The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[25] Do you want to talk about it?

Coran glanced up from the data screen in his hand, looking around at the rest of Voltron, scattered through the bridge.

Pidge stared at her laptop screen, not really doing anything, whilst Keith really was doing nothing, slouched down in his chair. Allura concentrated with her eyes closed, focussing all her energy into finding their teammates.

Coran disliked the silence. He missed the squabbles that Keith and Lance had for no reason. He missed Shiro setting goals for everyone, and thinking up new ideas for team building. He missed Hunk and Lance laughing over some in-joke. He missed the team coming up with plans, bouncing ideas off one another. He missed Hunk calling everyone down to the dining room to try the new food he had whipped up.

He missed the way they all seemed a family, fighting within each other but willing to fight to protect them all one in the same.

Above all, Coran missed Lance.

He had taken a fast liking to the boy, a lighthearted young man who could brighten a room just by walking in. He wore his heart on his sleeve, never afraid to speak up if something was bothering him. Coran admired those things in people. If he was honest, he was closest to Lance of all the Paladins.

Coran shook himself out of his thoughts, realising he had typed a long line of letters on his datapad while he wasn't paying attention. He looked up again, glancing at the team once more.

Hunk was fidgeting, continually readjusting his headband. His brow was furrowed, and his jaw was tense- that much was clear, even from the other side of the room.

Heaving a sigh, Coran placed the data screen down on his console, pushing fully to his feet and walking over.

"How are you holding up, number 2?" He said, placing a hand on Hunk's shoulder. The teen stiffened for a moment before relaxing.

"Oh. Coran. Hey, yeah I'm... doing as well as everyone else, I guess."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shrugged. "What more is there to say?"

Coran gave him a half smile. "Well, Lance told me you and Pidge were his teammates back on Earth. How about instead of worrying yourself thin over our current problems, you tell me what that entailed?"

Hunk paused, looking up to Coran. "He told you that?"

"Lance likes having someone to talk to," Coran replied "And I think he likes having someone who has not heard his stories before."

"Yeah, that kinda does sound like him." A smile ghosted Hunk's face.

Coran sat on the ledge in front of Allura's controls. "'Scuse me Princess," he said lightly, twisting around so he could see Allura as she paused in her work. "I just haven't sat down in a while and Hunk here was going to tell me all about Earth."

Allura raised a singular brow.

"Don't you think it's time for a break?" Coran pressed on. "Everyone needs a rest, then we can get back on with renewed determination!"

Allura nodded. "Pidge," she said, turning to look at said paladin, who had flopped over her seat again. "Do you want to do some training with me? I'm sure we could work on our close-quarters fighting together."

Pidge nodded, scrambling to her feet and walking towards the door. Allura gave Coran a knowing look before she left.

Keith made to follow, before Pidge held a hand out, stopping him. "Oh no you don't, it's girls only. You've been hogging the training room and it's our turn."