for, and Shiro found himself the one now lost, hurtling through space.
It was why he disappeared, feeling like he'd lost something important, or would, should he tell Keith what he knew.
And yet, now the truth was keeping them apart, so it was time. "Can we talk?"
Shiro had somehow managed to ask Keith if he would like to stay at his place for a bit like he'd done for some time before the Kerberos mission. They'd always been together, and yet it wasn't quite the same way for Keith. They seemed to live in two different realities which kept hurtling further and further apart. The way Keith acted was very similar to the way the boy acted when he first stepped into Shiro's home, amazed someone as young as Shiro had his own place.
"I know everyone else is going to be bringing something tomorrow with their families, but…"
"Family. He's probably thinking of the fact everyone else will have their family there, including even me. Even Allura has Coran, those two being the last Alteans. Koliban is Galra, but he's not family, nor does he and Slav care that their families aren't going to be there. If only he'd understand…" Shiro felt numb. "Not about that."
"It's supposed to be a potluck. I know that it's going to be just ourselves, but even Coran threatened to bring a paladin lunch to the thing."
"He's trying to avoid the subject, yet I know he can't know what I'm wanting to talk about."
"Well, this is kind of awkward."
"Alright. So he's picked up on that fact. That makes things harder. I need to ask him" Shiro proceeded to tap his fingers against the counter in frustration. "What are your plans after this?" Shiro watched Keith look up. The black paladin knew full well the red paladin commented about finding his family after defeating Zarkon, yet looking for Shiro put those plans on hold. "I'm right here in front of you Keith, yet you can't see it."
"Shiro, you know you're like a brother to me, but…"
"Like…" The word stung. "I am your brother. Why can't you see that? Why can't you see what's been here, right in front of you this whole time?"
Keith picked up on the fact Shiro was upset and looked up. He started packing things up, planning on leaving, the thing Shiro wanted the least. It was the reason he disappeared, the fear of losing Keith from his life. "I think I'll ask Hunk for help. I know he's busy cooking back on the Castle of Lions for tomorrow as he's excited about seeing his family, but I think he'll help me."
"Wait…" Shiro felt his mind scream. "Don't go. Don't go like they did."
"I'll return your cookbook tomorrow."
"I want you to stay." He felt his fingers reach out to touch the book, trying to prevent Keith from leaving his life sooner than he was already going to.
Someone who normally didn't look him in the eye now did, and the pain became all too evident. "Shiro… you say you want me to stay, and yet ever since you got back, you've been, I don't know. It doesn't seem like you want anything to do with me anymore."
"That's not true."
"If it weren't true, then why when I said you were like a brother, you treated that idea with such disdain." Keith pulled the book away. "You don't think of me as a brother. Is it because I'm part Galra, that you stopped? Or has it always been that way? I think this started when it turned out I was part Galra, but you were hiding it. You just hid it far better than Allura did."
Shiro took a deep breath. "You're right. I don't think of you as a brother." He watched Keith's eyes flash with anger and watched Keith start to the front door. Shiro quickly stepped between. "Keith, stop."
"No. What you just said hurt. I know I opened the conversation to go this way…"
The black paladin reached out, grabbing Keith's shoulder. "And it hurts me when you say I'm just like a brother to you."
"Wait…" Keith's eyes widened. "I do not reciprocate."
"Reciprocate…"
~V~
Things started changing when Shiro found out he was part Galra. It hurt the black paladin deeply, even though he attempted to hide this fact. The words came out of Keith's mouth, letting Shiro know how much this hurt, and yet Shiro did something which hurt even more. "You're right. I don't think of you as a brother."
"I knew it. I don't know why things had to change. No, I do. I had to go looking for something, and this is the price I pay. I mean, I had to know for sure or thought I did. And I thought Shiro accepted me, at least until he got back. But…" He wanted to leave.
"Keith, stop."
"No. What you just said hurt. I know I opened up the conversation to go this way…"
Shiro gently touched his shoulders to stop him. "And it hurts me when you say I'm just like a brother to you."
A wave of emotion washed over Keith. "He's interested ins something more from me? An actual romantic relationship? But, I don't think of him that way. I like Allura. This…" The teen took a deep breath. "Wait… I do not reciprocate."
"Reciprocate…" A look of irritation appeared on Shiro's face, and suddenly the black paladin started to pull on his cheeks. "Keith! While I find your misunderstandings of things adorable, that's not what I meant!" Letting out a sigh, the older teen poked Keith in the forehead. "You are my adorable little brother. There is no like about it." Keith rubbed his forehead, letting the words sink in. Shiro brushed by as he stood there. "If you can understand that part, could we try making whatever recipe you picked out, because we are family, and that's what families do?"
"Um, sure." Keith walked over, still feeling a bit awkward due to the brief misunderstanding. He titled his head, noting that Shiro's answer did somewhat explain things, but something was missing. They headed back to the kitchen area, and soon they had a major mess going on. The black paladin was laughing, and Keith found himself becoming more comfortable.
That was until…
"So, are you excited about becoming a year older tomorrow?"
The red paladin froze. "Shiro, please tell me you didn't tell me that tomorrow's my birthday?" He watched the black paladin look up. Keith took a deep breath. "Remember? I don't know my actual birthday? Tomorrow's Ryo's birthday. You know. You're real brother."
"Real brother."
The young paladin took a deep breath. "Shiro, I know you've been having memory issues, and I know you prefer me over your real brother, particularly since we do look alike."
"Pidge found the date in your garrison records," Shiro muttered, his facial features losing color.
"Shiro, did you let the Shirogane family know about tomorrow?"
"No. I didn't."
"Shiro!" Keith felt his entire body tense up. "They're your family!"
"They treat you like shit!"
"Justified. Particularly with Ryo. I'm the weird kid you found who claimed their mother was an alien, and that she came to pick up their father, remember? They flipped when I showed up to your funeral, they're going to flip when they find out you didn't let them know you're back."
"Keith, you're my family."
The red paladin took a deep sigh, before walking over to Shiro and hugging the black paladin. "Shiro, I love you like a brother, but I can't let you do this to yourself. I can't let you give up the thing I've looked for all my life." Keith pulled away, despite how painful it was. "I'll see you tomorrow at the picnic, okay."
"Yeah."
~V~
The fact they were celebrating Keith's birthday tomorrow was supposed to be a surprise. Shiro, however, felt so proud of how far he had come, that the words slipped from his mouth. He'd planned on telling Keith the truth before tomorrow so that the surprise wouldn't be so painful. There was a reason Ryo and Keith shared the same birthday.
"He's not my brother Takashi."
"Come on Ryo. He's not just your brother. He's your twin. And he's older than you by what? Five minutes?"
"Takashi, that twerp thinks his mother was an alien, and that his father was abducted by aliens. We aren't related."
"Come on. Give him a chance."
"Chance? The best thing that man ever did was keeping us separate, but he had to do and die, forcing Akira into our lives. I mean, he really thinks his name is Keith Kogane. He's an idiot, and completely socially inept. I want nothing to do with him. I mean, he's had this stupid story of aliens since he was six, and now he's like what? Fourteen? And you're still feeding that delusion of his? He's sick, and you're making things worse."
"Ryo!"
The door to the house clicked shut as Shiro looked at the cookies which needed to be packed up for tomorrow. He didn't feel like doing so and yet knew Keith would likely be going off to look for their parents after tomorrow, as there was nothing holding him back. Keith would also insist Shiro stay behind, as this had nothing, in the red paladin's opinion, to do with the black paladin.
~V~
Keith arrived back on the ship, watching Lance sit with his feet up while listening to some music on the headphones he'd stolen from Pidge. He tried sneaking by, only for the blue paladin to pull his headphones off. "So, you decided to bail on Shiro's place for a late night make out session with Allura."
"Are you still pissed about that?"
"Dude. I'm always going to be miffed that Allura picked you over me. I'm also going to be pissed that you're also still so clueless about this relationship thing."
"Ah."
"So, make out session?"
"Could you possibly not tell her I'm here?"
"Oh, let me guess? You told your former boyfriend that you're now dating her, but you've also now got to tell her that while you didn't lie to her about her being the first girl you dated…"
"Lance! Quiznack! He's like a brother, okay."
"Then why are you back?" Lance reached for his bag of chips, lazily putting one in his mouth.
"I found out that Shiro didn't invite anyone from his family."
The blue paladin sat up. "What? Maybe that's because tomorrow's your…" Lance placed a hand over his mouth. "I mean, maybe he just didn't want you to fill bad about your family not being there?"
Keith took a deep breath. "I'm aware of the fact you guys think my birthday is tomorrow when it's not."
"If it's not…"
"I don't know. To enter the garrison, one needs a birthdate, so I guess Shiro put his brother's birthday on my application as we're around the same age."
"Wait… so we're…"
"Don't worry. I'm fixing things. Or trying to. I'm going to contact Ryo."
"Yeah, but him getting here by tomorrow?"
"The Shirogane family has connections." Keith slipped from the room to the communications area. He pulled out a piece of paper he'd kept for some time. Why he kept it before Shiro got back, he honestly didn't know beyond the fact it was one last connection to the person who was like a brother to him, even if he didn't ever get along with Ryo. Then, it became a means to contact Shiro's family once they got back to Earth, in case something happened.
"What's this for?"
"I want nothing to do with you until you come back down to Earth. This is my contact info for when that happens.
"Even if I were to come back down to Earth as you say, what makes you think I'd want anything to do with you? Why would you want anything to do with me?"
"That's what scares me the most. That you don't know."
Keith frowned, still unsure of what Ryo meant by that. He cringed, thinking that Ryo meant some kind of romantic connotations. "I guess a crush that believes in aliens when there's no proof of them is embarrassing but gross. I don't swing that way. I swing Allura's way. I guess that's how you would put it."
Taking a deep breath, he proceeded to make connections with Earth's phone network the way Pidge showed him, only to become frustrated. Hunk's voice pulled him away. "I thought you were at Shiro's. Lance was, like, so jealous. Getting Allura, and then getting to stay the night at Shiro's place, when, he's like, Lance's hero."
"Oh." Keith took a deep breath, holding out the phone number. "I found out Shiro didn't tell his family about tomorrow. I'm trying to rectify that, but I can't figure this out."
Hunk set down his batch of food. "So, I'll help you, but…"
"But what?"
"Is this what Shiro would want?
Keith looked down. "It may not be what he wants, but it's what he needs."
"Are you sure you should be deciding that?"
"Yeah, but is it fair for Shiro to decide and not let his family have any say in the matter."
"Oh. This is like your logic when you rescued the Galra. That's so like you. That's not a bad thing, by the way."
"So…"
Hunk took the number and started fiddling with the monitor. "Seems like you can do a video call."
"I'd rather…" Keith took a deep breath as the sound of dialing was heard, and he swallowed. "This is a strange number, so wouldn't he just…"
The video screen popped on just as Hunk left with his plate of treats, and Keith found himself taking a deep breath. A shudder ran down his spine. It felt like he was looking in a mirror. The person on the other end had a curious look on their face as if they were wondering who could be calling them. One of his eyebrows shot up. "Akira?"
"Ryo. I told you my name is Keith."
"Akira…"
Keith's eyes closed, recognizing the sound of irritation in Ryo's voice. "Look. I know you never wanted to see me again."
"I never said that."
"It was certainly implied."
"What do you want?"
"Shiro didn't contact anyone from the Shirogane family to let them know he was back on Earth."
"Akira!"
"Let me finish. We're having a barbecue with our families tomorrow, our crew, so you should be there." The red paladin gave the location, keeping his words quick so Ryo couldn't interrupt.
"Let me guess? For Shiro?" Ryo's voice strained. "Can you please stop with this delusion of yours?" Keith clamped his mouth shut, letting the other person stare at him. "You aren't going to argue back?"
"No. I'm not."
"Does this mean, if I were to bring you actual evidence tomorrow that your delusion isn't real, you'll give up and return to normal society?"
Keith's eyes blinked, and then he took a deep breath. "Proof? This is about Shiro."
"No, Akira. This is about you. I'm really serious about bringing you home."
"I am home."
"No, you're not. Consider what I asked of you. I'll see you tomorrow. Bring whoever else you want."
The video clicked off, and Keith reached up to rub the bridge of his nose. He turned to see Hunk staring at him. "Pastry?"
"Aren't those for tomorrow?" The red paladin titled his head, noting how sheepish Hunk looked. "How long were you listening?"
"I'm trying to get someone to taste test for me." The yellow paladin frowned. "Keith. That guy looks like you."
The red paladin took one of the treats and bit down on it. "These are pretty good Hunk. They'll probably be a hit tomorrow, so if you can, you might want to make some more. If I remember Lance's memory from the bonding exercise, he has a very large family."
"Keith… aren't you avoiding the main issue here."
"What would that be?" Keith watched Hunk point on the screen. "If you're talking about the proof Ryo's talking about, I've already got proof that my mother's an alien."
"You say Alien, instead of Galra."
"Don't worry about it."
"Yeah, but Shiro's going to flip."
"This is for his own good."
"Keith, when people usually say that, it tends to backfire."
~V~
Allura stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the sunhat, a smile flitting across her face. Pidge lay on the bed, upside down. "Somebody wants to look pretty for their boyfriend."
The princess started to panic, spinning around. "We're not dating!"
"Allura, do you want me to pull up images from the security system of you and Keith making out?"
"What do you mean she and Keith have been making out?" The two female's turned to see Matt, who'd stopped on his way past. "Does Shiro know?"
"I don't see how that's any of Shiro's business." Allura glared at Matt.
"Because Shiro's the leader of Voltron?" Pidge piped up.
"Yes, well, he wasn't when the relationship started."
"You guys seriously don't know?" Matt stepped into the room. "And yeah, Shiro is going to completely flip. And not because of some military regulation where you don't fraternize with other crew members romantically." The young man's eyes narrowed. "Actually, does this mean Shiro's not told Keith yet?"
Allura and Pidge looked at each other before the princess looked up. "Told Keith what?"
Matt's mouth formed a circle. "Oh… my… gosh. He still hasn't managed to say anything."
"Matt!" Pidge sat up. "What's the big deal?"
"Big deal…" Matt shook his head. "I think I should talk to dad about this first."
Pidge's brother disappeared, and the two girls looked at each other, leaving the room to head out to the kitchen where the Holt parents were. Matt slipped into the room, tugging on his dad's sleeve. Samuel blinked a couple of times. "What…"
The phone rang, and Samuel Holt picked up the phone. "Hello?"
The green paladin watched the look of horror appear on her father's face. Her mother spoke. "Who is it?"
"The head of the Shirogane family."
"You aren't going to tell them about the picnic tomorrow. Neither one is going to want to see anyone from that family."
Samuel Holt held up his finger, listening carefully. He took a deep breath. "Well, the event is a potluck. We're, my family is providing the meat to barbecue, and I'll be doing the barbecue." Pidge watched the look of horror on her mother's face, but also how her mother sat down. "Yes. We are celebrating Keith's birthday. I'm sorry for not letting you know, but we didn't have permission from either one to say anything, and you know that I respect them on that matter. I wouldn't have the trust of either one, otherwise. And yes. I'll see you tomorrow."
The phone clicked off, and Coleen spoke up. "Did Iverson tell them? That the boys are back? After everything that family has done."
"Mom, what's going on."
Coleen shook her head. "I'm sorry Katie, but this is a private matter. Shiro swore us to confidentiality."
"Yes, but it is going to be a problem tomorrow." Matt sat down. "I mean if anyone from the Shirogane family shows up."
Allura sat down. "I'm not understanding. Isn't this Shiro's family?"
Samual Holt took a deep breath. "It's also Keith's family, although Keith's not aware of it." The man leaned up against the counter, his knuckles turning white. "And no. It wasn't Iverson."
"Then who?" Coleen looked up. "I know for a fact that Shiro wouldn't contact his family, not when almost every single family member treated Keith as if he were some stranger."
"That's the irony here. It was Keith who reached out to them. Specifically, he reached out to Ryo specifically."
Allura's fingers tightened around the hat as she removed it from her head. "Does this have anything to do with the fact Keith's part alien?"
"Yeah, it does. Keith has raised away from Shiro and Ryo until their father disappeared. He was the only witness, and insisted that his mother came to take their father away."
"He also insisted Shiro was alive when the Kerberos mission was a failure." Colleen looked down as Matt's mouth ground together.
"Ryo's going to be there tomorrow?"
"Whose Ryo?" Allura asked.
"Oh, you'll figure out when you see him tomorrow. It's hard not to tell." Samuel took a deep breath.
"Why didn't you ask the head not to let him come?" Matt spun around. "Commander Shirogane does listen to you, you know! He's also fully aware of the fact Ryo's a loose canon! He doesn't exactly hide the fact he hates Keith either. The family embarrassment he says! And someone's got to tell Shiro!"
Samuel Holt let out a sigh, dialing a number. He stayed on for a bit, before hanging up. "I'm not able to get ahold of Shiro. He's been agitated since our capture, so maybe he went for a walk. I'll try again later."
However, Samuel Holt would not be able to get in touch with Shiro that night.
~V~
Keith knocked on the door to Shiro's place early in the morning. The door opened, and he tilted his head. "You didn't sleep?"
"You acted like a brat last night."
The red paladin took a deep breath, before stepping into the house. "I'll start the coffee, so you'll be less grumpy."
"Happy birthday."
"Shiro, it's not…"
"You're my brother."
"Ryo wouldn't like hearing you say that."
"Screw what Ryo wants! He's your twin, so he's the worst of them!"
Keith froze, turning to look at Shiro. "What?" His voice began to tremble. "Have you officially lost it?"
Shiro said nothing but instead started picking up the box of cookies. "We should be going."
"I need to let you know…" The doorbell rang, making Keith's blood freeze. His hands began to shake. "He's here."
"What do you mean, he's here?"
"I mean…" Keith took a deep breath, coming up with the best lie he could. "Ryo's at the garrison right now."
"And…"
"Are you sure you don't want to invite him? He is your brother."
"That little piece of shit isn't my brother Keith. If I see him, I will personally kill him. I don't care about the blood ties."
"No!" Keith felt his throat tighten. "You should be worrying about getting ready! You're a mess, so you need to freshen up, while I start the coffee. Okay! Don't think about Ryo. I'm sorry I brought him up!"
Shiro gave him a look but headed into the bathroom to shower. This was just in time, as the front door opened. Keith started up the coffee pot, waiting for the person to come in, keeping his back to the person. His hands shook, meaning he couldn't pour any coffee. Keith's entire body tensed up when he felt someone hug him from behind, resting their head against the middle of their back. "Ryo?"
"It's me."
"What are you doing!" Keith's entire voice tightened up, his head tilting. "I can't reciprocate your feelings."
The red paladin felt Ryo pull away, cursing as he did so, allowing Keith to turn around. "You moron! Why is it…"
One of Keith's hands reached out to cover Ryo's mouth, while his other hand pushed him roughly against the fridge. "Shut up! You're lucky Shiro's taking a shower, as he said just a few minutes he'd kill you if he saw you."
Ryo's eyes flashed with anger, before pulling Keith's away. "So, I don't know what's worse. The fact you still think Takashi's alive, or that you've taken some strange, incestual interest in me. No. That one's worse."
"Incestual. I've got a girlfriend." Keith's eyes twitch. "You need to leave."
"You have a girlfriend? Yeah right." Ryo shook his head, reaching into his bag. "You also invited me, remember?"
"When I thought it was a good idea." Keith folded his arms. "And yes, I do have a girlfriend, though Shiro doesn't know."
"Yeah, because he's dead. Though he'd flip if that were true, and he'd know. He was always over protective of you, and never oblivious. You could never pull one over on him."
"Yeah, well I just did."
"Akira…"
"Wait, did you use the word incestual."
"Took you long enough."
"What happened to you telling me we weren't related because my mother's an alien, and my father followed her into outer space?"
"Our mother isn't an alien! Can you stop being mental for once!" Ryo took a deep breath, pulling something out of his bag. "Look. Proof."
"What do you mean proof?"
"Family photos."
"And?"
"There are pictures of mom and dad in here." Ryo sighed, stepping over to the counter, opening up the book. "Proof that mom's not an alien. Will you look at them?"
"No."
The other teen turned, folding his arms. "No?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because Takashi told me one day I'd regret pushing you away like I did, and he was right. I was way too focused on how much of an embarrassment you were to see how important you were. You are my twin brother, and I shouldn't have done that to you. And to be honest, I think the person I've really been mad at this whole time is dad."
"What are you talking about?"
"He took you away. He took my twin away. Then, he filled your head with this deluded nonsense of his."
"I'm not deluded."
"Oh, so you're going to tell me that you have proof?"
"Actually, I do."
"Akira… it hurts me to see yourself when you do this to yourself."
Keith reached behind him. "Do you know my mom left me something?"
"No, I didn't. How do you know she left it for you."
"If I remember correctly, my father gave it to me before he left with mom. He said it was something she wanted me to have."
"Yeah. Mom left you something and not the rest of us. Why…"
"Do you want to see?"
"No."
"Then I won't look at your proof, and Shiro can kill you when he gets out of the shower."
"Fine."
Keith pulled out the blade, watching Ryo's expression as it changed shape.
"What is that?"
"The blade mom left me."
"And this is proof because?"
"It only activates if someone has Galra blood in them. Or as I've discussed with Kaliban and Allura, possibly also Altean blood. Whether that's because they're the same species, or once allied. I don't know."
"Allied?"
"The Galra attempted to completely annihilate the Altean people ten-thousand years ago, but Allura and Coran escaped."
"So, now you'll see my proof."
Keith's hands clenched. "I've waited years to find out who I am, and you're still denying it when I have actual proof."
The red paladin put the blade away as Ryo pushed the book over. Keith opened the book up, taking a deep breath upon seeing his father in the pictures. Some were pictures of Shiro. A woman was with Shiro as well, a woman he didn't recognize. "So… I see that we have the same father. This doesn't prove we…"
Ryo reached out to turn the page. "Here's a picture of us with mom, and another with Shiro holding us after we were born."
Keith's eyes blinked a couple of times. "Shiro knew about this?"
"Yes."
"Why…"
"He said he'd rather align himself with your reality rather than be rejected by you."
"Yes, but…" Keith's eyes narrowed. He leaned in, slowly turning the pages. "Hold on…"
"Akira, I didn't doctor the pictures. Your name isn't Keith Kagone like dad told you, but Akira Shirogane."
"No. It's not that. How come mom's ears aren't visible."
"They're visible." Ryo pointed to the ear lobe."
"Not the tips. Is there any pictures of her actual ears."
"Akira, that's just creepy. Why do you have some fetish with mom's ears?"
"That…" The door to the bathroom opened, and Keith's head darted up to see Shiro stepping out.
"Is the coffee finished Keith? I really can use…" The black paladin stopped talking, his eyes widening.
"Takashi-nii."
"Ryo! Get the hell out of my house! I don't know how you found out Keith and I were here…"
"I told him." Keith looked down at the counter. "Why didn't you say anything? I mean, you found out I was part Galra…"
"Or Altean, whatever that is."
"Wait. Kaliban said you could only activate the blade if you were Galra. I assumed mother was a Galra-Altean hybrid."
"Because she was able to blend in here on Earth, except for her ears."
"Yeah…"
"Why? Why didn't you tell me you knew?"
"And why did mom leave Akira the blade?"
"Ryo!" Shiro's teeth ground together. "Does it matter why? Mom and dad loved all of us the same."
"Second-born inherits the mother's legacy? That's the samurai tradition when the mother has nobody left to inherit." Ryo continued. "Wouldn't that mean mother was Altean?"
"Shiro…"
The black paladin took a deep breath. "Do you know how your greatest fear during your trial with the blade was me rejecting you Keith?"
"So?"
"That's mine. You rejecting me. I planned on telling you after the Kerberos mission."
"Why? You didn't think you could handle it?"
"I went on that mission in hopes to find out information about mom. I just didn't know…" Shiro closed his eyes. "I didn't know how when you were keeping your distance, and then suddenly you found out who you were. You didn't need me anymore, so it felt pointless."
"Then the reason you disappeared from the black lion after defeating Zarkon wasn't just because you no longer had the purpose of defeating him. You thought I didn't need you anymore." Keith looked down at the counter. "No, it wasn't just that. I said you were like a brother, not that you are my brother. That didn't help."
"Keith, it isn't your fault."
"How could you ever think I would ever no longer need you!" Keith watched Shiro's eyes blink. "Allura and I had a really hard time adjusting while you were gone."
"I know. She hated finding out you were part Galra. Are you sure she didn't come up with this Altean theory to justify getting along with you?"
"No. She and I made up before I took the shuttlecraft to Zarkon's shift to do Thace's job."
Ryo looked back and forth. "You know, I'm rather lost here. Except, I'm guessing this alien girl is your girlfriend?"
Keith felt his face start to heat up, his mind noting the look of horror on Shiro's face. "It's not…"
"Not what I think? Keith, you're autistic and can't read social situations! I know Allura would never purposefully take advantage of you, but you also wouldn't know what an appropriate boundary for a relationship is! How do you know…"
"Because Allura and I have a psionic bond. It's a thing with both the Galra and Alteans, where they have a psionic connection with someone they've bonded with. It's why Allura flipped on me. She…" Keith took a deep breath. "It's complicated."
"Psionic… Takashi-nii…"
"That's why mother gave Keith the knife. I think, out of all three of us, he was the one who inherited that particular trait from our mother or at least enough to be noticed as a child. It's why you two always know when each other is nearby."
"I thought that was just a twin thing."
"I thought it was just because I hate his guts."
"Seriously!"
"Ryo, did you let anyone else in the family know we're here?"
"Grandfather knows."
"Wonderful…"
~V~
Lance noticed the major tension as the picnic started to get under way. There were a few people who were introduced as Shirogane clan members, namely someone who looked like they could be the grandparents of Shiro, and a couple of uncles. The grandfather struck up a rather candid conversation with Allura and Kaliban of which the Galra was far more comfortable. Keith and Shiro finally showed up with an extra in the toe.
His eyes blinked. "Wait… why are their two Keith's…"
The two Keith's ignored him, and instead hung back. Allura went over to one of the Keith's and drug him away, and Lance followed. "Allura, how do you know that's Keith. I mean, neither one of them are wearing Keith's trademark jacket, and for some reason Shiro's holding onto Keith's knife."
"How I know is none of your business."
Shiro walked over, and leaned in, handing Keith his blade. "Yeah, but it is mine. Break my little brother's heart Allura, and I'll never, ever forgive you."
"Wait…" Lance's eyes blinked a couple of times. "Keith and Shiro are brothers."
Hunk let out a sigh. "Man. You are really late to figuring things out. I'm thinking Keith also has a twin."
"That's Ryo."
"Wait. You're twins with the Ryo Shirogane. But, your last name is Kagone."
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"So, what is this."
"That?" Keith eyed the item Allura had chosen. "That's a hotdog."
"You cook dogs?"
"Um, no. It's just called that."
