Author's Notes.
Thankyou for all the reviews and follows and thankyou to editor Linda *blows kisses* This week is another big one for us as miss4yo has her quarterly cancer check-up tomorrow afternoon at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. I'm all knots and wound up again (eep!) until i hear her oncologist's prognosis. Will need to sink my teeth into happy KA fanfics to distract me and keep me sane.
So, here's another delish KA chapter to energise your week ahead. ((ALL THE HUGS))
Chapter takes place after Episode "Ghost in the Lion"
Standard Disclaimer Clause that i don't own Voltron and Voltron Force.
Chapter Eight
Walking back to the awaiting fractal from Nanny's house, Allura was happy that Nanny had decided to care for Sven's son. Allura had made sure that the child went through a thorough health assessment from Dr. Gorma before bringing the baby to the best caretaker she knew, Nanny Hys.
Allura felt all kinds of wonderful holding such a precious child in her arms, and wondered how it would feel to hold one of her very own one day. She felt herself blushing with the image of an infant with unruly raven hair and the most beautiful smile.
Flying back to the Castle of Lions, Allura thought about Keith, pondering how he was doing now. She felt a pang in her heart as she braced herself for another possible lecture about disobeying his orders. They had had a short disagreement while they were in Black Lion's cockpit on their way to planet Crydor. Her spur-of-the-moment decision prompted her to take action to find Blue Lion on her own. She groaned inwardly. Not another argument please…not after last night's gorgeous dinner and the way we kissed... Allura unconsciously lifted her fingers to touch her lips. To feel him, taste him, even for a brief moment…
vvvvVvvvvVvvvv
The original Voltron Force members were at the open observation deck when Allura came back from Nanny's house.
Staring blankly at the Arusian countryside, Keith realised he had experienced one of the worst days of his life. He politely inquired about Sven's son. Then, gathering the rest of the team, he listened to Allura pay tribute to their Norwegian friend. The moment Allura finished honouring their colleague, Keith excused himself and trudged to his residential quarters. He felt drained when the adrenaline left his body.
Despite the team's light demeanour, joking about Sven's goofy accent, their mood was sombre.
Allura's eyes followed Keith's disappearing form. He simply walked away without a word.
Pidge muttered to Hunk, "He seemed to be dragging himself."
"Something's bothering him," Hunk replied.
Allura's heart wrenched hard, hearing her friends' comments.
Lance nudged her elbow. "What are you waiting for? Haven't you two fixed this yet?"
"Excuse me?" Allura asked distractedly, still staring at the now-empty hallway.
"I told Keith to fix whatever was broken between the two of you." He crossed his arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Allura shifted her gaze.
"You're not fooling me, kiddo. That little stunt you pulled today? If you only saw the panic and fear in your fiancé's eyes," Lance said quietly.
Her head bowed. "I honestly didn't expect that kind of reaction from Keith," she muttered.
"You did what you had to do, but the person you need to speak with went that way." Lance shoved her shoulders towards the hallway. "Go to him, Allura. Make this right."
Without glancing back to her friends, Allura checked her voltcom and found Keith's location. He was heading towards the residential wing.
vvvvVvvvvVvvvv
Keith sat the edge of his bed, resting his arms on his knees. Cradling his head on his hands, he let out an exhausted sigh. "What a day," he muttered to himself. He didn't notice the connecting door opening.
"You can't hide it from me, Keith Kogane." Allura stood in front of him. She noticed his shoulders hunched and he had a sad, heavy energy around him.
Keith looked up and gave a sad smile. His eyes were dull and lacked spark.
Allura sat beside him and rubbed her palm against his back. "The last time I saw those defeated eyes was during our fourth year finding Black. We were heavily hunted down in every place we found clues. We didn't know the search would stretch from months to years. We were both tired and you were at the edge of losing all hope."
Keith let out a heavy sigh. "But we prevailed."
"We did, and we shall always prevail." She brushed his rough jaw with her fingers. "Talk to me, Keith."
He buried his head on her shoulder. "That was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make. We didn't even know if he survived," he said, his voice cracking.
Allura grasped Keith's hand tight as she listened.
"Losing Sven for the second time…and you will be the death of me. Both Blue's pilots in one day…what were you thinking, Allura?" Sighing heavily, he rubbed his nose on her neck. Keith pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Allura hugged him, burying her face on his shoulder.
"I can't even begin…If we didn't find you in time, Lotor could've…" Keith's voice was raw, choked with worry, anxiety and fear. Holding her tight, he closed his eyes and inhaled her warmth. Keith needed some sense of physical connection to her, making sure she was safe in his arms.
Allura cupped his face in her hands, "Hey, nothing happened. You got to me and Sven's son in time." She kissed his forehead.
Keith gazed at Allura's eyes, his hands gripping her arms. "Promise me, you will never do that again. Ever."
She nodded as they held each other tight for what seemed like forever.
vvvvVvvvvVvvvv
"I want you to rest tonight and don't worry about your roster. Someone's going to cover it. You barely had any sleep these past two nights."
"But—"
"No buts, Keith. Rest." Allura made her staunchest mother-hen face, which Keith found impossibly cute. He gave a weak laugh.
She got off his lap and pulled him up to his feet. "C'mon, hot shower would do you good."
"You're joining me?" he chuckled as Allura pushed him towards his en suite bathroom.
She huffed as she kept on pushing her heavy-as-lead fiancé, "Don't tempt me."
"You're no fun." He smirked.
"Likewise, Commander." Allura laughed as she started the hot shower. She prudently turned around when Keith unzipped his pilot uniform.
"You sure you don't want to join me?" Grinning, Keith shoved the rest of the uniform off his feet.
Yes, I want to join you. "Shut up, Keith." Allura seethed, walking out of the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.
She let out a nervous sigh. Her legs were shaking, her breath uneven. Why did she hesitate? What was stopping her from joining Keith? What happened to their intimacy that they had nurtured all these years until the cadets arrived? Could they still go back to the way things were? She wanted Keith, but Allura wasn't sure if he wanted her back or, if he was just teasing her.
And If Keith wanted them back together, how would they do it? Would they start from scratch or pickup from where they had left off? There were more questions than there were answers. Bottomline , it should be what we both want, she thought. We need to talk this over, but it shouldn't be tonight. Perhaps in the next couple of days. Keith needs to rest tonight.
xoxoxoxoxo
Keith realised Allura was right: a hot shower did help him relax. The large shower head pounded his tense, aching shoulders. He felt the weight of the world on them. Somehow, he was half-expecting Allura to surprise him in the shower. He shut off the shower tap, pulled a fresh towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist. As he stepped out of his en suite, pulling a pair of boxer briefs from nearby dresser drawer, Keith realised room was still and quiet.
Rubbing his hair off with the towel, all he wanted to do was sleep. Keith heavily plopped himself on the bed, burying his face in his pillow. He shut his heavy eyes and shut the rest of the world away.
xoxoxoxoxo
In his exhausted sleep, Keith drifted to a vivid dream that felt too surreal. Allura's hands were on his back, kneading the knots off his tired shoulders. He could feel her smooth fingers, elbows, and knees kneading his muscled back. Breathing in, he inhaled some sweet floral scent that consumed his senses. It was all Allura. She whispered soothing words that he couldn't understand. Was she singing in some ancient Arusian song? Was Allura telling him she still loved him despite everything they'd gone through? In this beautiful dream, Keith wanted to tell Allura to stay.
Stay with me… Don't go…
Only when Keith heard her say that she would not leave him did his dream end, and he drifted into a dreamless state of bliss.
xoxoxoxoxo
Keith was back in his dream. He felt all warm and content. The lingering scent soothed and calmed him and he wanted to wrap his arms around Allura. She was warm, soft and fragrant. Keith nuzzled her hair, inhaling everything he loved about her. He groaned, finding himself hardening. He felt her wiggling her backside and whispering his name. It has been so long since we last… bonded. Rubbing his length on her thigh, he palmed her hips; his hands pushed her lacy sleepwear up. He bit the thin straps off her shoulders, dragging them down with his teeth. He heard her moan; such a luscious moan that stiffened him further. Allura… I need you…now… he heard himself say. He wanted to lick and nibble her earlobe.
"Yes…please…" she whispered back.
Keith could feel his body respond. He spoke her name aloud, peeling him from the luscious dream into the upper layers of consciousness. When he woke up, in the dimness of his room under the moon shadow, Keith realised he wasn't dreaming.
In deeper slumber beside him, her golden hair splayed in all directions, and spooning against him, was his Allura. She was wearing a pair sleeping shorts and a tight-fitting singlet.
His boxer briefs strained towards her backside. This is too good to be true.
Allura was in deep sleep. Not only was she snoring rather loudly, she was drooling on his pillow.
He chuckled to himself. Yup, that's my princess alright. He tried to re-position her to stop her from snoring, only to be swatted on the face.
She mumbled rather audibly, "Go away, Nanny. No matter what you say, I love Keith." She cuddled his pillow tighter and went back to snoring, albeit quietly.
Pleasantly surprised, Keith smiled hazily. He rolled off the other way and went back to sleep, only to wake up in the morning, alone in bed. His Allura was gone.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
