Nayni tore open the door to the storage closet. She rummaged through the dusty supplies. Her hands were already shaking. She didn't need to be so nervous. She was fairly certain of how this was going to turn out but she just couldn't contain herself. Nayni yanked the hover stool out from the back of the closet. It was a bit cumbersome. She brushed off some of the dust and examined it. She gave it a firm tap and it's lights flickered on.
Nayni slammed the door to the closet shut. She tucked the hover stool under her arm and started down the hallway. It was much nicer to have the Castle up and running again. It made it easier for her to try and forget the horrendous ordeal they'd gone through. They still had no idea how The Advisor had gotten onto the Castle. But he was an entity that possessed an ancient supernatural power that they never would truly understand. Her heart was starting to race again. She'd thought facing off with The Advisor had been the most horrifying moment of her life but she was starting to question that now. She felt like she was going to soil herself.
Nayni walked briskly down the hallway as she rehearsed her little speech in her head. Nothing seemed like the right thing to say. No words seemed to convey exactly what she wanted to. Nayni tried to take some deep breaths to calm herself but it was fruitless. The anxiety wasn't going to cease until she'd finally done this. She'd never thought she'd be here. She had never in her wildest dreams thought that this would ever be a possibility.
Nayni rounded a corner. Hunk was standing in the hallway. Quiznack. She tried to stuff the hover stool behind her back but he'd already noticed. Hunk looked her up and down and furrowed his brow. The Yellow Paladin towered over her. Even if she had managed to hide this stupid thing behind her back he would've just had to tilt his head to see over her. Hunk raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-what're you doing?" Hunk asked.
Nayni scowled.
"Things," Nayni said.
Well, she was going to do a thing. She was going to do a thing that she'd decided to after that night she'd spent in the pool with Coran. Hunk just pursed his lips.
"Why do you need a stool?" Hunk pried.
Nayni let out a sigh of frustration. She could go nowhere on this Castle without the Paladins questioning her. They always had to know what was going on. They were always interested. She didn't mind most of the time but she was very adamant that they not be involved this time. This part of her plan needed to be executed in private. Nayni clenched her jaw.
"I need it to reach something high up, obviously," Nayni snapped.
He smirked and Nayni pushed past him. She looked over her shoulder and shot him a dirty look.
"Now leave me alone," Nayni growled.
She hoped that would be enough to drive him away. He just watched her as she stormed down the hallway. Her chest felt tight from the anxiety and the anticipation. She felt with all her heart that this was what she wanted but it was still absolutely terrifying. She kept jiggling her legs as she took the elevator up to the bridge. The closer she drew to it, the more she felt like wetting herself.
She stumbled off of the elevator. She stared at the archway to the bridge. Nayni bit on her bottom lip. She looked at the hover stool clutched in her hands. Her hands were already shaking uncontrollably. Nayni took some deep breaths. She let out a sigh and stepped through the archway.
Coran was working with the main control panel. He was toying with the end of his mustache as he looked over the main display. He'd had a lot of work to do after their battle. The Castle had been in a dire state but he'd managed to piece it back together. Nayni felt bile creeping up her throat. She wasn't sure if she was about to cry or squeal with excitement. Well, she couldn't let that happen yet. She needed to keep herself together at least until the end of this.
Nayni crept up behind Coran. She was already sweating and her heart was pounding in her chest. She could feel her pulse in her neck it was pounding so furiously. She set down the hover stool and adjusted its height. Her knees were quivering as she stepped up. Coran looked her up and down and his eyes widened. Now that she was on the stool she could look him right in the eye. They were on equal footing. This was what Altean tradition called for before she could ask him this question. Nayni gulped. Coran's lips parted and a little smile curled up at the edges of his lips.
"Nayni-" Coran stammered.
Nayni held up her hand to silence him. She was trembling so much that she promptly shoved it behind her back. Nayni went rigid. This was it. This was actually happening.
"Mister Coran Hieronymous Wimbleton Smythe," Nayni began.
She had to take a moment to collect herself.
"It would be my honor if you became my partner in life," Nayni stammered. "Nothing would bring me more joy than spending the rest of our days together as equals."
She was already choking up. She was trying to stick to tradition and those old formalities. If she didn't she was going to lose it.
"I want to face all the challenges of life with you," Nayni said. "W-would you-would you do me the honor of marrying me?"
Nayni had never done this. She'd never thought this would happen. Tomyko had been the one to ask her. That's why she'd taken Tomyko's last name. A partner always took on the last name of the one who made the proposal. Tomyko had knelt down and looked Nayni in the eye. She'd given this same speech. Nayni had cried a great deal and accepted her offer. Now she was asking Coran. She'd never expected to have the courage to do this. Especially not with him. She never thought she'd have the opportunity to ask him this.
Coran's eyes started to glisten with tears. A smile crept across his face. Nayni's cheeks were flushed with the anticipation of it all. He took her hand in his and gazed into her eyes. She thought she was going to swoon.
"I would love nothing more than to become Coran Hieronymous Wimbleton Smythe Nordontu," Coran said.
Nayni grabbed him and pulled him closer. Tears were streaming down her face as she kissed him. She stumbled off of the hover stool and he caught her in his arms. She was shaking from the overwhelming joy of this moment now. She couldn't stop planting kisses all over his gorgeous face. They both devolved into a fit of laughter. Nayni couldn't stop shaking. She was smiling so much that her cheeks hurt.
"Maybe I'll just take your last name," Nayni giggled. "Yours is already too much of a mouthful. I know that would be rather scandalous though."
There wasn't really much pressure anymore to cling to those old traditions. Coran cupped her face in his hands. She was already melting to his touch again. She wanted to do that for the rest of her life. She heard the sound of a sob from behind them. Nayni whirled around. All of the Paladins were gathered in the archway. Of course. Of quiznacking course, Hunk had brought them along. She remembered how she'd explained to him and Pidge about Altean marriage proposals. He must've figured out what she was doing as soon as he saw the stool.
Shiro was sobbing and wiped the tears and snot away from his face. Lance looked at the Black Paladin with a great deal of shock.
"Dude seriously?" Lance said.
Shiro's bottom lip was still quivering as he shot Lance a dirty look.
"Shut up, it's beautiful," Shiro snapped.
Allura pushed past them and came running towards Coran and Nayni. She engulfed the two of them in her slender arms. The other Paladins piled on. The bridge filled with their excited chatter and congratulations. Shiro kept sniffling while the Paladins slowly crushed them to death with their affection. Nayni didn't mind. She loved the lot of them. She loved them as if they were her own children now.
Coran had thoroughly enjoyed planning the wedding. Nayni hadn't exactly been surprised by that. He'd always loved planning the big events around the Royal Palace and so she knew he'd be overjoyed to plan this for the two of them. He'd tried to mix in some of the wedding traditions from Earth. She'd been very keen on that. She felt like the Paladins were a part of her life now too. And she didn't want that changing anytime soon.
Coran had found an obscure little moon that had a landscape very similar to Altea's. They'd set up in a rolling field of emerald grass. Purple mountains with snowy caps were off in the distance. They were shrouded in the thin veil of white clouds. Bright yellow flowers were spread out across the vast meadow and swayed in the breeze. Their pleasant scent filled the air. The blue sky above them was slowly fading into shades of pink and orange as the two suns set.
Nayni watched Lance and Allura dancing under the glow of the lanterns they'd strung up. Hunk was showing off his exquisite cake to Pidge and Keith. Shiro was watching Lotor very closely. Nayni had asked that the Galra Prince be invited. If it hadn't been for his mercy she wouldn't be here. He didn't seem terribly happy that he'd actually chosen to come. Matt was looking on at Lance and Allura with quite a bit of jealousy.
Coran had draped his arm over Nayni's shoulder. The outfit he'd put together was just as flamboyant as Nayni had expected. It was a marvelous glittering green suit. It's coattails were swaying in the gentle breeze. A silken, oversize green scarf was tucked into his vest. Tomyko had worn a green dress at their wedding. She'd worn the color of Nayni's markings and Nayni had worn a suit that was the same shade of pink as hers. Now Nayni was clad in the same blue of Coran's markings. That was one Altean tradition that she had still wanted to honor. Nayni didn't look good in white and Coran thought a black tuxedo was too boring.
Nayni tugged on the hem of her simple blue dress. The bright hue was a rather flashy change for her. Coran had been surprised when she'd chosen a dress but she'd wanted to feel like one of those insipid maidens from her teledramas today. This was just as sugary sweet of an ending as one of those stupid things anyway. Coran nuzzled his face to her neck again. She felt the bristly hairs of his mustache tickling her skin. He hadn't been able to keep his hands off of her since the ceremony.
"Misses Nordontu Smythe," Coran said.
He'd kept saying that over and over. She didn't mind. Nayni smiled and brushed a stray brown curl away from her olive face.
"Mister Nordontu Smythe," Nayni said.
She liked how that rolled off her tongue. Groggery forbid if anyone had to say his full name now. Coran was pretty excited to tack on another surname though. He grinned and pulled her closer. He planted a kiss on her cheek and Nayni's ears flushed. He gestured to Lance and Allura. The Princess looked rather lovely with her silver hair swaying around her. Lance seemed rather overwhelmed with the sight of her in that flowing periwinkle dress. Nayni thought he looked rather strapping in his simple blue suit too.
"Do you think they'll end up like us someday?" Coran asked.
Nayni honestly didn't know. They were still so young but they seemed rather happy. Hopefully, they didn't waste as many years as Nayni had. Lance had already stopped that from happening as soon as he'd opened up to the Princess.
"Well, I did threaten the two of them," Nayni said.
Coran raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?" Coran teased.
Nayni smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"I told him if he broke her heart that I'd confiscate all of his CDs," Nayni said. "And I told her that if she broke his heart that I'd have her confined to her quarters for a month."
Nayni folded her arms across her chest and grinned. Coran seemed a tad surprised.
"No threats of death or bodily harm?" Coran asked.
Nayni chuckled and he planted another kiss on her cheek. He was bold enough to nibble on her earlobe a bit and she felt the tips of her ears and cheeks flush with heat. She was already pretty eager to get to the bedding portion of the all of this nonsense. But that wouldn't come until the sun had set and everyone had their fill of cake and merriment.
She rested her head on Coran's shoulder as she watched the Paladins. Lance put on a rather raunchy song to dance to and Shiro was scolding him. Keith was trying to sneak his fourth slice of Hunk's cake. They still had an entire Galra empire to overthrow. There was a lot of fighting and a lot of struggle they had ahead of them but Nayni knew the Paladins could do it. She knew without a doubt now that they would liberate the universe. She hadn't noticed that Coran was ogling her. He seemed to find the smile on her face to be the most beautiful sight in the universe. The Paladins' story had begun long before she arrived and they still had quite a way to go on their journey.
"We've got ourselves quite the nice family don't we?" Coran said.
That's exactly what they were. They were too ruggling old to have their own children but it was all right. They had acquired over half a dozen strays to fill that hole. Nayni held his hand. She stroked his knuckles and looked down at the smooth surface of his pink flesh.
"Yes we do, Mister Nordontu Smythe," Nayni said.
He slid his hand down the small of her back and squeezed her rump. Nayni would've slapped his hand away if he hadn't done it with such stealth. He twirled the end of his mustache and grinned.
"We shouldn't let all these young ones stop us from at least attempting to reproduce," Coran teased. "Maybe multiple times a night."
Nayni's cheeks and ears flushed. It wasn't physically possible for them anymore but they were still quite capable of enjoying themselves. She couldn't hide the sly smile on her face.
"Maybe we should get back to the Castle and give that a shot," Nayni said. "It seems like quite the pressing matter."
They both looked to the Paladins. It didn't seem that they'd notice if they slipped away. Coran bowed with a great flourish and held out his hand to her. When Nayni responded with a curtsy he was quite taken aback. His face reddened and she took him by the hand. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure none of the Paladins had noticed them trying to make their escape. Coran leaned over and she felt his mustache tickling her ear.
"I can't wait to tear that dress off of you," Coran said. "-And attempt to break my record again."
Nayni didn't know if she'd be able to handle him fifteen times but she was more than willing to give it a shot. Nayni ran her finger along the square line of his jaw. He shuddered with delight.
"You're a filthy scoundrel but I love you," Nayni said.
Allura had asked Shiro to stay behind with Coran on the Castle while they checked out the Ark. Coran knew why. He could tell by the way the Princess had looked at him. Coran was hovering near the communications module. He kept trying to calm himself down. The scans he'd run a few years ago had been from such a distance that maybe they hadn't been accurate. Maybe there was still a chance that Nayni was alive. He felt selfish for thinking that way. If any Altean was still alive it would be a precious gift.
When Lotor had contacted them with this deal, Coran couldn't help but let the hope overcome him. They'd been hesitant to go through with it. Allura thought the coordinates must be fake but Coran was willing to take the risk. He would've flown out to those coordinates himself if it had come down to it.
The view from the bridge wasn't exactly promising. The Ark was barely a shadow of the grand vessel it had once been. It looked charred and lifeless. There wasn't a single light on that vessel. Without the illumination of the sun and stars, it would've just looked like any other asteroid that was tumbling through the vacuum of space.
Coran just kept staring at the communications monitor. This wait was awful. He knew it was dangerous to get this hopeful but he couldn't help it. There had been something in the tone of Lotor's voice that made him believe they were going to find something on the Ark. Lotor seemed so smug and certain that this deal would work out in his favor. That assured tone had planted a little seed of hope in Coran's heart.
Shiro rested a hand on Coran's shoulder. Coran looked up from the monitor at the Black Paladin. Shiro's brow was furrowed. Coran must've gotten him rather concerned with his strange behavior.
"You're pretty worked up," Shiro said. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
Coran actually did. Shiro was the oldest of the Paladins. Coran still had quite a few years on him but he felt comfortable enough to open up to him.
"I'm hoping there's a very particular Altean on that ship," Coran confessed.
Shiro nodded. He didn't seem surprised. Allura must've already discussed this with him. Coran's ears twitched and he looked back at the monitor.
"I know it's not very likely but-" Coran said.
Shiro ran his fingers through the white tuft of hair on his head.
"-It would be nice," Shiro finished for him.
Coran nodded. It wouldn't just be nice. It would be the greatest thing that could ever possibly happen. It would give him a second chance with Nayni that he thought he'd never get. Things on the Ark looked so grim though. The possibility that she was alive was so astronomical that he knew it was foolish to get his hopes up. Shiro leaned against the control panel and folded his arms across his chest.
"Well for what it's worth, I hope they survived too," Shiro said.
Coran kept fidgeting. He just couldn't sit still. He was so afraid that this would all be for naught. No matter what they found on that Ark he needed to be prepared for it. He had to be ready for disappointment. But if he wasn't disappointed, he had no idea what he would do. He knew that there were thousands of things he wanted to say to her. There was so much that they'd left unaddressed but if she was still alive that might all be rather overwhelming. He was getting ahead of himself already.
He couldn't dwell on that. If he got his hopes up that would just make things that much more miserable if they found nothing or someone else. Coran chewed on his bottom lip as he tried to fend off the thoughts running through his head. His ears perked up when he heard Pidge's voice crackle over the communicator.
"Looks like Lotor's intel was right, Coran, we found a survivor," Pidge said.
Coran's heart ceased to beat for a few tiks. His eyes widened. Please by King Groggery's spirit let it be her. Let it be that beautiful stout woman. He'd give anything to see her round face and those green markings and olive skin. He'd give anything to see her frizzy brown hair pulled back in that bun that she'd worn for years. He went rigid and looked at Shiro.
The Black Paladin patted him on the back and smiled warmly. The communicator remained silent. It was inducing such anxiety for him. Allura could at least tell him who she found. She obviously knew who it was. Why hadn't she said anything? Why didn't she just tell him who it was so the torture could stop? He just needed to know. He needed his hopes to be crushed right now if that was the case.
Coran felt the cold touch of Shiro's cybernetic prosthesis on his back. He looked up at the Black Paladin.
"It's all right, Coran," Shiro said. "No matter who it is, it'll be great to have another Altean around."
He was right. Coran tried to collect himself. He didn't want to look like an anxious mess when the new arrival came around. It didn't matter who it was, he couldn't come off as a disheveled old man. His focus shifted from the communications display to the one that monitored the status of the hangar. Coran felt like he was on the edge of his seat as he waited for the Lions to return. When they came to land in the hangar, Coran held his breath.
He watched the monitor as the Paladins each exited their Lions. So far it was just the same familiar faces. Allura still hadn't departed from the Blue Lion. His gaze was fixed on that pixelated image on the screen. He watched Allura walk down the loading ramp from the Lion's mouth. She was hand in hand with that familiar short and plump silhouette. The cogs of the ever-shifting stars and planets all came to a stop when he looked at her. If he hadn't been gripping on to the control panel so tightly he would've fallen apart.
Coran whirled around and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Shiro, how do I look?" Coran pressed.
Shiro looked him up and down and raised an eyebrow. The Black Paladin was rather confused.
"Uh-you look the same?" Shiro said.
Coran wrinkled his nose. He wasn't going to be any help at all. Coran started to pace back and forth. He kept straightening out his uniform and fiddling with the edge of his mustache to make sure it was curled just right. Shiro looked at Coran as if the Altean had been possessed by some supernatural entity.
"Coran, are you sure you don't need to get something off of your chest?" Shiro pried.
There was quite a bit that Coran needed to vent about. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he didn't know what to do. What would he say to her? It was so inconceivable that this had happened but it had. It was happening right now. Nayni and Allura were making their way to the bridge right now. Coran bit down on his bottom lip. The sharp pain helped keep him grounded in the moment.
He was about to come face to face with a woman that he'd believed dead. Coran was going to look Nayni in the eye again for the first time in thousands of years. He'd taken great joy in getting this woman flustered over the course of their lives and that shallow flirtation had slowly evolved into something deeper. Coran looked down at his palms and a smile crept across his face.
He didn't know how this would unfold but the universe had finally gifted him with a little piece of happiness. Anything could happen now. Coran and Nayni had beaten all the odds and they were about to be reunited. He still didn't know how he'd finally tell her the words that he so desperately wanted to. He had no idea how this was going to change things. But all of the possibilities that had been robbed from him had now returned. Just to have that bit of hope back meant more to him than anything else in the universe.
Author's Note: I'm kind of sad to say goodbye to this fic but it was a pleasant journey writing it. I hope it was just as enjoyable for others. Ever since I saw the episode from the original series where Coran and Nanny were reunited I wanted to adapt that chemistry for Legendary Defender. It's been a nice ride. I want to thank everyone who gave this a read or left a review. That feedback means a lot to me. Shout out to my boyfriend who let me bounce ideas off of him and was also my number one fan.