They're Back

2

The next day

Keith POV

Everyone was talking about what had happened between me and James yesterday. There were a bunch of versions flying around. We got in a fist fight, I tackled him into a hug, we kissed and cried, we started making out, all sorts of stuff. A few people knew what had really happened, and in my opinion, that was the best one. James had looked so mad and hurt when he saw me. I felt terrible for what I did to him. He thought I stood him up just to mess with him, and that I was dead for years. And apparently he loved me. HE LOVED ME. HE STILL LOVED ME. After everything, he still did. I never knew. He never said anything.

All of these thoughts swarmed in my head as I walked through the familiar halls. There were several new rooms and building, and I wanted to check them out. There were a lot more dorms, a few more simulators, and, according to Adam, there was a gym and combat simulator. Apparently, Mr.Holt had been able to replicate the training simulator from the Castle of Lions, and I wanted to check it out. See if it was up to my standards. I heard noises from down the hall, and was intrigued. I followed the sounds down the hall, and found a big arena like room, with some kicking bags and gym equipment on the sides. In the center was a robot, with targets all over it. Inside, I saw Ryan ( aka Kinkade) and James. Both had on white tank tops and grey Garrison sweatpants. Kinkade was standing off to the side, and James was shooting the robot. He made every shot, mouth moving the whole time. They were talking, but I couldn't hear them. I stepped into the doorway, using my Blade training to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"So are you gonna tell me what happened yesterday?" Ryan asked. "You saw." James responded, shooting the robot again. "But why?" "You heard." "I heard part of the story. I want to know the rest." James sighed and stopped shooting. "Why? It's not important." "What? Of course it is! You cussed Keith out then fucking kissed him! There has to be more to it than that." Ryan protested. "Fine. I really liked him back in our Garrison days." James said, putting the gun down. It vanished, along with the robot. Just like the weapons in the Castle of Lion's simulator. Nice job Mr.Holt I though to myself." "Really like him? You said you loved him, then and now." "Your point?" James asked, sitting down, facing away from me. "So.. what happened with you guys?" "Nothing." Ryan raised an eyebrow. "It didn't seem like nothing yesterday."

James sighed, pulling off his shirt. Damn the boy had muscle. Big biceps and defined shoulder and back muscles. He probably had more muscle than me, and I spent hours training almost everyday for fun. "Look, it-its complicated. It'll take a while to explain." Ryan shrugged, sitting next to him. "I have time." James sighed.

"Well, you know how my dad is. Military type, wants me to follow in his footsteps, be some famous solider. Reads about the Garrison, puts me in. When he heard about Shiro, he said "Him. That's who you have to beat. To be better than." But Shiro was like, untouchable. Then, cause he had a friends here, he heard about Keith, How since he was Shiro's adopted little bro, he didn't deserve his place. Shit like that. And when I wasn't top of class, he looked into it, and found out that Keith was like, the only person better than me. Said he cheated at everything. Ranted for hours about how I'm not trying hard enough, how I need to be better. Then he started talking shit about Keith and Shiro. Saying stuff like they rigged the system, he was only there because they were orphans and stuff. I hadn't met either of them, so I just nodded and listened. Then when we came back the next year, I met Keith and my brain just went holy shit. Cause even then, he looked good. But what my dad said had gotten in my head. All his trash was stuck there. I tried talking to Keith, but I always got nervous and just started avoiding him. He kept beating me, and that made my dad madder and madder. When I went home one time, he yelled at me. he had gotten the class rankings, and once again, I wasn't first, so I wasn't good enough. He reeked of beer. He started ranting again, and I tried to defend them. Shiro was nice to us, and by then the Kerberos mission had left and they had been declared dead. And Keith didn't seem at all that bad. Then I made the mistake of saying that he was pretty, and my dad went ballistic. He started beating up on me, and I was scared. He yelled at me for hours." James was kind of shaking a bit now, and Ryan looked worried. "You don't need to tell me everything now-"

"No, if I don't say it now I never will. I came back to the Garrison, determined to be the best. I thought my dad would scream at me again if I wasn't. I tried ignoring Keith, but it was impossible. I found myself subconsciously staring at him, and I couldn't deny that I liked him. but if I told my dad that, I thought he might kill me. I eventually started talking to Keith, and I liked him even more. Then, since all the stuff my dad had said was stuck in my head, when he got us in trouble, I insulted him. we got in the fight, and soon after he was kicked out. But he still hung out at the Garrison, with Adam and Pidge. I apologized, and we started being friendly. I finally got the nerve to ask him out. He said yes, and I was so happy. But then he didn't show. I waited forever, but he wasn't there. Then him and the others were missing, then dead. My dad became even more prideful, since now I was the best. But then, if I got anything less than perfect, he got mad. He didn't hit me, but he yelled for hours. I left and didn't look back. then the video happened, and all my feelings came rushing back to me. then the Galra attacked. Then they came back. And when I saw him, I couldn't help it. He looked even better than before, but I was still mad. So then, it happened." James finished.

I was shocked, and so was Ryan. "Wow. You're right, that is a lot. But why didn't you say anything about your dad?" James let out a shakey laugh. "I was gonna be out of the house soon. It didn't matter. And he was still my dad, I loved him. Didn't want him to get in trouble. I haven't seen or heard from him since. I don't even know if he's alive." "Wow. That's rough buddy." Ryan said. James smiled and shoved his shoulder. "You did NOT just quote Avatar to me." Ryan laughed. "I did. Now, what are you gonna do about Keith?" James sighed. "I don't know. I think he and Lance have something. Did you see the way he was looking at me at dinner? Like he wanted to kill me." Ryan laughed. "Yeah, right. No, I think he likes Keith. And he probably hasn't told him, and was planning to now. But then you appear and kiss him, so now he's jealous." I sucked in a breath. Lance liked me too? What the hell? Was there any pretty boy who didn't like me? "Yeah, sure. But he spent more time with Keith, and has a better chance than I do." James said. "They might be dating for all we know."  "Ooh, drama. If they are, you just kissed his boyfriend. He has a magic lion. He can kill you and make it look like an accident." Kinkade said with a smile. James laughed, throwing back his head. He had a nice laugh. "Well then I'm dead. I'm gonna go." He said, standing. Kinkade smiled and threw his shirt at him "Put some clothes on! Last time you went out there shirtless you gave some poor kids nosebleeds." James smiled and caught the shirt. "Can you blame them? Look at me." He said jokingly, flexing a bit. Kinkade laughed. "Get out." "Alright alright, I am." James said, pulling his shirt on and walking out.

Then Ryan looked directly at me. "How much did you hear?" He asked. Holy shit, he knew I was there? No, he was just talking out loud. "I know you're there Keith. Come out." "I'm gay." I said, stepping out of the equipment. Ryan smiles. "Not what I meant but okay. How much did you hear?" I shrugged, sitting down. "All of it. How'd you know I was there?" "I heard your breath hitch when he stripped. You won't say anything right?"  I nodded. "Of course not. I had no idea." "No one did. James doesn't talk much about anything before you guys disappeared. Now I know why." I nodded. "So what are you gonna do?" He asked. I groaned. "I don't know. I don't know how I feel. About him or Lance. I just need some time to figure all this out." Ryan nodded. "Of course. Just make sure that you make the right choice." 

With that, he stood and walked out, leaving me to my thoughts. But I always did my best thinking when I was moving. "Computer, start training sequence 15." Best to start easy. The robot materialized, and I summoned my bayard, running at him. I need this.