mazeofrelationships

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Snowed In

[It rarely snows here, but the weather decided to play a joke on them today. It started with a light dusting, but when the snow got heavier the Garrison sent everyone home. Or rather, to Mr. Holt's home because the kids live all over the place and it was too dangerous for them to call for rides home.

Keith happens to be one of those kids. He would have just as soon stayed at the Garrison with Shiro and Adam, but since the Holts need their help keeping order, he's stuck going to a whole new environment with kids who don't like him. A smaller, more cramped one, even if the Holts' house is pretty big.

Everyone's chattering away about something or other. The loud kid's trying to hit on the girls as usual, his chunky friend who seems nice enough is running off to the kitchen to help Mrs. Holt make snacks for them all, his archenemy James is hanging around some other kid and doesn't seem to notice him (thank God).

Shiro and Adam are busy wrangling everyone, trying to keep the panicky kids calm. It'd be selfish of Keith to follow Shiro around all afternoon demanding his attention, so...he might as well try to socialize.]

So, um. Talking about TV?

[Keith's only knowledge of current shows is what he's seen on Shiro's Netflix account. The only cable Dad could afford in the old days was a basic package that picked up channels full of old junk from decades ago, so Keith grew up with stupid 80s sitcoms. And like a dope, he namedrops a few.

The WHAT Prince of where?

Oh, that cartoon my parents watched in the old times.

A cop show? Seriously?

We're just gonna go over here and talk by ourselves, okay?

Yeah, this is why Keith doesn't try harder to make friends, and why the well-meaning but pushy adults in his life have stopped trying to "help" him make friends.

He hears the loud kid laugh derisively, followed by everyone else snickering, and every other little group of kids he approaches ignores him, gives off an air of there's no room for one more, go away, emo freak.

They don't say it, but the message is loud and clear. Keith quietly slips out of the rec room to find a lonely little corner to sit in.]

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[If he were to walk away from all of the chaos, up the stairs and just a bit to the left, he'll find a room with a door slightly ajar. Inside, a slightly older cadet is hunched over a thick biochemistry textbook at a desk, taking notes.

He's got bright red, messy hair, round glasses, and is currently wearing a Galaxy Garrison t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. The room is obviously the room of someone who loves space. On the ceiling, there are glow-stars in familiar constellations, a few starmaps hang on the walls, and the bed is covered in galaxy-print sheets.

At the moment, Matt's completely oblivious to all of chaos going on downstairs. He's just... doing homework.]

[He does go upstairs, to get as far away from the chatter as possible. Keith notices the door and can't help taking as much of a peek inside as he can...and for a moment, he's awestruck. Keith's never been all that into space, but he can't deny it looks cool, and it reminds him of the map Dad had in his room.

He's jerked out of his trance by someone asking who are you, it's a young girl with pigtails and a curious-suspicious expression. Keith, embarrassed at having been caught peeking like a creep, stammers an apology and backs away. He's gone before she can yell after him, looking for that quiet corner to sit in for the rest of...probably the night, if the snow keeps up.]

[Matt's startled out of his studying, getting up and going to follow after the kid. It doesn't take long before he finds him, and squats down next to him.]

Hey. Don't let Katie chase you away. She's just really curious about everything. I'm Matt. You can come back to my room if you want.

[Keith freezes like a deer in the headlights, he's sure he's heard that name before-wait. Dr. Holt's son? He's never met Matt properly before, but he's gotta be important. And the girl-Katie, she's still staring at him.]

It's fine, really. I was just...I'm gonna go sit by myself, you go back to whatever you were doing.

I will do anything to not have to review biochem again, to be honest. I'm only up here with headphones on to get out of the chaos, and keep an eye on Katie.

What's your name? I don't exactly want to keep saying 'hey you' all night.

[Matt's cheerful, obviously grateful to have someone to talk to who's not part of the downstairs chaos.]

[Why is this guy being so nice, doesn't he already know the Garrison's problem child when he sees him?]

Keith, but it doesn't matter. I'm just here cause I've got no parents and they won't let me stay overnight at the Garrison.

[Wait, the Keith?! The one Mr. Shirogane's so interested in? I heard you're the best pilot in your whole class! Katie interjects. Keith smiles bitterly.]

That's me. [Shiro's pet, a waste of talent the universe could've given someone who wasn't a nobody from the orphanage.]

It's good to meet you, Keith. I've heard a lot about you.

[Instead of being pushed away, Matt seems to be even more determined to try to make Keith comfortable.]

All that aside, is there something you'd like to do? I can rescue a movie from downstairs. Dad's got a huge selection of pretty much anything, and I can send Katie to make some popcorn and grab some soda. Or, well, if you have a better idea, I'm all ears.

Sorry to say it's true. [Cause none if it could be any good, no matter how fascinated Katie seems by him]

I-I'd really just rather be alone right now. [It's not a question of what he wants or would like, it's just how he always is. No one else wanted to talk to him, so why should these two? And if they did, they'd just be put off when he slips up and mentions some stupid 80s crap again.]

[Matt just looks at him for a moment, friendly concern on his face.]

I won't push you, but you don't have to run away. The number one rule in this house is that everyone is themselves, and there's nothing wrong with that. Katie's noisy, I'm a huge nerd, Dad waxes poetic about peas sometimes, and Mom has one heck of a temper when you get her going.

So, whatever it is that you don't think we'd like, I promise you that you're wrong.

Maybe you guys are fine with whatever I am, but the rest of the guys here aren't. [He shrugs] It's no big deal, I'm used to no one but Shiro liking me anyway.

[When he says that, Katie's eyes water and for a moment he thinks Matt's gonna turn on him. Big brothers always hate anyone who makes their sister cry. But she's reaching out, putting a hand on his arm, and...what's that on her face?

It's okay. No one at school likes me, either.]

Do we look like we care about what the rest of the people here think of anyone? I'm just the nerdy older cadet, and Katie's a kid.

[Matt's expression turns concerned as well, and he sighs, reaching out to put a hand on his sister's shoulder.]

Yeah, most of the guys at the Garrison don't like me either. Not macho enough or something. It's alright. Really.

[Keith crosses his arms over his chest, reluctant to let his guard down, but he feels slightly less desperate to find that Emo Sulking Corner.]

That sucks.

It's not that I care or anything, though! I just...

[He just wishes for once he didn't have to feel like the loner, like he mattered, like he wasn't the problem child everyone should avoid because even being seen in public with him would ruin their life somehow.]

I'm used to being alone. I wasn't really meant to have friends.

[No sooner do the words leave his mouth than Katie's hugging him, and Keith feels about ten times more awkward]

Yeah. That. You totally care, or you wouldn't be here sulking. And... please come with us? We'd like to get to know you. No one's meant not to have friends.

So... please. What's your favorite kind of movie?

[Very slowly, Keith uncrosses his arms, letting himself relax a little more. It's weird having other kids close to his age want him around, being so nice to him. Then again, if they've been picked on like he is, it kinda makes sense they'd be this nice to one of their own, so to speak.

And he really doesn't want to be all alone for the rest of the day.]

Action-adventure. Like Star Wars, any of the Star Trek films, Indiana Jones, Spaceballs, stuff like that.

[Matt turns to his sister and they share a grin.]

Star Wars is very important in this house. Katie'll go get popcorn, and I'll get things set up in my room, if you want to come with.

Katie and I have played Star Wars together for years. I still don't know why I have to be the princess, but I don't really mind. She likes being Luke.

Really? That's so cool! I used to watch with my Dad, and I always wished I could be Han Solo.

[Katie rushes off to the kitchen to get the snacks. Downstairs, it sounds like Shiro and Adam have their work cut out for them; he hears James yelling, followed by a dog barking, then some girl yelling at the loud kid.]

Sounds great. I bet it'll be much quieter in there.

You'd make a great Han.

[Matt can't help but grin as he leads Keith back to his room, shutting the door and starting to get things prepped for the movie.]

Oh, it totally will. No one comes in here unless I say so, and tonight, it's just you, Katie, and maybe Shiro or my parents. No one else.

Thanks. I'm not as cool as him, but I can at least be a good pilot!

[The room's even more impressive on the inside, and he just stands there for a moment, staring around at everything. It's warm and cozy, and he can't help but smile at a soggy-looking tennis ball in the corner.]

Wow... ...um, is there anything I can do to help? [he's still kinda stiff and fidgety, even if he's definitely more comfortable in here than he was downstairs]

Don't sell yourself short. I think you're pretty cool, and from what I've heard, so do Shiro and Dad.

[Matt shakes his head with a smile.]

Nah, I'm almost done. Just get comfy, and Katie'll be back in a couple minutes.

Really? Heh...I figured Shiro would, he's the closest thing I've got to a friend around here. But if your dad likes me...

[Authority figures tend to back away from problem children]

All right...thanks. [He sits down at the foot of the bed, and moments later Katie's hurrying into the room with a tray of snacks and sodas...and a dog following her. Keith's eyes light up; he's always liked dogs, but he and Dad couldn't afford to get one.]

Oh, so that was your dog? Er, sorry, of course it would be! No one else would be letting their dog hang out outside right now.

Yeah. Dad thinks you're pretty darn sharp.

[Matt grins for a moment as the dog and his sister come in, helping Katie set up sodas and snacks.]

Yeah. His name's actually Gunther, but for whatever reason, Katie called him Bae Bae when she was littler, so he kinda gets called both now.

[Gunther walks over, sniffs at Keith and proceeds to plunk down in his lap. Oops?]

[Katie just shrugs, I thought it sounded cuter! Besides, he IS our baby, he's the best dog in the universe!]

I'll have to thank him, then. I mean, if you don't mind me telling you told me. I know gossip is rude.

[Aaand he's got a dog in his lap! Rather than being awkward, though, Keith immediately reaches down to pet him, relieved when Gunther doesn't freak out.]

He's so soft...I don't get to be around dogs that often. They had a few at the fire station and whenever Dad brought me to work with him I would play with them...but that was only once in a while.

Yeah, say whatever you want. Dad won't mind me saying that, especially if it makes you smile.

[Gunther seems excited by the pets, leaning up to lick Keith's face. Really, he's just glad to be away from that noisy kid who keeps chasing him.]

Hey, you can come over anytime and play with him. I'm sure he'd love the attention.

Really? [Keith might be blushing, he's not used to people being so nice to him!] Thanks...it'd be nice coming over without so many other people around.

[We'd like it, too, Katie's saying, Matt just wants more friends...I don't mind being alone! I'm used to it, but...if you let me hang out I wouldn't say no.

Then she's nudging Gunther-BaeBae so she can sit down, too, hopefully there's room for all of them on the bed. And he doesn't try to eat the snacks, Keith spots chocolate cookies on the tray and he knows chocolate's bad for dogs.]

Absolutely! I'll talk to Mom and see if you can come over for dinner soon.

[Before he can say anything else, he settles on the bed, next to Keith, and the movie starts. Matt has a huge grin on his face as the ever-familiar text starts scrolling.]

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