Faune followed Pidge around the castle, making sure her paladin wouldn't be hurt again.

Pidge didn't mind. She'd occasionally reach over and pet the lion's head.

Faune let everyone near her, they were confused every time Shiro would come near and Faune would growl. She used to like Shiro, so why she was suddenly angry with the black paladin was a mystery to everyone but Pidge and Shiro.

Pidge now sat in the cub pen, Faune curled around her as she wired her project and typed away on her laptop.

Shiro slowly and silently approached, having taken off his boots before entering the hangar. Adaoe, Pelae and Cloade were with their paladins while Spirit was with Coran and Allura. He hoped that Faune was asleep so he could at least get Pidge's attention.

"Katie."

Both paladin and lion raised their heads.

Faune lashed her tail and growled. Pidge reached over and pat her head as Shiro cursed under his breath and took a step back. "Lets hear him out for a minute, Faune." She hummed, scratching the little lion's chin. She huffed and lay her chin on her paws.

Shiro sighed in relief and stepped closer. Faune growled. "But you can't come any closer than that." Pidge muttered. Shiro raised his hands in surrender and nodded.

"Thank you." Shiro sighed and relaxed. "Katie, I just- I'm sorry... I'm sorry, okay... Can we please talk alone?"

"No." Pidge and Faune both muttered, though only Pidge understood her.

Shiro groaned and dropped his arms. "Okay, okay, that's fine." He carded his prosthetic fingers through his tuft of white. "Katie, I'm sorry for upsetting-for hurting you. You just-I want you to... to realise that we're just-... You're young, Katie." Pidge shuffled in her spot and looked down at her lap. "You're so young, Katie. You have a lifetime of opportunities ahead of you. I'm older, I'm broken, Katie. I'd just hold you back. You have things you need to do, things to find, to accomplish, to create... I will hurt you at some point. My arm, I-"

"So what?" Pidge muttered, closing her laptop. "I can stick up for myself."

"I know that, but-"

"But nothing." Pidge huffed and crossed her arms. "I know about your arm, I know about your nightmares. Everyone on this ship knows." Shiro averted his gaze elsewhere. "Sure, there may be issues with that, but you can't help it. It's not your fault. Takashi... I can't help how I feel, okay... And neither can you. You told me you love me, Takashi."

The black paladin sighed. Faune watched with wide, curious eyes, her tail flicking happily. "Yes, I did, but I-"

"And all you're doing right now is proving that you do. So it's really difficult for to not jump up and kiss you right now." Pidge muttered, fidgeting with her jacket.

Shiro paused, gripping the railing,for the cub pen. The tips of his ears and his cheeks reddened as he looked away. "Katie..."

"I've already told you why I love you. Why do you love me?"

Faune purred, curling her tail as she looked back and forth between the two. Shiro bit his lip.

"You're so beautiful, and you don't realize it," He began, very bashful. "You're always comparing yourself to other people, like Allura. I see it in your eyes. But, you shouldn't be jealous of them when they should be jealous of you." Shiro couldn't look up from the floor. "You're a genius, you're not afraid of showing people who you are, you're so brave-... Katie, this list could go on. It really could. I just don't think..." he trailed.

Pidge pet Faune. "Is it just our age? Is it just that you have nightmares?"

"Katie, that's not-"

"Takashi." She stopped him as she looked up. Shiro met her gaze. Pidge smiled. "I love you."

Faune knead her claws into the padding, excitement bubbling in her chest as she watched Shiro in anticipation. Sweet Altea, she couldn't take it anymore! Say it!

Shiro's shoulders relaxed and a small smile grew on his lips. "I love you, too."

~

Faune lay on Spirit, eyes trained on their paladins. Pidge was working on an update to her lion while Shiro sat by and kept her company. "Didn't I do so good, Spirit?"

Spirit sighed, his shoulders drooping. "You pushed them together like you said you wouldn't."

The little lion huffed and rolled her eyes. "On accident. I didn't mean to do it. I was angry with him, so he felt like he had to win her back." Spirit chuckled and lolled his head. "But I did good."

"Yes, you did." Spirit purred, tail curling and uncurling.

Adaoe lay down and rolled onto his back beside them. "I want my paladin. He gives the best belly rubs."

Spirit and Faune both rolled their eyes at the older lion. "I think you're the only lion ever in any universe to love belly rubs, Adaoe." Faune muttered, flicking her tail at him.

Adaoe purred, eyes wide and sparkling. "Belly rubs are great, Faune. It's better than someone moving around and shouting in your mouth."

Faune and Spirit exchanged glances, then nodded. "That's true." Spirit mused, resting his chin back on his paws. "I'll have to make Shiro give me belly rubs."

The yellow lion snickered. "He gives good rubs, too. He even scratches, and it feels so good!" Adaoe stretched out his legs and flicked his tail.

Faune shrugged, resting her chin between Spirit's shoulders. "I like Pidge's pets enough. I don't need belly rubs."

The black lion chuckled again. "I'll give you belly rubs. I'm sure you'll like it."

Adaoe snorted, then burst out laughing, rolling onto his side. Faune groaned and pushed Spirit before sitting up.

"I'm sorry!" Spirit laughed softly, sitting up. Faune huffed and started grooming her paws. Spirit nuzzled her cheek, then began rubbing his whole body against hers.

Faune squeaked and toppled over, Spirit falling on top of her. Spirit laughed then buried his muzzle in the fluffy fur of her chest. Faune purred, her paws over his neck.

Spirit hummed softly. "I love my little lioness." He curled his tail around hers. "You smell different."

The little lion hummed and nodded. Spirit breathed in the scent, thinking back to their time on Altea.

Laying in a field of beautiful Altean flowers, Faune curled up beside him as they watched their little cub. His violet, slick coat shimmering in the sun as he chased low flying Altean birds.

Spirit's nose twitched as he remembered the sweet scent of his cub. A mixture of his mother's scent and juniberry flowers while also smelling like him. A similar scent to this.

Spirit jolted and raised his head, blue eyes wide.