Authors' Notes:

Originally published inside KAEX Yahoogroup, this fic was written by chris and cubbie. Chris wrote Part 1 in 2013, followed by cubbie's Part 2 in 2015.

Can be included in the Mischief and Mayhem series; can also be read as a one-off / stand-alone story.

Choose your own Keith and Allura version. Whichever the fanfic reader prefers: 80s Voltron K/A or Voltron Force 2011 K/A.

Rating M for sexual innuendos / situations.

Part 1 of 2

"Fractures In The Facade"

The newly-crowned King of Arus is facing his toughest test yet.

"Got a sec, Chief?"

Keith looked up from his desk and saw Hunk standing at the door of his private office.

"Uh...Sure, big guy. Come...come on in."

Hunk crossed the thick rug emblazoned with the Arusian royal coat of arms, studying the pained expression on his friend's face with a look of concern.

"Keith? Everything OK, bro?"

Keith had to smile at that. Hunk was the only one to ever address the reigning monarch as "bro". "I'm OK," he replied. "What have you got for me?"

"Pidge and I have been workin' on schematics for a new security system for the castle. I think you'll like it," Hunk enthused, tossing a data disk on top of the papers strewn over the king's desk. "You sure you're feeling all right, dude? You look a little flushed."

Realising his face felt hot, Keith ran a hand over the droplets of sweat that had beaded on his forehead. "Yeah, I... I think I might be..." he let out a sharp exhalation, "coming down with something..."

"Stress, huh?" Hunk cast an eye over the clutter of paperwork his friend was working on. "Ain't easy being King. Better go see the doc. Anyway, take a look at that disk when you got time. Laters." He turned and left.

Groaning, Keith leaned back in his chair, one hand over his eyes. He drew another sharp breath. It's like everybody in the castle wants to see me right now. Can't even get a moment...

For what seemed like the hundredth time today, he straightened up as he heard footsteps approaching. Lance appeared in the doorway.

"What up, Triple-K?" the brash Red Lion pilot drawled.

"Lance, you know I hate that nickname."

"Why do you think I keep calling you that, Your Majesty?" Lance smirked. "I just wanted to say that the new batch of GA cadets will be arriving in a couple of hours to tour the castle. I thought I'd let Allura know too, but I can't find her."

"She's taking care of something important right now. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she already knows," Keith said, pinching the bridge of his nose and gulping hard.

Lance leaned closer. "Something wrong? You're not gonna puke, are you?"

"I'll head down to MedTech in a bit," Keith mumbled. "Could you let everyone know I'm not to be disturbed for the next hour?"

"Sure thing, boss man," Lance said as he departed.

With a sigh of relief, Keith locked the door from a control panel on his desk. He leaned back in his chair again and smiled.

"Quite a performance, my King," said a sultry voice. "I guarantee you'll never make it as an actor."

Keith laughed and looked down at Allura as she emerged from underneath his desk. "You weren't exactly making it easy, 'Lura."

Allura giggled. "No, I'd say I made it rather...hard." She curled up in his lap.

"So, my Queen," Keith whispered, "are you going to finish what you started?"

"Mmmm. My office this time," she replied, her voice full of mischief.

A wicked smile crossed Keith's face. It's good to be the King.

(TO BE CONTINUED)