To those who have stuck with me over my long hiatus, thank you. I do appreciate your dedication. I've recently discovered a theme song for Keith and Duvessa which has been making it easier for me to get into my writing, but this chapter...was just hard. (Politics...YUCK...lol) Enjoy!
I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.
Chapter Seven
Duvessa walked into the conference room where the weekly planning meetings were held. She'd gotten used to arriving early and not being introduced. She set her planner down at her spot and picked up the meeting agenda, looking it over. She remained standing behind her chair as she read.
Keith walked into the room and moved to his chair. He looked across the table at her. "Good morning. I thought you would be introduced since you are a princess," he stated softly.
Duvessa looked up, startled. "Good morning. Since I am, for the moment, currently filling your shoes, I don't get introduced as a princess, but as a commander," she stated, setting the agenda down on top of her planner. "How are you feeling today?"
He nodded. "Physically, I'm well. Mentally, still...adjusting."
She nodded back. "Well, if things get to be too much for you…"
"I'm sure you or Allura will be the first to know," Keith assured her.
"Well, I'm sure you could always tell Lance, as well. As Prince Consort, he has been attending as well. Not that he enjoys doing this," Duvessa stated softly.
Keith shook his head. "I still can't believe he's married," Keith whispered.
Duvessa nodded and looked down at the table. "I…can't even imagine what you are going through, Keith."
Keith opened his mouth to answer, but didn't get the chance.
"Princess and Prince Consort of Arus, Allura and Lance McClain," someone called and everyone stood at attention.
Allura moved to the head of the table while Lance took a chair off to the side. "Good morning, everyone. Please sit," she stated, taking her seat. She smiled at Keith. "It is good to see you back, Keith."
Keith nodded his head respectfully. "It is good to be back, Princess," he answered.
Allura beamed and looked to Duvessa. "Commander? Anything to report?"
Duvessa nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty," she answered and stood. She moved to a wall monitor and called up some images and launched into what she had planned on discussing with the committee.
Keith listened to her give damage reports on the last attacks from Doom and what would be needed to assist in the repairs of the damaged areas.
Allura nodded as Duvessa finished. "Thank you, Commander," she stated and Duvessa resumed her seat.
One of the nobles raised his hand.
Allura nodded. "Yes?"
"Princess, I move that we take action on the Commander's insightful ideas and render aid to those in need. They will need to get their infrastructure back in order to maintain their economy," the nobleman stated.
Another noble raised her hand. "I concur, Princess. It is only right seeing as how Voltron was involved."
Lance leaned forward, a scowl on his face. "Do you think they'd be better off if Voltron wasn't involved?" he growled.
The noblewoman blinked in shock. "No, of course not! That isn't what I meant at all!"
"Then what did you mean? You know Arus is the front line on this war that is still going on with Doom and the Drules," he stated. "The damage could have been a lot worse like it was when we first arrived had it not been for Voltron."
"Yes, of course, I know that," the woman stated. "I only meant since he was involved, the Crown does have an obligation to assist."
"Yeah, and Doom has an obligation to assist, too, but you see them jumping onboard to help with repairs?" Lance quipped.
Allura looked at him. "Lance, enough. We get it."
Lance crossed his arms over his chest and sat back in his chair.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. I did not mean for my remark to be such an insult," the noblewoman murmured.
"It's all right," Allura answered. "But, perhaps we should do more than just supply funds and materials for the rebuilding. It has been awhile since the Force has done any major community service work. This seems like it would be the perfect opportunity to get some in," she stated, with a look to Duvessa.
Duvessa nodded. "I will pass that request along and see what we can do to assist, Princess."
Keith clicked his pen and made a note. When he finished, his eyes shot across the table to Duvessa.
She glanced over at him, feeling his eyes on her. She blushed slightly then turned her attention back to the meeting.
Towards the end of the meeting, Allura looked to Duvessa. "Duvessa, I know this is a ways out yet, but I wanted to have you start planning for the annual celebration at the Love Bridge at the end of next month. I won't be able to attend, there's a conference I'm planning on attending with Coran on Theta IX. Would you be able to attend the celebration?"
Duvessa blushed and nodded. She knew the legend of the bridge, it was old even when she was young. "Certainly," she answered, making a note.
"Make sure you take someone with you," Lance stated. He grinned, looking at his wife. "Certain people like to try and interrupt that celebration."
Allura rolled her eyes. "It was that one time, Lance."
"Better safe than sorry," Lance murmured.
Duvessa nodded. "Very well. I do have time to plan this trip."
"Indeed you do," Allura agreed and rose to her feet, everyone else following her lead. "Until next week everyone," she stated, picking her things up and walking from the room, Lance beside her.
Once Allura and Lance left the room, Duvessa sat back down and made a few more notes in her planner and pulled up a small calendar on her Voltcom, checking dates and times, hoping to avoid scheduling conflicts. She quickly sent a note to the team to let them know of Allura's request for them to help with the rebuilding project.
Keith quietly sat down beside her, watching her work.
Duvessa paused noting she wasn't alone and looked at him, concern lighting in her blue eyes. "Keith? Are you all right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, just…strange watching someone else handle my duties."
She smiled. "I imagine it would be difficult to see that happening," she agreed with a nod. Her gaze turned pensive, thinking back and wondering what had gone on after she had been put into cryostasis. She shook herself from the thoughts. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Actually, there is. Lance thinks it would be a good idea for me to spend time with you and the team. Maybe it will trigger some of my memories into coming back," Keith stated.
She nodded again, slower this time. "That…might be a good idea," she agreed. "As I said the other day, I'm at your disposal. I will help in any way that I can."
"Thank you," he murmured. "I do appreciate it. I was wondering, though, if you were free, I'd - I'd like to see my Lion."
She blinked. "Oh. Of course," she stated and quickly gathered her things. "In fact, I'm about to go on patrol. If you'd like to join me? I mean, you won't be piloting, but I don't think Gorma would mind you tagging along on a routine patrol…"
He beamed. "Gladly," he stated and rose to his feet. "I will meet you in Control in five minutes?"
She nodded and stood. "Five minutes," she agreed and followed him from the room. While he moved off down a different hallway, she went to her office, dropping her planner onto her desk. She sighed and rubbed her face. "You can do this. It's just Keith. Calm down," she whispered, then she headed for Control to wait.
Keith dropped his planner onto his desk in his office, then frowned, hoping this was the right thing to do. The others trusted her, but for some reason, he just couldn't get his head to stop thinking the worst. "Oh, stow it, Kogane," he muttered. "Black wouldn't let her fly him if she wasn't trustworthy," he whispered.
He turned on his heel and headed for Control.
Walking in, he nodded his head, impressed that she had actually beaten him there and was quietly waiting by Black's chute at a modified parade rest. He smiled at her. "Ready?"
She nodded. "Yes. You?"
"Always ready to fly," he stated. He waved to the zip line. "Ladies first."
Duvessa turned and leapt into Black's chute, expertly grabbing the zip line and down to the waiting shuttle.
Keith waited for the line to return and followed, landing behind her.
Duvessa pressed the release and the shuttle rocketed off towards Black. Once in the Lion, she took the pilot's seat, running a quick, but efficient pre-flight check.
Keith slid into the rear seat, feeling slightly ill at ease. "Seems weird flying back here," he murmured.
Duvessa giggled softly. "Yes, it does," she agreed. "I'm ready for launch if you are."
Keith nodded, doing a quick double check on her pre-flight. "All right. Whenever you're ready," he stated.
Duvessa grasped the controls, the spire opened, and she launched into the open air over the castle.
Most of the patrol went without incident. It was very quiet inside the Lion.
"So, Keith…"
"So, Duvessa…"
They both laughed. "Go ahead, Keith," Duvessa stated.
He shook his head. "You were Black's first pilot, right?"
"Officially, yes. I mean, there was the initial test pilots when they were built, but no one ever counts the test pilots when it comes to team things," she stated.
"How did you know how to fly?" he asked.
She blinked. "Well, I'd been trained in some of the best fighters we had at that time," she stated. "Which is why I hold, or used to hold, anyway, the title of High General of the Arusian Air Forces."
"You're royalty, you probably still hold that title," Keith murmured.
"Technically, you're right," she answered. "But, I prefer to be called commander when I'm flying. Princess only for the very formal functions." She sighed. "But, to return to your question, it was almost instinctual upon sitting in this seat. Yes, I'd had formal flight training, but you know as well as I do, the Lions are different."
"Very different," Keith agreed. "It felt instinctual to me, too, when I first flew him, though I did fly Green first."
Duvessa blinked, curiosity getting the better of her. "Why did you pilot Green first?"
"Zarkon had bombed Arus pretty badly before we arrived. The planet was damn near on its knees to him," Keith answered. "Pidge had gone out on foot to scout, so we were already down a man, but Black's key was missing. We eventually found it, but it was close."
Duvessa forced herself to loosen her grip on the controls. "That's a good thing, that you were able to find the key," she whispered. "Things could have been much different if you hadn't."
"Yes, it would have been," Keith agreed. "So, what were you going to say?"
She shook her head. "I don't remember," she answered, sheepishly.
He chuckled. "Sorry."
She smiled at the sound. "It's all right," she answered. "Well, that's it for this route. Anything else we should see before heading back?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.
He shook his head. "No, radar is clear," he told her.
She nodded and headed back to the Castle. "Not sure if Lance mentioned it to you, but the team is going to be playing Tevleth tomorrow night."
Keith blinked. "What is Tevleth?"
"A card game. I believe Lance calls it poker? Not sure what that is exactly, but it's the royal card game Tevleth," she stated.
"Oh. No, he hadn't mentioned it to me. When and where?" he asked.
"The recreation room," Duvessa answered as the castle came into sight. "About 1800."
Keith nodded. "All right. Are you going to be there?"
She grinned, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "I wouldn't miss playing Tevleth for anything."
"Oh, so you're a gambler," Keith chuckled.
"I think we all are considering we're Voltron Force," she answered as she landed in the spire.
He nodded, conceding the point. "All right, then. Poker it is."
