A/N:

(save me from exams oml I'm dying)

One shots are nice to write, so like the procrastinator I am, I'm putting schoolwork on hold so I don't go insane :) here's a series of one shots about exactly what the hell the paladins are up to in between specific episodes or on calmer days.

#1 : Finding Shiro

Summary: When Shiro suddenly goes missing after lunch, Keith rapidly searches to find the pilot of the Black Lion. He finds Shiro in a place he didn't think to look for, and feels incredibly stupid for not thinking of it earlier. (SET DURING EARLY SEASON 1)

Disclaimer - I do not own Voltron : Legendary Defender

Keith pokes his head into the common room. Shiro was supposed to meet him at the training deck but he didn't show. Needless to say he started getting worried - call him paranoid but his only friend did get abducted by aliens once.

"Have you guys seen Shiro?" He asks. Hunk looks up from his tablet and raises an eyebrow, "We've lost Shiro? Didn't we just see him at lunch."

"Yeah, but, he was supposed to meet me on the training deck, like a couple of minutes ago." Keith says.

"Cut the dude some slack, mullet-head" Lance's voice causes Keith to roll his eyes, "surely he's just hanging around Allura or something."

"Shiro is the most punctual person I know." replies Keith in his monotone voice usually only reserved for Lance.

"More like the only person you know, amiright?" said Lance giving Hunk a nudge with his elbow. "But seriously, he's probably hanging with Allura and Coran or something, because…you know, they're adults and they talk about boring grown up stuff?"

"I hope you don't mean battle plans," says Hunk, "because those aren't boring, those save lives, Lance."

Keith shakes his head, "I'll just go find Shiro on my own then." with that, he heads back to the training deck - just incase Shiro showed, but much to his disappointment, Shiro had yet to arrive. Keith's brows furrow unconsciously and decides to take Lance's advice. He locates Allura with Coran by the engine room, probably discussing on the next checkup for the castleship. After all, the ship has taken a lot of hits, especially when the particle barrier failsto work.

"Allura, Coran. You guys seen Shiro?"

"Wasn't Shiro with you?" Coran questions, stroking his mustache from habit. Keith simply shakes his head.

"Well," Allura started, "the castle is rather big, but locating Shiro shouldn't be that difficult." she wipes her dirtied hands on a towel next to the control panel and pulls up a map of the castle. "Try checking his room, or maybe with Pidge? Perhaps Shiro is bonding with his lion."

"I've tried his room, then the hanger, the common room, the kitchen, the control room, med room, lounge, training deck, and then the common room again, even the pool." Keith said, purposely leaving out the part about Pidge. To be completely honest, he was a little afraid to go to their workspace, especially since an idea struck their mind during lunch and they rambled about something to do with camouflaging suits or as they put it 'stealth mode suits' and rushed to the Green lion's hanger to get started. It was best not to disturb them when they were at such a state.

"Coran, perhaps you should install a tracking device for our paladins." suggests the princess. "He can't be far off, and he can't really go anywhere, if the hanger opened, we would've been alerted."

"Not to worry, Number Four. I'm sure he'll pop back up in no time." Clean says putting a hand on his shoulder. "Now run along!" The advisor exclaims, as he spins Keith a full 180 degrees and ushers him out. "We've got a ship to check up on!" Keith complies grudgingly.

He stuffs his hands in his pockets and heads to wherever Pidge is. He admits that it's not the best idea, but...how deadly could Pidge be?

"KEITH I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT AGAIN, YOU WILL KISS YOUR FUCKING KNEECAPS GOODBYE!"

"SHIT SORRY!"

So, perhaps looking for Pidge wasn't the best idea. He was running out of places to go. He wasn't worried, just…confused. In a castle like this, one could easily get lost, and despite the many rooms present in the castle, the paladins only used a few rooms. The rest remained locked because Coran didn't want the Paladins to mess with the stuff.

So where in the hell was Shiro? Keith ran into the common room once more, panting. He groans and flops himself onto the sofa.

"No luck?" Hunk offers. Keith simply shakes his head and buries his face in a pillow.

"Ugh, who let Keith steal my seat?" whines Lance, upon entering the room with his skin care products. He pushes Keith's legs off and sits next to him, using his body as a table.

Keith glares at his teammate before shifting everything off him and heads towards the Black Lion's hangar. The Black Lion sees him and opens her mouth, letting Keith inside. He raises an eyebrow in confusion and steps in.

There he was.

On the floor.

Asleep.

He was sprawled on the metallic floor, his boots discarded and his hair a fluffy mess. His robotic arm resting on his stomach as his human arm is used as a pillow.

"What the fuck, Shiro." He mutters. It took him two Earth hours - he's sure - just to find him. And he was right here. Keith inwardly groans in frustration because while he was up and running, trying to locate his friend, he had been sleeping here! Keith is perfectly aware that Shiro needs to bond more with his lion, due to reasons unexplained by Allura. Keith is also aware that Shiro wasn't the kind to use a bed as he claims that it's too soft, and it reminds him of sinking into a marshmallow and suffocating, but did he need to sleep inside his lion? Despite his efforts to stay quiet, the sound of his boots echo and Shiro sits up in fright, ready to fight Keith. "Easy, Shiro. It's just me." Keith assures him and sits down in front of him.

"I missed the training session, didn't I?" Shiro asks, rubbing his eyes with his human hand. Keith nods, "Sorry if I worried you."

Keith simply glares at Shiro as he smiles sheepishly. His eyes slightly curved into the shape of a crescent moon. It's hard to stay mad at him. "Just don't do it again." Keith commands. Shiro lets out a hearty laugh and pats Keith on the shoulder.

"No promises, Keith."

(no promises indeed #VoltronSeason2)