Chapter Text
“We’re here.”
Keith opens his eyes when his social worker, Kolivan says this. Keith looks to the house in front of him and thinks it’s not bad. It isn’t the biggest house he has lived in, but those mean more foster kids, no the house is average in size probably has about four bedrooms. Nice, he thinks, less people.
Kolivan points to his ears telling Keith to remove his ear buds, Keith sticks his mp3 player into his pocket but continues to stare out the window. Kolivan speaks anyways, “I have met with this couple may times and they seem like nice people. I want you to give them a chance okay?” Keith shrugs.
Kolivan sighs and opens the car door to step out. Keith takes a deep breath but follows after him. The couple walks out and all he can think is woah. The girl is beautiful with her tan skin and hair that is practically silver. She is wearing a blue summer dress that flows around her knees. The guy is big and muscular with a bit of white hair and a scar on his face and a prosthetic arm, he is wearing a white shirt that hugs his muscles. They look like the ideal summer couple and Keith feels out of place in his black shirt and ripped black skinny jeans and his combat boots. He looks to the ground when they approach, holding tight to the strap of his bag.
Kolivan speaks up, “Shiro, Allura great to see you again!” He shakes their hands, “I would like you to meet Keith.”
Allura speaks to him first, “Keith it is so nice to finally meet you!” She goes for a hug but sees him tense up so she stops, “We have heard so much about you.”
Keith knows what that means, that means they have read his file and knows that he has been to multiple foster homes since the age of seven usually having to leave because of “disciplinary problems” they know he has a temper and knows who he got it from.
Shiro is helping his social worker gather his things from the trunk, but when he sees Shiro holding his box of art supplies, Keith immediately reacts, “Careful with that!” He snatches it from Shiro’s hands and holds it close to himself.
“Keith!” Kolivan begins to scold Keith, “That’s no way to-”
“No it’s fine,” Shiro cuts her off, “It’s important to him.”
Keith looks up to him and sees the sincerity in his eyes, all he can do is mumble a quiet, “Yeah.”
Shiro gives him a small smile, “Why don’t we all go inside, we will show Keith to his room and make sure all the paperwork is in order.”
Everyone seems to agree and begin to walk inside, Shiro stays to talk to Kolivan and Allura brings him upstairs to his room. When he opens the door he looks around. It’s not that bad of a room. It is pretty big in size. There is a queen size bed in the corner with a grey bedspread. Across the other side of the room there is a white dresser and a desk. There is white walls with white carpet and a window along the wall. It is a bland room but at least he has it all to himself.
“You can paint it if you like.” Allura says.
Keith finally looks at her, shocked, “R-really?”
Allura smiles, “Of course. It’s your room after all. We will take you to the store to pick up some paints this weekend.”
Keith gives a small smiles at this. He has never been allowed to paint his room before. He has so many ideas already running through his head of what he wants to do, “Thank you.”
Allura smiles bigger, “You’re welcome. When you get unpacked come down and join us and we will get to know each other. Keith nods and with that she leaves to join the others downstairs.
Once she leaves Keith sits down on the bed and sighs, These people seem okay. Allura seems really sweet and Shiro seems… respectful? He didn’t try to take Keith’s art supplies away like one family did, saying it was a “useless hobby”. Allura didn’t try to go through his stuff accusing him of things he would never do. He knows he will be given rules he has to follow. He hopes they don’t have ridiculous rules, like the house with the locked fridge or the the one with the seven o’clock curfew. He unpacts some of his things putting it in drawers and hanging up his shirts in the closets. His clothes are starting to get on the small side but he manages. He doesn’t have a lot of things, only one suitcase of clothes, his bag which only really consist of his sketchbook and his journal. He also has his box of art supplies that he decides to put on the desk for now. He takes out his sketchbook and journal from his bag and puts it under his mattress, he keeps his mp3 player on him because he likes having his music close by.
He heads downstairs but before he enters the kitchen he stops to listen, he hears his social worker give the usual talk, “Keith has been through a lot. He has been to ten different foster homes his nine years in the system. His father wasn’t a good man after his mom past. He sometimes can’t control his anger but he is a good kid. Just show him respect and don’t touch him. Keith does not like to be touched. Let him be the one to initiate any forms of contact” He can’t see them but he knows that Shiro and Allura are nodding. Keith decides now is a good time to walk in and all eyes turn to him he suddenly feels very uncomfortable. Allura speaks, “Already done unpacking?”
Keith shrugs, “Don’t have a lot of stuff.”
Allura’s smile falters at the statement but she continues, “Well we were just finalizing everything.”
Kolivan speaks, “Yes and everything seems to be in order. Keith I will be back in a month to see how everything is going but if you need me for anything call me on the emergency phone I gave you. Do you have it?”
Keith nods and pulls out the flip phone he keeps in his pocket that runs on minutes. It is only used for contacting him so technically he doesn’t have a cell phone. Kolivan smiles and shakes hands with the couple, he looks at Keith fondly one more time before walking out.
Keith is now alone with the couple and isn’t sure what to do, he wants to put his music in but knows that would be rude. Shiro clears his throat, “Have a seat Keith.”
Keith sits down across from them looking down at the table. Allura speaks, “We just want to go over a few rules so we are all on the same page ok?” Keith gives a small nod.
Shiro speaks, “There aren’t crazy rules. No drugs or alcohol in the house for one. Do you do any?”
Keith shakes his head.
Shiro continues, “Curfew is at nine on school nights and eleven on weekends. We would appreciate if you were not out every night because we like to eat dinner together on some nights. If you plan to be out late we would like to be notified about who you are with and where you are.”
Allura chimes in, “We see that you don’t have a phone besides your emergency one so we will be sure to pick on up this weekend while we are out.”
Keith stays silent.
Shiro speaks, “Our final big rule is that we don’t want you to have anyone over without our permission. No sneaking any girls in.”
Keith scoffs at this, “That rule won’t be a problem.”
He looks up slightly to see Shiro and Allura looking at him in confusion. He probably shouldn’t have said that, “I-I’m gay.” He mumbles.
He is worried about what they are going to say next. He puts this together about two foster homes ago and they did not take it well when they caught him kissing a guy. They said he was just trying to cause more trouble and they kicked him out.
But Shiro just smiles, “Then no sneaking any guys in.”
Keith actually fully looks up. He sees them both smiling at him and don’t see them at all mad. He almost smiles back, almost.
They continue on, “Allura and I work at Voltron High School where you will be attending as a junior. I am the AP Physics teacher and the coach of the football team and Allura teaches AP Literature and is the cheer coach. Do you wish to join either of our team?
Keith moves uncomfortably in his seat but tries his hardest not to look down, “You don’t.. want me on your teams.”
Keith has tried sports before, he always has to leave the team because he ends up hurting somebody. They seem to understand this and move on, “Well you are welcome to use the gym at the school if you ever need to.”
Keith is thankful for that. A gym is a good place to get his anger out, a punching bag favors a wall or someone’s face, “Thank you.” Keith says clearly.
They couple smiles and continue talking. They make plans for all they need to get and cover other basics. Keith is actually talking he decides he likes this couple. He decides he will do all he can to stay here for a while.