Hunk frowned as he emptied his mind and concentrated on what was in front of him. He had a critical decision to make. Wrong move here, and everything would be ruined.
"I got everything else ready," Hunk said as he glanced over to his partner in this endeavour, "and it comes down to this."
He picked up the small jar of powder he had freshly ground. "What do you think, Girl? Add cinnamon to these pancakes or not?"
Yellow tilted her head in confusion as she blinked at the jar and then back to Hunk.
"Okay, it's not exactly cinnamon," Hunk stated as he brought the mixing bowl of the batter closer. "But from what I smell and tasted, it's close enough and it could give these pancakes the proper kick." He frowned. "Although, since this is an unfamiliar alien plant for all I know it can cause the pancakes to taste like slime or something."
He twisted off the lid and held it out to Yellow. "So, what you think, Girl? Risk it?"
Yellow peeked into the mixing bowl like she was debating. Then, she raised her head and tapped a paw on the jar and caused the cinnamon like substance to fall into the bowl.
"Risk it is!" Hunk declared as he picked up the spoon to stir it all in. "Yeah, I would have done the same."
From across the room, Pidge turned around from her computer and raised an eyebrow. "I swear the only time I hear you talk of 'taking risks' is when you're cooking."
"Yeah, well, there's a difference between worrying about getting a stomache ache and worrying if we're going to get blown up today."
Pidge gave a shrug as she went back to examine the plans for the cleaning robot she was putting together. "Okay, just let me know when pancakes are ready," she said with a wave.
"Will do," Hunk said as he put the bowl down. "Right, so now all I have to do is turn on the frying pan."
He picked up the pan, and ladle to pour as he turned back around to the bowl. "Yellow, we are going to have space pancakes for breakfast-"
Hunk froze. Yellow was no longer the sole observer of the mixing bowl. Green had joined her and she held the mischievous gleam in her eye Hunk had become all too familiar with recently.
He winced as Green gently tapped the bottom of the mixing bowl with her paw.
"Green," Hunk warned as he shook the ladle at her. "Don't you dare. We got pancake business going on here."
Green lifted a paw.
"Green, no."
She gleefully whacked the bowl off the counter.
"Arrg! GREEN!" Hunk cried as he dived bombed for the bowl. It landed in his hands and somehow he kept his grip as he fell on both his stomach and his face. Hunk grumbled as the batter sloshed over the edge and dripped over the onto the floor.
Yellow hoped to the floor and dipped her paw curiously into the spilled batter before taking a lick.
"Yellow, don't eat off the floor, you're better than that," Hunk said as he stood up and sighed. He glanced back up to see Green looking over him from the counter.
"No, pancakes for you," Hunk scolded in a tone he was certain he heard his own mother use on him once as a child.
Green growled that sounded an awful lot like "Don't care, still worth it."
Pidge's laughter echoed throughout the room. "Green, c'mere!"
The Green Lion turned and dashed to the table. She jumped up onto the table, nuzzled her paladin's cheek and then hopped inside the toolbox. Pidge laughed as Green poked her head out.
"Can't see how that's comfy, but whatever floats your boat," Pidge said as she checked over her robot so far.
Hunk gave a frustrated growl. "Pidge, would you PLEASE tell Green to stop whacking things off the counter?!" He held up the bowl. "That's the fifth time this week I had to rescue breakfast."
Yellow would have given a growl to agree with him, but she was currently too busy playing with the spoon she found.
"No way," Pidge said with a smirk as she adjusted her glasses. "It's one of her most useful skills."
Hunk raised an eyebrow. "How is knocking things over useful?"
Pidge kept her smirk as she glanced to her lion. "Hey, Green, mind getting me that wrench from the top shelf?"
Green glanced to the shelf in question and in one quick movement leaped out of the toolbox, raced and climbed up the shelves until she got to the wrench. Then, Green positioned herself and hit the wrench with her paw.
It flew until Pidge managed to catch it in midair. "Thanks," she and looked back to Hunk as Green climbed down. "See, useful."
Hunk sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, if you say so."
The doors to the kitchen opened as Blue and Red dashed inside wrestling with each other as Lance and Keith followed them in.
"Hey, take it easy you two," Lance warned as he tucked his hands into his pockets. "Coran is still giving us that earful from that vase you broke."
Keith raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you break that vase?"
"Nope, you're totally misremembering," Lance chided.
"Don't think so. Pretty sure that was you trying to show me your cool action hero skills-"
"Anyway," Lance cut in and leaned against the counter. "Hunk, got any plans for breakfast or is it another goo fest?"
Hunk gave a proud grin as he puffed out his chest with pride. "Nope, breakfast and best of all, it's going to be pancakes."
Lance's eyes lit up as if someone just told him it was both Christmas and his birthday all rolled into one.
"Dude, are you seriously making pancakes?! Lance exclaimed gleefully. "I've been craving those for like weeks!"
"Yup," Hunk said, "well, at least I think I figured out a recipe for it. Won't know for certain until we try it."
"Even if it only has half the flavor of a pancake, I don't care," Lance stated. "I'll take anything at this point."
Keith folded his arms as he leaned against the table. "Um..what is the big deal? It's just food."
Lance rolled his eyes. "Uh, yeah, but pancakes are the best breakfast comfort food ever created."
"No, they're not, waffles are," Pidge declared from the table.
"Pidge, we are not getting into this argument again!" Lance said and turned back to Keith. "Come on, Keith. You got to at least agree that pancakes are better than waffles."
Keith shrugged. "I have no clue since I have never eaten either."
Lance stared in horror. Pidge blinked curiously. Hunk dropped his spoon and looked someone just stepped on his toes.
"You...have never eaten a pancake?!' Hunk exclaimed. When Keith nodded, Hunk scowled and punched a fist into his palm. "Okay, no way am I letting this travesty continue. You're getting the first pancake, Keith!"
"Um..that's okay," Keith said as he tried to step away and out of the kitchen. "I'll go train and get breakfast later. I really don't need-"
"Lions, block him!" Lance declared as he pointed to the door.
Keith yelped as Blue, Green, Yellow and even his own Red Lion raced and blocked his way at the doorway. Each of them growled, daring for the boy to try to get past them.
"Really, Red?" Keith said with his hands on his hips. "You too?"
Red gave a smirk and growled.
Keith sighed as he went to sit down. "Fine, I'll accept my fate. Happy?"
"Not until you have a pancake," Hunk said as he heated up the pan and started to pour the batter on top. "Now, sit."
Keith said as he went to the table and sat next to Pidge, and seconds later was joined by Red hopping onto his lap.
"You realize there are plenty of other seats, right?" Keith said, dryly.
Red ignored the comment and simply curled up while butting Keith's hand for pats. The boy sighed and complied as he looked to the others. "Hey, has anyone seen, Shiro? Haven't seen him yet this morning."
"I'm here!" Shiro called out as he entered with Black beside him. "Was discussing with Coran about the new training program he wants to try out on us later."
"Yes, great, very vital," Lance said as he leaned over his chair. "Shiro, did you know Keith has never eaten pancakes before?"
Keith growled and slammed his fist on the table. "It's not that big of a deal?!"
Shiro raised an eyebrow as he glanced to Hunk. "I'm guessing you're making pancakes?"
"It's an experiment," Hunk explained as he flipped one of the pancakes and Yellow peeked over to see what Hunk was up to. "But, we're making Keith try the first one since he's never had them before."
Shiro glanced to Black as he stroked his chin and then to Keith. "Um...actually, Keith, you have eaten pancakes before."
Keith blinked in confusion along with Red who poked her head up curiously. "I have?"
"For your 16th birthday," Shiro explained as he took a seat. "My mom made you those for breakfast, remember?"
Keith shut his eyes in deep thought, but then they opened and widened. "THAT"S what those were? They tasted like charcoal?!"
Shiro coughed and gave an awkward smile as he rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah...I never said she was an expert at them, but at least her heart was in the right place."
"Further reason to give Keith good pancakes now," Hunk said as he slid a syrup covered pancake on a plate towards him along with a fork, and a knife. "Well, at least I hope they taste good."
All eyes were suddenly on Keith, including all five lions. Red seemed to be especially daring him to try a bite.
The boy shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, but sighed as he picked up the knife and fork. He cut into the pancake and placed it within his mouth.
"Well?" Hunk called out as he transferred the other pancakes onto a plate. "How is it?"
Keith frowned thoughtfully as he chewed and swallowed. Gradually, he turned around to Hunk. "Okay, I'll admit they're good…" He blushed a little bit. "Very good, happy?"
Hunk beamed with pride as he placed the stack of pancakes on the table. "Immensely."
"Waffles are still better," Pidge argued as she shoved her tools aside for the moment.
"Pidge, I promise I try to make waffles next," Hunk said as he kneeled to scratch Yellow's ear. "Only hard part is trying to find a waffle iron."
"Well," Pidge said thoughtfully. "Maybe I could make one out of-"
"Arrg! Green! Blue!" Lance cried out.
All heads turned as both Green and Blue yanked a mouthful of pancakes from the stack.
"Bad Lion! Bad Lion!" Lance cried, but the lions ignored him and jumped off the table with their stolen goods.
"Get back here!" Pidge cried as both she, Lance and Hunk chased after them.
Shiro sighed as he took a seat and looked to Keith. He decided to not point out that Keith had already devoured the pancake he'd been given.
He then heard a squeak and took a sideway glance. The spacemice were peeking over at the table from atop of Black's head.
Guess at least Black made peace with them, Shiro thought. He reached over and took one of the smaller remaining pancakes.
"Want one?" he offered.
The mice nodded and barely wanted for Shiro to drop the pancake before diving into it.
Shiro laughed as he eased back. "It's never boring around here."
"No," Keith said as snagged another pancake pancake and added syrup to it. "It never is."
Black, Yellow and Red both growled in agreement as the frustrated cries echoed in the hallway.
