The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[6] It actually surrounds the pool

Resistance life was doing Lance a world of good. He was finding that even without the constant bonding exercises that Allura seemed so fond of, he was quickly forming meaningful relationships with everybody on board the resistance base.

Muxis was quickly becoming the father figure that Lance had tried to find within Shiro. It wasn't that Shiro hadn't tried to become what Lance needed- he had in fact done his best to mould himself into the figure that Lance needed in his life- but Lance could tell that in the process of doing so, Shiro had lost a little of himself.

It wasn't fair for him to ask that of the man who had already been through so much.

Muxis, on the other hand, needed no moulding. He slipped into the father figure role so naturally, and Lance found himself wondering if he was a father. With everything Muxis had left behind when he was branded a traitor, Lance didn't have the heart to ask.

Vi was also quickly becoming one of Lance's favourite people, and this was purely the fault of their young daughter. Like Vi, she had a very complicated name that was the goal of many on board the ship to correctly pronounce. However, if you were short on time, her daughter preferred Nea.

Lance, upon meeting the small child for the first time, was a little bewildered. The very first thing she had done upon spotting him had been to give him a massive grin that showed off her obviously still developing teeth. Nea had grabbed his arm, dragged him down the hallway and berated him for still being in his sleepwear, ignoring the fact that at that moment he had been in full paladin armour.

It was adorable, and Lance had spent the afternoon with her as she babbled on about various topics. It was cute. But whenever Lance attempted to ask her anything, she seemed to completely ignore him. He had asked Vi about it, and they had laughed loudly, giving him a reassuring pat on the knee.

"Don't take it personally," They had laughed, picking Nea up as she attempted to duck under the dining table. "She doesn't know what you're saying. Her ears are too underdeveloped for the translators."

Lance was still thinking about this when Muxis found him, tapping him on the shoulder and holding up one of the resistance's many long-range weapons.

"Figured we could try you out with this today, get you some experience with something other than your bayard."

As Lance got a feel for the new weapon, still restricted to his chair, he allowed his mind to wander. He, like Nea, knew the pains of not being able to understand those around you. Going through life as if it was a fast-paced film, explosions and activity happening everywhere. People talking in jumbled vowels, the subtitles turned off.

He'd already grown attached to Nea.

"Hey Sir--Matt... I said Matt..."

Matt rolled his eyes and turned to face the blue paladin. "What kid?"

"Does the base have a library? And don't call me kid."

"Why not?" Matt held back a smirk as he said it, obviously not planning to stop anytime soon.

"Because I'm taller than you!"

"And I'm older!"

"And I'm taller and older than both of you!" Muxis groaned, putting a hand on both of their shoulders, causing Matt who had been faced away to jump in surprise.

"What was the question again kid?" Matt asked, swatting Mux's hand away.

"Library. Do we have one?" Lance answered, stretching in his chair until his back gave a satisfying pop. It was Muxis who answered, as Matt was too busy shuddering at the echoing sound of Lance's spine snapping into place.

"Yeah, we do, it's on the other side of the base, in a separate building."

"It actually surrounds the pool." Matt chimed in. Lance was silent for a second, very confused.

"Who thought it was a good idea to put the pool in the library? Also why does a resistance base need a pool?"

"Didn't know that you young ones still watched old shows like Doctor Who, kid."

"Doctor what?"

"Doctor where?" Muxis added

"Doctor when!"

"Doctor why!"

"Oh my God, forget I ever said anything!" Matt groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead. "Come on, let's take the book worm over here to the library."

"I resent that, for your information I am a beautiful book butterfly."

"Why is the butter flying? I thought you told Nea that the butter stayed in the tub?" Muxis said, turning to Matt for explanation. Said man just groaned again, dropping his head into his hands.

"We really need a better translating system, everything's taken so literally around here..." Matt decided.

"Now hurry up, you cripple, you've got a library to get to, and I've got a check-up with Kelaan" Matt said, motioning to his leg.

Lance smirked, zooming along on his hover chair, headed straight for Matt. He shrieked, making a move to jump out of the way.

He didn't need to, seeing as Lance pulled to a stop before he reached Matt. Lance laughed at Matt's expression, steering around him and continuing on his way.

The library was magnificent- digital and paper books lining the shelves, books out of other materials interspersed between them. Lance did wonder for a moment how everything stayed in place when they were flying, but his question was answered when he had to unchain a book from its place to read it. He turned around, looking for the language section.

He nearly had a heart attack when he realised he wasn't the only one in the room.