We are finally on Day 27 of the Feb whump 2022 and the prompt is 'shower breakdown'. I made it a little steamy (only implied though) and part of my Somewhere Only We Know series which is being written way out of order but hey, it is a lot of fun, so it works. This does feature a couple showering together even if nothing is actually described.


Keith could tell something was wrong as the water from the shower fell onto their bodies. Even as Allura leaned in, brushing the scrub down his back gently, her movements were slightly stiff as if she weren't there in the moment. He took her hands in his own.

"Allura, what's wrong?" Keith asked her gently.

She looked up at him, eyes widened slightly before she averted her gaze. "Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?"

Keith slowed down the shower, so the water could fall on their bodies a bit more gently. "You're quiet and a little bit stiff," Keith pointed out softly. He brushed a strand of her wet hair out of her face as he peered into her eyes. She looked up at him and he held her gaze for a few moments. Words were hard but he wanted her to always know she could come to him for anything. It seemed to have worked because she rested her head against his wet chest, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I feel lost," Allura admitted, voice cracking. "I don't know how to be a Queen, Keith. Coran is doing his best to teach me, but I wish…I wish I could talk to my mother instead." Tears fell down her cheeks even as she did her best to wipe them. Keith didn't interrupt – she needed to say this and let her continue. "I keep thinking, why did I survive? My father chose to protect me, and I may have been precious to him, but every life is precious, not just mine. His life was precious, so was Mama's. They would have been better leaders if they were here." A sob escaped her throat, and she began crying quietly, entire body shaking in his arms.

Keith let her cry, holding her close before speaking. "Allura? I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you survived. I think you're the strongest woman I've ever known." He paused, trying to think of his next words. "Being a leader, it's really hard especially when we think we're replacing someone we love. We think we can't be as good as them, but you know something? It's okay if we're not as good as them. As long as we're the best versions of ourselves, they'll be proud of us." It was something Shiro had taught him – even when he thought he wasn't as good as his brother, he didn't have to be because he brought something different to the team than what Shiro did.

"Do you think they're proud of me too?" Allura asked voice choked as she tried to stop crying.

"I know they are," Keith said, gently kissing her on the lips. "It's okay to miss them, Allura, even cry about it but you're not alone. I'm here. Always." He reached out to wipe the tears from her eyes before grabbing a towel, wrapping it around her body. "May I?"

Allura leaned up, pressing her own lips to his. "Thank you."

Keith smiled, cheeks heating up, but he lifted her in his arms, bridal style and began heading to the room. "Anytime."