A Ray of Hope
(A Bonds of Love Prequel)
By KittyLynne
(The usual disclaimers apply here.)
Chapter Six-Much Fuss About Something
Hunk was the first to emerge from his elevator.
With a whoop and a holler, he rounded the cylinder, avidly scanning the room for the Princess. She deserved hearty praise for a job well done, and he would be the first to give her some. All right!
He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the distinguished figure in the greatcoat that stood in his path.
Uh-oh, this wasn't good. The old man was ticked off about something; the crossed arms and icy glare were a dead giveaway, as was the fact that Coran hadn't waited to lower the tubes after their arrival, but instead had climbed down to greet them. That was highly unusual for him to do; after all, the man still had a bum leg. Whatever was eating at him right now must be serious.
For a moment the Yellow Lion pilot almost recoiled under the forbidding look, but in next to no time he regained his composure and glared right back, his shoulders unconsciously straightening to draw himself up to his full height of six feet, six inches.
Now what? Is this guy never happy? We just defeated Yurak, the Castle is brand spankin' new, and he still looks like he needs a laxative!
Coran's glower intensified as if he had heard the young man's irreverent thoughts. Hunk stared back defiantly, his temper starting to rise. A muscle jumped in his cheek, as he set his jaw. His hands opened and closed, as if they were barely refraining from forming into fists.
Behind the two men the rest of the Voltron Force emerged from their tubes, laughing and joking until they drew nearer to the wordless conflict. Eyes went wide at the sight of their teammate and the Royal Advisor apparently locked in a stare-down.
At that same instant, Princess Allura appeared at the main door, her cheeks flushed from her quick trip down from the parapet. Her eyes were wide with excitement, until they registered the tension between Hunk and Coran. She halted just inside the open doorway, her expression changing to one of bewilderment.
Across the room, her gaze met that of the Captain's. Her eyebrows lifted inquiringly; he shrugged, but promptly decided to get to the heart of the matter as he saw the growing distress in Allura's expression.
"What seems to be the trouble here?" He asked neutrally, stepping between the two men.
"That's what I'd like to know," Hunk growled. "All I did was get off the elevator, and Coran here was looking at me like I was yesterday's leftovers!"
"Coran? Did Hunk offend you in some way?" Keith turned to the older man. The stern countenance reminded Keith of the drill sergeants he had had in Academy boot camp. He repressed a shudder at the thought.
"Not exactly." Was the clipped reply.
"Coran, what is the matter? Why are you treating Hunk in this way?" The Princess' soft voice broke into the tension. "Is there something he can do to make it better?"
Coran's arms uncrossed, and one hand raised to idly stroke his full mustache, as he continued to eye Hunk. "Yes Princess, there is." He replied somberly.
The diplomat's fierce gaze traveled over the entire Voltron Force, pinning each man in his place. He cleared his throat and spoke in ringing tones.
"Gentleman, and Hunk..." the Yellow Lion pilot promptly bristled at the implied insult, but was restrained by the cautionary hand of Sven, "the fussbudget would like to know what 'props' are and what you are planning to do to the Princess."
Hunk let out an audible groan and dropped his bravado. Damn those transmitters!
"Oh jeez! Coran- I'm sorry...I swear I meant it in the best possible way..."
A soft snicker could be heard and the big man twisted around to glare at the pilot of Red Lion. Lance smirked and gave him an infuriating wink.
"The fussbudget would also like to know why any sort of a gentleman would stoop to comparing our lovely Princess to a man called, ah...'Dirty Harry," the Royal advisor continued softly, fixing a steely gaze upon Lance.
The smirk disappeared, replaced by an expression of acute dismay.
Hunk gave a small smile of satisfaction.
"Well?" A well- groomed auburn eyebrow arched over one frosty-looking eye.
"Uh...I m-meant that in the best possible w-way..." Lance stammered. Hunk rolled his eyes heavenward.
"And I can assume that explanation also covers referring to her as a 'babe'?" The older man continued ruthlessly.
The Princess gasped, then blushed furiously, lowering her eyes to the floor. That word sounded rather indecent though she didn't know why; didn't it mean a young infant? An innocent? Was Lance calling her a baby? Her brow puckered in bewilderment as she stared at her boot- clad feet..
Keith shot a look at the red-faced lieutenant. This will teach Lance to watch his mouth! He thought in grim amusement, watching his friend fidget uncomfortably under the weight of Coran's scrutiny.
"Well, uh...you see…um…" The Red Lion pilot fell silent, not wishing to dig himself a deeper hole, yet desperately hoping for the floor to open and swallow him up. He thought hard for a moment, and then scrambled to save face. "Sir, on Earth the term is actually considered quite a compliment to a female. A man only uses this term when expressing his highest regards for a lady's attributes. I truly meant it as a accolade to Her Highness and I am sorry if you felt I was being crass."
Allura smiled forgivingly at the embarrassed young man. Maybe Lance could teach me some more Terran terms, they certainly are quite stirring and colorful. She thought, and her smile widened.
Lance gave her a shy grin, as his color deepened under her friendly gaze. Keith's brows lowered slightly as he looked from the Princess to his friend.
"He definitely has the gift of blarney, doesn't he?" Sven murmured to the annoyed Captain. "Uff da!"
"Too bad the Princess doesn't know what blarney is," Keith shot back, his expression darkening.
"Maybe Lance could spend some time with her to explain it, he told me that she's asked him many times about Terran culture," Sven supplied helpfully, smothering a laugh as his friend turned to glower at the pilot of Red Lion.
"He'll be too busy to give lessons," Keith replied curtly, and Sven grinned.
Someone was in for extra reps in combat exercises, the Blue Lion pilot thought gleefully. That would teach Lance not to mess with his uniform's codpiece! Sven shifted uncomfortably as he felt the drastically shortened band cut into his unmentionables. He could hardly wait to free himself from the continuous wedgies that had been inflicted on him since he had donned the battle gear.
"Dumskalle," he muttered, returning his attention to the scene before him.
"And finally..." Coran drew a deep breath, as the disconcerted Space Explorers held theirs, " the fussbudget would like to know what 'cheesecake' is and why it is so valuable." The sculpted lips below the luxuriant mustache quirked suddenly, as if their owner was repressing a smile.
The held breaths were expelled noisily as the Advisor's final inquiry was aired.
Keith's lips twitched as well as he met Sven's wry look. Seems the sober Advisor has a sense of humor after all. Hethought, greatly relieved
"Cheesecake...now you're talkin' my language!" Hunk exclaimed. "Let me tell you, it's the best thing that ever happened to Terran cuisine!"
"Is that so? Well, when the woman I sent for returns to the castle, perhaps she can learn to make it," Coran suggested, his stance softening a bit.
"What woman?" Hunk asked, curiosity overcoming his appetite.
Pidge spoke up. "Time for that later, big guy, I think we should welcome the Princess to the team now, don't you?" He winked at Allura who smiled uncertainly. What was the boy talking about? What welcome? Her eyes turned to the Captain for an explanation.
Keith nodded. He was suddenly eager to get this whole episode over with and get the Princess to himself...to discuss combat strategy, of course. "Coran, with all due respect to you and your Arusian traditions, we would like to salute Her Highness with a Garrison tradition that goes back to the founders of the Space Academy."
"Does it involve 'props'?" The guardian asked, suspiciously.
Keith tried not to smile. "No...the word 'props' is Terran slang for giving credit to someone who has done something impressive."
"I see. Hm, well, I don't see any harm in it, as long as it isn't discourteous to Her Majesty's person."
"No one has complained before-heck, even Space Marshall Graham has participated in this particular tradition!" Lance spoke up, a roguish glint in his eye.
"By all means then," Coran acquiesced, politely stepping aside.
"Three cheers for the Princess, and welcome to the team!" Pidge cried out happily.
"Three cheers for the Princess!" His teammates shouted.
Allura's eyes slowly widened as the five pilots headed for her en masse.
Coran's mouth dropped open and then snapped shut as he watched the Voltron Force surround her, then carefully reach out to hoist the Princess into the air. She squeaked in surprise and blinked owlishly at the grinning masculine features below her. Her guardian threw his hands up in exasperation. It was too late, he had given his approval; he could only thank the lions that the Royal court wasn't here to witness this.
"Princess, this is really most unseemly, Garrison tradition or not!" He objected.
Before Allura could respond, the world had tilted and she was dropping down, then flying up into the air accompanied by a loud cheer, then down into the safety of five pairs of brawny arms, up again, and down, up and then down once more before being boosted back to her feet. She wobbled, and a pair of hands at her waist steadied her.
"Easy, Princess. Hope we weren't too rough on you," Keith's voice came from directly behind her.
"Not at all, Captain. It was an amazing experience!" She replied breathlessly.
She turned to face him and he immediately let go of her waist and stepped back. She knew she was flushed, but she couldn't be sure if it was because of the salute or the fact that he had touched her. She straightened her circlet, and her posture, gradually regaining her composure under the appreciative gazes of five impressive male specimens, looking from man to man, giving each a shy grin. "I like Terran traditions, they're fun!"
Pidge blushed under her approving eyes. "We have many others that are just as fun! Maybe-"
A nosily cleared throat cut him off, as the Royal Guardian stepped forward, and gave the youth a severe look.
"-and maybe I'll tell you about them later, Princess." Pidge finished with a wince.
"I'd enjoy that very much! My deepest thanks to all of you, for what you have done for Arus, and for giving me such a wonderful salute!" The Princess said gently, and then paused as she searched for a way to express her admiration for her heroes, a certain turn of phrase that would convey exactly how she felt about them. Her face lit up as the proper words popped into her mind, "if I may be permitted the expression, I wish to say that I think that all of you are 'babes' too!" She turned to an astounded-looking Lance. "That is, if 'babe' is a term that can be used for both genders."
The pilot of Red lion opened his mouth, but for once, nothing emerged.
Coran ran a hand down his face and shook his head in disbelief. Hannah, please hurry back! He silently pleaded.
"Of course it can," Sven responded smoothly, his eyes dancing with suppressed mirth. "I can't tell you how honored ve are to haf you tell us in person, Princess!"
"But Sven, maybe she should-" Pidge began, before a beefy hand clapped over his mouth.
"Shut up! She's trying to pay us a compliment, so don't embarrass her!" Hunk hissed in the youth's ear.
"Is something wrong, boys?" Allura asked, her brow starting to furrow. Hunk released his young friend and straightened up, while Pidge adjusted his glasses.
"No ma'am," they chorused, "everything's fine!"
"I've gone and said something inappropriate, haven't I?" The Princess asked, her suspicions heightened by the flush on the Captain's face and the compressed lips and shaking shoulders of Sven. Both men avoided her eyes.
Well, what should I call you boys then? I only meant to express my high admiration for you." She looked so crestfallen that the snickering pilots all sobered at once.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the group, but only for a moment.
"Princess, you can call me anything you like, just so you call me!" Lance declared grandly, stepping in front of his teammates, and accidentally bumping shoulders with Sven. "Oops! So sorry Lieutenant, didn't mean to wedge myself between you and the Princess."
He felt the Norwegian's glare burning a hole through his back as he held out an arm to the Princess. "Shall we see about finding something to eat Your Majesty? I'm starved!"
Allura took the proffered arm with obvious pleasure. "Yes, I could use some food. Maybe you could tell me about this 'Dirty Harry' you mentioned as we walk."
"It'd be my pleasure, Princess." Lance responded suavely.
"Are you yust going to let them walk away like that?" Sven muttered to the quietly fuming Keith. "Do something, he's making a move!"
"I really have no basis for compl- wait a second!" Keith raised his voice so it carried to the departing couple. " Princess! What about the heirlooms that we left down in the catacombs?"
Allura came to an abrupt halt, forcing Lance to stop and curse his leader silently.
"How could I have forgotten? I have to get them right away!" She exclaimed, abruptly dropping her escort's arm and walking back to them.
"Not by yourself, Princess." Keith replied, shooting a smug glance at the frustrated Red Lion pilot. "Why don't we all go with you?"
Allura smiled. "I'd really like that, Keith! Thank you."
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Keith," Lance muttered. "You're a prince of a guy."
"Heirlooms?" Coran repeated, coming up behind them. "What heirlooms?"
Sven explained what had transpired, and the older man nodded, while casting a stern look at the Princess. "I see. Thank you both for helping Allura and for keeping her safe."
"It vas a privilege to do so, " Sven replied, bowing to the Royal Advisor.
"I owe a huge personal debt to both of you, "Allura stated. "I wish I had something to give to you for your trouble!"
Sven glanced at Keith, and was amused to see what looked like panic brewing in his friend's eyes.
"We don't want a reward for that, Princess," the Norseman replied gallantly. "Having the pleasure of your company is the best reward for us...isn't that right, Keith?" He winked at his friend, who nodded enthusiastically.
Allura's cheeks turned rosy pink, and she smiled at both pilots. "Thank you."
"Nice goin', Sven!" Hunk slapped his teammate on the back. "I concur!"
"Me too," Pidge added dreamily.
The Princess said nothing, but her expression spoke for her. She was virtually glowing with pleasure.
Coran sighed heavily. Five eligible, worldly men and one beautiful, innocent woman; this scenario had to be a father's worst nightmare.
"Oh all right," Lance rolled his eyes at his teammates' obvious fawning over the Princess. "Let's just get the party moving already!"
As bad luck would have it, Sven boldly commandeered Allura's arm, and the disgruntled Red Lion pilot found himself the last of the group to leave Castle Control.
However, there was some consolation to be found in the Norwegian's extremely rigid gait. Rolvaag's gonna be stuck with a perpetual wedgie for at least another couple of hours, heh heh heh!
Softly whistling the beginning bars of his favorite movie theme song, 'Every Which Way But Loose', Lance followed his friends into the first of many spacious, immaculate corridors in the reborn Castle of Lions.
To be continued…