Blue growled irately. The low rumbling shook the entire hanger. The lights flickered but the two occupants of the bay were completely unawares to everything except each other.

Lotor ran his hands down her slender waist, taking liberties that he had previously never dared to steal. Carnal desire pulled him further into the lustful habits that drowned caution. Allura had locked the door. No one would see. He was safe with his princess. They had still half a varga before the other paladins would launch out, expecting Blue to be with them. Waiting had led to awkward small talk followed once again by passion.

Their mouths entangled for another long moment, before the woman dropped from her tip toes. She could not supress the sheepish grin that lit her face. "You know," she paused as if weighing whether her next words were actually worth saying right now. She pursed her lips and didn't meet his eyes as she said, "You know I could get used to this."

Lotor felt heat rise to his cheeks. On impulse, he blurted, "Make it part of your pre-flight check." He instantly regretted the cheesy words, but they elicited a musical laugh from the princess. The beauty eclipsed his moment of embarrassment.

She closed his mouth with hers. Just in time, before he was able to say another idiotically smitten sentence.

For another long, wonderful moment. Lotor floated in the sensation of her supple lips against his. Her fingers brushed over his waist and found a resting place on his chest, stealing the breath from him.

He allowed his arms to wrap loosely around her hips. She swayed, and the motion made him burn with passion. His kiss intensified.

Her fingers weaved patterns over his chest, sliding easily over the armour plates and digging into the fabric that covered his shoulders. An animalistic growl emanated from deep within Lotor. All other thoughts were distant. It was just the two of them and Lotor had never felt so at ease… and so nervous. It was an enigmatic feeling.

He ran a hand through her silky hair. She was so beautiful. He wanted to tell her that. Lotor broke the pash for another breath. He physically willed himself to meet her eyes and whispered words he never thought he would have the audacity nor the occasion to utter. "You are beautiful, princess."

For a brief, flitting moment a familiar feeling of failure and guilt gnawed at him. I don't deserve this. He felt like a thief marring something precious with calloused filthy hands.

She cut off the disparaging line of thoughts by caressing his cheek. Her other hand gripped his bicep, unknowingly over a self-inflicted wound. The movement sent pain rush through him. He almost winced but so powerful was her touch that he barely noticed.

Lotor was trapped now, drowning in her azure depths. It was almost as if she could read his thoughts. As the point of contact continued, Lotor could have sworn he felt his Altean essence reverberating gently. The vulnerability was enticing and terrifying at once. He wished he could give into her open invitation, but training and the cold steel within his soul was unyielding.

Still, the princess stayed, conveying that foreign sensation Lotor had never had the pleasure of experiencing. It was more powerful than any alchemy Lotor had faced in his millennia.

A lump formed in his throat. Why him? Was this Fate's strange method of offering him… redemption? Years of cynicism tainted the answer. You can't be changed. You have a mission.

It can be our mission. – the entirely new concept spoke out as if from the princess herself.

His surprise mounted with fear following closely. He would not trust hope. It had led to the destruction of everything he had known. Lotor would not let it destroy her too. He lightly grazed her palm with his lips as if kissing goodbye to all the dreams these past few days had conjured.

Allura broke the eye contact and rested her head on his chest as her arms wrapped him in a lonely embrace. The dim hanger was suddenly so vast. Be brave, she told herself. Her resolve gained strength with every word she whispered. "Lotor, I am not asking you to trust me."

He remained silent. How she could read him so intimately, Lotor had no idea. His jaw tightened and the familiar insistence to retreat came back to him. Be brave, he told himself.

She continued, "I just want you to know…" She struggled to find the right words to comfort the prince. "You deserve peace... I want to help you with that."

He took a breath. He had to fight in order for it to come out smoothly. The watershed was threatening once again. It wouldn't break. Be strong, wretch.

A tear carved its way down her cheek. His strong hands laced behind her back. "You deserve… peace… No matter what," she said.

The words cut deeply. You are wrong. The words sounded hollow to him, standing here with her warmth enveloped around him. But he was too afraid to challenge them.

Instead, he broke the embrace after another second, feigning in his head that the touches were all for her despite the princess' words. His stomach clenched as she rose onto her tiptoes and brushed a soft kiss on his cheek.

Allura brushed a stray lock away from her shimmering eyes and faked a smile. She couldn't deny his coldness stung but she reminded herself that things took time.

Lotor forced his mind to shift gears. His fangs mirrored her faux smile. "You are a magnificent woman," he whispered. He meant it in so many different ways. Look how far you have fallen.

She blushed and a genuine smile came to the corner of her eyes. "Thank you, Lotor."