Arrival (Voltron: Legendary Defender Fanfic)

Irritation

"That's one more thing to be irritated with Takashi with." Somehow Ryo managed to get a few winks of sleep before catching his flight to the American garrison. One of the members assigned to meet him when he arrived reminded him of another point of irritation.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you see Keith before talking to you?"

"He makes it sound like I'm in the wrong for wanting to see Keith. It's no wonder the two of us don't get along." Reluctantly, he followed the garrison member sent to escort him to the conference room Takashi was waiting for him in, which created—in Ryo's opinion—an impersonal atmosphere while also emphasizing the power Takashi had as a member of the garrison to practically make Ryo's life a living hell. "And just because I didn't tell him, I would be transferring. What the hell is his problem?"

"Sit."

Ryo glared, not complying with what his brother said, instead of fighting the urge to rebel. He was, after all, a cadet and mature enough to handle the situation, yet somehow he and Takashi always ended up getting into it. "I really don't want to."

"Ryo, I'm not in the mood to argue with you. Not today. Particularly after I told you stuff happened today—things involving Keith that I'm still trying to deal with."

"If it involves Keith, then it involves me," Ryo said, refusing to take a seat.

"I wonder if he would agree with you," Takashi said.

"Excuse me?" Ryo felt his chest and throat tighten, fighting back the urge to outright yell at his brother. "In all my well-thought-out plans, I forgot that Takashi would be my superior! But right does he..."

"Keith doesn't know."

"What do you mean Keith doesn't know?"

"That's where I'll start this conversation. You know, the stuff I didn't want to talk to you about over video chat," Takashi said, ignoring that Ryo refused to sit. "As for what I mean, I'm talking about the fact Keith doesn't know we're related."

"What the hell! How could he not?"

"Because he doesn't, which is precisely why I want you to be cautious approaching Keith. Or at least, that's one of the reasons. So will you sit so I can actually fill you in on the situation?"

"Are you going to tell me everything?" Ryo asked, his eyes narrowing while his hands clenched at his side. A silence greeted him. "What the hell, Takashi! It's a yes or no question, you know."

"Well, about that," Takashi frowned. "I'm definitely going to give you the information you need so that this hopefully won't end up being an even bigger mess than it already is, but knowing Keith..."

"Don't talk about Keith as if he's a problem."

Takashi stared, his fingers drumming against the top of the table. He let out a humming sound; then, he smiled, although the smile was half-hearted. "You're right."

"I'm right."

"Keith isn't the problem, but..."

"But what?"

"Keith wouldn't agree with you."

Ryo let out a curse. "Stop messing..."

"I'm not trying to mess with you, so will you sit. It's just the way things are with Keith."

"And that would be?"

"As I've already said, Keith doesn't know that we're related, so it's hard for him to take my word that he's not a burden, that he's not trouble. So many things."