Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shiro had been going around for a few days now to find the next whole generation of cadets for the Garrison. Today, he was in a freshman classroom at a high school. It was a regular looking school, filled with kids. He entered a classroom and the teacher introduced him.

“Class, this is Takashi Shirogane, the youngest pilot to lead a mission.” She introduced. The class gave a quick applause to welcome Shiro before going off and whispering to each other. Everyone in the class seemed excited… well, except for one kid who was just starring out the window.

Shiro started his usual speech. “The Galaxy Garrison has sent me to schools in the area to help find the next generation of Astro explorers.” He said, “Who’s ready to find out if they got what it takes?” The whole class raised their hands, except for that one kid…

“Well,” Shiro spoke, “we’ll see who will be going with a test!” The classroom filled with groans. Kids didn’t really seemed to want to be pilots as much anymore. “The test will be with video games.” Shiro revealed. The class was much more excited now. “Oooo” and “ahhh” fill the room.

Shiro lead all the kids to the parking lot, where the simulator was. “This is the best simulator we have.” He said. “Cadets, not much older then you, practice with it every day. I still practice with it sometimes.” The kids looked very excited. “So, who wants to go first?”

Soon enough, the kids were trying out the simulator. Everyone was failing at it, which wasn’t a bad thing. The simulator was pretty hard for most people, even pilots. “Seems like no body has made it past level 3” Shiro announced, and then looked over at the kid not paying attention. “Looks like you’re the only one left, think you’ve got what it takes?”

The kid looked up, and softly nodded. He walked into the simulator and sat down. Some enough, he was past level five. Everyone was shocked at this, he was doing really well. Comments like “the emo kid is doing it!” Or “no way Keith is doing this!” We’re being thrown around.

The teacher walked up to Shiro once again. “I’ve composed a list of the kids I think should go to the Garrison.” She said, handing Shiro the list. Shiro looked at the list, the kid still going, and then back to the teacher. “Is this kid on there? Looks like he’s ready to fly the real thing.”

The teacher looked at the kid. “Keith? He’s a bit of a discipline case. I don’t think he’d really fit in at the Garrison.” She said, before grabbing another kid to show Shiro. “This is James Griffin. He has the best grades in school, I think he’d be a wonderful choice.” She said.

That’s when Shiro hears, and sees his car being driven away.

After a long chase, he ends up at the juvenile detention center. The cop is chewing out the kid. “Do you know what you’ve done!? Once this guy presses charges on you, you’re going to be in juvie for a long time!” The officer yells. The kid, now known as Keith to Shiro, looks down.

“Who said I was pressing charges?” Shiro speaks up. Both the officer and Keith turn to him in shock. “W-well sir,” the officer says, “this kid stole your car. That is a huge crime. I would only expect you to change him for it.”

Shiro shook his head. “Nope. Kid is off the hook in my opinion. And besides stealing my car, he didn’t break any other laws.” Shiro smiles. “So, seems like he is completely off the hook to me.” The officer nods at Shiro’s words. “Yes… I guess he is.”

Shiro walks out with the kid by his side. “I don’t get it.” Keith says as they get to Shiro’s car. “I steal your car and you respond by… helping me out? Why… why did you do that?” He asks as Shiro gets into his car.

“Yeah, so you owe me one.” Shiro says, as he hands Keith a card. “Be at this address tomorrow at 0800 hours.” Keith stares down at the card. “You get a second chance.” Shiro says before driving off to go back to the Garrison, leaving Keith to stare at that card.

That night Keith lays in his bed, looking at the card. What if it’s just a set up? Keith thinks. There’s no way I’m getting into the Garrison. He stared down at the card once more. But… it wouldn’t hurt… right? Right. It’ll just be a second test and maybe… maybe I will get in.

Keith gets up early the next morning. To get to the Garrison in time for this test, he has to be on the very first bus. A long shower and some good hygiene only take a few minutes. He gets dressed in his usual clothes and grabs the card from the day before.

He stands out in the cold morning air, almost shivering. Can this bus be any slower? He thinks. Did he show up to the bus stop extra early? Yes, but the city bus drivers are never on perfect timing, everyone knows that.

Finally, the bus comes to the bus stop and lets Keith on. Keith scans his bus card as he gets on the bus. The bus driver gives him a thumbs up and he goes to take a seat. The bus is empty at this time of the morning, which Keith wasn’t complaining about. It was nice and quiet. He could fall asleep, but unfortunately he had to stay awake.

Soon enough, he arrived at the Garrison. Cars with parents wishing they’re kids good luck filled the parking lot. Keith got off his bus and started to head in, when Shiro was him. The man ran up to Keith. “Hey! You came.” He said.

Keith sighed. “Well… I did need to make it up to you…” he mumbled. Shiro chuckled. “Sure. Go inside and show them your card. Then follow the directions they tell you.” He said. Keith nodded and headed inside. It was going to be a long day.

Chapter Text

Keith ended up getting accepted into the Garrison, and he was very happy about it. He was officially out of his group home, he got away from his school, and he couldn’t be put in a foster home now. It was like a dream come true to Keith.

Today, he was getting his room. It was on the third floor and the closest dorm to the stairs. They gave Keith his own room because “he might be a danger to the other cadets.” Keith thought it was stupid. He has never once hurt someone for no reason, he’s always had a reason fight.

He carries up his stuff to his dorm. He just has a duffel bag full of some clothes, and books. He doesn’t have anything else. Keith stands at the door of his room, about to open it when he hears a gasp. “Oh Lance, honey, look! You have a next door neighbor.” A women with tan skin and curly hair says.

A boy, who Keith assumes is Lance, stands at the door next to Keith’s dorm, blushing. “Mamá!” He scolds. “¡No me avergüences! Necesito hacer amigos, mamá.” Keith tilts his head at the words, that’s not English.

“Is that Spanish?” Keith wonders out loud. Being from Texas, Keith new a lot of people who spoke Spanish, mostly people from Mexico. He knew very little Spanish, but enough to pick up some bits of what the boy had said.

The boy looked at Keith, seemingly defensively. “Yeah. I’m from Cuba, got a problem with that?” The boy asked. Keith was about to answer when the woman smacked Lance on the head. “Lance! Sé amable con el chico. ¿¡Está tratando de ser amable y así es como lo tratas!?” She scolded.

The lady looked back at Keith. “I’m so sorry for my son.” She said. Keith stuttered. “I-I- it’s fine. I-I was just thinking out loud.” He said looking down a bit embarrassed. He quickly opened the door to his dorm, “adiós.” He said, before going in and shutting the door. FUCK! Why’d I decide to talk in Spanish to two Spanish speakers! Keith, what the fuck!

Lance stared at the door as it shut. That’s when it hit him. Did that boy know Spanish? Is that why he asked if it was Spanish? Oh my gosh, did he understand mamá scolding me? Lance thought. He was so used to people saying rude things when they learned that Lance spoke Spanish and was from Cuba. He just assumed the worst out of people.

His mom sighed. “Lance, I think that boy was just making an observation, you should try to talk with him more.” His mom said. Lance nodded. “Yeah. I was a bit mean, huh?” Lance said. His mom nodded. “Maybe a bit. Come on, let’s see your dorm.”

Lance opened the door. The room was nice. It had two twin beds, two nightstands, and a desk. Lance could work with this. He got in and set his suitcase down. His mom looked around. “This is exactly what Veronica‘s room looked like!” She said. Veronica was Lance’s older sister who also went to the Garrison.

Lance and his mom started to get all the stuff unpacked, when the door opened again. “Oh… a-are you my roommate?” A boy, said from the door way. The boy had very tan skin, shirt cut hair, and was a bit heavy. He also seemed a bit shy.

Lance smiled at the boy. “Yup, my name is Lance!” Lance said, extending a hand out to the boy. “Hunk.” Said the boy, returning the hand shake.

Keith carefully maneuvers the plane as all the other kids are sorta freaking out. This Hunk kid seems like he’s about to throw up honestly. Keith really hopes he doesn’t, he doesn’t want to hear that over the radio in the plane.

Keith tests the controls a bit, and that Iverson guy decides he doesn’t like that. “Fall in line, cadet.” The man scolds. Keith almost rolls his eyes at that. “Sorry, just testing my controls.” He replies in his monotone voice. “Stick’s lose.”

Everyone else starts to scold Keith too, and it’s getting on his nerves. “Decrease elevation by 22°.” Shiro said. Fuck it. Keith blasts downwards, making everyone else in his class yell at him.

Shiro can’t seem to understand why Keith is acting this way. As Iverson walks off grumbling about Keith being a show off, Shiro can’t help but be confused. Keith doesn’t seem that way, he flew very under the radar on all the tests to get in, so why so off now?

Soon enough, Iverson has everyone lined up, and is scolding them. “Hope you all like it in the simulator.” He says. “You can thank pilot fancy pants over there for the privilege of spending the next 3 weekends in here running drills!” He says as he gets close to Keith’s face.

After Iverson walks away, James looks over at Keith “Thanks a lot.” He sarcastically says. “My pleasure.” Keith replies. James seems taken aback by the comment. “We all know the only reason you’re here is because of Shiro.” Keith looks over at James. “I can put fly anyone in this building.” He stubbornly says.

“Oh yeah? Is that what mommy and daddy told you before they-“ Keith cuts James off with a punch to the face. He gets on top to hit him again, when he gets dragged off by Iverson.

Shiro stands in the room with the women who typically handles cadet disagreements. “He’s a danger to the others, Shiro.” She says. Shiro sighs, “James antagonized him. Keith didn’t throw that punch for no reason.” He says. “We’ve both looked at the kids records, maybe he just needs some help to control his emotions.” Shiro lightly says.

The women sighs. “Alright, fine. The Garrison can provide some therapy for him.” She grumbles out. “But if it doesn’t work, and he does something like this one more time, he’s out.” Shiro nods in understanding and leaves the room.

“Hey…” he says to Keith sitting on the uncomfortable chairs. “Look, I know I messed up. You should just send me back to the home already.” He whispers. “This place isn’t for me…” Shiro hates how hard this kid is on himself. “Keith, you can do this. I will never give up on you.” Shiro softly says, “More importantly, you can’t give up on yourself.”

Keith looks up at Shiro like that’s the most shocking thing he’s every heard. Shiro goes on. “But, because of this mistake, you have some new requirements.” He says. “Therapy, probably once a week.” Keith groans, and Shiro chuckles. “I think it’ll help you in more ways then one, kid.”