The pounding of armored fists against the door of his room sent several involuntary tremors coursing throughout Lotor's body as he threw his hands over his ears to try and block out the noise, tears dripping down his fair cheeks and onto the yellowed pages of the book sitting in his lap. Shutting the novel and hugging it protectively to his chest, the young prince attempted to dash into his closet in search of sanctuary just as his door was roughly forced ajar and his makeshift barricade destroyed by the two sentries his father had sent for him, and he had barely a moment to toss the book into the safety of the closet's open maw before one of the bots roughly grabbed him by the hair and jerked him back in order for its accomplice to get a hold on him as well. As he was hoisted into the air to prevent his feet from touching the floor, Lotor screamed, kicked, bit, clawed, squirmed, punched; whatever he could think of, he did but the sentries' grips never loosen. All too soon, those dreadfully familiar doors came into view along with a the figure of a man the prince desperately didn't want to see, and as he was forced to his knees, he swallowed whatever sobs he had left before his hair was sharply yanked again to make him meet his father's gaze. Zarkon's lips immediately curled back in disgust at his son's tearstained cheeks and watery eyes, his piercing yellow stare turning Lotor's insides to ice as the boy bit the inside of his cheek to cheap himself from whimpering in fear.
"I have told you many times now, Lotor, and you continue to defy me." Zarkon growled in a voice so hostile even the emotionless sentries shrank back.
"I...I'm sorry, father." Lotor managed to stammer, hanging his head shamefully because looking his father in the eye any longer would result in his tongue turning to lead in his mouth.
"You are not sorry. You are a disobedient disgrace of a child! As if your lineage wasn't enough of an embarrassment, you shun the Galra way of life and devote all your time to reading worthless novels!" Zarkon spat, each hot, angry word searing deeper and deeper into his son's soul as he silently listened.
"You're the one who chose to bed my mother." he hissed silently as his small hands clenched into fists and a small spark of defiance ignited in his blue eyes. However, the flame was snuffed out not a moment later as Zarkon sharply backhanded his son across the face with such force that it knocked him to the ground, the dammed up tears breaking forth and flowing freely down his face once again as he cradled his throbbing cheek.
"I have had enough of your disobedience. From now on, you will spend every waking moment in that arena till you start acting like a Galra!" his father bellowed as he loomed over the boy's huddled form for a moment before swiftly turning his back on him as the sentries lifted him from the ground. Lotor fought them with what little strength he had left, but it did little to slow their pace as they dragged him through the arena doors, the roar of the waiting crowd drowning out his cries.
Lotor awoke from his sleep with a mighty jolt, his eyes wide and panicked as he searched the room for whatever threat had plagued his dreams. When nothing appeared before him but the walls and furniture of his room, Lotor breathed a shaky sigh of relief and wiped some of the cold sweat from him brow before casting a glance at the being in bed beside him, her soft, dainty snores calming him further as he brushed a few strands of her long hair away from her face with the tenderest of care as to not wake her. After depositing the lightest of kisses on her cheek, he began to lay down once again but paused when he noticed a shadow out of the corner of his eye.
"What is it, little one?" he cooed softly before holding out his arm in invitation. "Come here."
Almost immediately, the young hybrid hurriedly scampered over the bed and climbed into his father's arms, his vibrant blue eyes shining like stars in the faint light of the room. Upon closer inspection, Lotor noticed the child was holding and upon further inspection, he discovered with a soft smile that it was in fact a book.
"You want me to read to you?" he cooed gently as his stroked the boy's long white hair.
The boy gave a nod.
"Alright, but you must be quiet and lie very still so you don't awaken your mother, you understand?"
Another nod.
"Good boy. Now, close your eyes." Lotor purred lovingly before gently pressing the child's head against his chest with one hand while the other carefully took the book from his grasp and opened it to the first page. "Once upon a time…."