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Keith saw Allura one morning.
Afterwards, Shiro would realize that he was rather surprised no one had seen her coming in or out of his room sooner.
Shiro tossed her change of clothes on the cot before turning around to give her privacy. They usually didn't dress at the same time but they had overslept, hence the urgency. She quickly pulled off her nightgown and tossed it carelessly onto the floor.
"Perhaps Keith slept in as well."
"If there's one thing the Garrison never complained about," Shiro zipped up his pants with a shake of his head, "it's Keith's punctuality."
She grumbled as she slipped into her space suit.
"Why hasn't this habit rubbed off on Lance?"
He gave a hearty laugh. "I would love for that to happen."
He was pulling out the black long sleeve shirt when he heard Allura struggling.
"The zipper's stuck."
He could practically see her pout. "If you're dressed enough I can help."
"...Alright."
She kept her back to him, face turned to the wall. The space suit zipper was stuck just where the dip in her spine ended. He let out a soft tsk when he saw the culprit.
"Some hair got caught."
She sighed long as he worked in freeing the locks.
"I'm half tempted to just cut it off."
He dragged his eyes away from the curling pink markings on her back that peeked from the suit's opening. They seemed to go around her ribs but where they originated was anyone's guess.
"If you like." He started zipping her up.
"...Would you," her face turned just a little towards him, "like that?"
He paused, lifted his hand up to drape her hair over her shoulder to give the illusion of shoulder length hair.
"I do like the long hair but," he tilted his head with a smile, "short hair would suit you too."
She felt her mouth mimic his smile. "Long hair would suit you." Her hair raised up to touch his white bangs, then his shorter dark hair. "Long enough to be tied back."
The corner of his mouth curled in a half smirk.
"Did you see it in a dream?"
She withdrew her hand with a cool look. "A princess' dreams are none of your concern."
"Dreams? So several times already."
Her cheeks warmed a little. "A large ego is most unattractive."
"Agreed," he chuckled. "If it's any consolation I dream about you," he leaned in towards her ear, "frequently."
She shivered pleasantly. He deftly tugged the zipper the rest of the way. She turned around to see if he was teasing her but she didn't rightly care at the moment. His eyes were half mast and without a shirt. She always knew his shoulders were really that broad but it was a pleasant opportunity to see without having to tend to an injury.
"Why dream," she murmured softly, "when I'm right here?"
With her hair loose, not brushed, untamed, and draping on one shoulder with her eyes flickering in challenge - in invitation - he was certain he was having a day dream. Her hand touched his upper chest, sliding along his collarbone.
It was real. As real as the heat starting to spread in his veins.
"Shiro you up?"
"Keith," he breathed out as she quickly withdrew. "Yeah just give me a tick - uh a sec."
She gave him a grin while she pulled her hair up. 'A tick?,' she mouthed out. She hadn't heard him say it before.
Adorable.
He pulled his shirt on then hastily tugged his vest on. Allura kicked her nightgown under the bed before sitting down on his cot. Then quickly stood up. She stepped away from the bed and then just crossed her arms, not knowing what else to do. It occurred to her to hide in the closet but it would be even more awkward to explain should Keith hear her in there.
Shiro touched the side button, unlocking his sliding door. Keith stood in front of him in his paladin suit. He blinked upon seeing the other person in the Black Paladin's room.
"Good morning Keith," the princess smiled.
"Uh, morning Allura."
Good call. Speaking up first made it seem more normal. Shiro could see Keith's expression relaxing. But then the teen frowned upon seeing Shiro.
"You're not in armor."
Shoot. They always trained in armor in the morning. He knew he'd mess up somehow.
"Forgive me Keith," Allura lightly laughed. "I must have interrupted Shiro before he could change."
She relaxed her arms and walked to the door. Shiro and Keith stepped aside to let her by.
"We'll continue our discussion later."
"Until then Princess."
Shiro cleared his throat. "Sorry Keith, let me change real quick."
"Sure."
Shiro stepped back more to close the door. Keith didn't mean to pry, but he couldn't help seeing something pink under Shiro's cot.
The hell?
Shiro got to her starlit sanctuary before her.
"That went smoother than I thought."
He didn't look away from the stars though from the corner of his eye he did see her settle down next to him.
"I don't usually sleep in like that."
She laid an arm along his torso as she scooted closer to his side.
"Must have been a good dream."
He softly chuckled. "Must have."
They laid in comfortable silence but only for a moment. Her hand went up and started tracing some constellations, naming and describing them as they appeared. He appreciated that she did this, even though she knew that the earthling probably couldn't completely picture what a knilspet with feathers looked like but went ahead and described it just the same.
...He'd almost say he adored it.
"I was engaged," he blurted out before he could truly understand what he was doing, "before Kerberos."
Her hand stilled in the air as Pidge's words came to her. 'When he tells you, you should tell him...' Her fingers curled before coming down completely.
"Engaged?"
"An agreement two people enter into," he quietly explained with almost no inflection, "a promise of faithfulness, trust," he paused a second. She didn't miss it. "And lo-"
"I know," she interrupted a little sharper than she meant to, "what the word means."
He stared blankly at the stars.
"It's more accurate to say we discussed an engagement. Adam - when I chose to tryout for Kerberos, he expressed his concerns. Then I was chosen as the pilot." His eyes half closed. "He asked me an important question and I...faltered."
Then his eyes closed all the way, hearing Adam's voice in his head. 'Takashi, how much do I mean to you?'
"Understandably," Shiro finished slowly, "he said he wouldn't wait."
It was a lot to take in. But even so.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." His eyes opened with a wistful nostalgia. "I chose my dream over him." He turned to her with a half grin. "Guess I do have a big ego."
"It is not wrong to follow your dreams."
"It's what brought me to the Galra." He let out a bitter chuckle, bringing his right hand to look at. "If that's not a punishment from the universe then I don't know what is."
Her arm reached over to grip his right hand.
"It's what brought you to me."
He could only stare at her intense gaze. "You don't seem surprised."
"The engagement surprised me," she dryly intoned. "And yet not really, if I think about it. You are an attractive man."
He felt a little heat in his cheeks at her casual compliment.
"Not that. About...Adam."
She slowly blinked at him and then it was her turn to look blankly at the stars.
"My father loved my mother. I know this is true. But when she died, all he had was Coran and myself." Pause. "I'm sure you've seen the devotion Coran still has for the King of Altea." She turned back to him with a sad smile. "I can assure you, that love went both ways."
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He had been concerned about how to explain how he was, to reassure her that his actions weren't some poor attempt to get one sided affection. But she already understood.
"Most people are intimidated at the prospect of the...wider range of competition."
"Competition?" She softly scoffed. "You do remember I am royalty?"
He grinned widely, affectionately. "You only remind me every other quintant."
She briefly closed her eyes when his fingers brushed her hand. "About the replacement bayard," she opened her eyes, seeing his undivided attention. He had said what he needed to. It was her turn now...Except she hadn't agreed to tell him before he was ready to know. "We're having difficulty finding a similar element that the others are made of."
"I'm sure Hunk can help Coran. He made something to find the Blue Lion."
"Truly? That is quite impressive."
He smiled in pride. "We earthlings do have something to offer at times."
"That's not what I meant."
He propped himself up on his elbow, making her arm slide back to her side.
"Coran taught me how to fly the Altean pod with a hand puppet demonstration."
She laughed loudly at the thought of an experienced pilot having to go through that. "Oh Coran!" She turned into his chest for a couple of ticks before looking back at him. "To his defense it's hard to tell," she said between her tittering, "if you're actually paying attention."
He shook his head as her laughter quieted. With a glint in his eyes he traced her cheek, then up to the tip of her ear. Her eyes lidded immediately. He traced down her ear. By the slight parting of her lips he could see how much she liked that.
"Can you tell that I'm paying attention?"
His eyes were half lidded but very focused.
"The lighting's poor."
He hummed to that, bringing his head down.
"Still hard to see."
He was nose to nose with her. She exaggeratedly squinted her eyes, making her nose wrinkle and move his nose a little.
"I suppose you are," she loftily declared.
"What a predicament," he sighed.
She shivered, feeling his breath on her lips. "There are other ways to convey one's self."
The corner of his eyes tilted upwards in humor.
"Actions speak louder than words?"
"Perhaps."
He tilted her chin up. "Let me know if this works."
She kept her lips parted as his met hers. "A little," she murmured, "but the message is not clear."
"Apologies."
She breathed deeply through her nose as he angled his mouth. Her hand went along his neck, then slid into his hair as she kissed back harder. His eyes widened a little at the strength of her hand pulling him down. She took advantage of his distraction, getting her other hand under his shirt while she took control of the kiss. He had to extend his right hand on the floor to prevent his whole weight on her.
"Allura," he breathed as those damned, wonderful nails slid along his lower back.
"Shiro," she hummed as she nipped his lower lip.
Where in the hell did she learn to do all of this? Her hand slid up. He grabbed it, stilling it along his back. Her hair was out of its bun, loose and glowing under the starlight on the lounging pillows she had brought up. She looked glorious...He supposed she was a quick learner.
"Not here," he lowly murmured.
Her lips slowly tilted upwards. "I suppose your bed is better?"
"Why mine?"
Her finger lightly flicked his ear. "So you can have more pleasant dreams."
He murmured something too low for her to hear. Not that she was certain it was even a word.
"I was thinking yours."
Those languid eyelashes lowered even more as the image painted itself in her head. She hadn't been in a relationship like this before but it was difficult to not see tipsy members of court near the end of balls being intimate in dark corners or the gardens. Back then, she didn't understand the powerful yearning of physical touch in such relationships.
This was no longer the case.
"I'm not opposed to that."
Their hands stayed connected as they walked down the stairs from the tower.
He let her lead though he already knew the way. His thumb rubbed her knuckles. Her pinkie slipped between to tease his palm. They didn't run into anyone. It was late in the night. He knew they were close to her quarters. He pulled her hand. She paused to face him.
He kissed her.
She pulled him along, not breaking from his mouth. Her free hand soon felt the wall. She halting in trying to blindly find her keypad to pull his head down more. She hummed a little, letting him keep it soft and slow.
It sent electricity down her spine.
Her sharp ears caught footsteps. He grunted as she pushed him off of her. She looked down the hallway and then back to him. Getting the hint he quickly ducked around the bend in the other direction.
"Pidge?" Allura's brows furrowed, seeing the dark shadows in the younger girl's eyes. "Good heavens, what's the matter?"
Her foot was doing much better but she still made sure to walk slower.
"I usually see Shiro when I get them but he wasn't in his room." She paused briefly, lifting her head up with unshed tears. "I just really don't want to be alone right now."
Pidge's eyes widened as Allura embraced her.
"You can always come to me," she softly murmured. "Any time."
Pidge's shoulders sagged before the rest of her body did. Allura held her for a moment before leading her into her room. While Pidge wasn't looking, she glanced over her shoulder. Shiro raised his hand in a wave with fondness in his eyes. Then he quietly walked back towards the paladins' quarters.
She quietly sighed. She'd been wanting to get closer to Pidge. She wasn't going to ruin the opportunity.
Only Allura was on the bridge.
Shiro embraced her from behind.
"Thank you for doing that."
"I did it for her, not you," she sniffed with haughtiness.
He kissed her cheek. Months ago, he would have taken offense. By now he understood her sense of humor.
"Was it a nightmare?"
"Yes. A mixed memory of how Keith's father died, though it was her father instead."
He sighed, dropping his forehead on her shoulder.
"She keeps having that one," he quietly murmured. He released her as a thought occurred. "Do you still have nightmares influenced by my memories?"
For a tick she played with the idea of lying.
"Not as often."
He turned his head aside. His brows furrowed in self anger.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't accept it." Her hand gripped his, making him look back. "You did it to save my life."
"At the cost of your peace of mind."
She gave a small shrug. "I haven't had that since Zarkon."
He looked at her. She said that casually but her eyes unwillingly showed the scar on her soul, revealing that she was more than "upset" about Zarkon than her words could express.
"We'll get him."
"Someday," she murmured in mutual promise.
The others filtered in, Lance last. Surprise, surprise.
"So what's on the agenda today?" Lance yawned as he stretched out on his Blue Paladin seat.
Pidge brought up her screen with a grin.
"How about deciphering Sendak's memories?"
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AN: This was honestly supposed to have more of the whole 'sneak onto the ship with Allura' part of the episode but then the characters decided to do other things (or almost do something) so...I went with it. You can see this as Part One of the episode.