Promises - Coran Week 2016 Day 3: Alforan


"I love you."

Allura collapsed into a slumber in King Alfor's arms as another Galra attack hit the Castle of Lions. Alarms were blaring everywhere, yet none of them mattered to the two still-conscious Alteans on the bridge.

Alfor swooped Allura up into his arms, her hair falling loosely. He motioned for Coran to cross over to him. "Take her down to the cryo-pods and put her in one," he instructed, his tone more urgent now than it had been with Allura.

Coran obediently took Allura from his arms, but looked hesitantly up at Alfor. "Wait, what about you? What are you doing?"

Alfor returned to the helm and tried to maneuver the ship out of enemy range. "Whatever I can. Go, I'll be down there in a tick."

There was no time for confusion or questions. Death waited for them all in Zarkon's cannon should they not escape. Whatever Alfor was planning now, Coran was wise to obey. And pray to the Ancients.

Carrying the princess through the halls seemed easier than usual. Adrenaline, Coran found, had that effect. One elevator trip down two floors, a right turn, then down a hall, and he was in the cryo-pod chamber.

After carefully placing Allura in the center pod and making sure she was upright, he pressed a button and watched the glass cover materialize over her face, casting her in a blue tint.

This was fine, Coran reasoned. Now that he had a moment to mull it over, Alfor probably just wanted to take every measure to protect Allura from the war, the death, out there. And what better place available than a pod that sank into the ground out of sight? Granted, it was one of Alfor's more...unexpected ideas, but if they could get the Castle out of danger and do something about Zarkon, then Allura would be out within two quintants, he reckoned.

As Coran fiddled with the pod's settings, Alfor briskly entered the room. He looked like he was masking the fact that he was breathless.

"Is she ready?" he asked, standing in front of her pod.

Coran adjusted the temperature of the pod to cryostasis levels. "Almost. Just need to set the emergency automatic timer to wake her up," he explained, turning to look at Alfor expectedly. "How long should that be?"

He shook his head. "Don't. Someone will be there to wake her."

"What do you mean? Regardless of that there should still be a timer, especially considering what's going on." The confusion was back. Coran could barely make sense of anything. There was no logic in war.

A sigh. "You know what? Never mind. Just..." Alfor trailed off, looking towards the center control panel of the room.

Coran stopped preparing the pod to take a step towards Alfor, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"

Alfor watched his hand for a tick, then grabbed it with his own and, without any warning, leaned in to kiss Coran.

It'd been awhile since they'd kissed, and it caught Coran completely off-guard. He almost stumbled backwards, but Alfor caught him in his arms, pulling him further into the kiss. He pressed into him, feeling his resolve melt as they got lost in each other.

It was a desperate kiss, one that made Coran ache for his king. Everything that he tried to hide while leading the fight against this war, every lost soul on his hands, all shone through. Alfor needed his love to keep him strong, and he was more than willing to oblige. War made people do desperate things.

Thunk.

Coran's eyes flew open to see Alfor's lips moving further away. He...was in a different spot than when he'd closed them. He was...in a cryo-pod?

He locked onto Alfor's sad smile. The kiss. As genuine as it had been, it'd also distracted Coran long enough for Alfor to push him into an open pod. And suddenly he was no longer confused.

Coran made to jump out of the pod, but Alfor was quick to press the button to close it, effectively trapping him. He pounded on the glass with a flat palm, shouting, "No! What are you doing?!" Now he was desperate.

Alfor raised his hand to meet his through the glass. "I'm saving you."

"Don't worry about me! You should be in a pod! Or none of us even! The war, it'll be over in-"

"It won't," Alfor cut him off, sounding too final in his conviction for Coran's comfort. He pressed a few preparatory buttons on the panel off to Coran's left. If only he could snatch his arm away from doing so, put a stop to all this madness. "Please, Coran, just...please..."

Coran didn't even realize he'd started crying. Hot, angry tears trickled endlessly into his mustache. He couldn't let Alfor do this. If he truly thought the war wasn't going to end, then he should've been the one in a pod. Coran could've gotten the Castle out of danger or, at the least, buy the king and princess some time while he fought the Galra himself.

"Allura needs...you," he argued through sobs. He could hear his heart breaking in his voice as it echoed in the pod.

Alfor's voice was soft now as he altered Coran's sentiment. "Needs me to fight. If I can't end this war now myself, then no one can. It'll be too late. But I need to try. But you..." The sad smile was back as he brushed the glass once more with his fingers. "I need you to stay with Allura. Protect her."

Coran watched him look over at Allura, as if it would be the last time. He wanted to curse out Alfor for his request, because he knew it was one he couldn't deny. He drew in a shaky breath and leaned his forehead against Alfor's fingers. The logical, loyal advisor in him was starting to take over again. He didn't know how it would end up now, but he still had a job to do.

"Please, Coran, take care of her."

Coran locked eyes with his king. His best friend. His love. For him, he would die for Allura if it kept her safe. "I promise."

Alfor pressed the button to start the cryostasis process, his eyes never leaving Coran's. The deep freeze seeped quickly into Coran's skin, yet he found his mouth still operative for one last request.

"Please come back."

There was no promise.


Time is an illusion. Totally not still working on a prompt week from over a year ago. This was just a "last thought of the day" idea that just *happened* to fit this prompt, so shh...hope you enjoyed this AU of a flashback! ;)