Chapter Text
He got returned again. A foster family has decided Keith's not worth it AGAIN. Although he's used to it at this point he hates to admit he still feels his heart break a little.
His social worker keeps telling him not to lose hope and that there is a family out there waiting for him but he's not a child anymore dammit! He stopped believing that years ago, and why shouldn't he? Every new foster family just brought more pain. He couldn't wait to age out of the system and be on his own.
Since there is not a new foster family ready to take him at the moment he's being put into a group home he has never been to before called „the Garrison“.
His social worker Emma drops him off and stays a bit to help him settle in and introduce him to everyone.
„Keith this will be your new head of the home and the owner of the Garrison“ said Emma as she gestured to a short, petite woman in her mid-40s with damaged wispy hair.
„I'm Selma, and we will get along just fine as long as you don't keep getting in the same kind of trouble as you did in your old home, ok?“ commanded Selma in a fake sweet tone with a forced smile and Keith already didn't like her.
„I'm Shiro, I work as a counselor here so feel free to ask for any help.“ said the man with the kindest eyes Keith had ever seen. He couldn't help but already like the older boy despite never being great with authority.
„My name is Coran and I'm a co-owner of the Garrison“ exclaimed Coran proudly oblivious to the dirty look Selma gave him.
„And I'm Allura I am also ready to offer you any assistance“ chirped the girl, a bit older than Keith, and gave him a welcoming smile.
„Ok.“mumbled Keith awkwardly not knowing what else to say to these strangers that he would most definitely never ask for help.
Sensing the awkwardness of the moment Shiro decided to speak up „Let me show you your new room“.
Keith followed Shiro up the wooden staircase without a word.
„It might be a bit cramped, there aren't that many rooms in here. Sorry about that“
Shiro opened the door to reveal a small room with 2 bunk beds, a dresser, and a small sofa.
On one bed sat 2 boys about the same age as him, both with tanned skin and short hair, one wearing an orange bandana. On the other bed lay a kid a bit younger than them, sprawled out like a cat and typing on the laptop.
„boys this is your new roommate Keith so be nice to him“ warned Shiro locking eyes with the boy with the shortest hair who groaned.
„Nicee now we have even less space!“
„It's not his fault Lance.“ Said the bigger boy empathetically, „I'm Hunk, and that's Lance and Pidge.“
„Waaiitttt i remember you!“ shouted the boy he guessed was Lance, „Hunk don't you remember? We went to the same middle school!“
„Ohhh he's that kid that excelled at everything and all the teachers liked.“ Remembered Hunk.
„I don't remember you guys at all.“ Admitted Keith in a deadpan voice,
„Oh my God! He's just as arrogant as he's always been!“ cried Lance, his voice going up an octave.
„I'm not arrogant.“
„Suureee, so how did you end up in here with us Mr. Perfect?“ sneered Lance.
„That's none of your business.“ Responded Keith through gritted teeth. He hated nothing more than when people tried to get too close or asked personal questions.
„Mr. Royalty finally fell off his throne? Am I glad to have witnessed tha-„ but Keith didn't let him finish. He pushed him into a wooden dresser and stormed out of the room, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
He tried to go somewhere, anywhere, he just wanted to be out of this damn building but something was holding him back. He whipped his head around to see Shiro holding his shoulder. He really needed to start working out cause Shiro was able to stop him from moving completely just by holding his shoulder. That guy was strong.
„Let me go!“ protested Keith as he trashed around in Shiro's hold.
„Look you can come with me or you can go talk to Selma, which one would you prefer?“
So Keith stopped fighting it and let himself be dragged into Shiro's office.
The office was small and very cluttered but it had enough space for a desk and a chair which Shiro was currently sitting on. He gestured for Keith to sit on the chair on the opposite side.
„Not the best way to start off is it Keith?“ began Shiro.
„You know, Selma was against taking you in due to your history of violent behavior but I convinced her that everyone deserves a second chance. I hope I'm not wrong for doing so.“
Keith remained silent. He had this exact same talk a hundred times before.
„So what is the matter, Keith? Talk to me“ coaxed Shiro but Keith remained silent throughout the whole conversation until Shiro eventually sighed and let him go.
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„What the hell Lance?!“ stormed Pidge „It's the guy's first day here and you immediately attack him!“
„Yeah, not cool dude. I remember when I first got put into Garrison I didn't want to talk to anyone either, give him a break. He probably needs some time adjusting.“ Sympatized Hunk.
„Look I'm sorry! I didn't know he would get that mad!“ admitted Lance seeming genuinely guilty „I was stupid ok! I just went right back to the way I talked to him in middle school forgetting the guy doesn't even remember me!“
Pidge, Hunk, and Lance went into the living room to find Keith and apologize. Although Keith was nowhere to be seen, his name was everywhere.
„Hey did you hear that new kid got into a fight in the first five minutes of being here?“
„I heard he has a criminal record“
„Well he even looked like a delinquent“
„I don't know about you guys but I will keep as far away from him as possible“
Gossip usually spread like wildfire in the group home and this time was no exception. It seemed that Keith already had a bad reputation and if everyone else knew Selma was sure to find out soon and follow Keith around like a hawk.
„Guys I think we messed up.“
„You mean you messed up“ corrected Pidge.
„whatever, let's go find Keith.“
But they couldn't find him anywhere. Lance just hoped he didn't already get sent away.
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Keith found a spot hidden enough away from everyone else and got started on his homework. He really needed to take his schoolwork seriously or he might get held back a year. He never used to struggle before but ever since his dad died and he moved through so many homes he missed a lot of classes and he had fallen behind.
He looked at his math problem again and groaned letting his head fall in his lap. He felt tears threatening to fall but forced them back. It was stupid to cry over a math problem.
„Oh hi Keith“ it was that girl with white hair again „What are you doing?“
Just as he was about to answer nothing and leave, she peered over his shoulder and took a glance at his notebook.
„Oh algebra! I was quite good at it in high school, maybe I can help you?“
„You're out of high school? You look young.“
„Oh I just finished this year but to be honest I'm having some trouble deciding what to major in.“ Explained Allura a bit embarrassed „So I'm just working here for now helping my uncle and stepmom.“
„Selma is your stepmom?“ asked Keith feeling a bit guilty for talking badly of her earlier but the guilt did not last very long.
„I know, a horrible woman“ Allura's eyes darkened „ and I fell right into her evil clutches when my dad died“
Allura was silent for a moment before brightening considerably „But my uncle Coran is nice though, he mostly took care of me after my father's death.“
Keith didn't know what to say exactly, but it would be a lie if he said he wasn't interested in how things functioned in here.
Allura really did seem to know a lot about algebra. She solved his homework with ease and even left him notes for when he did revision.
Keith usually did not like human interaction and preferred to do things on his own but he couldn't say he wasn't grateful for Allura's help today. Also listening to her family problems helped get his mind off of his own.
After his homework was done he headed back to his shared room. The other guys were already in there and dropped everything when they saw him enter.
„Dude! Where were you!“shouted Lance as he leaped out of his bed.
„Again. None of your business“ threatened Keith in an icy voice, feeling defensive as he remembered their earlier argument.
„No, no, we just thought you got sent away!“ explained Lance moving his hands as if he was trying to calm a wild animal.
„You must be pretty disappointed then.“
„About that,“ started Lance averting his gaze at the floor „ I didn't mean to say all that I was just-„
„Lance was just being dumb don't worry about it“ teased Hunk earning a betrayed look from Lance.
„It's whatever. Where do I sleep.“
„Umm this bunk is free“ Lance pointed at the bottom bunk on the right side. The opposite side already being occupied by Hunk on the bottom bunk and Pidge on the top. Keith wasted no time before laying all his stuff down and hopping on the bed.
A couple of hours passed with everybody doing their own thing in silence and it was past the lights out when Pidge spoke:
„I'm bored let's play hide and seek.“
„Isn't that a children's game?“ questioned Keith.
„Yes, but if you get caught by Selma after lights out you're in a world of trouble.“
„It's kind of like a Russian roulette. You can either get found by other players or Selma. What's it gonna be?“ explained Hunk.
„Yeah c'mon it'll be fun we played it plenty of times before“ added Lance
And Keith really shouldn't get into any more trouble today but he was far too bored and not nearly sleepy enough to refuse. Seriously why did the teenagers have the same lights out as the toddlers in this home?
So Hunk was the first one to count and he only had until 20 to hide. It was quite difficult hiding in the dark in an unfamiliar place but eventually, he decided behind the curtains.
Hunk searched for full five minutes before finally finding Lance who somehow managed to fit and hide into a giant vase. Keith could hear Hunk struggling to get stuck Lance out of the vase and suppressed a chuckle.
Next Lance and Hunk walked into the room Keith was in. They searched for a bit before concluding Keith wasn't in here and got ready to leave. Just as they were about to turn around the wind blew through the open window revealing Keith. Both Lance and Hunk almost screamed and woke everyone up.
„Duuudee!Don't do that!
„I thought I was supposed to hide?“
„Yeah, but you're not supposed to suddenly appear there like a ghost!“ accused Lance while clutching his heart dramatically.
„Shhh, what's that?“
„You don't think it's a real ghost this time?“ trembled Hunk.
„Worse! It's Selma, everyone back to our room!“ ordered Lance as the three of them ran back as silently as they could.
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„What is she doing out so late!“
„Apparently making herself a snack“ answered Hunk as he peered outside and listened to the sounds of plates in the kitchen.
„Where's Pidge?“
„Ummm in the cupboards? I think?“ said Lance sheepishly
„OH NO WHAT IF SHE FINDS HIM? No what am I saying, she will definitely find him!“panicked Hunk.
„Calm down big guy“ soothed Lance „We just need to make a diversion.
So that's how the three of them played rock, paper, scissors – with Lance being the loser, and now he was sneaking into one of the little kids' rooms to make a diversion.
„I'm so sorry to disturb your sleep little guy but Pidge will be sure to give you his desert in the morning“ whispered Lance as he pinched the sleeping baby's arm. Before he knew it the whole home was filled with the sound of crying kids, one activating another. Lance made a beeline to his room just in time before Selma stormed by their room to get to the source of the crying. Five seconds later Pidge rushed into their bedroom panting.
„Thanks, guys. I own you my life“
„You own some kid a lollypop.“
„How about a cookie?“ asked Pidge showing off a box of cookies in his hand, „I grabbed it out of the cupboard on the way out.“
„Pidge I love the way your mind works“ complimented Hunk his eyes practically forming hearts.
They all lay on their respective beds and ate the cookies Pidge brought, making sure to keep their volume to a minimum in case Selma was on the way out from the baby's room.
„These cookies aren't even that good“criticized Hunk.
„Yeah Selma always buys us the cheap kind.“ Agreed Lance „That's why I love it when Allura goes grocery shopping, she always gets the best snacks.“
„But Shiro might be the worst though“ joined Pidge, „He doesn't even get snacks only vegetables, cause he thinks it's healthy or something.“
„Coran definitely gets the most questionable food though. Keith, if Coran ever offers you something, don't eat it.“
„I'm learning so much.“ joked Keith, for the first time relaxing a little around his new roommates.
Suddenly the door opened and they had just enough time to pretend to be asleep. Selma looked at each one of them searching for something before closing the door and leaving.
Hunk immediately started coughing and choking on a cookie he didn't have time to properly eat. The others laughed at him before Hunk promised to bake them real cookies someday and they all agreed to go to bed.
Maybe his new roommates weren't that bad.