Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mary Ann's eyes were glazed over. Her fingers danced lightly across the control panels of her computer. Just to the right of her, a near empty bottle of liquor and a short glass. The images on the screen flickered as they changed from one to another.

Sighing, she lifted the glass to her lips and swallowed the burning liquid. The reflection in her glass caught her eye as it echoed the image on the screen. It was a still photo of her and the Voltron Force once they created a partnership to fight the Drules. In the picture, her eyes were captured focusing on the commander, Keith.

Mary Ann thought back to the first time she saw him, at Coran's side as she was visiting the rubble that was once her home. She had never seen a man so handsome. Then, when she was injured in the confrontation with Haggar, he took such careful care of her, nursing her back to health in the middle of a dense forest. He taught her a lot about how soldiers were actually trained to first and foremost help others, rather than destroy them.

Reaching out, she touched the image of his face on the screen. While she and the princess were friends on the surface, she secretly envied Allura with all of her being. It was always clear that Keith loved her instead. Now, with the announcement of their wedding, Mary Ann was having a hard time coping with the heart break.

I never even got the chance to tell him how I feel, she thought to herself. She poured the rest of the bottle's contents into her glass. Maybe if he knew he had another option he'd take it. She downed the remaining liquid courage and stood from her desk. What would it hurt to try?

Mary Ann smoothed a hand through her hair and turned toward the door, wobbling slightly as she walked. The door to her quarters slid open, revealing an empty hallway. Where would he be this time of evening? Knowing he had plenty of studying to do, she made her way towards the Royal Archives. She was suddenly grateful her room was so close to the library as she leaned up against the steel wall for a moment, her vision going fuzzy.

As she approached the entrance to the library, she noticed a soft glow of lights seeping into the hall. There was definitely someone in there. Her heart fluttered for a moment, hoping it was Keith. Stepping inside, she could see his strong form hunched over, face buried in an encyclopedia-sized book. His dark hair flopped over his face, his eyes appearing tired. Sensing her presence, he suddenly looked up to her.

"Hello, Mary Ann," he said, giving a weak smile.

"Hello, Keith. What are you doing?" She made her way to his table, sliding on the bench next to him. Keith instantly created some space between them, uncomfortable.

"I'm just finishing up a few sections about the coronation ceremony," he bookmarked the page with a long ribbon attached to the book's binding. The crystal ring on his finger caught Mary Ann's eye. "What are you up to?"

"Oh, nothing much. I was wondering where you were," Mary Ann curved her lips upward in a mischievous grin, trying desperately to capture his eyes with her own.

"Me? Why were you looking for me?" Keith raised an eyebrow, his instincts going on full alert. This was not like Mary Ann at all. He thought he caught the scent of alcohol off her breath.

"A friend can't look for another friend? You've been so bogged down with things lately, I haven't seen you in a while," Mary Ann purred at him. "Haven't you missed me?"

"Um…" Keith stammered. "Sure, Mary Ann. Guess I've been neglecting my friends a bit." He started to lean away from her.

"Now I think we can do better than that," Mary Ann fluttered her eyelashes at him. She raised a hand to touch his cheek. Keith froze, grabbing her hand.

"Mary Ann, I don't know what's gotten in to you, but this is not how our relationship is," Keith said firmly.

"Doesn't mean that it can't be this way," Mary Ann murmured, leaning up to him. Keith braced a hand on her shoulder, trying to hold her back. She pushed forward, grabbing his chin and pressing her lips to his.

Keith let out a surprised protest, his eyes wide. He shoved Mary Ann back, standing up from the bench. He instinctively lifted his sleeve up, wiping his lips. Something in the corner of eye caught his attention. He turned to see a stunned Allura and a devastated Hunk in the doorway. Hunk's hands were gripped onto a tray of snacks, his knuckles white, trembling with emotion. The color drained from Allura's face as her hand clenched over her heart.

"Allura, it's-it's not what you think…" Keith started. Mary Ann just smiled. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"So…you're saying that Mary Ann did not just try to seduce you and you didn't turn her away?" Allura said, anger peaking her voice.

Mary Ann glared at her. Standing from the bench, she started to approach Keith. "I'm just letting him know he has other options besides a life of slaving to politicians."

Allura glared back at her and began to move towards her. "Keith has made his decision. He was never pressured in to anything."

Keith opened his mouth to try and speak in agreement with Allura, but he was cut off as Mary Ann spoke again.

"Sure he wasn't, the war is over and he wants to stay on Arus. He would need someone with power to make that happen. He's using you and he belongs with me!" Mary Ann spat out.

Allura's eyes flamed with rage. "How dare you!"

Before Keith could interject, Allura had flown across the room, her fist promptly making contact with Mary Ann's jaw. Mary Ann's body crumpled and took the force of the blow, finally falling a few feet away. Chest heaving, Allura's fists clenched at her sides as the adrenaline rushed through her. She turned to look up at Keith, whose jaw was hanging open.

After a moment, Keith moved to sweep Allura into his arms. Tears instantly started falling from her eyes. "Keith, I'm sorry, I…I just lost control of myself…"

Keith hushed her and rocked her back and forth, kissing her forehead. "I love you, Allura, it's alright, it'll all be alright…" Keith looked up in the doorway at Hunk, who had been frozen the entire time. His eyes were red and blurred, his shoulders shaking. "Hunk, she had been drinking…don't pay attention to anything she said…"

Hunk shook his head slowly, his hands threatening to drop the tray. He forced the words out softly, "Drunk man speaks sober thoughts…" He then disappeared slowly into the hallway. After a moment, Keith heard the sound of the tray shattering against a wall.