Allura POV
She almost screamed when she felt him grab her hand. She didn't know what to do. She must have been bothering him, that's why he held it. To ask her to stop. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know why she did it. She just slid her fingers into his on impulse. She almost died when he gripped back, a gentle squeeze. Then . . . he let go.
She sighed in a sort of relief.
When they climbed into their pod, she snuck a glance at him. Lotor still had his hair up. Her face burned. She felt the desire to braid it, run her hands through it. Why? It's stupid and you know it, she told herself. She pushed her way in front of him so she wouldn't feel those urges.
"Hey, Allura?" Lance called her. She turned her head to face him, an eyebrow raised. A low growl came from behind her.
"Yes, Lance?" she asked, turning her whole body his direction. She knew Lotor was near her, his tall body giving off a certain feel. She almost turned around, but instead, she fought it. He put an arm on her elbow lightly and protectively.
"Do I really have to be paired with Keith?" he asked, his face red. He seemed fidgety. "I mean, we're going to a planet where their sole belief is in love. Shouldn't I at least be paired with a girl?"
Behind her, Lotor says, "No. The Aiereians have laid down their requirements, and we have to follow them if we want them to join the coalition."
Lance nods, seeming a little worried. "He hates me though. . . . I'd rather be partnered with you." He smirked at her, then posed into a confident stance. She was about to answer, but Lotor let go, making her worried. She turns around just in time to see him roll his eyes.
"I must go," he says quietly.
"Lotor—" she tried, but he was already leaving. She grabbed his shoulder in confusion.
He smoothly shrugs her hand off. "I'll see you later, Allura," he mutters, exiting the room. She was left feeling perplexed and a little hurt.
"What's up with him?" Lance mumbled. He steps a little closer, and she turns to him, still glancing back at the doorway with fear of what was with the sudden change of mood.
"You stole the words right from my mouth," she told him, hugging herself. "I have no idea."
Lotor POV
I can't believe I thought he wouldn't try and take her anyway, he thought angrily to himself. I can't believe I thought she would actually want to be my partner. He pushed through the pod, looking for somewhere private. He didn't want to think about anything right now, he didn't want to deal with the others. But his head was crowded with thoughts, just as the pod was filled with people.
He huffed and stopped, not caring where he was. He sat down, resting his head on the wall. "Stupid . . . ," he grunted. "Stupid."
"What's stupid?" someone asked him, the high voice coming from his side. He turned to see her. Pidge. Of course. She was standing with a tablet in her hands like she was just walking out of the cockpit. She had a curious eyebrow arched.
"The mission," he said, trying to shut that matter down. "There are so many different ways of getting the Aiereians to join the coalition." He sighed, resting his arm on his knee. "And no different ways to solve . . . er, other problems." He became a little angrier when he mentioned that, but also a bit sad.
"You're not talking about the mission," she guessed, sitting down next to him. "Are you?" She set the tablet down next to her and rested her head on her hand. She looked like she was trying to analyze him enough to figure it out on her own.
Lotor sighs again. "No, I suppose I'm not," he muttered, turning his head away from the girl. "It just . . . infuriates me how much I try and nothing seems to help!"
"You've been doing a lot to help us, actually," Pidge said.
"I'm not talking about the mission. I'm talking about . . . about Allura. . . ," he complained. "She never looks my way, and suddenly we're on a planet that can sense your attraction to someone? I can't believe that."
Pidge snorts, laughing. She heaves over and clutches her stomach. "You. . . . You . . . !"
"What?" he asked, face hot and voice somewhat loud. "What?"
"You have an attraction to Allura?" she asked, eyes wide. "The Allura?"
"Yes."
"The princess?"
"I believe I've said that."
"You mean Princess Allura of Altea?"
"Yes."
"We're talking about the same Allura?"
He nods deeply. "Yes."
Pidge sits back, starry-eyed. "I knew it." Lotor rolls his eyes.
"Please don't tell her. She doesn't need to know," he mutters. "I don't want her worried, either."
Pidge sighed. "Alright. But don't keep this to yourself too long. Besides, we're almost there! You can tell her during the Amor Fest." She smiles and gets up, leaving Lotor to sulk.