The Training

Months had passed since their visit to Earth and that moment with Allura. Keith was busy looking for clues to Shiro's whereabouts while convincing the team that he could actually fill the Captain's boots in the interim. The Princess met with him to discuss logistics but Coran was always asked to join so they were never really alone. He felt like she was avoiding him.

No, there was no time for chasing fantasies. Other than occasionally meeting her eyes in passing there was little indication that anything had transpired between them. In fact, based on whispers he'd overheard, the team seemed to think Allura was still hung up on him being part Galra. It hurt more than he'd let on, but they were probably right and he couldn't blame her.

Zarkon was still reeling from their attack and so they had run into little resistance when freeing planets from his rule. Voltron wasn't needed and they got by with four lions easily. It wasn't uncommon for one or two at a time to fly in and clean house, but Keith was still wary of the possibilities and wanted to recruit a new paladin. The team of course resisted. Coran offered to fly but was rebuffed by Allura, who insisted on taking on a lion herself. It was decided she would fly Red and Keith would take over in Black.

Since he'd already flown Black before he didn't feel the need to do much training but wanted to bond with the lion in case Zarkon tried to get it again. Allura also needed to form a connection with difficult Red. Coran found an unoccupied moon that would work well for training purposes. In the meantime, the other paladins would go to a nearby planet that was still recovering from a Galra attack and help rebuild.

Allura had never flown anything but the castle so Keith put Red on autopilot so he could land it properly. He could tell she was a bit miffed at the insistence but when they were pilots she answered to him. That was how it had to be, there couldn't be two Captains after all. They took off from the castle in silence as they began their journey to the barren moon Coran had programmed into their guidance system.

Suddenly the Red lion lurched forward and sped towards their destination. Furiously Keith took off after it. What the hell, Princess? He tried to radio her, no response. If this was how things were going to be it was going to be a very long training session.

Black caught up to Red just as they were almost touching ground, just in time for Keith to see Allura being ejected into a forest. He was formulating his speech about her not pressing any buttons-which he warned her not to do back in the hangar-when the hatch opened and he, too, was being hurtled to the ground. Anger turned to confusion as he watched the two ships take off into the horizon then disappear.

Now panic was beginning to set in: first, he had to find Allura; second, he had to figure out what planet they were on. Coran said it was a barren moon yet there were trees, small animals and he could hear the whoosh of running water nearby. Swiftly he worked his way through the trees to where he saw the Princess drop. What was Red doing? Granted she was temperamental, but rejecting Allura completely? Black he could understand, he didn't feel much like a leader. And he was used to rejection.

Working to calm himself he repeated Shiro's best advice. Patience yields focus. His eyes couldn't see Allura but if he was still…there, found her! In the direction of the water, he ran hoping that she'd been able to use her jet pack to land safely on the shoreline. It wasn't long before he got his answer; the excitement he felt seeing her standing by the river was only temporary, however. She was surrounded by creatures that appeared to be hunting food.

Knowing his tendency to rush in to situations didn't always yield positive results caused him to stop in his tracks. His impulsiveness his worst trait- causing him to do stupid things like run away from the team- usually created more hurt than help. Or worse, kissing Allura. That mistake seemed to hurt only him at least. At this moment it didn't matter, what would his next move be? Run in with his sword swinging or approach cautiously to see if the creatures were friendly?

The pain shot through Keith's body like a dagger, blood from his side staining the white of his uniform. One of the pack must have picked up his scent and jumped him from behind, its sharp claws tearing his flesh through the soft part of his suit. An angry scream alerted the Princess to his presence and she rushed to aid her injured paladin. Realizing they were outnumbered she grabbed him by the arm and threw him in the river, jumping in herself just behind. The water was cold and he was struggling to stay afloat. All he could think about was keeping her safe though.

Further downstream she helped him to the shore then went to get wood for a fire. His mind was alight with everything from pain to anger to concern to embarrassment. Oddly the last was the most punishing. He was there to save Allura, not the other way around. He'd always been so protective of her, always ready to engage whenever danger was present. How foolish of him to let his thoughts get the better of him. Still, he had good reason.

The last few months where a blur. The dance was the best night of his life by far, yet he couldn't settle his doubts. Was she really there for Lance, and he was just the runner-up? Maybe she just got caught up in the moment and had second thoughts after getting back to the castle. For him it was a culmination of everything he'd felt since they first met. Maybe he wasn't strong like Shiro or suave like Lance, maybe he wasn't royalty, it didn't mean he didn't have a chance.

And what about the lions? Oh yeah, that. Lousy pieces of junk, just leaving them there to die. Well, one of them at least. He made a silent vow to keep the Princess alive, no matter the cost. That's all he could do. His body was shaking from the cold and from the loss of blood. The sound of cracking branches startled him; thankfully he was met with the concerned gaze of the woman who had stolen his heart.

The fire was welcome to his frail body although it did little to stop the muscles that were beginning to convulse. With her assistance, he removed the armor from his torso and peeled back the tunic to expose the wound. It didn't look good from his point of view. Allura's expression did little to quell his fear. At least the bleeding had slowed.

He needed to fight the urge to sleep. She had placed his head on her lap to provide some comfort and he would have given anything to stay there. He knew that talking would help, but what could he say? Fear of rejection kept him silent; fear of dying kept him alert. Finally, the Princess spoke. Her voice was always the key to his calmness. Today it scared him.

"Why have you been avoiding me? I've been trying to talk to you for weeks. Did I do something wrong?"

Keith was confused. She was avoiding him, wasn't she? He scrolled through mental pictures of every interaction since that night. Was he subconsciously trying to minimize contact with her instead of the other way around?

"I'm…I'm sorry Princess. I didn't mean to. I…"

"Did you change your mind? I don't understand."

Tears began to burst from her eyes. It was his fault. This was far worse than his physical pain, he was sure his heart had stopped and it was because he had hurt her. His hand gently reached for her face to wipe it dry. With what little force he could muster he sat up to place a long overdue kiss on her lips.

He winced at the discomfort but wrapped her in his arms to pull her closer. Once again, his fear of being abandoned had caused him to nearly miss the greatest opportunity of his life. Now they were abandoned on a planet with no means of rescue and he was going to die leaving too much unsaid.

"Allura, I will always be here for you. As your paladin and, hopefully, as your lover. You will never be so far away that I can't find you."

"Keith, how did you find me? My com wasn't even working, it should have taken you hours."

"Your energy called me to you. Maybe it's a Galra thing, but that's how I knew it was you at the dance hall."

Her eyes flickered. "It's not a Galra thing. Only Alteans can sense each other. Do you think that means…?"

"I'm part Altean too?"

At that moment, they heard the growl of the lions approaching them. Was this their intention, to get this information out? Or was it to bring them back together? It didn't matter, Keith was safe now. And so was Allura.