Hunk Pidge
Shiro Allura
Prolog:
The night of Shiro's return, Allura can't sleep. She is pacing outside his room trying to decide if she should knock on his door or just suppress her racing thoughts and just return to what they were before. As light as her normally graceful steps maybe, Shiro hears them.
Or maybe it's his own pacing on the other side of the door that causes him to move, opening the door.
Allura hears the door, and freezes in her step, but doesn't turn to look at him right away. He waits in the doorway, also trying to decide on his next step.
"Allura"- "Shiro" they both say at the same time, making them both smile and then turn to face each other.
"I missed you," she weakly admits.
He takes three steps towards her. "I was worried about you worrying about me," with a rub to the back of his neck. "And left to take care of the others who are crazed with their own worry." He steps even closer laying both hands on her shoulders, "Too much for you to bear…alone."
While he was captured, he worried for her worry about him… it moves her already tender emotions even further. She steps closer to him, slipping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. He cups one hand, threading his fingers through her loose hair, keeping her pressed to his chest as the other arm secures around her shoulders. This encourages her to grasp more securely.
"I missed you, too," he breathes into the top of her head, she chokes on a sniffle, to which he nuzzles. "I love the way your hair smells."
She's giggles through another sniffle, nuzzling his chest too. "I have always felt safest being vulnerable with you."
A soft croon of her name causes her to look up to him, but it's the thumb grazing her chin that gives her the strength to be even more vulnerable and say his name in a way that just melts him completely.
"I've wanted to hold you for so long," he whispers leaning in.
"I've wanted to be held by you," she stretches up to make it easier for him to kiss her.
A sweet first kiss leads to a respectful romantic cuddle on her couch before a starlit window.
In a matter of months, Allura and Shiro are having a private conversation with Coran about how to handle their decision to wed. Should it be public to let their allies join in the festivities or will that be a set up for their enemies to attack? Will making it a private ceremony be wise? Should their marriage bond remain a secret as not to use one mate against the other as a pawn in these galactic wars? What if it was public ceremony and some could not attend, would others take it as a political statement and cause more strife in this already turbulent times?
Then of course is, what rites are to be part of the ceremony, if there was to be one at all?
They all hang their heads in despair. There just doesn't seem to be a right answer, just more questions.
To take a break from it, Shiro heads to the lounge where he finds Pidge curled up next to Hunk as they scroll through images on a lap top. He sinks down on Hunk's other side.
"What are you looking at?"
Hunk turns the computer so all three can look, and he points to a Samoan tattoo of a sea turtle. "I had planned to get my first tattoo after I turned eighteen, which I hoped would be soon after graduating. But we got kind of waylaid here."
Pidge smiles pointing to another image. This one not Samoan, but is of a lion. "I'm helping him decide on something that is traditional and yet with a Hunk-ness to it. Likewise, I think I might want one too, when the time comes."
Shiro can't help but laugh lightly. "Pidge, do you know how much a traditional Samoan tattoo hurts? Besides, have you got any meat on your bones to hold an image?"
That earns him a scowl, and then Pidge pulls off her over shirt revealing the tank top and the muscles that have become more defined over the months. She points to her left shoulder. "I think I have enough meat right here for a paw print, what do you think?"
Shiro blinks. This is not the girl who was so lost and only focused on finding her brother and father when they first met.
Before him now is very much a woman of confidence and skill. Not only is she more mature in ways of the universe, science, and being a warrior, but he can't help but notice she has matured physically, too.
By the stall in Hunk's breathing, he has noticed it too. His cheeks might be blazing red, but he is trying not to be rude in admiring Pidge's clearly womanly body. "Uhhh, yeah sure."
Pidge gives an odd side glance to Hunk, then back to Shiro for understanding.
Shiro smirks, "Pidge, you are right. You have got more muscles there than you did when we first met. But be sure what you choose, because it's permanent."
She glances back up to Hunk with a blush of her own understanding now that Hunk is trying to be a gentleman, but is clearly admiring her physique. Shyly she looks into those chocolate brown eyes. "I trust Hunk to help me."
This jerks the engineer's eyes to blink seeing her in a whole new light. "Huh?"
She leans in a little closer, "Hunk, we've been through a lot, and worked on so many projects together, that I feel you are more than just a teammate to me."
He gulps, and his face falls softly. "yeahhh…. I know what you mean."
Shiro smiles. It's good to know he's not the only one who has found love. One of the things he has worried about for these two youngest of this group, is weather being warriors (Paladins) at such a young age would jade them from ever wanting to live a normal life. It would kill him if being dragged into a war, he has managed to move forward with marriage (and possibly a family) while the others will not take the risk with their hearts.
He rises up from the couch and heads back to Allura leaving the teens to explore this new aspect of their friendship together. He sneaks up behind his future wife, and wraps his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her neck. "I do not want to hide our marriage bond, but I also do not want to put others a risk for helping us celebrate our union."
She turns in his arms linking her wrists around his neck. "What else are you thinking, my love?"
He leans in pressing his forehead to hers. "In the mist and strife of turmoil, we can not stop living our lives. As mentors and leaders, others look up to us to set an example. And it was actually Pidge and Hunk that helped me with an idea."
Allura beams, "Pidge and Hunk! I knew she carried a torch for him-"
"And I knew he admired her for more than just her brains," he smirks. "But that genius of a woman gave me a brilliant idea."
"Do tell, do tell," she rubs their noses together making him giggle.
"Only our Paladins here for the actual ceremony, but we can broadcast it far and near."
"Anything in particular you want said or done during this ceremony?"
He plucks her lips and then lifts her left hand to his lips. "Traditionally, in my heritage, the couple exchange rings, rarely ever taking them off ever again. Something I can glance down at during my times of woe, and remember you are always with me."
She rubs his own left hand to match his movements. "You really need a symbol of jewelry to remember I have give my heart to you?" With a little smile.
He rubs her finger again, "Jewelry, no. Symbol, yes. For in my culture it is also an outward notice to others, that I am happily spoken for."
She takes off her tiara and sets it on his head. "Normally I would give this to you, but I know it will interfere with your helmet. Besides, you don't look like the head adornment type," fluffing his white tuft.
He chuckles with a light shake of his head settling it better. "Oh I don't know, I could probably pull this off!"
It makes her laugh heartily. "Father would love you."
His hands squeeze hers, "Could his hologram be here?" Allura's eyes water and all she can do is nod. "Good," he pulls her into a snug embrace.
Within the week, their marriage ceremony is broadcast far and wide.
It even reaches Prince Lotor's private quarters. "Good for you, Princess. Do not let our parents' fight destroy our own private lives. I won't." He raises a goblet to the happy couple, and downs it with a vow of his own.
*************
Within the year, Prince Arthur is born to Shiro and Allura. Of course Shiro tells the young prices stories of Camelot and King Arthur as well as his Knights of the Round table. But some how in this version, they ride off on lions, not horses.
Allura is amused greatly at his story telling skills. Arthur squeals with delight as his father uses a roll of paper as a sword and her tiara as a King's crown to heighten his drama.
Shiro is a wonderful loving and playful father. He takes his duty as father and husband as seriously as he does as mentor to the Paladins. Guiding and protective but also knowing when to just let loose and have a blast.
Shiro takes Allura's place as the Blue Paladin during Arthur's younger years, and just as she was ready to take the roll back, she found out another heir is on the way. It both amuses and frustrates her.
"A blessing and a curse all at the same time," she rolls her eyes and pounds her head into her husband's chest.
He really is trying to be sympathetic, but can't help the snigger that escapes. "I'm so sorry, my dear. I will keep your seat warm in Blue for you?"
She pounds him lightly into the small of his back. "Next time, you get to be the sea horse."
He throws his head back laughing heartily, "If you have a way, I would gladly do it."
She looks up to him searching his face for sincerity, and there it is. "You really would, wouldn't you?"
He cups her cheek holding it like an amazing treasure. "Allura, I know you would never put our child at risk nor your people. If I could take on one of your roles so that you could do the other more easily, I would in an instant."
She stretches up on her toes pulling him into a deep and passionate kiss. "Let's go for twins this time."
Hunk and Pidge find themselves entertaining Arthur for the rest of the day.