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Food sizzled as the meat hit the pan. The oils swished as the pan shifted on top of the stove while the spoon stirred the ingredients. Smells drifted through the small kitchen and Hunk took in a big whiff of the food, savoring the mingling of flavors.
“What are you up to?”
“I’m cooking food for Keith,” Hunk said in response to what Lance said.
“Why?”
“Because he’s been down on the dumps since Shiro disappeared. Again.”
“Yeah, well, he just needs to get over himself.”
“That’s not—” Hunk frowned, unsure of how to respond to his best friend.
“He’s not the only one affected by Shiro’s disappearance you know, but we came back to Earth for a replacement pilot such as Shiro’s younger brother Ryo Shirogane, although how we’re going to get in contact with him when he’s all the way in Japan I don’t know.”
“I know. We are as well, but we weren’t as close...”
“You know who’s close to Shiro? His family. But because of all this secrecy we couldn’t tell anybody he’s disappeared again, can we? Even before we all got back we knew the garrison wouldn’t have told his family he was actually alive, yet the person we’re all worried about is Keith.”
“I’m still taking him food.” Hunk pulled food out of the oven underneath the stove, taking a deep breath.
“Whatever. Do you even know where he is?”
“He had to leave an address with the garrison so they could get in contact with him, but they refused to let him go back to that shack in the desert as they’re not sure if they’d be able to contact him.”
“Yeah, but how are you going to get ahold of that information.”
Hunk gave Lance a big grin. “I already have thanks to Pidge. You want to come with me?”
“No thanks. There are other things I’d rather waste my time doing.”
“Whatever floats your boat.” Hunk started packing the food up, pleased that the teachers at the garrison let him use the range to fix something that he might take to Keith let alone containers to keep the food warm. His spirits were high until he saw the name on the nameplate for the place Keith was staying. “Oh.”
Shiro’s full name was quite clearly displayed, making Hunk look up at the door, suddenly worrying about his fellow paladin. Shaking his head, he headed toward the front door, ringing the doorbell while thinking of what he should say to Keith. The door opened and... “Oh. You cut your hair.”
“Do I know you?”
“Very funny Keith.” Hunk noticed Keith’s red pilot's jacket was also missing.
“That explains the misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“My name’s not Keith.”
“Very funny, Keith. By the way, I brought you some food. Kind of worried because you’re upset Shiro’s disappeared again.”
“What do you mean Takashi’s disappeared again?”
Hunk’s eyes blinked while he held the food out. Nobody called Shiro by his first name that Hunk knew of, particularly Keith. “Um?”
The person in front of him stared, then said. “I told you, I’m not Keith. My name is...”
“Ryo, who’s at the door?” Which, like the person in front of him sounded like Keith.
The person in front of him turned his head, but Hunk couldn’t help but think the name was familiar. “One of your friends, Akira.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Hunk watched the person’s nostrils flare. “That is your name.”
“How many times do I have to tell you my name’s Keith?”
“Before I start calling you that?” Air released from Ryo’s mouth, definitely mocking the idea. “Like, never.”
“I’m confused.”
Ryo glanced back, tilting his head. “Akira confuses most people.”
“It’s...” From around the corner, Keith appeared, his eyes blinking. “Oh. Hunk. Hi.”
“I see you finally managed to make a friend,” Ryo turned into the house, lifting his hand into the air in a dismissive manner yet still indicating he should follow. “Since you took the time to come and see him—definitely a first, come on in.”
Hunk frowned, following Ryo into the place. Ryo tilted his head towards the kitchen. “You can put whatever you brought over there, though this is kind of a bit odd. I’ve never had friends bring me food, so what are your intentions with Akira.”
“Hunk does all the cooking at the Castle of Lions,” Keith responded.
Ryo’s facial features suddenly darkened. “You’ve mentioned that already, but you didn’t say anything about Takashi. What kind of joke is this?” Ryo turned and looked at Hunk. “You aren’t playing some kind of cruel joke on him? Akira’s...”
“It’s Keith.”
“Whatever. He’s got a tendency to believe some really weird things.”
“Wait. You’re Ryo Shirogane, aren’t you?” Hunk interrupted, setting the food down. He carefully removed the various food items. “I didn’t know what you liked Keith. You don’t do a lot of talking.”
“That’s normal, but all I’ve gotten out of him is that he thinks I should pilot a lion—whatever that is—for this Castle of Lions, but I’m hoping...”
“Does this mean one of your parents is also an alien?” Hunk blurted out.
He watched Keith flinch while Ryo’s eye twitched. Ryo’s tone of voice changed as well. “A-ki-ra!”
“Did I say something wrong?” Hunk asked.
“How the hell did he actually convince you that our mother is an alien?”
“My mother,” Keith muttered.
“Or are you encouraging him in this delusion of his, because that I can’t ever forgive you know?”
“We’re not related.”
“What do you mean we’re not related!” Ryo yelled. “You’re my fucking twin brother!”
“You’ve said multiple times in the past that we’re not related.”
“When I’m fucking mad at you!”
“Quiznack. Could you not use that language?”
“You...”
“So, Shiro is your older brother?” Hunk asked, knowing Lance would be jealous yet would also have to eat his words regarding what he said earlier/
“Yes,” Ryo grumbled.
“No.,” Keith said. “He’s like a brother though.”
“You!”
“Doesn’t this mean though that Shiro is also part Galra?” Hunk asked.
Keith turned his attention to Hunk. “Um. No? We’re not...”
“Akira Shirogane! Would you stop...”
“Keith Ko-ga-ne!” Keith snapped.
“How about we eat?” Hunk smiled only for Ryo to look at him like he felt the food contained poison. Hunk frowned, but then reached for his phone, flicking through until he found a picture of food goo. He shoved the phone towards Ryo. “It can’t be as bad as this!”
“What the hell is that?” Ryo shuddered.
Keith leaned over. “Food goo. Specifically, the food we had to eat unless Hunk cooked something. Altean food rations I guess? Can we eat? I like Hunks food.”
“You like...” Ryo looked at Keith, then let out a sigh. “Fine.”
Hunk bustled about, searching out the needed utensils until the food was on the plates while Ryo stared at the food, thinking it was still poison. Keith didn’t hesitate in digging in, but he seemed to be in a much better mood than Hunk thought he would be, but then he started picking at his food. “I thought you said you liked his food.”
“I do, but...”
“Shiro?” Hunk asked.
“He’s alive.”
“This again?” Ryo sighed, pinching his nose and closing his eyes. “He’s not. I don’t know who’s pulling your leg, but...”
“Hold on. I’ve got a picture of that too.” Hunk started flicking through the pictures on his phone.
“Hunk...” Keith, for some reason, didn’t seem happy about this. “Maybe...”
The picture was now in front of Ryo, who stared. He then set down his fork, the fork clinking. “He’s...”
“I’m sorry,” Keith muttered. “That I couldn’t bring him home. That he’s...”
“Don’t apologize,” Ryo muttered. “And eat. Takashi will be mad if you don’t.”
Hunk watched Keith’s eyes widen before he started eating, though without the gusto he hoped for. “That’s kind of mean.”
“It works,” Ryo muttered. “That was definitely our brother.”
Keith didn’t debate what Ryo said, but then Hunk thought he looked like he was elsewhere. “It is.”
There were also so many questions. Ryo stabbed his food, but before he started eating, he muttered. “I guess I’ve got to get the garrison to read me in on whatever’s going on. Certainly not letting them send Akira back into whatever mess he’s gotten himself into on his own.”
“Uh-huh,” Hunk frowned.
“So you’ll see if one of the lions will let you be a paladin?”
“That doesn’t make any sense, but whatever.” Ryo rolled his eyes. “If the garrison reads me in.
“Do you think Lance will be okay with that?” Keith asked.
“I guess? I mean, he is Shiro’s younger brother, and he did suggest him to be the piolet, so...”
“Oh. Good.” Keith continued eating.
“Akira’s his younger brother as well,” Ryo muttered.
Hunk smiled, deciding to focus on eating rather than pointing out the fact Lance didn’t know Keith was Shiro’s younger brother let alone that having Ryo on the team would mean having not one, but two Keith’s in a way. Hunk let out a deep sigh. “And this was because I decided to make food to cheer up Keith.”