Chapter Text
We need to give each other space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion. -Max De Pree
His breath was heavy, crushing him like the force of a dozen rocks atop his chest, squeezing out rushes of violent gasps and hushed breaths. He clutched his chest and scraped the exterior of its steady complexion. His mind running wild with dread. If there was one thing he didn't want happening, it was that he didn't want that sensation of apprehension.
"Fuck," his voice echoed gruffly across the walls of the castle.
Cerulean eyes peered down the empty corridors, scanning the halls to be careful not to wake anyone up, and scurried to the entrance of the kitchen. Every Tuesday night, or at least every night he believed was a Tuesday, Lance would sneak into the kitchen and grab whatever was in the chilled compartment and smuggled it back into his room. A habit he couldn’t control.
But on nights like these, where the stars glimmered like thousands of city lights, he just couldn't help himself to the sweet relief of food. A distraction from the outside destruction's of the castle and gentle hum of his lion's whispers. It wasn't that anything was the matter, just food helped him think, it helped calm his nerves and get his thoughts all laid out. Thoughts he couldn't just scribble onto a book and throw under his bed for safe keeping. The reality of it all was just a slow breather that took time getting used to, so food was the option to all of his problems.
He clung onto the purple-alien-like fruits, a strong fragrance escaping the pores of its skin, their cyan glow illuminating the lower corners of his chin and irradiating the surrounding areas of the room. A fruit that was previously received on a past mission that fascinated all of the paladins with their orgasmic saccharine and alluring complexion.
"Fruits obtained," he chuckled to himself. A moment of tranquil. Hushed silence filling the air except for the humming within the castle's walls. He peered through the gap of the door, observing the still corridors for any signs of life. When none came he exited the kitchen and walked silently through the dim lit halls.
His hands stroked the faded white paints of the walls, the glow of the fruits giving life to their faded light, acting as a guide to his room.
Everything was peaceful. A good sign for the situation he and his friends were in. With being a paladin came waking up at odd points of the night, a system that took time getting used to. That and there were nights where he just couldn't sleep. The thoughts of family clear in his mind. The oceans currents rolling up at his toes that curled into the warm sand, the sun soaking up into his skin, a cool breeze that drifted the loose curls in his hair, and his family shouting and laughing out at him. He missed them with all of his heart. But deep down he knew, he knew that he may never see them again.
Waving those thoughts aside he arrived to his room. With a swift motion of his hand, a new feature Pidge added to make things easier to carry through the rooms, he walked in and set the fruits along the base of his bed. Pressing into a button near the corner of its rim a small table began to unfold, make shifting into a decent table for meals. A feature Allura said was designed for when the Paladins were sick or out of commission and needed real time to heal.
He grabbed onto one of the fruits, leaning against the table that allowed all of his weight atop of it. The aroma of the fruit remained close as he bit into it, sap oozing out and trickling down his arm. He hummed with a satisfied grin. Licking the juices off his arm, the stickiness remaining, he prepared for bed.
The bathroom was a surrounding tint of black where areas couldn't be seen except for the light hue of blues which decorated the outer corners of the space. Unlike the large shower room he and his companions would use after battle, they each all had their own individual and unique bathroom suitable for said paladin. Lance's being a lean and smooth room of white and blues. The shower head shone in a layer of silver and reflected color like a mirror or that of a shiny pearl. It reminded him of the beach side, a variety of pretty blues.
He exhaled a swift breath before approaching the shower. Its system automatically turning itself on and a strong mist of water flowing through its piping. Once freshly cleaned, his cat slippers on, face mask ready. He crawled under the covers, allowing the warmth of it all to hug him and bask him into slumber.
-Lance's Perspective-
I clutched onto the flowing fabric that clung to my tan skin, their weight gently dragging me further down the depths of the sea. My ears were projecting an obnoxious ringing, darkness enclosing all around me, my body running wild off of fear. The sound of my heartbeat pummeling out of my chest and covering my body with goosebumps, the few grasp of air which bubbles escaped through my mouth and nose.
I've discerned the rumbling of obscure creatures, whose howls echoed across the deep ravines of the deep. As I distinguished the luminescence of flora, producing an Aurora of peculiar flowers and vibrant colors over the ocean's surface. Flowing through murky waters and shining down upon my hushed breaths.
Hell deep as I was, warmth dispersed itself across my body, patches of red burning and spreading to the tips of my toes. The creatures soaring through the aquatic azure, gliding themselves nearby to nudge my figure, their wing-like fins grazing my skin and leaving a bijou symbol.
Sentimental aria conceived of natural rhythm. The erupting streams of lava that effervesce, the slamming of rocks clashing with one another, the humming of gentle creatures, singing their unique prayers, and whirring passed like lonely souls.
I mourned, a wave of bubbles escaping the blues of my lips. My heart thumping with silent ease like the bash of a drum set. The treble keys of clams concealing themselves away from harm, their luminescent pearls gently placed on their tongues.
I was afraid, but never have I felt so at home with the world around me. The warm memory of my mother's hugs, the serene fairy lights that accompanied me in midnight readings, the resonate sounds of my dog snoring softly on the edge of my bed, but most importantly I remember the nauseating alarms of my family nagging me. I was once again at home with the help of the creatures of the sea. A gift so generously provided for the sake of my happiness.
This was a finding of the future, an aspiration for my past, and an anticipation for my present. Where time seemingly stopped for the novel of opportunities. An open book of words that haven't quite yet existed in this world of reality. Wherever seamless thoughts crossed my mind like the sails of boats swimming towards the horizon. That the mysteries of the unknown is a simple step towards growth. Like the waters of the sea, steady and wild.
"What the hell?"
I sat up. The hairs on my neck sticking up and sweat inching off the lower areas of my back. I turned over towards the lamp and quickly turned it on. The light illuminating the darker edges of the room.
It was easy, knowing that these dreams became more and more a reality than a dream, a vision of existence. They were like nightmares to some but a comfort for myself, a relaxing blanket that kept warmth within my grasp. But it never really explained why I got them in the first place.
A sigh escaped from the outskirts of my mouth, an annoyance clearly in the process of growing. Man, I can never just get a break around here. Always this and that, never oh hey let's give Lance here a break for once in his paladin life. Man real funny this whole situation. He began to chuckle, clutching the sides of his stomach as he laughed harder. Oh well.
From the sudden startle of waking up, I let my legs dangle over the sides of the bed, stretching them outwards and upwards into an almost ballerina-like-position. My shoulders pressed into the comforters as I lied there, staring at the blue hues of the ceiling, and humming a tune my mama used to sing me.
Time was never really my specialty but if I'm correct, I'm sure it's probably breakfast time. So I got up off my lazy butt, the sheet that generously protected me rolling off my body, revealing my underwear that were labeled 'pain in the ass~' and walked over to the bathroom.
My pace was slow, like a zombie dragging itself throughout life, wondering if it'll ever get that sweet sensation of brains. Though unlike a zombie, it was only I who walked out the small space of a bathroom. My face covered in Coran's space goo which surprisingly makes a great face cream, really cleans your pores and freshens up the natural glow. And made way for the entrance of my closet.
I was soon interrupted when the aura of freshly baked goods leaked into my room. Knowing my friends, Hunk probably baked cookies again for breakfast. A task which after months of being in space, a thought that still seems surprising, was only recently resolved. Pidge and Hunk finally managed to get some sort of machine working that allows us to eat food other than goo, that and with all the trips we've made, we've managed to gather food across the galaxy or er galaxies.
The best part of it though was the idea of making flavored goo, yes the goo isn't the greatest thing I've ever eaten, but figuring out how to flavor it with the fruits we've gathered makes a huge difference. And currently we're in the process of adding such a feature to the goo machine, with the allied forces, we get a decent supply of space food and tools. Our magnanimity and alliance with the planets we've rescued only allows us to further this process of invention to bloom, that and it is literally helpful in passing the time. There really isn't a lot you can do in space, especially if you're me, I tend to have a short attention span.
Speaking of which, better head over to the kitchen and steal some of those cookies. A delicacy to paladin kind.
***
I stopped in front of the door of the kitchen, the smell of the cookies stronger than before. God those smell like heaven. The doors then abruptly opened, Pidge standing on her hind toes, reaching towards the upper parts of the door.
"Sup Pidge, whatcha up to on this fine morning?"
She stared at me, her face scrunched up in a disgusted manner before a hint of the curve of her mouth appeared. "Oh y'know just making sure you don't ram your fat head into the door again."
I scoffed at her and let the curve of my lips turn into a pout. "Pidgeon you wound me. I've been hurt. I'm officially deceased. They ask you if you're fine but you're not fine." I clutched onto my shirt, just above the heart, and dragged it forward. "I've been pulled into the outskirts of humility!"
A smile slowly made itself comfortable on her face before a chuckle erupted from her small physique. "I think you do that just fine on your own Lance-"
"Man Pidge that's cold. Straight to the point as always." I make myself comfortable on one of the chairs, preferably a phat sack we received from the people of Olkarion, and sunk deep into its welcoming arms. "Besides this is space, we don't need you making it any colder than it already is with your attitude."
"Ah comebacks I see. Say whatever you can to make yourself feel better, but I here have no chill. After all, I'm so cold." She laughed and continued with whatever she was working on, messing with the upper parts of the door.
Curiosity getting the best of me, I sledged over the phat sack and eyed her focused aura. "Seriously though, what exactly are you doing?"
She stopped for a moment, stepping down from the tips of her toes and looked over towards me. "If you help me out I'll tell you."
My face scrunched up, contemplating whether or not such an idea would be smart and shrugged. "Sounds fair to me. Besides what's the worst that can happen, so it better be worth it Pidge."
"Trust me. It is Lance." A devilish grin snuck its way on her face and for a moment I swear I thought I saw horns. I gulped as I approached her. My heart racing with panic.
Note to self: Do not get on Pidge's bad side.
I grabbed her by her sides and hoisted her up onto my shoulders, her legs draping over my chest, the ends of her heels puncturing my ribs. "Pidge careful with your feet, you may be wearing tennis shoes but you're like a cat when you're on top of us."
"Be quiet and let me do my work." She looked at me and smiled, a few strands of strawberry blonde hair falling atop of her glasses. "And just to let you know I'm trying to install an analyzer, one that can depict certain types of foods. It'll make identifying foods that might be toxic for humans much easier."
I looked at her and dismissed any thoughts that crept into my mind. "Well I guess that makes sense. Making this place feel homier by the day by making sure we aren't poisoned! So exciting!"
A sudden laugh startled the two of them when they looked down at the base of the door. A familiar mullet-ed someone was eyeing the two partners in crime, a grin plastered across the rose colored cheeks of his. His hair ruffled up in a messy bun, loose strands escaping the tight grasp of the rubber band, while his arms folded across his broad chest. He leaned against the doorway, smirk ever so prominent, before deciding to enter the room. He yawned and messed with his loose strands of hair, a clear sign of bed head, before sitting down at his usual spot.
I snickered at him, greeting the bad-tempered male with open arms. "Good morning to you too sleeping beauty, glad you got a good laugh at little ol' Tweedledee and Tweedledum."
"Uhm I-I uh yeah. Me too." He looked over at the far side of the kitchen, a flourishing blush warming the back of his neck and spreading to top of his ears. His voice cackled as he looked over at Hunk. "Hey Hunk so can I-I have one of those cookies or do I-I have to wait for everybody?"
He brought out another pan, heat radiating off of its metal surface, the brisk smell of cookies lingering the air and gently set them atop of the counter. "No it's cool. Go ahead."
I watched him reach out for a cookie, arms flexed out, smooth silk skin glistening under a thin layer of sweat. He must've been in the training room before coming here because dam. Look at those arms, I swear those weapons can crush my skull and I wouldn't care, I'd die a happy man.
The room went undisturbed, an eerie silence filling itself like a glass of water. Silent taps made their way against the surface of the table from outstretched fingers, a hint of nervousness and awkwardness. Eyes were roaming throughout one another, singularly trying to pinpoint a conversation. Our breathing became synced with one another, like a bonding moment between one another.
It was then interrupted by a silent cough, barely noticeable if it weren't for the quietness of the room, "Well I don't know about you guys but I'm here to taste Hunk's amazing cookies. So if you don't mind, I'm gonna dig in."
"You're right, why wait when we can have a handful of cookies in our stomachs by now?" Quickly following the move Pidge made, I snatched myself a cookie and began eating its delicious delicacy. "Hmm fairly similar to raisin but it's barely missing something to it, perhaps we add a little more fruit to the batter next time, otherwise I believe these are perfect!"
Keith then proceeded to grab one, a look of hunger and eagerness plastered across his face. As he bit into said cookie, his face scrunched up, little dimples appearing on his expression. "I guess you're right, some more fruit wouldn't do some harm. Good job Hunk."
Silence returned to the room.
It wasn't that it was too awkward, or too early. It's that there really wasn't much to talk about at the moment. Although it was quiet, at least it was one of those comfortable silences. Like the ones you'll have while reading a good book with friends, or when you're laying in the grass looking high above at the stars. Peaceful yet comfortable.
That was until we heard the blaring noise of the castles alarm.
"Come on paladins! We have a signal being sent near our perimeter from a nearby planet known as Hermanian, it seems to be a distress call!" Her voice resonated with sheer force, something that still stung if you weren't careful. She may be a princess, and boy you may think they're filled with grace and nobility, but like Pidge. You do not want to get on their bad sides, especially in times of stress.
"Hermanian? Sounds exotic don't you think?" Pidge spoke with curiosity, the curves of her eyebrows furrowing forward.
"Pidge we will speak more of this later, for now let's help whomever sent a distress. For all we know they could be in considerable danger." Allura said with great stern before turning off the intercoms throughout the castle.
"Guess that's our cue then guys, let's go kick some alien butt or y'know help with whatever this may be." I looked over at my friends, a smile plastered across my face, and proceeded out the door towards the Bridge.
We ran down the halls and entered the Bridge, suits and gear all prepared. I walked over to the Universal Star-map, the room exploded with images of millions of stars and a few planets appeared in our current location. "So I'm presuming Hermanian is this bright blue and purple planet here?"
"Yes that would be correct. Now remember Paladins we don't know our current situation here and we do not want another kidnapping occurring, so please be on high alert. And be wary of the creatures on this planet, the creatures here are extremely sensitive to alien life forms visiting their planet, at least back when Altea still existed they were. A lot of things change in a span of ten thousand years."
A small hint of amusement echoed out from where Lance stood,"right so careful of alien life forms. Got it Allura!"