The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 21: Home.

Showing Iverson and the rest of the higher-ups at the Garrison proved enough to get them to partake in the alliance. Shiro had shook Iverson's hand on it and shot him a wide grin that confirmed it. The moment each lion landed, each pilot knowing they were going to be able to see their families again, they couldn't get out of their lions fast enough. The closest people in their lives were waiting for them as they landed, arms open so they could pull them into group hugs that lasted long enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Still, it didn't feel like enough to make up for all of the lost time.

Hunk sobbed into his mum's chest, his little nieces gripping onto his legs harsh enough to get their determination put across. His other mum and his uncle were holding onto him, tears pricking in their eyes as they found themselves unable to believe the situation. They had been told that their son had been kidnapped and the chances of him being dead were higher than anyone wanted to admit. Pidge ran forward to hug her mum and dad, letting out a heavy sob once they made contact. Despite being a small person, she nearly knocked her parents over with the force of the embrace. Shiro's jaw catapulted to the floor as he saw Adam waiting for him, a soft smile on his face. Shiro ran forward, almost tripping over his own feet in the process, and tackled his boyfriend into a hug. Lance also raced towards his family where his siblings, Carlos and Maria, were waiting. He was enveloped into a group embrace, chest tight as tears escaped from his eyes. It all felt like some overly cheesy scene in a movie but no one seemed too bothered. They were just happy to be home.

Keith was last to leave his lion. He strolled down the steps, assuming there wouldn't be anyone waiting for him. He stopped in his step, tears clouding in his eyes and arms falling to his sides as he saw someone waiting specifically for him. "James..." The name escaped his mouth no louder than an exhale of air: he couldn't believe it.

James raced forward, quicker than Keith had ever seen him move. He tackled Keith so harshly that the pair crashed to the ground, scraping their backsides in the process but not having a care in the world. James buried his head into Keith's neck, whispering, "I missed you so much," over and over again as if it was about to go out of fashion. Their bodily position looked like that of two people who were involved in a romantic relationship as James was clinging to Keith and had one of his legs in between Keith's. When they pulled back, Keith stood up first before holding out his hand and helping James up too.

"I didn't know you were coming back but I overheard a conversation I shouldn't have. Someone said your name and I was too curious not to listen in on them." James's face flushed a deep red as he avoided Keith's gaze by staring at his feet. His hands were growing more and more clammy by the second so he wiped them against his jeans. Something about Keith just made him nervous. "You're such an idiot." His words suddenly sounded harsh which, in conjunction with the way James punched Keith's arm, made Keith's face fall.

"What why?"

James scowled but found it difficult to maintain the facial expression upon hearing Keith's hurt voice. He sounded like a kicked puppy which, although it contrasted Keith in every single way, was still the cutest thing in the world (not that James would admit that). "You didn't tell me you were going into space. I thought we told each other everything."

"It was kind of an in-the-moment kind of decision. I promise I'll tell you next time."

"Yeah because there's totally going to be a next time you're going to get whisked away into space by some weird ass space lions." James chuckled and shook his head at the disbelief towards his own statement. They lapsed into silence for a moment as Keith stared at their shoes and James lifted his bashful gaze to look at Keith. His eyes drank in Keith's attractiveness right down to his perfect cheekbones and the beautiful universes behind his eyes whilst a fond smile tugged at his lips. "So you and Lance, huh?"