Allura felt time freeze as she stood facing Keith, his expression a mix of horror and embarrassment. The princess turned to leave so quickly her balance was thrown off and she fell backwards, directly into Keith's arms. As he righted her words were exchanged but none seemed to form a complete thought. Some may not have even belonged to a known language.
Unable to turn and face him Allura smoothed the material of her uniform, fumbling with the gold buttons awkwardly as she stuttered an apology. "I- I am so sorry for barging in unannounced," she started, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And….for seeing you….in that, erm, state."
She felt herself relax a bit when Keith chuckled. "It's fine, Princess. Nothing you haven't seen before, right?"
"No, not that I can think of," she confessed awkwardly. Had she? Right now her mind was a muddle of thoughts, none of which were becoming a lady of royal upbringing.
"Right," he murmured. "I'm sure between Lotor and Lance you've seen more than this."
"What the quiznak did you just say?" Allura retorted, her shoulders stiffening as her teeth clenched in rage. "You of all people shouldn't be judging me!"
She suddenly bolted for the door, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing her wrist. It wasn't rough, only firm. Warm and slightly damp. Maybe from the shower; possibly from the atmosphere.
His response was tense, his voice tinged with anger and curiosity. "Why me of all people?"
It was a question she didn't want him to ask, because she didn't want to answer. Being honest was something she'd always prided herself in, yet in this moment she wanted to lie and tell him she hated him. By all rights she should, and he'd have no room to argue it.
Frustrated at his question Allura inhaled sharply through her nose, exhaling her reservations. This would be her chance to clear the air. This would be his opportunity to come clean.
Whatever reaction occurred could alter the landscape of their relationship forever.
"Because you have someone." Her response should have been louder. Should have been angrier.
His grip on her arm loosened slightly, and she took the opportunity to jerk it away. Just the smallest touch from him could do things to her, and she didn't want her desires to distract her from the conversation. Allura shoved her hands in the deep pockets of her jacket as she waited for Keith to speak.
When he finally responded his voice was smaller than before. "I've never had anyone."
Allura couldn't believe Keith would lie to her. He had Shiro. The team became his family. Even his mother had returned to him after a lifelong absence. But he knew that's not what she meant by "someone". Her anger bubbled up and before she could stop herself the words rushed out.
"You have Acxa," she snorted. "So I am not the one sleeping with the enemy!"
That wasn't what she meant to say, but she couldn't take it back now.
"Get. Out."
Keith's gravelly command caused Allura to flinch, her shoulders curling into her body. As much as the princess willed herself to move, to speak, no part of her body would obey. In her mind two scenarios played themselves out: in the first she runs away, ending any chance of reconciliation; in the second she stays, beginning the rebuilding process.
When she didn't move a large hand pushed against her back, the other reaching around to open the door. Unwilling to be bullied into submission she ground in her heels, refusing to budge. Keith was strong but she was stronger. She'd rather force a draw than take the loss.
"Am I wrong?" she asked, causing him to pause a moment. "Didn't you spend the day with her?"
His response was cool, unemotional. "She's just a friend. Nothing more."
Allura's heart began beating again. He didn't seem to be hiding anything. And, in this situation at least, he had no reason to lie about it. After all if he thought she was in that deep with Lance well, he could at least admit to that much with Acxa.
"So is Lance," she shot back. "We never got that close."
"Not even as close as you and Lotor?" he asked, pain coating his words. "Looked to me like you two were pretty cozy together."
The insinuation was apparent. One half of her wanted to throw a punch at him, the other wanted to beg for mercy. After all, if Keith had bothered to stick around chances were none of that would have happened. However, he couldn't be entirely to blame for her poor choices.
Propriety be damned, she turned to face her accuser. Her eyes locked onto his- partially as a challenge, mostly as a defensive measure. There was little chance of her winning this fight if her line of sight fell any lower.
"You're right, we kissed. Once."
Keith's jaw reacted but his eyes remained steady. "Even though he's Galra? Or did you suddenly forget what his father did to your people?"
If he'd been holding a knife to her throat it would have drawn blood. Not enough to kill her but enough to make her dizzy. How she let him have this much power over her was unacceptable. She was still a princess, after all. Even if she wasn't his princess.
"I guess that was his reward for not running away like a coward." Allura regained the upper hand and landed a mortal blow. "But I suppose you think you have that in common with my father."
"So I'm gutless for running into danger every fucking day while you were busy playing games?"
"We were building a coalition!"
"I was destroying an empire!"
"I was planning a peaceful future!"
"Yeah, a future without me in it!"
Quiznak.
Shiro was right. Keith hadn't tried to leave them. He'd simply done what he felt he had to do, considering himself expendable. Deep down she knew that, and even deeper down she didn't want to admit it. She'd only wanted him back in the castle, safe with the team. Safe with her.
This was why he hated her. He'd admitted as much to his mother. After all this time he'd seen her as being uncommitted to the cause, as being weak. Keith was always there for her, seeking her out when she needed reassurance. It was time for her to pay back his kindness.
"I- that was never my intention," she confessed, her eyes breaking the bond as the lump in her throat grew. "I wanted the war to end quickly by gaining allies. But I lost the most devoted person in my life instead."
Now she saw anger swirling in Keith's eyes, and it was directed towards her. It was too late to ask for forgiveness. She'd failed to give him a heart to come home to and now he was a nomad.
So much for a draw.
Allura knew she had lost. There was no coming back from this, the deficit was too large.
"Then you should tell him you love him. I'm sure he's been waiting to hear it."
Keith could hardly believe he'd heard the words. He had gone to shower when the sound of voices seeped through the locker room door. Leaning in closer he heard Allura say she should tell someone that she loves him; he could only assume she meant Lance. But that was the last he heard as Shiro opened the door and Keith tumbled to the floor.
Not wanting to pry further he simply showered and left, giving no further thought of talking to Allura today. He still wanted to apologize, but his heart wasn't in it. That would have been unfair to her, after all.
Then Allura appeared in his room, and showed no inclination leaving. Too tired to evict her, he allowed her to stay until she said what she needed to . She'd chastised him about what he'd said about her father, but he didn't need to hear about her love life as well. That was too cruel.
"You're right," she admitted, her voice more stilted than usual. "I should say it."
On hearing that Keith turned away, looking for something to busy himself so she couldn't see his face. "So do it. You should probably hurry before lights out though. It's almost bedtime."
Without warning arms wrapped around him, Allura pulling herself tight into his back. Her warm breath on the cool dewy beads that lingered there made him shiver. She'd hugged him once before, as an apology, but he wasn't sure why she was doing it this time.
"Uh, Princess?" He didn't want her to stop but the longer she held on the harder things were going to be for him. Literally.
"I love you."
If the team lost three years that they couldn't account for, Keith was sure he'd topped it. At that moment he felt an eternity pass, and in that span of time he couldn't react. He wanted her to be saying those words to him, but understood it was a practice run for Lance.
"Say something, please!" she begged, tightening her grip.
Keith lifted his hand to cover hers, patting it in a somewhat comforting manner. She was nervous, obviously, and as much as it pained him he needed to cheer her on. He cleared his throat and responded in his best quasi-playboy impersonation.
"All the girls do."
When Allura's arms dropped he realized he may have said the wrong thing. Was she expecting him to play the part of Lance more seriously? Or was she upset that he made light of her confession?
"So, you really do hate me after all."
Quiznak! Way to screw things up, idiot!
"Sorry, I just don't know what Lance will say. It was just the first thing that popped in my head."
"Why are you thinking of Lance at a time like this?" she asked as she took a step backwards. "Wait, do you like him?"
"What? NO!"
"Then why-"
"Because you do, obviously!"
"Where did you get that idea?"
"Oh, I don't know. Everyone?"
"Well everyone is mistaken!"
"Then who exactly are you in love with?"
"You, you idiot!" she spat, her finger jabbing harshly into his chest. "I'm in love with you!"
Keith desperately wished he had a recording of the last few seconds, because his brain was having trouble replaying the last bit of dialogue. As much as he wanted to be the object of her affections, the idea was foolish. He'd failed her so many times. She was too good for him.
Still, he couldn't ignore her skin against his. Her face still showed anger but her hand now rested over his heart. His fingers encircled her wrist, the rhythm of her pulse racing as fast as his own. Whatever he was feeling right now was being echoed by Allura's heartbeat.
This time when their eyes met the anger had faded into remorse. They both had so much to say but their lips had to make a choice. Talking was one of two options. Keith decided his apology could wait for tomorrow.
The Princess seemed to have come to the same conclusion, meeting him halfway as they melted into a desperate kiss.
The friction of their bodies caused Keith's towel to drop to the floor, and Allura kicked it away before he could retrieve it. In retaliation he pulled at the buttons on her jacket until they flew free. The rest of her clothing joined it in a pile where they'd stay until morning.
Soon their hands were mapping out the other's body, alternating between peaks and valleys. The pads of Keith's fingers held evidence of years of misuse, but Allura never once flinched under their harshness. Instead she purred into his mouth, her soft flesh melding with his.
Keith worried he would wake any moment despite never having had such a blissful dream.
Suddenly the lights cut off, a measure to save electricity as well as keep the Garrison well rested. Tonight, however, he was sure they could power a city as energy from her touch pulsed through his body. Exhaustion was something he'd conquered long ago and sleep a luxury he could manage without.
Now, in the pitch black room, sound and touch took over. Even though he couldn't see he was aware of his surroundings and found a wall to back the Princess into. Keith lifted Allura by her hips, her long legs wrapping around him for support.
"Do you want me to stop?" he asked breathlessly, unsure how far she was willing to take this.
Her hand found his face, her palm caressing his cheek. "I've waited too long for this. Why would I want you to stop now?"
He chuckled at her confession. "I bet I've waited longer," he teased. "I've loved you since day one."
His confession finally freed him, fears of abandonment falling away like shackles from a reformed prisoner. Here, in this moment, was his chance to start over.
Fiery passion erupted between them- a bomb that had been ticking for years, threatening to take down everything in its radius. Awkwardness and apologies followed unintentional injuries. Occasional bruises would form in scattered patterns across their skin as they fumbled through the debris. Eventually the two emerged from their battle weary but not beaten.
A brief cease-fire was called before the restoration began.
The rest of the night was spent bridging the gap that had kept them too far apart. Every cry, every gasp, every word that left their lips closed the distance. Hearing her say his name as he left one offering after another was like a goddess answering a prayer.
Eventually the morning bugle sounded, the sun rising on a new alliance.
