~ Lance ~

"Coran!" Allura said in a scolding tone. "You're not suggesting going to one of those filthy swap moons?"

One of those filthy swap what nows?

"The last time you went, those space pirates took you for everything you had!"

I blinked. "Space pirates?"

"The Unilu were traders and pirates that roamed the galaxies and dealt in black market goods," Coran explained. "Umvy spice, by-tor water, little bottles of infinity vapor...of course, you had to bargain. No one could bargain like the Unilu. Last time, I ended up giving away three quarters of my shipment of lango in exchange for a used pogo oscillator."

He and Allura both laughed and she then smiled at him. "Father was not pleased about that."

"Well, while Coran is picking up his lenses..." I smiled charmingly and nudged her. "I'll take you shopping for something sparkly."

Coran leapt out of nowhere and shoved his face into mine. "This isn't shopping! You're not wandering around saying, 'oooh what a lovely pink hat! This is so becoming!' No! I can't allow Allura to get anywhere near those filthy, lowballing Unilu hoodlums."

She clasped her hands over her heart, eyes shining hopefully. "But I'd love something sparkly." She flashed him a bright, wide smile and he sighed.

"Look, you're the only one who can operate the castle, you need to be resting after all you've been through. Anyway, we'll leave in a few days time and when we do, we'll get in, find the scaultrite lenses and just get out. Is that clear?"

"We should be fine so long as Lance doesn't start making a scene," Keith muttered under his breath.

He'd been acting all snarky since last night and I was starting to get really sick of it.

I got all up in his face. "I won't make a scene, you're the hot head so you should worry about making a scene!"

"Says the boy who starts prancing around like an idiot during battle."

"I only did that once and that was because you needed a distraction!"

"I meant throw something or shoot at them, not start dancing!"

"How was I supposed to know that?!"

"How were you not supposed to know that?! How stupid can you be?!"

"Says you, dropout!"

"Oh, you really wanna go there?!"

"You gave me really unclear instructions!"

"No, you're just-"

"That's enough!"

Allura was standing there, arms folded, with a disappointed (SPACE MOM) look.

"I cannot take you two arguing anymore. Every single day, you two bicker and bicker and bicker. It's ridiculous!"

I pointed at Keith. "It's not my fault, emo boy over here always starts it!"

"Oh, excuse me?!"

"Both of you, stop!"

We both jumped to see Allura towering over us with the eyes of death. I gulped. She looked really scary at that moment.

"She does have a point," Shiro said in an even tone, walking over. "You two have got to stop this. It's getting harder and harder to fight with you two non-stop yelling at each other."

"It's because Keith always assumes that he's the smartest in the room," I muttered under my breath.

"Watch it, soon that attitude could be your doom," Keith muttered back.

"Shut up, mullet."

"You shut up."

"No, you shut up!"

"You shut your mouth unless you're gonna actually say something intelligent!"

We completely gave up on muttering and just full on yelled.

I heard Pidge sigh as she flopped onto her seat at her station. "Once again, they're fighting like a married couple."

"It's not like that!" We snapped in unison.

"If Keith was my husband...I'd..." I struggled to find something to say. "I'd just put poison in his food!"

"Lance, if I was married to you, I'd eat it."

"Alright, settle down you two!" Shiro shoved us away from each other though we kept on glaring. "Come on, this has to stop. Every time you seem to put your differences aside, you both go back to square one. Why is that?"

Me and Keith looked away, feeling guilty. Even though I could not stand that boy, I felt bad for letting Shiro down. He sounded like he was really disappointed in us.

Probably wondering why I can't be more like Keith.

"You're only here because the best pilot in your class had a discipline issue!"

I shook those thoughts out of my head. No. Not now.

Allura walked over and spoke up. "It's high time that you and Lance grew up and stopped these childish fights. I don't care how but you both need to find a way to b-"

Hunk made a cutting motion over his throat. She stopped and stared at him.

"...Hunk?"

He spoke quietly. "Uh, I forgot to tell you but uh...you can't use the 'b' word around Keith."

She whispered back. "The 'b' word? What is the - oh!" She spoke normally. "Do you mean 'bonding' ?"

Everyone screamed. "ALLURA NO-"

But it was too late.

Keith shoved his face right up to mine, looking furious. "We did have a bonding moment, he just 'forgot' about it!"

I backed into the wall, away from Keith's glaring face as he yelled at me. The others were all screaming and panicking frantically.

"He's been triggered!"

"Shiro, do something!"

"Goodbye, Lance, you'll be gone but never forgotten."

I clenched my fists and shoved my forehead against his. "I didn't forget anything, it just didn't happen!"

"I cradled you in my arms, you little-"

Allura had had enough by then.

"Both of you, out!" She yelled before shoving us out of the room.

I stared at the closed door, the sound of it banging shut echoing through the hall. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and stormed off. "Nice one, mullet."

"How is that my fault?!" I heard him running after me.

"If you hadn't gotten so triggered by a bonding moment that didn't happen, then we wouldn't be in trouble-"

"It did happen!"

I stuck my nose in the air. "I don't remember nothing."

Keith growled and I felt like he was resisting the urge to strangle me. Good. I was glad I'd pissed him off. It made me feel more photosynthesis. Whatever that means.

He then let out an irritated sigh. "I'm gonna go do some training. Don't bother me."

I turned my head back to see him walk away and turn the corner. I let out a huff of the air and kicked the wall. I immediately regretted that though because it really hurt. I let out a muffled yelp and cursed myself for being stupid before stuffing my hands into my pockets and hobbling off.

"Ugh, he's so annoying!" I muttered to myself. "Always acting like he's so much better than us all and telling me what to do and..."

The lights began flickering on and off.

I stopped and looked around. The hall was still empty. Who was doing this?

"Um, Keith?"

No reply.

The lights completely went out.

I folded my arms and rolled my eyes. "Okay, ha ha ha, very funny. Now turn the lights back on."

Silence.

"H-Hey, Keith?"

The hallway was pitch black. I was confused but I was also starting to get kinda scared. What was happening...

"Okay, I get it, well done, you scared me, now turn the lights back on!" I looked around, trying to see through the darkness. "Keith, this isn't funny!"

I heard footsteps.

Then they stopped.

I desperately tried to squint through the darkness but I couldn't see a thing.

"K-Keith, y-you're really freakin me out right now, buddy, just stop..."

The footsteps started again.

They were scarily close.

I looked around, trying to see who it was. Keith wouldn't go through this much effort just to freak me out, would he? No, I couldn't see him doing this. But if it wasn't him, who was it?

I suddenly saw something that made my heart stop in fear.

A pair of red eyes gleamed at me through the darkness.

I screamed and bolted for it. "KEITH!"

~ Keith ~

I walked into the training deck and stretched. What to do today...I thought as I picked up my bayard. Maybe I should-

The lights went off.

I frowned. Was the power down? Or was this one of Lance's stupid pranks?

"Hello?" I called. "Is anyone there?"

No response. I squinted through the darkness, trying to find the door. I'd just have to find the others and ask if something was-

I heard someone yelling my name.

It was far but it still reached my ears.

"Hello?" I repeated.

Lance suddenly burst in and tackled me to the ground, hugging me tightly. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm so glad to see you!"

I instantly stiffened. "What the hell are you doing?!"

He scrambled off and I sat up. "We gotta do something before it kills us all!"

"What are you on about? Who's gonna kill us?"

He hugged his knees to his chest, looking terrified. "This castle is haunted!"

I sighed irritatedly and got up to my feet. "You said that last time and it was just malfunctioning. I'm sure it's-"

I shut up instantly when I saw something walk in, her eerie light illuminating the room.

It was a girl with long pale, pale blonde, almost white hair falling over her face. It was dirty, matted and tangled as if she hadn't brushed her hair in years. Her nails were long and sharp like the pointy Altean ears poking out of her hair. Her white nightdress was torn and dirty and her feet were filthy.

But what really scared me was her blood red eyes.

They were locked onto us with the intent to kill.

In a moment of madness, I yanked Lance up and shoved him behind me before I caught myself. I stopped.

Wait, what am I doing?

I didn't have time to think about that. I frantically tried to think up a plan in my head. What to do, what to do...

Lance gripped my shoulders. "Keith, old buddy, old pal, you got any ideas?!" His voice was panicked.

"No, I don't even know what...that...is! What the heck are we supposed to do?!"

"Okay, fine." He began running off. "I'll get the others while you stay and keep the ghost busy!"

"Woah!" I grabbed the neck of his jacket to yank him back. "Why do you get the easy job?! Why can't you fight her instead?!"

"Because you're the one with the sword, I don't have my bayard right now! I'll let the others know what's going on while you fight this ghost child. Now, go! Be the hero!"

"I actually hate you," I muttered. "You better not screw this up."

With a sigh, I readied my bayard. She hadn't moved from where she was standing. I inhaled deeply. Come on, Keith, keep it together...

I charged and swung at the ghost. She disappeared.

I blinked in surprise.

I spun around and saw her on the other side of the room. I whipped my head to Lance. "Go!"

He saluted and ran out the door.

I turned my head back to look for the ghost. She was gone.

Gripping my sword tightly, I looked around cautiously. I didn't believe in ghosts. When we die, we die. But saying I didn't believe in them wouldn't make this creepy little child disappear.

"Come play with me."

I jumped and whipped around. She was staring at me with those tired and dead looking red eyes. She was holding a scissors in her hand.

She took a step forward, her head swinging on her neck as if it would fall off at any second. "Play with me, Keith."

Holy shoot, I did not like this.

I'd never thought I'd say this but at that moment, I really wished Lance was still there with me.

__________

Absolutely no Hamilton or meme references were made in this chapter.

This actually does have a point to it plz bear with 😂