Chapter Text
It had been several months since Zarkon was rid of for good. He no longer posed a threat to the universe, nor its inhabitants. Though with no leader at the head of the empire, many found themselves fighting for the throne; but none would prove successful as the witch Haggar barred all from claiming their spot. She believed, in spite of it all, that Zarkon could still return to rule his empire. Across the sectors still under her control, she sent her troops, spreading thin.In spite of all her attempts to keep the empire together, it was apparent her senility was affecting her ability to command troops with adequate precision. Even though with all her desire to maintain the empire, it appeared her precision of command was affected by senility. Within weeks, half of what was left, was lost; the Galra empire truly had died. Some fled, leaving the Empire they once knew and going into hiding. Many fell, by the hand of another or by homicide, as death was a greater fate than cowardice to the Galra.
Haggar and her druids withdrew to the shadows, leaving those who remained to fend for themselves, abandoning them.. The Witch invested herself deeper into her work, sending out robeast after robeast until each one sent out was more weak and feeble than the last. And then they were gone. Haggar disappeared, leaving the paladins of Voltron to rebuild what of the universe still lived.
Allura headed that front, working with Ryner and the Olkari. They began construction on a new Daibazaal, a new homeworld for the galra that fled and hid from Zarkons oppression. Yet this process was an unpopular one. Many argued that the Galra were not deserving of this help; that it was wrong to build a home for the ones who had destroyed so much. But Allura remained strong, ensuring those dissenters that their planets would be the first priority. Terraforming was a gradual process, a plan for the long-term; those planets who came to Voltron’s aid would be rebuilt by the time it was finished. The peoples of the coalition finally relented and begrudgingly accepted the fact, allowing it to continue.
As a new planet was designated the home of the coalition, those who were prominent in Zarkons removal of power, gained high-level jobs in the new government on this planet. The paladins took it upon themselves to help with the effort that it took to make the planet viable; though, this left Allura to work as a public appeaser, talking amongst ambassadors to populate this new planet.
The light on Keiria was dying fast considering the planet was entering its winter season. Reds and purples painted the sky as the dual suns dipped below the skyline. Keiria was now the home base of the coalition and soon to be alliance, a planetary home for those no longer with a planet. Construction sites littered the horizon, building houses and buildings for the soon to be citizens of the planet. Currently, the only people that resided on the planet, were ambassadors and politicians of races of people who were apart of the coalition and who would soon sign their races into an intergalactic alliance.
The council meeting in the main room of the newly built government building had run long and looked to not be ending soon. Several official-looking people of different races sat around an oblong table, each listening intently as the Olkari leader, Ryner, spoke about the progress of the city and when it would truly be ready for those displaced to settle.
Allura sat at the head of this table with Coran and Shiro standing behind her, she was half listening to Ryner speak about the housing situation; she had already heard it before.
Orange light filtered through the glass, casting a warm glow on the occupants of the table, highlighting their worry and concern. When Ryner’s report concluded, questions from the ambassadors began.
“Will there be enough food to go around?” The first ambassador asked, representative of the Osetet people. A species that had large bulking bodies similar to that of balmerans, known for their strength and resilience. They had been used as slaves in galra mines, gathering metal and minerals for weapons. The Galra had been slowly starving them out as punishment for the planet running out of materials.
Allura sighed quietly, slowly sitting up in attention of the leader;
“We have a few farms started which should be ready for full production in the next few vargas, but for now the castle ship and several other colonies have enough to provide until then.” She answered.
Another ambassador piped up. Allura recognized her as one of the Frahale people, those with short lifespans and short stature but who rivaled the olkari when it came to tech production. They had held their own against the galra for the longest time, even expanding out several colony planets; but they had lost most of their population when the galra had begun testing their planet-destroying weapons.
“What about space? Will there be enough to hold all of the refugees?” She asked, tapping the table worriedly.
“The initial city plans to hold about fifty thousand people,” Allura said, looking to Ryner for confirmation. As she nodded Allura continued. “Though over the next few decapheobes, there is a plan to expand outward or start a new settlement where there is space.”
“That won’t be enough space” The leader objected, leaning forward with disapproval.
“It is not feasible to build a city that would hold an entire species worth of citizens within just a few decapheobes and you will have to come to terms with that or back out of this agreement.” Allura said with a sigh, trying not to allow her irritation to slip through her words.
A few of the ambassadors looked to each other, speaking silent words as worry and concern showed on their faces. The final ambassador leaned forward, one from the Apethic people, an insectoid-like people with varying range of skin tones and hard carapace like plates along each of their limbs and back. Their large swept back antennae used for conversing silently among those of their kind. They gaped their mouth for a few seconds, antennae twitching, looking for the right words to ask.
“What about the planet’s defenses? What safeguards will it have?” The ambassador asked, voice soft.
“The green paladin and a few of our scientists are currently working on implementing a planet-wide particle barrier that is powered by Keirian suns,” Allura explained, letting Ryner switch the hologram to a diagram of the planet. “It is more advanced than the one on my castle ship and only ships with proper access codes would be allowed to pass through the barrier"
The ambassadors looked amongst each other, an unspoken word hung in the air among them.
“And Voltron?” The Osetet ambassador asked, the others waiting anxiously for Allura’s answer.
The Princess stood gracefully, folding her hands behind of her. “Voltron is still the defender of the universe and its first priority is to maintain peace among coalition systems” She said, looking among the ambassadors. “Now I believe that this meeting is over and we expect your answer relatively soon. I bid you all farewell”
Allura moved out from her seat and walked out of the room, Shiro and Coran following quickly behind her. Her shoulders slumped as the door closed behind them and she let out a long sigh, tension leaving her frame.
“Coran?” She asked, turning to look at the older altean. “How many races are currently registered to live on Keirian?”
“About fifteen Princess” Coran answered, clearly looking exhausted from the meeting as well. “And there are six more ambassadors still waiting to get the spiel”
“Those are the ones that are happening tomorrow right?”
“Yes they are”
Allura let out a sigh of relief and rubbed her temple slightly. “Is there anything else planned for today?
“ There is not, everything else is tomorrow”
“Why don't you go get some sleep then Coran” Allura smiled, resting a hand on his arm. The older altean nodded and smiled back at her, giving her a quick hug before walking off in the direction of the castle. This left Allura and Shiro alone in the hallway as they watched Coran walk off.
Shiro opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it, as Allura turned around. He stared at her for a few seconds, bathed in the now magenta light shining through the windows, she looked graceful as ever, even with fatigue showing around her eyes.
“Are you okay Shiro?” She asked, pulling Shiro out of his infatuated gaze. He shook his head quickly and took a breath quietly.
“Oh uh, yeah” Shiro hummed “I was just wondering if you wanted to join the team and I in watching a movie later. Considering Keith just got back and we’ve all been pretty busy lately, Lance suggested it as a way to relax”
Allura looked at him for a second then chuckled lowly. “Sure, I don't see why not.”
-
Shiro plopped down in the middle of the couch in the rec room. He watched as Pidge and Hunk tried to connect the screen to their laptop, quietly. They conversed just outside of Shiro’s hearing range, so he turned his attention to Lance setting out bowls of relatively earth-like snacks on the table in front of them.
“Those look pretty weird Lance” Shiro chuckled, dodging the small snack being thrown at him.
“It was the best Hunk and I could do with what food supplies we have” Lance defended, crossing his arms. “If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it; that way there is more for everyone else”
“I just said it looked weird, not that I wouldn't eat it Lance” He laughed and scooched over as Keith dropped down into the couch.
“Looks like the Emo finally decided to join us” Lance teased, grabbing a piece from one of the bowls and plopping down next to the new arrival.
“Shut up, I was asleep” Keith yawns, sinking into the couch slightly.
“You didn't have to join us,” Shiro said, awkwardly moving to ruffle Keith’s hair. The red paladin makes a face at the treatment but shrugs it off, combing his hair back to its original position.
Lance huffed quietly and took the seat next to Keith, snatching the blankets they had on the couch and wrapping them around himself.
“Anyway, Shiro. You said Allura was joining us right?” Lance asked, leaning forward to look around the half dosing Keith.
“She said she was” Shiro shrugged, glancing over at the doorway. “Do you think I should go get her?”
“Nah, she’ll probably show up on her own eventually” As if summoned by his words, Allura walked through the door carrying a blanket of her own. When the team -Specifically Lance- showed her what sweatpants were, she took full advantage of them and used the castles replicator to make herself several pairs. She wore one of those pair now with her hair tied up in double buns.
“Hey ‘Llura!”Lance called “We were starting to think you weren't coming”
“Sorry” She apologized; taking the spot next to Shiro, oblivious to the blush creeping up on his face.
“Okay! Everything’s all set up!” Hunk suddenly said, popping up from his place next to the screen.
“Did we ever decide what movie we were going to watch?” Shiro hummed
“Alien!” Pidge called
“Ponyo!” Lance yelled
“I don't care what we watch” Hunk affirmed, sitting down on the other side of Lance
Keith blinked his eyes open, deciding to add to the conversation. “Heathers” He yawned, rubbing his eyes slightly.
Lances eyes narrowed as he turned to Keith. “You, the Texan Country Boy, likes Heathers?” Lance huffed, leaning to get into Keith's face. “Which one.”
“Uh, what other ones are there?”
“Well first of all, there's the musical-!”
“Boys!” Shiro interjected, reaching his arm around to flick Lance’s ear then Keith's. “As… interesting as the Heathers media is- I don’t think it's appropriate for the child in the room.”
“Speak for yourself Shiro,” Pidge said, “You’re the six-year-old out of us”
“First of all Pidge, I was talking about myself. And second of all, Heathers isn't an appropriate movie to use to introduce earth movies to Allura.”
Allura frowned but kept quiet at the statement.
“So what movie do you suggest we watch then?” Lance huffed, dropping his head back against Hunk’s arm.
“Wall-E”
“Why Wall-E?” Keith asked, even he was confused to the choice of the movie.
“Because” Shiro started, looking at his team “Wall-E is a family friendly flick and about to robots in space. Which oddly seems appropriate, plus it’s cute”
The rest of paladins shrugged and nodded accordingly, they all seemed to be fine with this decision in the movie and its reasoning.
“I guess i’ll put the movie on then” Pidge hummed, turning back to their laptop.
It only took a few seconds before they had the movie up and finally joined the gang on the couch, curling up on the other side of Hunk.
Allura watched on in curiosity as the movie began to play, watching the animation play. She asked a few questions throughout the movie though eventually Shiro just told her to watch the movie.
By the midpoint of the movie, it was noticed that Lance had fallen asleep against Keith’s shoulder, which had the male blushes brightly. Shiro teased him quietly about it, resulting in a soft punch to the side on Shiro’s part.
Though by the end of the movie, three out of the six participants had fallen asleep. Allura curled up against Shiro’s side, Lance on Keith, and Pidge just curled up awkwardly into the couch arm.
Hunk stood and groaned softly as he stretched and the blanket fell from his lap. He looked between the three sleepers and the two blushing fidgeting people.
“So I guess i'll be taking Pidge to their room and you guys will be taking Lance and Allura to their rooms?” He chuckled, picking up the blanket that fell.
Keith and Shiro shared a look before turning back to Hunk and nodding.
“Yeah, guess so” Shiro replied, giving a sheepish look.
Hunk shook his head with a sigh and gathered up the sleeping Pidge in his arms before walking out of the room. The only thing heard in the room after the yellow paladins footsteps dissipated was the soft music from the movie credits.
“Do you want me to take Lance and you take Allura?” Shiro offered, breaking the silence.
Keith frowned for a second, rubbing his wrist softly before shaking his head.
“No, I can take him” he mumbled quietly and moved carefully to lot let Lance fall. With little effort, he picked up the boy.
“Night Shiro,” Keith said, waving carefully around Lance’s body.
“Night Keith” Shiro sighs, and with that he is alone. He sits there for a few minutes just enjoying the motionless room, listening only to Allura’s soft breaths and the hum of the castles engines. The projector automatically turned off once the movie had finished, leaving them in darkness aside from the faint blue glow from the castle walls.
Finally, Shiro decided that he had sat long enough and gently pulled Allura into his arms before standing. She was lighter than he expected, which wasn't entirely unwelcome. Making sure to shut Pidges laptop, he left the room; heading in the direction of Allura’s room slowly. The castle was silent still, only the thump of his footsteps on the flooring being heard.
Shiro felt allura shift slightly in his arms, her head turning to look up at him. One blink, two. She looked at him with tired eyes, confused as to what was going on.
“Shiro?” she asked with a yawn.
“Yes princess?”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you to your room”
“Oh” Allura yawned again, leaning her head against Shiro’s chest. “Alright then”
Shiro blushed quietly and continued walking, hopefully his heart would begin pounding, it certainly felt as though it would soon. A few seconds later he felt the princess shift again.
“Hey Shiro?” she hummed, keeping her eyes closed.
“Yeah?” he answered, his voice soft
“You're warm”
“Thanks?”
“You make a good pillow”
“Alright then” He chuckled, keeping himself from rubbing her back. They soon made it to the Princesses room and Shiro opened the door, shifting Allura around to not drop her. He walked inside and looked around the room for a second.
Shiro walked to Allura’s bed, pushing aside her covers with a single hand, only for a brief second noting how soft they were. He placed her down on her bed gently and brushed her hair behind her ear.
‘She’s beautiful even when she’s asleep’ he thought, staring at her for a few seconds. He shook his head at the thought of staying too long and pulled her sheets over her frame.
Allura shifted and curled under her covers, though she paused and hummed softly.
“Goodnight Shiro” she said softly, sleeping pulling at the edges.
“Goodnight Princess”