Work Text:
"Freeze Tag"
The Paladins were gathered on the training deck, which surprised the Princess. Normally, all five didn't show up unless she told them to bond as a team, but this didn't look like any training she was used to. They were just trying to stay away from Pidge, who kept chasing after them. How were they supposed to form Voltron if they were avoiding one of their fellow Paladins?
%%%
Shiro had to admit that Lance and Hunk had a good idea for the team to let off some steam by playing a game on the training deck, which was empty at the moment. Keith had been on his way there, so roping him into the game wasn't too hard. They just had to explain the rules. (Lance had a heart attack, when Keith said he never played freeze tag...or tag in general). Shiro had never seen Keith smile so much before. The Red Paladin seemed to be having fun, especially since he was physically the fastest on the team and no one could catch him.
Suddenly, Shiro felt a tap on his back. He looked at the grinning Pidge who had used his moment of distraction to tag him. Shiro grinned before he froze in place, hoping someone would come by and unfreeze him. He allowed himself to take in the scene before him. He watched as Pidge alternated between chasing Hunk and Lance, and once in a while, when he was close enough, she'd lunge at Keith to try and touch him. She usually missed, him dancing away with a broad grin on his face.
It was then that Shiro realized that Allura was standing just inside the training deck doors, watching the game with the most confused look on her face. He couldn't figure out why she looked confused. The rules of the game were straight forward. Even someone as socially awkward as Keith understood them. Just stay away from... ooooh. Then, Shiro understood. It probably looked like they were trying to avoid Pidge, which they were, but Allura probably didn't realize it was a game.
Shiro felt another tap but this time on his shoulder. A quick look told him that Keith was the one who freed him as he watched the Red Paladin sped off to free Hunk, who had been tagged by Pidge. Shiro knew he couldn't just slip away from the rest of the Paladins to explain it to the princess, but surely she'll either ask what was going on or leave. The Black Paladin turned his attention back to the game and missed the entrance of the four visitors Allura had come to tell the Paladins about before she got distracted by their antics.
%%%
Kolivan, Antok, Thace, and Ulaz stared at the Paladins. Shiro, Lance, Hunk, and Keith seemed to be trying to stay away from Pidge, with only their kit succeeding. Why would they try to avoid their team mate? It seemed a poor way of bonding, but the smiles on their faces indicated that everyone including Pidge were having great time. Thace stepped forward and let out a loud growl, stopping the Paladins in their tracks. Keith's head turned in their direction, and he let out a questioning noise.
"What were you five doing?" Ulaz questioned.
Keith came closer to his pack. "It was a game called...hey, Lance! What was the name again?"
"Freeze tag! Seriously, Mullet, it's not a complicated name."
"I've never played it before, okay?"
Lance clutched a hand to his chest. "Don't remind me!"
"It was a game?" came a hesitant question from behind the Blades. "So, you weren't trying to avoid Pidge out of malice?"
Keith looked over and saw relief on Allura's face. "Yes, princess. It was a game. We like Pidge too much to avoid her."
"A game?" Antok cocked his head to the side. "How old are you Paladins?"
"Hunk and I are seventeen," Lance answered.
"Fifteen," Pidge said with a shrug.
"You know I'm eighteen," Keith replied.
"I'm twenty-five," Shiro stated.
"No, you're not," Lance corrected. "You're six."
Shiro groaned. "I regret telling you my birthdate."
Ulaz let out a whine. "Six?! You're six?!"
Keith purred to Ulaz. "Lance was making a joke. Shiro is twenty-five."
Ulaz didn't look convinced, so Thace gathered him into his arms and nuzzled his mate's neck. "It's all right, Laz. The kits are playing a game. When they are done, they can come rest in our nest."
Keith snickered and jumped to the side to avoid the swat from Thace but couldn't escape the one from Antok's tail. "Hey!"
"Don't laugh at your team, kit. Now, go play. We'll see you and the other kits when you are done playing," Antok stated.
Keith hurried back onto the main floor of the training deck. "Okay, guys. Who's it now?"
"Someone other than me," Pidge commented.
"I'll do it!" Lance volunteered. "Go spread out. I want a good challenge!"
Allura and the Blades watched as the Paladins started another game of freeze tag, this time with Lance as the one they were avoiding. Kolivan addressed Allura. "Princess, may we have a large amount of pillows and blankets? We are going to build a large nest in the lounge for all of the kits to rest in."
Allura suppressed a giggle. "The only Paladin that's truly a kit is Keith. The others are human, who don't have as long a lifespan."
"Nevertheless, we will still have them rest in the nest. They may not live as long as Galra or Alteans, but they are still young," Kolivan responded.
Allura grinned. "Of course. Follow me, and I'll show you where the excess supplies are. You can take what you want."
Thace led Ulaz out of the training deck, following the princess, with Antok right behind them. Kolivan paused for a dobosh and looked over his shoulder at the group of kits, the corners of his lips twitching at Lance's failed attempt at getting Keith.
Fin