Chapter Text
The Rightly named Garrison Trio was known for a lot of things. If one asked the students they would tell of how Pidge always isolated themselves, of how the boy was always focused on something else during classes but still aced the exams. They would tell of how the boy nicknamed Hunk was probably the nicest guy they would ever have the pleasure of meeting, and of how whenever any other students felt down he always knew just what to say. Or of how Lance knew of everyone secrets despite many not even having a single conversation with the guy, and of how his flirtations were never meant to be taken seriously as the guy seemed to always just want to make friends. How everyone hopes they will one day come back home safely, if at all. If one asked the instructors they would tell of the pranks Gunderson and Mclain would pull, and of how Garret was the most promising engineer they had seen for decades. Or of the lost potential when they went missing.
If one asked the Mcclains and Garrets about the now infamous night they would tell of how they received the news. Of the phone call made to Mrs. Garret that sealed the fate of her only child. The feeling of her heart crushing when they told her they were going to have to stop looking. They would tell of the letter the Mcclains got that sent Mariposa into tears at the news of her favorite uncle's disappearance. Of the question of waning hope from the youngest members too little to understand the implication of the words. Of how Mrs. Garret came to live with them shortly after. Of the rage at the realization that the words sent were so insincere. Of how every single family member could recite the news verbatim.
We regret to inform you that your son Lancelot C. Mcclain/Tsuyoshi H. Garret has gone Missing in Action after the date ##/##/#### during a lockdown procedure. We have spent many days searching for your son and his team members. If the party does not return soon with good news the United States Government will be forced to terminate the search, at which time it will be best for you to assume that your son will not be returning home anytime soon. We are sorry for your loss.
However, despite all of this no one could doubt that the trio had some… odd quirks about them. Pidge never seemed to sleep as his was room always filled with various lights and sounds. How Hunk was surprisingly fast as he was always the first one to any location. How Lance could be undeniably scary when he truly got angry yet seconds later appeared completely unfazed by anything. One thing did stand out about the rooming duo of the trio. They seemed to both have a similar nervous twitch. Hunk would knock on his desk ever so slightly and lance would tap his fingers in an oddly rhythmic pattern.
They never stopped. Teacher's eyes had twitched, students had complained, parents asked. The response was always the same.
"I guess we picked it up together. We're pretty anxious people and we've always hung out with each other. Even as little kids. So, when one of us picked it up the other followed. There's nothing else to it".
Except there was. Only a handful had ever figured it out and they were sworn to secrecy. That didn't stop the whole thing from being a little ridiculous and more than a few chuckles to unwillingly come out.
Hunk was a smart guy. Always had been. So when Lance approached him about having a secret code when they were around 5 years old he immediately agreed. If anyone was to say that the Holts were the best at using codes then they must never have heard of the amazing duo that is Lance and Hunk the latter muses to himself. They have tried out everything. Made up languages, real, yet obscure, languages, Latin, Gaelic, Morse code, sign, a mix and match system of codes and languages, heck they even tried color-coded letters. That was a confusing week.
But the favorite of the two had to be the knock code. It was simple, yet so time-consuming if masked correctly no one would bat an eye. They used it during family outings, classrooms, on the vents so that it could be heard throughout buildings, warnings, and most recently Voltron meetings. Which brings Hunk back to the present.
Lance taps out in numerical order next to him. 5:4, 3:4, 4:5, swirl (space), 3:1, 2:4, 4:3, 4:4, 1:5, 3:3, 2:4, 3:3, 2:2, fingers in a line and he's done.
(You listening?) Hunk knocks in response.
(To you or Allura?) More taps.
(Me duh)
(Well…)
(Seriously? Were you at least paying attention to the Princess?) Hunk gives him a bashful look at the corner of his eye. Lance hums.
(I have a feeling that the meetings almost over. Talk to you in the kitchen?)
(Hell to the yes) Hunk knocks back. He coughs into his hand signaling the end of the conversation. He looks up to see Shiro stand up and tell the team to go to relax after the latest successful mission. Pidge immediately run out of the room. Keith takes his knife off the table in order to follow Shiro to the training room. Hunk and Lance stand up at the same time and make simple talk until their out of the room at which they fall silent.
It's not an uncomfortable silence but not a comfortable one. The duo knows that as soon as they are in the kitchen they will be having a long thoughtful conversation on what was said right under their teammate's noses.
Neither necessarily wants to talk but knows that they have to and that sooner is better. They understand that war is hell and if they don't take the appropriate steps to talk to someone about their problems that will lose whatever sanity is left after each battle. If they are ever to get home they need to confide in one another. Whether it be through language or code. It needs to get done.
Hunk gulps in a deep set of air and lets out a strained sigh. Lance glances up and shoots a rare genuine smile to his best friend. Most would say that Lance smiles a lot. But Hunk knows better. That smile is real. There's a sadness to it that makes it real. But a hope is there as well, a hope for the future, and the courage to face the present. They reach the door and Hunk feels that things are going to be okay. He puts his hand on the scanner and prepares for the long, long, long talk between the two. At least he has a ton of materials for baking and his best friend to get him through it.