Hello everybody. Still no quote, that this story wouldn't fit in the Voltron Universe. I'm so happy to hear that (or not, in this case ;-) ...).
In this chapter, Ronan and Freyda are arguing about some further steps and some events of the past starts to kick in. Both of them are worried about their future and about how things will go on for them. I wish all of you a lot of fun with this chapter.
Needed Rest
He stroke gently over Jessy's blond short hair. She was the last of the kids, who finally has fallen asleep in their new big quarter. She hadn't rest until all the others were in bed and sleeping. After that she had went with Ronan in the other room and had cried for an hour in his arms. This was all too much for her in the end. She had talked, he had listened. About the day, her relief, her fears, her loss, about everything, which has shaken her so deeply within this moment. She had asked him, if he would stay with her until she would sleep, and he had done so.
Patrick was whimpering in sleep, obviously struggling with another nightmare. Like so many other nights before. Christina was holding him tight and Ronan wasn't sure, if his big sister was trying the ease his nightmares or her own during her sleep. Sam, Clarissa and Kathy shared the last king size bed. At least these three children seemed to have a more peaceful night. They had all lost so much. He rubbed his remaining eye. He was so deadly tired. But he knew, that even in sleep he wouldn't find rest and peace. He wasn't sure, if he would ever find it again.
He knew, that Freyda has approached in the doorway. He turned around to watch her silhouette. The dim light of the living room was shining around her, while she was leaning on the frame. She was wearing a sleeveless white shirt and dark trousers with boots. Her golden eyes were glowing like gemstones. These beautiful eyes. He has fallen for her, because of these eyes. He has fallen for her gentle and strong character. He has fallen for her smiles and her laughter. He has fallen for her ability to see through him with one observant look. And he felt guilty for this. It wasn't fair. For none of them.
"Jessy is asleep?"
He loved her deep soothing voice so much. He turned his head back to the girl and stroke carefully again over her head. He nodded with a tired sigh. He could see Freydas warm smile on her lips, as he turned back to the doorway. She reached out her right arm to order him to come to her. He had to smile and gladly obeyed this order. He closed the distance between them and as he reached her, the Galra pulled him in a gentle but close hug, bringing her hands on his neck and sharing a long and deep kiss with him. While they shared this kiss he started to slide gentle with his fingertips of his hand up and down her bare arms. He recognized the burning marks on them. These old scars, he had helped her to heal. But they were still hurting him. Sometimes he wasn't sure, if the memories, these scars had encapsulated, were hurting him more, than they did her. Probably not, but they added a weight on his own pain, which made him almost break sometimes. But he wouldn't. He has sworn an oath. And this oath has to be fulfilled.
She ended her kiss finally and rested her head on his. Both took a final look inside the room, where the kids were sleeping. Then she pulled him carefully in the living room.
"Tjaàl?"
She smiled again at his question.
"Sleeping peaceful in our room."
She gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"You should take some sleep, too"
She pressed her own forehead down against his and his hand reached up to rub gently over her curled horns. Both closed their eyes for a while, consuming the love, they shared.
"Not now. We have to talk with them first. And I have to check AMRASU. And we need to check the maps, where a save planet can be found for us and..."
"And you need to sleep first!"
Her voice was worried and he knew her look. This was no point of discussion for her. These deep yellow-golden shiny eyes. Resistance was futile. But he had to.
"I know. But they have questions. Haggar's troops came out of nowhere. So I must…
"You. Must. Sleep."
Her voice was harder now. Harder but even more worried. He hasn't slept enough for months. And he hasn't barely taken even a nap for weeks. This lack of sleep should have normally killed him. Either by total exhaustion or by loosing strength, sharp reflexes or agility in combat, but it hadn't. He had an idea, why he still could handle this lack of rest. And Freyda, too. Ronan was sure, that her knowledge was one reason, why she worried so much. Both still didn't know his limits in this case, but she seemed to fear that when this limit would be reached one day, it would break him. He sighed again. She was right. But he also. And she knew it.
"I'll talk with them. And I'll check everything for you. We're not in danger anymore."
Her face had a warm smile again. He took her hand and pressed it on his left cheek. His skin seemed to vibrate, where her hand touched it.
"But also we're not out of it, yet." Tears came to his remaining eye. "Especially you. Not here." His face became tortured. "I can't loose you, Freyda. What if..."
She pulled him into another hug.
"You won't. I can protect myself, if necessary."
He sobbed finally into her chest.
"But you shouldn't have to worry about those things."
Tears came to Freydas eyes as well.
"Neither should you. But that's what things are right now. So we have to deal with it."
She kissed him on his head and lifted up his face up to watch him in his eye.
"I can't loose you, too, Ronan. Neither Tjaàl. We need you. They need you" She nodded back to the door, where the other kids were sleeping. "So please. Rest. For me."
It was the final argument. Ronan was glad, that she didn't used it often. Because it was an argument, what always worked. He would do anything for her. He kissed her again and stood up. He looked so tired.
"For you."
He nodded and shambled towards the second sleeping room.
"The General has received your message from me."
He was frozen on spot. A dangerous fire was in his remaining brown eye. He didn't turned around, but he felt Freydas look on his neck.
"How had she reacted."
Freyda noticed, that he had made fists with both hands.
"With honor."
A bitter laughter escaped his mouth. Sarcasm was in it. It almost dipped off the walls in the room.
"Good."
He took two further steps, but he stopped again. He still felt the pensive look on his back.
"You think, I shouldn't have done so?"
His voice was trembling a bit. He almost could see the worries return to Freydas face, but he kept staring in the dark doorway of the second sleeping room.
"No."
It was the kind of break, where he knew, that she wasn't finished. He felt her burning look on the back of his head again. This scanning rays, he loved so much. He was sure, that she knew, how much she was guiding him every day. How this ability to almost read his mind prevented him from loosing orientation. To get lost in his own grief, anger and sadness. How she helped him to fulfill his oath, not to loose this important goal. How she saved him every day only with one deep burning looks of this bright eyes. He was starving for this guidance in this moment, and she knew it as well. That's why she was waiting to continue. This gentle but strong patience. He took a deep breath and turned back to her, facing her golden orbs. Seconds passed and he was drowning in her mesmerizing eyes. He recognized a slight nod, suddenly. She had seen, what she wanted to see.
"But you haven't answered this question for yourself."
He bit his bottom lip. She smiled at him again, to push away these thought in his mind. At least for tonight. She wanted him to rest.
She walked slowly over to him and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek, before she took her jacket and finally opened the door of their quarter. AMRASU was waiting before the door. The robot has left its place in the hangar, where it has waited, since they had reached the Atlas. She turned back to Ronan with an impish smile, raising an eyebrow. Ronan stayed serious.
"Take AMRASU with you." He took a short break, to smile warm at her. "I can sleep better, if I know, that he's at your side."
She shook her head with a giggle.
"You only want to have an eye and ear on the meeting."
His smile got warmer.
"Maybe. But only in case, I cannot find any sleep at all."
She nodded at him with a smile and left the room, followed by the robot. Ronan shambled to the bed, finally. He laid down in the soft pillows, after he had checked Tjaàls sleep. He was asleep, before his eyelid has closed completely.