Bonds of Love
By KittyLynne
Disclaimers: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Original/new characters belong to the author.
Rating: M for language and adult situations.
Author's summary and warnings: This is an updated version of my very first fanfiction effort, a story I wrote and posted several years ago on the KAEX mailing list. It revolves around developing the relationship between Keith and Princess Allura, and exploring the origin of the psychic connection between them, their teammates, and the lions that make up Voltron. This fanfiction was written and posted before the existence of Voltron: The Third Dimension, and does not tie in with that series in regards to plot or characterizations.
Disclaimer: Voltron and its characters are the property of World Events Productions. I am not writing this story for profit. The original characters, prose and plots created for this fiction are my creative property and should not be reproduced in any form without my written permission.
Originally Published 1999-2001 - Revised 2014 - 2017
Rating: M for language and adult situations.
Author's summary and warnings: This is an updated version of my very first fanfiction effort, a story I wrote and posted several years ago on the KAEX mailing list. It revolves around developing the relationship between Keith and Princess Allura, and exploring the origin of the psychic connection between them, their teammates, and the lions that make up Voltron. This fanfiction was written and posted before the existence of Voltron: The Third Dimension, and does not tie in with that series in regards to plot or characterizations.
Disclaimer: Voltron and its characters are the property of World Events Productions. I am not writing this story for profit. The original characters, prose and plots created for this fiction are my creative property and should not be reproduced in any form without my written permission.
Originally Published 1999-2001 - Revised 2014 - 2017
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
Warnings: brief mention of sexual assault, sprinkling of profanity
Valley of the Shadow
As the red mist clouding his vision cleared, Lance found himself to be stark naked and standing in the rock strewn center of a valley at the bottom of a deep gorge.
Feeling uncomfortably exposed, he looked around for any means of cover. Everywhere he looked, he saw the color of dust, mud and stone. The browns and grays prevalent in the landscape didn't display signs of vegetation, nor was there a boulder big enough to afford shelter. There may have been a cave in the cliffs somewhere above him, but the sides of the gorge were steep and too smooth for secure footholds- not that he was eager to attempt an ascension in his present state of undress.
Ha! Like I'm gonna try rock climbing without so much as a jock strap! Common sense applies even in dream quests, doesn't it?
Being stripped of the barest of protection shouted that his reaction to his physical vulnerability was a challenge to surmount. Which was fine, honestly. His nakedness allowed for analysis of the atmosphere, which was pleasantly warm and still. The ice blue sky was cloudless, and there weren't any insects to bite him in bad places- and for all appearances, there wasn't another living soul around to see his bared assets, so no societal norms were being violated. The one and only adverse element he could think of was lack of comfortable seating- but he was built for endurance, and there was flat space to be had here and there if he absolutely needed to sit.
Guess I'm the solitary rock star in this nudie show. Talk about anticlimatic. Heh.
Not that he was complaining. All in all, he was pleasantly surprised the scenario playing out was a snap to deal with, especially when he compared it to the special ops trials he'd endured; tests of will that had laid him bare to dozens of platoon mates slogging through pits of mud in cold, driving rain while drill instructors shouted taunts at him about expecting his failure due to his masculine shortcomings.
This landscape was harsh in its barrenness, but if he looked closely, he could see stripes of bright color beneath the surface of the broken stones that lay around him, and the occasional sparkle of quartz. Hunk the rock hound would probably love it here. The gorge was peaceful; its high cliffs shut out the clamor of a deeply imperfect word. It was profoundly quiet; a silence that demanded reflection and contemplation.
Yeah. It's too quiet here. Where to go? Where's Red gone? What's my next move?
His eyes narrowed as he spied a potential clue.
He'd glimpsed the shadowy form of a lion coming to meet him when he'd initially gone under. That lion was nowhere to be seen, but he presumed that the evidence of its presence had been left in the trail of paw prints wending its way between a field of rocky depressions resembling moon craters. All indications were that he should follow them, but he hesitated, looking at his feet and assessing the ground he'd be hiking over. In contrast to the crater pocked field on both sides, the ground beneath the lion tracks was smooth, like paved patio stone.
As long as I stay on the path, I shouldn't have a problem walking barefooted.
He started forward, adopting a cautious, measured pace. So far, so good, he'd almost reached the first set of tracks. This was pretty easy, almost disappointing. But as he was gaining confidence, hell broke loose, ensuring this hike was one he'd never forget. Whether triggered by his proximity or stepping directly into the impressions of the paw prints, he didn't know, but flames erupted from the two craters that bracketed his path, shaking the ground and shooting skyward with the explosive force of geysers.
As thick showers of sparks and flame rained down upon him, he yelled obscenities and dropped to the ground, unconcerned about bruises as he rolled to snuff out the flames that had encompassed his flesh.
It was a bit of time before he realized that his flesh remained unscorched and intact. Breathing hard, he sat up, giving thanks that his bowels had stayed under control.
Fire and brimstone, eh? So what level of hell was this?
I definitely gotta reread Dante's Inferno when I get back to reality...
But he wasn't quite in hell, he decided after a moment. The sulfuric stench of evil mixed with the rot of damned souls wasn't present. The flames didn't burn. There were no signs of a tormenter or intent to torture.
So what was the purpose of this little surprise? Where's the challenge, other than being freaked out by flaming geysers or maybe having to avoid a rockslide?
His intellect said that he could not be harmed in a spirit quest; after all, this world was created in in his mind. But then again, a recollection of a scene in a book he'd loved as a kid, with a great old wizard saying to the boy hero that just because something was happening in his head didn't mean it wasn't connected to reality, also rang true.
There was more to this whole deal than I'm seeing or understanding right now. There has to be.
With that thought, Lance got to his feet. The columns of fire still burned, but after careful observation, he saw they didn't equate to hellfire. Fire was to be feared when it was out of control or a punishment. These fires had made a dramatic appearance, but weren't destructive. The heat they gave didn't sear or scorch.
Fire was used for sustenance and protection. Its essence inspired imagination, artistry, innovation. Flames were symbolic of power and passion and rebirth. Walking with fire, showing he was unafraid of it...was this the way to find if he was worthy of bonding with Red Lion?
Nah, that's way too easy. There's more to it than not getting burned.
His gaze returned to the path. Flooded by showers of sparks, the paw prints were now outlined in glowing gold.
Nice touch, Lance thought. So I'm Dorothy, and this is the Red Lion version of the yellow brick road. Is he leading me to the Emerald City and getting my wish ... or to the Wicked Witch?
Only one way to find out.
The twin columns of flame shrank back into the earth as soon as he moved forward, the roar of the fires reduced to crackling snaps.
Treading cautiously, he came abreast of the next set of craters. Even though the appearance of fire wasn't a surprise, he still gave a violent start and cursed once again as three more more conflagrations went shooting upwards.
So they react when I'm near. Okay, once I get used to it, I'll be walkin' like a boss!
But that notion was torpedoed as he discovered not all craters he encountered spewed fire. Some of them spit sparks at him, some smoked; others did absolutely nothing. Adding to his vexation was that they were unevenly spaced, and unevenly timed, keeping him on edge as he took pains not to walk too close to the openings.
He had yet to be burned, nothing had indicated he would be, but there was always a chance something could change. It was like waiting for toast to pop out of a toaster- you knew it was going to happen at some point, yet you were never totally prepared.
Now that he thought of it, this whole exploding crater scenario was reminding him of a favorite prank of his older sister's, one she'd loved to play on him when they were kids. She'd always beat him home from school, and she loved nothing more than hiding and jumping out to scare him when he arrived. He knew she was going to do it, he knew all of her favorite hiding spots...and yet she always managed to surprise him. Even now, he could hear her laughing as he shrieked!
Annoyed by the memory and his inability to remain unruffled, he returned to counting craters; after passing a dozen of them, his step had slowed. Two dozen, with no end in sight, and doubts began to surface. This was his vision, why was it so repetitive? Didn't he have a say in this? What was taking so long for the action to start?
What's the purpose of being here? What the hell's supposed to happen for me to earn my prize kitty?
Three dozen craters gone by. Now four. By his approximation, he'd covered well over two miles and his throat ached with something akin to thirst. How dumb to be walking a path to nowhere! Didn't Red think he could handle more than a naked hike? What was the insight to be gained in exposing his swinging twig and berries to the world while being serenaded by flaming geysers?
He had no idea how much time had passed- minutes or hours, it didn't really matter, he supposed. Maybe this was a trial of patience, something that he didn't always have in great supply. The temptation to throw in the towel was certainly there, but nevertheless, he kept going.
He let out a cheer when he saw the end of the path, thinking he'd been rewarded for his persistence. But excitement was short lived as he realized the end was at the base of a cliff.
He stared at the last few lion prints, the final step bisected by a solid wall of rock.
He looked upwards, rubbing his neck, vexed but unsurprised to see no openings, no ladder or climbing points.
Of course he can walk through stone. This is not a normal lion. I suppose it's a metaphor for my life or something. I fucking hate metaphors.
He walked up to the wall, rapped his knuckles on a section and shouted, "Knock knock!"
He waited. No answer, so he continued.
"Who's there, you wonder? Why, it's Lance, who's also wondering why the hell he's here."
Still no answer, but he liked hearing a voice, so he kept talking.
"I take it my trial is to do the impossible? Well say no more, I aim to please! It's my bonding quest, right? That I'm even having one means you think I've got what it takes to bond with you. I've overcome my doubts with the power of belief. No clothes means I'm vulnerable and open to possibilities. The fire hasn't burned me, so it stands to reason that I could walk through solid stone if I believe I can, right? Yeah? All right!"
Clapping his hands, and squaring his shoulders, he strode forward, armed with the strength of absolute belief. So strong was that belief, he was shockingly and wholly unprepared to be gobsmacked by the reality of solid granite. The profanities on his tongue were brutally cut off as his man parts rammed against a part of the stone that jutted out.
He doubled over, falling to the ground, rolling from side to side, unsuccessfully trying not to vomit.
When the pain had lessened, he stayed on the ground, curled into a fetal position. Epic fail in his own dream? Fire couldn't hurt him, but stone was another matter entirely? What the fuck did it mean?
He'd discarded his cynical skepticism and it hadn't helped. What could he take away from that?
Was I delusional to think I could bond with a lion that easily? That cliff might as well be a brick wall!
The trail, and he, had come to an impasse. He was a great pilot, but mad flying skills didn't translate to having the kind of mindset it takes to form a truly special bond. If the stone wouldn't let him pass, that had to mean he must have flunked whatever test he was being given. If he couldn't go on, all that was left to do was give up, admit to failure, wake up, and this nightmare would be over... no one would know what happened here, or that the cost was having loser angst for the rest of his life.
Would he even be able to pilot Red Lion after this humiliation?
That thought was too much to bear.
"I don't know what to do!" He yelled, tears of desperation trickling from the corners of his eyes. "I'm your pilot, but how can I be worthy of your soul if I can't fucking understand what it takes? What didn't I do? Or is that what you expected? Dammit, did you want to see me fail?"
His words echoed around the chasm, mocking him until the ground begin to shake. All of the craters he passed were now shooting fire. He clambered to his feet, but was promptly knocked right on his backside as a fissure opened in front of him, running up to and cracking open the wall of stone as easily as if stone were an eggshell.
There was a silhouette standing in the opening. As it emerged from the shadows with lumbering steps, he saw the form of a huge and heavily muscled warlord wearing an executioner's hood and wielding a battle axe.
Lance stared in silent horror as a nightmare from his past was ressurected. Nakedness rendered him as vulnerable as a newborn; he had no armor or weapon to use against this enemy. There was nowhere to hide. A choked moan escaped his throat. He was powerless and ineffective, a cypher frozen by fear and failure.
The hooded man laughed; a deep, nasty, derisive chuckle, one that said that this beat down would be so easy, he wouldn't even break a sweat.
That laugh should have sent his intended victim running for his life.
Instead, the victim got angry.
Memories of the day his village was attacked rose like flames, searing his brain. His big sister jumping out at him from nowhere- not to scare, but to protect him from the warlord's men. Her desperate bargaining with the hooded barbarian looming over them, and his own helpless shriek as his sister was carried behind a farm shed. Her cries of pain... her hobbling walk as she returned, her clothes bloodied and ripped asunder. Her fierce embrace, her saying not to cry, that everything was worth it to keep her little brother untouched…
He had been too young to understand what she'd given up to protect him. When he was old enough to figure it out, he knew he should have been the one protecting her. He should have been stronger, smarter, braver! He hadn't been good enough and she had paid the price.
Having lost their farmland, his family gave up terraforming, and had taken the next ship back to Planet Earth. From that day onward, his sister changed. She'd never tried to scare him again, and was prone to panic attacks. And he'd enrolled at Galaxy Garrison, determined to get away from the daily reminder of his failure, to learn the skills he needed to make sure no one would suffer on his behalf ever again.
And no one had, until Sven. It had happened again, someone making a sacrifice for him because he couldn't defend himself. The feeling of helplessness he swore he'd never feel again...
Something (his heart?) felt like it was trying to punch its way out of his chest. Physically, spiritually, emotionally, he was laid as bare as he could be. He was marginally aware of the red haze that surrounded him, of the burning inside him, an inferno that had sprung from some unknown reserve.
Even if this quest for a bonding with Red was a hopeless cause, even if his mind and his body were his only weapons and defense, he wasn't going to quit. This was his fight. Red wouldn't intercede like his sister had- but he wasn't that powerless, scared little kid any longer. Even if he wasn't worthy, that didn't mean he'd walk away, quietly or easily.
He bent to grab a pointed stone, thinking its blood red color very apt for his purpose. Holding his weapon, he stared death in the face. "Newsflash for ya, asshole- killing me ain't gonna be a cakewalk!"
There was no laughing now. He had the brute's full attention- dude was going all stiff and threatening. Despite the overwhelming odds against victory, he gave a savage smile that boded ill for his opponent.
Battle axe and stone were raised. The combatants circled, then stopped, neither wanting to make the first move. They circled, stopped, circled some more. Neither had an inkling of the blue cloud that was rapidly approaching from behind until it was upon them.
Lance's eyes widened at the feeling of being touched by a warm and loving essence. It circled him, mingling with his aura, turning it to a royal shade of purple. Her presence within the aura held a question...and without a second thought, he opened his mind, his body and his heart as the answer.
A blue shield formed in his left hand, and the pointed stone clutched in his hand became a sword of fire.
He wasn't a failure! He would be redeemed! No one was going to take that away!
He turned to the nightmare of his past, his Harbinger of Doom, and parried the thud of a falling axe by raising his sword. As the axe drew back for a second blow, Lance struck.
One slash, and condemned became executioner. Sliced in half, the apparition crumbled into ash, and blew away into the mists from whence it had come.
A lion's roar filled the gorge and Lance's ears, followed by a thunderous, growling voice within his mind.
You have earned your second chance. Well done, warrior!
Then everything went dark.
As the red mist clouding his vision cleared, Lance found himself to be stark naked and standing in the rock strewn center of a valley at the bottom of a deep gorge.
Feeling uncomfortably exposed, he looked around for any means of cover. Everywhere he looked, he saw the color of dust, mud and stone. The browns and grays prevalent in the landscape didn't display signs of vegetation, nor was there a boulder big enough to afford shelter. There may have been a cave in the cliffs somewhere above him, but the sides of the gorge were steep and too smooth for secure footholds- not that he was eager to attempt an ascension in his present state of undress.
Ha! Like I'm gonna try rock climbing without so much as a jock strap! Common sense applies even in dream quests, doesn't it?
Being stripped of the barest of protection shouted that his reaction to his physical vulnerability was a challenge to surmount. Which was fine, honestly. His nakedness allowed for analysis of the atmosphere, which was pleasantly warm and still. The ice blue sky was cloudless, and there weren't any insects to bite him in bad places- and for all appearances, there wasn't another living soul around to see his bared assets, so no societal norms were being violated. The one and only adverse element he could think of was lack of comfortable seating- but he was built for endurance, and there was flat space to be had here and there if he absolutely needed to sit.
Guess I'm the solitary rock star in this nudie show. Talk about anticlimatic. Heh.
Not that he was complaining. All in all, he was pleasantly surprised the scenario playing out was a snap to deal with, especially when he compared it to the special ops trials he'd endured; tests of will that had laid him bare to dozens of platoon mates slogging through pits of mud in cold, driving rain while drill instructors shouted taunts at him about expecting his failure due to his masculine shortcomings.
This landscape was harsh in its barrenness, but if he looked closely, he could see stripes of bright color beneath the surface of the broken stones that lay around him, and the occasional sparkle of quartz. Hunk the rock hound would probably love it here. The gorge was peaceful; its high cliffs shut out the clamor of a deeply imperfect word. It was profoundly quiet; a silence that demanded reflection and contemplation.
Yeah. It's too quiet here. Where to go? Where's Red gone? What's my next move?
His eyes narrowed as he spied a potential clue.
He'd glimpsed the shadowy form of a lion coming to meet him when he'd initially gone under. That lion was nowhere to be seen, but he presumed that the evidence of its presence had been left in the trail of paw prints wending its way between a field of rocky depressions resembling moon craters. All indications were that he should follow them, but he hesitated, looking at his feet and assessing the ground he'd be hiking over. In contrast to the crater pocked field on both sides, the ground beneath the lion tracks was smooth, like paved patio stone.
As long as I stay on the path, I shouldn't have a problem walking barefooted.
He started forward, adopting a cautious, measured pace. So far, so good, he'd almost reached the first set of tracks. This was pretty easy, almost disappointing. But as he was gaining confidence, hell broke loose, ensuring this hike was one he'd never forget. Whether triggered by his proximity or stepping directly into the impressions of the paw prints, he didn't know, but flames erupted from the two craters that bracketed his path, shaking the ground and shooting skyward with the explosive force of geysers.
As thick showers of sparks and flame rained down upon him, he yelled obscenities and dropped to the ground, unconcerned about bruises as he rolled to snuff out the flames that had encompassed his flesh.
It was a bit of time before he realized that his flesh remained unscorched and intact. Breathing hard, he sat up, giving thanks that his bowels had stayed under control.
Fire and brimstone, eh? So what level of hell was this?
I definitely gotta reread Dante's Inferno when I get back to reality...
But he wasn't quite in hell, he decided after a moment. The sulfuric stench of evil mixed with the rot of damned souls wasn't present. The flames didn't burn. There were no signs of a tormenter or intent to torture.
So what was the purpose of this little surprise? Where's the challenge, other than being freaked out by flaming geysers or maybe having to avoid a rockslide?
His intellect said that he could not be harmed in a spirit quest; after all, this world was created in in his mind. But then again, a recollection of a scene in a book he'd loved as a kid, with a great old wizard saying to the boy hero that just because something was happening in his head didn't mean it wasn't connected to reality, also rang true.
There was more to this whole deal than I'm seeing or understanding right now. There has to be.
With that thought, Lance got to his feet. The columns of fire still burned, but after careful observation, he saw they didn't equate to hellfire. Fire was to be feared when it was out of control or a punishment. These fires had made a dramatic appearance, but weren't destructive. The heat they gave didn't sear or scorch.
Fire was used for sustenance and protection. Its essence inspired imagination, artistry, innovation. Flames were symbolic of power and passion and rebirth. Walking with fire, showing he was unafraid of it...was this the way to find if he was worthy of bonding with Red Lion?
Nah, that's way too easy. There's more to it than not getting burned.
His gaze returned to the path. Flooded by showers of sparks, the paw prints were now outlined in glowing gold.
Nice touch, Lance thought. So I'm Dorothy, and this is the Red Lion version of the yellow brick road. Is he leading me to the Emerald City and getting my wish ... or to the Wicked Witch?
Only one way to find out.
The twin columns of flame shrank back into the earth as soon as he moved forward, the roar of the fires reduced to crackling snaps.
Treading cautiously, he came abreast of the next set of craters. Even though the appearance of fire wasn't a surprise, he still gave a violent start and cursed once again as three more more conflagrations went shooting upwards.
So they react when I'm near. Okay, once I get used to it, I'll be walkin' like a boss!
But that notion was torpedoed as he discovered not all craters he encountered spewed fire. Some of them spit sparks at him, some smoked; others did absolutely nothing. Adding to his vexation was that they were unevenly spaced, and unevenly timed, keeping him on edge as he took pains not to walk too close to the openings.
He had yet to be burned, nothing had indicated he would be, but there was always a chance something could change. It was like waiting for toast to pop out of a toaster- you knew it was going to happen at some point, yet you were never totally prepared.
Now that he thought of it, this whole exploding crater scenario was reminding him of a favorite prank of his older sister's, one she'd loved to play on him when they were kids. She'd always beat him home from school, and she loved nothing more than hiding and jumping out to scare him when he arrived. He knew she was going to do it, he knew all of her favorite hiding spots...and yet she always managed to surprise him. Even now, he could hear her laughing as he shrieked!
Annoyed by the memory and his inability to remain unruffled, he returned to counting craters; after passing a dozen of them, his step had slowed. Two dozen, with no end in sight, and doubts began to surface. This was his vision, why was it so repetitive? Didn't he have a say in this? What was taking so long for the action to start?
What's the purpose of being here? What the hell's supposed to happen for me to earn my prize kitty?
Three dozen craters gone by. Now four. By his approximation, he'd covered well over two miles and his throat ached with something akin to thirst. How dumb to be walking a path to nowhere! Didn't Red think he could handle more than a naked hike? What was the insight to be gained in exposing his swinging twig and berries to the world while being serenaded by flaming geysers?
He had no idea how much time had passed- minutes or hours, it didn't really matter, he supposed. Maybe this was a trial of patience, something that he didn't always have in great supply. The temptation to throw in the towel was certainly there, but nevertheless, he kept going.
He let out a cheer when he saw the end of the path, thinking he'd been rewarded for his persistence. But excitement was short lived as he realized the end was at the base of a cliff.
He stared at the last few lion prints, the final step bisected by a solid wall of rock.
He looked upwards, rubbing his neck, vexed but unsurprised to see no openings, no ladder or climbing points.
Of course he can walk through stone. This is not a normal lion. I suppose it's a metaphor for my life or something. I fucking hate metaphors.
He walked up to the wall, rapped his knuckles on a section and shouted, "Knock knock!"
He waited. No answer, so he continued.
"Who's there, you wonder? Why, it's Lance, who's also wondering why the hell he's here."
Still no answer, but he liked hearing a voice, so he kept talking.
"I take it my trial is to do the impossible? Well say no more, I aim to please! It's my bonding quest, right? That I'm even having one means you think I've got what it takes to bond with you. I've overcome my doubts with the power of belief. No clothes means I'm vulnerable and open to possibilities. The fire hasn't burned me, so it stands to reason that I could walk through solid stone if I believe I can, right? Yeah? All right!"
Clapping his hands, and squaring his shoulders, he strode forward, armed with the strength of absolute belief. So strong was that belief, he was shockingly and wholly unprepared to be gobsmacked by the reality of solid granite. The profanities on his tongue were brutally cut off as his man parts rammed against a part of the stone that jutted out.
He doubled over, falling to the ground, rolling from side to side, unsuccessfully trying not to vomit.
When the pain had lessened, he stayed on the ground, curled into a fetal position. Epic fail in his own dream? Fire couldn't hurt him, but stone was another matter entirely? What the fuck did it mean?
He'd discarded his cynical skepticism and it hadn't helped. What could he take away from that?
Was I delusional to think I could bond with a lion that easily? That cliff might as well be a brick wall!
The trail, and he, had come to an impasse. He was a great pilot, but mad flying skills didn't translate to having the kind of mindset it takes to form a truly special bond. If the stone wouldn't let him pass, that had to mean he must have flunked whatever test he was being given. If he couldn't go on, all that was left to do was give up, admit to failure, wake up, and this nightmare would be over... no one would know what happened here, or that the cost was having loser angst for the rest of his life.
Would he even be able to pilot Red Lion after this humiliation?
That thought was too much to bear.
"I don't know what to do!" He yelled, tears of desperation trickling from the corners of his eyes. "I'm your pilot, but how can I be worthy of your soul if I can't fucking understand what it takes? What didn't I do? Or is that what you expected? Dammit, did you want to see me fail?"
His words echoed around the chasm, mocking him until the ground begin to shake. All of the craters he passed were now shooting fire. He clambered to his feet, but was promptly knocked right on his backside as a fissure opened in front of him, running up to and cracking open the wall of stone as easily as if stone were an eggshell.
There was a silhouette standing in the opening. As it emerged from the shadows with lumbering steps, he saw the form of a huge and heavily muscled warlord wearing an executioner's hood and wielding a battle axe.
Lance stared in silent horror as a nightmare from his past was ressurected. Nakedness rendered him as vulnerable as a newborn; he had no armor or weapon to use against this enemy. There was nowhere to hide. A choked moan escaped his throat. He was powerless and ineffective, a cypher frozen by fear and failure.
The hooded man laughed; a deep, nasty, derisive chuckle, one that said that this beat down would be so easy, he wouldn't even break a sweat.
That laugh should have sent his intended victim running for his life.
Instead, the victim got angry.
Memories of the day his village was attacked rose like flames, searing his brain. His big sister jumping out at him from nowhere- not to scare, but to protect him from the warlord's men. Her desperate bargaining with the hooded barbarian looming over them, and his own helpless shriek as his sister was carried behind a farm shed. Her cries of pain... her hobbling walk as she returned, her clothes bloodied and ripped asunder. Her fierce embrace, her saying not to cry, that everything was worth it to keep her little brother untouched…
He had been too young to understand what she'd given up to protect him. When he was old enough to figure it out, he knew he should have been the one protecting her. He should have been stronger, smarter, braver! He hadn't been good enough and she had paid the price.
Having lost their farmland, his family gave up terraforming, and had taken the next ship back to Planet Earth. From that day onward, his sister changed. She'd never tried to scare him again, and was prone to panic attacks. And he'd enrolled at Galaxy Garrison, determined to get away from the daily reminder of his failure, to learn the skills he needed to make sure no one would suffer on his behalf ever again.
And no one had, until Sven. It had happened again, someone making a sacrifice for him because he couldn't defend himself. The feeling of helplessness he swore he'd never feel again...
Something (his heart?) felt like it was trying to punch its way out of his chest. Physically, spiritually, emotionally, he was laid as bare as he could be. He was marginally aware of the red haze that surrounded him, of the burning inside him, an inferno that had sprung from some unknown reserve.
Even if this quest for a bonding with Red was a hopeless cause, even if his mind and his body were his only weapons and defense, he wasn't going to quit. This was his fight. Red wouldn't intercede like his sister had- but he wasn't that powerless, scared little kid any longer. Even if he wasn't worthy, that didn't mean he'd walk away, quietly or easily.
He bent to grab a pointed stone, thinking its blood red color very apt for his purpose. Holding his weapon, he stared death in the face. "Newsflash for ya, asshole- killing me ain't gonna be a cakewalk!"
There was no laughing now. He had the brute's full attention- dude was going all stiff and threatening. Despite the overwhelming odds against victory, he gave a savage smile that boded ill for his opponent.
Battle axe and stone were raised. The combatants circled, then stopped, neither wanting to make the first move. They circled, stopped, circled some more. Neither had an inkling of the blue cloud that was rapidly approaching from behind until it was upon them.
Lance's eyes widened at the feeling of being touched by a warm and loving essence. It circled him, mingling with his aura, turning it to a royal shade of purple. Her presence within the aura held a question...and without a second thought, he opened his mind, his body and his heart as the answer.
A blue shield formed in his left hand, and the pointed stone clutched in his hand became a sword of fire.
He wasn't a failure! He would be redeemed! No one was going to take that away!
He turned to the nightmare of his past, his Harbinger of Doom, and parried the thud of a falling axe by raising his sword. As the axe drew back for a second blow, Lance struck.
One slash, and condemned became executioner. Sliced in half, the apparition crumbled into ash, and blew away into the mists from whence it had come.
A lion's roar filled the gorge and Lance's ears, followed by a thunderous, growling voice within his mind.
You have earned your second chance. Well done, warrior!
Then everything went dark.
Coming out of his trance with a jerk, Lance reached out, trying to touch the essence of the spirit who had arrived to redeem him, intending to share and savor its secrets. The essence fluttered away as if to tease him, and with a smile he followed, determined to possess it.
"I think he's coming to, get some water!" A man's gravelly voice boomed.
An adolescent boy's voice was asking plaintively. "Is Princess okay? She's breathing awfully hard."
A cultured voice replied, "their vitals are stabilizing, Keith."
The voice that answered carried a command. "Great! Let's give them some room."
Lance opened his eyes and focused on the tiled floor beneath his knees. Blinking rapidly, he struggled to pull himself out of the fog and back into reality.
The sensation of his hand being held by two that belonged to a woman penetrated his consciousness. He took a deep breath, and the scent of plum blossoms filled his nostrils. His blurry blue gaze sharpened and fixed on the lovely mouth tantalizingly close to his own, before encompassing the rest of the picture.
Allura knelt before him, her court dress billowing out around slim hips. She was bent torwards him as she fiercely grasped his hand, which still gripped the amulet of Blue Lion. Her breathing was shallow and rapid; magnificent breasts lifted and fell with the exertion, bringing them perilously close to brushing his forearm.
Lance jerked his gaze back to her face, which was set with a look of pained concentration. Her eyes were closed. He noted the fine sheen of perspiration underneath her circlet, and the pallor of her skin and that despite her paleness and agonized expression, fierceness, strength and peace were present.
In the background he heard the sounds of male voices, sounding as if the men had moved further away to have a discussion. He heard his name being mentioned, but ignored it for the moment so he could focus on the Princess, whose eyelids had started to flutter. Her tense facial muscles relaxed and he watched as gossamer eyelashes slowly lifted to reveal the quiet pools of blue. Looking into their depths centered his thoughts and brought an epiphany with rapid and stunning clarity.
She had wanted to remain connected to him, even without his being bonded to Red Lion. What was more, the infusion of her warm, giving spirit had passed through the fortified defenses of his heart with unchallenged ease.
To have communion with the soul of a human being was the most powerful and incredible connection he'd ever experienced. What once would have frightened him off now had his mind and body singing with renewal and feeling a new power stirring within it; a sense of peace that could never be taken away...
He was a better man for having had this link. And being a better man meant being honest, at least with himself, about a lot of things. Had he really been able to conjure a sword? And had the Princess of Arus just seen him as a buck naked warrior? Had she liked what she'd seen?
Dammit, why did it always come down to twig and berries with him?
So much for peace and tranquility.
A soft groan escaped him.
"Lance, you're awake!" Allura's whisper was urgent. "Are you all right?"
"I'm good." He whispered back. "What about you? And why are we whispering?"
"I don't know." She huffed a laugh, and then answered in a low but normal voice. "I'm fine, but I owe you an apology, Lance. I shouldn't have interfered in your quest without your consent. I got worried and acted without thinking how it could affect you..." She hung her head.
"It's all right." He assured her, gratified by her concern for him, but sorry to have been the cause of her worry. "Friends and teammates have each others' backs, and you really had mine."
She looked up, her eyes full of tenderness. "You'd do the same for me. And have."
"Damn straight." He said with forced gruffness. "You make a great shield, by the way."
"Thank you!" Her smile was wobbly, and she gave his clenched hand a little squeeze before releasing it. "And you make a very impressive sword!"
Lance opened his mouth and closed it abruptly; surely letting that one liner go was solid proof he truly was a better man?
That thought brought realization that he still had a death grip on her sapphire amulet. He released it, muttering an apology as his lowering knuckles accidentally brushed the side of her breast. To deflect the awkward moment, he looked at his other hand and blurted, "hey, what happened to that red stone I was holding?"
Allura stared at his hand. "It's not here? But I thought it was your-" She broke off.
"Amulet?" He closed his eyes. "I thought that too, but guess not."
"I heard Red Lion speaking to you. You may not have the stone right now, but you will!" Allura declared.
He reached over and straightened her circlet, which had slid slightly askew on her brow. The gesture brought a shy smile to her face. "I'm glad you believe in me that much."
"Of course I do! You are the Red Lion!"
She was so certain he'd prevail; the belief was in her eyes, her smile, her whole being exuded it. And at that moment, Lance knew that his trial was far from over.
An open declaration of his feelings for the Princess would sabotage the peace. Accepting that Keith was her choice and working to make it happen between the two while remaining passionately committed to the team was the challenge. Putting another's well being before his own. Just like his big sister, whose sacrifice was his weakness, and also the reason he'd been able to fight the battles he had.
'You must always look for the greater good,' she had said.
Remembering that day she'd acknowledged his guilt and absolved him of any blame...she'd forgiven him for his failing, but he'd never forgiven himself for it, or for Sven. A wave of unexpected emotion hit him that he'd begun to face that weakness and the fear of failing that sprung from it. He'd not been able to save his sister from a horribly traumatic event...but because of that sacrifice, he'd now be able to save the woman standing next to him whenever called upon.
"Lance? Are you sure you're-"
The Princess's words were squeezed into a gasp as he wrapped his arms tightly about her and buried his face in her hair, hoping to conceal the tears burning tracks down his face.
"Allura, forgive me, but I need this."
She didn't hesitate. Her arms immediately went to his leather clad shoulders crossing behind his neck to hold him to her. Her fingers stroked the fine tendrils of chestnut hair curling below his collar as she crooned in gentle tones, soothing him. "Lance, it's okay! I'm here. We're all here for you..."
His throat was too clogged with emotion to respond. He just nodded and clung to her as a half drowned man clings to his rescuer.
"I think he's coming to, get some water!" A man's gravelly voice boomed.
An adolescent boy's voice was asking plaintively. "Is Princess okay? She's breathing awfully hard."
A cultured voice replied, "their vitals are stabilizing, Keith."
The voice that answered carried a command. "Great! Let's give them some room."
Lance opened his eyes and focused on the tiled floor beneath his knees. Blinking rapidly, he struggled to pull himself out of the fog and back into reality.
The sensation of his hand being held by two that belonged to a woman penetrated his consciousness. He took a deep breath, and the scent of plum blossoms filled his nostrils. His blurry blue gaze sharpened and fixed on the lovely mouth tantalizingly close to his own, before encompassing the rest of the picture.
Allura knelt before him, her court dress billowing out around slim hips. She was bent torwards him as she fiercely grasped his hand, which still gripped the amulet of Blue Lion. Her breathing was shallow and rapid; magnificent breasts lifted and fell with the exertion, bringing them perilously close to brushing his forearm.
Lance jerked his gaze back to her face, which was set with a look of pained concentration. Her eyes were closed. He noted the fine sheen of perspiration underneath her circlet, and the pallor of her skin and that despite her paleness and agonized expression, fierceness, strength and peace were present.
In the background he heard the sounds of male voices, sounding as if the men had moved further away to have a discussion. He heard his name being mentioned, but ignored it for the moment so he could focus on the Princess, whose eyelids had started to flutter. Her tense facial muscles relaxed and he watched as gossamer eyelashes slowly lifted to reveal the quiet pools of blue. Looking into their depths centered his thoughts and brought an epiphany with rapid and stunning clarity.
She had wanted to remain connected to him, even without his being bonded to Red Lion. What was more, the infusion of her warm, giving spirit had passed through the fortified defenses of his heart with unchallenged ease.
To have communion with the soul of a human being was the most powerful and incredible connection he'd ever experienced. What once would have frightened him off now had his mind and body singing with renewal and feeling a new power stirring within it; a sense of peace that could never be taken away...
He was a better man for having had this link. And being a better man meant being honest, at least with himself, about a lot of things. Had he really been able to conjure a sword? And had the Princess of Arus just seen him as a buck naked warrior? Had she liked what she'd seen?
Dammit, why did it always come down to twig and berries with him?
So much for peace and tranquility.
A soft groan escaped him.
"Lance, you're awake!" Allura's whisper was urgent. "Are you all right?"
"I'm good." He whispered back. "What about you? And why are we whispering?"
"I don't know." She huffed a laugh, and then answered in a low but normal voice. "I'm fine, but I owe you an apology, Lance. I shouldn't have interfered in your quest without your consent. I got worried and acted without thinking how it could affect you..." She hung her head.
"It's all right." He assured her, gratified by her concern for him, but sorry to have been the cause of her worry. "Friends and teammates have each others' backs, and you really had mine."
She looked up, her eyes full of tenderness. "You'd do the same for me. And have."
"Damn straight." He said with forced gruffness. "You make a great shield, by the way."
"Thank you!" Her smile was wobbly, and she gave his clenched hand a little squeeze before releasing it. "And you make a very impressive sword!"
Lance opened his mouth and closed it abruptly; surely letting that one liner go was solid proof he truly was a better man?
That thought brought realization that he still had a death grip on her sapphire amulet. He released it, muttering an apology as his lowering knuckles accidentally brushed the side of her breast. To deflect the awkward moment, he looked at his other hand and blurted, "hey, what happened to that red stone I was holding?"
Allura stared at his hand. "It's not here? But I thought it was your-" She broke off.
"Amulet?" He closed his eyes. "I thought that too, but guess not."
"I heard Red Lion speaking to you. You may not have the stone right now, but you will!" Allura declared.
He reached over and straightened her circlet, which had slid slightly askew on her brow. The gesture brought a shy smile to her face. "I'm glad you believe in me that much."
"Of course I do! You are the Red Lion!"
She was so certain he'd prevail; the belief was in her eyes, her smile, her whole being exuded it. And at that moment, Lance knew that his trial was far from over.
An open declaration of his feelings for the Princess would sabotage the peace. Accepting that Keith was her choice and working to make it happen between the two while remaining passionately committed to the team was the challenge. Putting another's well being before his own. Just like his big sister, whose sacrifice was his weakness, and also the reason he'd been able to fight the battles he had.
'You must always look for the greater good,' she had said.
Remembering that day she'd acknowledged his guilt and absolved him of any blame...she'd forgiven him for his failing, but he'd never forgiven himself for it, or for Sven. A wave of unexpected emotion hit him that he'd begun to face that weakness and the fear of failing that sprung from it. He'd not been able to save his sister from a horribly traumatic event...but because of that sacrifice, he'd now be able to save the woman standing next to him whenever called upon.
"Lance? Are you sure you're-"
The Princess's words were squeezed into a gasp as he wrapped his arms tightly about her and buried his face in her hair, hoping to conceal the tears burning tracks down his face.
"Allura, forgive me, but I need this."
She didn't hesitate. Her arms immediately went to his leather clad shoulders crossing behind his neck to hold him to her. Her fingers stroked the fine tendrils of chestnut hair curling below his collar as she crooned in gentle tones, soothing him. "Lance, it's okay! I'm here. We're all here for you..."
His throat was too clogged with emotion to respond. He just nodded and clung to her as a half drowned man clings to his rescuer.
Coran and the other members of the Voltron Force watched the tableau unfolding before them in mute astonishment. They all knew Lance felt things more deeply than he showed, but his deepest feelings usually came out in the guise of anger. The last time he'd openly shed tears was when Sven had been critically injured.
"The vision challenge must have been a traumatic one for him to react like this." Coran murmured.
Keith harbored deep concern for his friend, but as he watched Lance hide his face in Allura's hair, their conversation over coffee came back to haunt him. There were some emerging facets of the Red Lion pilot that he wasn't sure he understood. Lance had always prided himself on his toughness, both mental and physical, and even in the rare displays of open emotion, Keith hesitated to offer any form of comfort, lest he alienate his best friend.
Allura looked at him over Lance's shoulder. The message was as clear as if she'd spoken aloud. Help me help him.
The movement of his legs felt involuntary, and he found himself down on his haunches, placing a tentative hand between Lance's shaking shoulders. The amulet beneath his uniform sparked to life, signaling the channel was open to the guidance of Black Lion. He made his wish by instinct, directed by the prayer that the connection to Lance would succeed.
The chi pulsed from his palm to Lance's shoulder, and Keith felt his friend's body give a tremendous shudder.
Allura put her hand over Keith's and bent her head, adding her quintessence to the bond.
"The vision challenge must have been a traumatic one for him to react like this." Coran murmured.
Keith harbored deep concern for his friend, but as he watched Lance hide his face in Allura's hair, their conversation over coffee came back to haunt him. There were some emerging facets of the Red Lion pilot that he wasn't sure he understood. Lance had always prided himself on his toughness, both mental and physical, and even in the rare displays of open emotion, Keith hesitated to offer any form of comfort, lest he alienate his best friend.
Allura looked at him over Lance's shoulder. The message was as clear as if she'd spoken aloud. Help me help him.
The movement of his legs felt involuntary, and he found himself down on his haunches, placing a tentative hand between Lance's shaking shoulders. The amulet beneath his uniform sparked to life, signaling the channel was open to the guidance of Black Lion. He made his wish by instinct, directed by the prayer that the connection to Lance would succeed.
The chi pulsed from his palm to Lance's shoulder, and Keith felt his friend's body give a tremendous shudder.
Allura put her hand over Keith's and bent her head, adding her quintessence to the bond.
Crackling power, tempered by refreshing coolness; a soft dewy breeze after a savage storm. Passion was present, but controlled. The calm serenity of Blue mixed with the electrifying energy of Black, bolstering the life force of Red.
Immersed in the new sensations, Lance acknowledged that he had a lot to work through about the bonding process, but one thing was crystal clear- this sense of fulfillment would not happen without unconditional trust and love.
When Allura felt Lance regaining his equilibrium, she drew back slightly to check his physical reaction. The tears had stopped and his face looked pale but composed. Her eyes turned to Keith and she beheld the extraordinary effort he was expending to reach his friend. The sweat was beading upon his brow, as he directed his positive energy into Lance.
Keith knew that he had to stop before he exhausted himself mentally, but he stayed connected with Lance until he was sure things were all right with him. He finally had to let go and the sudden break from the bonding caused Keith to slip to his knees, feeling more drained than he ever had after a battle.
Coran, Pidge and Hunk watched, their expressions revealing conflicting emotions.
"I'm not sure about this Dream Quest thing." Pidge murmured.
"Neither am I. " Hunk responded gruffly. "But I suppose we should try. I mean, we don't know that ours would be as tough as Lance's seems to be."
Coran, who had withheld commenting on unfolding events, decided it was time to speak. "In past quests, the subjects often have faced manifestations of self-perceived weakness." He paused to smile at Hunk and Pidge. "It's never easy to with one's own shortcomings. If there's one thing I've learned about you young men since you arrived it's that you will surmount any challenge you set your mind to overcoming. For whatever it's worth, I believe that you're very worthy of bonding with your lions, and I deeply apologize if I ever gave you an impression that you aren't."
There was a silence.
"Uh...thanks, Coran." Hunk said, after clearing his throat. "With that vote of confidence, I definitely have to go for it."
"Your belief in us is worth a lot." Pidge added. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." Coran replied, pleased to see the young pilots' expressions had lightened and that resolve shone in their eyes. Almost at once, his mind turned to working diligently on a plan for the entire team to visit Althene, and as soon as possible.
"Hey look, they're standing up!" Hunk cheered. "Lance's got his color back!"
Immersed in the new sensations, Lance acknowledged that he had a lot to work through about the bonding process, but one thing was crystal clear- this sense of fulfillment would not happen without unconditional trust and love.
When Allura felt Lance regaining his equilibrium, she drew back slightly to check his physical reaction. The tears had stopped and his face looked pale but composed. Her eyes turned to Keith and she beheld the extraordinary effort he was expending to reach his friend. The sweat was beading upon his brow, as he directed his positive energy into Lance.
Keith knew that he had to stop before he exhausted himself mentally, but he stayed connected with Lance until he was sure things were all right with him. He finally had to let go and the sudden break from the bonding caused Keith to slip to his knees, feeling more drained than he ever had after a battle.
Coran, Pidge and Hunk watched, their expressions revealing conflicting emotions.
"I'm not sure about this Dream Quest thing." Pidge murmured.
"Neither am I. " Hunk responded gruffly. "But I suppose we should try. I mean, we don't know that ours would be as tough as Lance's seems to be."
Coran, who had withheld commenting on unfolding events, decided it was time to speak. "In past quests, the subjects often have faced manifestations of self-perceived weakness." He paused to smile at Hunk and Pidge. "It's never easy to with one's own shortcomings. If there's one thing I've learned about you young men since you arrived it's that you will surmount any challenge you set your mind to overcoming. For whatever it's worth, I believe that you're very worthy of bonding with your lions, and I deeply apologize if I ever gave you an impression that you aren't."
There was a silence.
"Uh...thanks, Coran." Hunk said, after clearing his throat. "With that vote of confidence, I definitely have to go for it."
"Your belief in us is worth a lot." Pidge added. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." Coran replied, pleased to see the young pilots' expressions had lightened and that resolve shone in their eyes. Almost at once, his mind turned to working diligently on a plan for the entire team to visit Althene, and as soon as possible.
"Hey look, they're standing up!" Hunk cheered. "Lance's got his color back!"
Lance had a slight tension headache but felt much better, thanks to Keith. His friend had somehow used the Black Amulet to help him regain control. It was a gesture he'd never forget, one that solidified their brotherhood in a way that battle never could. It also gave him hope that his ability to accept that connection meant that Red Lion still had plans for him.
Rubbing his neck, he faced his Commander and friend, and saw the worry. Dropping a hand on Keith's shoulder, he managed a reasonable semblance of a smile. "Thanks for the assist. I owe you."
His expression of thanks gave little hint of the churning mix of humility, relief and gratitude he was feeling, but he was sure it was conveyed through the connection.
The churning became even more pronounced when he dropped his arm from Keith's shoulder and turned to face the Princess. He paused a moment, feeling the surge of his friend's rampant curiosity just before it was abruptly cut off. Like the good guy he was, Keith had chosen discretion and closed their link. Hopefully he'd learn that technique if he were blessed with a stone. Not because he wanted to hide anything...but because he'd been through a bit of a trial and it was a relief to have his thoughts be his own in this moment.
Well, almost his own.
He looked down at Allura, his dear friend, and now, his protector. She hadn't completely disconnected from the link, and his heart warmed with the knowledge even as it pounded at the thought of a permanent merger with her spirit.
His mouth opened as he searched for words that could convey the magnitude of everything that had happened and how he felt about it, but there weren't any coming to mind that he could safely convey without the threat of crying.
Clearing his throat, he made a valiant attempt to be his wise-cracking self.
"Princess, you have the dubious distinction of being the first woman since my mother to have a Hartwell male bawling on your shoulder."
Allura's somber expression was transformed by her smile. "I'm honored. And my shoulder is available for you at any time!" She turned to the group. "And for the rest of you too!"
Her gaze included Hunk, Pidge and Keith, whose nods and grins gave warm affirmatives to her offer.
Rubbing his neck, he faced his Commander and friend, and saw the worry. Dropping a hand on Keith's shoulder, he managed a reasonable semblance of a smile. "Thanks for the assist. I owe you."
His expression of thanks gave little hint of the churning mix of humility, relief and gratitude he was feeling, but he was sure it was conveyed through the connection.
The churning became even more pronounced when he dropped his arm from Keith's shoulder and turned to face the Princess. He paused a moment, feeling the surge of his friend's rampant curiosity just before it was abruptly cut off. Like the good guy he was, Keith had chosen discretion and closed their link. Hopefully he'd learn that technique if he were blessed with a stone. Not because he wanted to hide anything...but because he'd been through a bit of a trial and it was a relief to have his thoughts be his own in this moment.
Well, almost his own.
He looked down at Allura, his dear friend, and now, his protector. She hadn't completely disconnected from the link, and his heart warmed with the knowledge even as it pounded at the thought of a permanent merger with her spirit.
His mouth opened as he searched for words that could convey the magnitude of everything that had happened and how he felt about it, but there weren't any coming to mind that he could safely convey without the threat of crying.
Clearing his throat, he made a valiant attempt to be his wise-cracking self.
"Princess, you have the dubious distinction of being the first woman since my mother to have a Hartwell male bawling on your shoulder."
Allura's somber expression was transformed by her smile. "I'm honored. And my shoulder is available for you at any time!" She turned to the group. "And for the rest of you too!"
Her gaze included Hunk, Pidge and Keith, whose nods and grins gave warm affirmatives to her offer.
"So now what?" Lance said. "I defeated my self created monster, I think I did what I was meant to do-for now. But don't know if I failed or succeeded."
Coran spoke up. "You have succeeded in bonding with two of your teammates, but it appears you've not yet completed the trial for bonding with Red Lion." He stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "Which is not out of the ordinary. As I recall, Red was always one to make things difficult...it's in his elemental nature, I think."
"You mean temperamental." Lance sighed. "So he wants a rematch. Figures."
Allura patted his arm. "You're through the worst, I'm sure."
"Maybe." The Red Lion pilot shrugged. "But if I'm considered warrior material, Red's giving me a bit of a break doesn't mean he's going any easier on me the next round."
"Can you talk about it?" Hunk asked. "I mean, it must have been tough."
"Yeah...kinda." Lance said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Give me time to decompress and then I'll fill you in."
"Are you certain you want another go around?" Pidge asked, tentatively.
"It'll be the hardest thing I've ever done," Lance said, " and the best. So yeah, I'm sure."
"Red knows what he wants in a bondmate," Allura asserted quietly, "and that fire suits you best of all."
Lance gave her a wide eyed look. "You sound so sure."
She grinned. "'Cause I am sure."
Keith clapped a hand on Lance's shoulder. "No doubt in my mind you're gonna succeed. "
"Thanks, Chief. Let's hope Red Lion feels the same way."
Coran spoke up. "You have succeeded in bonding with two of your teammates, but it appears you've not yet completed the trial for bonding with Red Lion." He stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "Which is not out of the ordinary. As I recall, Red was always one to make things difficult...it's in his elemental nature, I think."
"You mean temperamental." Lance sighed. "So he wants a rematch. Figures."
Allura patted his arm. "You're through the worst, I'm sure."
"Maybe." The Red Lion pilot shrugged. "But if I'm considered warrior material, Red's giving me a bit of a break doesn't mean he's going any easier on me the next round."
"Can you talk about it?" Hunk asked. "I mean, it must have been tough."
"Yeah...kinda." Lance said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Give me time to decompress and then I'll fill you in."
"Are you certain you want another go around?" Pidge asked, tentatively.
"It'll be the hardest thing I've ever done," Lance said, " and the best. So yeah, I'm sure."
"Red knows what he wants in a bondmate," Allura asserted quietly, "and that fire suits you best of all."
Lance gave her a wide eyed look. "You sound so sure."
She grinned. "'Cause I am sure."
Keith clapped a hand on Lance's shoulder. "No doubt in my mind you're gonna succeed. "
"Thanks, Chief. Let's hope Red Lion feels the same way."
As the young people talked, Coran's assessing glance confirmed that Lance's mood was stabilizing. The Red Lion pilot was dealing with some emotional fallout, but he was resilient, and the Royal Diplomat trusted that things would remain stable while he contacted Varten on the private communicator. "Excuse me, everyone. I'm afraid I need to see to a pressing diplomatic matter. Will you be all right, Lance?"
The Red Lion pilot waved a dismissive hand. "I'm fine. Go do what you need to do."
Coran gave a little bow, then turned, saying in an undertone to Hunk, "Please keep on eye on him. Call me on the comm if I'm needed."
"Sure thing." Hunk promised. "Speaking of breaks," he said loudly, addressing Lance as Coran left the room, "no offense, buddy, but you look as wiped out as after you ran the Academy Marathon after only two weeks of training." He shook his head. "Still can't believe you took that dare."
"Not one of my brighter ideas. " Lance grimaced. "Tomorrow there's practice in the morning and a wedding to go to. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go to my quarters and kick back a little."
Pidge and Hunk exchanged glances, and Pidge said, "I think I'll do that too. I'm kinda tuckered myself."
Hunk yawned and stretched. "Sounds real good to me."
Lance smirked. "Guess it's naps for everyone."
The Red Lion pilot waved a dismissive hand. "I'm fine. Go do what you need to do."
Coran gave a little bow, then turned, saying in an undertone to Hunk, "Please keep on eye on him. Call me on the comm if I'm needed."
"Sure thing." Hunk promised. "Speaking of breaks," he said loudly, addressing Lance as Coran left the room, "no offense, buddy, but you look as wiped out as after you ran the Academy Marathon after only two weeks of training." He shook his head. "Still can't believe you took that dare."
"Not one of my brighter ideas. " Lance grimaced. "Tomorrow there's practice in the morning and a wedding to go to. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go to my quarters and kick back a little."
Pidge and Hunk exchanged glances, and Pidge said, "I think I'll do that too. I'm kinda tuckered myself."
Hunk yawned and stretched. "Sounds real good to me."
Lance smirked. "Guess it's naps for everyone."
Keith's brow furrowed in sympathy as he saw Lance to the door and watched his wingman walking slowly down the corridor between Hunk and Pidge. It was clear Lance had needed every ounce of that damn fool cockiness of his. Whatever the vision had held, it had sapped the Red Lion pilot.
That energy drain and the fact that Red hadn't given Lance the bonding amulet concerned Keith. His expression darkened as he contemplated the consequences of Lance not succeeding in bonding with his lion.
Allura came up beside him; her light touch on his arm, her warmth and her scent were caresses to his senses.
"That was an extremely intense quest. He's wiped out in every respect." She murmured, echoing his own observations.
He gave her a sideways look. "I'll say. What happened to shake him up that bad?"
She clasped her hands in front of her and sighed. "I...no, I really can't say."
"But you saw what happened to him? And you helped him through it?"
He meant it as a casual question, but realized his tone had been off when Allura stiffened and stared at him.
"It's his quest, Keith, done of his own free will. Just as it was with us, it follows it should be his choice whether to share or not."
The rebuke was clear but gentle. What stung was realizing his motivation for wanting to know was selfish.
"You're absolutely right, Allura. I'm sorry."
She softened. "There is no need to apologize for being concerned. Like he told Hunk, once Lance has time to process what happened, I'm sure he'll be able to talk about it."
Keith nodded, but doubts about that assertion kept him silent.
That energy drain and the fact that Red hadn't given Lance the bonding amulet concerned Keith. His expression darkened as he contemplated the consequences of Lance not succeeding in bonding with his lion.
Allura came up beside him; her light touch on his arm, her warmth and her scent were caresses to his senses.
"That was an extremely intense quest. He's wiped out in every respect." She murmured, echoing his own observations.
He gave her a sideways look. "I'll say. What happened to shake him up that bad?"
She clasped her hands in front of her and sighed. "I...no, I really can't say."
"But you saw what happened to him? And you helped him through it?"
He meant it as a casual question, but realized his tone had been off when Allura stiffened and stared at him.
"It's his quest, Keith, done of his own free will. Just as it was with us, it follows it should be his choice whether to share or not."
The rebuke was clear but gentle. What stung was realizing his motivation for wanting to know was selfish.
"You're absolutely right, Allura. I'm sorry."
She softened. "There is no need to apologize for being concerned. Like he told Hunk, once Lance has time to process what happened, I'm sure he'll be able to talk about it."
Keith nodded, but doubts about that assertion kept him silent.
After seeing Lance to his room, Hunk and Pidge stood off to the side and spent a few minutes sharing observations about what had transpired.
Both agreed that Lance had had a rough go of it, but was recovering. They also agreed that something dramatic had happened with Lance and the Princess, and that something else was going on between the Princess and her newly appointed personal bodyguard.
"The three of them were in their own little world when the quest ended." Pidge said, frowning. "I don't think they even realized we were still there, watching them."
"That's what having a bond is like, maybe." Hunk speculated. "I get the feeling a lot is being said without being said, if that makes sense."
"What are they talking about, and why can't they share it with us?" Pidge groused, then brightened. "But when we go through the bonding, we'll be able to talk to Princess anytime we want!"
Hunk laughed at Pidge's blatant satisfaction and slapped a big paw on the back of his much shorter friend. "That's the spirit! And you know it's gonna be great!" He confirmed. Growing serious, he added, "but even if she's already bonded with Blue, Allura still has a lot to deal with. So for now, little buddy, I'm thinking it's probably a good idea for us Space Explorers to give her some space."
Both agreed that Lance had had a rough go of it, but was recovering. They also agreed that something dramatic had happened with Lance and the Princess, and that something else was going on between the Princess and her newly appointed personal bodyguard.
"The three of them were in their own little world when the quest ended." Pidge said, frowning. "I don't think they even realized we were still there, watching them."
"That's what having a bond is like, maybe." Hunk speculated. "I get the feeling a lot is being said without being said, if that makes sense."
"What are they talking about, and why can't they share it with us?" Pidge groused, then brightened. "But when we go through the bonding, we'll be able to talk to Princess anytime we want!"
Hunk laughed at Pidge's blatant satisfaction and slapped a big paw on the back of his much shorter friend. "That's the spirit! And you know it's gonna be great!" He confirmed. Growing serious, he added, "but even if she's already bonded with Blue, Allura still has a lot to deal with. So for now, little buddy, I'm thinking it's probably a good idea for us Space Explorers to give her some space."
Author's Note: A million hugs and heartfelt thank you to my fabulous beta Shannon (aka Lance's Kitten- go read her stories!) for the tremendous help she gave me with this chapter. Her suggestions (like giving Lance an inner voice) were absolutely on target. :D
A Turn of the Leaf
"Shall I pour you more tea, Coran?"
Hannah Manning's lilting brogue was soft and pleasing to the ear. The Arusian diplomat glanced at his companion's smiling visage and declined with a shake of his head.
He watched her matronly figure bustling about his study, gathering up the remnants of the evening tea and small snack they'd shared. This time together had become a ritual, part informal staff meeting and part parental figure vent session born of Nanny's numerous past objections to Allura's escapades with and without the Voltron Force. Over the years, there had been some fiery disagreements, but he'd found airing them in a relaxed atmosphere away from the rest of the castle often tempered them enough to work out compromises.
As time went on, more often the topics would turn to their shared interests in good books, the arts and interplanetary politics. Debate with persons having strong opinions tended to be useful in solidifying his own points of view. Hannah had insight and quick wit; she gave articulate observations on everything they discussed, had never held back in her assessments be they positive or negative. These discourses could be awkward, and yet refreshing in their lack of dissembling and invigorating as mental exercise. She'd provided inspiration and practice for defending his positions, something that every diplomat valued. Tonight she'd been impassive rather than passionate. Apparently determined to avoid disagreement, she'd deferred to his point making at almost every turn. When questioned and forced into commentary, she had given tactfully worded answers that left no wiggle room for disagreeing.
In short, conversing with Hannah Manning for the past hour had been very mundane.
It was entirely illogical to say that he missed the fireworks that usually ensued during their discussions of daily events, but this agreeable and serene demeanor- an unnatural state for the woman he had known for twenty-one years- had started to wear upon him. It would have been different if he'd had even an inkling of a feeling of holding onto a live grenade that needed only a pin pull and a toss to detonate, but that wasn't the case. Or was it?
The nagging suspicion he was being played finally prompted him to take the drastic step of reaching out, his mind to her mind. He'd been rebuffed. Not by resistance, but blankness, as if her mind was a slate wiped clean of thoughts. No matter how much they disagreed, he'd been given access to her thoughts. She'd always been an open book, had always laid bare her feelings; a secret wasn't a secret for long. At times she'd overshared...but he'd prefer that to this...nothingness.
The Alforean generation-his and Hannah's generation- had been greatly thinned due to the hardships of war. He missed his wife and son tremendously and the spiritual connection they'd enjoyed as a family. Hannah was the only person close to him who'd served the court at the same time as those they'd lost, who had known and cared for the same people he cared so deeply for. He'd never realized how much of a comfort sharing that connection with Hannah had been in filling the yawning void of their absences.
He wouldn't believe that her passionate, boisterous personality could become this docile and impersonal. Never, until tonight, would he describe any conversations with her as being superficial or dull.
Something was wrong.
"Hannah, a word?"
She looked up from her task of stacking dishes upon the tea cart. "Yes?"
"I would request your full attention."
"All right." She straightened and obediently folded her hands. "I am listening."
"Thank you." He fought the urge to fidget under her unblinking gaze. "I have been wondering...and really puzzling over your, ah, unusual behavior."
"You find my wanting things tidy and orderly to be unusual?"
He would have suspected sarcasm if she hadn't looked and sounded so damn bland. "No, not exactly. I don't mean that. I mean..." He paused. What did he mean? "The best way for me to say it...is... let's say you are a character in a multi-volume book series who is consistently acting one way, and who always does the same things. But now, in the newest volume, you've changed, become less predictable."
"And you feel this change is a bad thing?"
"Not necessarily,depending on the reason you've been acting out of character. It usually means there's some catalyst for it. I guess I want to know...what is that catalyst that has prompted you to change?"
"I don't understand vhat you are asking, Coran. Am I not the same Nanny you haf known these many years? Do I not appear as myself?"
"You are yourself. I am speaking of your demeanor...which has been abnormally calm and agreeable."
"You say that as if you disapprove of my being nice."
"I don't! But it's just...not your way."
"So you prefer me to act as some sort of a harridan."
"That is not what I meant, Hannah."
"Does it matter so much that I have changed? It is apparent you do not find me agreeable in any instance."
The words could have been passionate, but were undercut by the utter detachment in their delivery.
"That is not true! There is much I admire about you!" He protested.
"What you haf just said does not indicate that is so-"
She stopped speaking as soon as he put up a hand. This exchange was headed in a more interesting direction than anything else they had discussed, but it was wrong to poke her just for the sake of provoking her temper. "Hannah, forgive me. I am being clumsy and my explanation is inadequate." He waved the hand and let it drop to the arm of his chair. "I'm used to having to convince you of my points rather than achieving instant accord, and have grown to enjoy our debates and matching wits with you. You haven't had dissenting opinions on anything we've talked about this evening." His eyes went wide. "For heaven's sake, I baited you with Lucius Spememe and you said you enjoyed reading his latest work! Last time we discussed his literary efforts, you called him a misogynistic dotard mired in the genre of obscurity!"
"I kept an open mind and found some merits despite the deficiencies in his perspective, which I understand serious literary scholars attempt to do?"
"Yes. But I'm not certain he's worth consideration. After our last discussion, I read passages through your perspective, and realized that I agreed with your previous assessments, that his being an insufferable misogynist does tend to spoil any enjoyment of his plots." A straggling lock of hair had slipped onto his forehead, and he smoothed it back. He was making a mess of this inquisition, and furthermore, making himself sound selfish and petulant. And as he spoke, Hannah's neck appeared to be hurting again. She had placed a hand to the side of it, massaging the area of the spasm. A manifestation of hidden stress and upset?
"Hannah, have you taken time to see Dr. Gorma about those spasms?"
"It is muscular in origin, and more inconvenient than anything. Special oils and the massage technique works better to fix it than any sort of medication." Her smile was benign. "I recommend those and a good night's sleep for you. You are tense, with too many anxieties over an inconsequential change in my approach to things."
She had a point. Why was he being so anxious? Why was he pushing this when he had other pressing matters to deal with? But the word approach smacked of an agenda...
"All right Hannah. Let me cut to the chase. I am now thinking that either you're trying to butter me up for a favor, or something's gone amiss and you're not telling me for fear of reprisal."
"My dear Coran, I have simply taken some self improvement training to make things run efficiently and smoothly."
He almost jumped out of his skin as she leaned over to pat his cheek and added, "I require nothing of you. Everything is fine, and I hope to make it that much better, so do not worry over me."
She was trying to be a better person. What miracle person could have convinced her to take that step? He supposed he should quit acting like a prat and be thankful..but to go against her nature, to subvert her emotions behind platitudes and small talk instead of taking a stand...
"Coran."
He realized he was scowling and stopped. "Yes?"
"Is there anything I can do to help you relax before you retire for the night? A massage, perhaps? I am told I'm wonderfully proficient in my techniques."
Of course it was an innocent offer. But the wording gave him pause, not to mention that the 'old Nanny' wouldn't have ever asked for permission to touch him, she'd have just started pummeling his spine! That she had asked for his consent put them on a whole different footing. Her expression gave no indication of humor or flirtation. He crossed his arms. "Er, thank you, but there's really only one thing that will help me sleep better- having your agreement and full cooperation in my assigning Allura a personal bodyguard. As you know, the intrusion that was detected in the Castle has not been resolved. A thorough scan for enemy infiltration has turned up no signs of our usual enemies. It could be a rogue spirit, or a computer generated anomaly. Still, given past schemes, the unknown must be assumed to be unfriendly, and the Princess will have to be watched in her personal quarters. Would you agree to this?"
He paused, eyeing her with a wary expression.
She clapped and then clasped her hands. "I certainly agree! There are many saying it's just one more ghostly presence among the others walking the castle, but no matter! Dealing with the unknown dictates this is the necessary action."
A response nowhere near to what he'd braced for. The new normal. "Thank you, Hannah."
"I presume Lance shall be selected as her guardian?"
His laugh quickly changed to a cough as he saw that she was serious. "Actually, I have already selected Keith for that duty."
Her frown, signaling the potential for heated disagreement, was the most familiar thing he'd seen from her tonight. "In this case, Lance is a better choice."
He shouldn't be poking the bear, but relief that a bit of orneriness was showing at last made him reckless. "Of course I mean no disrespect to Lance or his fine abilities. But it is indisputable that Keith's fighting and battle skills are second to none. There is no question in my mind that he'd make the ultimate sacrifice for her. He's a young man of highest character, and as the pilot of Black Lion-"
"Coran." His name, uttered with quiet emphasis, brought his testimonial to a halt.
"Yes?"
"Did you know that this upstanding young man has been seen kissing Allura on the sly?"
He shifted forward, prepared for debate."I know there are feelings between them. A kiss would be an inevitable part of expressing those feelings. It doesn't mean that he can't protect her."
"He kissed her while visiting her in her chambers. I know this because I saw them through her open door." Nanny's mouth was a straight line, and her eyebrows were elevated as she added, "It is fortunate I vas the only one to see them. The fires of gossip can be destructive in their own way, and you cannot dispute that forgetting their duties in the heat of the moment does not bode well for Allura's safety."
Moderate,valid objections, Coran thought. He supposed he should be relieved she was choosing not to bring up the old chestnut of Keith being a commoner.
"At least they left the door open, but point well taken. I will meet with him and strongly reiterate the importance of maintaining proper decorum." He hesitated, then added in a warmer, persuasive tone, "Hannah, I am absolutely certain Keith is not going to jeopardize Allura's security just for the sake of stealing a kiss."
"Feelings can be used against her. They can be dangerous to her on their own."
Another valid point, Coran mentally conceded. Even analytical edition Nanny didn't pull her punches. "Very true. But Keith has a moral compass and the discipline to do what is right. I take full responsibility for my decision, but there is no doubt in my mind that he'd step aside if his personal feelings were a detriment to keeping her safe. I'll speak with him about maintaining discretion, and all will be well, you'll see."
She appeared to be processing his words, then gave a nod. "As you wish. I haf no more objections."
Acceptance was punctuated by a hand moving to her neck. Coran opened his mouth to reiterate his previous concern, but she sidestepped it with a clatter in picking up the tray with the dishes and giving a quick turn.
Her final comment ricocheted back into the room as she departed.
"We should also bear in mind there are no paragons of virtue, only imperfect humans acting on good intentions."
"Shall I pour you more tea, Coran?"
Hannah Manning's lilting brogue was soft and pleasing to the ear. The Arusian diplomat glanced at his companion's smiling visage and declined with a shake of his head.
He watched her matronly figure bustling about his study, gathering up the remnants of the evening tea and small snack they'd shared. This time together had become a ritual, part informal staff meeting and part parental figure vent session born of Nanny's numerous past objections to Allura's escapades with and without the Voltron Force. Over the years, there had been some fiery disagreements, but he'd found airing them in a relaxed atmosphere away from the rest of the castle often tempered them enough to work out compromises.
As time went on, more often the topics would turn to their shared interests in good books, the arts and interplanetary politics. Debate with persons having strong opinions tended to be useful in solidifying his own points of view. Hannah had insight and quick wit; she gave articulate observations on everything they discussed, had never held back in her assessments be they positive or negative. These discourses could be awkward, and yet refreshing in their lack of dissembling and invigorating as mental exercise. She'd provided inspiration and practice for defending his positions, something that every diplomat valued. Tonight she'd been impassive rather than passionate. Apparently determined to avoid disagreement, she'd deferred to his point making at almost every turn. When questioned and forced into commentary, she had given tactfully worded answers that left no wiggle room for disagreeing.
In short, conversing with Hannah Manning for the past hour had been very mundane.
It was entirely illogical to say that he missed the fireworks that usually ensued during their discussions of daily events, but this agreeable and serene demeanor- an unnatural state for the woman he had known for twenty-one years- had started to wear upon him. It would have been different if he'd had even an inkling of a feeling of holding onto a live grenade that needed only a pin pull and a toss to detonate, but that wasn't the case. Or was it?
The nagging suspicion he was being played finally prompted him to take the drastic step of reaching out, his mind to her mind. He'd been rebuffed. Not by resistance, but blankness, as if her mind was a slate wiped clean of thoughts. No matter how much they disagreed, he'd been given access to her thoughts. She'd always been an open book, had always laid bare her feelings; a secret wasn't a secret for long. At times she'd overshared...but he'd prefer that to this...nothingness.
The Alforean generation-his and Hannah's generation- had been greatly thinned due to the hardships of war. He missed his wife and son tremendously and the spiritual connection they'd enjoyed as a family. Hannah was the only person close to him who'd served the court at the same time as those they'd lost, who had known and cared for the same people he cared so deeply for. He'd never realized how much of a comfort sharing that connection with Hannah had been in filling the yawning void of their absences.
He wouldn't believe that her passionate, boisterous personality could become this docile and impersonal. Never, until tonight, would he describe any conversations with her as being superficial or dull.
Something was wrong.
"Hannah, a word?"
She looked up from her task of stacking dishes upon the tea cart. "Yes?"
"I would request your full attention."
"All right." She straightened and obediently folded her hands. "I am listening."
"Thank you." He fought the urge to fidget under her unblinking gaze. "I have been wondering...and really puzzling over your, ah, unusual behavior."
"You find my wanting things tidy and orderly to be unusual?"
He would have suspected sarcasm if she hadn't looked and sounded so damn bland. "No, not exactly. I don't mean that. I mean..." He paused. What did he mean? "The best way for me to say it...is... let's say you are a character in a multi-volume book series who is consistently acting one way, and who always does the same things. But now, in the newest volume, you've changed, become less predictable."
"And you feel this change is a bad thing?"
"Not necessarily,depending on the reason you've been acting out of character. It usually means there's some catalyst for it. I guess I want to know...what is that catalyst that has prompted you to change?"
"I don't understand vhat you are asking, Coran. Am I not the same Nanny you haf known these many years? Do I not appear as myself?"
"You are yourself. I am speaking of your demeanor...which has been abnormally calm and agreeable."
"You say that as if you disapprove of my being nice."
"I don't! But it's just...not your way."
"So you prefer me to act as some sort of a harridan."
"That is not what I meant, Hannah."
"Does it matter so much that I have changed? It is apparent you do not find me agreeable in any instance."
The words could have been passionate, but were undercut by the utter detachment in their delivery.
"That is not true! There is much I admire about you!" He protested.
"What you haf just said does not indicate that is so-"
She stopped speaking as soon as he put up a hand. This exchange was headed in a more interesting direction than anything else they had discussed, but it was wrong to poke her just for the sake of provoking her temper. "Hannah, forgive me. I am being clumsy and my explanation is inadequate." He waved the hand and let it drop to the arm of his chair. "I'm used to having to convince you of my points rather than achieving instant accord, and have grown to enjoy our debates and matching wits with you. You haven't had dissenting opinions on anything we've talked about this evening." His eyes went wide. "For heaven's sake, I baited you with Lucius Spememe and you said you enjoyed reading his latest work! Last time we discussed his literary efforts, you called him a misogynistic dotard mired in the genre of obscurity!"
"I kept an open mind and found some merits despite the deficiencies in his perspective, which I understand serious literary scholars attempt to do?"
"Yes. But I'm not certain he's worth consideration. After our last discussion, I read passages through your perspective, and realized that I agreed with your previous assessments, that his being an insufferable misogynist does tend to spoil any enjoyment of his plots." A straggling lock of hair had slipped onto his forehead, and he smoothed it back. He was making a mess of this inquisition, and furthermore, making himself sound selfish and petulant. And as he spoke, Hannah's neck appeared to be hurting again. She had placed a hand to the side of it, massaging the area of the spasm. A manifestation of hidden stress and upset?
"Hannah, have you taken time to see Dr. Gorma about those spasms?"
"It is muscular in origin, and more inconvenient than anything. Special oils and the massage technique works better to fix it than any sort of medication." Her smile was benign. "I recommend those and a good night's sleep for you. You are tense, with too many anxieties over an inconsequential change in my approach to things."
She had a point. Why was he being so anxious? Why was he pushing this when he had other pressing matters to deal with? But the word approach smacked of an agenda...
"All right Hannah. Let me cut to the chase. I am now thinking that either you're trying to butter me up for a favor, or something's gone amiss and you're not telling me for fear of reprisal."
"My dear Coran, I have simply taken some self improvement training to make things run efficiently and smoothly."
He almost jumped out of his skin as she leaned over to pat his cheek and added, "I require nothing of you. Everything is fine, and I hope to make it that much better, so do not worry over me."
She was trying to be a better person. What miracle person could have convinced her to take that step? He supposed he should quit acting like a prat and be thankful..but to go against her nature, to subvert her emotions behind platitudes and small talk instead of taking a stand...
"Coran."
He realized he was scowling and stopped. "Yes?"
"Is there anything I can do to help you relax before you retire for the night? A massage, perhaps? I am told I'm wonderfully proficient in my techniques."
Of course it was an innocent offer. But the wording gave him pause, not to mention that the 'old Nanny' wouldn't have ever asked for permission to touch him, she'd have just started pummeling his spine! That she had asked for his consent put them on a whole different footing. Her expression gave no indication of humor or flirtation. He crossed his arms. "Er, thank you, but there's really only one thing that will help me sleep better- having your agreement and full cooperation in my assigning Allura a personal bodyguard. As you know, the intrusion that was detected in the Castle has not been resolved. A thorough scan for enemy infiltration has turned up no signs of our usual enemies. It could be a rogue spirit, or a computer generated anomaly. Still, given past schemes, the unknown must be assumed to be unfriendly, and the Princess will have to be watched in her personal quarters. Would you agree to this?"
He paused, eyeing her with a wary expression.
She clapped and then clasped her hands. "I certainly agree! There are many saying it's just one more ghostly presence among the others walking the castle, but no matter! Dealing with the unknown dictates this is the necessary action."
A response nowhere near to what he'd braced for. The new normal. "Thank you, Hannah."
"I presume Lance shall be selected as her guardian?"
His laugh quickly changed to a cough as he saw that she was serious. "Actually, I have already selected Keith for that duty."
Her frown, signaling the potential for heated disagreement, was the most familiar thing he'd seen from her tonight. "In this case, Lance is a better choice."
He shouldn't be poking the bear, but relief that a bit of orneriness was showing at last made him reckless. "Of course I mean no disrespect to Lance or his fine abilities. But it is indisputable that Keith's fighting and battle skills are second to none. There is no question in my mind that he'd make the ultimate sacrifice for her. He's a young man of highest character, and as the pilot of Black Lion-"
"Coran." His name, uttered with quiet emphasis, brought his testimonial to a halt.
"Yes?"
"Did you know that this upstanding young man has been seen kissing Allura on the sly?"
He shifted forward, prepared for debate."I know there are feelings between them. A kiss would be an inevitable part of expressing those feelings. It doesn't mean that he can't protect her."
"He kissed her while visiting her in her chambers. I know this because I saw them through her open door." Nanny's mouth was a straight line, and her eyebrows were elevated as she added, "It is fortunate I vas the only one to see them. The fires of gossip can be destructive in their own way, and you cannot dispute that forgetting their duties in the heat of the moment does not bode well for Allura's safety."
Moderate,valid objections, Coran thought. He supposed he should be relieved she was choosing not to bring up the old chestnut of Keith being a commoner.
"At least they left the door open, but point well taken. I will meet with him and strongly reiterate the importance of maintaining proper decorum." He hesitated, then added in a warmer, persuasive tone, "Hannah, I am absolutely certain Keith is not going to jeopardize Allura's security just for the sake of stealing a kiss."
"Feelings can be used against her. They can be dangerous to her on their own."
Another valid point, Coran mentally conceded. Even analytical edition Nanny didn't pull her punches. "Very true. But Keith has a moral compass and the discipline to do what is right. I take full responsibility for my decision, but there is no doubt in my mind that he'd step aside if his personal feelings were a detriment to keeping her safe. I'll speak with him about maintaining discretion, and all will be well, you'll see."
She appeared to be processing his words, then gave a nod. "As you wish. I haf no more objections."
Acceptance was punctuated by a hand moving to her neck. Coran opened his mouth to reiterate his previous concern, but she sidestepped it with a clatter in picking up the tray with the dishes and giving a quick turn.
Her final comment ricocheted back into the room as she departed.
"We should also bear in mind there are no paragons of virtue, only imperfect humans acting on good intentions."
The lurking specter stepped back and faded into the shadows just outside the Arusian diplomat's study and observed the Royal Governess entering the hallway and walking away. What had begun as a tiresome bout of frivolous small talk had actually produced snippets of potentially useful information.
If there'd been any complacency in ease of infiltration, it had been tempered by the revelation that the handler of Black Lion was now the Princess's personal bodyguard as well as a potential lover. Both developments were major complications. Love made the vigilant all seeing, a brave man that much more courageous, and the strongest of men far stronger. The Captain would be a formidable obstacle to the tasks that lay ahead. His presence, along with the others, could render the transmutations viable, but only if they realized their full potential as one.
In the meantime, a trip to Althene was in the offing...and there was a wedding to attend. Having no status here gave advantage in doing what was needed. The Black Knight protector would be neutralized and the Princess could be separated from the others.
Failure was not an option. Not with the Evil Ones watching.
The shade slunk down the hall to a nearby vent where it de-materialized, confident that no camera could track it, and no security sensors would detect its next move.
If there'd been any complacency in ease of infiltration, it had been tempered by the revelation that the handler of Black Lion was now the Princess's personal bodyguard as well as a potential lover. Both developments were major complications. Love made the vigilant all seeing, a brave man that much more courageous, and the strongest of men far stronger. The Captain would be a formidable obstacle to the tasks that lay ahead. His presence, along with the others, could render the transmutations viable, but only if they realized their full potential as one.
In the meantime, a trip to Althene was in the offing...and there was a wedding to attend. Having no status here gave advantage in doing what was needed. The Black Knight protector would be neutralized and the Princess could be separated from the others.
Failure was not an option. Not with the Evil Ones watching.
The shade slunk down the hall to a nearby vent where it de-materialized, confident that no camera could track it, and no security sensors would detect its next move.
Althene had spoiled her. The bright lights and silence in her quarters seemed glaringly unnatural and cold.
"Computer, turn on night lights and relaxing sounds of nature."
As the lights dimmed and soft sounds of wind, waves and the occasional call of birds filled the background, Allura went through her preparations for sleep. Clad in her favorite pajamas, she slid beneath the covers on her bed, stretched out, and settled back on her pillows to reflect on the last few hours.
She found herself wondering if Lance would be allowed to finish his quest. She'd been as shaken by his quest as he, shocked that his confident demeanor had been stripped away, his psyche laid bare by pain and heartrending loss. It had been pure instinct to reach out to him and to use the established bond between them, a bond that had brought acute awareness of the depth of her teammate's emotions.
In the world of fire and stone, she had been drawn to the great passion and forceful nature of the man who was the chosen of Red Lion, only to be jolted by the despair and desperation in his cry when he fell. Lance could be prideful, and she knew there was an earth saying that pride went before a fall, but the convoluted emotions and events encompassed by his lion's trial were not defined so easily as a need for an exhibition of humility. Even as she'd rushed to make contact, she sensed that some of the ambivalence she felt in her friend was connected to their own friendship. Somehow, she was certain she was at least partially the cause of his bonding quest becoming a torment.
It made her sad.
And apprehensive.
Maybe she and Keith were wrong to insist on their friends going through such intense introspection without taking time for greater mental preparation...although she wasn't certain how one could prepare them for the unknown.
Clearly, the lions wanted cohesion and harmony in a union with their pilots. Just as clearly, the others would have to overcome any obstacles to that harmony. But to force a bonding...could drive the five of them apart instead of bringing them close as a team. Any rift or feelings of inequality when it came to their lions wasn't just bad for morale, it was potentially life threatening if personal angst affected their piloting skills.
She and Keith had established their lion bonds on the first try, so she naively had assumed it was a given that the others would go just as smoothly. But Lance hadn't completed his quest, and Pidge and Hunk hadn't even attempted theirs yet. Red Lion was proven to be difficult to woo. Was that in its nature, or was it something that Lance lacked? What if any of them were refused a bonding by their lions? What did that mean for the future of the team, the future of Voltron?
It was inconceivable. As ruler of Arus, as heir to Voltron's creator, a keeper of a key and chosen of Blue Lion, she had to make certain her friends did not fail.
That responsibility brought on a tsunami of misgivings that were threatening to shred her confidence. She reached out, and recognized Blue Lion's response at once, its roar forming a bubble of protection against the crashing wall of water. She kept concentrating and the stormy sea of her thoughts calmed, waves lapping at a beach, pieces of driftwood, sand and lava rock tumbling in the surf, pulling out to sea, returning to land, a jumble of giving and taking...
Her amulet sparked and began to glow. In her mind's eye, a cloud spiraled from the sprays of water, and materialized into a stately black lion with brown eyes and a tousled crown of pitch-black mane. It wasn't surprising that a manifestation of Keith would appear. Even if they were separated, the bond was there to support and sustain her.
Her face warmed as she thought of the embrace they'd exchanged before he retired to the small room across the hall; a place set up and utilized by security. That kiss also had been a satisfying apology for his earlier gruffness. The hurt she had been nursing within her at his sharp words had melted away after he took her in his arms, murmuring a husky 'I'm sorry,' before his lips met hers. She savored the memory of arms enclosing her and gentle hands upon her back, a mouth that was as warm and pliant as it could be hard and unyielding. She had accepted with the press of her lips, arching into his body while her hands skimmed from his shoulders down to his sides. So warm. So strong. So right...
That was when he had abruptly dropped his arms and set her away from him; her protest had died on her lips as a security guard rounded the corner and approached them.
"We need someone standing guard tonight while we sleep." Keith informed her. "Until we get a shift schedule worked out, I've asked Lieutenant Ballard to stand on night duty."
She summoned a smile and nodded at the brawny young man bowing to her. "Thank you for volunteering, Lieutenant Ballard. I'm afraid it will be a tedious undertaking for you."
The lieutenant's gaze was direct but respectful. "It is an honor, ma'am. I could never think of protecting our Princess as tedious."
He turned to Keith, and the two men exchanged salutes.
"Thanks for doing this, Ballard. Don't hesitate to wake me if you see or hear anything unusual."
"Sleep easy, sir. I've got this."
With that, Ballard had removed himself to a discreet distance, something Allura realized she truly appreciated. It was hard to be annoyed at someone who clearly was good at reading the room, not to mention sacrificing whatever their own plans had been to guard her.
"I suppose this is goodnight, then." She had said to Keith, trying not to sound petulant.
His eyes smiled at her. "I suppose it is. Goodnight Allura."
It was a gentle dismissal but she'd not moved. Grasping her shoulders, Keith had turned her to face her door, gently nudging her forward into her room. As the reinforced panel closed behind her, she heard him murmur 'sweet dreams'...
As the memory faded, Allura made a small sound of disappointment and flung an arm across her eyes. She should have pointed out she hadn't required hall sentries in ages as her quarters were equipped with highly advanced security systems that would detect an intrusion way before a human did. But Keith knew that, and yet had asked Ballard to come anyway. Was this out of an abundance of caution, or was he worried about being tempted to attempt an infiltration himself?
The thought brought on a smirk worthy of Lance.
It was all too easy to imagine what that infiltration could entail. A sensual lassitude slipped over her thinking about lying with him, and her heartbeats marked a rush of passion at the thought of feeling nothing between them but bared skin. Her cheeks warmed, and an arrow of sensation seemed to center at the juncture of her thighs. It was an odd mix of restless dissatisfaction and the crux of pleasure...something that could only be eased by touch.
She was curious to explore these sensations, and yet, as much as old admonitions of what was proper for a princess didn't give her a bit of pause, the idea that Keith might have no choice but to feel it if she brought herself to that pinnacle seemed unfair to him, and made her feel oddly wary. She was an Arusian, raised to accept paranormal and spiritual connections as her birthright. Keith, on the other hand, was still getting used to having the kind of connection he'd resisted just last week. He had taken the first step in accepting Black Lion's gift, he just needed space and time to adjust.
Their bond would bring them closer, and personified the adage 'stronger together'. But it was going to be torment having to clamp down on the temptation to broadcast her longing for physical contact.
Huffing out a sigh, Allura flipped onto her side and pummeled a pillow into shape with subdued violence, then abruptly sat up. With a command to turn on the lights, she reached out for her laptop. Restlessness needed to be channeled into action, and there was no better time to write down her feelings.
After several pages of stream-of-consciousness venting, her furious typing slowed and eventually stopped when her eyelids began to droop.
Yawning widely, she saved and closed out the file and put the laptop away.
She was ready for sweet dreams.
"Computer, turn on night lights and relaxing sounds of nature."
As the lights dimmed and soft sounds of wind, waves and the occasional call of birds filled the background, Allura went through her preparations for sleep. Clad in her favorite pajamas, she slid beneath the covers on her bed, stretched out, and settled back on her pillows to reflect on the last few hours.
She found herself wondering if Lance would be allowed to finish his quest. She'd been as shaken by his quest as he, shocked that his confident demeanor had been stripped away, his psyche laid bare by pain and heartrending loss. It had been pure instinct to reach out to him and to use the established bond between them, a bond that had brought acute awareness of the depth of her teammate's emotions.
In the world of fire and stone, she had been drawn to the great passion and forceful nature of the man who was the chosen of Red Lion, only to be jolted by the despair and desperation in his cry when he fell. Lance could be prideful, and she knew there was an earth saying that pride went before a fall, but the convoluted emotions and events encompassed by his lion's trial were not defined so easily as a need for an exhibition of humility. Even as she'd rushed to make contact, she sensed that some of the ambivalence she felt in her friend was connected to their own friendship. Somehow, she was certain she was at least partially the cause of his bonding quest becoming a torment.
It made her sad.
And apprehensive.
Maybe she and Keith were wrong to insist on their friends going through such intense introspection without taking time for greater mental preparation...although she wasn't certain how one could prepare them for the unknown.
Clearly, the lions wanted cohesion and harmony in a union with their pilots. Just as clearly, the others would have to overcome any obstacles to that harmony. But to force a bonding...could drive the five of them apart instead of bringing them close as a team. Any rift or feelings of inequality when it came to their lions wasn't just bad for morale, it was potentially life threatening if personal angst affected their piloting skills.
She and Keith had established their lion bonds on the first try, so she naively had assumed it was a given that the others would go just as smoothly. But Lance hadn't completed his quest, and Pidge and Hunk hadn't even attempted theirs yet. Red Lion was proven to be difficult to woo. Was that in its nature, or was it something that Lance lacked? What if any of them were refused a bonding by their lions? What did that mean for the future of the team, the future of Voltron?
It was inconceivable. As ruler of Arus, as heir to Voltron's creator, a keeper of a key and chosen of Blue Lion, she had to make certain her friends did not fail.
That responsibility brought on a tsunami of misgivings that were threatening to shred her confidence. She reached out, and recognized Blue Lion's response at once, its roar forming a bubble of protection against the crashing wall of water. She kept concentrating and the stormy sea of her thoughts calmed, waves lapping at a beach, pieces of driftwood, sand and lava rock tumbling in the surf, pulling out to sea, returning to land, a jumble of giving and taking...
Her amulet sparked and began to glow. In her mind's eye, a cloud spiraled from the sprays of water, and materialized into a stately black lion with brown eyes and a tousled crown of pitch-black mane. It wasn't surprising that a manifestation of Keith would appear. Even if they were separated, the bond was there to support and sustain her.
Her face warmed as she thought of the embrace they'd exchanged before he retired to the small room across the hall; a place set up and utilized by security. That kiss also had been a satisfying apology for his earlier gruffness. The hurt she had been nursing within her at his sharp words had melted away after he took her in his arms, murmuring a husky 'I'm sorry,' before his lips met hers. She savored the memory of arms enclosing her and gentle hands upon her back, a mouth that was as warm and pliant as it could be hard and unyielding. She had accepted with the press of her lips, arching into his body while her hands skimmed from his shoulders down to his sides. So warm. So strong. So right...
That was when he had abruptly dropped his arms and set her away from him; her protest had died on her lips as a security guard rounded the corner and approached them.
"We need someone standing guard tonight while we sleep." Keith informed her. "Until we get a shift schedule worked out, I've asked Lieutenant Ballard to stand on night duty."
She summoned a smile and nodded at the brawny young man bowing to her. "Thank you for volunteering, Lieutenant Ballard. I'm afraid it will be a tedious undertaking for you."
The lieutenant's gaze was direct but respectful. "It is an honor, ma'am. I could never think of protecting our Princess as tedious."
He turned to Keith, and the two men exchanged salutes.
"Thanks for doing this, Ballard. Don't hesitate to wake me if you see or hear anything unusual."
"Sleep easy, sir. I've got this."
With that, Ballard had removed himself to a discreet distance, something Allura realized she truly appreciated. It was hard to be annoyed at someone who clearly was good at reading the room, not to mention sacrificing whatever their own plans had been to guard her.
"I suppose this is goodnight, then." She had said to Keith, trying not to sound petulant.
His eyes smiled at her. "I suppose it is. Goodnight Allura."
It was a gentle dismissal but she'd not moved. Grasping her shoulders, Keith had turned her to face her door, gently nudging her forward into her room. As the reinforced panel closed behind her, she heard him murmur 'sweet dreams'...
As the memory faded, Allura made a small sound of disappointment and flung an arm across her eyes. She should have pointed out she hadn't required hall sentries in ages as her quarters were equipped with highly advanced security systems that would detect an intrusion way before a human did. But Keith knew that, and yet had asked Ballard to come anyway. Was this out of an abundance of caution, or was he worried about being tempted to attempt an infiltration himself?
The thought brought on a smirk worthy of Lance.
It was all too easy to imagine what that infiltration could entail. A sensual lassitude slipped over her thinking about lying with him, and her heartbeats marked a rush of passion at the thought of feeling nothing between them but bared skin. Her cheeks warmed, and an arrow of sensation seemed to center at the juncture of her thighs. It was an odd mix of restless dissatisfaction and the crux of pleasure...something that could only be eased by touch.
She was curious to explore these sensations, and yet, as much as old admonitions of what was proper for a princess didn't give her a bit of pause, the idea that Keith might have no choice but to feel it if she brought herself to that pinnacle seemed unfair to him, and made her feel oddly wary. She was an Arusian, raised to accept paranormal and spiritual connections as her birthright. Keith, on the other hand, was still getting used to having the kind of connection he'd resisted just last week. He had taken the first step in accepting Black Lion's gift, he just needed space and time to adjust.
Their bond would bring them closer, and personified the adage 'stronger together'. But it was going to be torment having to clamp down on the temptation to broadcast her longing for physical contact.
Huffing out a sigh, Allura flipped onto her side and pummeled a pillow into shape with subdued violence, then abruptly sat up. With a command to turn on the lights, she reached out for her laptop. Restlessness needed to be channeled into action, and there was no better time to write down her feelings.
After several pages of stream-of-consciousness venting, her furious typing slowed and eventually stopped when her eyelids began to droop.
Yawning widely, she saved and closed out the file and put the laptop away.
She was ready for sweet dreams.
Showered, teeth brushed and clad in pajama bottoms, Keith stretched out on flannel sheets beneath a soft down comforter. It was a surprisingly comfortable room for a sentry's quarters; he had a full-size bed, dresser, chest of drawers, a nightstand, a closet and a designated work space for his laptops. Best of all, he had an en suite bathroom all to himself- not having to share one was going to be an absolute luxury.
As he mentally tallied his routines for the next day's Lion practice, he had to admit he was extra excited to be flying with the others, and to see the difference bonding with Black Lion could make to his overall piloting skill. With Allura having bonded with him in Blue, it could only strengthen the intuitive part of the experience of operating the lions, and even Voltron as a whole.
All this time Allura had said she felt a kinship with Blue Lion, speaking as if it were a living creature and companion instead of one fifth of a mechanical marvel. All the times he'd dismissed the talk as an exercise in imagination when truth was, he wasn't as dismissive of the idea as he tried to be. Apprehension of stepping into the unknown, and of losing control, was the catalyst for his denial. Relating to the lion ships as sentient beings meant making a commitment to the kind of flying that could end up going against the Garrison's objectives for Voltron, and on a personal level, the x factor of instructing the rest of the team to do whatever was necessary to bond with their lions exceeded his comfort level by leaps and bounds...
Ah well. No sense borrowing trouble. Whether or not those bonds had been forged it was still going to be necessary for the team to practice as normal and knock off the rust. No matter that it had only been a couple of days, muscle memory only took one so far, and he had learned the hard way that complacency was a real danger in peacetime. Keeping the mind prepared for all instances was the key to maintaining order. With bonds or bond-less, it was up to them to stay sharp as a team. And as he'd heard his father say on countless occasions, determination and a desire to keep improving every single day was what separated truly great pilots from the merely good ones.
Taking care of business was what he'd always done. His time off was beneficial, but he was a creature of habit, and it was going to be great to resume his neglected morning work out regimen in peace and solitude. But...no. Not so much on the solitude part. As her bodyguard, he'd have to take Allura along with him when he worked out-not that he minded- it actually gave them a reason to be together without attracting unwanted attention. Any objections from others, he'd simply state he was her personal security detail, and as such, her personal itinerary needed to conform with his right now. But it also posed a bit of a problem in finding ways to be vigilant while getting in a good work out.
He couldn't see Allura being content sitting idly by while he exercised; doing bench presses probably wouldn't thrill her, but spotting for each other would still allow him to scan for any intruders. Utilizing the free weights could work, too. She had mentioned to him she would like to learn Tai Chi; it would be fun to teach her, and she would enjoy the slow, deliberate movements that promoted inner well being. It stood to reason that learning to focus on positive forces could only help to enhance communion with the 'lion spirits'.
Feh. Communion was too delicate a way of putting it. A wry grin touched his lips; his bonding with Black Lion was about as laid back as flying a kite in a hurricane or playing catch with a bolt of lightning. The powerful life force may have overwhelmed him if not for Allura. She was the calm in the center of that storm.
That night he had discovered a whole new world. He'd never known it was possible to derive intense pleasure from becoming one with another human without the act of physically merging. His feelings were so raw, so potent...she had given him the means to direct them without overpowering his reason.
That was what was bothering him about Allura's interaction with Lance. He had helped Lance too, but only she had the ability to join with the actual vision. Her reaction after their comatose friend had groaned in agony and the responses Allura gave during the time she had intervened clearly came from a much different scenario than their own sensual connection. But it still irked him that she was being so secretive about what transpired within Lance's dream, even though he knew she was right about keeping it confidential.
That was what teammates did: they had each other's backs, and they'd try to help whether it was wanted or not. Still, until Lance was recovered from his experience and dealt with emotions it had obviously stirred up, Keith was inclined to give him some space.
The expression Lance had worn after his vision ended, the torment in his gaze when he'd looked at Allura had prompted uneasy thoughts and provided impetus for his subsequent dust up with the Princess. He didn't know what Lance had seen, but he was certain Allura was involved. Hearing his friend vow that Lotor 'would not have her' was a mark of how profoundly Lance's regard for the Princess had grown. Misgiving sharpened to jealousy when Lance had freely embraced her, but he blocked it with the thought that Allura's heart belonged with him and only him. The amulet around his neck was tangible proof of that.
His fingers sought out the stone, in unconscious need of reaffirmation, touching the smoothness upon his bare chest, watching it glint in the moonlight.
Did the amulets really provide an eternal connection? Were they keys to unlock undiscovered power? Would they be conduits for torment and heartache?
He wondered what insights Allura would have on that subject. Was she lying in her bed as he was, awake, thinking of him, and staring at her ceiling? His body responded to the idea, and the memory of what it felt like to be in her head. He gave in to temptation and tentatively reached out for her in his mind...and stopped.
Nothing. It felt wrong. And Black Lion was staying mum on the subject- not so much as a growl. He'd take that as confirmation that experimenting with mind melds purely out of rampant horniness was a bad idea.
He shifted, trying to find a comfortable spot, an impossibility when it seemed like his sheets were on fire. His pajama bottoms were driving him crazy, dammit.
Throwing aside his blanket, he pulled off the offending article of clothing, letting the cool air from the ceiling fan flow over him in the hopes that the chill would emulate the effect of a cold shower. The stiffened part of his anatomy was a nuisance and now that he was solely responsible for Allura's safety, losing control was not an option.
The smile she'd given him after he'd apologized was like a match to his hormones. A long, drawn out sigh lifted his chest.
He wanted to trust her. He needed to trust himself.
He needed other things too. But Ballard, standing guard...the poor guy hadn't given up his sleep just so his commander could have the chance to play with himself.
Focus.
Thinking of Witch Hagar in a bikini worked a lot better than cold water or air.
Shifting to a more comfortable side position facing the door to the hallway, Keith checked to see that his comm was operational and gave the command to set the alarm for daybreak.
Hopefully Allura wouldn't mind an extra early wake up call.
As he mentally tallied his routines for the next day's Lion practice, he had to admit he was extra excited to be flying with the others, and to see the difference bonding with Black Lion could make to his overall piloting skill. With Allura having bonded with him in Blue, it could only strengthen the intuitive part of the experience of operating the lions, and even Voltron as a whole.
All this time Allura had said she felt a kinship with Blue Lion, speaking as if it were a living creature and companion instead of one fifth of a mechanical marvel. All the times he'd dismissed the talk as an exercise in imagination when truth was, he wasn't as dismissive of the idea as he tried to be. Apprehension of stepping into the unknown, and of losing control, was the catalyst for his denial. Relating to the lion ships as sentient beings meant making a commitment to the kind of flying that could end up going against the Garrison's objectives for Voltron, and on a personal level, the x factor of instructing the rest of the team to do whatever was necessary to bond with their lions exceeded his comfort level by leaps and bounds...
Ah well. No sense borrowing trouble. Whether or not those bonds had been forged it was still going to be necessary for the team to practice as normal and knock off the rust. No matter that it had only been a couple of days, muscle memory only took one so far, and he had learned the hard way that complacency was a real danger in peacetime. Keeping the mind prepared for all instances was the key to maintaining order. With bonds or bond-less, it was up to them to stay sharp as a team. And as he'd heard his father say on countless occasions, determination and a desire to keep improving every single day was what separated truly great pilots from the merely good ones.
Taking care of business was what he'd always done. His time off was beneficial, but he was a creature of habit, and it was going to be great to resume his neglected morning work out regimen in peace and solitude. But...no. Not so much on the solitude part. As her bodyguard, he'd have to take Allura along with him when he worked out-not that he minded- it actually gave them a reason to be together without attracting unwanted attention. Any objections from others, he'd simply state he was her personal security detail, and as such, her personal itinerary needed to conform with his right now. But it also posed a bit of a problem in finding ways to be vigilant while getting in a good work out.
He couldn't see Allura being content sitting idly by while he exercised; doing bench presses probably wouldn't thrill her, but spotting for each other would still allow him to scan for any intruders. Utilizing the free weights could work, too. She had mentioned to him she would like to learn Tai Chi; it would be fun to teach her, and she would enjoy the slow, deliberate movements that promoted inner well being. It stood to reason that learning to focus on positive forces could only help to enhance communion with the 'lion spirits'.
Feh. Communion was too delicate a way of putting it. A wry grin touched his lips; his bonding with Black Lion was about as laid back as flying a kite in a hurricane or playing catch with a bolt of lightning. The powerful life force may have overwhelmed him if not for Allura. She was the calm in the center of that storm.
That night he had discovered a whole new world. He'd never known it was possible to derive intense pleasure from becoming one with another human without the act of physically merging. His feelings were so raw, so potent...she had given him the means to direct them without overpowering his reason.
That was what was bothering him about Allura's interaction with Lance. He had helped Lance too, but only she had the ability to join with the actual vision. Her reaction after their comatose friend had groaned in agony and the responses Allura gave during the time she had intervened clearly came from a much different scenario than their own sensual connection. But it still irked him that she was being so secretive about what transpired within Lance's dream, even though he knew she was right about keeping it confidential.
That was what teammates did: they had each other's backs, and they'd try to help whether it was wanted or not. Still, until Lance was recovered from his experience and dealt with emotions it had obviously stirred up, Keith was inclined to give him some space.
The expression Lance had worn after his vision ended, the torment in his gaze when he'd looked at Allura had prompted uneasy thoughts and provided impetus for his subsequent dust up with the Princess. He didn't know what Lance had seen, but he was certain Allura was involved. Hearing his friend vow that Lotor 'would not have her' was a mark of how profoundly Lance's regard for the Princess had grown. Misgiving sharpened to jealousy when Lance had freely embraced her, but he blocked it with the thought that Allura's heart belonged with him and only him. The amulet around his neck was tangible proof of that.
His fingers sought out the stone, in unconscious need of reaffirmation, touching the smoothness upon his bare chest, watching it glint in the moonlight.
Did the amulets really provide an eternal connection? Were they keys to unlock undiscovered power? Would they be conduits for torment and heartache?
He wondered what insights Allura would have on that subject. Was she lying in her bed as he was, awake, thinking of him, and staring at her ceiling? His body responded to the idea, and the memory of what it felt like to be in her head. He gave in to temptation and tentatively reached out for her in his mind...and stopped.
Nothing. It felt wrong. And Black Lion was staying mum on the subject- not so much as a growl. He'd take that as confirmation that experimenting with mind melds purely out of rampant horniness was a bad idea.
He shifted, trying to find a comfortable spot, an impossibility when it seemed like his sheets were on fire. His pajama bottoms were driving him crazy, dammit.
Throwing aside his blanket, he pulled off the offending article of clothing, letting the cool air from the ceiling fan flow over him in the hopes that the chill would emulate the effect of a cold shower. The stiffened part of his anatomy was a nuisance and now that he was solely responsible for Allura's safety, losing control was not an option.
The smile she'd given him after he'd apologized was like a match to his hormones. A long, drawn out sigh lifted his chest.
He wanted to trust her. He needed to trust himself.
He needed other things too. But Ballard, standing guard...the poor guy hadn't given up his sleep just so his commander could have the chance to play with himself.
Focus.
Thinking of Witch Hagar in a bikini worked a lot better than cold water or air.
Shifting to a more comfortable side position facing the door to the hallway, Keith checked to see that his comm was operational and gave the command to set the alarm for daybreak.
Hopefully Allura wouldn't mind an extra early wake up call.
Good Day, Sunshine
In the stillness of early morning, Allura sat gazing out her bedroom window at the celestial curtain of midnight blue and the glint of daylight peeking from beneath it.
It wasn't her intention to be awake before dawn, but here she was, up and dressed. Signs of a not quite restful night had been hidden by carefully applied cosmetics. She'd organized her scheduling for the day, and communicated a request to the kitchen for coffee. Tasks completed for the moment, she had allowed herself time for meditation.
She tried. She really did. But as much as she wanted to invoke Blue's soothing waves of peace, Black Lion wasn't having it. Much like a playful kitten bothering its mother, his essence was keeping her mind too busy with thoughts of its master and poking her for a plan to savor this early hour with Keith. And, in all honesty, that was a distraction she wasn't inclined to ignore.
It had already occurred to her that joining him for a morning work out was a perfect plan. She knew he'd been missing it, and she wanted to give him some normalcy considering he was now an integral part of the fish bowl life she led. For herself, she desired a fitness regimen that went beyond the parameters of judo and swimming. Swimming was fun and relaxing. Judo had served her well for defensive purposes. But time spent hiking in the Althenian jungle had shown her that her levels of fitness and endurance left something to be desired.
It would be beneficial for her to build up strength in many ways. Keith had a duty to keep himself in shape, and his workouts were a way for him to achieve and maintain peak fitness. There shouldn't be a problem joining him in striving for that goal while remaining under his watch. That is what she would say should Coran or Nanny object.
The quiet, robotic chime of a bell announced the arrival of a member of the kitchen staff with her order. After observing identification protocol, Allura opened the door to admit Hilde, a cheerful older woman, who wheeled in a small cart holding cups and a carafe filled with gourmet Arusian coffee.
They exchanged pleasantries as the steaming, aromatic dark liquid was poured from a carafe emblazoned with Voltron's crest into a matching cup.
"It's part of a stoneware collection being sold by the local vendor as a tribute to Voltron," the maid responded, prompted by her Princess's exclamation of pleasure. "They sent this carafe and a set of cups as gifts for Your Highness. They were going to be placed in the archives, but I thought you might enjoy actually using them."
"They're absolutely marvelous!" Allura declared. "This was extremely thoughtful of you, Hilde. I must send the artisans an official note to thank them for these lovely creations."
"They will be delighted to hear from you." Smiling and curtsying, Hilde showed herself out.
As soon as the door closed, Allura took up the cup and put it under her nose, inhaling the rich brew's aroma before taking a deliberately long and indelicate sip. It was the little things that made her happy, and there was satisfaction in knowing that she wouldn't get a reprimand about slurping coffee that tasted as wonderful as it smelled.
She drank the rest of the cup in short order, thought about a refill, but then hesitated as her gaze fell upon the extra cups. It would be wonderful to share a cup of coffee with Keith, not to mention that he deserved compensation for her intrusion on his morning work out. The carafe was insulated so the coffee would stay hot until he knocked on her door- which should be any minute now as Keith was a early riser.
She waited. Five minutes passed. And another. Then five more, at which point the caffeine flowing in her veins made her impatient enough to decide to make an on site delivery instead of waiting for Keith to show up. She took a moment to check her appearance and smooth her hair before pouring a second cup. Armed with the offering, she opened the door to the sight of the night guard standing just a short distance away.
In an instant, he snapped to attention and she smiled at him warmly. "Lieutenant Ballard, good morning! Please be at ease."
"Good morning, Princess Allura," he said, slightly relaxing his stance, "I hope you had a good night?"
"I did. Thank you for keeping watch over us."
"It's my honor and pleasure, Your Highness."
She glanced at the door behind him. "Has the Commander made an appearance?"
"Not yet, ma'am." Ballard's reply held an apologetic undertone, which made her realize her impatience to see Keith again had made her frown. She corrected her expression and the impression it gave at once.
"That's all right, he deserves every bit of sleep he can get! I woke up extra early today. But I'm thinking, Lieutenant...that if the Commander wanted to get in his full work out this morning, a wake up call is going to be needed."
"Understood! I will go at once and-"
She interrupted. "I was thinking of doing it myself, actually."
The sentry cleared his throat. "Uh, no disrespect intended, Your Highness, but it may be best if I do it."
"Oh?"
There was an awkward pause as she cocked her head, regarding him in mute inquiry, and he continued.
"My concern for Your Highness is that the Commander may not react, uh, entirely appropriately to being surprised at first waking, as nice a surprise as it is."
"What you say may hold true, but I'm equal to the task." Her smile was self-deprecating. "Trust me, cranky Captain Keith has nothing on my governess when she's in a bad mood."
Ballard unbent enough to smile back at her as she lifted the cup in her hand, adding, "once he has this, all will be well."
"That coffee does smell amazing." He acknowledged.
"The taste is just as amazing, would you like some? Hilde brought up some extra cups, it's the very least I can do after you've been up all night. In fact, now that I'm up, you may go and relax."
"I thank you, ma'am, but I must answer in the negative to both offers. My orders are to remain until the Commander is able to take over. Once I wake him, he'll dismiss me, and it's best I avoid caffeine right before I turn in."
"I understand." She sighed. "Perhaps I'll go and get a another cup for myself then."
"With your permission, I will be happy to get that for you, Princess."
Her eyes sparkled. "Granted. I am most appreciative of your courteousness."
The sentry stepped around her and walked to the control panel to her quarters, clearly expecting her to stay put and in view. Instead, while his back was towards her, Allura hurried over to the control panel outside Keith's sleeping quarters and rapidly punched in the code to unlock his door.
It slid open, and she paused just outside the threshold at hearing the sound of an old time alarm clock, its tone getting louder and more insistent with each successive beep.
Looking back over her shoulder, she gave a little wave at her sentry, who was standing by the door to her quarters looking utterly bemused. "Have faith, Lieutenant! Coffee works magic!"
She stepped through the door.
In the stillness of early morning, Allura sat gazing out her bedroom window at the celestial curtain of midnight blue and the glint of daylight peeking from beneath it.
It wasn't her intention to be awake before dawn, but here she was, up and dressed. Signs of a not quite restful night had been hidden by carefully applied cosmetics. She'd organized her scheduling for the day, and communicated a request to the kitchen for coffee. Tasks completed for the moment, she had allowed herself time for meditation.
She tried. She really did. But as much as she wanted to invoke Blue's soothing waves of peace, Black Lion wasn't having it. Much like a playful kitten bothering its mother, his essence was keeping her mind too busy with thoughts of its master and poking her for a plan to savor this early hour with Keith. And, in all honesty, that was a distraction she wasn't inclined to ignore.
It had already occurred to her that joining him for a morning work out was a perfect plan. She knew he'd been missing it, and she wanted to give him some normalcy considering he was now an integral part of the fish bowl life she led. For herself, she desired a fitness regimen that went beyond the parameters of judo and swimming. Swimming was fun and relaxing. Judo had served her well for defensive purposes. But time spent hiking in the Althenian jungle had shown her that her levels of fitness and endurance left something to be desired.
It would be beneficial for her to build up strength in many ways. Keith had a duty to keep himself in shape, and his workouts were a way for him to achieve and maintain peak fitness. There shouldn't be a problem joining him in striving for that goal while remaining under his watch. That is what she would say should Coran or Nanny object.
The quiet, robotic chime of a bell announced the arrival of a member of the kitchen staff with her order. After observing identification protocol, Allura opened the door to admit Hilde, a cheerful older woman, who wheeled in a small cart holding cups and a carafe filled with gourmet Arusian coffee.
They exchanged pleasantries as the steaming, aromatic dark liquid was poured from a carafe emblazoned with Voltron's crest into a matching cup.
"It's part of a stoneware collection being sold by the local vendor as a tribute to Voltron," the maid responded, prompted by her Princess's exclamation of pleasure. "They sent this carafe and a set of cups as gifts for Your Highness. They were going to be placed in the archives, but I thought you might enjoy actually using them."
"They're absolutely marvelous!" Allura declared. "This was extremely thoughtful of you, Hilde. I must send the artisans an official note to thank them for these lovely creations."
"They will be delighted to hear from you." Smiling and curtsying, Hilde showed herself out.
As soon as the door closed, Allura took up the cup and put it under her nose, inhaling the rich brew's aroma before taking a deliberately long and indelicate sip. It was the little things that made her happy, and there was satisfaction in knowing that she wouldn't get a reprimand about slurping coffee that tasted as wonderful as it smelled.
She drank the rest of the cup in short order, thought about a refill, but then hesitated as her gaze fell upon the extra cups. It would be wonderful to share a cup of coffee with Keith, not to mention that he deserved compensation for her intrusion on his morning work out. The carafe was insulated so the coffee would stay hot until he knocked on her door- which should be any minute now as Keith was a early riser.
She waited. Five minutes passed. And another. Then five more, at which point the caffeine flowing in her veins made her impatient enough to decide to make an on site delivery instead of waiting for Keith to show up. She took a moment to check her appearance and smooth her hair before pouring a second cup. Armed with the offering, she opened the door to the sight of the night guard standing just a short distance away.
In an instant, he snapped to attention and she smiled at him warmly. "Lieutenant Ballard, good morning! Please be at ease."
"Good morning, Princess Allura," he said, slightly relaxing his stance, "I hope you had a good night?"
"I did. Thank you for keeping watch over us."
"It's my honor and pleasure, Your Highness."
She glanced at the door behind him. "Has the Commander made an appearance?"
"Not yet, ma'am." Ballard's reply held an apologetic undertone, which made her realize her impatience to see Keith again had made her frown. She corrected her expression and the impression it gave at once.
"That's all right, he deserves every bit of sleep he can get! I woke up extra early today. But I'm thinking, Lieutenant...that if the Commander wanted to get in his full work out this morning, a wake up call is going to be needed."
"Understood! I will go at once and-"
She interrupted. "I was thinking of doing it myself, actually."
The sentry cleared his throat. "Uh, no disrespect intended, Your Highness, but it may be best if I do it."
"Oh?"
There was an awkward pause as she cocked her head, regarding him in mute inquiry, and he continued.
"My concern for Your Highness is that the Commander may not react, uh, entirely appropriately to being surprised at first waking, as nice a surprise as it is."
"What you say may hold true, but I'm equal to the task." Her smile was self-deprecating. "Trust me, cranky Captain Keith has nothing on my governess when she's in a bad mood."
Ballard unbent enough to smile back at her as she lifted the cup in her hand, adding, "once he has this, all will be well."
"That coffee does smell amazing." He acknowledged.
"The taste is just as amazing, would you like some? Hilde brought up some extra cups, it's the very least I can do after you've been up all night. In fact, now that I'm up, you may go and relax."
"I thank you, ma'am, but I must answer in the negative to both offers. My orders are to remain until the Commander is able to take over. Once I wake him, he'll dismiss me, and it's best I avoid caffeine right before I turn in."
"I understand." She sighed. "Perhaps I'll go and get a another cup for myself then."
"With your permission, I will be happy to get that for you, Princess."
Her eyes sparkled. "Granted. I am most appreciative of your courteousness."
The sentry stepped around her and walked to the control panel to her quarters, clearly expecting her to stay put and in view. Instead, while his back was towards her, Allura hurried over to the control panel outside Keith's sleeping quarters and rapidly punched in the code to unlock his door.
It slid open, and she paused just outside the threshold at hearing the sound of an old time alarm clock, its tone getting louder and more insistent with each successive beep.
Looking back over her shoulder, she gave a little wave at her sentry, who was standing by the door to her quarters looking utterly bemused. "Have faith, Lieutenant! Coffee works magic!"
She stepped through the door.
Keith fumbled around on the floor next to his bed for the travel alarm clock that he'd sent flying off his nightstand. An old fashioned, durable relic from his academy days, it was annoying as hell, but yet he treasured it by virtue of its being a gift from his father, who had gotten it from his father.
He put it back on the table and then collapsed face down on the pillow, his thoughts fogged by lingering drowsiness that dissipated the moment he heard the swish of his door opening. Tense but remaining perfectly still, he absorbed rippling waves of blue calm. After a split second, he relaxed and allowed the aura to embrace him as his black amulet warmed in recognition of his bond mate's presence.
Freaky but cool, he thought. She was here with him. There was no need to attack.
"Keith? Are you awake?"
Her half-whispered question provided additional confirmation of her identity. Her steps as she approached the bed were quiet and measured. He stayed silent, playing possum.
"Hm. And I believed you were a morning person."
The assertion demanded some sort of response. He slowly rolled over, cracking his eyelids just enough for a quick glimpse of the pink and white jumpsuit-clad intruder standing at the foot of his bed before squeezing his eyes shut once more.
"Time to rise and face the day!"
He grunted and thought about throwing a pillow.
There was laughter in her voice. "Well! I guess someone's infracels need a major recharge."
He rejected the joke by sighing noisily and turning back onto his stomach.
"Oh no you don't!" She exclaimed.
There was no other warning before his covers were whipped to the side. Two gasps intermingled as cold air hit his bared buttocks before the covers were flung back into place.
Grabbing the blanket, he rolled onto his back to see Allura gawking at him, one open hand flung wide, the other clutching a cup of something that smelled like java heaven. The initial surge of excitement he felt at having her so near to his bed was instantly undercut by her stunned expression and lightning jolts of reality.
She was unchaperoned! He was her bodyguard! Was the entity lurking nearby? Why had her blue aura of serenity shut down? He should have been up and watching her! Allura had gotten full view of his bare naked buttocks!
His frantic thoughts became a growling torrent of words.
"Dammit, Allura! Why are you here? I need to be up before you are! Why are you alone? Where the hell is Ballard?"
"He's right outside your door." Her voice, though even, was pitched higher than normal. "I was up way before dawn. I waited until close to your usual wake up time because I wanted you to get your full amount of rest. I thought you'd like a cup of coffee! I had no idea that you- didn't know that- um, that you..." she took a gulping breath, "I'm really sorry, Keith! I thought you wore pajamas to bed!"
"I usually do!" He snapped. "That's irrelevant right now. You took a big risk, Allura! If I'd been really sound asleep and you totally surprised me, I could have reacted violently and hurt you- "
Her arm dropped to her side, and her expression was serene as she replied, "You wouldn't. You sensed it was me right away, didn't you?"
He blinked, caught off guard by the confidence in her question. It was true, even when half asleep, he hadn't reacted to her surprise entrance in normal soldier fashion. He'd sensed goodness, recognized her kind and soothing presence, had known there was no cause for alarm. "I guess so, yeah."
"It's the bond."
He knew that. And he also knew that at this point he should be apologizing for mooning her...but really, it wasn't his fault! As usual, she'd acted on impulse and hadn't been prepared for the consequences- just like that other time!
Although, he had to say she didn't look nearly as shocked to have seen him as she had that other time. Which made no sense, as he was a lot closer to her and had showed far more of his assets.
"It's okay, Keith. Everything worked out fine."
Irritation mixed with amusement colored his words. "I'm not so sure. Bonded or not, you just found out why knocking is still a good idea. Thought you'd learned that lesson the last time you walked in on me without any warning."
He expected her to be flustered, or maybe even be annoyed by the reminder of her breach of etiquette. Instead, she looked baffled.
"What time was that?"
He stared at her. She seriously didn't remember? "Oh come on. You know what I'm talking about."
She thought for a minute, then gave a shake of her head. "I'm sorry, I really don't. Please remind me?"
Unbelievable. He'd never forget it, or the look on her face! "The time you walked in on me taking a shower at the Space Olympics stadium?"
It was extra vexing that it took a few more seconds for comprehension to dawn.
"Oh that time," she said. "All right, now I see your point. Not quite the same, since the rest of the team was there and all of you were wearing towels." Her brow knit. "Now that I think of it, why were you wearing your towel while in the shower? You can't really get clean that way."
Was she messing with him? His naked butt didn't merit any commentary whatsoever, but his motivations for showering in a towel were grounds for discussion?
But her expression was open and sincere. He detected a possible hint of sheepishness, but no artifice. Right about now, a less confident man would be thinking that she wasn't impressed with his attributes and his glutes needed work.
"Maybe it was dirty, or I forgot I was wearing it. Or I'm just weird. Does it matter?" He retorted.
"I think I've embarrassed you." She lamented. "You're blushing."
He held her gaze. "First of all, I don't blush. Secondly, what's there for me to be embarrassed about?"
"That's a fair question." He had to grudgingly admire how she was maintaining her composure, save for the deepening pink of her face. "And the answer is, absolutely nothing. But that doesn't hold true for me. Both times I disregarded your privacy in my eagerness to surprise, and I apologize for that."
"No need for an apology." He said, somewhat appeased. "You had good intentions."
"There is no good in it if I made you uncomfortable."
"It's all good. We're good. Honestly. All right?"
She sighed, then nodded. "Still, I regret I didn't take Lieutenant Ballard up on his offer."
Just when he thought he'd guided them to stable ground, she took a detour. "And what offer was that?"
"We were chatting after I came out of my room. I told him I wanted to bring you a cup of coffee, and he very tactfully warned me that it was unwise to surprise a sleeping soldier, and offered to wake you for me. Then I told him I could handle it, that you couldn't possibly reach the level of Nanny on her worst mornings."
He gritted his teeth. Of course it was unreasonable to be displeased- Allura had every right to chat with her earnest, handsome sentry on a personal level. "I'm glad he recognized the risk, but he should have insisted."
"He refused to go until you relieved him of duty, even though I gave him permission to do so. And he stuck with it, even though I put him in the position of having to say no to me. Seeing he was devoted to following your orders, I resorted to tricking him or he would have been in here. He's dependable, gallant, and takes his duties to heart. Don't reprimand him for that, Keith!"
Again, a mix of emotions; irritation that defending the hapless Lieutenant had gotten more emotion out of her than seeing his butt, pleasure that she'd schemed and tricked her way into his room because she couldn't wait to see him.
Or so he assumed. Which he shouldn't. As his Garrison flight instructor had been so fond of saying, 'remember what happens to students who assume, Maxwell'.
"I'm not going to reprimand him, Allura."He paused, then added, "this time. If it happens again-"
"Thank you." She said quickly. "It won't happen again. He did well, and gives off positive energy. I feel comfortable around him. If he'd be willing, it'd be nice if he could be assigned as your permanent backup, since you can't be expected to guard me around the clock."
It would be churlish not to consider her request. "Duly noted. I'll look into it."
"Thank you." She walked around to his side of the bed, almost tripping over his crumpled pajama bottoms lying on the floor. Without comment, she picked them up and set the bottoms next to him. "Here's your coffee. Amazingly, it's still warm."
He tugged the blanket up to his chest, tucked it in beneath his arms, then took the proffered cup and inhaled the delicious aroma of his favorite breakfast blend. After one swig from the mug, he felt it flowing in his veins, jump starting his energy reserves and clearing the cobwebs from his head.
He wasn't sure what was best in dealing with the connection they shared. Sensing Allura's presence from a distance felt more like a distraction than an advantage. He shouldn't rely on it, and it bothered him that his caution and common sense hadn't anticipated her early rising, or that she might venture forth instead of waiting for him to appear.
Taking another sip of coffee, he sighed.
"How is it?" She asked eagerly.
"The best coffee ever. Thanks for thinking of me."
She beamed. "I wish I had asked the kitchen for a pastry of some kind to go with it."
"Mmmf. Just as well, I've been skipping too many work outs."
She clasped her hands. "Oh! I'm glad you brought that up! I was thinking, since you're guarding me, why don't I come along so you didn't have to miss any more sessions? I've wanted to visit the gym for the longest time, but Nanny kept scheduling other things for me to do- probably on purpose." She shrugged. "There were more pressing needs at the time, so I kind of gave up on the idea."
Her wry acceptance of being denied one of life's most basic rituals of achieving mental and physical health jabbed at his heart. "Well, today's the day. I was thinking along those same lines." He eyed her jumpsuit. "That's not gonna fly for a work out. Do you have clothing that doesn't get in your way or constrict your movements?"
She pondered. "I have an old ballet leotard and yoga pants. Will those do?"
"They'll do nicely." He ran one hand over his jaw line, grimacing at the scrape of stubble. "Why don't you go and change? I'll relieve Ballard once I'm shaved and dressed." He drained the coffee and held out the empty mug. "Thanks again."
"You're welcome." She surveyed him. "Are megathrusters a go?"
By way of an answer, he faked a move to fling off his covers.
Her tiny 'eep', pivot and quick footed retreat made him grin.
He put it back on the table and then collapsed face down on the pillow, his thoughts fogged by lingering drowsiness that dissipated the moment he heard the swish of his door opening. Tense but remaining perfectly still, he absorbed rippling waves of blue calm. After a split second, he relaxed and allowed the aura to embrace him as his black amulet warmed in recognition of his bond mate's presence.
Freaky but cool, he thought. She was here with him. There was no need to attack.
"Keith? Are you awake?"
Her half-whispered question provided additional confirmation of her identity. Her steps as she approached the bed were quiet and measured. He stayed silent, playing possum.
"Hm. And I believed you were a morning person."
The assertion demanded some sort of response. He slowly rolled over, cracking his eyelids just enough for a quick glimpse of the pink and white jumpsuit-clad intruder standing at the foot of his bed before squeezing his eyes shut once more.
"Time to rise and face the day!"
He grunted and thought about throwing a pillow.
There was laughter in her voice. "Well! I guess someone's infracels need a major recharge."
He rejected the joke by sighing noisily and turning back onto his stomach.
"Oh no you don't!" She exclaimed.
There was no other warning before his covers were whipped to the side. Two gasps intermingled as cold air hit his bared buttocks before the covers were flung back into place.
Grabbing the blanket, he rolled onto his back to see Allura gawking at him, one open hand flung wide, the other clutching a cup of something that smelled like java heaven. The initial surge of excitement he felt at having her so near to his bed was instantly undercut by her stunned expression and lightning jolts of reality.
She was unchaperoned! He was her bodyguard! Was the entity lurking nearby? Why had her blue aura of serenity shut down? He should have been up and watching her! Allura had gotten full view of his bare naked buttocks!
His frantic thoughts became a growling torrent of words.
"Dammit, Allura! Why are you here? I need to be up before you are! Why are you alone? Where the hell is Ballard?"
"He's right outside your door." Her voice, though even, was pitched higher than normal. "I was up way before dawn. I waited until close to your usual wake up time because I wanted you to get your full amount of rest. I thought you'd like a cup of coffee! I had no idea that you- didn't know that- um, that you..." she took a gulping breath, "I'm really sorry, Keith! I thought you wore pajamas to bed!"
"I usually do!" He snapped. "That's irrelevant right now. You took a big risk, Allura! If I'd been really sound asleep and you totally surprised me, I could have reacted violently and hurt you- "
Her arm dropped to her side, and her expression was serene as she replied, "You wouldn't. You sensed it was me right away, didn't you?"
He blinked, caught off guard by the confidence in her question. It was true, even when half asleep, he hadn't reacted to her surprise entrance in normal soldier fashion. He'd sensed goodness, recognized her kind and soothing presence, had known there was no cause for alarm. "I guess so, yeah."
"It's the bond."
He knew that. And he also knew that at this point he should be apologizing for mooning her...but really, it wasn't his fault! As usual, she'd acted on impulse and hadn't been prepared for the consequences- just like that other time!
Although, he had to say she didn't look nearly as shocked to have seen him as she had that other time. Which made no sense, as he was a lot closer to her and had showed far more of his assets.
"It's okay, Keith. Everything worked out fine."
Irritation mixed with amusement colored his words. "I'm not so sure. Bonded or not, you just found out why knocking is still a good idea. Thought you'd learned that lesson the last time you walked in on me without any warning."
He expected her to be flustered, or maybe even be annoyed by the reminder of her breach of etiquette. Instead, she looked baffled.
"What time was that?"
He stared at her. She seriously didn't remember? "Oh come on. You know what I'm talking about."
She thought for a minute, then gave a shake of her head. "I'm sorry, I really don't. Please remind me?"
Unbelievable. He'd never forget it, or the look on her face! "The time you walked in on me taking a shower at the Space Olympics stadium?"
It was extra vexing that it took a few more seconds for comprehension to dawn.
"Oh that time," she said. "All right, now I see your point. Not quite the same, since the rest of the team was there and all of you were wearing towels." Her brow knit. "Now that I think of it, why were you wearing your towel while in the shower? You can't really get clean that way."
Was she messing with him? His naked butt didn't merit any commentary whatsoever, but his motivations for showering in a towel were grounds for discussion?
But her expression was open and sincere. He detected a possible hint of sheepishness, but no artifice. Right about now, a less confident man would be thinking that she wasn't impressed with his attributes and his glutes needed work.
"Maybe it was dirty, or I forgot I was wearing it. Or I'm just weird. Does it matter?" He retorted.
"I think I've embarrassed you." She lamented. "You're blushing."
He held her gaze. "First of all, I don't blush. Secondly, what's there for me to be embarrassed about?"
"That's a fair question." He had to grudgingly admire how she was maintaining her composure, save for the deepening pink of her face. "And the answer is, absolutely nothing. But that doesn't hold true for me. Both times I disregarded your privacy in my eagerness to surprise, and I apologize for that."
"No need for an apology." He said, somewhat appeased. "You had good intentions."
"There is no good in it if I made you uncomfortable."
"It's all good. We're good. Honestly. All right?"
She sighed, then nodded. "Still, I regret I didn't take Lieutenant Ballard up on his offer."
Just when he thought he'd guided them to stable ground, she took a detour. "And what offer was that?"
"We were chatting after I came out of my room. I told him I wanted to bring you a cup of coffee, and he very tactfully warned me that it was unwise to surprise a sleeping soldier, and offered to wake you for me. Then I told him I could handle it, that you couldn't possibly reach the level of Nanny on her worst mornings."
He gritted his teeth. Of course it was unreasonable to be displeased- Allura had every right to chat with her earnest, handsome sentry on a personal level. "I'm glad he recognized the risk, but he should have insisted."
"He refused to go until you relieved him of duty, even though I gave him permission to do so. And he stuck with it, even though I put him in the position of having to say no to me. Seeing he was devoted to following your orders, I resorted to tricking him or he would have been in here. He's dependable, gallant, and takes his duties to heart. Don't reprimand him for that, Keith!"
Again, a mix of emotions; irritation that defending the hapless Lieutenant had gotten more emotion out of her than seeing his butt, pleasure that she'd schemed and tricked her way into his room because she couldn't wait to see him.
Or so he assumed. Which he shouldn't. As his Garrison flight instructor had been so fond of saying, 'remember what happens to students who assume, Maxwell'.
"I'm not going to reprimand him, Allura."He paused, then added, "this time. If it happens again-"
"Thank you." She said quickly. "It won't happen again. He did well, and gives off positive energy. I feel comfortable around him. If he'd be willing, it'd be nice if he could be assigned as your permanent backup, since you can't be expected to guard me around the clock."
It would be churlish not to consider her request. "Duly noted. I'll look into it."
"Thank you." She walked around to his side of the bed, almost tripping over his crumpled pajama bottoms lying on the floor. Without comment, she picked them up and set the bottoms next to him. "Here's your coffee. Amazingly, it's still warm."
He tugged the blanket up to his chest, tucked it in beneath his arms, then took the proffered cup and inhaled the delicious aroma of his favorite breakfast blend. After one swig from the mug, he felt it flowing in his veins, jump starting his energy reserves and clearing the cobwebs from his head.
He wasn't sure what was best in dealing with the connection they shared. Sensing Allura's presence from a distance felt more like a distraction than an advantage. He shouldn't rely on it, and it bothered him that his caution and common sense hadn't anticipated her early rising, or that she might venture forth instead of waiting for him to appear.
Taking another sip of coffee, he sighed.
"How is it?" She asked eagerly.
"The best coffee ever. Thanks for thinking of me."
She beamed. "I wish I had asked the kitchen for a pastry of some kind to go with it."
"Mmmf. Just as well, I've been skipping too many work outs."
She clasped her hands. "Oh! I'm glad you brought that up! I was thinking, since you're guarding me, why don't I come along so you didn't have to miss any more sessions? I've wanted to visit the gym for the longest time, but Nanny kept scheduling other things for me to do- probably on purpose." She shrugged. "There were more pressing needs at the time, so I kind of gave up on the idea."
Her wry acceptance of being denied one of life's most basic rituals of achieving mental and physical health jabbed at his heart. "Well, today's the day. I was thinking along those same lines." He eyed her jumpsuit. "That's not gonna fly for a work out. Do you have clothing that doesn't get in your way or constrict your movements?"
She pondered. "I have an old ballet leotard and yoga pants. Will those do?"
"They'll do nicely." He ran one hand over his jaw line, grimacing at the scrape of stubble. "Why don't you go and change? I'll relieve Ballard once I'm shaved and dressed." He drained the coffee and held out the empty mug. "Thanks again."
"You're welcome." She surveyed him. "Are megathrusters a go?"
By way of an answer, he faked a move to fling off his covers.
Her tiny 'eep', pivot and quick footed retreat made him grin.
After sending Lieutenant Ballard on his way, Keith set out with Allura for the castle gym. The Castle was buzzing with staff reporting for duty, and those they encountered bowed or curtsied and greeted them with warmth.
He'd always found it impressive that Allura addressed so many of the staff by name and that she always thanked them for their service. When it was someone who was new to her, she asked their name and what position they held in her employ and gave them a warm welcome.
But this morning, he found new appreciation for something he'd seen her do so many times. Seeing her getting to shed the mantle of her responsibilities for the short time they spent in Althene made him deeply conscious of how heavy it was, and filled him with admiration for the composed assurance and resoluteness she displayed in bearing its weight.
The gym was going to be good for her. It was a place to achieve personal goals, to be sure. But it was also an equalizer and a respite from having to be perfect. There was no one to judge the failures in striving. Everyone sweated, no matter who they were, and everyone cheered each other.
It was a place he thought of as a slice of home. Whomever had designed the Castle facilities had done a terrific job approximating the health clubs found on earth, and he found the surrounding familiarity to be a reward for still sticking with the duller, repetitive aspects of exercise so far away from his native planet.
There sure wouldn't be any dull times today. Happy anticipation of the familiar was doubled in sharing it with his current companion, and that brought a smile to his face.
"It's nice to see you smiling," his companion said, sweetly commanding his attention.
"I'm looking forward to a good work out."
"That makes me happy." She confided. "I hate the thought that being my bodyguard takes you away from doing things you like and want to do."
"It's not going to be an issue." He assured her. "Anything I do on a daily basis can be adapted to fit the two of us. If anything, you're gonna get sick of me."
"That's not possible."
Her bright smile triggered his own, along with fresh remorse over his earlier behavior. Not only hadn't she held him back, she'd gotten up early to accommodate his gym time, had brought him nirvana in a cup... and he'd repaid that thoughtfulness by flashing her and then reminding her of a past embarrassment.
But beyond that, the big worry was that he was subconsciously relying on their bond to determine what was safe instead of established protocol. There was no doubt that their connection was a huge asset, but it shouldn't replace caution and common sense. While she'd been sneaking into his room, the unknown entity could have as well, but he'd been too caught up in her presence to check.
His hockey coach at the Academy had once told him that if a young man didn't keep his head on a swivel, he'd end up getting sent ass over teakettle into the boards- no matter how fast and skilled a player he was. With 'I'm a super jock' arrogance, he'd laughed and shrugged off the advice. And lo and behold, that warning was exactly what had come to pass on his next shift.
As he'd limped back to the bench after a hard checking opponent had dumped him, grabbed the puck and scored, his coach hadn't said a word.
From there on out, he'd become the best defensive forward on the team.
Hockey had taught him a lot of life lessons, and that one had been a particularly valuable one; there was a very fine line between confidence and complacence. Taking success for granted, not maintaining his focus on what was going on around him would result in bad things happening, in this case, Coran replacing him as Allura's bodyguard with someone more dedicated to her defense.
"You're back to being serious." Allura observed. "What are you thinking about?"
"That I'm tardy in making amends." His tone was formal, his gaze was fixed on the hallway ahead as he spoke. "I want to apologize for my behavior this morning, Princess. As your official bodyguard, I was unprepared to deal with a potential threat. Having this bond...and being a couple doesn't mean I- or we- should throw protocol out the window. My state of undress and negligent attitude could have hampered my response time and compromised your safety."
She was shaking her head. "It's on me. I should have waited for you to come and get me."
"No. The facts are that I neglected my duty and used poor judgment."
"You weren't on duty, Lieutenant Ballard was. You're allowed to sleep." She sighed and gazed at his profile as he continued to stare straight ahead. "And not to be argumentative, but I'd bet that undressed you could fight off a threat just as well as fully dressed you."
He refused to smile. "That's not the point."
She patted his arm. "Wear shorts. Then you won't get as warm."
"That's...a good suggestion." He cleared his throat. "There's another thing. Did you wake up so early because you were worried about your security? You've had unpleasant visitors in the night before. If you think the possibility of it happening again is interfering with your sleep, then we should have a female guard posted in your room-"
"No. Knowing you and Lieutenant Ballard were near made me feel quite secure." Allura responded firmly. "Fear wasn't the reason I woke up early. A lot happened yesterday, and my mind was going a million miles a minute...I'm certain once we settle into a routine, I'll be keeping more normal hours."
She was avoiding his gaze, a sign that she wasn't making a full disclosure about the source of her sleep being cut short. But prying meant maybe having to fess up to his own reasons for a restless night and that was a subject he needed to avoid when he was on guard duty.
"I dislike sleeping while not knowing if you're awake." He stated, feeling it was the safest way to put it. "I think we need to rig up something in regards to our personal communication during the night, a signal or a messaging system of some sort apart from the bond connection. Until I know better how to use it, I can't rely on that to know if you're in distress."
As he spoke, he was perusing the hall, above and behind them and to the sides.
No lurking shadows to speak of.
Hopefully it would stay that way.
He'd always found it impressive that Allura addressed so many of the staff by name and that she always thanked them for their service. When it was someone who was new to her, she asked their name and what position they held in her employ and gave them a warm welcome.
But this morning, he found new appreciation for something he'd seen her do so many times. Seeing her getting to shed the mantle of her responsibilities for the short time they spent in Althene made him deeply conscious of how heavy it was, and filled him with admiration for the composed assurance and resoluteness she displayed in bearing its weight.
The gym was going to be good for her. It was a place to achieve personal goals, to be sure. But it was also an equalizer and a respite from having to be perfect. There was no one to judge the failures in striving. Everyone sweated, no matter who they were, and everyone cheered each other.
It was a place he thought of as a slice of home. Whomever had designed the Castle facilities had done a terrific job approximating the health clubs found on earth, and he found the surrounding familiarity to be a reward for still sticking with the duller, repetitive aspects of exercise so far away from his native planet.
There sure wouldn't be any dull times today. Happy anticipation of the familiar was doubled in sharing it with his current companion, and that brought a smile to his face.
"It's nice to see you smiling," his companion said, sweetly commanding his attention.
"I'm looking forward to a good work out."
"That makes me happy." She confided. "I hate the thought that being my bodyguard takes you away from doing things you like and want to do."
"It's not going to be an issue." He assured her. "Anything I do on a daily basis can be adapted to fit the two of us. If anything, you're gonna get sick of me."
"That's not possible."
Her bright smile triggered his own, along with fresh remorse over his earlier behavior. Not only hadn't she held him back, she'd gotten up early to accommodate his gym time, had brought him nirvana in a cup... and he'd repaid that thoughtfulness by flashing her and then reminding her of a past embarrassment.
But beyond that, the big worry was that he was subconsciously relying on their bond to determine what was safe instead of established protocol. There was no doubt that their connection was a huge asset, but it shouldn't replace caution and common sense. While she'd been sneaking into his room, the unknown entity could have as well, but he'd been too caught up in her presence to check.
His hockey coach at the Academy had once told him that if a young man didn't keep his head on a swivel, he'd end up getting sent ass over teakettle into the boards- no matter how fast and skilled a player he was. With 'I'm a super jock' arrogance, he'd laughed and shrugged off the advice. And lo and behold, that warning was exactly what had come to pass on his next shift.
As he'd limped back to the bench after a hard checking opponent had dumped him, grabbed the puck and scored, his coach hadn't said a word.
From there on out, he'd become the best defensive forward on the team.
Hockey had taught him a lot of life lessons, and that one had been a particularly valuable one; there was a very fine line between confidence and complacence. Taking success for granted, not maintaining his focus on what was going on around him would result in bad things happening, in this case, Coran replacing him as Allura's bodyguard with someone more dedicated to her defense.
"You're back to being serious." Allura observed. "What are you thinking about?"
"That I'm tardy in making amends." His tone was formal, his gaze was fixed on the hallway ahead as he spoke. "I want to apologize for my behavior this morning, Princess. As your official bodyguard, I was unprepared to deal with a potential threat. Having this bond...and being a couple doesn't mean I- or we- should throw protocol out the window. My state of undress and negligent attitude could have hampered my response time and compromised your safety."
She was shaking her head. "It's on me. I should have waited for you to come and get me."
"No. The facts are that I neglected my duty and used poor judgment."
"You weren't on duty, Lieutenant Ballard was. You're allowed to sleep." She sighed and gazed at his profile as he continued to stare straight ahead. "And not to be argumentative, but I'd bet that undressed you could fight off a threat just as well as fully dressed you."
He refused to smile. "That's not the point."
She patted his arm. "Wear shorts. Then you won't get as warm."
"That's...a good suggestion." He cleared his throat. "There's another thing. Did you wake up so early because you were worried about your security? You've had unpleasant visitors in the night before. If you think the possibility of it happening again is interfering with your sleep, then we should have a female guard posted in your room-"
"No. Knowing you and Lieutenant Ballard were near made me feel quite secure." Allura responded firmly. "Fear wasn't the reason I woke up early. A lot happened yesterday, and my mind was going a million miles a minute...I'm certain once we settle into a routine, I'll be keeping more normal hours."
She was avoiding his gaze, a sign that she wasn't making a full disclosure about the source of her sleep being cut short. But prying meant maybe having to fess up to his own reasons for a restless night and that was a subject he needed to avoid when he was on guard duty.
"I dislike sleeping while not knowing if you're awake." He stated, feeling it was the safest way to put it. "I think we need to rig up something in regards to our personal communication during the night, a signal or a messaging system of some sort apart from the bond connection. Until I know better how to use it, I can't rely on that to know if you're in distress."
As he spoke, he was perusing the hall, above and behind them and to the sides.
No lurking shadows to speak of.
Hopefully it would stay that way.
"That's a good idea. Let's brainstorm after the work out." Allura said, as she eyed the approach to the training room entrance with relief. Keith's mood had turned a bit dour; hopefully getting into workout mode would help improve it. "Here we are."
She waited patiently while Keith thoroughly surveyed the premises before waving her into the room. Setting her belongings on top of a wall of shelves sitting just inside the entrance, she turned to watch her escort unzip and discard his hoodie.
The cropped sleeve gray t-shirt beneath looked comfortable, and put his sculpted abdominal muscles on display. He pulled out the Black Amulet necklace from beneath the shirt, adjusted the chain, and then slid off his sweatpants. The red shorts he wore had seen many washings, but showed off powerful glutes, well toned thighs and calves.
It was impossible to hold off the flashback of his deliciously honed naked backside that had been unexpectedly revealed. She was uncertain if she felt grateful for or cursed by the stunning surprise that had frozen her to the spot while her hormones screamed at her to climb into bed and run her hands over his rock solid twin mounds of perfection.
Buns of steel indeed. She supposed she was in the right place to find out how they got that way.
Feeling the increasingly familiar intimate fluttering of desire, she directed her attention to safer areas. Keith had pulled a red bandanna from a pocket of his shorts and tied it around his forehead, a practical method of catching sweat with the added effect of making him look like a warrior. She admired the way his ebony hair cascaded over the band and hung down his back, and hoped she could concentrate on her own exercises, given the overwhelmingly masculine specimen standing next to her.
She turned her back to him when removing her shift, and was conscious that he had paused to watch as she did. The leotard was a bit snug, she had been less developed the last time she'd donned it, and it displayed a lot more cleavage. But it wasn't uncomfortable, and the material was forgiving, covering enough of her chest that she wouldn't have to worry about spillage or an errant nipple.
Looking down at the whimsical kittens chasing the butterflies dancing across her tummy, she wryly reflected that it wasn't not a choice pattern for someone wanting to be taken seriously as a leader. But this was her personal time, and the kitties were quirky and fun. She liked them, fashion critics be darned!
The only really problematic thing was that the leotard rode a bit high on her bottom. Hopefully it wouldn't go any higher and force her into having to tug it back into place to avoid what Pidge termed a 'wedgie'. As it was, she gave silent thanks for the yoga pants that covered her backside. She wasn't at all prepared to return the cheeky favor Keith had gifted her with.
She waited patiently while Keith thoroughly surveyed the premises before waving her into the room. Setting her belongings on top of a wall of shelves sitting just inside the entrance, she turned to watch her escort unzip and discard his hoodie.
The cropped sleeve gray t-shirt beneath looked comfortable, and put his sculpted abdominal muscles on display. He pulled out the Black Amulet necklace from beneath the shirt, adjusted the chain, and then slid off his sweatpants. The red shorts he wore had seen many washings, but showed off powerful glutes, well toned thighs and calves.
It was impossible to hold off the flashback of his deliciously honed naked backside that had been unexpectedly revealed. She was uncertain if she felt grateful for or cursed by the stunning surprise that had frozen her to the spot while her hormones screamed at her to climb into bed and run her hands over his rock solid twin mounds of perfection.
Buns of steel indeed. She supposed she was in the right place to find out how they got that way.
Feeling the increasingly familiar intimate fluttering of desire, she directed her attention to safer areas. Keith had pulled a red bandanna from a pocket of his shorts and tied it around his forehead, a practical method of catching sweat with the added effect of making him look like a warrior. She admired the way his ebony hair cascaded over the band and hung down his back, and hoped she could concentrate on her own exercises, given the overwhelmingly masculine specimen standing next to her.
She turned her back to him when removing her shift, and was conscious that he had paused to watch as she did. The leotard was a bit snug, she had been less developed the last time she'd donned it, and it displayed a lot more cleavage. But it wasn't uncomfortable, and the material was forgiving, covering enough of her chest that she wouldn't have to worry about spillage or an errant nipple.
Looking down at the whimsical kittens chasing the butterflies dancing across her tummy, she wryly reflected that it wasn't not a choice pattern for someone wanting to be taken seriously as a leader. But this was her personal time, and the kitties were quirky and fun. She liked them, fashion critics be darned!
The only really problematic thing was that the leotard rode a bit high on her bottom. Hopefully it wouldn't go any higher and force her into having to tug it back into place to avoid what Pidge termed a 'wedgie'. As it was, she gave silent thanks for the yoga pants that covered her backside. She wasn't at all prepared to return the cheeky favor Keith had gifted her with.
Keith surveyed the graceful lines of his companion's back with mild surprise. Seeing the youthful pattern on Allura's attire was unexpected and really cute; he could picture the delight a younger Princess would have had in selecting it, although he wouldn't have thought she would have chosen that theme, given her friendship with the mice.
It suddenly occurred to him that since finding and hearing the story of the tapestry in the old castle, he hadn't inquired further about the meaning behind the personal items from her childhood. Apparently she had liked kittens and butterflies...
"Ready when you are." She announced.
The moment she faced him, fond thoughts of schoolgirl Allura vanished. The kitties and butterflies on her leotard may have reflected the whimsy of a young teenager, but the curves it revealed were all woman.
She stood, tucking a wayward strand of hair back into her braided hair, having no idea how desirable she was to the man standing in front of her. Far better men than he would find it impossible not to admire barely constrained breasts, and the enticing cleft where the blue amulet gleamed against her fair skin like a treasure waiting to be plucked. Far better men wouldn't fail to appreciate the seductive curves of her waist and hips. But better men wouldn't get the opportunity to see her in this leotard, if he had anything to say about it. Any guy having the kind of reaction to her that he was on the verge of having now was, in the politest terms, unacceptable.
"Keith? What are we going to do first?"
He gave a small start, but quickly recovered. "We'll begin with a traditional Tai Chi lesson. It's a great start to the day, and a nice stretch and warm up for weight training."
"Sounds perfect! Let's go!"
She was swinging her arms back and forth, which did interesting things for her cleavage. Averting his gaze, he began the lesson.
"Tai Chi has been practiced on Earth for centuries as a means of mediation while moving. It's meant to be slow and fluid, a natural extension of your soul and body. We'll build a foundation by learning the basic moves, and when you have mastered those, we'll learn a simple short routine. We can add to its length once you're comfortable with the gestures."
He chanced a look at her, and she met his gaze with a solemn expression.
"I want you to know I'm taking this seriously, Keith. I'll work hard and do things the right way."
"The first thing to do is relax. It's okay not to be perfect. Mistakes are part of the process." He advised, keeping his eyes on her face. "Have some fun with it. Yeah, Tai Chi is considered a martial art, and it makes sense to include it training for battle, but it's also a form of meditation and connecting with your inner self. Most martial techniques are about projecting energy through kicks, punches, and throws. Tai Chi merges inner awareness with physical expression. If you have discipline and self-awareness, you can reduce stress and control your actions much more effectively. I could go on and on; there is just so much to Tai Chi; the breathing, balance, postures and concentration; it's a philosophy of movement, not just an exercise in training."
"Simple, yet complex," Allura commented.
"Right. The purpose is focus on achieving total harmony between the mind and body. Achieving this harmony will help you in all facets of life, whether as a warrior in battle, being a ruler of your planet or simply just being able to relax."
Allura grimaced. "I wish I could have learned it when I first started to fly Blue Lion. I had no harmony and I certainly needed focus."
"Hey! You did incredibly well for someone who hadn't flown any kind of a spaceship before. And I'd say you had focus, you were dead set on saving your people and this world!"
"You're a good man to say that, but I am very aware I was a total disaster as a pilot at the start. How did you ever manage to stay the course with me while I was learning to fly?"
He shrugged and half smiled. "A lot of Tai Chi."
She laughed. "I hope it'll help me that much!"
"It will." He loped over to the computer console on the wall and clicked a selection. Soothing, graceful notes from a string quartet filled the room as he walked back to her. "Music relaxes and guides you with the rhythm of the movements. Each movement has a name; this particular one is called 'Greet the Rising Sun'..."
It suddenly occurred to him that since finding and hearing the story of the tapestry in the old castle, he hadn't inquired further about the meaning behind the personal items from her childhood. Apparently she had liked kittens and butterflies...
"Ready when you are." She announced.
The moment she faced him, fond thoughts of schoolgirl Allura vanished. The kitties and butterflies on her leotard may have reflected the whimsy of a young teenager, but the curves it revealed were all woman.
She stood, tucking a wayward strand of hair back into her braided hair, having no idea how desirable she was to the man standing in front of her. Far better men than he would find it impossible not to admire barely constrained breasts, and the enticing cleft where the blue amulet gleamed against her fair skin like a treasure waiting to be plucked. Far better men wouldn't fail to appreciate the seductive curves of her waist and hips. But better men wouldn't get the opportunity to see her in this leotard, if he had anything to say about it. Any guy having the kind of reaction to her that he was on the verge of having now was, in the politest terms, unacceptable.
"Keith? What are we going to do first?"
He gave a small start, but quickly recovered. "We'll begin with a traditional Tai Chi lesson. It's a great start to the day, and a nice stretch and warm up for weight training."
"Sounds perfect! Let's go!"
She was swinging her arms back and forth, which did interesting things for her cleavage. Averting his gaze, he began the lesson.
"Tai Chi has been practiced on Earth for centuries as a means of mediation while moving. It's meant to be slow and fluid, a natural extension of your soul and body. We'll build a foundation by learning the basic moves, and when you have mastered those, we'll learn a simple short routine. We can add to its length once you're comfortable with the gestures."
He chanced a look at her, and she met his gaze with a solemn expression.
"I want you to know I'm taking this seriously, Keith. I'll work hard and do things the right way."
"The first thing to do is relax. It's okay not to be perfect. Mistakes are part of the process." He advised, keeping his eyes on her face. "Have some fun with it. Yeah, Tai Chi is considered a martial art, and it makes sense to include it training for battle, but it's also a form of meditation and connecting with your inner self. Most martial techniques are about projecting energy through kicks, punches, and throws. Tai Chi merges inner awareness with physical expression. If you have discipline and self-awareness, you can reduce stress and control your actions much more effectively. I could go on and on; there is just so much to Tai Chi; the breathing, balance, postures and concentration; it's a philosophy of movement, not just an exercise in training."
"Simple, yet complex," Allura commented.
"Right. The purpose is focus on achieving total harmony between the mind and body. Achieving this harmony will help you in all facets of life, whether as a warrior in battle, being a ruler of your planet or simply just being able to relax."
Allura grimaced. "I wish I could have learned it when I first started to fly Blue Lion. I had no harmony and I certainly needed focus."
"Hey! You did incredibly well for someone who hadn't flown any kind of a spaceship before. And I'd say you had focus, you were dead set on saving your people and this world!"
"You're a good man to say that, but I am very aware I was a total disaster as a pilot at the start. How did you ever manage to stay the course with me while I was learning to fly?"
He shrugged and half smiled. "A lot of Tai Chi."
She laughed. "I hope it'll help me that much!"
"It will." He loped over to the computer console on the wall and clicked a selection. Soothing, graceful notes from a string quartet filled the room as he walked back to her. "Music relaxes and guides you with the rhythm of the movements. Each movement has a name; this particular one is called 'Greet the Rising Sun'..."
Over the next half hour, Allura learned several basic movements along with the breathing techniques that complimented and assisted in the relaxation process. It was clear her background in dance was an asset, and Keith stepped up the pace. Soon they were moving in tandem in the graceful gestures of a beginning exercise. In between his calling out a move, companionable silence fell between them.
This discipline was, she thought, exactly what she had needed. Calming and spiritual, a means to relax and renew her energy, a mental retreat from the pressures of her Royal duties. Could it bring her even closer in spirit to Blue Lion?
Affirmation was found in feeling the resonance of Blue's purring within her.
You are but an infant. So much potential. So much to learn.
Closing her eyes and clearing her mind, Allura concentrated on the continuity of motion.
This discipline was, she thought, exactly what she had needed. Calming and spiritual, a means to relax and renew her energy, a mental retreat from the pressures of her Royal duties. Could it bring her even closer in spirit to Blue Lion?
Affirmation was found in feeling the resonance of Blue's purring within her.
You are but an infant. So much potential. So much to learn.
Closing her eyes and clearing her mind, Allura concentrated on the continuity of motion.
Strains of classical music reached Lance's ears as he neared the workout room, and he made a face. If it was Pachelbel, it meant Keith must be doing his Tai Chi, the only martial arts skill that Lance had never cared to learn. Slow, deliberate movements coupled with having to remain in one spot for what seemed like an eternity held no appeal for him, and the self enlightenment it was supposed to engender was not his forte.
In all likelihood, his lack of introspective skill was probably why his Lion dream quest had gone sour. But hey, it was progress that he could acknowledge that, right? And speaking of being aware...
He stopped walking to look above, below and around him for anything out of the ordinary. He had his camera with him for two reasons: to get a few pictures of the sunrise while he stepped outside to get some fresh air, and to capture any image of the anomaly, should it appear.
It was good to have other things to think about besides himself. What had happened yesterday was precisely why he never had gotten too introspective. He had always preferred to shoot through life with a vengeance and let the chips fall where they may. If you kept on moving you didn't get hurt; that was his philosophy in battle and in his life and it had served him well thus far.
Getting a good night's sleep was a first step in moving on from the current situation, and hopefully, a start to getting back to his old self.
Trouble was, waking up brought him back to what he knew he couldn't escape. He'd had to face it: Allura was the first and only woman who'd tapped the well of dormant emotions within him, drawing out the parts of his psyche that had been deeply buried. Unblocked, they spewed forth from the center of his soul, like lava flowing from a volcano.
But lava couldn't run hot forever. Once it left its smoldering core, it cooled. In the end, when there wasn't anywhere for it to go, it stopped. Once expended, his feelings hardened into stone once more.
Or had they?
He knew, without any doubt, that his feelings truly mattered to Allura and that she would do everything in her power to keep him happy and safe. But he refused to take advantage of her good heart, to trouble her with unwanted attention, or to bring her sorrow by confessing to the feelings she could not return.
He'd cherish what they had and hope that time would ease the sting of not being her chosen one. And at least she had shown him the way. His love for her was true love, but he now knew, after his unfinished quest for Red Lion, that he needed both the physical and the metaphysical sides of love to sustain him in return. He needed to be able to trust, to let his guard down, as he had with Allura in the control room, and then affirm that intimacy through the act of making love. He wanted- no! He craved a relationship that came from feelings being understood and reciprocated.
He needed someone who wanted him, and him alone.
He had finished his scan. Everything passed the eyeball and sensor test- no sign of anything amiss, the only shadow present was imprinted on his heart. Smirking at his dramatic thought, he started to walk, finding himself drawn towards the music. He needed a distraction-maybe he should check out Keith's little dancy-thingy, even give it a try. If nothing else, it would be good for practicing self discipline.
He approached the doors of the gym and stopped short upon seeing that there were two people occupying the room, not one. The Princess was next to Keith, gracefully gesturing in synchronized motion. Closer inspection of the back of her leotard had him smirking. Really, Allura? Kittens and butterflies?
But the joke was on him. His smirk dropped into a gape and his eyes widened as she turned in his direction and bent forward in a fluid movement, displaying attributes that dealt a serious blow to his composure.
Sweet Lord Almighty. Kittens and butterflies had never looked so good.
He watched, mesmerized for a moment by her lush feminine curves expanding and pressing together. Then, with maximum effort, he jerked his gaze upwards to the thick braids of hair pinned up beneath her circlet, finding renewed fascination in watching stray tendrils of gold that had escaped their bindings and were dancing against her cheeks and neck. The delicate sheen of perspiration on her face gave her a healthy glow, and her closed eyes spoke both of concentration and peace.
She was a dancer and a warrior, serene, elegant and fierce. Her arms had held him close, and her neck and shoulder had borne the indelible imprints of his tears. The feel of her skin and her scent were forever fixed in his memory, tender and bittersweet.
He wanted to reach out, but clamped down hard on any resonance of passion within. Unbidden, his gaze dropped to her hips and the juncture of her thighs. Desire rose, hot and thick, but he knew where it would lead- nowhere- and was prepared to pour ice on it with the thought that these were the people who always had his back, and he wanted them to find happiness together.
He was rededicating himself to his mission, starting now. This was a perfect opportunity to add to his master scheme.
Swiftly, quietly, he removed the lens cap on his camera and began to shoot photos. Concentrating on practicing his craft had always helped him overcome his baser urges, and was a hell of a lot more satisfying than getting drunk. Now was no exception.
Three short minutes and he left as silently as he'd arrived, feeling certain that the images he'd captured would be a great start to showing his best friends why they were a perfect match.
In all likelihood, his lack of introspective skill was probably why his Lion dream quest had gone sour. But hey, it was progress that he could acknowledge that, right? And speaking of being aware...
He stopped walking to look above, below and around him for anything out of the ordinary. He had his camera with him for two reasons: to get a few pictures of the sunrise while he stepped outside to get some fresh air, and to capture any image of the anomaly, should it appear.
It was good to have other things to think about besides himself. What had happened yesterday was precisely why he never had gotten too introspective. He had always preferred to shoot through life with a vengeance and let the chips fall where they may. If you kept on moving you didn't get hurt; that was his philosophy in battle and in his life and it had served him well thus far.
Getting a good night's sleep was a first step in moving on from the current situation, and hopefully, a start to getting back to his old self.
Trouble was, waking up brought him back to what he knew he couldn't escape. He'd had to face it: Allura was the first and only woman who'd tapped the well of dormant emotions within him, drawing out the parts of his psyche that had been deeply buried. Unblocked, they spewed forth from the center of his soul, like lava flowing from a volcano.
But lava couldn't run hot forever. Once it left its smoldering core, it cooled. In the end, when there wasn't anywhere for it to go, it stopped. Once expended, his feelings hardened into stone once more.
Or had they?
He knew, without any doubt, that his feelings truly mattered to Allura and that she would do everything in her power to keep him happy and safe. But he refused to take advantage of her good heart, to trouble her with unwanted attention, or to bring her sorrow by confessing to the feelings she could not return.
He'd cherish what they had and hope that time would ease the sting of not being her chosen one. And at least she had shown him the way. His love for her was true love, but he now knew, after his unfinished quest for Red Lion, that he needed both the physical and the metaphysical sides of love to sustain him in return. He needed to be able to trust, to let his guard down, as he had with Allura in the control room, and then affirm that intimacy through the act of making love. He wanted- no! He craved a relationship that came from feelings being understood and reciprocated.
He needed someone who wanted him, and him alone.
He had finished his scan. Everything passed the eyeball and sensor test- no sign of anything amiss, the only shadow present was imprinted on his heart. Smirking at his dramatic thought, he started to walk, finding himself drawn towards the music. He needed a distraction-maybe he should check out Keith's little dancy-thingy, even give it a try. If nothing else, it would be good for practicing self discipline.
He approached the doors of the gym and stopped short upon seeing that there were two people occupying the room, not one. The Princess was next to Keith, gracefully gesturing in synchronized motion. Closer inspection of the back of her leotard had him smirking. Really, Allura? Kittens and butterflies?
But the joke was on him. His smirk dropped into a gape and his eyes widened as she turned in his direction and bent forward in a fluid movement, displaying attributes that dealt a serious blow to his composure.
Sweet Lord Almighty. Kittens and butterflies had never looked so good.
He watched, mesmerized for a moment by her lush feminine curves expanding and pressing together. Then, with maximum effort, he jerked his gaze upwards to the thick braids of hair pinned up beneath her circlet, finding renewed fascination in watching stray tendrils of gold that had escaped their bindings and were dancing against her cheeks and neck. The delicate sheen of perspiration on her face gave her a healthy glow, and her closed eyes spoke both of concentration and peace.
She was a dancer and a warrior, serene, elegant and fierce. Her arms had held him close, and her neck and shoulder had borne the indelible imprints of his tears. The feel of her skin and her scent were forever fixed in his memory, tender and bittersweet.
He wanted to reach out, but clamped down hard on any resonance of passion within. Unbidden, his gaze dropped to her hips and the juncture of her thighs. Desire rose, hot and thick, but he knew where it would lead- nowhere- and was prepared to pour ice on it with the thought that these were the people who always had his back, and he wanted them to find happiness together.
He was rededicating himself to his mission, starting now. This was a perfect opportunity to add to his master scheme.
Swiftly, quietly, he removed the lens cap on his camera and began to shoot photos. Concentrating on practicing his craft had always helped him overcome his baser urges, and was a hell of a lot more satisfying than getting drunk. Now was no exception.
Three short minutes and he left as silently as he'd arrived, feeling certain that the images he'd captured would be a great start to showing his best friends why they were a perfect match.
Movement caught the corner of Keith's eye, and he turned to see the training room door closing. He dropped his arms, hurrying to pull it open again and stick his head out into the hall just in time to see Lance in retreat down the corridor and walking at a purposeful clip that indicated that shouting for his attention would be futile.
It was odd Lance hadn't had anything to say, but at least he looked lively in his movements. Hopefully it was a sign that rest had helped his friend recover from his intense emotional experience of the previous day.
"Keith? What is it?" Allura asked, now standing motionless.
"Lance was just here. Apparently in stealth mode. I didn't sense him, did you?"
"No! How was he looking? Why didn't he stay?"
"From the short glimpse I got, he looked fine-" His answer was cut off by the ring of his communicator. He detached it from the back of his shorts, glanced at the view screen and pushed the button to answer. "Good morning Coran."
"Good morning, Keith. I apologize for interrupting your workout- I trust Allura is with you? I can't see her on the screen."
"Yes, she's here." He glanced at his charge, who made a face, then moved in front of a security camera and waved. "She's been learning the practice of Tai Chi."
"Oh, excellent choice of disciplines! Very beneficial!"
"I've always found it so," Keith replied. "And we're doing well, no signs of any unwanted visitor. Any reports or sightings of the entity on your end?"
"Not a one. It was a quiet night, and my scans and sensory sweeps this morning have turned up negative. We've got your back, Commander, but stay vigilant."
"Copy that." A long pause prompted him to add, "so...is there something else I can do for you, Coran?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Are you and the Princess almost finished with the lesson? If so, I'd like to meet with the two of you in my study on a matter of some importance as soon as you are available. No need for you to change. I'll have breakfast sent up."
The subliminal message, 'hurry up, and that isn't a request', was rendered with impeccable courtesy, Keith thought, stifling a chuckle. He glanced sideways, and a chuckle did escape as Allura turned her back to the camera and stuck out her tongue at the console. He coughed to conceal his amusement before answering, "all right, as it happens, we were just wrapping things up."
"Excellent! I will see you soon."
"Copy that. Keith out."
Breaking the connection, he turned to find the Princess had already retrieved her shift and was slipping it over her leotard.
"We didn't get to do any weight lifting," she grumbled.
Conscious that they were in direct range of the security cameras, he gave her a brotherly pat on the shoulder. "I'm disappointed too. Next time."
They picked up the rest of their gear, then switched off the lights and music console. Before the exit, he held Allura back, taking survey of all sides and angles of the brightly lit hallway.
"I feel like we should be wearing fedoras and trench coats." She said in a loud whisper.
Keeping his gaze trained on the passage with laser focus, he replied, "yeah, well, until we know the origin of what we're dealing with, it's the cloak and dagger routine every time we change our location."
A hand slid under his arm, and he looked down. "I'm not trying to make light of the potential danger," she said, "but Keith, if this anomaly is of a supernatural makeup, and considering the spirit of my dear father resides in this castle, wouldn't he have alerted me to the identity of this shade and if it meant us harm? Wouldn't he know if it intended some mischief?"
"You'd think." He agreed. "But given the constructs of Doom's past infiltrators, I'm not willing to dismiss it as a simple haunting by a lone spirit. If someone is trying to undermine the truce, then it's better to be safe than sorry."
"I agree. But I also refuse to go back to living in constant fear of the unknown."
He covered her hand and gave it a squeeze. "As long as I have anything to say about it, we won't be."
She smiled. "So, then. Moving on. I'm kind of wondering why Coran is calling us in for a private meeting."
"Not a clue. Let's go find out."
It was odd Lance hadn't had anything to say, but at least he looked lively in his movements. Hopefully it was a sign that rest had helped his friend recover from his intense emotional experience of the previous day.
"Keith? What is it?" Allura asked, now standing motionless.
"Lance was just here. Apparently in stealth mode. I didn't sense him, did you?"
"No! How was he looking? Why didn't he stay?"
"From the short glimpse I got, he looked fine-" His answer was cut off by the ring of his communicator. He detached it from the back of his shorts, glanced at the view screen and pushed the button to answer. "Good morning Coran."
"Good morning, Keith. I apologize for interrupting your workout- I trust Allura is with you? I can't see her on the screen."
"Yes, she's here." He glanced at his charge, who made a face, then moved in front of a security camera and waved. "She's been learning the practice of Tai Chi."
"Oh, excellent choice of disciplines! Very beneficial!"
"I've always found it so," Keith replied. "And we're doing well, no signs of any unwanted visitor. Any reports or sightings of the entity on your end?"
"Not a one. It was a quiet night, and my scans and sensory sweeps this morning have turned up negative. We've got your back, Commander, but stay vigilant."
"Copy that." A long pause prompted him to add, "so...is there something else I can do for you, Coran?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Are you and the Princess almost finished with the lesson? If so, I'd like to meet with the two of you in my study on a matter of some importance as soon as you are available. No need for you to change. I'll have breakfast sent up."
The subliminal message, 'hurry up, and that isn't a request', was rendered with impeccable courtesy, Keith thought, stifling a chuckle. He glanced sideways, and a chuckle did escape as Allura turned her back to the camera and stuck out her tongue at the console. He coughed to conceal his amusement before answering, "all right, as it happens, we were just wrapping things up."
"Excellent! I will see you soon."
"Copy that. Keith out."
Breaking the connection, he turned to find the Princess had already retrieved her shift and was slipping it over her leotard.
"We didn't get to do any weight lifting," she grumbled.
Conscious that they were in direct range of the security cameras, he gave her a brotherly pat on the shoulder. "I'm disappointed too. Next time."
They picked up the rest of their gear, then switched off the lights and music console. Before the exit, he held Allura back, taking survey of all sides and angles of the brightly lit hallway.
"I feel like we should be wearing fedoras and trench coats." She said in a loud whisper.
Keeping his gaze trained on the passage with laser focus, he replied, "yeah, well, until we know the origin of what we're dealing with, it's the cloak and dagger routine every time we change our location."
A hand slid under his arm, and he looked down. "I'm not trying to make light of the potential danger," she said, "but Keith, if this anomaly is of a supernatural makeup, and considering the spirit of my dear father resides in this castle, wouldn't he have alerted me to the identity of this shade and if it meant us harm? Wouldn't he know if it intended some mischief?"
"You'd think." He agreed. "But given the constructs of Doom's past infiltrators, I'm not willing to dismiss it as a simple haunting by a lone spirit. If someone is trying to undermine the truce, then it's better to be safe than sorry."
"I agree. But I also refuse to go back to living in constant fear of the unknown."
He covered her hand and gave it a squeeze. "As long as I have anything to say about it, we won't be."
She smiled. "So, then. Moving on. I'm kind of wondering why Coran is calling us in for a private meeting."
"Not a clue. Let's go find out."
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