Another take on the love bridge episode...
WEP owns everything but the voices in my head.
Special thanks to Desert Fox for pre-reading and coming up with the title for me!
It's another quiet day on planet Arus. We're all gathered in the sitting room chatting over afternoon tea. Allura starts to talk about how happy her people are that we are here and how much progress has been made in restoring her world. "Just look, this fine new bridge has just been completed… One of our most famous legends is the beautiful story of the love bridge which is said to have existed right in that very same place." She goes on to tell us of a legend of lovers from warring kingdoms kept apart by that very river and how desperately they tried to find a way across to be with each other. "Then one day, something very special happened. The goddess of love decided to help them. So to bring them together, she created a magical bridge from the water."
"A great story Princess. I can see what inspired your people to rebuild that bridge so fast." I sip my tea and can't help but smile at her excitement.
"Tomorrow at the big dedication ceremony for the new bridge, we're going to reenact that old legend. I'm going to play the part of the young girl!" She's practically buzzing with excitement and I can't help but think how beautiful she is and how lucky her acting partner is going to be.
"That bridge is a real beauty." Hunk smiles at Allura. Her excitement is certainly infectious.
Pidge sighs, "Nothing could be as beautiful as the legend behind it." He goes a bit dreamy eyed and I worry that he's going to fall over or something.
"You'll see that story at the dedication tomorrow." She beams at us all.
Lance smirks. "Sounds like a show I wouldn't want to miss. The princess running from one end of the bridge, the young guy running from the other… Then they meet in the middle – and get all icky-sticky." He snickers and then asks the question that we've all been dying to ask. "Uh, who's going to get to play the part of the lucky young guy?"
"Why, of course, one of you." Uh-oh, this could create a problem. There is no way I can take part in this. I start thinking of a way to opt out.
"Well, I know you want somebody who comes on real macho, so I guess it's gotta be me." Leave it to Lance to be as subtle as a charging rhino and as modest as a neon sign.
"You need a big strong fellow with bulging muscles who's all heart." Well, that certainly describes Hunk.
"How about somebody loaded with personality?" I chuckle to myself. Pidge is still angling for a kiss from the princess any way he can get one. You've gotta give him credit for persistence…
"Keith?" At the sound of my name I look over and want to begin pleading my case as well, but I know that would be a bad idea.
"No thanks, I'll stay here in case an emergency comes up." Even as I say the words I know how ridiculous I sound. With the lions at the bridge site, I'd just cause a delay while I met up with them in an emergency. Oh well, I've already spoken and I don't have any better excuses to keep from being roped into this.
Now that we have narrowed down the options to play the young man, they have to figure out how to choose the winner. Pidge has a deck of cards, so the princess pulls three out and designates one to be the lucky card. They each draw one and take a look. It's immediately apparent who got the winning card. Lance is practically turning cartwheels across the room.
"So wanna rehearse Princess?" He waggles his eyebrows at her suggestively. Before I can growl a warning at him, she starts to giggle. Spirits are high and it's still early. Maybe I should call for hand to hand combat practice to burn off some of this energy. If I don't, who knows what mischief will result.
"Ok now that we've settled that bit of business, how about some sparring practice? We could all use a bit of exercise."
Allura has to have her costume fitted and attend to some royal obligations. Pidge and Hunk try to hide their disappointment and claim other responsibilities. I choose not to press the issue and make it a mandatory session. "Lance? You up for a few rounds?" I need to get his excitement levels down or there will be no living with him.
"Sure, why not? It will give me something to do until it's time to practice getting all icky-sticky with the princess." He smirks and winks at me and I growl in return.
We head down to the gym and he starts asking my opinion about different techniques he might employ. I pointedly ignore his ramblings as we change clothing and take our positions on the practice mats.
"Ready? Go!" We start grappling and rolling around on the floor.
"So did you get a load of the dress Allura's going to be wearing tomorrow? I took a peek and she's gonna be a knockout! I hope she leaves us enough time to work on getting the kiss to look as good as she will!" I start to lose my control and hit him a little harder than normal.
"So should I race to her or do you think a more stately jog is in order? Should I grab her and twirl her in my arms or sweep her off her feet? When we're done smooching would it look better to carry her back off the bridge or walk back hand in hand? Hey! Ow! What was that for?" I realize that I really walloped him that time. I guess I need to get some more energy out of my system too. I need to control myself and not let him get to me.
"Sorry, just trying to get you back into the here and now. You can worry about the princess later."
"Hey, you could have had a chance at the job yourself, Keith. Heck she probably would have just picked you outright if you had thrown your hat in the ring. She gets that same goofy grin when she looks at you that you get when you look at her."
"I have no idea what you are talking about Lance. But I have to give you credit for one heck of an imagination…" I renew my attack on him, but he just won't leave it alone.
"Are you seriously telling me that you have no desire to kiss her? I don't buy that for a second, Keith. Be honest now…"
"I'm not saying that she isn't beautiful, but she's a princess and I'm not royalty. Even if I wanted more, it could never happen. Why must you always go there, Lance?"
"Ow! I'd be more likely to believe you if you weren't trying to kill me right now. If you really meant what you just said, this wouldn't be bothering you so much. Just admit it for once. You're allowed to have feelings ya know."
"Last warning," I growl at him. "One more word and Red Lion is the target at practice for the next month." I launch another attack and catch him off guard. He falls awkwardly and lets out a yelp.
"You OK?" I stand up and reach down to help him regain his footing, but he can't seem to put any weight on his left foot. "Damn, let's get you to Doc Gorma and have that ankle checked out." I pull his arm over my shoulders and support him around the waist. We slowly hobble to the hospital wing. As they take Lance back to run some tests, I head back to my room to clean up and get dressed for dinner.
Later I head to the dining room and one by one everyone arrives. Lance gets there last aided by a pair of crutches. I should never have let him get to me like that. I need to learn to control my emotions better. "Lance, I'm sorry. I feel terrible, how bad is it?"
"It's just a sprain, but the pain killers are fabulous!" He starts giggling and I realize that he may not remember this an hour from now. I'll apologize to him again later when he's more coherent…
"Oh, no!" Allura looks at Lance with a panicked expression on her face.
"What is it Princess?" I look around for signs of danger.
"Lance is hurt. He can't run like that. How is he going to be a part of the ceremony tomorrow?"
"No, I'll be fine Princess. Doc Gorma told me to come back in the morning and he'd take another look. He didn't seem to think it was that bad."
After dinner we all head off to bed. At breakfast in the morning, Lance is still on crutches. Damn. Allura's gonna kill me for ruining her plans.
"Sorry Princess, it looks like I'm not going to be able to take part today after all. So how about we just go for it right now instead?" I really hope that is the pain killers talking and not him. I'd like to think even he wouldn't say something like that under normal circumstances, but I can't be sure.
"Oh, Lance…" She looks at him, then back at me, and then at him once more. A gleam forms in her eye and I'm not sure that I like where this is going. "Keith, since you and Lance are about the same size, how about you take his place today? There really isn't time to have another costume made and I don't want to disappoint everyone…"
Damn! I gulp and look around the room. "What about him?" I point to a guard walking past the room. "I think he's about the same size as Lance."
"No Keith, the people want one of the Voltron Force to take part in this. It's going to have to be you. Please?" She bats those baby blues at me and I'm helpless. I can't say no to her now.
I sigh and nod. "Alright Princess, I'll take his place." Now I have to figure out how to get through this…
We go get into our costumes and head to the bridge. Before we get out of our lions, I contact castle control for a final check in. Lance is manning the sensors. "Hiya bud! Ready for your big moment?"
"Lance? I thought you were off duty nursing that ankle?" I'm starting to suspect that he's up to something.
"Yeah, about that… Well… ummm… heh… I really didn't sprain it. I faked it."
"WHAT? Why? I thought you were so excited to do this with the Princess."
"I was, but I thought it was more important for you to have the opportunity. I bet you'll thank me later."
"We'll discuss this when I get back, Lance. I don't have time now. The Princess is waiting…" I glare at him as I break the connection. Making Red Lion target at practice for eternity doesn't seem like punishment enough for his little stunt.
I get out of Black Lion and wait on the far side of the bridge while she makes her speech and tells the story. She's really enjoying herself and I can't help but grin. It's nice to see her so happy. I stop thinking about Lance and concentrate on her.
She turns and faces me across the bridge. At her nod, we both start running for the middle of the bridge. My plan is to kiss her cheek and head off the bridge as quickly as possible. When we reach the center, I open my arms and much to my surprise; she leaps in the air and jumps into my embrace. Caught off guard, I instinctively catch her and our impetus sends me spinning. As I twirl her around, I move to kiss her cheek, but our momentum doesn't give me much ability to aim. Our lips meet and the feeling is electric. I finally come to a standstill and break the kiss. Our faces only inches apart, I can see that her cheeks are flushed and there is a huge smile on her lips. Before I can say anything, her hand snakes up into my hair and she draws my head down to kiss her again. Finally we come up for air and it looks like Lance won't be the only one I need to have a conversation with.
"Princess?" I can't bring myself to form any other words much less coherent thoughts.
"I've been wondering what that would be like for a while…" She glances up at me shyly.
"And?"
She just smiles, takes my hand and leads me off the bridge. I follow numbly with a huge grin on my face. I can only imagine that I must look like Lance when he drew the winning card. Thinking of Lance, maybe he doesn't deserve to be punished after all, well maybe just a little...