Work Text:
"Kinship"
Kolivan ran his hand down his face in utter defeat. This was the worst possible news he could have received, aside from the Empire acquiring the coordinates for their headquarters or one of his kits being tortured or dying. Okay, maybe it wasn't that horrible, but it was still pretty bad. He had to inform his pack. He trudged through the halls, wishing that he didn't have to deliver the news.
He entered the nest room, and his mood was immediately noticed by his mate. Antok drew Kolivan into his arms and nuzzled him. "'Van? What's the matter?"
"I just received horrible news."
That got everyone's attention. His three kits gathered around, each one throwing out suggestions as if they were trying to guess what it was.
"Was a base compromised?"
"Did the Empire conquer another world?"
"Did they discover our coordinates?"
"Did one of our operatives get captured?" The last one received an eyebrow raise, because it didn't come from a kit. Thace looked at Kolivan and shrugged. "What?"
"It was none of those things, my kits. We are still safe and uncompromised." Kolivan sighed. "However, a very important Blade is coming."
"And this is a bad thing?" Keith asked.
"To me, it is," Kolivan replied.
Antok chuckled and unbraided Kolivan's braid. "When is she getting here?"
"It'll be any dobosh. She knows how to get through to the base without having to wait for the route to be transmitted."
Keith was intrigued. Someone who could navigate the perils of the twin black holes and the giant blue star without a map was someone he was interested in meeting, but one thing still confused him. "But you said this was horrible news?"
Kolivan sighed. "She's my mother."
The three kits looked at each other in confusion and then looked at their mom. Krolia even had her head cocked in confusion. Keith retreated to his mom's side. Ever since he was reunited with his mother, he couldn't ever imagine he would never want to see her. His siblings gathered around him and their mom as well, thinking along the same lines.
Kolivan realized as he watched the kits that he wasnt explaining things well. Antok took pity on his mate and decided to explain for him. "Kolivan doesn't get along with his mother. She tends to be overbearing. By the way, 'Van, did she say why she was coming?"
"She heard about the kits and wants to meet 'her grandkits.'"
"'Grandkits?' But we're not related?"
Krolia nuzzled Keith, paying special attention to his cheek stripes. "Packs may not be related but all the kits in a pack belong to all of the adults."
Keith looked at Kolivan. "So, all four of you are like my Dads?"
"In a way, yes, kit," Ulaz rumbled to all the kits, Keith especially.
Kolivan's data pad lit up with a video request. Hesitantly, Kolivan answered it. A beautiful female Galra appeared. She had the same color fur Kolivan had and even had the same white strands but wore hers in a loose bun that reminded Keith of Allura. Her eyes roved over the group, softening when she saw the three kits. She tore her eyes off the kits and looked at Kolivan. "Koli, where are you? I'm here, and you weren't here to greet me."
"Mother, I had to tell the whole pack about your visit. You surely don't want to distress your grandkits by appearing without warning."
The Galra grinned. "I'm only joking, Koli. You certainly inherited your father's sense of humor. Now, open your door. I'm actually right outside."
The link terminated, and Kolivan sighed, getting up and opening the door. His mother, Khrelol, entered and nuzzled her son. He returned her nuzzles, prompting her to softly purr to him. "I missed you, Koli." She looked around the nest room at the other adults. "Still keeping my son in line, Antok?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She spotted the other pair of mates, Ulaz and Thace, to whom she just nodded. She saw Krolia, around whom the three kits were gathered. Khrelol approached the kits and looked over each one. She paused and stared at Keith. Before she could say anything, a soft growl came from Krolia. It wasn't angry, but it definitely carried a warning if she said anything negative about Keith. Krolia wrapped her arms around her youngest.
Khrelol simply smiled at Krolia. "Do not fear, Krolia. I know how protective mothers can be over their kits. I was simply admiring his cheek stripes. They compliment his beautiful eyes."
Krolia stopped growling and unwrapped her arms slowly. Khrelol beckoned the kits over to her side. All three kits looked at Krolia for assurance that it was safe. After getting that assurance, they crowded around Kolivan's mother. "What are your names, kits?"
"Regris."
"Acxa."
"Keith, Acxa's twin."
"I am Khrelol, Kolivan's mother, but you can call me Nenan."
"Nenan?" Keith tested out the foreign word.
"It translates to grandmother, kit," Thace supplied.
Antok slipped behind Kolivan, while Khrelol was busy with the kits. He started rebraiding Kolivan's white strands while softly rumbling to him. Kolivan fought the urge to lean against his mate. Once the white strands were bound in their usual braid, Antok tugged Kolivan back against his chest and nuzzled his neck. "It's okay, 'Van. She is only staying for a little while, right?"
"I honestly have no idea, 'Tok."
Loud purring drew their attention back to Khrelol and their kits. All of their kits were purring as they were getting affection. Khrelol locked eyes with her son. "Koli, I love our kits. I'm considering moving back to the main base."
Kolivan couldn't help his ears drooping slightly at the pronouncement. Khrelol laughed at her son's reaction. "I'm only joking, my kit. You are far too serious. You need to lighten up."
Antok nuzzled Kolivan's neck. "'Van, I love your mother."
Kolivan buried his face in Antok's chest. He couldn't wait until his mother left. She was so embarrassing. He wasn't sure his dignity and pride could take much more of a beating.
Fin