I Am The Red Paladin

Unwilling Embarrassment

Lotor liked the mice, they were friendly enough, always chittering cheerfully. He had seen them scuttering around the ship unable to really study them until they were stationed comfortably on the Altean Princess's shoulders. They seemed to like him too, something Lotor was foreign to, having spent most of his time around his generals who, he was unsure actually shared any kind of friendly feelings. Lotor had found the Altean animals raiding the food the Yellow Paladin had left out to cool and had comically frozen at the sight of the Galra Prince staring wide-eyed at them, surprised by their mischief side. Lotor himself was amused by their reaction and made his way over ignoring the mice's flinches as he swiped a crumb from the tray. The mice seemed to lose a small amount of tension as Lotor popped it into his mouth and leant casually against the counter.

"I see why you have such an appetite for the food." Lotor smiled at the sudden ecstatic mice. "Yes, I am also a fan of what the fleshling can cook."

Lotor found himself talking with the small mammals. He assumed if anyone heard it would appear he was speaking with himself but he wasn't currently bothered by his current companions and found himself feeling a little lighter than he had since, since...well, ten thousand years ago. One of the mice noticed the change in the Prince and padded over and placed its small clawed hand on the man's larger finger.

"It is odd to find comfort in tiny mice." Lotor complemented. The mice grunted in annoyance and folded their arms in unison which had Lotor letting out a small chuckle. "I am sorry for the disrespect. It was not my intention."

The mice nodded once a piece before they began devouring the food offering the Galra some every so often. Before long the food was gone and the mice leant back gently rubbing their stomachs that seemed inflated by the meal.

"Lotor?"

The voice called out and the Prince turned to find Keith appear, standing at the door.

"I was wondering when you were going to show up." Lotor folded his arms. "I want to apologise for earlier."

"I was wondering- Wait, what?" Keith blinked, furrowing his brow at the Prince as he approached.

"It was rude to insinuate that the only reason you wish for your mother back is for but one selfish desire." Lotor picked at his nails. "I know a thing or two about such things."

"What's in the Ulippa system?" Keith addressed instead of acknowledging the apology. He was never good with them, accepting them was always awkward and he never knew what to say.

"It is a frozen wasteland with nothing but carnivorous ice worms. Why?" Lotor glanced down slightly to catch the look in the boy's eye and knew exactly what the paladin was planning. "You are not thinking of retrieving Rarg are you?"

"Of course I am." Keith took a step back as the Galra attempted to place a hand on his shoulder.

"You cannot leave, you have a responsibility. Voltron can't be formed without you." Lotor squeezed his temple between his fingers before sighing heavily. This boy knew how to push his buttons and alter all his strategies. "As I have told you my generals are on mission to obtain him."

"Look Lotor, as much as I want to trust you, I can't trust that you'll be willing to help without some kind of catch," Keith spoke honestly. "I'm going and I was going to ask if you wanted to come but clearly you don't want to."

"You wish for me to come?" Lotor rose a brow in happy confusion. "You don't assume I will take off as soon as we arrive?"

"No," Keith answered with little emotion before he turned on his heel and left an emotional confused Galra Prince behind.