Wings of Home II: Wings of Change

Reality

Not having a way to fight back honestly didn't sit well; Elena was used to being able to fight various injustices via protest, nor did she hesitate in standing up for herself. Driving back into the city revealed just how lucky she was – they were. Damage was everywhere, yet the route home wasn't direct due to certain routes being out due to collapsed buildings and downed powerlines.

Her abuela and the rest of their apartment building they lived in could have ended up a casualty of the Galra attack, yet she was one of the few people standing in the way of more damage occurring, at least until the Garrison was able to come up with a counter measure with their own technology. Seeing the level of destruction in the city made her even more unsure of things.

The garrison provided transportation back for everyone going back to the apartment. Her cousin Lance fused about how Keith was getting to go off base and he wasn't – in the back of her mind it honestly bothered her seeing this other side of him, yet she didn't understand where the animosity stemmed from, given the fact Keith – from what she could tell, was a pretty great guy.

Worse, his words from earlier still stung. "I mean, I'm sure there are those of us who would make a better candidate."

Elena's fingers twisted between Syd's while she looked outside the window. In truth, the van was a bit overboard, given the fact there were only seven passengers and the driver, while there were eleven seats. This didn't mean the four seats at the back weren't crowded, as all four teenagers took to the back seat – Alex dragging Keith along with them. Shiro took the very front passenger seat, which seamed like a given since he was one of the Garrison's actual personal.

Schneider wanted to talk to Shiro – in some ways, Elena pitied Shiro for that, so he sat in the row just behind, while Penelope took the seat right in front of the teens – likely to encourage appropriate behavior, such as not making out. Not that Elena really wanted to make out in front of her brother, let alone others. Alex kept trying to engage Keith in conversation, yet he kept looking out the window.

"So," Syd piped up finally. "When did you decide to go by the name Keith?"

"I don't know. It's the name I always remember my dad using, though Shiro and Ryo remember a different name."

"Hey. What is that name?" Alex's interest was perked.

"Akira. Something to do with being bright and intelligent, or something like that – something I am definitely not."

"Oh."

The van pulled up in front of the apartment building and Elena took a deep breath, waiting for the other teens to get out. Their abuela was waiting for them, standing by the front doors with Ryo. Elena continued holding onto Syd's hand, the reality still struggling to set in. Her eyes opened and closed, missing Ryo's movement of stepping forward and quickly latching onto Keith, who shoved obvious discomfort at his twin brother's unexpected action.

Even Shiro seemed surprised.

"You idiot." Ryo held on tight, while Keith's arms remained outstretched, confused at the sudden affection.

"Ryo?"

"I was worried I'd lose the both of you."

From behind, Elena's abuela smiled, motioning for her hand for the others to move forward. Elena wondered if Ryo would have continued hugging Keith if he'd known of Lydia's plans. None of her grandchildren – Syd included – hesitated in turning Ryo's hug into a group hug so that Lydia might embrace all of her grandchildren who were there. Schneider – the landlord and another Lydia adopted into the family – quickly joined the hug, while Penelope and Shiro hug away as if deciding the crowd was a bit bunch.

To say Keith's surprise grew was likely an understatement, but eventually, they pulled away. Lydia reached up and pinched his cheek. "You had your brother and I worried precioso." She then turned her attention to the two who didn't join in the group hug. "Come here."

Lydia's positive energy was of course infectious. Some might wonder how she did it, yet Elena knew her grandmother's story regarding how she left Cuba and her old life behind. No matter how troubled she felt, Lydia made her – and everyone else for that matter – smile. Seeing Keith smile was actually nice, but a quick glance at Syd resulted in another hug from behind from Elena and her significant other. "You should smile more often."

"Yes." Syd piped up.

"I guess."

"Upstairs. Everyone. I'll prepare something to eat."

Everyone headed upstairs at different speeds. Keith, who normally – Elena would have thought – hung back, was pulled forward by his twin brother who, prior to the incident with the Galra was keeping himself distant from Keith. She could also tell they were twins. Alex and Schneider hurried after. Penelope walked up with Shiro, starting a conversation up about being a single parent and offering what advice she could, while Syd hung back until they realized what Elena wanted.

"Something bothering you Blanca?"

"I'm not sure of anything. I'd normally be protesting this – the fact I'm being transferred into the Garrison school. It's nice that they're giving Syd a pass to come and go as a consolation for forcing me..."

"Why?"

"Apparently there's this alien device that selected certain people to run. That's who we stopped the Galra."

"Well. Fate is fate."

"Do you still believe there is a god out there, what with all these aliens?

"Yes. And I believe in the pope."

Elena shook her head in amusement. While she honestly couldn't feel completely okay with the change overnight, there was something about her abuela's acceptance – after all, the woman, despite being Catholic accepted her coming out with the same ease, a stark contrast to her father's rejection.