Can we get some more jealous Shiro or some more cultural misunderstanding Shiro?
Let’s see if I can’t do a little of both, hmmmm? >3c
He bit his tongue and inhaled deeply through his nose, remembering the meditation exercises Coran and the Queen had shown him.Â
Count and concentrate, let the disturbance flow out with-
That irritating giggle reached his ears again, snapping his focus, and he winced as his teeth cut into his tongue.
“You okay there, bud?” Hunk asked, peeking over the control bank they were putting back together.Â
“Fine,” Shiro muttered, hunching over the panels and twisting a bolt back into place with a little more force than necessary.Â
He wasn’t going to pay attention to the Talmaniina attempting to charm Coran into a cabin, he was perfectly okay, everything was peachy-
“You have been such a delightful host, sir. Perhaps there is some way I could...repay you?”
Oh, that was it. Very carefully not throwing down the wrench he was holding, he stood up and turned, ready to stalk over and possibly toss the interloper into the nearest airlock-
-only for Allura to catch him by the elbow. “Down, boy,” she hissed too quietly for Hunk, pushing him over towards the door.
“Are you not hearing that?” Shiro protested as quietly as he could manage without the two of them drawing too much interest. “Why isn’t it bothering you any?”
“Because we’re about to get some extremely lucrative intel for being good little party hosts,” Allura replied, tapping a datapad against his chest. “Coran may have a lot of contacts, but The Talmaniina network is second to none, and coaxing them to share is a pain and a half.”
Shiro stared at her. “...Intel? That’s what he meant by repayment?”
Allura blinked back at him. “You- oh. Oh. Oh, no. No. That wasn’t- They are... very touchy-feely, yes. It’s part of the job. But I don’t think-”
A sudden yelp of protest caught their attention, and they both looked over to find their guest had wrapped a very surprised Coran in an ardent multi-limbed embrace.
Shiro bristled, glancing to Allura for confirmation, and her expression of distaste mirrored his own ire. “Nevermind,” she muttered. “He’s all yours.”