Parenting can be tough. Have Shiro or Keith been so stressed out that they overreacted to something one of the kid's did/didn't do and punished them unfairly? Only to realize later they were in the wrong and apologized?
[The Voltron Family] Keith was sat on the bar stool, rubbing his eyes. He was so tired, so damn tired. Lance was standing right in front of him going hysterical.
“What do you mean I can’t go?!” Lance asked in such an offensive tone.
“It means you can’t go, Lance,” Keith said again for the 5th time.
“I worked so hard to win this contest that required arts and crafts to get these VIP tickets and you’re telling me I can’t go?!”
“It’s in Germany. Did this contest offer to pay for your plane ticket going there and your place to stay?” Keith challenged. Lance didn’t answer. “I’ll take that as a no. And because of that, you cannot go.”
“If I was Hunk you would’ve said yes but since I’m the middle child with no achievements I get a no. How unfair can you get?!” Lance shouted and then he started tearing up. “I work so hard for the things I love and I don’t even get recognition for it! THOSE ARE VIP TICKETS! FOR THEIR REUNION CONCERT!! NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO WIN THOSE BUT I DID!! I DID!! AND THE ONLY THING STANDING IN MY WAY IS YOU!!!” He pointed at Keith angrily. “STOP ACTING LIKE MY FATHER BECAUSE YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO REPLACE HIM!!”
Keith went still, then he clenched his fist. “I am not trying to replace your father. You know that, Lance.”
“THEN STOP TRYING TO BE!” Lance shouted and then left to go to his room.
“Well, that didn’t go well,” Shiro’s voice suddenly filled the air.
Keith turned to his right and quickly wiped his eyes. “Oh, hey. Welcome home,” he tried greeting in a cheerful manner but his tears betrayed him.
That broke Shiro’s heart. He quickly made his way to his husband and cupped his cheeks to wipe his tears. “Baby.”
“I’m fine,” Keith rolled his eyes.
“No, you’re not. It’s fine to admit it once in a while,” Shiro said softly. He hugged Keith for a while then let out a long sigh. “I’m going to ground him.”
“Shiro, don’t,” Keith said sounding so exhausted.
“What he did was wrong, Keith.”
“Third time,” Keith muttered and he looked up to see Shiro looking at him confused. “That’s the third time he said that I should stop acting like his father.”
Shiro gritted his teeth. “I swear to god that boy—”
“He already hates me, okay? I shouldn’t have been so hard on him. I knew he worked hard for that contest. I know that. I’ve seen him work on it for two months. But he’s going to be alone with no supervision in Europe of all places!” Keith let out exasperatedly, then he turned to Shiro.
—
“That was honestly the best concert of my life! And I got to meet the band too. I might have fanboyed more than what I have expected,” Lance cried out as Shiro picked him up at the Lanxess Arena. He kissed him on the cheek as he put on his seat belt. “Thank you so much, Daddy Shiro. You’re the best!”
Shiro just smiled back.
—
“Daddy Keith?” Lance called out as he entered Keith’s study room. His Dad was working on a manuscript.
“How was the concert, Lance? Did you have fun?” Keith asked, not looking up from his papers. When Lance didn’t say a word, he looked up only to see that his teenage son was crying and he was trying to wipe his tears with his sleeves. “What am I going to do with you? You cry if I don’t allow you to go and you cry when you’re allowed—”
“I’m sorry,” Lance cried. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so so sorry.” He balled up his fist and he was shaking.
Keith sighed, placing his pen down.
“You paid… for my… p-plane ticket,” Lance choked up between his tears.
“I did, yes,” Keith confirmed. “You don’t have a job, so obviously someone had to pay for it.”
Keith sounded so distant that Lance felt shittier than ever. He knew they weren’t going to be okay anytime soon, considering he’d been avoiding his Dad for a couple of weeks prior to the concert date. He tried to stop his stupid crying as he took out a photo. “Y-you asked if I had fun and um…” he approached Keith’s table and slid the photo. “H-here’s proof that I met the band and—”
“Lance, shut up and come here.”
He looked up and he felt a new batch of tears as he saw his Dad smiling at him, arms open wide. They both apologized to each other and it ended with Lance telling Keith all about his experience in Germany.
[PART 02]
