"I think it's working!" Hunk piped through Shiro's headset. The Black Paladin shoved the distraction from his racing mind as he pulled his lion into a wild roll to evade a stream of reflected energy from his last barrage on the mountain range. A piercing migraine was edging towards the front of his consciousness. Spinning was not helping.

Shiro's lion came out of the maneuver smoothly only to be nearly peppered by another wave of energy from someone else's attack. He pulled his lion upwards to earn a respite from the wild flying. "How much more of this?" He asked, turning his beast back around to make another run. His scanning gaze noticed the smoke plume from before, travelling slowly through the scorched forests. The paladin felt a vague pang of regret at the sight of the flames. It surfaced a deep conviction he never knew. His brow furrowed, and the image was seared into his thoughts.

"Call off the attack." He decided even before Pidge was able to finish speaking her projected course. "We will watch," he clarified whilst pulling his lion onto an idle pace.

There was a long silence as the world reverted back to its lonely self. Without the constant pounding of their guns, the region was quaint and serene. Yet, while the other paladins waited anxiously. Shiro kept his eyes fixed on the crawling flames that ate away at the mountains face. For reasons he could not place, they nagged at his subconsciousness, like a faraway memory he could no longer fathom; he could only feel its stirring…

"Hey! Its turning around!" Lance's words were ecstatic.

Hunk let out a loud whoop.

Shiro snapped from his reverie. His focus shifted gears like a lock sliding firmly into place. A smirk played across his face as the familiar feeling of accomplishment washed over him, taking with it his previous anxieties. "Good job, team," he said through a smile. "Let's head to the surface and find the Princess."

Lotor squeezed his eyes shut through another wave of pain that was becoming the norm along with his labouring breath.

Allura was already infuriatingly attuned to his changes. "Are you still alright? She asked. Concern laced her voice, and though the sound chipped at the ice attempting to glaze over his bounding heart, he was growing steadily irritated at the constant questions.

"Yes," he ground out. She doesn't mean to make it worse, he told himself. Be patient… Listen to yourself. One kiss and you are weakening yourself. The final words came harshly and powerfully, in the baritone of his father. He violently pushed the memories behind him, distracting himself by gripping a stone and rolling it to the floor. His anger fuelled his strength. His will would overcome the physical self. She would not make him weak. She could be the very key to the apogee of his power. The half-galran smirked. He wondered if this selfish thing could be what they called love.

Stop.

This blasted darkness coupled with the agony wracking his body was driving him down a darker path. He didn't wish to be this way. He hated these feelings. Why was he like this. Why are you like this? His talons unsheathed and dug into his own arm. He bit his tongue to halt the hiss of pain. The passing sensation was enough to help centre himself, but the form of meditation was thrown off track by her burning touch igniting his broad shoulders. She was growing bolder.

"Lotor, time for a rest," she spoke firmly.

After a moment, Lotor numbly lowered himself to the floor. She was right, of course. He was running out of energy. If he recuperated while she worked, they may be able to take shifts… That was a plan, anyways. He took a breath at the false hope such an outlandish notion gave.

At least rest was blanketing a quietness over him. It soothed his racing mind even as shame filled the space that rage had just occupied, seconds ago... He attempted optimism because it had worked so well last time. "You have a strong spirit, princess," he said, trying desperately to sound like himself, not the burned-out shell he was presently.

Allura sat down beside him, pressing against his side in the cramped space. "Thank you," she said sweetly. There was an awkward silence before she spoke up again, "I am glad I brought you here with me."

Lotor swallowed hard, that fluttering was starting again in his stomach. An instinct told him to say something nice, but his tongue was having difficulty moving in accordance with the jumbled words rushing through his head. Finally, he replied, "Me too."

Earlier's fire was returning to him and making take two on their prior kiss was a real temptation. Instead, he took a chance and found her hand, giving it a squeeze. His head reeled at the foreign sensations. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. A feverish smile cracked his face and he wondered if the pain was really causing this mania. It didn't matter. He felt like a young boy, doing something wrong and knowing he wouldn't be caught. He didn't have to explain. He didn't have to fear being ridiculed. He just was.

In this black cave, bleeding out next to a princess, he felt safe for the first time in his life. His grip strengthened around her small hand and he didn't want to let go. No, never.