Chapter Text
“That sounds like something we had on Altea,” Coran chimes in from the computer. “It was used to help hybrids. It would make it so the hybrid would match ages to the parent with a longer life span.”
Keith makes an odd sound in the back of his throat, “How long do Galra live.”
“Around a thousand of your earth years.” Ulaz explains. Petting the top of his head. Keith hisses and swats his hand off.
Ulaz smiles and shakes his head, “Coran, what do you think will happen to Keith?”
Coran shrugs, “It’s never been given to such a gap before. I don’t think it’s strong enough to change him.”
“Humans live for around a hundred years?”
Keith nods, “More like eighty but yeah.”
“For the sake of simplicity let’s go with a hundred, in years you are eighteen, but if we put the lifespan of a galra into human years you would be about two.”
“Oh.” Keith chirps, “That’s… weird.”
Ulaz hums, “Do you feel strange?”
Shrugging he nods, “I guess, but everything feels weird.”
“I would put him in a healing pod.” Coran suggests, “It looks like your Galra traits are showing up more. It’ll speed things up and be safer.”
“He’s growing a tail.”
“What!”
“Wonderful! Then definitely a healing pod.”
Keith pokes at his tail bone and shudders when something shifts under the skin.
“Can I help move you?” Ulaz asks, extending a hand.
Taking his hand Keith slowly walks with him over to one of the flight chairs. Ulaz takes the one next to him. At some point in the flight Keith nods off.
When he awakes he’s in the med bay of the castle. There’s an empty healing pod being cleaned out by Coran.
Looking back up at the ceiling Keith feels his ears twitch. Fur fluffs up in surprise.
“Ok that is adorable,” Pidge laughs.
Bolting upright he nearly toples of the table. Shiro reaches out to stabilize him.
Placing his hand on Shiro’s, Keith’s breath hitches. Why is he so small…Screaming he slides back. Falling over he smacks his head on the side of the table.
Tears fill his eyes as someone picks him up and checks the back of his head. Something coils around his waist, a tail. Growling he squirms around, a hand comes up. Biting down he freezes.
“It’s ok.” Shiro murmurs as he pulls his prosthetic out of Keith’s mouth.
“What happened?” Keith snaps, “And put me down.”
Coran walks over, “It’s reversible. It’s synthesizing now. It’ll be ready in about a week.”
“Thats, that’s good.” Keith breaths, “So what happened?”
“Well you got your Galra traits.” He holds a mirror out for Keith to look.
His eyes have taken the normal look for a Galra hybrid. Human irises and pupils but bright yellow sclera. His skin a light purple. A few patches of his normal skin color remain but the majority is purple. His teeth have sharpened into fangs. His ears have stretched into points with thick tufts of fur on the ends.
And his tail. It’s thin. About the size of his wrist at the widest point. Covered in strips of lilac and a dark purple almost black matching his hair.
The most notable difference is the fur. A Thick, soft coat of fur covering most of his body. “I look like a puff ball.”
“A puff ball.” Pidge nods, “Ulaz said it’s for protection. Kits have thick fur to protect from the cold and to help protect their skin from their claws.”
Keith’s ears pick up at the mention of the Galra.
“Thace, Kolivon, and Antok are on the way, they should be here any moment.” Coran explains.
“Can I go?” Keith asks.
“No reason to hang around here,” Coran shrugs, “You're free to go.”
Keith nods in thanks, slowly standing up he wobbles as his tail flicks out for balance. He waddles to the wall and starts walking back to his room.
When he reaches the elevator he freezes. Shiro presses the button.
Turning to him he looks up, and up and up, and glares, “I don’t need your help.”
“Ok…” Shiro hums, “Where are you headed?”
“To ma room.” He huffs. The elevator dings and they step in.
Shiro press the button and Keith sits on the floor.
“You ok?”
“Don’t baby me.” Keith snaps, “I’m fine. Just worn out…”
Shiro nods, “Ok. can I help you?”
“You aren’t going to leave me alone?”
“Sorry but no.”
Keith groans. After a moment he stands up.
The elevator dings a moment later. And they walk out.
Looking down the hallway Keith wimpers silently, it’s a long walk. It’s a pain when he’s tired. But when he’s tiny and tired… oh no.
“Do you want to go to my room?” Shiro asks. “It’s right over here.”
After a moment Keith shakes his head no. Then he sticks his hands up. “Can you bring me to my room?”
“Of course,” Shiro moves to pick him up, then he pauses, “Do you want a piggyback ride?”
Keith nods. That’s way better than walking and isn’t too kiddy.
Once they make it to Keith’s room Keith gets down and closes the door in Shiro's face.
Pulling his blanket off the bed he huddles under the bed. The panic he’s been holding off setts in. He’s a kid. Not only a kid but a baby Galra.
After a while his door slides open. Sniffing the air he recognizes his pack… pack?
Thace crouches down and looks under the bed, “Can you come out?”
Keith slowly crawls out from under the bed.
“he is tiny.” Antok huffs. Keith shrinks back. Shiro was tall but Antok is on a whole other level. All the Galra are.
“He has a human frame with Galra trates.” Ulaz explains.
Antok nod.
Purring Thace calls Keith over, “how are you?”
Keith wrinkles his nose.
“I see,” Thace chuffs as he reaches down.
Keith let’s him pet his head fur. A purr rumbles from his chest.
“Would you like to come to the nest?” Kolivon asks.
Keith nods. He’s not sure why he wants to go to the blanket pile the blades call a bed, but he does.
As they walk over Antok scoops him into his arms and Keith feels himself nodding off.
It’s safe.
He’s warm and has his pack.
When he wakes up he’s in a different outfit. It’s more comfortable. But he doesn’t like the fact that someone changed his clothes. He must have made a noise since Ulaz pats his head and explains.
Antok’s tail thumps under a blanket.
Keith pauses. Watching it with his eyes.
Flicking it to the side, Antok grins.
Keith pounces. Trying to catch the tail in his hands.
Then it dissolves into a sort of tussle. Play fighting with the adult galra.
It was fun… surprisingly.
It helped him get a feel for his new body and instincts.
_______
The next few days are spent figuring things out. It's been a lot to take in at once.
Lance and Hunk had gone to the space mall to get him clothing and they got him a few stuffed animals as well.
He appreciates the gesture.
The others are doing their best, but sometimes they do treat him like a kid. Of course they have to do it sometimes, like the time he almost fell down the grand staircase.
That was bad.
Thankfully the cure was made ahead of schedule. So he gets the shot. Then he heads into the healing pod.
It works.
The galra traits stuck around, but back at his normal height, and far less fluffy. Keith is content, the changes are a part of him.