Allura paced outside the healing pod. Shiro was supposed to be released any minute now. She was running out of patience, but knew better than to eject him early. She wanted to make sure he was completely healed physically. He'd still need a couple of days to recover and rest, but his injuries that he sustained in the fight against Zarkon should be gone.

He'd been in there for days since she'd found him unconscious. It had killed her to have to carry him back into the castle, for his fellow paladins to see their fearless leader broken like that. Allura turned away from the pod. Staring at him would not make him emerge sooner. She decided to pace by the door instead.

"Allura, what are you doing? You weren't like this when the other paladins were in the pods. Why is Shiro different?" she whispered to herself.

"Why am I different, Princess?" a voice asked her. She turned to see the black paladin lean against the control panel for support.

"You shouldn't be walking around so soon. You're still in recovery," she softly chided as she walked towards him.

"I feel fine," he said with a half-hearted smile before his face went completely serious, "how are they others?"

"Healed. They only had minor injuries so they needed only a day of healing, whereas you needed a week," she said as she draped his arm over her shoulder. "Now, come. You should be resting in your room."

"Haven't I rested enough?" he teased. Allura sighed as she walked him towards his room.

"You never did answer my question," he said as she helped him lower himself into his bed.

"What question was that?" she asked with a small smile.

"Why am I different?" he murmured.

"Because you're you," she simply said as she went to walk towards the door. Shiro's hand held her arm to keep her from leaving.

"Please, stay. If I need to rest, at least keep me company for a while. I am in recovery," he smiled.

"Well, I suppose I could stay," she smiled back as she laid down next to him. Shiro wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer so she could use his chest as a pillow. They sat in comfortable silence as she lazily traced circles on his chest, relishing in the way it felt so right to be there in his arms.

Allura finally broke the silence. "You had me worried. I was afraid that I had lost you when I found you unconscious. I don't think I could handle losing you," she whispered.

"You'd still have everyone else," he replied. "I'm sure you could find another black paladin."

"They wouldn't be you," she said pointedly. "Shiro, I-"

"I know. I do, too," he said as he stroked her cheek. "It's just, we're in the middle of a war. We can't allow ourselves to be each other's weakness."

"Shiro, regardless of whether or not you feel the same, you will be my weakness," she told him as she sat up to look into his face.

"Allura, you're a princess. I'm just a pilot from Earth," he sighed.

"Not anymore. You're a pilot of Voltron. You're special. Can't you see that? You're all so much more than just humans. You're heroes," she said emphatically. Then, in a quieter voice, she added, "You're my family."

Shiro sat up and pulled her into his lap. "You're our family now, too. You're a role model for Pidge, and you look out for all of them. They're lucky to have you in their lives. I'm lucky to have you."

Shiro gently cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb before turning her face towards him.

"This is a terrible idea," she softly teased.

"I know it is, but you're right. We'll always be each other's weakness, regardless. I can't help the fact that I love you more than a paladin should love a princess," Shiro said as he closed the distance between their lips. Her lips felt soft against his. He could feel her turn in his lap and wrap her arms around his neck to draw him closer. Allura pressed her lips back against his in a way that matched his boldness. She wanted to show him how she felt about him, how it felt to wait while he was recovering, how it felt when she thought she lost him, and how she feels about him. She wanted him to know that she loved him more than a princess should love her paladins. She needed this, needed him. They broke away panting for air before smiling at each other.

"That was…" Shiro trailed off, "Wow. I think your kiss helped me fully recover." He flashed her an awkward smirk and she started to laugh.

"Takashi Shirogane, that sounded like something Lance would have said," she said in between laughs. "However, it's much cuter when you do it. Now, in all seriousness, you need rest. Coran needs me on the bridge. I'm already much later than I told him I'd be. Rest well, paladin. You've earned it."

She gently kissed his forehead before crawling out of his lap and walking out the door. She decided to take the long way to the bridge. She needed to stall so she could come up with an excuse for being late. However, she was the princess. She could do what she wanted anyway. It was her castle. She smiled to herself as she faced the doors. Behind them would be a Coran full of questions that she didn't want to answer, and yet, the thought of what the future could hold for her and Shiro didn't bother her as much as it should have.

A/N: Alright guys, so I completely missed out on Voltron week. Here's hoping I can finish Shallura week. All of these are prewritten since I'll be moving into college during the actual week. Love you all!