I want to gift this story to my friend 'Godest'. Her prompt on the tumblr 'taking care of each other after a rough battle' inspired me to work on this story and this includes both internal and external battles. This is an AU from s2 'Ark of Taujeer' onwards and I hope you all enjoy it. Ooh, any guesses to which Lotor this is since we have a few iterations of Voltron? Tell me in your comments/reviews!
1. A Place Between Realities
"Allura!" Keith dove towards her, managing to grab a hold of her wrist but the two were sent flying back. He managed to pull her close as they hit a hard surface, rocks scattering from underneath them. "Princess, are you alright?"
"I believe so," Allura replied, looking around. "But where are we?"
That was a good question. It didn't look like a planet, but Keith could no longer see where the pod had flown off to. Not to mention that he didn't feel Red anymore, so where had they come to?
"I can't feel Red," Keith said quietly. "We must have gotten too far away." He could always feel Red's presence in the back of his mind but now it was like things were too silent. He realised he had not let go of Allura's wrist and didn't feel inclined to do so anytime soon. It's better if we stick together so we don't get lost, at least until we can figure out what's going on.
That was the excuse he gave himself at least but his heart protested to it for some reason he couldn't quite place right now.
"That's not good," Allura said softly, looking around as well. "I can't see a way to get off the planet. It's as if a view of the open space is blocked somehow. Can you contact the other Paladins?"
Keith tried to get a hold of Shiro on his comms device but all he could hear was static. What was going on? They didn't have a clear view of space, they were on a planet, if it was even a planet in the first place where all that could be seen was sand for miles.
"It's not working," Keith said, turning towards her and as he took a step forward, the sand crunching under his feet made him stop for a moment. "But maybe…" He was cut off by a purple glowing aura and another being stepped out of there. He had long white-blonde hair that fell down to his waist and purple eyes as he stepped toward them causing Keith to immediately let go of Allura's hand, shifting his body in front of her. The being had purple skin like most Galra as well as the ears as his gaze fell on Allura, eying her up and down.
"My, aren't you a beauty," he said, walking over to them and Keith tensed, about to pull about his bayard but the other reacted quicker, shoving him down.
Keith stumbled at the strength he didn't expect as he fell, wincing as he used his elbows to break his fall and luckily, his Paladin armour protected him from any further injuries.
"Keith!" Allura was by his side immediately before he could stand back up. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Keith said quickly. "I was just a little surprised. Besides, I have a feeling I'm not the one you should worry about." He couldn't explain how he knew that, but he remembered a conversation he had with Shiro when he was just a kid.
"I just…I didn't like he looked at you," 11-year-old Keith explained to his older brother. "I know I'm just a kid so maybe I was wrong but it's just a feeling I have."
"Did he give you a bad vibe?" Shiro asked him, looking thoughtful. Keith nodded, fully prepared for Shiro to dismiss it, and not take him seriously – adults usually did but there was a small part of him that hoped he would. Maybe he would be different since he had gone this far to adopt him.
However, Shiro then nodded as well.
"Then I'll trust that bad vibe," Shiro said softly. "If someone ever gives you bad vibe, Keith, don't ever ignore it. You can always come to me, and we can work it out, ok?"
Keith's heart lifted and he nodded. "Okay. I won't."
"What do you mean, Keith?" Allura asked him, bringing him out of his thoughts and Keith shook his head, slowly standing back up.
"Just a bad vibe," was all Keith said in response. He didn't know to explain more to her because it was just a feeling, and he couldn't really say the logic behind it. It was like how he knew that not all the Galra could be bad, that perhaps the Blade of Marmora could be good – that maybe some of them were actively working to fight against the empire.
"Bad?" The being said again as he stepped forward. "Is admiring beauty a bad thing? I don't see why it would be a problem." He looked at Allura again. "Greetings, gorgeous. You are simply breathtaking. My name is Prince Lotor. Might I catch yours?"
Allura looked a little taken aback, raising an eyebrow before looking back at Keith. "I see your point." Her face formed a fierce glare. "Where are we? Did you bring us here?"
"Not intentionally," Lotor replied simply. "But it was a fortunate accident for me, at least. I still didn't catch your name though."
"Her name isn't any of your business," Keith said defensively. His sword appeared in his hand, ready for a fight if need be. Not that Allura couldn't defend herself, but they didn't have the Castle of Lions right now and they had little knowledge of their surroundings or situation.
Lotor watched him, gaze growing cold as he looked at him. "You don't need to speak for her, interloper. I am trying to have a conversation."
"He isn't an interloper," Allura said frowning. "He's my friend." She reached out, taking Keith's hand causing him to jump slightly but he quickly calmed down, squeezing her hand in turn.
Lotor sighed a little. "Why must you make things difficult, darling?" His eyes glowed a silvery blue causing Keith to tense more as his and Allura's bodies began to glow a similar colour. He attempted to swing his sword to cut off Lotor's concentration but realised he could not move a muscle. Dammit, what had he done? Through the corner of his eye, he saw Allura struggling to move as well. He had to do something – but what? They were stranded here, with no way of communicating with the others. Shiro was right – this had been a terrible idea.
"Princess, hang on," Keith said softly. "We'll figure something out." The words felt hollow – he had never liked fake reassurances, but he would find a way to make it happen.
"Aren't you a gentleman?" Lotor said with a chuckle before raising his fingers towards Allura and her body moved toward him.
"Allura!" Keith called out as her eyes widened.
"Allura, huh?" Lotor said, eyes returning normal, but his fingers remained where they were as he walked over. "You're much more beautiful than my reality's Allura in so many ways. I like the fight in you." He leaned in close to her. "But let me tell you, Princess, you and that interloper cannot return back to your friends until I decide it. You see, you're on my turf now."
"Keep your distance," Allura said, keeping her voice low and threatening as she continued to try and squirm. "Keith!"
Keith tried to move when he realised, he could and gripped his sword, throwing it towards Lotor who dodged but it did what he had intended. It broke his concentration and caused Allura to fall to the ground.
Keith took this opportunity to run to her and pull her behind him, extending his arms out to make himself into a living shield in front of her, sword still at the ready. No matter what happened, he would protect her.
