The Gilmore Paladins - "They Shoot Paladins, Don't They?"

Chapter 12

Hunk was busy scooping fowl egg salad onto slices of pumpernickel bread at his family food stand when Keith walked into Mister Coran's.

"So, not dancing?" asked Keith, approaching the table.

"Nope," said Hunk, giving Keith a chilly reception.

"Why not? Too cool?"

"Go away, Keith. No one asked for a Dean Winchester wannabe to drop by."

"Hey, I'm just here for the food."

Hunk slapped another piece of bread on the top of his fowl egg salad and handed it to Keith. "Here, enjoy, buh-bye."

"I noticed Lance's not dancing with Allura," said Keith, inspecting the sandwich.

"Nothing gets past you, does it?" Hunk grumbled. He did not like that Keith was inquiring about Lance. Hunk felt protective of his best friend. Keith was bad news in a tight red jacket.

"How come?" pressed Keith. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Lance's dancing with his father. Nothing's wrong with him and Allura, and you're blocking my sandwiches from the rest of the room."

"I know. They're erecting a statue to me in the park next week," said Keith, sarcastically.

Governess Kim marched in. She spotted Keith speaking to her ward and scowled.

"Vrepit Sa," she said, stepping up to Keith.

Keith just looked at her. He wasn't that kind of Galra.

Out of nowhere Governess Kim produced a riding whip and smacked Keith on the arm.

"Ow!" Governess Kim raised her riding whip again. "Vrepit sa! Vrepit sa!" sputtered Keith.

She lowered her whip. "Who are you?" demanded Governess Kim.

"Keith." Governess Kim raised her riding whip and Keith quickly added, "Mam."

Governess Kim turned her attention to Hunk. "Scoop more," she said curtly then walked away again just as Lance and Allura walked up to the table.

"The sandwiches are for the dancers," said Lance, spotting the sandwich in Keith's hand.

"I'm dancing on the inside," said Keith.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Lance.

"I live here."

"You have nothing better to do than to sit around inside a gymnasium all day staring at a dance marathon?"

"I don't know," said Keith then he looked at Allura. "Do you have nothing better to do than sit inside a gymnasium all day staring at a dance marathon?"

"I would not direct any sort of comment toward me if I were you," said Allura with a scowl.

"I'm just trying to support my people," said Keith, innocently.

"Good," said Lance. "Then go back to the Blade."

"Ooh. Zing. I've been snapped."

Lance was getting more and more irate. "You think you're bugging me sitting in front of me staring like that?"

"You think you're bugging me dancing in front of me staring like that?" replied Keith, clearly amused.

"I'm not staring at you," snapped Lance.

"Then how do you know I'm staring at you?"

"I am dancing," said Lance, throwing out his arms in frustration. "I cannot control where my glance goes. And the few moments that I can control it, my glance goes to Allura, not to you."

"So you can't control when you look at me, but you have to force yourself to look at her?" Keith looked at Allura. "Sorry, hun. That's cold."

"My former comment still stands," said Allura, crossing her arms.

"Go home," said Lance.

"No, thanks," said Keith.

"Then get out of my way."

"Didn't realize I was in your way," said Keith, stepping to the side and throwing his arm out to show off the now empty spot in front of Hunk's table. "There you go. It's all yours. Ancient Ones help you."

Lance bit his tongue, stepping forward to grab two sandwiches from Hunk who'd been watching this exchange with large eyes.

Rolo walked up to Keith. "Where did you go? I've been sitting out there for twenty minutes."

"The break's only for ten," replied Keith, his attitude cooling to a flat tone.

"It's just a saying," shrugged Rolo.

"I came to get food," explained Keith.

"Good, I'm starved."

"The food is for the dancers," snapped Lance.

"Who are you, Lisa Simpson?" scoffed Rolo. "Get a life." Rolo took the sandwich from Keith.

"Lance's feeling a little territorial today," said Keith, holding eye contact with Lance.

"Whatever," said Rolo, picking at the sandwich. "Yikes, what is this thing?"

Continuing to hold eye contact, Keith wrapped his arm around Rolo and pulled him tight against his side.

Lance responded by doing the same with Allura. Allura ducked back out of the embrace and said, "Lance, get your stuff and let's go."

"Ooh, that was good," said Keith. "Now say 'bow at my feet, peasant.'"

"I got 'em," said Lance, holding up the sandwiches.

"Come on," said Allura, turning to walk out of Mister Coran's.

"See you in there," Keith called to them as they left. When they were gone, he removed his arm from Rolo and said, "I'm gonna get a soda." Then he walked off, leaving Rolo with his weird sandwich.

"I feel like I'm missing something," said Rolo to no one.

Hunk sighed. "I wish I could be that oblivious."