Okay, I am obsessed with this story – I admit it. But it's so fun to write and I have so many plans. And you know I've not written this kind of story before. Poor Keith and Allura but meh, they'll be okay. Or will they? Okay, I'm going to shush now and let you suffer with Kallura cause that's fun.


3. I'll Stand By You

Keith's head still pounded – when he had come to, he had realised they were in another location. No matter where the location was though, there were no sounds. It was like no life inhabited this world. In the place that they had been at before though, all they could see was sand for miles and miles but now, there were some trees and greenery. He and Allura had managed to find a tree which she had turned into a small shelter. He had gotten some tools to make a small fireplace for the two of them, but the silence was almost piercing. Normally, he didn't mind the silence but there was a sinking feeling in his stomach that something terrible had happened. He didn't want to push Allura to talk but at the same time, he didn't want to just stay silent.

She was sat hunched by the fireplace; her gaze rooted firmly on the ground. He shifted in a little closer, but her eyes instantly shot up, her fists clenching and her entire body tensing suddenly. He quickly raised his hands.

"It's okay, it's just me," Keith hurried to assure. He hadn't meant to startle her, but she supposed it made sense because she was in such deep thought.

"Oh," Allura said, posture relaxing. "I thought for a moment that he…may have found us."

Right, Lotor. He had gotten a bad vibe the moment they had first met him here and whatever happened while he was out had confirmed it. He wanted to know but at the same time, it had clearly shaken Allura, and it took a lot to shake her. He had to be careful.

"Allura, I know I'm not," Keith began shifting, voice sounding a bit stiff, and he frowned, aiming to make it a bit gentler. "I'm not as good at this as the others but…I'm here. I mean if you want to talk or anything." That still sounded gentler – he wasn't sure how he was with consoling someone, but he had to try. She needed him to.

There was silence – was that a no? Maybe she didn't trust him enough yet – or she was afraid to open up, he couldn't fault her that. It was hard to be vulnerable, he knew that better than anyone. Her expression hadn't changed and just when he thought she was going to remain silent, she finally spoke up.

"He…he…" Allura stumbled over her words, voice shaking slightly before it finally steadied. "He touched me…it felt wrong. He was threatening to kill you…I can't…I can't lose you too. But it still felt dirty and wrong, him touching me in that way." Her body trembled slightly, and Keith felt all the hesitation leave him as he moved a little closer.

"Allura," Keith asked quietly. "Are you comfortable with me holding you?" His cheeks flushed a little bit, but he pushed that down, just wanting her to feel better. Allura looking like this felt like something was very wrong with the world and he had to do something. He couldn't just not do anything. He waited for her to nod before wrapping his arms around her, a little stiffly but they immediately relaxed when she rested her head against his chest. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to protect you."

"But you did protect me, Keith," Allura said softly. "You got hurt trying to protect me."

Keith paused at that but wasn't sure what to reply. Was that why she had wanted to go with Lotor to at least hear him out? To spare his life?

"Allura," Keith said softly. "Why would you put yourself in danger to protect me? I mean…couldn't anyone become the Red Paladin?" He didn't particularly think he was anything special that she would risk so much just to save him to the point that she would let Lotor hurt her in such a horrible way.

"Anyone could be the Red Paladin," Allura agreed, leaning into him a little more. "But not anyone could be you. You're important, Keith. I think more than you realise it yourself at times. When…when Lotor was doing that to me, I don't know if I would have been able to get through it without you."

Keith felt his cheeks flush at her words. Not anyone could be you. Allura did not speak words like this lightly – he was used to just being there because he had been at the right place at the right time. Because he had been searching for Shiro but for the first time since he had become the Red Paladin, he felt as if something had become more. Had something changed between them? He couldn't explain it, but he didn't want to release his hold on Allura right now. Even though he had failed – he had allowed Lotor to hurt in that way – he had been the reason she had accepted it happening in the first place. You're important. It was something Shiro had always told him – as a point of constant reassurance whenever he got down because somehow his brother was always able to tell how he was feeling.

The other Paladins had also never made him feel left out – Hunk always tried to involve him in everything and although Lance bickered with him, it felt more annoying than actual things to make him angry. Pidge, well the two of them could somehow sit in silence and it would be enough to make him feel a little less alone. Even though, neither of those three verbally said anything – heck, even Coran didn't, and he was probably the most expressive out of all of them, he could tell they considered him somewhat important – even if it was only cause he was the Red Paladin. But for some reason Allura's words made him feel as if she meant more than anything. He wanted to ask her why he was important and why it was more than just him being the Red Paladin but the moment he opened his mouth to do so, his cheeks heated up even more and he hid his own face in Allura's side as well.

He subconsciously pulled her closer and she didn't pull away either. He couldn't explain it and he wasn't sure if he wanted to because emotions had always been confusing. He wouldn't let Lotor hurt her, no matter what came next. Even if they didn't know about this place – even if they were in a place that they had next to no information about, he'd find a way.

"I won't let him hurt you again, Allura," Keith said firmly causing her to look at him and their eyes met. It looked like she was about to protest but he continued before she could. "I know you're worried I'll get hurt and maybe I will because sometimes we do get hurt protecting those we care about. But you're not going to lose me. I promise." Not that he completely understood why it would make a difference as long as she was alright, but given the nature of the conversation, he felt that was probably not the best idea to actually say out loud. She had gone quiet though and for a moment, he thought she was still going to be stubborn and say no but she sighed.

"Alright but if you're reckless in this, I will not forgive you," Allura said with a slight huff, some of her spark coming back at his words and he chuckled.

"I'm never reckless," Keith said easily resulting in a slightly disbelieving scoff from her, but he didn't mind. Instead of making him offended like he would have been if Lance had said something like that, Allura saying it made his heart fill with a warmth that spread from his fingertips into his entire body. It was the feeling of protection – a sense of security he had never really known – he couldn't explain it, but he didn't want it to fade away.

However, footsteps headed in their direction caused him to tense and pull away. He recognised them very clearly.

"Allura, we need to move from here," Keith said urgently. "Lotor's coming." There was no way in hell he would let Lotor put Allura through that again, no matter what happened.

Allura tensed as well but he squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry," Keith assured her, but he couldn't say more because he tugged at her hand. She got the message and he quickly put out the fireplace. He didn't know where they were going to go but keeping as much distance between them and Lotor was important. No matter what happened, she needed to be safe.