All together now - WEP owns everything except the voices in my head...
Paulina Ann - so glad you are enjoying it, I hope you like this installment as well...
Wade Wells - Thank you for reading. With any luck, you will find the rest of the tale entertaining as well!
Limetwist - this is the rest of what you got to preview. All new for you after this chapter!
cubbieBlueMako - Yes, unfortunately things will get worse before they get better for our intrepid captain. Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end...
Smithy - Lance's worries may not be over yet...
Forever4Blue - Keith won't ever cut his hair under my watch. Though sleeplessness can make people say some odd things... I think you'll enjoy this chapter.
FroofyB - The reasons for Keith's current bout with insomnia are about to be revealed. The team will still have reason for concern though...
And now - on with the show!
"Kitty, now that he's been suffering for a while, I think it's time we increase the spell's effects on the commander. Perhaps we should add some nightmares to invade the little sleep that he is able to achieve." Haggar waves her hands in a complicated pattern as she recites a spell in an archaic language. Her casting complete, she grins wickedly and lifts the blue feline, cradling it to her. Before she can begin stroking the cat's fur, the door to her laboratory opens. Turning, she watches as the Prince of Doom swaggers into the room confidently.
"Haggar, old witch, what evil are you up to now?"
"Why undermining the strength of Voltron, of course. I was able to learn that the captain suffers from insomnia, so I cast a spell on him to intensify the effects of his condition. He hasn't slept more than three hours a night since I cast the spell nearly three months ago." She cackles wickedly. "And just now, I added a second component to the spell so that he will be plagued with horrible nightmares during those few hours that he is able to sleep. As they say, my prince, 'one man's nightmare is another man's dream'. He will be unable to function well enough to dress himself soon, much less lead the Voltron Force. Victory will be yours."
Lotor grins and rubs his hands together. "And when Voltron falls, the princess will be mine! Why that will be a dream come true!"
The Castle of Lions is cloaked in darkness. A few lights shine from random windows, gently illuminating the night. Silhouetted in one such panel is the captain of the Voltron Force. He stands, facing the view outside the castle. Heaving a sigh, Keith raises his hand and runs it through his dark hair, increasing the disarray in his already disheveled locks. His eyes slowly close as he concentrates on keeping his breathing steady and even. After a minute, he allows his eyelids to flutter open again, focusing once more on the area outside the window.
A quiet knock breaks his silent reverie and he turns to face the door wearily. Wondering who could possibly be visiting him in the middle of the night, he calls out, "Who is it?"
"It's Allura. Can I come in, Keith?" Her voice is soft and muffled by the door panel, but her concern is still evident.
Glancing at the clock, he walks slowly to the door and presses the release panel to grant her entry. "What are you doin' up this time of night, Princess? You *do* realize that it's 2am, don't you?"
"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing, Keith." The princess glides past him into the room, her gaze never leaving his face.
"How'd you even know I was awake?" His eyes narrow as he raises one eyebrow at her.
Allura blushes before slowly bringing one hand around from behind her back. "Chitter told me. He said that you had a nightmare over an hour ago and have been ever awake since. I thought I'd come and see if you were alright."
Keith eyes the pastel mouse resting in Allura's outstretched hand. "And just why were *you* spying on me?"
"Oh, don't be mad at Chitter, Keith. I asked him to keep an eye on you to make sure you were sleeping. I was worried about you." She looks up into his eyes, noting that his lids appear heavy, and the whites of his eyes are bloodshot. "Have you gotten *any* rest tonight?"
"Not really, maybe an hour or so." He shrugs before continuing quietly. "Every time I close my eyes, a thousand thoughts fight for my attention. And when I do manage to quiet the noise in my head enough to drift off, I've started having some pretty intense nightmares." He glances at her for a moment before turning away to stare out the window.
"Do you want to talk about any of it? Maybe I can help you sort through your thoughts enough for you to relax and fall asleep." Stepping around from behind him, she reaches out and takes his hand, gently leading him to the couch against the wall. Sitting down, she pulls him to a seated position next to her and turns to face him. "So, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing specific, I just have a lot of things on my mind. Doom, training, y'know, normal command stuff. The same things that are always on my mind, nothing new or different…"
"Do you want to talk about the confrontation you had with Lance earlier? What was that all about?"
"Nothing, just an old disagreement. Not something you need to be concerned over," he says dismissively hoping that she will drop the subject.
She looks down at his hand, still clasped in hers, and takes a deep breath. Her lips twitch and she slowly raises her gaze back up to his before beginning hesitantly. "Keith?"
"Yes, Princess?" His tone is flat, but she can't tell whether it's from exhaustion or the effort of controlling his temper.
She sighs and bites her lower lip before continuing. "Well, after you and Hunk left the control room earlier, Lance and Pidge mentioned something about…" She looks away from him unsure how to continue.
"They mentioned *what*, Princess?" Keith's voice is soft, yet still contains the steel of command as his eyes narrow.
She winces and tilts her head as she turns back to face him. Her eyes search his face and she momentarily reconsiders her decision to continue. "They said that there was something *she* should know. But they wouldn't tell me what *it* was or who *she* was…" Her voice grows quiet as she nervously finishes talking; no longer sure she wants to hear the answer.
Keith groans quietly and mutters something unintelligible under his breath before turning to face her once more. "Allura, it's nothing. Really. They shouldn't have said anything. Lance had already said more than enough." His biting tone makes it clear that he does not want to elaborate any further.
Ignoring his reaction, she presses on, her need to know intensifying. "But they did, Keith. And it sounded like something important. I just want to help." Her voice takes on a note of desperation as her eyes plead with him.
He rubs his hand across his face and heaves a sigh as he feels his resolve begin to crumble before her gentle but insistent onslaught. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" he asks matter-of-factly.
She shakes her head. "No, Keith. Please, tell me. I'm your friend, there's no reason for you to keep secrets from me."
Muttering something about Lance being a dead man, he chuckles quietly and shakes his head in defeat. "Oh, Princess, there are some things I absolutely should keep secret from you. And this is one of those things. You're the one person I should never tell about this."
"Why, Keith?"
His eyes soften as he gazes upon her. When he finally does speak, the words are barely a whisper on his breath. "Because… because, it's about you…"
"About me? You have a secret about me? I don't understand, Keith." Her brow furrows as she reaches up to cradle his cheek in her hand. As her thumb strokes his face, her eyes seek his. "Please, tell me, Keith," she softly coaxes.
Closing his eyes, Keith takes a deep breath and slowly releases it from between pursed lips. When he starts speaking, Allura has to lean closer to hear what he says. "I like you Allura…"
She frowns in confusion at his words, not realizing what he is really saying. "I know that, Keith. And I like you, too. That's not a secret…"
Opening his eyes, he locks his sable gaze onto her azure one. He swallows and then proceeds still whispering, "No, Allura. Not like that." He shakes his head slowly as he speaks. "More than that." His eyes break from hers and focus on her lips. "As more than just friends… But that can never happen…" His eyes flicker back up to hers before he closes them again and turns away.
"Oh, Keith…" Her hand still cradling his jaw, she tenderly turns his head so that he faces her once more and waits for his eyes to reopen. Slowly the distance between them disappears until they can feel the gentle puffs of each other's breath.
"Allura, this isn't right. I have nothing to offer you. I'm not of noble birth. I don't have resources to aid the people of Arus. I'm just a pilot. You deserve so much more than I could ever hope to provide."
"Stop being silly, Keith. You have plenty to offer. Why, if you hadn't come to Arus, we'd be slaves under Zarkon's rule right now."
His eyes flit down to her lips again as he unconsciously moistens his own. He leans in until there are mere millimeters separating them. His eyes slowly close…
Allura watches as his gaze moves down to her mouth before finding her eyes drawn to his lips as well. As they move ever closer, she closes her eyes in anticipation of their mouths making contact. After a minute, she slowly opens one eye a crack, trying to figure out why the kiss she had been anticipating never came. She stifles both a giggle and a sigh as she sees Keith's head lying limply against the back of the couch. Pushing down her disappointment at the missed opportunity, she stands up and gently arranges him into a more comfortable looking position. She wanders over to his bed and returns with a blanket and pillow. After draping the cover over him, she gently slips the cushion under his head. Not ready to leave her captain just yet, the princess squeezes onto the couch next to him and lightly strokes his hair.
Leaning over, she takes in his sleeping profile, a soft smile on her lips. The princess murmurs under her breath as her fingers sift through his silky mane. "Keith, how could you ever think you weren't good enough or didn't have anything to offer? You have everything to offer. You're the only one I'm interested in. Since the day you arrived, it's always been you… But I know that can't be all that's on your mind right now…" As she watches over him, Keith's eyes start to twitch and he begins to groan and thrash in his sleep.
"Shhh… It's OK, Keith. I'm here. Just sleep… Shhhh…" As Allura croons to him soothingly, she slips from the couch and kneels on the floor next to him, gently stroking his arm and shoulder until he settles back down. For the next hour or so, Keith sleeps fitfully, the majority of the time, plagued by nightmares. Only Allura's presence, gentle words, and soft caresses seem to counteract the uneasiness that torments him.
By 4am, Allura can no longer maintain her vigil as exhaustion overtakes her. She falls asleep leaning against the couch, her right hand tangled in Keith's hair, her left arm crooked behind his back, with her forearm under her head. Almost as soon as slumber claims her, Keith begins to have another nightmare. Without Allura's efforts to diffuse his discomfort, he awakens within minutes.
Blinking rapidly, Keith tries to understand why he is staring at the back of his couch. Suddenly, the events of earlier in the night come flooding back to him and he covers his eyes, groaning. As he begins maneuvering himself into a sitting position, he realizes that he's not alone. Moving carefully, he sees the princess slouched against the sofa. He sighs, knowing how uncomfortable her position must be and how stiff she will be when she wakes up. Slowly kneeling before her, he softly strokes her cheek with his fingers, delicately tracing her cheekbones and jawline, stopping just short of caressing her lips. Gently, he gathers her into his arms and carries her to his bed. He lays her down tenderly with her head on one of the pillows before turning to retrieve the blanket from the couch. After securely tucking her in, he retreats back to the sofa and sits, staring out the window as he waits for the sun to rise.