Keith turned on his side again, trying to find the right position to ease the throbbing in his shoulder. Allura had left him some time ago, but sleep had been allusive for him other than short few minutes intervals.
He hated moments like these when sleep eluded him and his brain remained fully awake. Oh, and did his mind have many things to contemplate.
He tried to bury his head into his pillow at the thought that he could handle any enemy be it an evil monster, robeast or otherwise, except one- his own mind.
As he laid there not exhausted enough to fall directly into sleep, the dark memories of his troubled past and the haunting 'what ifs' that plagued his present were on the attack.
'Just what do you feel for the princess?' Rang in his head while he tried to grasp a better understanding of the state of his life. 'That feeling… I never felt anything this powerful before for anyone… But why her? She's just so… out of my reach.' He sighed finding no answer.
'She's a princess of a planet! Technically she's my superior in most matters, except when we're in the lions and then I'm her superior officer. What a mess! Not only is it against basically every code and regulation… even if I could… I just can't let things get out of control!'
Rolling on to his back and staring at the ceiling his brain continued to bother him. 'I cannot let my feelings get out of hand… You WILL NOT let these feelings continue! Remember what happens to those you let get that close… with everyone that you allowed in… you fail them! So stop now!' He berated himself.
Thankfully the grip of sheer exhaustion began to seep into his body. He felt his eyelids becoming heavy and let out a sigh. 'Those meds are finally kicking in. About damn time!'
After leaving Keith in bed, Allura accomplished her tasks of updating Coran on the changes to the schedule that needed to be made.
After several hours her stomach growled and she noticed she had been working on papers that normally fell to Keith's supervision right up till the noon hour. 'Well, I guess when he says that he gets wrapped up in these, he really is telling the truth,' she sighed standing up and stretching.
Changing into a dress so Nanny would not cause a fuss, Allura made her way to the dining room where the rest of the force – minus the Captain- was waiting.
"Where's ol' fearless leader?" Lance asked seeing that his friend was still missing from the table.
"The doctor ordered Keith to take some well-deserved rest." She said not letting any hint of her emotions show. This morning's round of teasing was still fresh in her mind. "It appears that you were right and his wounds were more serious than he let us know." Allura sighed as she took her seat and looked at Keith's vacant one as well.
"That's just like him." Lance snorted; relaxing back into his chair, the Red Lion pilot caught himself before he put his feet on the table- if Nanny saw him do that, he would not be eating for days. "So how long is he out?"
"No practice or patrol for a day or two. But in cases of emergencies he can pilot the Black Lion." She said looking at all her teammates who held worried expressions. "So I guess this means Lance you'll get your easy practices, because you are in charge."
Lance smiled and gave a smirk that seemed to say: POWER! I have the power! He chuckled in his mind like an evil dictator while rubbing his hands together.
"I'll take some food up to Keith's room in a little whi…" Allura began, but trailed off seeing the displeased look on Nanny's face.
"Princess! You will do no such thing! Going inside a man's room, one of these ruffian's no less, is not becoming of a princess! There are maids and servants who can attend to the Commander's recuperation." Nanny barked in at Allura's comment.
"Nanny."
"No, you listen here young lady- it's bad enough you socialize with these space explorers, but going into their quarters alone, no less, is just scandalous." Nanny continued on her lecture.
The force, after shoving food into their mouths and in Hunk's case, some into his pockets, somehow slipped out of the dining room without Nanny hearing them escape.
It was impossible for Allura to sneak out, and so the Princess sat and daydreamed as Nanny kept talking and lecturing about proper social manners.
As the door to the dining room closed, Lance, Pidge and Hunk all sighed in relief.
"Does she even breathe when she gets into lecture mode?" Hunk asked.
"I bet she could swim for miles if she had to!" Pridge smiled and the team, minus Allura, walked away from the sound of hurricane Nanny.
"Maybe, but what is even more impressive is Allura. She actually got Keith to take a break!" Hunk scratched his head in disbelief.
"Those big blue eyes and pouty lips must be hard to say no to." Lance smiled and erupted into a fit of laughter.
"Knock it off Lance." Pidge spoke up for his two friends. "I mean this has gotta be difficult for the both of them. Allura has Nanny and Coran to deal with so she doesn't need anyone else making problems for her."
"Yeah, Pidge's right. You seem to have it out for her today or something." Hunk added.
Lance, having already heard a similar warning about teasing the Princess from one dark haired captain many times before, finished his laughing and nodded his head. It wasn't like people needed to point that out to him, he enjoyed the game they shared. Allura could on occasion dish it right back out to him.
"You guys are right. I've been a bit much… but seriously, don't you think there's something going on between them?" Lance pointed out.
"I still think you're imagining it." Hunk replied pulling a semi-smashed tart from his pocket. "Why not just leave them alone and they can figure it out?" He suggested before taking a bite of his treat.
"But where's the fun in that?" Lance shrugged looking at his teammates. "Fine, fine. Well, I'm going to check on him in a bit. See if his being out of commission means I have to do the Garrison reports." Lance said to get the subject changed.
Hunk nodded and smirked. It would serve Lance right to have to do a little extra work. It would be a fitting punishment for his teasing over the last few days. Together the three walked down the hallway of the castle towards their quarters.
Allura, after being lectured by Nanny for nearly an hour and a half, slowly entered the kitchen wanting to make sure Nanny, in her long-mindedness, hadn't forgotten about Keith.
Her head hurt from the scolding she got from Nanny. Apparently whoever was on duty must have noticed her walking Keith to his room.
'And there are no secrets in the castle that Coran and Nanny don't get word of!' She sighed. Nanny didn't have to go to the extreme she did though. It wasn't like anything had happened.
Allura's thoughts came to an abrupt stop when she found the maids busy at work in the kitchens. Sometimes she wished that she could be a part of the comradely she witnessed in the staff of the castle. Having women her age around would make some things a lot less complicated.
Allura stopped for a moment to hear the latest topic of the maid's gossip. While Nanny often reprimanded the ladies for their 'inappropriate' topics, Allura enjoyed listening in.
"He's just so dreamy," rang one voice getting a reply of giggles from the others.
"More than dreamy. Just having him there makes or breaks the day." Another sounded a little sad.
"Yeah, it sounds like he's still injured. Which means he won't be at meals for a while." Allura could almost see the pout on the young woman's face as she listened from her hiding space near the door.
"His black hair is so sexy! I wish I could run my fingers through it just once…" Purred one of the maids while the others giggled in agreement.
"So…who is going to go and give him his meal?" Another voice added. "Can I do it this time?"
"No me!"
"Come on, he likes me better! Remember, he always carries my basket in for me." The first replied smiling at how she would coincidentally time her trips from the market with the end of his morning runs.
"He would do that for anyone you ninny. And don't even get me started on you ambushing him every morning! It doesn't mean he likes you, plus I think he prefers red heads." The red head of the group smiled. "At least that is what I heard from Lance."
Allura felt something tighten around her heart and throat. Listening to the group of maids of their encounters with Keith… and the thought of Keith actually taking an interest in one of them upset her.
The squabbling maids quickly hushed when Allura stepped out of her hiding space and towards the tray on the counter.
"Princess." They smiled all straightening up.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Oh, I see you've finished preparing the commander's food. I'll bring it to one of the force members." She lied quickly and took the tray. "Thank you ladies."
Allura felt much better once she exited the kitchen areas hearing the disappointed sighs of the kitchen staff. A smile on her lips at the thought she would be the one checking in on the object of their mutual appreciation.
Walking down the hall, Allura prayed to the powers that be Nanny would not find her. One look at the tray in her hands would tell of her intentions. She also hoped to not find Lance or Coran either… but she was not to be so lucky.
Allura found the rest of the force standing outside of Keith's quarters.
"I thought princesses were not supposed to go into ruffians' quarters?" Lance smiled getting an elbow from Hunk. "WHAT?"
"You guys aren't ruffians. I don't know why Nanny doesn't like you all… and besides the staff was a little busy at the moment." She replied trying to hide the jealousy in her voice with remembering the women openly ogling Keith.
"To busy fighting over who would get to come and play nurse and take care of the sick baby in there?" Lance chuckled fluttering his eyes in a mock of the swooning girls.
Allura had to wonder how Lance knew. She was about to ask when he continued. "It always happens… man! Keith is a total woman magnet. I don't understand him. I would use that super power..."
"We all know what you'd do- so keep it to yourself." Pidge said as he pushed Lance away from Keith's door. Hunk keyed in the code and the door swished open.
Silence from the room told the group Keith was most likely sleeping. After sticking their heads in, Hunk motioned for Allura to enter while helping Pidge push Lance back towards the maintenance bay.
"Let's let Allura drop off the tray. We've got some system specs to look over."
"Don't you go and take advantage of him." Lance winked and ran off before Allura could respond. Hunk and Pidge followed him after shrugging in defeat. It would nearly impossible to get their friend to stop the teasing.
Allura brushed it off and went further into Keith's room. She didn't need a lamp because the sunlight was illuminating the room enough for her so see Keith's sleeping form.
"Men. I'm sure glad you're not like him." She said to Keith as she came closer to the bed.
'He looks so cute when he's asleep.' She smiled and moved in even closer once the tray was set on the side table near the bed. With her hand she moved some of the unruly locks of hair off his eyes and tried to tucked them behind his ears. She had often wanted to do such a thing – his hair was just so unruly and called to be touched.
"You are such a set of contradictions and mysteries Captain." Allura allowed her had to linger near his ear. The silky strands of hair under her lite touch.
Suddenly his facial expressions changed from one of a peaceful sleep to one of pain and horror. Keith's face tightened in a deep frown and he began to thrash around. A tiny groan of pain came out of his closed lips.
His expression worried Allura. She took hold of his face and tried to comfort him, but it didn't help. It was if he was helpless, stuck in a nightmare. Her heart went out to him as he cried out in his dreams.
"Keith, wake up! It's just a dream… you're having a nightmare. Wake up please."
"NO! Don't leave…." He cried out still trapped.
"Keith! Wake up!" She cried.
Suddenly Keith's body jolted into a sitting position. His eyes went wide and his mouth open as if to scream, but nothing came out. His arm grasped tightly to a surprised Allura, pulling her to him tightly. He was breathing deeply- almost gasping for air. His muscles and body tense and on edge until his body went lax. His head rested on her shoulder.
Allura was at a loss for words. Never before had she seen Keith in this kind of state.
'He seems so… human.' She thought taking the opportunity to be close to him- to witness and support this new side of him.
Wrapping her arms around his strong shoulders, which were now almost shaking, Allura tried to comfort him.
'Oh God, do I wish this warmth would never end.' She thought as she set her head on his, nuzzling her face into his black locks. Nanny's voice echoed in her head about propriety and place, but that was quickly silenced knowing she could not leave him now.
He needed her.
"It's alright Keith." She repeated over and over tying to sooth him. "I won't leave."
Keith's mind was a rush of images from his past. Death was a common occurrence in his memories. When his mind was allowed to wander, it usually led to the reoccurring nightmares of that day- the single day that changed his life. For good and bad, the day of his father's death had severely altered the course of his life….
Then suddenly a new warmth surrounded him as the images of blood seemed to fade away. The warmth was something that was a rare occurrence in his mind, but this warmth was different from the others. It felt real.
From within the cocoon if his nightmare a soothing voice called to him. His vision cleared and slowly he came out of his terror induced trance. The world returned to normal with him in his room.
However, instead of being alone, he noticed there was another with him.
There he was, shirtless… having someone hold him.
And not just any someone, the one and only Princess of Arus was in his arms. She was returning his embrace, her lips placing lite touches to his head.
Even with his mind racing from the after effects of his nightmare, his mind began to take in the situation. He was sitting on his bead, his arms obviously had pulled her to him, and yet her's were encircling him just the same. He could feel her soft hair against his skin as her head rested on his.
How Keith wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming this… he had woken up, right? Could this be a really vivid dream? But did he want to wake up if it was a dream? Not really.
Allura felt Keith's body recover. He no longer shook and his heart wasn't beating abnormally fast anymore. She smiled as she felt Keith's lips mumble something against her neck before he placed a kiss to the exposed skin.
He didn't know what came over him, but he didn't regret it. Lightly placing his lips to her neck again, he sighed enjoying the smell of her unique fragrance.
"Thank you." He whispered against her skin and pulled her tighter before slowly easing the embrace.
Lifting his head he allowed the spell to continue as they just looked at each other as if trying to read the other. They were silent for a while- neither knew what to say.
"Princess, I… I'm sorry." Keith stammered, feeling the blush creep up on his face.
"Keith it's ok." She said with a smile at how handsome he looked at that moment. "You must have had a horrible dream. I… do you have this dream often? Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked as she slowly touched his cheek with her hand.
Keith once again felt the shock of her touch. He felt as if she was going to melt him.
Allura herself felt her skin warm with the intensity of the gesture. His skin was like a drug… she wanted to touch him more.
"It's nothing." He replied as he reached up to cover her hand that still lingered on his cheek. He couldn't miss the look of sadness when her gently took her hand off his face. Instead of releasing it like he had planned, he held it in his own.
"Keith, please..." She didn't know whether she was pleading for him to open up to her or for him to fulfill her dreams by taking her in his arms and kissing her.
Her heart started to pump faster as she noticed their closeness growing once more. Anticipating her first real kiss she slowly closed her eyes and lightly licked her lips…
Keith had to admit the offer was tempting, so tempting that his once strong control left him- he had had it. All his control was lost as he noticed her soft pink lips pleading with him.
Gone were all the thoughts of the titles that separated them; he was no longer merely a captain and she a princess… They were just people now, a man and woman.
"I love you Ally." She thought she heard him whisper, as he was about to claim her lips. His face was so close… so temptingly close she couldn't resist.
The kiss remained nothing more than a phantom as the castle alarms echoed through the halls.
Captain mode switched back on and Keith's eyes opened. He was on his feet in seconds in a protective stance. Grabbing a shirt, he swiftly pulled it on, only grunting slightly from the pain in this shoulder. Taking Allura's hand in his right hand, and communicator in the left, he was all business yet again.
Allura wanted to cry. They were about to kiss.
A magical moment she had wished to share with the man of her dreams was once again ruined by doom or some new threat to her planet. The day so far had been nearly perfect, she really felt that Keith had shown her a side of himself she never knew existed.
As Keith pulled her down the halls towards the control room, Allura focused on the warmth of his hand and the feelings there.
'Had he? Could he have really have said those worlds? Was I just dreaming when he said he loved me?'
"Report." Keith shouted still holding tightly to Allura's hand. Only when Lance gave him a smirk and pointed at their entwined hands did he momentarily drop the captain mode and slightly blush.
He didn't want to look at Allura after he let her hand go. The thought was short lived as he sprang back into his normal demeanor as Coran cleared his throat to attract attention back to the current situation.
"Captain, I thought you were supposed to be resting?" Coran began a little hesitant.
"Forget that- what's the situation?"
"An unidentified ship is being detected on our radars." Pidge said pointing to the screen.
"It doesn't look like a Doom Ship… and it's all alone." Keith rubbed his chin. "Ok team, to the lions." Their commander barked and Coran obliged beginning the sequence to raise the dais.
Keith was stopped mid-stride by the large and strong hands of Hunk. Stopped in his tracks by the pressure on his good shoulder, Keith turned to see several worried and angry people behind the larger man.
"We'll get this one cap." Hunk said as he pushed Keith into the control center chair. "You just sit back and watch."
"Yeah! Watch our excellent work, with me in command." Lance smiled as he and the others ran to their lion chutes.
Keith wasn't able to get in a 'but' before the four lions were launching into the air.
"If we need you, we'll call." Lance added from inside the cockpit of the Red Lion seeing Keith's discomfort at sitting this one out.
Keith sighed and took control of the computers knowing that he really shouldn't worry too much at the moment.
"There is something familiar about that shuttle Captain." Hunk said as they flew closer.
Keith nodded his head and zoomed the castle's cameras closer to get a better look. The flight path was a bit erratic, but the insignia on the hull of the ship told him all he needed to know.
"Hey team, you aren't going to believe this, but I think that's one of the Garrison's shuttles." Keith said looking over at the communication logs. "Were we expecting a visit?" He asked a dually confused Coran.
"A galactic shuttle? But why would they be coming here?" Pidge asked.
"And unannounced?" Lance added.
"All good questions guys... Swing back a bit and surround the thing. I'm going to open channels." With a touch of a button and a little tuning for the signal, Keith opened a com channel with the shuttle.
"Garrison shuttle, this is the Voltron Force of Arus - Identify yourself." Keith demanded. But there was no response. Hitting a few more buttons, to increase the output of the signal he continued, "I repeat! Identify yourself or we will be forced to take action… I will not warn you again."
Keith turned to his team ready to give the order to shoot when a signal responded, it was crackled and faint… but it was there.
"Keith? Is that you?" A woman's voice through the com link finally.
'That voice…. I know that voice.' Keith said to himself as a feeling of foreboding came over him.
"This is Captain Keith Kogane, Commander of the Voltron Force. Identify yourself without further delay shuttle."
"It is you! Keith it's me!" And in seconds, a video link was established and the face of a young woman in uniform smiled back at them. Her dark brown hair and pale skin seemed to blend perfectly with her pale green eyes.
"Alex?" Keith's eyes opened wide. "Alex, what are you doing flying a shuttle out here?" Keith asked trying to remain professional.
"Nice to see you too." She smiled again, giving him a wink. "Sorry, had some communication issues with this bucket of bolts, asking permission to land Keith." The woman asked as her video feed broke up a little.
"Team return to base. Coran, you can abort the alarm and stand down the guards. The Alliance shuttle has clearance to land in docking bay 5. Oh, and Lance, you won't believe who's come for a visit."
"From the way its flying, and the weird smile on your face, I would say it was one of three people." Lance smiled.
"I'm sure Alex will be happy to see you too." Keith nodded closing commutations with the team.
"Rodger that." Lance smirked and shook his head knowing that this day had gotten super interesting.
"Who's Alex?" Hunk asked. Pidge and Allura shrugged. None of them had been in the same class at the Academy with Lance or Keith. So this dark haired woman was a mystery to them.
"No clue." Pidge answered. "But I guess we will get to meet her soon."
Inside castle control, Keith guided the Alliance shuttle to a better trajectory to land in the docking bay.
"Thanks for the coordinates Keith, but if you don't mind me asking, why are you in castle control? Did my big brother finally manage to beat you up?" The young woman laughed as she continued their descent towards the castle.
"Not even close kiddo." Keith shook his head closely watching the shuttle. "But I can see you picked up on his flight style. You're pulling slightly to the right."
"Don't give me that Keith. I will have you know, that unlike my big brother, I was the top pilot in my class."
"You were? That's great. But we can talk more later. I'll see you in docking bay 5."
The four pilots returned to the castle and eagerly walked to meet Coran and Keith. Both men were already waiting out on the docking bay as the shuttle landed perfectly.
The woman from the video screen appeared first after the shuttle was powered down. She was a small woman, no more than twenty years old. She was nicely figured and had her brown hair pulled back in a militaristic bun.
Taking in the sights of the docking bay, the pale green eyes met Keith's warm ones. When she spotted him she began to run, forgetting protocol for a moment with her excitement.
Opening her arms, she was about to hug Keith when he straightened himself and saluted her. The woman stopped a few feet from him, looking disappointed and saluted back.
Keith and Lance began to laugh earning a smile from Alex before she jumped into Keith's arms. He swung her around as they both laughed.
Lance cleared his throat and tried to feign hurt.
"Don't you want to say 'hello' to your own brother?"
"I suppose, but I always liked Keith better." Alex smiled and went to hug Lance too. "And no flirting with my teammates. I've told them all your usual tricks- so they won't work."
"What? Now I am hurt. You, of all people, implying that I need to use tricks to lure women." Lance smirked and swung his arm around his little sister's shoulders.
"Keith doesn't use tricks- you do."
"Oh, I'm sorry guys." Lance said looking at the crowd of confused people in the docking bay. "Princess this is my baby sister Alex, Alex this is Princess Allura, Hunk, Coran and Pidge."
"I'm so sorry you have to put up with my brother." Alex said as she bowed to Allura and then moving to shake hands with the rest.
"It's definitely interesting at times, but he livens up the castle. Welcome to Arus, and forget the formalities." She said as she too shook the pilot's hand "You and your friends are welcome here for as long as you like."
Allura smiled as she watched Keith interact with the younger girl, Lance's sister.
Soon the rest of the crew had exited the ship. To Lance's enjoyment the entire crew was composed of women- well figured and in short military dress uniforms.
"Speaking of crews and all that, why exactly are you here?" Keith asked.
"I can answer that." A voice from behind them said.
Keith turned back around towards the ship. His mouth almost dropped to the floor when he saw and instantly recognized the woman who currently walked down the ramp towards the team.
"Well hello to you too, Captain Kogane." A smooth, yet powerful feminine voice came, and froze the occupants of the bay in their place. "It's been a long time, but I see you're just as handsome as I remember."
The beautiful red headed woman stopped in front of the Voltron Commander. Her uniform showed the rank of Captain as well, medals and awards glittered on her chest, her very stance and posture commanded respect from all around.
Allura looked at the two Captains in silence as they two looked at each other for a bit longer than she would have liked. Where the woman seemed to demand respect and awe, Keith didn't need to show his accomplishments to get either. Here he was in a more causal outfit, but still.
"Selena? Is that you?"