Tales of Luxite

Author's Note: I have no excuse for this. I was traipsing around Tumblr when I stumbled across some beautiful headcanons (from felinesassosaurus) about Kolivan interacting with the paladins, as well as some of his habits. Plus, there's the glorious Tumblr headcanon that the Blade of Marmora are an amassed army of ninja librarians/scholars. I couldn't not, guys! I'm sorry! Please note that NONE of my in-progress fics ("Broken Day", "The Fifth Mutant", and "Though She Be But Little") are on hiatus, nor are they abandoned. It's been super busy, and my muse is being a butthead.

For this story, please note that I've taken massive liberties with the Blades, giving most of them names, personalities, and various relationships.

Now, without further ado, I give you Tales of Luxite!

Introduction: Settling In

"This is dangerous, Kolivan."

Kolivan barely held in his sigh. "Yes, Regris, I know, but it is also necessary." He did not look at his single remaining co-commander, but rather watched Timalli guide their small craft into the Castle of Lions' shuttle bay. She settled the craft as gently as a newborn cub into its cradle yet didn't release the controls, engines still rumbling and the rear hatch still locked.

Kolivan released part of his sigh, unbuckled his harness, and came up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, Timalli," he said, his own emotions turning his voice gruffer. "Meet us on the Bridge when you're done."

He did not miss the silent tear that leaked out of one of her eyes, but the words grounded her somewhat because she flicked the appropriate switches to power the engines down and unlock the door. He took his hand away when she began the post-flight checks, her pale-yellow gaze downcast as her hands moved on muscle memory.

"Masks off!" he barked to what crew he had on board before anyone could leave.

"Yes, Commander" was the unison reply. Up and down the seats along the walls, masks disintegrated obediently, but the hoods remained up. Kolivan let it go. Princess Allura of Altea might not trust them much right now, but he would not deny his comrades their right to mourn those they had lost in their assault on Zarkon. That, he would not sacrifice.

They disembarked quietly, but Kolivan's neck fur lifted at the tensions wafting around his crew and the castle itself. A full sigh escaped him, but he moved stalwartly forward out of the bay and into a narrow corridor; after all, the Blade of Marmora were not the only ones to have lost today.

But the Black Paladin? Unease pricked his mind, and it was a mercy he had his hood up because it hid how low his ears were; he didn't want anyone to see how concerned, nervous, and apprehensive he was.

Concerned about what this meant for his comrades and allies.

Nervous because he did not truly know these new allies.

Apprehensive because a good commander was ever watchful, ever vigilant, ever ready.

Stars help them all if this was a trap.

With Regris right behind him, he led his crew into the main halls of the castle and to the Bridge. Appreciative murmurs rippled through them, and Kolivan, though silent, readily agreed: the ship was magnificent, sleek and strong; the technology was something they had only dreamed of, ancient though it was; and it was absolutely incredible that everything could be operated by a handful of persons.

Those persons – six in all – sat or stood at their various stations on the Bridge, one station glaringly empty. None noticed their entrance, and Kolivan cleared his throat, announcing, "Princess, Paladins."

Princess Allura and Royal Advisor Coran were the only ones who turned. One or two of the paladins lifted their heads to look, only to drop them back down at the obvious lack of threat.

"Commander Kolivan," Princess Allura greeted, stepping off her control dais. Though her eyes were red-rimmed, her face was dry, and she extended her hand to him. "Thank you for assisting us today. We are in your debt."

Kolivan gently took that hand and inclined his head. "Princess, your thanks is appreciated, though unnecessary. We are all on the same side against the Empire." Releasing her hand, he gestured behind him. "My Blades and I are at your service. What can we do?"

She smiled at him, her strong chin trembling. "The castle stands in need of repair, but that is my responsibility. As guests and allies, I encourage you all to rest and eat something. Explore if you wish, but know that the Lion Hangars are strictly off-limits. There is a training deck if you would like to exercise.

"Coran!"

The Royal Advisor appeared as if out of thin air at the princess's call. "Yes, Princess?" he asked. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes and his forehead knit together in a myriad of emotions, but his gaze was level and attentive as he received his orders.

"Take Commander Kolivan and his Blades to the kitchen. Show them the common, the training deck, and the South Hall, as well. Provide maps if they require them.

"Commander," she returned to Kolivan, "I'm sorry that I cannot escort you personally, but we must get the castle's systems repaired. We're not prepared if we're attacked."

Kolivan nodded. "Of course, Princess."

"Let us know if there's anything you need."

"Thank you, Princess. One of my Blades is still in the shuttle bay we landed in, running post-flight checks on our craft. I told her to meet us here."

Princess Allura blinked twice. "Oh, right. Pidge! Run down to the shuttle bay and take the Blade to the kitchen."

The little Green Paladin was slow to respond as she rose from her station. She said nothing, ghosting past the Blades and out the door without looking at anyone. Kolivan did not fail to notice the tear tracks on those pale cheeks.

"I leave you in Coran's capable hands, Commander," Princess Allura said in farewell, turning back to her work.

The Royal Advisor stepped forward and ushered them out the door. "Come along, then," he said. "No sense in waging a war on an empty stomach –"

"Coran?"

Kolivan didn't start at the quiet query behind them and moved aside to allow the Yellow Paladin through.

"Ah, Hunk. What is it, my boy?"

The Yellow Paladin's eyes were hooded as he said, "I was thinking we can divide and conquer: while you take the Blades around, I can get something ready for them, so they don't have to wait around to eat."

Behind Kolivan, Regris stiffened, his long tail stilling around his ankles. Kolivan glanced at his co-commander: stay quiet, say nothing. He returned his gaze to Royal Advisor Coran in time to see that knitted brow smooth out a fraction.

"I think that's a great idea, Hunk. Thank you. Gentlemen? Follow me, please."

Kolivan strode after him, his Blades falling into step behind. He was not the only one to glance after the Yellow Paladin as he shuffled away in another direction.

"Royal Advisor Coran," Kolivan began, but the Altean whirled on him fast enough that Regris and Yarrata twitched their hands over their knives.

"Now, none of that," he said kindly and seemingly unaware that he had startled a couple of assassins. "We don't really do titles here, except for the princess. The paladins won't react well to that kind of professionalism either. I am simply Coran. The paladins will introduce themselves at their leisure, I'm sure, hopefully over dinner." He frowned. "It's been a long day for everyone, so you'll have to excuse them if they're not there."

"Our sorrow for your loss," murmured Kolivan. "The Black Paladin's name was Shiro, was it not?"

Coran nodded as he continued down the hall. "Yes. A finer leader you'd be hard-pressed to find. He is – was – young, but his heart was true."

"Our sorrow for yours." Zoshia said it this time, lifting a hand to her heart and bowing her head. The Blades around her echoed the sentiment, saluting the fallen.

"As you have ours," Coran returned eloquently. "I understand that you lost half your unit."

Beneath his hood, Kolivan's ears dropped lower. "Yes," he said. "Today was not the day of victory we hoped it would be. We dealt Zarkon a blow, to be sure, but if he lives, his retribution will be swift and without mercy. Please inform Princess Allura that, though we are guests, we are also allies and we can and will help with anything to get this castle battle-ready."

"Of course. Thank you."

Coran showed them the common and the training deck (Kolivan had to glare at Bavi to keep her from challenging Renen to a duel right then and there) before guiding them to the South Hall. "It's our biggest hall," he explained. "Over a hundred rooms, all with their own ensuites and storage. You are welcome to set a key code to ensure privacy. Would you like some time to settle or shall we go to the kitchen?"

Kolivan didn't have to glance at his comrades to know which they preferred, and quietly said, "The kitchen, if you please."

"Right this way."

Kolivan doubted they needed Coran the last few hallways; delicious aromas wafted down the corridors, beckoning, and more than one stomach (mercifully not his) rumbled in delighted answer.

They found the Yellow Paladin – Hunk – dancing about the kitchen as he prepared what looked like every scrap of food the castle could hold. Full plates floated through the air because the counters were all stacked with even more food. An island in the middle had plates, bowls, cutlery, and empty glasses covering almost every inch of its surface, though a tiny corner had been cleared to allow Timalli a place to rest her elbows as she perched on a tall stool. To Kolivan's intense surprise, though her hood was still up, her eyes were brighter and clearer than when he had seen them last. She watched Hunk with a keen interest and a small smile on her lips.

And then those eyes fell on him and she leaped to her feet, bowing her head. "Commanders," she murmured.

Regris stepped up to Kolivan's side and nodded. "At ease, Timalli."

Hunk waved an elbow at them, his hands full with a hot tray he'd just pulled from the oven. "Hey, guys! Dinner's ready. I've no idea how much Galra eat so I hope I made enough."

Kolivan blinked at the smorgasbord of food he had never seen before. He recognised a couple of pots of what looked to be stew, but then there were pans of hot food, trays of baked goods, and platters of diverse fruits, vegetables, and meat slices. "It should be enough," he managed to say.

Bavi, the chatterbox, elaborated. "How'd you make all this? You had, like, thirty doboshes!"

"Most of it's pre-cooked so all I had to do was heat it up," Hunk replied with an easy smile. Kolivan made a mental note of how cheerful he was now. Perhaps being in the kitchen soothed him somehow? "Dining room is through there. Hey, Pidge, can you carry this?"

Every single Blade stiffened when the Green Paladin trudged out from behind the island and wordlessly took the pitcher Hunk offered. Kolivan hadn't even smelled her, the scents of dinner overpowering everything else.

Regris was suddenly at his ear. "We need to watch that one."

"Agreed," Kolivan muttered back. As operatives of shadow, the Blade of Marmora instantly distrusted those who also kept to the shadows. Pidge was silent and small, a ghost easily overlooked. In Kolivan's experience, the quiet ones were typically the deadliest. He also wondered if all human females were this small. But his wondering was fleeting because Hunk was directing them to take plates and select what they wanted.

Buffet.

It was a buffet. Kolivan couldn't remember the last time he had seen so much food and so much of a selection.

It seemed like everyone was waiting for him and Regris to move, and Regris was clearly deferring to his experience, because everyone was watching him. Repressing a sigh, he closed distance with the island and took a bowl. After a second's hesitation, he also took a plate because, curse it all, he could practically hear Antok telling him he was too thin. It had been a joke between them when they had been cubs, but the joke had lost its humour when Zarkon had discovered how they had been getting food supplies two years ago. Antok had not approved of him giving away half his rations to medical and to the Keepers.

There, Antok, he thought as he ladled stew into his bowl and put fruit, meat and bread onto his plate. Regris will have to roll me away from the table. Happy now?

Regris, the resourceful scoundrel, held two plates in hand while his dextrous tail filled everything to neat piles. Kolivan caught Hunk watching his co-commander, absolutely fascinated.

A trilling whistle snatched at everyone's attention. The Blue Paladin stood in the dining room's doorway. "Rule Number One of the buffet line: as soon as you're done getting your food, sit down. You'll hold up the line."

Kolivan's ears burned because he had been standing still for the last dobosh and, apparently, been holding up the line. The Paladin smirked (How had Antok reincarnated into this human so quickly?) and darted away. Harumphing to himself, Kolivan followed and took a seat around the massive table with both kitchen and hallway doors in his field of vision.

Pidge was seated already, a small plate with a single slice of untouched blue melon in front of her. Coran was crouched beside her, murmuring to her. His words would have been quiet, save for the Galra's keen ears.

"…must eat something."

Pidge refused to answer, refused to lift her eyes. She just stared unseeingly at her hands in her lap.

Up and down the table, his Blades settled in and tried to ignore the gentle coaxing.

Coran's tone firmed. "Pidge, Shiro would not want you to starve yourself."

Kolivan stilled as what felt like lightning crackled through the air. The hushed chatter among his Blades died as Pidge looked up. He had never seen a pair of eyes so angry and yet so dead at the same time.

"He didn't want a lot of things," she hissed, "but those things happened anyway." Shoving away from the table, she stalked out.

"Coran?" Hunk ventured, entering with a pitcher in one hand and a full plate in the other. "Maybe I should…?"

"No," Princess Allura said. She swept into the room from the kitchen, her own hands full. "Let her go."

Hunk sat down reluctantly.

"What are we going to do, Allura?" asked the Blue Paladin, his blue eyes flicking to Kolivan and then to the empty chairs around the table: three missing paladins.

Allura came to a stop at the head of the table and set her plate down. She stayed standing as she said, "I don't know yet, but we're not alone. We will all need each other before this is over." She sat and smiled a bit. "Hunk, this looks wonderful. Thank you."

A few chairs down, sitting between the Blue Paladin and Shah, Hunk reddened and waved a hand. "Nothing a good home-cooked meal can't help cheer up."

Home-cooked. Kolivan swallowed past the lump in his throat. None of them had had a home in years. Home was for cubs and stories.

With that thought burning through his mind and heart, Kolivan began to eat…and found that the food quickly quenched the fire.

-:-

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