Just Allura

by (Kitty)Shannon

Disclaimers: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Original/new characters belong to the author.

Rating: PG - Mild Language and Innuendo

Chapter 6

The four male pilots of the Voltron Force laughed heartily as they made their way to the rec room. Hunk, fondly know as the 'Big Guy' not only because of his large size and brute strength, but also because of his huge heart, flopped down in an end chair and threw his arms behind his head. Pidge, the youngest member of the bunch sat down on the floor cross-legged and leaned up against his big buddy. Next came Keith, who made his way over to the window and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall next to it. Finally in strolled Lance, who flopped down on the couch, and gave his friends a huge grin.

"I bet Allura's really peeved at us right about now." Lance commented.

Hunk chuckled. "Gotta admit, she had a great plan for getting me alone."

"She did," Pidge looked up at the Big Guy. "I still can't believe you ate that entire cheesecake."

"Hey, Nanny's always watching me around all the good stuff. I figured I'd better get it while the gettin' was good."

This brought about another round of laugher except from Keith who was now lost in thought as he gazed out the window. Lance looked over at his brother's visage which was reflected in the window and noted the concerned look on the other man's features.

"Anything wrong, Skipper?"

"I just hope we didn't hurt the Princess's feelings. You know she's very sensitive."

"I'm sure she's fine." Lance gave Keith what he hoped was a reassuring look. "Maybe a little mad, but fine."

"Yeah," Hunk added, "I think she's a lot tougher than we give her credit for."

"I don't know." Keith was obviously worried. "Sometimes she takes the littlest things to heart."

"Well, Skipper," Lance began, the wheels of his mind spinning. "Why don't you go find her and make sure she's alright?"

"Yeah, Chief," Hunk threw in. "We don't want our big surprise to turn into a big flop."

"I would feel much better knowing we didn't hurt her feelings." Keith admitted.

"Then go. Go!" Lance made a shooing motion with his hands. "We'll play cards or somethin' 'til you get back."

Keith looked around at his friends, taking a moment to determine his plan of action. In truth, he'd made the decision some time ago that he would be going in search of their beloved friend. He had simply needed a little verification from his comrades that it was the right thing to do. Their words seemed to convince him, so he started across the room. But when he'd reached the door he hesitated, turning back to the group once more in need of their support.

"Don't worry," Lance wore a toothy grin. "If you're not back by bed time, we won't wait up."

Hunk chuckled and Pidge looked baffled.

"Ha ha," came the Captain's response as he left the room, and his fears, behind. It seemed the pilot of Red Lion's quick wit and roguish sense of humor was at time also a soothing balm.

As soon as the door slid closed, Lance jumped up and hurried over to it. He stopped just out of the way of the automatic sensor to ensure he didn't open it. Looking at his watch, he counted down, allowing a full minute to pass before he stepped over and triggered the door's release. Stepping out into the hall, he took a quick look around, and made sure Keith was long gone. When he re-entered the rec room, he grinned at Hunk and Pidge.

"Man, he's got it bad."

The Big Guy nodded his agreement. "I just hope this works."

"Me too," the youngest member of the group added. "And I hope it doesn't backfire."

"Trust me, will ya? I know what I'm doing," Lance assured them. "Don't forget that I have a way with the ladies..."

"Yeah, and Keith ain't no lady, so sit your butt down and let's get to work, Casanova." Hunk gave his friend a toothy grin of his own and the lanky pilot of Red Lion quickly found a seat.

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Keith stood outside the door to the observation deck. He took a steadying breath as he ran a hand through his unruly black hair. It was going to be tough not to tell the Princess everything. He'd have to remain determined and he wasn't so sure that was possible.

Allura made him feel so at ease. She made him feel as if he could share the secrets of his soul with her, and that was something that he had to be really cautious about. He couldn't count the times he'd nearly been lured into telling her just how he felt, just how much he loved her. That was something he'd been fighting desperately to keep from her for some time now.

Taking another deep breath, he reached out and pushed a button to open the doors. He stood silent and still as they swished aside and bade him enter.

Once inside, he paused, allowing his eyes time to adjust to the darkness engulfing him. When he could see, he took a quick look and was surprised to find he was the room's only occupant. Just to be sure, he made his way around, checking each shadowed corner, each hidden nook. He found, as he had suspected, he was alone.

Keith's thick black eyebrows knit together while his mind made a checklist of all the possible places the Arussian monarch could have gone.

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Tucked away in an alcove of the Princess's personal garden sat a medium sized bench. Its legs were carved with a common pattern, the seat a slab of polished white marble. For all purposes it was fairly simple and plain. But for Allura, it was a treasured possession.

You see, this simple marble bench was one of the only things salvaged from her mother's personal gardens years ago. When Zarkon had attacked, one of the first things that evil old king did was destroy the mighty Castle of Lions. Of course, not the new, shiny metal structure that stood proud and tall today, but the original castle constructed of mortar and stone.

And so, when the construction of the new castle had begun, it was ordered that any and all relics found be brought to Coran, Allura's Royal Advisor and Guardian. The moment he set eyes on the stone bench, he knew it must be set aside for the Princess. The lovely young woman cherished every token of her parent's lives that she found.

Later, that little marble bench had taken up its current residence, a rose encircled alcove in the Arussian monarch's personal garden. And tonight, with the moon high in the sky, the stars twinkling brightly, the beautiful Princess of Arus sat upon that very bench, wrapped in a black cloak that she usually kept buried in the bottom of a chest in her chambers.

The cloak was old and tattered, but had once belonged to her father, the mighty King Alfor. In some strange way she found comfort in wearing it. Wrapping it around her shoulders and pulling it close about her shoulders somehow made her feel as if her father were right there, holding her near, giving her the comfort only a parent can provide their child.

Tonight she tugged the cloak closer. Its thick fabric warmed her body, but her heart remained chilled. There were times when her life overwhelmed her, as protected and sheltered as it often seemed. Most of her life, she had known only war and loss. Her planet and its people had been raped and pillaged by their enemies. Her parents taken from her when she was only a child. The weight of a world thrust upon her, her childhood and innocence cut short. And now it seemed the people who had become as close as family were rejecting her.

The worst of it all had to be the way Lance was pulling away from her. He had always treated her as if she were no different than any other girl. But lately, he'd been avoiding her like the plague. Maybe her friends were tired of observing so many of the formalities that a friendship with her required. She had no doubt that her title was a huge barrier between her and Keith...

Keith.

The worst of it all wasn't Lance, it was Keith. She wanted desperately to know him and regardless of what she did, he didn't seem to want to let her. He kept a wall between them that she simply couldn't scale. There were times when she thought she'd made some breakthrough with him only to find he'd pull even further away. Of course, that wasn't to say he wasn't a good friend. In fact, he had become one of the best friends she'd ever had - simply put, he never let her down.

Though, recently, she'd come to realize she wanted more than a friendship with him. She wanted his heart. She wanted to tell him she was in love with him. But if she did, it might destroy any friendship they had, and worse still, he might pull away and never let her close again.