As Cold as Fire [VOLTRON Keith X OC]

Arusians

RILEY'S POV

Slipping on my usual clothes and a comfy jacket I had stolen/found in Allura's room, I entered the dining hall for some breakfast. The paladins were walking in, rambling about their training.

Shiro took off his helmet, and congratulated, "Great job training today, guys. We're really getting the hang of Voltron."

"Seriously, how far do you think my Lion kicked that broken alien ship? Must have been like a mile!" Lance laughed.

"Voltron can kick now?" I asked curiously.

"Hell yeah it can!" Lance replied enthusiastically. Keith rolled his eyes, taking off his helmet. I noticed how his fluffy mass of dark hair bounced out and over his forehead. He tucked his helmet under his arm and arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that'll come in handy when the Galra challenges Voltron to a soccer match."

Lance huffed, "Hey, I did something cool and you can't handle it. I get it." 

Keith turned to him and crossed his arms, "Your kick ruined our balance. We fell."

Lance shrugged, "Well, that falling part was Hunk's fault."

"Hey!"

"All right, save your energy for fighting Zarkon!" Shiro ended the conversation. They sat at the table, and I decided to just quietly sit between Hunk and Lance. They were the easiest to talk to. Lance turned around after finishing another argument with Keith.

"Did you just get out of bed?" he laughed. I yawned despite myself.

"...Maybe. I'm not a morning person, okay?" I mumbled with a chuckle.

Lance gave a sideways smile, "And yet you still look stunning."

"Lance, quit flirting with her!" Keith groaned.

"Why do you care?" Lance asked. I leaned in closer, wanting to hear his response myself. But he just shrugged without bothering to look at either of us. Whatever.

I rolled my eyes, and to my relief Coran entered the room.

"Hello, guys! How was the Voltron workout?"

"We're getting there." Shiro sighed, "Are you and Allura almost done fixing the Castle so we can leave this planet? I feel like we're sitting ducks here on Arus."

"Duck? What's a duck?" I whispered. Hunk gave me a sideways glance.

"Ducks! Little yellow birds with beaks?"

"You mean a duflax?"

"A what?"

Coran twirled his moustache, "I made you guys an authentic ancient Paladin lunch!"

Hunk and I turned to see an abomination in Coran's hands, a green slimy ball with yellow creatures. I remembered it instantly from when I was younger. No one else was home- it was just me and Coran. I had said I was hungry, and all of a sudden, I was facing this. I remembered hastily telling him I wasn't hungry anymore, and how he ate it himself quite happily.

The stench immediately filled the room and I instinctively brought my hands up to my mouth to not gag.

Hunk went over to inspect it, "Coran, you just got me hooked on that goo and now you're switching it up?"

"It's packed with nutrients," Coran replied, "Do you remember it Riley?"

"Oh, I remember it alright," I tried not to throw up as I spoke, "before you guys think this is what I feed on, I don't. This is just Coran being... Coran." Hunk bent down and sniffed it.