Chapter Text
‘Apparently she stayed there all night.’ Lance and Liliana were seated at a table in the mess hall eating breakfast with Hunk.
‘Just her?’ Hunk asked from his seat opposite them as Liliana shook her head worriedly.
‘Keith is still there with her, but neither of them have had any actual decent sleep. He sent Allura to bed and stayed there outside the hospital room.’
‘And the altean won’t let anyone else in there?’
‘She’s jumpy.’ Lance shrugged. ‘Turns out she’s from Oriande like Romelle.’
‘Brainwashed by Lotor.’ Hunk nodded his understanding before returning to his food. ‘Then how come she’s cool with Pidge being there?’
‘I don’t know. I literally got this third hand from Shiro, who got it from Coran, who got it from Allura.’
‘Pidge and Keith really should be taking the time to rest and take care of themselves.’ Liliana picked up her toast, preparing to take a bite. ‘It won’t do them any good to exhaust themselves like this.’
‘Talk about burning the candle at both ends.’ Lance snorted. ‘Those two won’t be able to function, between staying up all night in the infirmary, and all the…personal exploits they’ve been getting up to.’
‘That’s not what I meant.’ Liliana nudged him with her elbow. ‘I was thinking entirely professional things and about their health!’
‘Same! They can’t pilot Voltron if they’re numb from the waist down!’
‘You pervert.’ She chuckled, going back to her breakfast.
‘Aww, you like me though.’ He rested his head on her shoulder and looked at her upside down.
‘You’re going to spoil my breakfast.’ She shoved at his head with her shoulder, making him get up even as he laughed.
‘God, you two are cute.’ Hunk smiled.
‘She’s cute.’ Lance replied, taking a sip of his fruit juice. ‘The cutest.’
‘And far too good for you.’
‘Oh, hell yeah.’ Lance toasted him with his glass.
‘You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here.’ Liliana looked between them. ‘And I always thought cute was a description for babies, be they animal or human. Alien, I can’t confirm as I’ve never met any.’
‘Some are cute.’ Hunk informed her. ‘But some are creepy. Like, I don’t care that it’s a newborn, if it has eight legs and more eyes than I can count in one breath, it’s horrifying.’
‘Hunk is our resident scaredy cat.’ Lance offered Liliana one of his strawberries and she gratefully accepted.
‘I think being scared of anything that resembles a spider is a self preservation move, not a matter of being scared.’
‘Oh, you are awesome.’ Hunk grinned. ‘You’re keeping her around, right?’
Lance and Liliana shared a look. ‘I want to.’ Lance said hesitantly.
‘But my time as envoy is up.’
‘That doesn’t mean the end of us though, right?’ He looked to her again, knowing they had discussed it just the night before.
‘Not at all. Plus you have the fastest international craft on the planet, so it’s not really long distance, when you think of it like that.’ Her phone chimed and she unlocked it as she continued speaking. ‘And even if it was, it would take a lot for me to give him up. He’s grown on me.’
‘Like mould?’ Hunk asked, so Lance threw a grape at him out his fruit salad.
‘More like an addiction.’ He quirked as Liliana read her message.
‘Huh.’
‘What huh? Is that a bad huh?’ Lance leaned closer but didn’t look at her screen, not wanting to encroach on her personal matters.
‘No, just a different huh. Commander Iverson would like to see me in his office on the hour.’
‘Like, signing you off duty?’ Lance crinkled his nose.
‘Perhaps, he doesn’t say.’ She put her phone down. ‘I suppose I should get finished with my food so I’m ready on time.’
‘You want me to come with you.’
Hunk snorted a laugh. ‘You know Iverson won’t go for that.’
‘I can walk her to the door.’
‘I’d love you to.’ Liliana rested her hand on his. ‘But for now, back to my toast.’