Author's Note: I'm glad people are enjoying this story, but I notice some people been asking me to label this story with characters. Here's the thing though, only lets you label up to four characters per story. Seeing as I have no ships in this fic, it's general/family, and I'm going to write on any of the characters I don't see the point of labeling the fic and leaving out characters I may want to write later. I hope you all understand.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 2
Keith wiped the leftover sweat from his forehead as he entered his room. In his old routine, after he finished training, Keith would would stretch out on his bed for a bit of quiet solitude. However, he found himself unable to do that since Red, or at least the miniature version of his Lion, was curled up on her side in the centre of it.
Keith sighed. Ever since the Lions had been granted the freedom of roaming inside the castle, he found Red had a strange enjoyment to cause him as much mischief as possible. Hogging the bed seemed to be one of her more popular activities.
"Off the bed," Keith ordered and pointed.
Red raised her head, yawned and curled up into a ball.
"Off. The bed," Keith repeated.
He was still ignored. Keith grumbled as he lowered himself to her level.
"It's me, Keith.," he said, feeling a strange sense of deja vu. "I AM YOUR PALADIN. You're in my spot."
Red growled and swiftly swatted Keith's nose with her tail. Disgruntled, Keith rubbed his nose and sighed.
"Fine, just stay there," he muttered as he moved around her and went to stretch out on his bed.
When he finally got into the perfect position, Red poked her head up and before she could be stopped, climbed up on Keith's chest.
"Really?" Keith said in dismay as he watched his Lion use him as a giant pillow.
Red said nothing as she batted his hand with her paw, which in the last few days, Keith knew translated into "I demand pats, Paladin! Serve me now!"
Keith sighed as he stared back up at his ceiling, and, without looking, used his left hand to fulfill the command.
"You know, when we decided to pilot robot lions," Keith said in a firm tone, "I imagine us doing a lot of things, but having to be a petting machine was not one of them."
The only response Keith got was a blissful purr that that echoed from the back of his mind. He got got comfortable, and almost let his eyes shut until he heard a squeak.
"Huh?" he muttered and lazily rolled his head to the side, but then suddenly had regrets.
The space mice were standing near the edge of the bed and each held a butter knife.
"If you're planning to assassinate me in my sleep," Keith said, dryly, "I would have picked something better than a butter knife."
Red growled as she lifted up her body and prepared to pounce.
"No, no, you stay put," Keith said as he held Red on his chest. "I am not in the mood to be chasing after you guys again."
It had taken a good couple of hours to get the Lions to stop chasing the space mice last time, and that was after getting Red to cough out one of the mice from her mouth.
The mice squeaked again causing Keith to sigh. "So, what exactly do you guys want?"
The biggest space mouse bowed his head and held up the butter knife the way a knight would when offering his services.
Intrigued, Keith sat up, while he made certain to keep Red in his hold. "Sorry, still not following."
The pink mouse waved, pointed to Keith and then started to wave the knife around like a sword.
Keith continued to be baffled until his brain finally put the pieces together. "You..want me..to teach you how to sword fight?"
All the mice nodded.
"Why?" Keith asked. "No offense, but you guys aren't exactly warriors. What use could you have-"
Red gave a playful growl causing every single mouse to shake and raise their butter knives in defense.
"Oooh," Keith said slowly as he understood. "Yeah...wanting it for self defense is fair."
He really couldn't blame the mice. If Keith was a tiny mouse who was terrified five robot lions were going to chase after them, he would do the same. Heck, one of the reasons he'd learned to sword fight himself was to protect himself.
"Okay, sure, I can teach you," Keith said as he held out Red, "but only way you'll learn is to fight against a real opponent. So, Red will be helping."
He glanced down to Red. "But no swallowing mice," he glanced up to the mice, "and no actually trying to kill Red. Deal?"
Red purred which Keith knew meant a yes, and the mice looked hesitant, but nodded in agreement.
"Okay," Keith said as he climbed off the bed. "Let's get started."
He sighed to himself as he watched the mice jump to the floor. When did my life get so weird?
08080808080808080808080808080808080
"Blue! Hey, Blue!" Lance called out in the hallway and sighed. "Man, where did she wander off to this time?"
Blue usually stuck to Lance like glue, her favourite spot being the inside of Lance's hood, but then there were periods like this when she completely vanishes for no reason.
"Come on, Girl," he grumbled. "If Allura finds out I lost track of you again, she's going to give me another lecture-"
"You lost her again?!"
Lance's body stiffened as he turned his head around to see Allura's disapproving glare.
"Oh, hey, Allura," Lance said as he put on an instant smile. "May I say you are looking lovely today-"
"Did you lose Blue again?" Allura asked as her eye twitched.
Lance coughed. "Look, I didn't lose her, she just took her miniature self and decided to wandered off somewhere."
Allura sighed. "Lance, the point of having smaller versions of the Lions was so you and the other paladins can forge stronger bonds with them." She stepped forward with her arms folded. "But in order to do that, you need to keep your Lion close to you at all times! You can not lose your Lion!"
Lance sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Look, I didn't do anything. If Blue decides she needs to go off for some 'alone' time, I can't stop her."
"Of course you can," Allura insisted. "You just have to be firm and tell her to stay put."
Lance raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Allura, just out of curiosity, did you guys have cats on Altea?"
Allura dropped her scrowl and frowned. "Well, yes. They were a bit bigger than the cats Hunk has shown me from Earth, but we had them."
"Okay," Lance said as he took his hands out of his pocket. "More importantly, have you ever owned a cat?"
"Um...no," Allura said.
Lance massaged his forehead. "That explains a lot." He raised his head. "Look, as a person who has had two cats in his life, let me tell you that fighting Zarkon by yourself with a paperclip would be easier than trying to get a cat to listen to you."
Allura blinked slightly and then shook her head. "Oh, stop exaggerating. You just need to be firm."
"Yeah, sure, that will work," Lance said as he folded his arms. "First off I-"
"No, no, not like that! You need to strengthen your stance!"
Lance paused as he turned his head. "Was that Keith?"
"That's it! Keep your sword straight, but tightened your grip!"
"It is," Allura commented, "and it sounds like he's training."
"In his room?" Lance asked as he immediately headed towards Keith's room. "Better check this out."
"Why?" Allura asked dryly as she followed him.
"Because I am concerned about my fellow paladins well being."
"Are you? Because I can't help, but think you're just trying to change the conversation."
Lance ignored her, even though Allura was right on the nose, and made a beeline to Keith's room. The door left open and made easy to glance inside and when Lance did, he blinked.
"What the hell.." he muttered as Allura joined him and instantly shared the same confused expression on her face.
Keith didn't register either of them as he sat cross legged on the floor and kept his focus on the mice.
"Better, but you need to practice your swing more," he said as the mice all continually swung a butter knife at Red who was swatting her paw at them. "In a bit, we can go to the training room. You guys can practice fighting while running-"
"Keith, what in the world are you doing to the space mice?" Allura asked as she looked ready to swoop in and rescue her precious rodent friends.
Keith glanced up and folded his arms with a serious frown. "I'm giving them sword lessons and Red is helping."
"Why?" Lance asked.
"Because they asked me to," Keith said with a shrug as a mouse jumped and flipped away before Red could strike him. "I figure it was fair if Red and the other Lions were going to keep going after them."
Lance raised an eyebrow as his brain process what he was hearing. "And they're using Red as target practice?"
Keith nodded.
"Is that really such a good idea?" Allura asked, concerned.
"She's having fun with it," Keith said with a smirk and patted Red's head. "Aren't you, Girl?"
Red gave a playful growl as the mice attempted to poke her leg with a knife.
"I seriously question the way you two define 'fun.' " Lance replied.
Before Keith could snark back a reply a second growl was heard. Blue came racing around the corner, grabbed onto Lance's pant leg and effortless climbed him until he reached his shoulder.
Lance gave a smile as Blue nuzzled his cheek. "Hey, Girl, about time you showed up."
Blue purred, then climbed around Lance's neck to land inside the hood of his sweater. Once safely inside, she peek her head out to give a content growl.
"Just watch your claws, please," Lance asked, "I just sewed back there from the last time you crawled in there...what?"
Both Allura and Keith stared at him in surprise.
"Isn't she heavy?" Keith asked as Red stretched and decided to take a break in his lap..
"Naw," Lance said with a shrug. "No heavier than my other cats were, besides Pidge made her slightly smaller than the others, so we're good."
"Hmm..," Allura said as Blue flicked her ears back at her. "Strange."
"Uh, not really," Lance replied. "Black is the biggest Lion and Pidge and Hunk made sure she was. Plus, Blue was always the smallest-"
"No, no, not that," Allura said with a frown. "I'm just wondering why there's dirt on Blue's paws."
"Well, last mission literally ended with us all in the mud as I recall," Keith replied as the mice collapsed and looked ready for a nap. "She probably just rolled around in the dirty laundry."
"I suppose," Allura said as she folded her arms. "But it's just Blue has always been such a tidy Lion. It just seems odd-"
A screamed roared out in the hallway, causing everyone to jump. Before anyone could move, Coran appeared and skidded to a stop when he spotted them.
"A ha! There you are! You trespasser!" he declared as he marched forward.
Lance staggered backwards as Blue peeked over his shoulder. "What?! Why are you glaring at me-"
"Not you!" Coran said as he pointed directly at Blue. "It's you! YOU CAN'T DENY IT! CAUGHT HEAD DEEP IN A SNARFLAX HOLE! The mud on your paws proves it!"
Blue growled and tried to swap at claw at Coran before he pulled it back.
"Ha! Nice try you snarling beast!" Coran jeered.
"Will, somebody please explain what's going on?" Allura asked as Keith rose with Red in his arms.
"It's simple, Princess," Coran said as he twirled his mustache. "For the last few days, someone has been sneaking into my room and causing a huge mess." He counted off his fingers. "Knocks everything over, my clothes and socks tossed the ground and now I have mud all over my bed."
He pointed right at Blue. "And now I have evidence that was you!"
Lance blinked and tilted his head to Blue. "Is that where you've been sneaking off to lately?"
Blue growled in a manner that Lance knew meant "Yup, and it was fun too."
"Wait, that doesn't make any sense," Keith said as he scratched under Red's chin. "Why would Blue be targeting your room?"
"Yeah, that's not like Blue," Lance said in a huff. "I know my Lion, and she wouldn't bother doing something like that…" He trailed off and stared at Coran suspiciously. "Unless, she's holding a grudge."
"What?!" Allura said. "That's preposterous! Coran has never done anything to cause Blue to hold a grudge."
Coran puffed out his chest. "You are absolutely right! I have done nothing…" He paused, eyes widening and glanced down to Blue.
"Wait," he said slowly as he pulled his head closer to Blue. "You're not still..upset over THAT are you?"
Blue snarled as swiped at paw at him again, forcing Coran to jump back before his lost his mustache.
"But that was over ten thousand years ago!" he argued.
"What are you talking about?" Keith asked as Red leaped back to the floor.
Coran coughed as he twirled his mustache. "Well..you may recall that I was a bit of a gambler in my youth-"
"Oh, we remember," Keith grumbled dryly. "Kind of ingrained into our minds after that mess we got into having to pay off your debt after ten thousand years."
"I still got bruises over that," Lance muttered as Blue gave a growl. They were going to hold that over Coran a LONG time.
"Well...you see," Coran explained. "I once made a bet with Blue's previous paladin to which they lost."
"Uh..okay," Lance said as he folded his arms, "but I can't see Blue wanting to keep a grudge over that."
"...She would if she found out I cheated...just slightly."
"CORAN!" Allura exclaimed.
"I was young and foolish and it was just a friendly wager!" Coran argued, and sighed. "However, the bet involved a race, to which Blue lost and got her pride rather wounded."
"And ten thousand years later, she's taking it out on your room," Lance concluded. "Dude, you should be glad that's all she's doing. If it was me, I'd be doing a lot more."
Blue growled as she nuzzled against Lance's neck.
"Pride or not, this foolishness has to stop," Allura said in a firm tone, and looked to Blue. "I understand your feelings, but you need to forgive Coran and let go of your grudge."
Blue blinked as if she was debating about it, and then swiftly shook her head before pulling her head into Lance's hood.
"She says 'No'," Lance translated.
"Course she did," Keith said as he leaned against the doorway. "It's not like she's going to let go of her grudge because she tells you to. She's a cat."
"Ha!" Lance cried as he pointed to Keith. "See! He gets it!"
"How about a compromise then?" Allura said as Blue pulled her head back out. "Blue, would you be willing to forgive Coran if he did something to make it up to you?"
"Um..and what exactly would that be?" Keith said. "It's not like she needs to eat or anything."
"No," Lance replied slowly and then grinned, "but Blue has been wanting to get a proper bath lately. Haven't you, Girl?"
Blue looked to Lance intrigued and gave a nod.
"A cat that likes water?" Keith asked in dismay.
"She's the Lion of water, remember?" Lance replied, "and my Lion feels the need to look as good as I do."
Keith looked ready to reply with a comeback, but Coran cut in with a laugh.
"Ah, well, if that's all it takes, I'll gladly give the little lady a bath." Coran reached out to pet Blue, but promptly pulled back as Blue growled at him.
"No, no, no," Lance said as he shook a finger. "We don't mean mini Blue, here, we're talking big original Blue." The small lion nodded and gave a cheeky little grin.
Keith held back a chuckle and Allura and Coran's eyes widened.
"Are you serious?!" Allura said. "That would be equivalent to washing a whole ship!"
"That's insane!" Coran said as he tossed up his arms. "There has to be something else-"
"It's up to you, dude," Lance replied, "either give Blue a proper cleaning, or you can spend the rest of your time trying to clean up your place."
Coran glared at Lance and Blue, as he tapped his elbow. After a long moment he gave a deep sigh. "Very well, if that's what it will take to get some peace, I'll do it." He muttered under his breath about finding a big enough mop as he walked off.
Allura shook her head. "I need some tea," she said and waved to the boys. "And I hope you two can keep your Lions out of any further trouble.
Keith and Lance said nothing as they watched Allura leave.
"So," Keith said as he looked to Lance. "Blue is going to jump in a large mud puddle or something next mission isn't she?"
"Yup," Lance said with a slow nod, "probably."
A sudden squeak was heard below and the boys glanced down to see the space mice tugging on Keith's pants.
"Right, we'll get back to the lesson," Keith said as he picked up Red. "We really need to work on your guys stances."
"Mind if Blue and I watch?" Lance said with a shrug. "I got nothing else better to do right now."
"Knock yourself out," Keith said and smirked. "You can teach the mice on what they shouldn't do."
"Naw, you do that naturally," Lance replied.
Red growled with a nod.
"Ha! She agrees with me!" Lance cried, as he tucked his hands into his pockets.
"Of course she did," Keith said as Lanced and the other two Lions laughed in unison.
