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[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?

'Course I have.

[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.

[THIS IS NEWS TO HIM. He's kind of used to being easily forgotten, THE LONER. Etc. etc.

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.

[Impulsively, Hunk swings his arm around Keith's shoulder, squeezing Keith warmly into his side (while trying not to pull him out of his chair).]

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.]

[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.

[Just.

You know. That's a thing.]

[Keith... blinks.

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.]

Dude.

[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.]

[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.]

[They're strange and new for him, Hunk. Some part of him remembers the security and affection of his early childhood with his father, but even that was tinged with a weight and a sadness with his mother's absence. And after his father died... alone is what he knew. He was the loner orphan emo kid. Until Shiro. Until the Paladins.

So this is a new level of... something. But he likes it. And he doesn't want it to stop.

A laugh at the jostling.] Thank you, too.

[He means it, okay?]

You're welcome.

[Hunk's gaze roves over his face, his expression softening considerably. He'll stop jostling him but he stays where he is, content to let a comfortable silence settle, the full weight of tiredness beginning to creep in.

It's been a long day. At home. Now here.

And he's not hurt (nothing serious) but wow is he tired.]

[Keith falls quickly to quiet too. He's good at quiet, honestly. It's his natural state of being. But being quiet with someone else, that's newer. It's nice too, in its way. The silence is comfortable.

And Hunk isn't the only one exhausted. Keith hasn't stopped moving since he and his mother stumbled upon the Altean colony. His entire world has changed since then. Back with Voltron, back in the Black Lion. Shiro dead then alive. the Castle of Lions destroyed.

Keith is content to just slump and relax and all, but then his stomach chimes in, growling loudly. ...well in fairness he hasn't exactly eaten in days. Back home. And here. So.]

...feel like a snack? [Keith will find something to make. ...by make he probably means chop up.]

[Hunk almost startles at the sound of Keith's stomach like wow Keith you harbouring something in there, and he laughs without even thinking about it.]

Yeah dude. A snack would be great.

[He'll get up in a sec. Really.

...One sec.]

[Nope. Hunk sits, Keith will slip to his feet and go see what they have that is still good to eat. He finds some decent looking fruit that looks like it's still in good shape and starts with the slicing.]

I still think it's weird we show up with a truck load of new injuries, but wearing the clothes we were wearing here.

[And with no new swag. By all rights, he should have the black bayard with him at this point.]

[So kind, Keith.

Hunk debates several times trying to stand and follow after him but... in the end he just stays where he is, slumped in his chair.]

Yeah, really. Also I'd like to vote somewhere for us to have our lions. That only seems fair.

[Just saying.]

[Slicing and dicing and he makes his way back over to where Hunk is sitting, plunks the plate of fruit down on the table and drops back to a seat with a sigh. Tired. Hungry.

Sitting still feels almost strange. Alien. Like his thoughts and the world are still rushing too fast around him.]

...seconded. I feel like it might be a different story around here if we had the Lions.

[Hunk's eyes flicker open--when did he close them?--and he grins appreciatively at the plate.] Oh man. Thanks, Keith.

[He leans forward to snag himself a couple of pieces of fruit, popping them with great relish into his mouth.]

If we had the Lions, though, we'd just... woosh, fly on outta here.

[He nods at the thanks, grabbing up a few pieces for himself and slumping into his chair, smirking.]

Straight out of here... yeah.We could get everyone else out too.

[But here they are. Pretty stuck.]

Yup, just pack 'em straight on into the Lions and off we go.

[He half-laughs at the mental image of, essentially, all of them attempting to fit in the Lions. That'd be no small feat...]

Might be a little crowded, but yeah. More or less.

[Yellow and Black are the big boys, at least. If they can stable a cow, they could fit some colorless city refugees.]

But... we're still hanging in there, even without the lions.

Yeah, we are. I'm really hanging in there thanks to you.

[Hunk adds, a little sheepishly.]

I'd, uh... I'm just glad you're still here.

I...

[Oh. Well.]

Yeah. Me too, Hunk. I'm glad I'm still here. If you're here, this is where I want to be.

[He won't leave Hunk alone to deal with this crazy place!]

[Hunk gives him a touch, googly-eyed look, his hand pressing briefly to his chest, over his heart.]

Aw, Keith... Thank you. I mean. Same here. If you were here, here's where I wanna be too.

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lonered - 2018-10-05 04:01 (UTC) - Expand