You're My Brother

Change Must Happen

   Over the past week, Keith, James and Ina have been temporary flight partners. Every day, the three of them—as well as the rest of their class— are put through the same simulation. Their goal is ten minutes. Not one group has made it.
   Keith's team, however, has come close. In the most recent run, Keith lasted nine minutes and thirty six seconds, James was just shy of nine minutes and thirty five seconds, and Ina... well, she outlived both of them with nine minutes and forty one seconds. She thinks before she acts, unlike Keith.
   "Not bad, Ina." James congratulated his teammate with a simple high five. "Guess we should listen to your tactics more."
   "Or you could listen." Keith muttered, walking past the two of them, not caring one bit about rewarding their efforts.
   "Nope. We're not doing that." Shiro placed a firm had on Keith's chest and pushed him back towards his team. "You're going to be nice, like everyone else, and bond with your team."
   "You can't make me..."
   "I'm your instructor. I can." With one last forceful shove, Shiro walked towards the simulator to monitor the next team.
   "Look who's back." Smirking, James extended his hand to shake Keith's. Judging by his expression, he didn't want to.
   "Are you going to admit defeat and get off your throne of privilege or just continue being the little asshole you always are?" The raven haired cadet didn't wait for a reply before he turned the Ina. The girl was at least half a foot taller than Keith, making the situation very awkward for the pubescent boy. "You did good, I guess. Not bad for your fifth try."
   "She did better than you, dumbass."
   "And you did the worst out of all of us!" Keith snapped. "You would've been dead within the first minute if it weren't for me."
   "For you?! Leifsdottir saved my ass, not you!"
   "Cadets!" Iverson grabbed the two boy's bu the collars of their uniforms and dragged them from the crowd. "How many times do I have to tell you to respect your classmates?! It's been a year! One year! If you can't get along, you're out!"
   "Yes, sir!" Griffin quickly responded, saluting the officer. "It won't happen again, sir."
   "And Mr. Fancy Pants here, what do you have to say?!"
   "I'll watch what I say..."
   "You'll fix it immediately, that's what you'll do! Officer Shirogane may be right about your skills, but you're no cadet. Where's your discipline? It's like you don't even know what it's like to be human."
   "Keith is an orphan, sir." James added, his eyes filled with spite. "His mom and dad never had the chance to teach him how to be a kind person."
   "I'm aware of that, Griffin. And I don't need you telling me about Keith's upbringing."
   "Yes, sorry sir. I only thought that his lack of parents may cause his issues. I could be wrong but maybe he just isn't cut out for this. I only mean to say that," the boy paused, "well take the rest of us for example. Keith maybe just doesn't fit in."
   "The hell you just say?!"
   Iverson pulled Keith from the other before he could strike him. "That's it. I've had enough of your constant bickering. Both of you to the principal's office at once! Class dismissed!"
   "Nice job, Keith. You just earned us a detention!" James whined once they were out of the simulation deck.
   Keith didn't hesitate to act in the way he felt was necessary. With all his might, he shoved the other cadet up against the wall. "You think you're so special?! Look at me! I'm James Griffin! I have parents and I'm going to fuck with this boy's emotions because he has none!" Letting go just enough for the other to gain his footing, Keith clenched his fist and landed a powerful punch to the boy's lower jaw. "Well fuck you Griffin! I'm the better pilot and I'm sorry your parents didn't teach you respect!"
   "Well at last I have a loving mother! One who didn't leave me with my shitty dead father!"
   "Don't you dare say a word against my father!"
   "What're you going to do?! You're on camera, shit head! They can all see your actions. You're out!"
   Keith bit down hard on his lower lip. He felt like he could murder James. Right here, right now.
   "That's enough!" An officer called from behind Keith. "One more word from either of you, and you're gone, regardless of what anyone says!"
"Well shit..." from the corner of his eye, Keith saw both Shiro and Iverson approaching the two of them.
   Shiro grabbed tightly to Keith's arm, practically dragging him down the hallway. Keith accepted his fate. They'll kick him out. Nothing to do now but wait.

***

   "Cadet Griffin and Cadet Kogane. You two are both suspended for your actions. Three weeks. You will not leave your dorms unless you have to eat or use the restrooms in some sort of way. If, for some reason you have to leave other than to eat, use the bathroom or shower, you must be accompanied by an assigned Officer."
   "But—"
   "Enough, Kogane. You two have been in here far too many times." She looked to James, "you will be accompanied by Officer Johnson, and you," her gaze shifted to the other cadet, "you're under close watch by Officer Wright."
   "Who...?"
   "Officer Adam Wright. Now get out of my office before I ban you for good."
   Their respective officers waited for them to exit before taking them in separate ways.
   "Adam... I... I know this looks bad, but you have to—"
   "Listen to you? No. We're past that. What you did was wrong and you know it."
   "I know! But James—"
   "End of discussion." Adam pulled the boy down a corridor and into some unknown office. "You have to apologize to Takashi before I'm talking to you."
   Keith took a good look at the office. Small and cluttered, it belonged to someone other than Shiro. 
   With careful inspection, Keith denounced that this office belonged to Officer Samuel Holt. The pictures on the built in shelving system showed the man and his family. Plus the desk had his name on it. The pictures made Keith's heart ache. After what Griffin said, he was reasonably sensitive to the idea of others having a family. It set him apart from the rest.
   Why they were here, in this office, was unknown to Keith, but he decided not to ask.
   "Takashi! I found your boy."
   Shiro stepped out from behind a bookcase and sighed, severely disappointed in the kid in front of him. "You just couldn't hold it in could you?"
   "Shiro! Please! I was within my rights!"
   "You're within your rights to be angry, not to assault another student."
   "Griffin gets away with everything! I act because of him! He's an asshole! But no! Punish me instead! I'm the one who nobody listens to, but the privileged dick gets his way every time!"
   "What he said was wrong, and I'm going to do everything I can to keep you here. But you have to learn to walk away."
   "Walk away?! He insulted my father! He talked shit about me because I'm an orphan! And you want me to walk away?!"
   "No! Of course I don't! But I know you can't let anything lie. And you have to learn yo do so, no matter what he says."
   "Are you even on my side anymore?!"
   "Keith... You're like a brother to me. And I will do anything to help you succeed, but I have to also make sure you learn right from wrong."
   "You're not my brother. You're not anyone's brother. Matthew is a brother. Not you. Not me."
   Shiro placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, sighing. "Not biologically, no. But don't think for one second that I don't have your back. I've asked Commander Holt and Matt to meet us here so we can try and think of a way to help you. Mostly for us to have a story to keep your short tempered self in the Garrison."
   "Just admit it... I'm out... I get it, okay? No matter what you say, I'm done here..."
   "You absolutely are not." Shiro smiled, his kind, reassuring smile. "We'll get through this. Remember, pa—"
   "Patience yields focus. I know... Don't jump to conclusions and let things play out. My two worst skills."
   "I'd say your worse at being a team player, but sure. That works."
   Rolling his eyes, Keith extended his right hand to Shiro. "Promise you'll help me through this?"
   "Promise? Keith. I'm bot giving up on you." He shook the boy's hand and proceeded to ruffle up his hair. "You're like my little brother. I've got your back."
   "Well you two best think of an excuse soon because if this gets to the admiral first, every single one of us is out of a job." Adam was basically threatening them, but his tone suggested he was trying to encourage them or support them.
   Shiro nodded, "then I guess we better think of a plan for you."