Two chapters for Lotor Appreciation Day!

Lotor stripped off his armour and threw it into the corner. His shirt quickly followed the heavy equipment. A mirror popped out of the bulkhead when he supressed a panel. Another touch illuminated his cabin. Not for the first time, he was grateful that the paladins respected his privacy. Looking at the mess made him sick. Muddy rust coloured stains trickled down the walls. He turned out the lights again before he would make himself vomit.

"He's a galra dictator not a saviour." Hunk's words tore to the bone. He pushed the feelings aside, telling himself they didn't matter. It was a strange concept for the paladin's opinions to affect him and not worth his time. Instead, he replayed the events which the past quintant had introduced.

Today had been a long day, one of the longest Lotor had endured in some time. Tomorrow would be similar. They would meet their new Galra allies and plan ahead. He made a face. At least his plan was going relatively well. He trudged towards the darkened washroom.

Before his feet hit the threshold, a light knock sounded from the door.

His wariness peaked and his heart rate soared. He turned his head to stare at the door. Dammit.

He was too tired for this. Lotor knew there was only one person who would dare to interrupt him in his private cabin. Another series of knocks drove stakes into his chest. He took a deep breath before frantically snagging his shirt from the corner. The prince dunked the item in the sink and cranked the faucet. He hastily smeared the bloodstains into the piece of clothing before striding to the door and taking a deep breath.

Lotor activated the panel. Allura stood on the other side of the entrance.

He could see her suddenly forget what she meant to say. Lotor noticed the change in her expression when her eyes travelled down his exposed collarbones. His tongue threatened to paralyse him as well. Her slender form was wrapped only in a loose-fitting nightgown the colour of lilacs. Her face held a soft anxious expression.

He broke the clumsy silence. "Allura, is something wrong?"

She recovered quickly, "No, I… I just wanted to talk." She wrung her hands. "I think it would be good to debrief and decompress."

The princess obviously saw his uneasiness and quickly added. "We can do so at a later time." Her abrupt change to a more diplomatic tone hurt him in ways he could not comprehend. "If you wish, I know" –

He stopped her. "I would love to talk." He looked down at himself flushing despite his millennia of stoicism. "However, I am hardly dressed" –

"I think you look great," she stuttered before slamming on the breaks. A brilliant rose colour tinted her cheeks which in turn deepened Lotor's rising blush. His stomach fluttered.

She seemed to shrink, and the conversation wavered on the precipice of quickly decompensating. Don't be stupid. Lotor offered her one of his awkward comforting smiles. "Thank you." He felt stuck on this talking business. It was obvious where the conversation was taking them.

Don't be stupid. "We can talk," he blurted.

Don't be stupid! His inner logic threw in the towel. Fine. Let instinct take you. The immediate relief of making a conscious decision was waylaid by the actual putting his efforts into motion. Lotor outstretched his hand. The princess blushed harder, letting her fingers slot between his. Electricity rushed through the contact. She carefully treaded. "Is here fine?"

He smiled, knowing they would get no talking done. It was an intensely nerve-wracking feeling, worse than that time so long ago when fought that zargorian vilmsloth bare handed. "We can talk here or just… decompress..." he offered.

Indeed, hardly any talking got done. As soon as the door closed and darkness covered the room, he felt her searching hands slide up his bare forearm.

The touch sent shivers down his spine and all other thoughts left his mind. "Allura," he whispered. Her other hand gently caressed his back. Where her skin met his, fire kindled.

She leaned closer to him. "Yes?"

The initial shock of physical touch was wearing off and Lotor snaked his arms around her slender waist feeling the contour of her body unhindered beneath the thin nightgown. His heart raced and he found himself fumbling for words. He didn't even know what he wished to say… "You're lovely," he said moments before dipping his face into the crook of her neck.

It was so much easier to say nothing at all. To let actions speak louder than words, made the gaucherie dissipate. His mouth worked over the taut structures of her throat and he felt himself growl when she purred. Her skin was clean and soft, a glaring contrast to his scarred and dirty appearance.

Allura's fingers traced patterns down his lower back, moving with ticklish grace. It was a sensation he had never experienced. Pleasure blossomed over the short path she had blazed. Noticing the reaction, she trailed another soft spiral over the hard muscles.

Lotor's breath hitched and his kissing halted. His lips stopped millimetres above her skin. "Ah" –

Allura stole the prince's breath with another path tickling its way lightly up to his shoulder blades. She giggled when the proud warrior shuddered, rendered speechless by her own hands.

Despite the darkness, he turned his head away to conceal the blush toning his cheeks deep reddish violet. "Gods," he spoke into Allura's heavenly locks. "I love that." The words felt cumbersome in his mouth but nothing he could articulate captured the sensation quite like the simple phrase.

She laughed again. It was a pleasant sound that reminded him of flowing water and the smell of summer. Suddenly she stepped backwards and grasped both his hands. "Where's your bed?!"

Lotor's eyebrows stitched together in the dim light. "Behind you. Beside the two blinking" –

Again, he was cut off when she hauled him over to the piece of versatile furniture. His stomach clenched and sweat beaded on his forehead...

"Let me scratch your back," she whispered excitedly, not realising how much the notion comforted him.

"What?" True confusion laced the answer. He sat as directed beside her and felt her small frame climb behind him. His anxiety mounted a second time before she sat cross-legged and gently began tracing more paths down his latissimus dorsi.

"Haven't you ever had your back scratched?" She asked tenderly.

Lotor did not answer. His head rolled back, and he exhaled. Her long, slender fingers moved with precision and nuance that sent chills over his body. Time stopped meaning anything as the pleasure mounted in his chest, lifting the exhaustion he had felt before. Maybe minutes had passed or perhaps it had really been mere ticks. She slid her hands around his stomach and leaned her forehead on his midback.

For a long time, he and the princess floated in shared bliss. "I am so tired," she finally said in a small voice from behind.

Lotor chased the negative thoughts which the statement raised by savouring the warmth of her hands resting on his bare abdomen. His large palm cupped them both. "We can rest, princess."

She hesitated. He felt her tense for the smallest instant. Then the moment passed like a breath. Allura squeezed him thoroughly and kissed his back, making a mental note of the scars. "Yes."