Work Text:
The team was all lounging in the living room of the castle. They sat in a silent intimacy as everyone went along with their own activities. Lance was tapping away at his space ipad when he smiled widely before gasping dramatically.
The team’s eyes snapped to him as he clapped a hand over his mouth. Shiro raised a concerned eyebrow.
“Are you ok?” He asked softly
Lance groaned, annoyed. “God, my teeth are fucked up. I do not want braces again. I’m gonna get such an earful when we get home.” He put his hands on his hips before imitating his mother, “Mijo! Why didn’t you take your retainer into space?”
Pidge snorted, “we’re gonna be war heros and you’ll be an adult with braces!”
Lance glared. “Watch out, you’re next bitch.” Pidge just responded with the middle finger.
“Did y’all all have braces?” Keith asked, putting down the knife he was cleaning.
“I think so,” Hunk chimed in. “I know Lance and I both did. You didn’t?”
Keith shook his head. “No, why do you think my teeth are so crooked? My folks couldn’t afford it” He crossed his arms, leaning back on the couch.
“Omg, we can get matching braces!” Lance joked, earning a soft smile from Keith. The crew all laughed when Allura and Coran finally joined the group.
“Hello paladins! What are you chatting about that has you so jovial?” Coran asked happily, taking a seat next to Lance, his unofficial favorite paladin.
“We’re just talking about braces and how most of us had them as kids.” Shiro said casually, leaning back as he picked up his book again. Allura’s brow furrowed slightly.
“What are…braces? Were you all injured?” She asked, her voice laced with concern.
“No, princess, they go on your teeth.” Hunk shrugged, as if that made perfect sense to an alien.
“Excuse me? Your teeth?” Her eyes flashed with worry.
“I mean, yeah. We’d get brackets on our teeth and a wire would connect them and it would slowly straighten out your teeth.” Pidge explained quickly, tinkering with their robot.
“Why would you do that?” She asked again, her terror being lost on the oblivious paladins.
“Some people do it just for cosmetic reasons but there are also health reasons. If your jaw doesn’t line up properly or if you have too many teeth they slap braces on you.” Shiro stated, licking his finger as he flipped the page.
“Yeah, and if you get braces and don’t wear your retainer, which keeps your teeth in place, your teeth will get all crooked again. That's what’s happening to Lance right now” Hunk added helpfully glancing at Lance who was vainly examining his teeth.
“Did…did it hurt?” Coran asked, wringing his hands together anxiously.
“Oh! It hurt like a bitch!” Lance laughed loudly. “I would cry everytime they got tightened and they’d cut the inside of your lips open” He chuckled as if remembering fond memories. Pidge bolted up.
“Oh my God! Remember those kids with braces who got stuck together while making out at the Garrison!?” Pidge, Lance, and Hunk cackled, even Keith smiled slightly. Allura finally interrupted.
“Enough! They put torture devices on children?!” Her usually deep complexion was soured with fear, the paladins shrugged.
“I mean, basically yeah,” Keith added uselessly.
Coran took her arm, saying he was going to help her lay down. While leading her away Allura mumbled about primitive human customs.
Pidge just laughed. “Wait til she hears about plastic surgery.”