Ah man, I totally didn't blush throughout this chapter. Like, totally not. That said, it was a very interesting chapter to write because Allura is a walking contradiction, so that is fun. It also gave me an idea on how many chapters to go, so enjoy the journey.
5. Better Together
I love Allura.
Something had stirred inside her heart when Keith spoke those words and with the passion that radiated from his voice, she knew they were sincere. The look following his words as their eyes met made her heart race so fast that she felt it would come out of her. But why did he say those words? Why did he look at her in a way that made her knees feel weak?
He was much better than her in every way. Especially after the way Lotor had touched her. Initially, she had dismissed Keith's words on that he was being a good friend because thinking of anything else made something stir in her heart that she squashed down. He deserved better. He could do better than her. But what happened one movement ago, she could no longer do this either. She could no longer pretend that he agreed with those words.
"Why did you say those words?" Allura asked, a little defensively if she was honest as she changed the bandages around his arm although she tried to hide it. "Were you just attempting to make Lotor back off?" He was a terrible liar though, not that she was much better but that was besides the point here.
"I don't really say things I don't mean, Allura," Keith said firmly although kept his own gaze lowered.
"If you meant it, then you should remove that thought from your mind," Allura said, sounding harsher than intended. He looked up as if opening his mouth to respond but she didn't give him the chance to. "You can do better than me, Keith."
Keith seemed to have lost words at this, and he just stared at her. Had she said something alarming? His eyes flickered with something, and he took her hands in his own.
"If I can do better than you then you can always do better than me," Keith insisted firmly. "I know that for sure. Why would you even think you're not good enough? Did I do something to make you think that?" He averted his own eyes now, pulling his hands away to fiddle with them. He seemed genuinely worried that he had made her feel as if she weren't good enough.
"Don't be ridiculous, Keith," Allura snapped slightly despite not meaning to. She didn't know how to respond to the other part of her being able to do better than him. "You know what Lotor tried to do, how close he got, what he could have done had that power not appeared when it did, why would you even consider me?"
"Because it doesn't matter to me," Keith insisted, voice becoming slightly high pitched as his fists clenched. "Lotor's a monster. I hate him for what he tried to do. I hate that I couldn't protect you from that. But you're too good for me, Allura. I mean it."
"No, I'm not!" Allura did yell at him this time.
"Yes, you are!" Keith's own voice steadily got louder.
"No, I…" Oh, this was honestly getting ridiculous – she was not going to get into this argument. She was about to suggest he drop it when he took her hands again and pulled her in closer. This time, she didn't resist.
"Allura," Keith said, voice barely above a whisper. "I don't care about any of that. Are…aren't my feelings enough?"
Allura did go silent at that. He had never said anything like this before. Her knees felt weak, her heart raced and everything inside her urged her to move closer to him. What were these feelings that she didn't recognise? Was it love? She had experienced love before – with her parents, with Coran and even with the other Paladins but something about this felt different. Passionate – intense, she couldn't quite describe it, but it was rather peculiar to be honest. The logical part of her still insisted that she push him over, that she thinks of what was best for him, but it was as if another part of her pushed her forward. The part that longed to pull him closer – to hold him, to never let him get too far from her. In his embrace, she did not feel trapped. It did not feel wrong or dirty in any way to her, it felt inviting and warm.
"Your feelings are more than enough," she found herself whispering in response, fearing as if she made her voice any louder, the moment between them would shatter somehow. She stopped fighting – pushing logic out the window, wrapping her own arms around Keith, eyes locking with his. This part of her wanted to ask him to stay by her side, no matter what happened next. Lotor could kill Keith in this world – it would be better to ask him to abandon her because it would mean at least one of them would get out of this alive. 'Why am I being so selfish? Why do I want him close?'
He brushed a strand of her silver hair out of her face. "I don't know what will happen next, Allura. But I feel somehow it'll turn out okay as long as you're with me."
As long as they were together? As long as they were with one another, somehow, they would come out of this alive. Was that why she didn't want to believe? Despite how illogical it was, she truly did believe they could get out of this situation together?
"Yes," She finally said, voice still a whisper below her normal tone of voice. "I believe we can get through this together." Her body visibly relaxed and she found herself leaning even closer. No longer resisting what her heart desired, her lips slowly moulded with his, the world fading into the background of where they were.
She didn't regret the kiss they shared – despite her mind screaming at her that Keith deserved better – that she wasn't good enough for him. But when he was close, she didn't feel so alone anymore, even if being so far away from the Castle of Lions. They had found this shelter three movements ago, another small treehouse where she had managed to create a small bed out of leaves while Keith had set up a small fireplace. She had attempted to use her powers to also create certain barriers that would prevent them from being detected too easily.
Keith brought in a bunch of fruit in his shirt, folding it to turn it into a bag, making it easier to carry.
"Allura, you need to eat something," Keith said quietly, and she looked over at him.
"Have you eaten anything?" Allura asked him. "And don't try lying, you always look down when you try, and it makes it rather obvious."
Keith opened his mouth to protest but then closed it and huffed. "I want you to eat first. I'll have something after that."
Allura frowned before sighing a little. She knew they were a match when it came to stubbornness, but they also didn't know how long this shelter would last. When they would be required to run away again and make a new shelter – it was important for them to preserve their strength.
"Why don't we both have it together?" Allura suggested. "I mean, we're worried about each other, so it'd be easier for both of us to eat together rather than take turns, don't you think?"
Keith paused at that, watching her for a moment before using a stick to cut the apple in half and handing her half. "Okay, here."
Allura smiled, taking it, and biting into it, watching him do the same. "It's really good."
