Author's Note: Being a Coran fangirl and a hopeless romantic, I really wanted to craft a story about the gorgeous man! I decided to make an adaptation of the pleasantly plump 'Nanny' from the original Voltron as his love interest since she seems to be nonexistent in the Legendary Defender series. I hope you enjoy my big ole sloppy, cheese filled romance. I also want to apologize in advanced. I have epilepsy and my meds give me some weird memory issues among other things. If I miss any typos or errors feel free to PM me. Because this I'll be making lots of edits over the course of working on this! I appreciate the understanding. This has been edited into a "Safe for Work" version. If you'd like the more...NSFW version it's on my AO3 account!

Now that season five has been announced, I just want to note that this fanfiction was written after season four. Thus it only takes into account everything thats happened up until that point. So whatever happens/happened in season five is obviously not brought up in this.

She tried to maintain a stone cold facade as the technician escorted her down the narrow halls of the ship. She felt like she was marching to her death. The only force pushing her forward was her unwavering dedication and loyalty to the crown. The glow of the blue lights illuminated the endless rows of sleep chambers that had been densely packed into the massive vessel. She couldn't tell which ones were empty and which were occupied. They were surrounded by hibernating Alteans but being this deep into the unknown territories of the galaxy, she still felt a crushing fear and loneliness. This is where she had been ordered to come but all she wanted to do was go back home. She pushed a stray strand of brown hair away from her round, olive toned face.

The technician skidded to a stop in front of a set of sleek metallic doors. The hem of his long white coat swayed as he briskly stepped out of the way of the console on the wall. His violet eyes darted to hers nervously as he gestured to the panel.

"I'm sorry, Miss Nordontu-," The technician began.

"Miz," She corrected through gritted teeth.

She'd been widowed for many years now and people still got the titles wrong. She didn't expect this stranger to be aware of that though. The technician blinked nervously and started typing into the console.

"Yes, sorry, Ms. Nordontu, it's just that your chamber is in the maximum security wing. Only you have clearance to open the doors," the technician stammered.

She awkwardly leaned forward and cleared her throat.

"Nayni Nordontu, Captian of the Royal Guard," she said into the voice recorder.

Even though her voice came out clear and strong, Nayni felt like she was crumbling apart. She was probably just as terrified as this young technician. The doors slid open silently and she followed the technician through. He was rushing. His boots slipping on the slick metallic floor. Nayni was grateful, she didn't want this to be dragged out. If she was to go into hibernation while her homeworld burned and her people died than she didn't want to spend another agonizing moment in that reality.

The technician skidded again to a stop and he anxiously looked over the three sleep chambers in front of him. He finally decided which one was to be her's. He nodded his head, his ears bouncing up and down. The footlocker beneath the chamber slid open but Nayni barely noticed. She just gazed into her reflection on the curved aquamarine barrier of the chamber. She was short but built like a battering ram. She always had been but her skin looked sickly now. The green markings on her face barely masked the crows feet starting to spread out around her eyes. Her dull brown hair was a mess. She'd tried to put it into a neat bun before she arrived at the vessel but it had been in vain. Nayni's facade wasn't very convincing. She looked just as much of a mess as this young technician.

"Your personal belongings will go in here," The technician said gesturing to the small empty footlocker.

Nayni reached her hand over her right coat pocket on her chest. She could feel the outline of the worn leaflet beneath the fabric. It wasn't going anywhere. It was going to stay right by her heart where it had been for years.

"I have nothing," Nayni said.

"Oh-okay, that's fine um-" the technician stammered.

He fumbled with the footlocker as he tried to get the door closed. The mechanisms were functioning perfectly well, it was just his sweaty palms that were making the situation difficult. He slammed the footlocker closed and started typing into the sleep chamber's interface. She could hear the clicking and whirring of the machine as it powered up.

"I'm sure everything will turn out just fine," the technician said.

They both knew it wouldn't. The Galra forces had torn through the galaxy like an all-consuming swarm. In the beginning, it had seemed like there would be some way out. King Alfor always managed to come up with a peaceful solution to problems but this time it just did not seem to come. Civilizations fell and the only plans their leader came up with were ways to help rebuild after the impending destruction. There wasn't any hope to save Altea anymore.

"Of course, this whole facility will have been an expensive and unnecessary detour if the war goes well," Nayni said.

Her instincts to comfort the young Altean overrode her need to be honest. The sleep chamber opened and she felt a rush of icy cool air caress her cheeks. This was either going to be where she died or where she'd be lost to the void. She couldn't see how this plan was going to actually work out but she trusted Alfor's judgment. Maybe he was just extending an easy escape to her because of her service or maybe he actually believed she'd be awakened later to help the remaining Alteans restore peace.

"Well, the Ark was designed to withstand anything that the universe could possibly throw at it," The technician said. "I'm sure when this is all over, we'll find some sort of use for it."

They both spoke as if they were in denial but she knew that they both were painfully aware of just how dire the state of things was. She climbed into the chamber. The walls felt softer then she imagined, like they were made of warm food goo, except they were icy to the touch. She barely fit in the chamber. Nayni's shoulders were pressing against both sides but it felt like there was enough room between the top of her head and the roof of the chamber to stuff the technician in with her.

He sighed and smiled at her halfheartedly. This was likely to be the last Altean face she would ever see.

"See you on the other side, Captain," he said solemnly.

Nayni reached up to give the technician a salute but the blue barrier of the sleep chamber closed. There was a brief moment of shock. Before a gasp could escape her lips her thoughts had ceased and she had succumbed to the void of slumber.

The rush of hot air cut through her like a knife. Nayni stumbled out of the sleep chamber as her knees collapsed beneath her. The tips of her fingers felt numb and her lungs ached as she sucked in the air around her. She could feel delicate hands running across her back. Her vision was too blurred to make sense of what was going on. She could hear multiple voices. It seemed like it had barely been an instant since she entered the chamber. Her mind was cluttered with frantic thoughts. The gentle hands helped settle Nayni against the wall.

"Nanny! Nanny, it's really you!"

She knew that voice. Nayni could barely decipher the world around her but she could never forget that voice. It sounded different. Stronger. But she still felt a rush of joy and sorrow when she heard it. Nayni's eyes burned with tears, blurring her vision even more but she still found herself smiling. It was her Princess. It was Allura. She had to get a hold of herself. Nayni had to see her face to be sure it was true. She started rubbing her eyes, shoving the thick globby tears away. She wanted with all her heart for this to not be some dream brought on by the chamber.

"Oh, Nanny, I never thought I'd see you again!" Allura cried.

She pulled Nayni closer to her in an embrace. Instead of a frilly dress, Nayni felt the slick surface of armor. Her hands trembled as she wrapped her thick arms around the slender frame of the Princess. Something felt wrong. Her body wasn't listening to her. She couldn't get her hands to stop shaking. The effects of the chamber were still hindering her. Nayni could hear other voices echoing in the hallway. Maybe it had been her neighbors. Allura had come and awoken all of them. That innocent technician had been right after all.

"Wait, you know her?" a young male voice asked.

"Why else would Allura be crying, Lance? Of course, they know each other."

The second voice sounded even younger. They sounded too young to have been occupants of the other sleep chambers. Allura pulled back and Nayni finally got a clear view of her face. She looked no different. She hadn't aged. She was still the beautiful, young Altean woman that Nayni had left behind. The beautiful brown skin of her face was glistening with tears. The pink helmet hid the cascading waterfall of silver hair but she could still see the curls tickling Allura's cheeks. It was really her. Nayni felt her breath catch in her throat. She was wearing Paladin armor. Something drastic had happened while she'd slept. Nayni cupped the Princess's head and felt her bottom lip tremble.

"You're—you're-" Nayni could barely speak.

Regaining control of her faculties was causing her more trouble than she expected. Allura helped Nayni to her feet. Her legs still quivered as she braced herself against a wall. The hallway was much darker than it had been when she stepped into the chamber. She could barely see in the din. The darkness left her with a sinking feeling. Allura kept a firm grasp on Nayni's arm as she turned to the others. Nayni could make out the silhouettes of three of them. All clad in Paladin armor but they clearly were not the Paladins she remembered.

"Pidge, please inform the Castle that we've found a survivor," Allura ordered.

The short one in the Green Paladin armor nodded.

"Looks like Lotor's intel was right, Coran, we found a survivor," Pidge said over the communicator.

Nayni felt her legs give in again but it wasn't due to sleep chamber knees.

"Hunk! Help me please!" Allura pleaded.

The massive one in the Yellow Paladin armor rushed over to help Allura keep Nayni on her feet.

Coran. That Paladin was talking to Coran. It had to be a dream. There was no conceivable way that both of them were safe. Everything had seemed so hopeless. Nayni had been certain when she stepped aboard the Ark vessel that she would lose both of them. Her head was spinning. If the Yellow Paladin wasn't holding her, she'd be on the floor by now. Coran Heironymous Wimbleton Smythe was still alive. She felt a flood of nausea and wondered if she was going to coat Hunk's armor with her own vomit. Nayni glanced at his face. He looked like he could be Altean but something didn't seem right. He didn't have any facial markings.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to vomit on you now," Nayni said weakly.

Her head doubled over and she, in fact, coated the Yellow Paladin's armor with her own vomit. He gagged and nearly dropped Nayni but Allura's grip was far too firm. The one named Lance was snickering to himself while Hunk groaned.

"Lance!" Allura snapped. "We need to get her back to the Castle! Stop laughing!"

The Blue Paladin came to take Hunk's place. Lance and Allura hefted Nayni up between them. Hunk groaned as he tried to wipe off the green bile from his armor. They were helping her make her way back down the hallway. It seemed as if only a few tiks ago she'd been making the walk here. Her legs seemed to drag beneath her. Nayni could barely tell them what to do. The other chambers were dark and dusty. When she arrived they had been clean and lit up. The whole facility had been glowing in their aquamarine hue. It started to truly sink in that much more time had passed then she could have imagined. Where were the others? The Ark facility was supposed to be filled with thousands of Altean citizens from every walk of life.

"Lurie," Nayni said. "The others?"

Allura's expression looked grim.

"You're the only one, Nanny," Allura grunted.

Lance tried to take on more of Nayni's weight but Allura simply tugged harder on Nayni's arm. The only one. Out of this entire facility. All the hopes and dreams invested into this place and Nayni was all that was left? The Ark had been designed to last for thousands even millions of years. What had happened? What had made it all fall apart? It felt like another gut punch. She swallowed hard. The nausea returned but Nayni had nothing left in her. There had to be more. It couldn't just be the three of them. The Altean empire could not have been reduced to three people.

"Its okay, Old Nanny, we'll talk everything over on the Castle," Lance said patting her back.

Nayni tore her arm out of Lance's grasp and shot him a venomous glare. Allura cringed and seemed to brace herself for what was to come.

"I am not some 'old Nanny' you cocky little bunghopper," Nayni seethed. "Just because you've got yourself that fancy Blue Paladin armor does not give you the right to call me that."

Allura sighed.

"Nan, this is a Paladin of Voltron, please, there's no need to be so hostile," Allura cooed.

Nayni liked to think she'd be down this boy's throat if her body wasn't falling apart but she knew the truth. She'd do what Allura told her to regardless of how she felt. Nayni gestured at Lance rudely and continued on down the hallway without him. She could hear the Paladins snickering behind them.

"You better watch out, Lance, she's gunning for you now," Pidge giggled.

"I thought her name was Nanny!" Lance protested. "That's what Allura called her!"

The farther they got down the hallway the less Nayni found herself leaning on the Princess. She'd carried this girl through crowds and helped mend her scraped knees. Now she was carrying Nayni like a child. There were so many questions burning within her now but the stupid Blue Paladin had been right. This dilapidated vessel was not the place to discuss it. Nayni needed the silence. She needed to feel the solidness of Allura next to her to truly feel the reality of the moment set in. That technician was dead. For how long, Nayni did not know. Everyone occupying the sleep chambers were gone. Of the Alteans that deserved to survive this war, Nayni did not count herself as one of them. But here she was. Her thoughts drifted to the fiery-haired advisor again.

"Pr-princess," Nayni stammered. "Is it true what that Paladin said? Is he still alive?"

Nayni knew she didn't have to say his name. She may have many years on Allura but the Princess had always been wise enough to pick up on Nayni's various intricacies. Even when she was a knock-kneed little girl with pigtails, Allura had managed to figure out all of Nayni's deepest secrets. Allura smiled, Nayni thought she even heard a little giggle escape. The Princess turned to her, tears still clinging to her thick lashes.

"Yes, Coran made it too," Allura said.

Nayni felt a mild panic wash over her. She glanced down at her uniform. The form-fitting blue and gold material looked fine but there were specks of vomit on her polished, black boots. Nayni grimaced. Allura guided Nayni around a corner and through a broken set of doors. She wanted to ask her how she looked. She didn't like that this was what her concern was after finding out that there was a good chance that their entire race of people was dead but she wasn't exactly sure what was the appropriate thought to have. Nayni was going to be reunited with a man that had gotten particularly talented at getting her flustered on a regular basis and she was covered in her own bodily fluids. Nayni would've been better off dead.

Allura took her in the Blue Lion. Nayni watched her Princess pilot the Lion with ease while the other three flanked them. Allura operated the controls so naturally. Nayni couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. How could she have imagined Allura doing anything else? Of course, she'd become a Paladin. It was Nayni's first time even touching one of the Lions but she could do nothing but stare at the floor. If she looked at the Princess for too long she found herself having to fight back tears. It was already such a gift to see her alive and well but she was so strong now. Allura was just as strong as she had ever been but it was as if she was shining like a goddess to Nayni now.

Nayni could barely take in the magnificence of the Castle as they approached it. It glistened like a diamond in the frigid void of space. But as Allura guided the Blue Lion into the landing bay, Nayni found herself growing nauseous again. The two people she cared about the most in the world were all that was left of her people and she was about to reunite with the one she had the most complicated relationship with. She was fairly certain he wasn't entirely aware of his importance to her either. Nayni traced her fingers over her right coat pocket again. The outline of that leaflet was still there. She unbuttoned the pocket and slid the worn folded up paper out. This thing was older than Allura. The creases had stretched out white, worn lines across the images and time had made the paper start to discolor. Coran still graced the cover, triumphant fist in the air with his sculpted muscles. The bold letters called for all young Alteans to join the Royal Forces and help serve their glorious leader. Nayni felt like she was too old to still be blushing about it but it was happening anyway.

"What on Altea is that?" Allura asked.

Nayni swallowed her panic and flipped open the pamphlet. Allura drew closer to her and a smile crept across her face. The Princess was tearing up again too. Tucked within were two small glossy photos. One was of Nayni and her long-dead wife. The other was of her and Allura. The Princess's little head came up to Nayni's shoulder back then but that wasn't saying too much since Nayni wasn't exactly a giant. Her round, little brown face was scrunched up in the purest smile while Nayni looked awkward as usual. Allura held the glossy photo in her hands as if it was a priceless ancient artifact. Nayni took the opportunity to slip the pamphlet back into her pocket. Allura probably already knew what was on it but she didn't want to deal with that embarrassment right now.

"I thought I'd never see this again, Nanny," Allura said. "You brought it in with you?"

Nayni rested her hand on Allura's shoulder. She tried to provide her with the comfort and strength that she used to but Allura truly did not need it anymore. They could hear the muffled sound of the other Paladin's voices in the hangar and Nayni knew their time was running short.

"Why don't you keep it," Nayni insisted. "I had it to keep my hopes up but you're here now and I don't need it anymore."

Allura's bottom lip trembled and all she could do was nod. It was a small glimpse of the little girl that once was. Allura took in a deep breath and collected herself.

"We best get going, there's a lot we need to discuss," Allura said.

With Allura back by her side Nayni felt that strong sense of duty begin to return. Her purpose for living was restored. It wasn't the first time that Allura had brought her back from the brink. They made their way out of the Lion. Nayni's knees barely trembled now. Her head still felt a bit foggy but she wasn't sure if that was from the flood of emotions that all these reunions were bringing or an after effect of her hibernation. Allura plucked the pink helmet from her head as they stepped off of the Lion.

Nayni had to recoil in horror when she looked upon the other Paladins. They were mutants! Now that they'd removed their helmets and she could take a proper look at them, she was disgusted. Something horrible had happened to their ears. All of them. What barbaric torture had Zarkon subjected these poor people to? They all stood their sniggering at her, even Allura. Nayni's face turned hot and red from anger.

"It's okay, Nanny, they're humans," Allura explained. "They're from a planet called Earth."

At first, she found it hard to believe that aliens could look so similar to an Altean but she'd also believed she'd never see Allura again. It was just another example of the many seemingly impossible things that did actually occur in the universe. Lance put his hands on his hips and scowled.

"So your name is Nanny!? Why'd you yell at me?" Lance snapped.

It would take all of Nayni's strength to not break his skinny little neck. She flicked her eyes over to Allura and the Princess shook her head. Lance would live to see another day.

"I'm Captain Nayni Nordontu. I've been Allura's personal bodyguard since she was very young," Nayni explained. "'Nanny' is what the Princess dubbed me and thus she is the only person that I allow to call me by that title."

She wanted to throw in another death threat but she knew that Allura wouldn't approve.

"Bodyguard so- not a nanny at all," Hunk clarified.

It seemed that the same confusion that plagued Nayni before the war would plague her now.

"I mean really? She doesn't even look like a nanny why are you guys even confused?" Pidge pressed.

They started to tease each other like children in a schoolyard. Nayni began to question just how old they were. They did look like children, at least to her. And they were supposed to be the new Paladins of Voltron? These must be desperate times. Allura rested a hand on her shoulder. It didn't matter how many years went by, Nayni still felt bothered that now she had to look up at the Princess instead of down at her. She grew up far too quickly.

"We really should get to the bridge," Allura said with a sly little smile.

Nayni needed answers but she was still completely and utterly terrified at the prospect of seeing Coran again. There was such a storm brewing within her. She tried to pat down her frizzy hair and adjust her uniform as they made their way out of the hangar. The other Paladins were talking and joking so loudly that she wanted to turn around and shout at them until they fell silent. She was on edge. Nayni stuck to Allura's side out of instinct and this seemed to deeply bother the one called Lance. He kept shooting her dirty looks. She'd have to learn to work with him, he wouldn't be the first difficult team member she'd dealt with and she was sure he wouldn't be the last.

It'd been so long since Nayni had been to the Castle that she'd be lost without Allura. And the last time she'd seen it, it had been on solid ground not floating through space. The elevator ride to the bridge was a mixture of terror and building anticipation. It was stupid of her to be so worried about this encounter. It was more important that she get caught up to speed as to what happened while she was in the sleep chamber. Her personal feelings didn't matter, they had never mattered. She was back on duty and she needed to be able to perform whatever tasks that the Princess required of her. Nayni needed to be ready for whatever was about to come to light and from the state of the Paladins she assumed things would be grim.

They approached the archway to the bridge and Allura paused. The other Paladins ran in without hesitation. The Princess took Nayni by the hand and looked deeply into her violet eyes.

"I have to warn you," Allura began. "The universe has changed a lot but, it's getting better. I promise you. And now that you're here, it can only keep getting better."

It took a lot of Nayni's strength to maintain her composure.

"It doesn't matter," Nayni said. "You know I'd follow you into a black hole."

Allura pulled her in for a hug. She squeezed Nayni so tightly she thought her ribs would burst. It was one last injection of strength before Nayni had to face this new reality head-on. Allura held onto her hand tightly as they stepped through the archway. Her hands were long, slender and graceful now but it still felt like Nayni was grasping those chubby little fingers that the Princess had once possessed. That hand was her anchor as it always had been.

The bridge was something that she had never really seen but she was too filled with anxiousness to truly absorb the new surroundings. The Paladins were crowded around another of those mutant Alteans or 'humans' as Allura said. He was taller than the rest of them and dressed in black. They were talking in hushed tones but fell silent when they noticed Nayni and the Princess had finally arrived. The cogs of the ever-shifting stars and planets all came to a stop when he looked at her. If the Princess had not been gripping her hand so tightly Nayni would've fallen apart again.

Coran still looked as handsome as he did on the pamphlet that was stuffed in her right coat pocket. His orange mustache was still neatly trimmed and his pristine uniform clinging to his body in all the right places. He looked so regal and composed. She felt like a mess compared to him. Nayni was a mess compared to him. She swallowed hard trying to force back the sob that was trying to escape from her throat. He was so much more cautious as he approached then Allura had been. He looked tense. It had been so easy to cry and squeeze Allura. It was easy for Nayni to be vulnerable with her but Coran? She was too ashamed to look weak. She couldn't decide what to do.

Nayni approached him, trying to maintain the rigid posture that had been drilled into her over her military career. She held out her hand stiffly before him.

"M-Mister Smythe," Nayni stuttered.

She was embarrassed by how meek she sounded. The greeting was so forced but it was what was familiar to them. Nothing else would do. He engulfed her in a hug. He had always towered over her and it was still the case. He still smelled of the spiced tea that he drank far too much of. She could feel his face nuzzled into her frizzy brown hair and his muscles relaxed as he held her close. She kept her face buried in his chest because the tears had finally won their fight to escape. It had been so rare for him to be so informal. It spoke volumes. Things were just as bleak as she had feared. Their embrace lasted a bit longer than expected. Hunk opened his mouth awkwardly to speak and Shiro elbowed him sharply in the rib. Hunk promptly closed his mouth again and fell silent.

Coran barely pulled away from her and Nayni tried to quickly wipe the tears away. He was too. He did it with so much more grace than she possessed.

"Madame Nordontu," Coran stammered. "It's been a long time."

Allura scampered forward and pulled them all back into a hug. There had been a large amount of hugging today but Nayni wasn't particularly opposed to it.

"We thought we were the only Alteans left!" Allura gasped. "And you're here! You're back!"

Even though Nayni had suspected this was the case it didn't make hearing it any easier. How was it possible that they were all truly gone? She pulled away from them and tried to regain her composure. Coran and Allura both looked so solemn. A deeply rooted sorrow was creeping back up to the surface.

"Zarkon destroyed Altea," the human in black said.

He ran his fingers through the white tuft of hair on his head and sighed.

"I'm sorry," He added.

Nayni staggered back. She felt like the breath had been stolen from her lungs. She just kept shaking her head, eyes wide with horror. Coran looped his arm through hers to steady her. Nayni was too in shock to care about the contact.

"Shiro's telling the truth," Coran said. "King Alfor placed the Princess and I in the hibernation chambers in the hopes that we could help restore peace to the galaxy. It was a difficult but wise decision."

Hundreds of Altean faces flashed through Nayni's mind. Alfor was gone. Their king was gone. Their home was gone. They were all that's left. Altea was just a collection of charred rock floating in the abyss of space. Things had been bad when he ordered Nayni go to the Ark but had it truly been so hopeless that Alfor would sacrifice his life to save his daughter?

"Father scattered the Lions across the universe," Allura explained. "These humans found the Blue Lion on their homeworld and it brought them back to Castle."

This wayward pack of adolescents found the Blue Lion? And it chose one of them as it's pilot? It sounded so absurd to her.

"We awoke Coran and Allura," Shiro added. "And retrieved the other Lions."

Nayni kept finding her gaze falling to the floor. It was a lot to take in. Coran stiffened beside her. He was bracing himself. What else? What else had happened? How could it get worse than losing their homeworld?

"It's been over ten thousand years, Nayni," Coran said.

Ten thousand years. Ten thousand quiznacking years. She leaned into him. She felt nauseous and dizzy. Nayni's thoughts were racing and she didn't even know where to begin with all of this.

"I h-have quite a debriefing to sit through, don't I?" Nayni said weakly.

She pulled herself away from him. Somehow the need to maintain formalities had crept back. She was already going over all the possibilities in her head. There must be so much to be done. So much that she had to do for Allura.

"Well, now that you're standing here we've got another matter to discuss," Shiro said.

"Yeah, so Lotor didn't lie to us- well sort of," Hunk added.

Nayni was confused but she listened patiently. They gathered around the console in the center of the room. Coran stood tantalizingly close to her. He still seemed to radiate this power that made it difficult to focus. At least that was something that hadn't changed. Pidge brought up a myriad of data files on the central display. There was an image of this Lotor. He looked almost Altean but his skin was a lavender hue.

"Lotor is Zarkon's successor," Allura explained. "But Zarkon recently disowned him and put a bounty on his head. He reached out to us in an attempt to form an alliance."

Allying with a Galra? There had been a time in Altean history where that had been true but rebuilding it seemed like an impossible task now.

"In exchange for giving him an audience, he offered us the location of the Altean Ark," Pidge explained. "Which apparently everyone thought it had been destroyed."

From the way the Ark looked when Nayni left, it was likely someone had attempted to.

"The Princess and I thought it was a trap but, Coran insisted we investigate it," Shiro continued.

Coran insisted they check it out? All those years ago, Nayni had sent him a brief message explaining Alfor's orders. He knew she was there. Is that why he pushed them? The potential meaning of that act made her heart skip a beat. His eyes darted to meet her's and he quickly looked away.

"I couldn't ignore the possibility that there might still be other Alteans out there," Coran said. "And now I'm overjoyed that we went."

Was that really all, Coran? Not that it wasn't a good reason but deep down she hoped that there was more to it.

"Well it wasn't exactly what we were expecting but Lotor did tell the truth," Pidge said.

Hunk shook his head. He folded his thick arms across his chest.

"Yeah, but why should we trust him?" Hunk posed. "I mean he tried to kill us- like a lot. We're not just gonna let him walk into the Castle. No way."

Nayni was starting to understand why Allura believed in these Paladins. This one, at least, was competent.

"He could've laid a trap and he didn't," Shiro said.

The other Paladins, including Allura, did not like the way the conversation was turning. Nayni could feel the tension in the air.

"-but we still have every reason to be cautious," Shiro continued. "There's a lot at stake here. He could be a powerful ally with a lot of information about how to truly defeat Zarkon."

Nayni didn't like this scenario at all. The Galra had been cunning and tricked many people into submission. But she hadn't been here. She hadn't been through what these Paladins had. She didn't feel it was her place to voice her concerns.

"Yes but for now, I think we all need some rest," Allura said. "This is a lot to take in."

The girl mothered them all the same way that Nayni had mothered her. The last thing Nayni wanted was to be alone in a bed right now. There was no way she was going to sleep. If she'd really spent ten thousand years hibernating anyway what was the point?

"Is that an order?" Nayni asked.

"Does it need to be?" Allura replied with a weak smile.

She didn't even know if that mattered anymore. There were three of them. Just three Alteans in the entire universe. Allura, Nayni, and Coran. There was no more Altean government, military or civilization at all. The idea of no longer having the structure brought on a crushing terror. Her whole life had been built around following protocol and maintaining that order. How was she supposed to function without it? Nayni was used to warding off monsters in Allura's life, imaginary and real. It was what she knew and it was what she would have to continue doing. Nayni held Allura's gaze until she finally caved.

"I suppose it would be nice to lay my head down on an actual pillow again," Nayni sighed.

It would be more likely that she would lay down and stare at the ceiling contemplating how she and Coran somehow ended up as some of the last three Alteans. The forces of the universe certainly intended for her to be permanently pining for that man.

"I can show you to your quarters," Coran offered.

Allura peeked around Coran's shoulder and gave Nayni a little wink. She felt her cheeks flush. This girl was going to be the death of her.

"I suppose-" Nayni began but Coran herded her out of the control room before she could finish speaking.

Nayni swore she heard Allura excitedly giggling as the doors closed behind them. Alone with Coran, as she had been so many times before, but this time was even more particularly taxing than usual. He made a grand over dramatic bowing gesture as he directed her down the hall. He was still a foppish idiot and she loved it but there was no way she was going to openly admit that to him. She doubted this walk to her quarters was going to be a painfully awkward silence. Coran was not the silent type. Part of her longed to talk to him alone anyway. She couldn't deny that. As emotionally draining as the day had been, she still had a deep hungering need to speak with him. Nayni was never the sort to speak first though, especially when it came to him.

"So here we are," Coran said with a smile.

His tone was warm and soft. He'd barely spoken and was already making Nayni feel as if her mother had just handed her a fluffy warm biscuit for breakfast.

"Yes, here we are again...walking down a hallway," Nayni added.

She was so awkward but for once in her life, she had an excuse. After everything that happened she'd every right to be hopelessly socially inept. Coran would swoop in and save her from the awkwardness though, it was what he always did.

"What do you think of the new Paladins?" Coran went on. "I know the Princess and I had our doubts at first but they truly are remarkable. They've done so much to help restore peace to the universe. I have so many tales to share with you."

His approval of them mattered quite a bit to her but she still wasn't sure what to think of them all.

"The Blue one makes me feel as if I'll break out in a rash," Nayni admitted.

Coran chuckled and gestured for Nayni to follow him around a corner.

"Lance is so much more than he seems. You'll have to just trust me on that one," Coran said.

Nayni had noted that he was piloting the Red Lion. That wasn't a job to be taken on by someone who was as excessively foolish as he came off. It was hard for her to accept that boy was sitting in the same seat that Alfor once had. They seemed so different yet they both were able to earn the Red Lion's trust. They came to an elevator shaft and Coran summoned the lift by flicking his finger across some of the buttons on the console. She listened to the familiar dull hum of the elevator as it descended to their level. The sound echoed throughout the empty hallway.

"I'm certain Allura would appreciate it if I was more patient with him," Nayni sighed.

The elevator doors swung open and Coran stepped aside to let her in first. If it had been another man she'd have called him a bafoon and shoved him inside.

"I don't know what use you'll have for me on this ship," Nayni admitted. "I'm more used to punching people in the face or smacking things with my particle shield."

She wasn't used to piloting anything let alone operating the complicated controls of the Castle's defenses. The blue lights of the shaft flashed by as they ascended to the habitation level. There was a tension in the air. Nayni could not precisely recall the moment that tension had begun but it had been there for many many years. She assumed most of it was in her head.

"You were the Captain of the Royal Guard, Nayni, I think we'll find plenty of uses for you," Coran assured.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. She could think of a few uses for Coran that fell out of the realm of diplomacy. Nayni tried to bury those thoughts deep to keep her composure. The elevator came to a smooth stop and they stepped out into yet another hallway with overly polished floors. Nayni was amazed by the condition of the Castle. The Ark had been in shambles when Allura found her and yet the Castle still looked as pristine as it had all those years ago.

Coran started to quicken his pace. It took a bit of effort to keep up with him. His legs were longer than hers and it would take two of her strides to cover the same distance as one of his.

"I hope you don't mind but I'm thinking you'll stay in the quarters across from mine. That way if you need anything I can assist you more easily," Coran said.

So he was waiting to drop this on her until now? He was well aware that she would protest to that. She wanted to be as close to Allura as possible at all times. It was something that was programmed into her very blood. She didn't need to be coddled but the idea that he wanted to help her made her heart flutter.

"I—I don't think I'll be needing any assistance, Mister Smythe," Nayni stammered.

They came to a set of doors. One on each side of the hallway. Never had she been stationed so close to him. The prospect of being within such an intimate proximity made her nausea return for the briefest of moments. She expected him to just open the door and let her be but something peculiar happened. Coran touched her ever so gently on the shoulder. The way he was looking at her made her innards churn like an adolescent girl. The lines of his face were still the same. He was still one of the most perfectly evolved specimens of an Altean that she had ever laid eyes on.

"I think after all that's happened- we've moved past those old formalities," Coran said.

He had called her by her first name earlier. Nayni had completely missed it because she was so wrapped up in her own sexual frustration and longing.

"My apologies—Coran," Nayni said. "It's always been hard for me to break old habits."

Those formalities had been her personal emotional shield for so long. He was right though. What use did they have for them now? Her hand hovered over the door's console and the doors slid open silently. It was bleak and dusty inside. It was obvious that the chamber had gone untouched for quite some time. She'd seen worse sleeping arrangements in her military days so she would have no issue making do with this. All she needed was a bed and a roof over her head to feel like she was in the lap of luxury. Coran's grip on her arm tightened and she turned her head to meet his gaze again.

His face had a stern expression that she'd seen so many times before. Usually, it came up when they'd discussed something about Allura or King Alfor. That couldn't possibly be the case this time.

"I thought of a lot of people once I realized the Princess and I were the last of the Alteans," Coran said. "But it was you, Nayni, who came to mind the most."

She thought she'd had her fill of crying for the day but it seemed that Coran was bent on making her cry some more. What was she to make of that confession? It could mean a thousand different things but she only wanted it to mean one thing. She wanted it to mean the one thing that she had been desperately hoping for most of her life. Nayni swallowed hard.

"Oh," She squeaked.

Oh? Really? That was all she could muster up the courage to say. That was the only response that her brutish, undignified thought processes could come up with?

"I'm sorry. You must be exhausted," Coran said.

His tone was so gentle she wanted to barf. She felt a panic rising up and clawing its way around her heart.

"I—I thought of you quite a bit as well," Nayni stammered. "And I'm glad that you're one of the survivors."

Today, Nayni had learned that her homeworld was gone along with pretty much every person that she'd ever known. The Lions of Voltron were piloted by a bunch of teenagers and the Galra Empire had swallowed up most of the universe. All of this had been incredibly frightful but none of it really compared to the fear she felt as she uttered those words to Coran. It was incredibly idiotic but it was quite possibly the most terrifying moment of her life. All Coran did was let the corner of his mouth twinge into the smallest of smiles. She was wetting her britches and he was smiling about it?

"Well, I won't keep you any longer," Coran said.

His smile grew wider as he took a step back.

"Remember if you need anything, I'm right here," Coran insisted.

She nodded. It was a weak, pathetic little nod but it was the most she could do to acknowledge him at the moment. Coran was right here. He was right here in front of her and would be within arms reach for quite some time now. And Nayni didn't have the slightest inkling of how she was going to handle any of this at all.