Summary:
"This situation is a bit more complicated than we initially realized."
Lance raises an eyebrow, but Pidge is the one to question that. "Define complicated."
Allura takes no more time beating around the bush, "Well, I received a transmission. Keith and Lance--from the future, that is--would like to have their daughter back."
or: Lance and Keith deal with a walking spoiler, in the form of a little girl who just wants to get back to her own home.
Notes:Translation into Русский available:Доказательство твоей любвиbyDreamerX2
dedicated totina, because when i came to her and said "HELP ME COME UP WITH KLANCE BABY NAMES", she suggested klink and klank. because lance and keith apparently name their kids by playing scrabble.
(See the end of the work formore notes.)
Allura's the one who spots her, first.
A child, ahumanchild, on board the Castle of Lions. Dark black bangs curl just above her eyes, a deep brown, and as soon as they make contact with Allura's blue she's already turned tail and taken back off down the hallway.
Allura is quick, but the little girl is faster--especially with that head start. She disappears somewhere down a long corridor, and Allura decides that maybe they should be taking care oflocalproblems before heading down to any more planets.
They're all called to a meeting, where Allura has several video feeds of the little girl lurking around.
"How did she even getonhere?" Pidge asks, because it had been more than just a few days before any of them had docked off on any planets. "There's nothing on the feed from before today?"
"No," Allura answers, looking contemplative. "But she might have just now come out from hiding today. Perhaps she's hungry, or thirsty."
"Or maybe she's a trick," Keith says, eyeing the repeating feeds on-screen like they're a ticking time bomb seconds from detonating. Allura frowns.
"I find it unlikely that any sort of Galra trick would just be running around the castle so blatantly," she begins, "Or that it would wait so long to attack. But you're right, and we should be cautious." she pauses, looking around at each of the Paladins. "Still, though, this is a child we're talking about. If any of you run into her, I need you to be careful, butkind."
She stresses out the last word, shooting a look at Keith in particular. He glances away.
"Well then, emergency meeting dismissed. Paladins, I'd suggest everyone split up for now, and try to keep your eyes on the look-out."
Hunk is the one who finds her next. Completely byaccident, he might add, because he had decided to take a break in the kitchen to get some food-goo before he went to go on someliteralkiddie scavenger hunt.
(The kiddie scavenged him out, instead, as it happened.)
She's standing in the doorway, peeking her head around the corner, and when they make eye contact she doesn't dart away.
Hunk sort of feels like some kind of child whisperer.
"... Hey," he starts, and she freezes up for a second, looking at him in suspicion. "Are you hungry?"
She doesn't move, but he can see her visibly relax. Carefully, Hunk puts down a bowl of food goo on the table and sits down across from it.
He waits.
She stares.
And slowly,slowly, she comes forward and sits at the table.
"Sorry, it's probably not exactly tasty, but you get used to the food goo after awhile," Hunk says, voice low so he doesn't scare her off. Instead of running off, she gives him a very confused look and shovels the goo into her mouth like she hasn't eaten in forever.
"... Or, not." he says, mildly surprised as she shovels another spoonful in. He doesn't move, but she doesn't seem concerned with him anymore anyway. Hunk admits, it's been so long since he's last seen a little kid that he can't help but stare as they sit in the kitchen in silence.
Of course, he doesn't get to stare for long. There's never more than a few minutes peace with Lance around, and Lance choosesjust thento bust into the kitchen.
"Hunk! You found her!" he shouts (Lance does not know how to use a gentle, indoors-voice,), and at the sound of him the little girl's eyes go wider than Hunk even thoughtpossible. She stands up and attempts to make a dart for the exit, but Lance isjustfaster than her and he sticks his arm out, efficiently grabbing her before she runs by.
"Ha! Got--ya--" he says, pulling her to his chest so she can't make another quick dash. "Man-- if you're a Galra infiltrator you're kind-- of pathetic--Stop squirming so much!"
He's struggling to hold her still as she fights her way out of his grasp. As if on cue, but probably just attracted by the commotion, the others come in and pause in the doorway.
"Lance! Don't hurt her!" Allura snaps, and Lance gives an agitated noise, still struggling to hold her.
"I'm nothurtingher. I used to do this to all my younger siblings." he says.
They all start to move toward the two of them, and the girl takes this opportunity to clamp her teeth down into Lance's arm. He yelps and lets her go, dropping her ungracefully onto her feet, and she runs past the other Paladins to Shiro in the back. Latching onto his leg, she glares up at Lance and hides behind Shiro.
"Ow! What the-- Didn't your parents teach you not to bite?" he asks, scowling right back at her. She sticks her tongue out, before ducking back behind Shiro's leg.
Shiro's looking down at her, in a complete loss. "Uh."
When she doesn't move out from behind his leg, Allura slowly approaches and drops down to her level, squatting as she rests her arms on her knees. The rest of the Paladins keep a healthy, althought still interested, distance.
"Hello," she starts out, and does her best to give a comforting smile. The child doesn't respond. "You don't need to talk to me, but if you can understand me I'd really appreciate it if you nodded your head yes or shook your head no. Okay?"
She looks away from Allura for a moment, eyes darting toward where Keith and Lance stand next to each other. Lance is still rubbing the spot where she bit him. Slowly, she turns back toward Allura and, not making eye contact, nods.
"Excellent!" Allura says brightly, "Thank you for being honest. You seem very nice."
Biting his arm isn't exactly what Lance would call nice, but whatever. Allura continues, "Are you lost?"
The little girl chews on her lip at that question, like she's not quite sure what the correct answer is. Finally, she gives a shrug.
"... Well, okay. Maybe you're just confused." Allura gives her a sympathetic smile. Everyone else in the room is completely quiet, focused on the interaction between the two. "Can you speak at all?"
Hesitantly, she nods.
"I see! That's great. Would you mind telling us your name?"
"Cora--Corrinne."
It'sdefinitelythe first time any of them had heard her talk. Her voice wavers a little bit as the words come out.
"Corrinne?" Allura smiles when she nods. "A very pretty name. How old are you?"
"Six." Corrinne says, latching tighter onto Shiro's leg. Allura's smile falters for a moment, and Shiro clarifies--
"As in six years?"
She looks up at him and nods.
Allura stands up.
"Thank you, Hunk and Lance, for finding her." She ignores the finger guns a wink Lance throws at her, turning back to Corrinne. "I'm going to go see if I can find any signals that suggest they're looking for a very pretty, lost little girl. Would you like to come with me so that we can get you back home?"
At the wordhome, Corrinne perks up and nods, letting go of Shiro and grabbing the hand Allura offers down to her. Allura beams, nodding toward the Paladins.
"Well then, we'll be off. If anything happens, you know where to find me."
At that, Corrinne gives a slight smile for the very first time. Everyone watches as Allura leads the little girl out of the room, but not before Corrinne turns her head and gives Keith and Lance one good, long stare, hand still being held by Allura.
They all stand in silence for a good few minutes after both Corrinne and Allura exit the room, before Shiro finally speaks up.
"Corrinne?" Allura smiles when she nods. "A very pretty name. How old are you?"
"Six." Corrinne says, latching tighter onto Shiro's leg. Allura's smile falters for a moment, and Shiro clarifies--
"As in six years?"
She looks up at him and nods.
Allura stands up.
"Thank you, Hunk and Lance, for finding her." She ignores the finger guns a wink Lance throws at her, turning back to Corrinne. "I'm going to go see if I can find any signals that suggest they're looking for a very pretty, lost little girl. Would you like to come with me so that we can get you back home?"
At the wordhome, Corrinne perks up and nods, letting go of Shiro and grabbing the hand Allura offers down to her. Allura beams, nodding toward the Paladins.
"Well then, we'll be off. If anything happens, you know where to find me."
At that, Corrinne gives a slight smile for the very first time. Everyone watches as Allura leads the little girl out of the room, but not before Corrinne turns her head and gives Keith and Lance one good, long stare, hand still being held by Allura.
They all stand in silence for a good few minutes after both Corrinne and Allura exit the room, before Shiro finally speaks up.
:p
