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Allura knew her paladins were young. By Earth standards they’d be considered young adults and teenagers, which Pidge informed her meant they were still approaching full maturity. Allura quickly realized this meant the paladins were children and could likely act like them. This led to its fair share of shenanigans.
Lance and Pidge had gotten into physical fights on multiple occasions, not just playful ones. There was biting, kicking, and hair pulling. Shiro had explained that it was how siblings behaved. It was likely an attempt to get attention from a parental figure, whether that be Coran, Allura, or himself. They still tried to stop fighting before it got physical.
Allura also learned humans at this age were extremely emotional when she had attempted to scold Keith after a long day of training. Typically, Keith would take the criticism and improve. However, that day he simply burst into tears. The other paladins led him out of the room while Shiro approached Allura.
“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to make him cry!” Shiro rubbed her shoulder kindly. “It’s alright, teenagers are hormonal messes. He’ll be ok tomorrow.” He squeezed her shoulder in reassurance but the woman still made a point to apologize to Keith the following morning.
It even happened with praise. When Coran gifted Hunk a seasoning from a new planet, Hunk sobbed. He explained that the seasoning smelt exactly like the cinnamon his moms used during a holiday called Christmas.
He explained that he was sad and happy, crying from his homesickness and from his happy memories for childhood. He thanked Coran for the gift and hugged him tightly.
Humorously, the emotions weren’t always negative. Shortly after Keith and Lance started dating, Shiro set up many rules and had private talks with each of them. Allura asked him why it was necessary. Shiro chuckled softly and tossed a simple answer of “hormones.”
Despite the paladins insisting they were old enough to care for themselves, Allura found herself feeling motherly towards them. She attempted to always make sure they weren’t hungry, thirsty, tired, or hurt. Shiro and Coran also made sure they’d take care of the young paladins.
The alteans weren’t the only ones who noticed that the paladins were children. When attending a gala on planet Valiav, Allura was fondly watching as Lance cut up Keith’s food while they whispered to each other. The red and blue paladins giggled softly, pressing their foreheads together. The royal who stood next to her sighed softly. “I remember when my love and I behaved like that. Please remind my princess, how old are your paladins?”
Allura looked up at the tall Valiavan. They were nearly 8 feet tall with inky black hair that was nearly as long. They’re skin was a soft golden as they wore the traditional white and blue robes that royals wore. Allura to a steading breath, being aware of how old these beings lived to be.
“Well, L’Veld. The paladins are from 15-18 years old, while the black paladin is 26. That makes the younger ones 15 to 18 deca-phoebs.” Allura cringed as the Valiavan eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
“How old!? Princess, they are merely children! And they are fighting in a war!?” Allura was quick to reassure them. “I know! I know it is horrifically young for us. But on earth they are approaching the age where they can live alone. And all over Earth many people younger than them are fighting in wars.”
The alien sighed, looked at where Pidge shoved a dessert in Lance’s face, Hunk trying to hold them back. Keith screamed with laughter, making several people look at them perplexed. L’Veld’s eyebrows, or where eyebrows would be, pursed while they scowled.
“They even sound like children. How do you not fuss over them?” Allura smiled broadly. “It’s difficult, especially when they insist they’re nearly adults. It hurts me to wonder how short life must be for humans. They really are children, children in a war.”
Allura felt a tear run down her face while L’Veld squeezed her hand. “The universe chose them, humans must be stronger than they look.”
Allura only nodded as Keith’s head fell to Lance’s shoulder while the taller boy let Pidge sip his drink. Hunk sat next to Pidge eating the leftovers on everyone’s plates, excitedly telling the other about his plans for tomorrow. They looked so small, so happy and innocent.
Allura sighed softly, knowing that she needed to take care of the paladins until they were home. They were her paladins.