MORE KINGDOMS!

And we get to see the paladins interacting with each other!

He did not like the idea of Prince Hunakai in a pub with commanders and thieves lurk, even if it was an Arusian pub. Even if Shiro with his blackened magic would be there, and Lance with his silver tongue that could talk his way out of any fight. Or Pidge, with their whiplike speech and formal rouge that knew every trick in the book.

Hunakai was a Prince, after all.

A Prince who had kissed him around the fire, long after everyone else had fallen to sleep.

A Prince with warm eyes that narrowed with suspicion when anything even felt out of place.

A Prince who did not look like a prince, more like a unbathed commander with his mud streaked clothing and thin jacket.

Of course, he could not argue with him. Hunakai- Hunk had insisted for he never sat in a Pub before. Pidge had agreed.

"Aye. Arus has no thieves about, and everyone likes a good drink."

So they had gone in, settling at a bench in the corner while Lance ordered a round of mead, laughing and gossiping and catching the eye of the Arusian Folk.

Keith had seen Arusian Folk up close before, but only by Nefara men so they stood out. Now, the only Nefara men in the pub he felt like they were out of place. The Arusians had small beady eyes and brightly colored hair, and most were rather short.

But they liked gossip, and they liked traveler's gossip.

A small group made their way over after a few minutes of Shirogane's laughter.

"'Lo, travelers. Where to you group hail from?" One asked, seating himself next to Pidge.

"Aye, we are from southern Taujeer. We had found a stream of metal and wish to sell it to merchants here." Pidge lied easily. "You supposed the best buyers in this settlement?"

"Aye would not here. We have no need for metalworks here, but on yonder there is a port." The second Arusian who sat next to Lance gestured with their head east. "But perhaps wait until the thieves of the crown jewels leave."

"Why is that? We heard they were nothing more than a nuisance." Hunk lightly commented, and Pidge gave him a small glare. But the Arusian's eyes lit up.

"They not are! For they have Fair Folk blood in them, a bit of magic to them that makes them impossible to approach."

"Fair Folk? Are those not the ones that wish to trick souls, not steal from them worthless jewels?" Shiro asked, straining to keep the magic from weaving into his voice.

"Aye, but they half of Earth as well. And Earth is where you want to trick, to get money or glory. In the Fae you only need blood and stolen words."

The Arusians had started to dance half a time unit ago. The paladins had separated, with Lance and Pidge playfully dancing with different Arusians and a bottle of mead, Shiro laughing with the bartender and Hunk and Keith, sitting alone.

It was nice, talking to Hunk in such a relaxed environment. Most of his conversations before were short and quick, with Hunk in gold and Keith in armor. The forest had the danger of the Fae and thieves that put them both on edge.

But here, with light from the fireplace lighting his dark skin in such a gorgeous color and their sides pressed together despite the room on the bench made Keith's heart soar. He had no idea it was possible to be this relaxed.

Maybe it was the mead talking, and the man he fancied at his side.

But Keith soon got tired of talking, and stood up and offered his hand, wavering slightly from the mead. "Dance with me, highness?"

Hunk pressed the hand to his lips and smiled. "Of course, my love."

The bard was playing an upbeat tune that Keith faintly recognized, and Hunk hummed to it as he spun him around the Pub, knocking into Lance and laughing.

Hunk's arms were strong, and his huge hands dwarfed Keith's thin ones, clutched them gently to his chest and then swooping them back. The dance was improved, but somehow they both found step within each other and danced wildly and drunkenly.

Hunk had to lean down to whisper in Keith's ear, and Keith couldn't help but press a small kiss to the juncture of his neck as he did, breathing in the smell of the forest on his Prince.

"My love, may you teach me the way of tricking mages and slaying dragons?" he whispered, sending an excited shiver down Keith's spine.

"It is just as easy as persuading enemies to give up their weapons and commanding battles." he breathed back, their feet slowing to almost a standstill. Hunk's hands moved to his waist as they swayed and it was perfect.

There was mead on their breath and love in their eyes, and if they woke up the next day in the same bedroll holding hands then God be damned.

A love like theirs was not to exist, but yet in this small foreign pub it could.

Their love is star crossed, but for now they will be able to enjoy each other.