AN: In which Matt gives Allura a magic word.

DS

DS

DS

The moment Matt stepped into the dining room, he knew something was off.

The Paladins were seated like usual. Allura was at the head of the table, Shiro was at her right hand, Coran on her left. Then everyone else. He pretended to ignore the tension, instead letting out a charming smile.

"How's my favorite team?"

There were mumbled attempts at pleasantries. Allura's smile was strained and she looked straight back down at her plate.

Pidge gave him a raised brow and thin look. 'Really Matt?'

He sat across from her with a sheepish shrug. 'I tried.'

She rolled her eyes a little. "You're back so soon."

"I have to come regularly for the company."

"No," Lance grumbled out as he caught Matt's flirty smile towards Allura, "you really don't."

Matt picked up a purple muffin. "Sure I do. Or else my lil sis will send out a whole search party for me." He took a bite out of the bread. "Mm. Is this that almet grain from Poigue?"

Pidge attempted to kick his shin under the table but her leg wasn't long enough. Hunk eyed her half sunken position in her chair as he slurped up his green noodles. He shrugged and turned back to Matt.

"Yeah it is," Hunk answered. "If you mix it with the pollen of the lumix flowers it almost tastes like honey oats."

"You are a genius."

Hunk grinned. "I try."

"I milked the cow," Lance threw in.

Both Allura and Coran briefly shuddered at that. They loved milkshakes too much to give it up but they pointedly block the knowledge of where it comes from as they drink it.

"Peasants used to do that line of work," Matt easily replied. "True art is what you do with the ingredients."

"Who're you calling a peasant?!"

"Lance," came Shiro's calm chide. "Matt."

Lance sat back down with a pout. Matt went back to eating his muffin.

"So are the rumors true?" Matt casually asked.

"About what?" Pidge tilted her head.

"You guys looking for another Paladin?"

Something cracked. All eyes went to the head of the table. Allura's hand was tightly gripping her metal cup. Shiro gave Matt a withering look. Matt ignored it, choosing instead to gather what the reactions meant.

"You're replacing Princess Allura?"

There was silence. Then quickly, there was motion.

"Well I'm full," Lance shot out of his seat.

"These dishes won't clean themselves," Hunk nervously laughed.

"And you need a helper," Coran easily chimed in.

"Bathroom," Pidge barely got out before slipping away.

There were only three people left at the table now. Allura let go of her cup. Even from where Matt was he could see the indentations where her fingers had dug in. Shiro finished chewing what was in his mouth before turning to Matt's attention.

"It's only a temporary replacement."

"Why?"

Not for the first time Shiro wondered where Matt's survival instincts were. "Safety reasons. Once the Blades find out more we can go back to normal."

Allura made a disgruntled sound. Matt frowned at that.

"So what will you do in the meantime Princess?"

"You'll have to ask the leader."

"Allura," Shiro started with a sigh, "we've been over this."

She primly wiped her mouth and then stood up. "I'll be in my quarters. Matt, it was good to see you."

"Bye Princess."

Once she was out of the room, Matt let loose a low whistle.

"You're behind now."

"In what?"

"The whole 'Dating the Princess.'"

"Matt. Not now."

"Well if not now then when?"

"..."

"...I don't get it," Matt crossed his arms with a sour expression. "She's shown interest but you're just cutting her off more."

"Getting another Paladin is for her safety," Shiro reiterated. "We voted as a team."

"Like they're going to disagree with you." Matt poured himself some milk. "She can take care of herself."

"I spar with her. You don't think I know that?" Shiro said with impatience. "But this isn't something that one fight will solve."

"Neither was defeating Zarkon. And look at where we are now."

"Still smoking out the Zarkon loyalists and extremists," Shiro said with a flat face. "While keeping an eye on Lotor in case the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"...I'll let you have that one."

Shiro let out a long sigh. "It's exhausting talking to you."

"You know," Matt casually said as he bit into what looked like a blue apple, "She won't wait around forever."

Silently, Shiro stepped away from his chair. "Matt, don't take this the wrong way -"

"Oh you know I will."

"- stay out of this."

The sliding door closed and Matt was alone.


There was a knock on Allura's door.

"Hey Princess you got a minute?"

"Matt, I actually don't -"

He let himself in. She was sitting on her bed with her hair loose and a brush in hand. She pursed her lips. She'd throw him out if she didn't have a robe on. He looked around curiously and then pulled the vanity chair closer to the bed.

"Shiro likes you."

Despite herself, she felt a blush. "Matt, what - "

"But he's Japanese. Probably descendent from a long quiznaking line of samurai. I honestly think that's where he gets the 'don't talk about my emotions' from." He tilted his head in thought. "Though he does hugs. And pep talks. Don't know where that's from."

She frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, right. Space Princess." He cleared his throat. "So Earth is made up of humans, but there's like a ton of different races and cultures. Shiro's family is from a country called Japan. The men from there aren't exactly known for expressing their feelings, especially the older generations and it doesn't help that his grandfather's the one that raised him."

"...Go on."

"Samurai were elite, noble swordsmen from centuries ago. They'd pledge their lives to a lord for generations. Fight and protect until death - which I'm sure you see why I say he's samurai," he gave her a little grin. She flushed more in response. "I'm pretty sure if I look up Shirogane I'll find his samurai lineage."

"Shiro-gane?"

"Yeah. His family name. But we call him Shiro for short. Humans generally have a first name for the individual and a shared last name to indicate their family. Like I'm Matt Holt and my sister is Pidge Holt. Holt's our shared family name." Pause. "If you ask Lance for his family name he'll tell you his whole quiznaking lineage from the dawn of time."

"So Shiro is the only one that goes by his family name?"

"Pretty much." Then it dawned on Matt. "He hasn't told you his first name has he?"

"No."

"You wanna know it?"

She looked at the mischievous grin on Matt's face, "Why do I get the feeling there's something you are withholding?"

"It's not bad I promise." He leaned in close to her. "If you want him to open up, I suggest you let me tell you."

She turned her ear to him. He said it then left.

DS

DS

DS

AN: Evil Matt plotting. XD Why I found him as a good matchmaker I don't know. :P Or maybe he's a bad one.