#i hc Hunk's paretns to be in a poly relationship:

[thestarmaptoyou]

I’m actually, finally slogging my way through s7---wait, no. I take that back.

I’ve finally put s7 on in the background while I write, I’ve got about three episodes left, and honestly? It’s such a shit show.

While I was in my shower today, I literally started fantasizing about all the scenes I would change to make things better. I just meant to do a bullet list of them, but then I got carried away and wrote out the two that were standing out the most (right now) in my head. This got longer than I anticipated (oh well).

First, this should have been there from the get-go, but make Hunk a girl. We get one (1) beefy lady in the show, and she’s on the “bad” side. Keep everything about Hunk the same (except far less food jokes.... please), but now a girl. This takes away from Pidge feeling like the “token” female Paladin, which is ridiculous anyway. This also makes her “reveal” in s1 less about being a girl and more about... well...

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you guys,” Pidge said, not meeting any of their eyes. “I’m... not really a boy.”

Keith’s eyebrows went up, but he seemed utterly unsurprised by this statement. “So? Hunk’s not a boy, either.”

“Yeah,” Hunk said, beaming and flexing one arm. “There’s nothing wrong at all with being a girl. Where would you all be without the stability and homeyness I bring to the team?”

Finally, Pidge looked up and looked at them, face screwed up with a tangle of emotions. “I---I don’t think I’m a girl, either.”

Coran and Allura exchanged a glance. The princess turned a knowing look back to Pidge, mouth tugging up on one side in a smile. “You know, the universe isn’t a binary place; it’s not just one or the other. Why, the Zubluan species alone has five sexes and at least seventeen genders, and if you told the people of Ansoii that they had to choose only one gender to be, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t get invited to any of their parties.” At the confused looks, she added with a shrug, “The Ansoii fluctuate their genders based on personal and partner preferences.”

“But,” Pidge objected, bringing all their attentions back, “I’m not a Zubluan or an Ansoii. I don’t... I’m not sure what I am.”

“Well, I do.”

Surprised, Pidge whirled to look at Lance, leaning his hip against the table and with his arms folded across his chest.

Shiro cleared his throat to indicate they were all waiting for him to continue. “You’re Pidge, Paladin of the Green Lion,” Lance explained.

“Lance is right,” Shiro said, his face softening into a small smile. “You’re a part of this team, regardless of anything else, and we wouldn’t trade you for anyone else.”

“That’s right,” Coran agreed. “Voltron wouldn’t be able to be formed without you.”

Hunk rolled her eyes. “I mean, that’s important and all, but it goes even beyond that. We’ve traveled who knows how many lightyears away from Earth together. That’s saying something.” She closed the distance between herself and Pidge and swept the smaller Paladin up into a bear hug. “Family is family, no matter what, and we’re all family.”

Which then connects with Keith having his little “pep talk” or whatever with hunk in s7, where we get to see some more about Hunk’s family:

“Damn it!” Hunk hissed as engine lubricant splashed onto her face. She closed her eyes just in time to protect them, then patted around for a cloth. She should have been paying more attention to what bolt she was loosening, not lost in worry over her mama.

When they’d finally reached the Garrison, there’d been an impromptu reunion with the Paladins and their families. Pidge’s was missing Matt, of course, but it seemed like an entire branch of Lance’s had come out. Even Shiro’s parents and aunt were there. It seemed like everyone who had family on earth still had theirs all intact as it was when they left. But, only Hunk’s mom and dad had shown up. Her uncle and his two kids were missing, as was her mama. Her mom had told Hunk that Galra troops swept through every city, and while she’d pleaded with her wife to join them, Sefina had run off to help try and hide some others as soon as she and their husband were securely in the Resistance’s rover. The strapped in two of Hunk’s parents had tried to unbuckle themselves to go after Sefina, but the rover had to go or risk everyone on it being captured.

“Is everything okay in here?” Keith’s voice came from behind her, dragging her out of her thoughts.

She wiped off her face and glanced back. He was standing in the door frame, leaning against it with what she assumed he thought was nonchalance, though it seemed to be more awkward than anything else.

“Yeah,” Hunk said, though her voice sounded about as unconvincing as Keith’s posture.

“Look,” Keith went on, and Hunk knew that he saw through her as well. “I’m not really good at talking with people, and I don’t expect you to open up to me, but...” he paused. “If there’s ever anything on your mind...”

That was all Hunk needed. Keith tended to forget from time to time that others don’t try and bottle everything up like he did. “This situation stinks!” she said, bunching up the soiled cloth in one hand, then slamming it down on the workbench before her. “I can’t believe we finally get back to Earth and it’s taken over by Galra.”

She glared at Keith, then turned her back to him.

“I... guess there is something on your mind, then,” he said, subdued. The sound of his boots against the floor warned her he was joining her at the workbench.

Hunk leaned against the solidness of the bench. Though the engine part she’d been tinkering with to try and occupy her mind was before her, she didn’t really see it as she stared down at it. “I... I know it seems silly, but I used to daydream about coming home to a peaceful Earth. But there are so many people dead and gone, so many people still missing, so many people captured by the Galra---”

She gritted her teeth for a moment, fighting to not let anxiety overcome her. Keith remained quiet all the while, waiting for her to go on. When it passed, she continued. “And, I---I’m happy Pidge and Lance got to see their families again, I really am, but the rest of mine is still out there, and there has to be something I can do to get them back.”

“Hey,” Keith said, as gently as she’s ever heard him say anything, and it caught her attention. She looked up, only to find he wasn’t looking at her anymore.

“I... I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but... of all the Paladins... you’re the one I’ve admired the most since we, well, since we became Paladins. You’ve always just...” He fumbled a bit here, as if searching for the right words to convey what he was trying to say to her. “You’ve always kept us really together. Even when we’ve all been real jerks to one another, you never...” Keith shook his head, folding his arms across his chest. “What you said about us being a family, all that time ago, you really meant it. Mean it. You know how to make people feel like they’re really part of a family, and I... That really means a lot.”

He gathered himself a bit with a breath, then lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Hunk, you’ll find the rest of your family.” There was a confidence in his voice that weaseled its way through her fears. “Of everyone I know, I believe the most that you’ll be able to bring your family back together again. It’s just... what you do.” He gave her a shrug and an awkward smile.

Tears stung at the corners of Hunk’s eyes, and her mouth split into a watery smile. Of all the people she knew, she hadn’t expected Keith to be the one to not only try and cheer her up, but admit he... admired her. Instead of saying anything, she swept up Keith in a tight hug. He remained stiff for a moment, then relaxed, but didn’t return the hug. She didn’t mind.

“Thanks,” she said.

“No problem.”