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The chamber was filled with juniberries and the blue, clear skies of Altea.
The mice were along her lap as Allura sat in the middle of the field. The smaller mice watched the magenta flowers sway in the unseen breeze, one of them playfully pawing at a bloom when it came near them. She idly ran her fingers over the big yellow mouse's soft belly as he lay flat on his back along her thigh. He always seemed to have a smile on his face like there was nothing that could disturb his peace.
She envied him.
"You're very quiet today."
She looked up at her father's AI, the light blue hologram showing a gentle concern on his face. It ached to see him like this, knowing that she would never be able to embrace him again but her day would be worse if she skipped a visit. She looked back down at the big, smiley mouse as she traced one of his ears. It twitched at the sensation, making the corner of her mouth go upwards just a little before falling back down.
"We're -" she paused a moment, feeling a bite of bitterness before she continued on, "They are having trouble forming Voltron."
King Alfor hummed to that, putting his hands behind his back.
"Have they tried the maze training?"
"Yes."
"The shields blocking the lasers, protecting each other?"
"Pathetically."
He ignored that reaction for the moment. "The visual headbands where they mentally form -"
"Yes," she stressed with some frustration, "and the Gladiator, and the blind training helmets while they fly - "
"The blinders is a rather advanced level," Alfor amusedly commented.
"-and I've even shot at them on autopilot." She puffed at a stray hair before tucking in back into her bun. "Nothing is working." Her thin brows tilted upwards a little towards the center of her forehead. "It's not coming as smoothly as your team did father. What am I doing wrong?"
"Allura," King Alfor softly chuckled, "We knew each other for years, long before you were born." He knelt next to her so they were more at eye level. "Nothing good ever comes out of impatience."
"But we don't have time for this. Zarkon knows where we are." Her eyes cast downwards at her thoughts. "We barely survived his first attack with one Galra ship."
"My dear daughter," he murmured quietly, waiting until her eyes came back up to him, "How I wish you were not put into this position." He lightly touched her cheek. The hologram created light tingles along her skin. Her eyes watered. It wasn't the warmth of his hand but it would have to be enough for her. "Survival is always important, but without camaraderie what will be left once you leave the battlefield?"
"Father?"
He smiled. "I miss seeing your hair down." He lightly touched the curled hair along her cheek. "You have your mother's wonderful locks."
She half smiled. "Unruly, you mean."
He heartily laughed at that. "I doubt she would like that description."
Her smile strained at the ends. She had mourned her mother's passing when it occurred. The illness had been so swift, so quick that her mother didn't have time to store her memories. She was so young when it happened. She looked over the familiar lines of her father's face. While father was there, a constant rock in my life. Her father had filled the void with so much tender love and care. Was still trying to, even in this form.
"...I need to go."
He stood up with her, watching as she gathered the mice on her shoulder before taking her hand.
"Until next time, my dear Allura."
She curled her fingers around his holographic hand, not surprised when there was nothing in her grip. She turned to go but then hesitated. Without further thought, she pulled out the pins in her hair. She internally sighed upon feeling the relief from the tightness of her bun. The mice squeaked as some strands covered them. She quickly moved them out of their way.
"Much better."
"Take care father."
She gave her father a smile before walking out of the room.
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Shiro did not know how long he slept but he was certain it had only been a couple of hours.
He could feel his lungs lightly laboring for breath as he grew more aware of his surroundings. The soft glow of the mysterious castle lights were low for sleeping but still on. He was silently glad for it as his eyes darted about. Instinctively, he brought his right hand up to rub his throbbing temples but then awkwardly switched it for his left.
Right now he didn't need a reminder of his ordeals. His eyes closed as the pressure of his thumb relieved a little of the ache along the side of his head.
It was only one year.
He shook his head at that.
With a slow breath in and then out he pushed the blanket aside to move his legs over the edge of the bed. He stared down at his bare feet for a moment, his eyes tracing the edge of the spider webbed scar that peeked from beneath the slightly raised hem of his sleep pants. The bulk of the scar was around his right ankle. He could only assume that something very sharp had wrapped around his ankle at one point in time, whether to tether him somewhere or pull him back.
He couldn't remember exactly.
Determinedly he looked away, swiftly standing up.
Immediately his room lights thrummed to full power. He walked to the left wall where his clothes were. He reached for the clothes Keith had gotten him, then paused as the white of his paladin armor caught the corner of his eye. The black "V" along the top of the breastplate was stark against the crisp, clean white of the armor's plates.
The first time he put it on he had felt a little ridiculous.
Until he saw the others.
He had turned around to the glass case that once held the armor. The person he saw in the reflection, the people standing beside him...together they didn't look like something to scoff at. It was unity, strength in numbers, a band of people gathered for a common goal. There were no weaknesses to be seen.
...There was no dirty prisoner with rags on.
The black fingers of his right hand grazed the arm of his paladin suit before pulling it out of the closet. It was early. Training would not begin for another couple of hours. As he slid into his suit and fastened the plates he slowly felt the throbbing of his head ease. By the time he was dressed there was only a lingering sensation of the almost painful headache.
"Alright."
He swiftly went down to do his daily pushups.
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The door quietly whooshed closed behind Allura as she walked out into the main hallway, feeling her heart lighter than when she initially awoke.
The castle was quiet. She imagined that the Arusian sun was barely rising up in the sky. The mice squeaked a little, making her look at them.
"Is this your stop?"
With quick nods from the mice she put her palms out to them. They plopped themselves in her hands so she could lower them down. Once they scurried away she continued on her way, making a turn to the hallway leading to the resting and bathing area.
She paused suddenly upon seeing Shiro further down. The sudden action caused her shoes to make a sound loud enough for him to hear. He looked behind him and then turned half towards her.
"Princess Allura."
"Paladin. I did not think anyone else would be up."
He sighed to himself when he heard the formal address. He supposed she was still sour over their last conversation. "The others are asleep," as an afterthought he added, "though Keith tends to wake up a couple of hours after I do."
She spotted the towel around his neck. If it weren't for the armor and sweat she might have thought he had just bathed. "Were you training?" She lightly frowned. "Did you even get any sleep?"
"Some." He brought the towel up to dab at his forehead. "Sorry princess, but I really need to hit the shower."
"By all means," she gestured to the side with a slight huff. "Revitalize yourself before you faint from sleep deprivation."
He quirked a brow at that. "I won't faint."
"We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
He crossed his arms. "I honestly thought you'd be happy we're training more."
"I did not say I was displeased about that. When you choose to train, however..."
He sighed loud enough for her to hear. "If you're going to be particular about it, then you should give us a weekly schedule."
"A what?"
"You know, seven dobosh - no that's not. It's - I don't recall the Altean word for week..." he rubbed the back of his head, trying to remember what 'day' was instead. "But there's seven of them at a time."
"...Quintants?"
He pointed his index finger towards her. "Yes."
Her lips twitched upwards.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just," she covered her mouth as a smile started showing. "You looked like Lance for a moment."
"He's always finger pointing, isn't he?" He shook his head in humor and exasperation. "Not a trait I wanted rubbed onto me to be completely honest."
"Rubbed."
"Ah, like a habit passed onto you. Or a behavior. Tends to happen when you're around the same people every day."
"Mm. We call it mulsh."
"...Not what I thought it would be."
"The human equivalent word would be smear. Or smearing, I suppose. Smeared?"
He raised his shoulders in a shrug. "Depends on how you use it."
"Well. At least you didn't catch Lance's flirting habit."
"At least," he half chuckled, "or else I'd say something about your hair."
They both blinked at that.
"What about my hair?"
"Nothing," he murmured quickly, bringing his towel over his face in a long wipe. "I should go."
She didn't hear him. Instead she was gathering her hair up to put back into a bun. She wouldn't say she was vain, but she had just yanked the hairpins out willy nilly. It must look like a dreadful mess.
He had wiped his face slowly to recover from what he said, but when his line of view was free he almost sighed when he saw what she was doing.
"Princess, you don't have to do anything to it."
She ignored him, making him feel worse.
"Just - "without thinking he reached out for her hands, "leave it alone."
She stared at his position in front of her. When had they gotten closer? He had been at the other end of the hall. She looked down at his hands. He let go of her wrists suddenly.
"Sorry. "
"It's alright."
He looked at his right hand and then her left wrist. "...I didn't -?"
She caught on quickly. "Your hold was not painful." She tugged her sleeve down and her glove off. "See?"
His shoulders relaxed a little upon seeing no discoloration. "...I can't always tell," he murmured quietly, almost shamefully. "I feel sensations but - it's been getting used to."
She didn't like that look in his eyes. "You will," she determinedly declared, "for the Black Lion is the head, the leader."
He looked partially amused. "And the leader is always strong."
"No." She put her hand on his right forearm. "The Black Paladin always tries."
Her hand moved off. He lightly fisted his hand as she moved away.
"Princess."
She turned back to him.
"I don't want to put words in the others' mouths," he missed her curious head tilt at the phrase, "but for me at least," he lifted his head up to her fully, "you will not be without the Black Lion in this fight."
Her hand fisted over her chest, feeling a small weight lifted from her.
"I'm glad to hear it...Shiro."
Then she turned forward once again. He turned back towards the way to the showers.
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AN: I'm one for build ups, just fyi. For me, Allura was pretty demanding in the second episode and my impression of her obviously showed. XD