SA

SA

SA

Allura noticed the change.

As of late, Shiro was in Black Paladin mode and she was in commander mode. Calls for help and meetings with other planets were non-stop.

Lance and Keith were too busy to argue. Hunk didn't have time to cook so their meals were food goo. Pidge willingly went to bed at a reasonable hour. Even Coran's mustache wasn't as perky as usual due to either lack of grooming time or fatigue.

But despite that, there was still their routine.

Allura stayed on the bridge as Shiro carried a half asleep Pidge to her room. The mice had scampered ages ago. It was just her. She let out a yawn as she finished reading the report. Her ears twitched as the sliding door to the bridge sounded.

Still, she kept her eyes on her screens. She smiled as she felt him embrace her from behind, his chin on her shoulder and his arms around her arms.

This part of the day was the change and she adored it.

"Shiro," she lightly admonished.

He kept her arms pinned to her sides. The hold was pitifully loose. They both knew even without her strength she could get loose.

"Allura," he softly huffed. "It's bedtime."

His breath teased her ear, making her warm. If it weren't for his long sleeved Black Paladin sleepwear he could probably feel it.

"Just a tick more."

He leaned into her more as he reached a hand out to slide the screen back down into her station, effectively closing it.

"You've been working all day. It can wait until morning so you're actually understanding what you're reading."

"…Well, when you put it that way," she let out a long sigh. "I suppose so."

He smiled warmly. "Come on."

He moved away enough to properly take her hand. She let herself be led off the bridge. When he started leading them down the hall to the Paladin lounge she gave a little tug.

"Not the hammock."

"Oh." He blinked at the break in their routine. "Well I mean, we don't have to sleep there if you don't-"

"Come on," she echoed his words with a smile.

He followed her lead. It didn't take him long to guess where they were going.

"Allura, I'm not sure -"

"There's space." She stopped right before her door. "The mice typically sleep on my vanity."

"That's not- it's just - is it ok?" His voice lowered subconsciously as her door slid open. This was new territory he hadn't expected to encounter tonight and he felt like a fumbling fool. "With me," he pointed at himself unnecessarily, "in your room?"

She gave him a slow blink. He knew that look. This was something that differed Alteans from humans but she hadn't thought it would be.

"We share the hammock…"

"Yeah," he slowly answered, "we do."

"But bed sharing would be different?"

"No…" He looked at the gossamer curtains tied back around her rather large bed. "And yes."

Her white lashes slowly lowered and then raised up again.

"It's closed quarters," he let go of her hand to rub his neck. "Also a lot more…personal."

"…but the hammock is in the lounge," she half questioned, half reasoned out loud, "which is a shared space."

"Something like that."

"Oh."

"I-is bed sharing typical then for Alteans?"

She pushed some hair behind her ear. "It depends on the person."

"…you know what, it's kind of like that with humans too." He let out a sigh. "I'm overreacting. I'm sorry. I think- well in the hammock I don't really get nightmares. But in a bed…" he frowned at the plush pillows and comforter. They looked comfortable but all the open space around it- "I think…I'm afraid to find out if they'll return."

Allura considered him. "You did get a couple of nightmares in the hammock."

"What? But I don't remember-"

"I used my Quintessence to ease your mind back into a calm state." She bit her bottom lip. "I should have told you. I am sorry."

"No, Allura you don't need to. I just-" he turned his head a little. "I thought I finally found a way to get rid of them."

He felt her hand slip back into his.

"You have."

He looked at her soft expression. "…you get some nightmares too," he fessed up.

"I thought as much. But you…your presence grounds me." She squeezed his hand. "You remind me what's real."

He leaned his forehead on hers.

"If that's the case…if you're ok with this…then I'm ok."

She rubbed noses with him. "Only if you are comfortable."

"I'm willing to find out."

She kissed his cheek. "Get comfortable then."

He went over to the bed as she went to a dresser and pulled out her sleepwear. He kicked off his slippers as she changed behind a screen. He laid down on top of the covers and folded his hands on his stomach. She moved to undo the curtains to encase them.

"You can go under the comforter."

"I'm good."

She slipped under and then scooted closer to him. He turned his head towards her as she rested her head against his right shoulder. Good thing he still had a bicep.

"Sleep well."

"Yeah. You too."

It took him a while.

He listened to the mice's light snores from somewhere in the room, counted off kalteneckers and then somewhere in the middle of thinking about how he was sleeping in a space princess' room he finally fell asleep.

He muttered in his sleep. Then twitched his head. She lifted her glowing hand up and he calmed gradually.

She turned in her sleep. Half asleep he rotated onto his side so he could put his left arm around her. He found her hand and rubbed her knuckles.

Her breathing evened out once more.

They both woke up at the end of the sleep cycle face to face. He pushed some unruly hair out of her droopy blue eyes.

"This could work," he murmured.

She gave him sleepy smile.

"Told you."

She let out a laughing shriek as he suddenly ducked his face to her neck, his teeth getting her in a playful nip.

SA

SA

SA

AN: I just want fluff right now. And then more fluff. XD

Oh, and Shiro's Hawaiian/Japanese in this. :)