[Keith laughs with a shrug of a shoulder.] Right, right.
[But well, he's making his way down the hallway now, towards the kitchen, gesturing for Hunk to follow.]
You've got a point about that. But... it'll be good, to see Earth again. For a while there, I didn't expect to ever want to go back.
[He'd been sure there was nothing for him on Earth. No family. No purpose. He assumed he'd keep with the Blades, because at least with them he'd be useful. But things had changed. Finding his mother and learning about who she was and why she'd left had somehow freed up something in him, lightened a burden that he'd never consciously been aware that he was carrying.
And rejoining up with Voltron, with the others... going back to Earth with them feels right.
But for now, he points at a chair.] Sit. How torn up are your feet? Were you injured in the battles back home? Because those will stick with you.
[Hunk does, indeed, follow along with Keith, blinking at his words. He reaches out toward his back, gently placing his palm between Keith's shoulders as he follows. It makes his heart ache a little to hear the words spoken aloud.
He shakes his head with a small laugh.]
Dude, I'm totally fine. Really. [He shakes out one foot idly.] Couple of scratches, bit of dirt, no big deal.
How 'bout you sit? [Keith has far more significant a woun of any kind than him.]
[He's not expecting the touch, but it has him smiling, looking over at Hunk gratefully. He's not good at putting to words how grateful he is to have the other paladin with him. But he definitely is.
But. A skeptical look.] You're sure?
[Really? But well, he looks down at himself.] I'm okay.
[Bruised, sure. The not-Shiro had beaten him up pretty thoroughly, and there hadn't been a break between that battle and the rest of everything that followed. But hey, if he's still on his feet he must be fine.
[Keith honestly doesn't know how these things work. But he is grateful that he and Hunk are on the same page. He stills when his hair is brushed back, as if the touch is startling in and of itself.
His eyes widen and he finds himself looking at Hunk before looking down abruptly. Don't mind him. He appreciates how gentle and careful Hunk is being though.]
...thanks for the help. [He mutters, full on avoiding eye contact for the moment.]
[Honestly, Hunk didn't even think about the gesture but Keith's reaction to it has him freezing. He too looks away, gaze wandering around the room like whoa look at that look at that wall.
That's some wall.]
No problem.
Anyway, guess in the end we were just "lucky" like that? To go at the same time? [air quotes]
[Keith agrees, looking over at Hunk and offering a little smile.] The thing is though, the way things work in the quantum abyss, Krolia and I kept getting thrown into visions of each other's timelines... so even if I was away, you guys were right there.
[A pause before he adds,] It's still not the same though.
[How does he even frame this? He's not good at these things. He crosses his arms over his chest, more defensive than he probably ought to be,] I guess what I mean is, I missed you.
[The defensiveness is still so very Keith. Despite years passing for him, some things stay the same, but the fact that he was away from them for so long makes Hunk's heart ache.
He shifts his chair closer to Keith's side so that he can lean their shoulders together gently.]
It may not have been, like, the same amount of time for me as it was for you but I missed you too. [That he can say without a doubt, adding with a small laugh:] Quiznak, I've missed you ever since you joined up with the Blade.
[Oh. See, that's nice though. Something in Keith eases a little, and he leans back into Hunk, taking the proximity as reassurance. It's... nice isn't strong enough a word. It's warm and comforting and...
Hmm.
He peeks over, clearly surprised by what Hunk has to say. That's not a thing that happens.]
You have?
[HUH. There's a little smile starting though.] Then... it's good we're back as a team now. Back home and here. ...right?
Some just admit it easier than others, is all. Hunk sighs theatrically and leans solidly against Keith. Yeah, touchiness is good and comforting as usual.]
Team Orange, all the way until we get back home. Then we'll be back to being Team Voltron.
[Oh wait an attack! No... no it's a half hug thing. ...a good thing. Yeah, this is okay. Keith is just going to turn towards Hunk a little, managing not to fall from his chair.
Total success.]
Nah. I think so too. It's... yeah, it's the best thing.
[Shh. It is. They've got each other's backs. It's great. And it's warm.]
[Whispers, though it's unclear if it's to himself or to Keith. Probably both of the above:] I'm going to totally tell everyone that I'm your favourite now.
[D...don't look at him that seriously, Hunk. And say something like that. Keith isn't one to fluster, but he's making an exception. Jeez. What the heck.]
...oh. I mean... I do. Like you. And I'm happy about it too.
[Keith needs reminders because he's an idiot in certain areas, Hunk. This being one of them.]
[Keith gets so weird about like... the most natural things. Or, well, natural for Hunk to say but he's well aware that Keith hasn't exactly been surrounded by super affectionate people his whole life either and he still has the flavour of what are feelings even after it's been a while for him.]
Sweet. Thanks, buddy.
[He's all bout that positive reinforcement, jostling Keith playfully.]
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[Hunk mock-scoffs at him, flapping his hand.]
Garrison work honestly doesn't sound that bad now that we've been through huge battles in space.
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[But well, he's making his way down the hallway now, towards the kitchen, gesturing for Hunk to follow.]
You've got a point about that. But... it'll be good, to see Earth again. For a while there, I didn't expect to ever want to go back.
[He'd been sure there was nothing for him on Earth. No family. No purpose. He assumed he'd keep with the Blades, because at least with them he'd be useful. But things had changed. Finding his mother and learning about who she was and why she'd left had somehow freed up something in him, lightened a burden that he'd never consciously been aware that he was carrying.
And rejoining up with Voltron, with the others... going back to Earth with them feels right.
But for now, he points at a chair.] Sit. How torn up are your feet? Were you injured in the battles back home? Because those will stick with you.
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He shakes his head with a small laugh.]
Dude, I'm totally fine. Really. [He shakes out one foot idly.] Couple of scratches, bit of dirt, no big deal.
How 'bout you sit? [Keith has far more significant a woun of any kind than him.]
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But. A skeptical look.] You're sure?
[Really? But well, he looks down at himself.] I'm okay.
[Bruised, sure. The not-Shiro had beaten him up pretty thoroughly, and there hadn't been a break between that battle and the rest of everything that followed. But hey, if he's still on his feet he must be fine.
...maybe he'll sit down. Cooperatively.]
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[He's beaming when Keith sits cooperatively, though. Yay.
He's going to get the first aid kit and something cool just to take the pain out of the mark on Keith's cheek. And in general. Hopefully.]
We'll get to rest up a lot tonight, huh?
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[Keith mutters because he's played this game before too. Not a fan. At all.
He watches Hunk grab up their first aid supplies, slumping back in his chair a bit.]
Yeah. We could both use it, too. It's weird that it happened at the same time, isn't it?
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[He's just gonna get started, moving a hand to push Keith's hair a little out of the way before he starts at that wound.
Very gently, gingerly, he pats medicine along it.]
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[Keith honestly doesn't know how these things work. But he is grateful that he and Hunk are on the same page. He stills when his hair is brushed back, as if the touch is startling in and of itself.
His eyes widen and he finds himself looking at Hunk before looking down abruptly. Don't mind him. He appreciates how gentle and careful Hunk is being though.]
...thanks for the help. [He mutters, full on avoiding eye contact for the moment.]
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That's some wall.]
No problem.
Anyway, guess in the end we were just "lucky" like that? To go at the same time? [air quotes]
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Honestly... I really think it is lucky.
[Air quotes or not.]
I guess I feel a little less crazy, knowing we both went through the same thing. Because... wow was a lot of it crazy.
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And, I mean. We haven't even really gotten a chance to all take a breath in-between absolutely everything going on.
[Like. Losing their home. Fighting stupid Lotor. Etcetera.]
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[Though. Well. He sits up a bit, looking at Hunk.]
We can now?
[He inclines his head towards an empty chair.]
Sit down. Let's breathe. And you know... catch up.
[That's a thing friends do, right?] I mean... I really haven't seen you for years.
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[Hearing him say that makes his knees feel weak. He fumbles for a chair and drags it closer to sit heavily in it.]
That's such a long time. I-- it wasn't years for me? I mean. Obviously.
[He gestures at himself helplessly, then looks at Keith as though pleading with him to explain more, help Hunk make sense of it.]
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[Keith agrees, looking over at Hunk and offering a little smile.] The thing is though, the way things work in the quantum abyss, Krolia and I kept getting thrown into visions of each other's timelines... so even if I was away, you guys were right there.
[A pause before he adds,] It's still not the same though.
[How does he even frame this? He's not good at these things. He crosses his arms over his chest, more defensive than he probably ought to be,] I guess what I mean is, I missed you.
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He shifts his chair closer to Keith's side so that he can lean their shoulders together gently.]
It may not have been, like, the same amount of time for me as it was for you but I missed you too. [That he can say without a doubt, adding with a small laugh:] Quiznak, I've missed you ever since you joined up with the Blade.
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Hmm.
He peeks over, clearly surprised by what Hunk has to say. That's not a thing that happens.]
You have?
[HUH. There's a little smile starting though.] Then... it's good we're back as a team now. Back home and here. ...right?
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[JEEZ KEITH THEY ALL DID.
Some just admit it easier than others, is all. Hunk sighs theatrically and leans solidly against Keith. Yeah, touchiness is good and comforting as usual.]
Team Orange, all the way until we get back home. Then we'll be back to being Team Voltron.
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But well, it's nice. Not to be. To be part of a team. Part of a family.
Heck, he even laughs.]
Team Orange. Yeah. I kinda like it.
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Kinda? Kinda, nothing. You super like it. It's the best thing, like after all of us together. Er. Actually, maybe that's conceited.
[He thinks about it, nose scrunching.]
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Total success.]
Nah. I think so too. It's... yeah, it's the best thing.
[Shh. It is. They've got each other's backs. It's great. And it's warm.]
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[Just.
You know. That's a thing.]
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Before ducking his head with a laugh.] They'll think you're nuts if you say it like it's a good thing.
[Most people, Keith assumes, figure his favorite anything has sharp edges and/or the potential to cause explosions.]
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[Hunk looks at him so solemnly. Super solemnly.]
It's an honour.
Besides, I like you, so I'm happy you like me. [He's pretty sure he's made that abundantly clear but it never hurts to remind Keith.]
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...oh. I mean... I do. Like you. And I'm happy about it too.
[Keith needs reminders because he's an idiot in certain areas, Hunk. This being one of them.]
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Sweet. Thanks, buddy.
[He's all bout that positive reinforcement, jostling Keith playfully.]
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