The castle lounge was still humming faintly with residual energy from the last jump, lights dimmed to a warm gold as the paladins finally scattered into something resembling downtime.

Lance flopped dramatically across one of the couches, boots hanging over the armrest. “I’m just saying,” he groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes, “if I have to dodge one more Galra cannon blast, I’m charging extra. Heroics have overtime pay, right?”

Pidge snorted from the floor where she was half-buried in a pile of holo-tablet parts. “You missed three shots and almost crashed into Keith.”

Keith, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, shot Lance a flat look. “Almost?”

Lance lifted his head. “Okay, okay, technically I clipped your wing. But you’re alive! That’s friendship.”

Hunk laughed from the small food console he’d somehow already claimed. “Man, if friendship worked like that, I’d be invincible. Anyone hungry? I hacked together something that’s probably edible.”

“Probably?” Lance echoed in horror.

Shiro sat in one of the chairs near the viewport, armor discarded, posture relaxed but eyes tired in that familiar post-battle way. He watched the team banter with a fond, quiet smile the kind he only ever wore when things were finally calm. His gaze drifted briefly toward the hallway entrance, like he was half-expecting someone to appear.

“They should be back any minute,” Shiro said casually, though there was a softness under the words.

Keith caught the tone immediately and smirked slightly. “You mean your favorite paladin?”

Shiro huffed, shaking his head, but didn’t deny it.

Lance perked up instantly. “Ohhh, that’s why you’re smiling. Wow. Years of dating and you still get all mushy.”

“I can be mushy when I want to be.” Shiro replied.

Pidge glanced up from her tools. “Statistically speaking, he gets approximately 23% less grumpy when they’re around.”

“That is not a real statistic.”

“It is in my heart.”

Hunk grinned. “Guess we should save some food then. Wouldn’t want them missing out after carrying half that mission.”

Shiro’s eyes flicked to the hallway again, anticipation quietly settling in his expression.

The room stayed warm with laughter, teasing, and the comfortable hum of a team that had survived another fight together