The Dance
The team had taken full advantage of Zarkon's defeat to look for Shiro. At this point they'd turned up few leads and were desperate for a break. When Hunk suggested they return to Earth to see family (and eat some comfort food) Princess Allura could hardly say no.
Allura spent time with Pidge on the way and asked about her home planet. Pidge showed her pictures of cities, nature, and people. Allura wanted to see it first-hand but knew she'd get curious glances. It was decided she would alter her appearance to blend in so the girls could go shopping- after all, she never got her sparkly.
The time at the mall was great fun and she watched the Earthlings with curiosity. She questioned Pidge about the male humans' distinct interest in women. She was shorter, blonde, and had lost her Altean markings. Men were gaping at her and she felt like she was surrounded by Lance clones. Is this what human males prefer? Pidge grudgingly nodded, noting guys aren't usually drawn to girls with red hair and glasses.
After their successful trip, Pidge dropped Allura back at the castle and made her way to see her mom and tell her that Matt may still be alive. Hunk had also gone home. Lance's family was throwing a huge dance in his honor and Keith grudgingly had agreed to tag along. Lance also tried to coax Allura, but she argued that she needed to stay behind with Coran on the ship.
Once the team had cleared out the Princess decided to try on some of the dresses she'd purchased that day. Beaming she went to show Coran and he looked at her with a hint of pride but also sadness. She'd missed out on so much because of the war. It was decided. He told her he wanted some alone time and that she needed to find somewhere else to be. That dress would be perfect for a dance. Taken aback by his sudden insistence that she leave she couldn't formulate an argument quickly enough and before she knew it she was in a shuttle headed for Cuba.
Once she landed she remembered her discussion with Pidge about human preferences. She changed her appearance again to blonde hair and a shorter stature. Good thing she'd worn the shorter skirt, she thought. Otherwise she'd look like her Nanny from her childhood. The memory brought a smile to her face.
She was making her way to the dance hall when she saw a shadowy figure off in the distance looking straight at her. His lean figure, crossed arms and propped foot told her it was probably Keith, and he was probably sulking. Before she realized she was half-way to him. As soon as the light hit his face she realized it was showing a tinge of disappointment. Was he waiting for someone? Curiously her heart sank a little though she didn't turn around. He was staring at her; no, he was staring through her.
Just a few steps to the door, she tried to act like she didn't notice him. Thankfully the darkness hid the redness in her cheeks and she hurried past. Then she heard it. A low voice asking her if she would like an escort to the dance. She looked up to see Keith offering her his elbow. Not wanting to give herself away she silently nodded, smiled, and accepted his arm. The dance was in full swing and the guests were dancing and laughing, Lance in the thick of it of course.
Inside the hall Allura excused herself with a bow and raced for the bathroom. Her hands were shaking, why? Taking a few deep breaths, she stepped back out into the party but couldn't spot him in the crowd. Maybe he was waiting for someone else. She didn't have much of a chance to look before someone had pulled her to the dance floor. Lance, of course.
They were halfway through a second dance when a stranger asked to cut in. Lance obliged and walked off to join a gaggle of smiling women. Allura danced with the stranger and about four others before she finally caught sight of Keith. He was still alone, and she thought maybe she caught him looking her way. She wished he would step in, just one dance with her paladin would be a nice finish to the evening.
Her current dance partner was drunk. Sloppy, handsy kind of drunk. She was about to put him in a headlock when a hand reached out and pulled the guy back by his shoulder. Keith! Apparently it took a potential fight to get him involved, but she was happy for it nonetheless. Attempting to prevent a skirmish on the dance floor she firmly took the pilot's hand and whisked him away.
He was obviously taken aback, and rather uncomfortable twirling around on his feet. She giggled at the sight but her blush gave away how much she wanted this. Her rosy cheeks were matched by his and seemed to steel his resolve to not run away. The next song slowed and their bodies found a rhythm together, swaying gently. Her arms draped his neck and his hands held her back as if they needed to keep the other from falling away.
Allura lost track of how many songs they danced to, each attempt by a stranger to steal the other away was dismissed somewhat curtly. They were going to leave the dance floor together, if ever. The Red pilot's warmth made her feel she may melt into him, and she pulled tighter to test her theory. His muscled arms responded by wrapping tighter around her waist, her hips and chest squeezing forward into his battle-hardened body on their own accord.
Now at her breaking point, she let out a breathless sigh. His body froze. Her gaze met his as he leaned forward, tilting her chin up so his lips met hers. It was a brief kiss, an unsure kiss. The tingling she felt turned to tremors. Excitement swirled with fear then gave way to sorrow. He wasn't kissing Allura, he was kissing a girl he met at a dance on earth. Why couldn't he have fallen in love with her? The Princess' soul was being rent in two, tears welling in her eyes. She stepped back, turning to run away from her torment.
A firm hand grabbed her arm, yanking her backwards. Keith's face, confused yet determined, leaned to her ear. His breath on her neck started a shock that ran the length of her spine. The words he spoke were quiet but she heard them clearly, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Allura, I don't know if we'll have this chance again. Can't we at least have tonight?"