Cotton Candy

It wasn't something Lance was particularly fond of before now. The fluffy treat was always sweet and delicious, but he hated how the dessert made his fingers sticky and his mouth turn blue. There were better options available that would not result in his fingers being covered in wet, blue and pink sugar. Of course, he could not forgo using his hands, for if he simply took a chunk out of the silky sweet cloud, he would only end up with pieces of fluff on his lips and a disgusting ring of saliva that marked where he had sunk his teeth.

No, cotton candy was not his favorite Earthen food, far from it, but when the princess pulling on his sleeve gave him that wide-eyed, anticipating smile, then gestured to the machine spinning the candy thread, he knew he could never talk her out of it. The pair were out with their mutual group of friends, enjoying the boardwalk after a day spent on the sandy beaches of Cuba. It had been his idea to come to his home-country after General Holt gave them all permission to take a week off. The former scientist believed after spending two years in space protecting the universe, the "kids" as he called them, deserved some time to recuperate.

To Lance, that meant a vacation, and now that he had an official girlfriend, he could not think of a better place to go then his grandparent's beach house. Not only because it meant he would get to see his gorgeous alien girlfriend in a bikini, but also so he could finally show her around his hometown. It was a promise he had made to her before they even began their romantic relationship and he fully intended on fulfilling it.

Up in space, he was an outsider and always felt completely out of his element (unless of course, he was flying his lion), but being back on Earth gave him a little dash of confidence again. His girlfriend was a genius to his eyes. She always had the answers to all of his burning questions regarding space and all the life in it. Sometimes it felt like she knew everything and for some second-rate cadet like himself, that was definitely intimating. So it felt good to be the one with all the answers for once, not to satisfy his ego, but because it made him feel better about himself. Plus, he loved being able to share his culture with her, and not just her, but the rest of his friends too.

So there they were, enjoying the boardwalk after a long day playing on the Cuban shore. As the princess dragged with over to the spinning machine covered in pink and blue fluff, he quickly accepted his fate. Her ocean eyes sparkled with a child-like curiosity as she watched the machine spin the sugary silk like a spider spinning its web. A fond smile spread across his face and he draped his arm around her shoulders, his tanned skin brushing against her soft white mane that covered half of her back.

When the two stepped up to the burly man operating the cotton candy maker, Lance dug into his short's pocket and pulled out a few crumpled up dollar bills. He handed the cash over to the carnie and waited as the man stuffed the cash into his registered, then picked up a paper stick and twirled it in the blue and pink thread.

Lance stole a glance to the woman at his side. Her were the size of saucers and her mouth hung ever so slightly. It amused him to see her so awestruck by something that seemed so meniscal. As she gave his arm an elated squeeze, the corner of his lips lifted up in a genuine smile.

When the worker finished, he handed Lance the fluffy cloud of candy and after paying his thanks, the red Paladin escorted his girlfriend back towards their group of friends. As they walked, Allura stared curiously at the puffy object in his hands.

"So how does one eat this food?" She quipped while raising a brow up at her boyfriend.

Lance chuckled at her fondly, "However you want, but the best way, I think, is like this." In one quick motion, he plucked a piece of cotton candy off the stick and shoved it in his mouth. It only took seconds for the fluff to dissolve on his tongue and he swallowed the remaining sugar.

Allura's eyes widened again in amazement, as if she had just witnessed a magic trick. "Incredible." She breathed out before reaching a tentative hand to the thick, pastel-colored pile of sugar. Her fingers lightly grazed the top of the mound and she was surprised by how tough the soft-looking fluff actually was. In a surge of confidence, she pinched the cotton between her fingers and pulled a out chunk of the sweet. She brought the piece closer to her for examination, then when curiosity finally had the best of her, she too stuffed the piece into her mouth.

It was an odd sensation at first, but as the treat began to melt in her mouth, she moaned at the sweet taste. Lance let out a hearty laugh, to which Allura simply returned with a smile.

"I'm guessing that means you like it?"

The blue Paladin nodded her head as she went in for another bite. Lance titled the stick towards her, his grin spreading wide across his face. "Please, Princess, help yourself." He teased and a faint blush dusted the woman's cheeks. That stop her from taking more though, and Lance watched her happily as she completely devoured the dessert. It may not be his favorite food, but it was nice to see it be enjoyed by his favorite person.