Between Two Evils: Chapter 20
Dec. 14th, 2011 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
botiasI can't believe it either! Another chapter already. No particular warnings I'm afraid, some blood. Thanks so much to tenjp for your encouragement. Any remaining errors are mine. Please let me know what you think!
Previous Chapters Here
If someone had tried the same move on him, he would have driven his sword through slave and foe alike.
Lotor saw his opponent's face change, saw the beginnings of horror. The slave girl jerked as the blade pierced deeply into her flesh, then she crumpled. Lotor dove for his own weapon and in the space of a breath it was back in his hand.
It did not take Kogane long to see that the fight was lost. After one grim look, he turned all his attention to the girl, pulling the sword free and pressing hard on the wound. She groaned and went limp.
"That looks pretty bad," Lotor said, when he was certain that the pain would not show in his voice. He pressed a hand to his lower back in what he hoped was a casual way; the pressure helped somewhat. "I believe she's probably going to need immediate medical attention in order to live." He made no attempt to hide the immense satisfaction that gave him.
Kogane flinched.
He must be expecting the blade to fall at any moment, and his hands were stained bright carmine with the girl's blood. No longer did he seem unbalanced with rage and hatred. There was something implacable about him now. Before, his hatred was an emotion; now it was a part of him.
Lotor wasn't worried. If he had planned it carefully, far in advance, he could not have come up with a better plan to neutralize the Captain, get rid of him with all possible speed and dispose of a witness all at the same time.
"She won't get that here," Lotor continued. "She'll die there on the floor unless you take her off-planet. Do you have a ship?"
Kogane looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"Do you have a ship?"
Kogane nodded.
"Patch her up. We're going."
Kogane hesitated, and then slowly lifted his hands from the girl's wound.
Lotor watched impatiently as the captain made a passable field bandage using his belt. Then Kogane carefully lifted the girl into his arms. She made a vivid armful, splashes of copper, red and purple that were stark contrast to her stillness.
Lotor snatched up the discarded sword. "Where's your ship?"
Kogane hesitated again, then he said, "It's hidden. Out. Past the amphitheater, and the slave quarters."
"How far out."
Kogane grimaced. "Far."
This was not how Lotor had planned to spend his evening.
He had many enemies, but two ambushes in any one day were unheard of, even for him. His lower back throbbed, and now there was the prospect of a surface journey on a planet chosen for its inhospitable environment. But Lotor was not nearly as annoyed as he might have been. He was beginning to be very curious about this ship.
The trip to the tracker bays was a little fraught. His father and his court thought he was off having a threesome, which was what Lotor wanted them to think. It wouldn't do to be caught traipsing around the fortress with the Empire's Most Hated and a patched up slave. But they met no one and the tracker bay was deserted. All of the tough-looking vehicles were accounted for, which meant there was no chance of meeting anyone out on the surface.
Lotor selected the least battered tracker and pulled the hatch-release on the driver's side. "Get in." He tossed Kogane's bloody sword into the back; it landed with the clang of metal on metal.
Kogane was already in action, turning and bending so that he could reach the handle without jostling the wounded woman in his arms; he settled them both into the seat with the same combination of speed and care. Lotor powered the motor; it came to life with a high pitched whine. He pushed the yoke forward, sending the tracker out into the eternal night that reigned on the planet's surface. He left the lights off; the vehicle's infrared display and the lightning that played in the roiling atmosphere were more than enough.
The cab had the sharp, dusty smell of lazon; it mingled uneasily with those of sweat, blood and expensive perfume. There was a track, but it was rough and the vehicle's suspension was not luxurious. The wounded girl moaned from time to time as the vehicle hit a particularly hard bump. From the look on Kogane's face, you'd think he was the one that was wounded. Disgusted, Lotor shifted a little in his seat trying to ease the ache in his back.
They had just passed the amphitheater and were heading out into the wasteland beyond when the comm pinged to life.
"Tracker 356 what is your clearance? Tracker 356. Repeat—"
Lotor cut him off. "This is your Prince. I'm going out for a little... target practice."
Stunned silence, then, "Yes. Yes, Sire." Lotor turned the comm off with a stab of his finger, and glanced at Kogane. The Lion Force captain was regarding him with the trust and affection that wise men bestowed on pit vipers.
"If I wanted you dead I could have done it with a lot less effort."
Kogane didn't look impressed, but he returned his gaze to the road ahead, and began to give him terse directions.
There wasn't a great deal of road left. Soon they were following the bottom of a rocky valley, and then up a steep, tricky incline and down the other side. Lotor thought he managed it very well given that he hadn't driven a tracker since he'd tested the model for acquisition. Kogane directed him to turn and follow the base of the ridge.
They had jounced and jolted for what seemed like an eternity before his passenger spoke again, "You can stop here."
Lotor immediately began to scan the terrain ahead with renewed interest.
A tumble of dark boulders rose up to meet a charcoal sky. Occasional arcs of lightening offered teasing flashes of detail. The planet's surface was as rough and razor-edged as the day it was formed: no water and little wind meant no erosion, but ahead of him, Lotor spotted a smooth area, and then another, until he could see a series of curves running like a vein of gold through the tortured volcanic rock. A glance told him that Kogane was looking at the same thing in the infrared display.
Lotor tensed when the man reached inside his coat, but he didn't draw a weapon—or perhaps he drew the most powerful weapon in the known galaxy. In the gloom, two great yellow eyes blinked to life.
There was a deep rumble, more felt than heard. The yellow eyes rose up and up as Black Lion emerged from the rubble and boulders. They had stopped a little too close; some of the rocks bouncing past the tracker were large enough to do damage. Lotor gave Kogane a hard look. Kogane returned it with interest.
The hail of grit and rock subsided, then an immense claw came down in front of the tracker, placed with all the delicacy of the cats the machines resembled. Next to it, the tracker was like a battered gray mouse set next to one of Admes' largest pets. Curving blades filled the infrared view.
Lotor gave a soft, triumphant laugh.
When he had taken over the conflict with Arus it had been well under way—but NOT going well. He had read all the reports; he knew that his father had tried to steal the lions when he could not destroy them. Lotor could understand that. He too had been entranced by the possibilities of these incredible war machines. But his father had given up on that approach. The reason? The lions had a connection to the last surviving member of the royal line.
Haggar would call it magic and cackle in that creepy way that she had, but the bottom line was that the lions would not fly for anyone that Allura did not trust. To Zarkon, that had meant destruction was the only option. To Lotor the situation had seemed a little more... fluid.
Lotor opened his hatch and climbed out. The air was very thin and had a faint stench, but it was breathable. Resting an arm on the roof of the tracker he watched the witchy light of the atmosphere play over the lion's vast metal hide as Kogane fussed over the slave. Now Lotor knew another fact about the lions: they could penetrate the atmosphere on this planet, individually at least. This was significant. Other ships that size could not.
There was no denying that the machines had flair. In response to some unseen command from its captain, the yellow eyes descended silently until the scene was bathed in their glow. Then the lion opened a huge silver maw, bright as a newborn star. Eyes narrowed to slits against the piercing light, Lotor looked to Kogane who was lifting the slave, now wrapped in his coat.
"If you kill me, you kill the princess." It seemed a prudent reminder.
Kogane glanced back at him. "Sounds like I'd be doing her a favor."
Ouch.
Lotor glared at the man's rapidly retreating back, wishing for the millionth time that Kogane's head wasn't more valuable on his shoulders than as a centerpiece in his father's banquet hall. It was just bravado, he told himself as he ducked back into the tracker and closed the hatch. The man was in love; he wouldn't knowingly sentence Allura to face his father's court alone. Lotor revved the motor and started the dark and solitary journey back to the fortress. The lion's lift-off rocked the tracker and sent grit and rocks skittering over the shell, but no blast came to turn him into a smoking crater. Once more Lotor had the satisfaction of being not only alive, but right.
She was not hard to locate when he finally made his weary way into his quarters. She had changed clothes, but if she had washed she was going to have to do so all over again. Sweat glistened on her golden skin as she battled the trainer. He'd never shown her how to use it, but it seemed she'd paid attention. She was smart, his princess.
He walked silently forward, and knelt at the edge of the slightly raised training area. He sensed that a little humility wouldn't go amiss, and Allura was probably the only person in the galaxy he would happily kneel to. Also, it put him on eye level with her breasts.
She was truly a joy to watch, an amateur certainly, but a talented one who had the benefit of an excellent teacher. He was behind her, and he watched unnoticed for a time before calling a halt. Allura's sword passed through the shadowy figure of her opponent as it dissolved into nothing. She stood, looking where it had been. The only sound was that of her slowing breaths.
"How was your evening?" he inquired.
Allura swiped at the sweat on her brow with her wrist. After a moment she followed his lead. "Fine. And yours?" she said. She retrieved the sheath for her sword and slid it home with a cool grace.
"Busy. I freed a slave."
That got her attention. Her back was to him, but she stilled, listening. The corner of his mouth turned up. He had news that would astonish her even more.
"Captain Kogane sends his regards."
Allura spun on her heel to stare at him.
Smirking, he offered no further details.
She approached him then, looking him over with an almost wary gaze, and he saw her focus on a spot just over his heart. Her expression crumpled with concern as she closed the last few steps and reached out to touch the burnt hole in his shirt. Her fingers were blocked by the light, flexible, but effective armor that lay beneath his clothes. Still his skin tingled pleasurably as he savored her distress on his behalf.
"He was here? Tonight?" she breathed.
"To you, he sends his regards," he said wryly. "Me, he shot."
Lotor felt his pleasure turn to chagrin as he saw her distress increase at his words. Perhaps he should have slipped into the bedchamber and changed while she was occupied with the trainer.
Then he saw her attention caught by something else, something on his shoulder; she looked surprised for a brief moment—and then nothing.
Lotor tensed, and his heart began pound.
They both watched as she reached out and slowly pulled some long hairs free of the fabric. The hairs were coarser than Allura's, straight, and glinted a bright copper in the light.
Lotor was suddenly aware that he reeked of the slave's perfume.
He definitely should have changed his clothes.
In the charged silence, his usually agile brain struggled to piece together tonight's activities in a way that was believable yet left out any mention of threesomes or human shields. Allura was still staring at the glinting strands. He looked at his wife with unknowing appeal. He only wanted her, surely Allura knew that?
Before he could come up with the right words, she flicked the hairs from her fingers. Looking again at the hole in his shirt, she said simply. "Is Keith still alive?"
"Allura—" Lotor began, and then he faltered as her words registered.
"Is he?" There was a quaver in her voice that time.
Keith. Not Captain Kogane, not Black Lion pilot. Not that scruffy rodent from Galaxy Garrison who isn't worthy to kiss my slippers.
Heart still pounding, Lotor felt as if the room had shifted slightly around him. When he had divined the Captain's feelings for his princess, it had never occurred to him for an instant that she might return them.
But Allura and Captain Kogane had worked very closely together, hadn't they?
And comrades in arms often formed a strong bond, did they not?
Lotor's eyes narrowed. They were both young, athletic, courageous, idealistic, self-sacrificing...
...perfect for each other?
"He's alive," he said, watching her with predatory intensity. "And on his way back to Arus."
He saw something that might have been relief; was she trembling? It was hard to tell. In his absence it seemed she'd taken his words of wisdom to heart. Allura was as composed as he could have wished for.
And he was getting worked up over nothing. He forced his hands to relax out of fists. She had become so upset over a perfect stranger just hours ago! Of course she would be concerned about one of her subjects.
Now that the issue of the captain was out of the way, he waited for Allura to ask him about the perfume, the hairs. He was glad for Allura's composure, really. His timely lecture on the evils of being over-emotional had probably saved him a tearful, jealous scene.
Allura didn't say anything right away. She turned and walked across the training area to the weapons cabinet. He watched, forcing himself to breathe deep and slow as she opened the doors, stowed her sword inside with care and then closed them again. This was good. They would discuss the matter rationally, then go to bed. He could almost weep himself at the thought. It felt like an eternity since he had held his wife. The need to do so was suddenly strong.
Allura began walking away from him, her pace even.
He stared, disbelieving, as she disappeared inside the bedchamber without a word.
When he reached the threshold himself, he was in time to see his wife crouch gracefully and scoop up the food taster just as if nothing were amiss.
"Your faith in me is touching," he said.
Allura fussed with the creature that was twining affectionately around her. "It's obvious, really," she said in a frosty tone that matched his own. "After you were done NOT having sex with the redhead, you freed a slave. Then you shook Keith's hand and forgave him for shooting you. Oh! Maybe Keith and the slave traveled back to Arus together!" she finished brightly.
Lotor's teeth ground together.
Put that way, he wasn't sure he believed it either. Scowling, he reached up to smooth a hand over his hair.
"Actually, they, uh—they did."
Allura turned and headed for the bathing room.
"And you should properly refer to him as Captain Kogane!"
When he stalked into the room, Allura was setting the food taster on the counter. She raised her arms to take down her hair.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this," he said, after a moment.
Allura shook her head and the long golden strands fell free. Looking dispassionately in the mirror she gave her hair a few quick strokes with a brush and then stripped off her clothes as if he weren't there. He watched, incredulous, as she walked to the shower area and pressed the button.
Lotor reached it and turned it off so quickly that only a few drops of water pattered onto the floor. "I'm trying to have a conversation."
Allura crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine," she said, "Converse."
"Well, I..." He looked down at her. The expression on her lovely face was cool and faintly impatient. "You see, I was just using her to—"
Allura cut in, "Why are we even talking about this? My mother had lovers, you know."
Lotor blinked.
"Her particular favorite was the captain of her guard. It's something of a tradition." Allura reached for the water control again.
Lotor slapped a hand over it. The word 'captain' made him see red. "Tradition canceled without further notice!"
"How dare you!" she said, turning on him, her cheeks were flushed now, and her eyes were wide and dark. "This can't possibly be jealousy I'm hearing. While we were on Nephalem, you observed that jealous behavior was—how did you put it? Very pathetic."
"Exactly. So perhaps you can tell me when you expect to be done with this ridiculous sulking."
"Sulking!" Allura seemed to lose some of her composure finally. "You may think the whole galaxy revolves around you and what dangles between your legs," she punctuated her low, furious words by prodding him in the chest with one tiny finger. "I saw men cut into pieces today. I saw others in chains for the crime of having something you and your father wanted." She paused, seeming to struggle to get herself under control. "Maybe you can do that and see that and not care. But that is not who I am.
"Name me childish or foolish all that you like, but I will never be as you are. Deal with that," she said, "Because frankly, you have no alternative."
"I do have an alternative," he said, seething as she threw his own words back at him. "My father expects me to take command of the fleet. I can hardly take you with me. You can 'be yourself' by yourself."
He turned his back on her and walked back into the bedchamber.
After a moment he heard the shower turn on in the bathing chamber behind him. Cursing under his breath about the stubborn harpy he'd wed, he peeled off one of his boots. Hefting it in one hand, he threw it as hard as he could at the mirror that covered one wall.
It struck the diamond-hard material with an unsatisfying thump and fell to the floor.
On to Chapter 21
Previous Chapters Here
Chapter 20
If someone had tried the same move on him, he would have driven his sword through slave and foe alike.
Lotor saw his opponent's face change, saw the beginnings of horror. The slave girl jerked as the blade pierced deeply into her flesh, then she crumpled. Lotor dove for his own weapon and in the space of a breath it was back in his hand.
It did not take Kogane long to see that the fight was lost. After one grim look, he turned all his attention to the girl, pulling the sword free and pressing hard on the wound. She groaned and went limp.
"That looks pretty bad," Lotor said, when he was certain that the pain would not show in his voice. He pressed a hand to his lower back in what he hoped was a casual way; the pressure helped somewhat. "I believe she's probably going to need immediate medical attention in order to live." He made no attempt to hide the immense satisfaction that gave him.
Kogane flinched.
He must be expecting the blade to fall at any moment, and his hands were stained bright carmine with the girl's blood. No longer did he seem unbalanced with rage and hatred. There was something implacable about him now. Before, his hatred was an emotion; now it was a part of him.
Lotor wasn't worried. If he had planned it carefully, far in advance, he could not have come up with a better plan to neutralize the Captain, get rid of him with all possible speed and dispose of a witness all at the same time.
"She won't get that here," Lotor continued. "She'll die there on the floor unless you take her off-planet. Do you have a ship?"
Kogane looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"Do you have a ship?"
Kogane nodded.
"Patch her up. We're going."
Kogane hesitated, and then slowly lifted his hands from the girl's wound.
Lotor watched impatiently as the captain made a passable field bandage using his belt. Then Kogane carefully lifted the girl into his arms. She made a vivid armful, splashes of copper, red and purple that were stark contrast to her stillness.
Lotor snatched up the discarded sword. "Where's your ship?"
Kogane hesitated again, then he said, "It's hidden. Out. Past the amphitheater, and the slave quarters."
"How far out."
Kogane grimaced. "Far."
This was not how Lotor had planned to spend his evening.
He had many enemies, but two ambushes in any one day were unheard of, even for him. His lower back throbbed, and now there was the prospect of a surface journey on a planet chosen for its inhospitable environment. But Lotor was not nearly as annoyed as he might have been. He was beginning to be very curious about this ship.
The trip to the tracker bays was a little fraught. His father and his court thought he was off having a threesome, which was what Lotor wanted them to think. It wouldn't do to be caught traipsing around the fortress with the Empire's Most Hated and a patched up slave. But they met no one and the tracker bay was deserted. All of the tough-looking vehicles were accounted for, which meant there was no chance of meeting anyone out on the surface.
Lotor selected the least battered tracker and pulled the hatch-release on the driver's side. "Get in." He tossed Kogane's bloody sword into the back; it landed with the clang of metal on metal.
Kogane was already in action, turning and bending so that he could reach the handle without jostling the wounded woman in his arms; he settled them both into the seat with the same combination of speed and care. Lotor powered the motor; it came to life with a high pitched whine. He pushed the yoke forward, sending the tracker out into the eternal night that reigned on the planet's surface. He left the lights off; the vehicle's infrared display and the lightning that played in the roiling atmosphere were more than enough.
The cab had the sharp, dusty smell of lazon; it mingled uneasily with those of sweat, blood and expensive perfume. There was a track, but it was rough and the vehicle's suspension was not luxurious. The wounded girl moaned from time to time as the vehicle hit a particularly hard bump. From the look on Kogane's face, you'd think he was the one that was wounded. Disgusted, Lotor shifted a little in his seat trying to ease the ache in his back.
They had just passed the amphitheater and were heading out into the wasteland beyond when the comm pinged to life.
"Tracker 356 what is your clearance? Tracker 356. Repeat—"
Lotor cut him off. "This is your Prince. I'm going out for a little... target practice."
Stunned silence, then, "Yes. Yes, Sire." Lotor turned the comm off with a stab of his finger, and glanced at Kogane. The Lion Force captain was regarding him with the trust and affection that wise men bestowed on pit vipers.
"If I wanted you dead I could have done it with a lot less effort."
Kogane didn't look impressed, but he returned his gaze to the road ahead, and began to give him terse directions.
There wasn't a great deal of road left. Soon they were following the bottom of a rocky valley, and then up a steep, tricky incline and down the other side. Lotor thought he managed it very well given that he hadn't driven a tracker since he'd tested the model for acquisition. Kogane directed him to turn and follow the base of the ridge.
They had jounced and jolted for what seemed like an eternity before his passenger spoke again, "You can stop here."
Lotor immediately began to scan the terrain ahead with renewed interest.
A tumble of dark boulders rose up to meet a charcoal sky. Occasional arcs of lightening offered teasing flashes of detail. The planet's surface was as rough and razor-edged as the day it was formed: no water and little wind meant no erosion, but ahead of him, Lotor spotted a smooth area, and then another, until he could see a series of curves running like a vein of gold through the tortured volcanic rock. A glance told him that Kogane was looking at the same thing in the infrared display.
Lotor tensed when the man reached inside his coat, but he didn't draw a weapon—or perhaps he drew the most powerful weapon in the known galaxy. In the gloom, two great yellow eyes blinked to life.
There was a deep rumble, more felt than heard. The yellow eyes rose up and up as Black Lion emerged from the rubble and boulders. They had stopped a little too close; some of the rocks bouncing past the tracker were large enough to do damage. Lotor gave Kogane a hard look. Kogane returned it with interest.
The hail of grit and rock subsided, then an immense claw came down in front of the tracker, placed with all the delicacy of the cats the machines resembled. Next to it, the tracker was like a battered gray mouse set next to one of Admes' largest pets. Curving blades filled the infrared view.
Lotor gave a soft, triumphant laugh.
When he had taken over the conflict with Arus it had been well under way—but NOT going well. He had read all the reports; he knew that his father had tried to steal the lions when he could not destroy them. Lotor could understand that. He too had been entranced by the possibilities of these incredible war machines. But his father had given up on that approach. The reason? The lions had a connection to the last surviving member of the royal line.
Haggar would call it magic and cackle in that creepy way that she had, but the bottom line was that the lions would not fly for anyone that Allura did not trust. To Zarkon, that had meant destruction was the only option. To Lotor the situation had seemed a little more... fluid.
Lotor opened his hatch and climbed out. The air was very thin and had a faint stench, but it was breathable. Resting an arm on the roof of the tracker he watched the witchy light of the atmosphere play over the lion's vast metal hide as Kogane fussed over the slave. Now Lotor knew another fact about the lions: they could penetrate the atmosphere on this planet, individually at least. This was significant. Other ships that size could not.
There was no denying that the machines had flair. In response to some unseen command from its captain, the yellow eyes descended silently until the scene was bathed in their glow. Then the lion opened a huge silver maw, bright as a newborn star. Eyes narrowed to slits against the piercing light, Lotor looked to Kogane who was lifting the slave, now wrapped in his coat.
"If you kill me, you kill the princess." It seemed a prudent reminder.
Kogane glanced back at him. "Sounds like I'd be doing her a favor."
Ouch.
Lotor glared at the man's rapidly retreating back, wishing for the millionth time that Kogane's head wasn't more valuable on his shoulders than as a centerpiece in his father's banquet hall. It was just bravado, he told himself as he ducked back into the tracker and closed the hatch. The man was in love; he wouldn't knowingly sentence Allura to face his father's court alone. Lotor revved the motor and started the dark and solitary journey back to the fortress. The lion's lift-off rocked the tracker and sent grit and rocks skittering over the shell, but no blast came to turn him into a smoking crater. Once more Lotor had the satisfaction of being not only alive, but right.
***
She was not hard to locate when he finally made his weary way into his quarters. She had changed clothes, but if she had washed she was going to have to do so all over again. Sweat glistened on her golden skin as she battled the trainer. He'd never shown her how to use it, but it seemed she'd paid attention. She was smart, his princess.
He walked silently forward, and knelt at the edge of the slightly raised training area. He sensed that a little humility wouldn't go amiss, and Allura was probably the only person in the galaxy he would happily kneel to. Also, it put him on eye level with her breasts.
She was truly a joy to watch, an amateur certainly, but a talented one who had the benefit of an excellent teacher. He was behind her, and he watched unnoticed for a time before calling a halt. Allura's sword passed through the shadowy figure of her opponent as it dissolved into nothing. She stood, looking where it had been. The only sound was that of her slowing breaths.
"How was your evening?" he inquired.
Allura swiped at the sweat on her brow with her wrist. After a moment she followed his lead. "Fine. And yours?" she said. She retrieved the sheath for her sword and slid it home with a cool grace.
"Busy. I freed a slave."
That got her attention. Her back was to him, but she stilled, listening. The corner of his mouth turned up. He had news that would astonish her even more.
"Captain Kogane sends his regards."
Allura spun on her heel to stare at him.
Smirking, he offered no further details.
She approached him then, looking him over with an almost wary gaze, and he saw her focus on a spot just over his heart. Her expression crumpled with concern as she closed the last few steps and reached out to touch the burnt hole in his shirt. Her fingers were blocked by the light, flexible, but effective armor that lay beneath his clothes. Still his skin tingled pleasurably as he savored her distress on his behalf.
"He was here? Tonight?" she breathed.
"To you, he sends his regards," he said wryly. "Me, he shot."
Lotor felt his pleasure turn to chagrin as he saw her distress increase at his words. Perhaps he should have slipped into the bedchamber and changed while she was occupied with the trainer.
Then he saw her attention caught by something else, something on his shoulder; she looked surprised for a brief moment—and then nothing.
Lotor tensed, and his heart began pound.
They both watched as she reached out and slowly pulled some long hairs free of the fabric. The hairs were coarser than Allura's, straight, and glinted a bright copper in the light.
Lotor was suddenly aware that he reeked of the slave's perfume.
He definitely should have changed his clothes.
In the charged silence, his usually agile brain struggled to piece together tonight's activities in a way that was believable yet left out any mention of threesomes or human shields. Allura was still staring at the glinting strands. He looked at his wife with unknowing appeal. He only wanted her, surely Allura knew that?
Before he could come up with the right words, she flicked the hairs from her fingers. Looking again at the hole in his shirt, she said simply. "Is Keith still alive?"
"Allura—" Lotor began, and then he faltered as her words registered.
"Is he?" There was a quaver in her voice that time.
Keith. Not Captain Kogane, not Black Lion pilot. Not that scruffy rodent from Galaxy Garrison who isn't worthy to kiss my slippers.
Heart still pounding, Lotor felt as if the room had shifted slightly around him. When he had divined the Captain's feelings for his princess, it had never occurred to him for an instant that she might return them.
But Allura and Captain Kogane had worked very closely together, hadn't they?
And comrades in arms often formed a strong bond, did they not?
Lotor's eyes narrowed. They were both young, athletic, courageous, idealistic, self-sacrificing...
...perfect for each other?
"He's alive," he said, watching her with predatory intensity. "And on his way back to Arus."
He saw something that might have been relief; was she trembling? It was hard to tell. In his absence it seemed she'd taken his words of wisdom to heart. Allura was as composed as he could have wished for.
And he was getting worked up over nothing. He forced his hands to relax out of fists. She had become so upset over a perfect stranger just hours ago! Of course she would be concerned about one of her subjects.
Now that the issue of the captain was out of the way, he waited for Allura to ask him about the perfume, the hairs. He was glad for Allura's composure, really. His timely lecture on the evils of being over-emotional had probably saved him a tearful, jealous scene.
Allura didn't say anything right away. She turned and walked across the training area to the weapons cabinet. He watched, forcing himself to breathe deep and slow as she opened the doors, stowed her sword inside with care and then closed them again. This was good. They would discuss the matter rationally, then go to bed. He could almost weep himself at the thought. It felt like an eternity since he had held his wife. The need to do so was suddenly strong.
Allura began walking away from him, her pace even.
He stared, disbelieving, as she disappeared inside the bedchamber without a word.
When he reached the threshold himself, he was in time to see his wife crouch gracefully and scoop up the food taster just as if nothing were amiss.
"Your faith in me is touching," he said.
Allura fussed with the creature that was twining affectionately around her. "It's obvious, really," she said in a frosty tone that matched his own. "After you were done NOT having sex with the redhead, you freed a slave. Then you shook Keith's hand and forgave him for shooting you. Oh! Maybe Keith and the slave traveled back to Arus together!" she finished brightly.
Lotor's teeth ground together.
Put that way, he wasn't sure he believed it either. Scowling, he reached up to smooth a hand over his hair.
"Actually, they, uh—they did."
Allura turned and headed for the bathing room.
"And you should properly refer to him as Captain Kogane!"
When he stalked into the room, Allura was setting the food taster on the counter. She raised her arms to take down her hair.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this," he said, after a moment.
Allura shook her head and the long golden strands fell free. Looking dispassionately in the mirror she gave her hair a few quick strokes with a brush and then stripped off her clothes as if he weren't there. He watched, incredulous, as she walked to the shower area and pressed the button.
Lotor reached it and turned it off so quickly that only a few drops of water pattered onto the floor. "I'm trying to have a conversation."
Allura crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine," she said, "Converse."
"Well, I..." He looked down at her. The expression on her lovely face was cool and faintly impatient. "You see, I was just using her to—"
Allura cut in, "Why are we even talking about this? My mother had lovers, you know."
Lotor blinked.
"Her particular favorite was the captain of her guard. It's something of a tradition." Allura reached for the water control again.
Lotor slapped a hand over it. The word 'captain' made him see red. "Tradition canceled without further notice!"
"How dare you!" she said, turning on him, her cheeks were flushed now, and her eyes were wide and dark. "This can't possibly be jealousy I'm hearing. While we were on Nephalem, you observed that jealous behavior was—how did you put it? Very pathetic."
"Exactly. So perhaps you can tell me when you expect to be done with this ridiculous sulking."
"Sulking!" Allura seemed to lose some of her composure finally. "You may think the whole galaxy revolves around you and what dangles between your legs," she punctuated her low, furious words by prodding him in the chest with one tiny finger. "I saw men cut into pieces today. I saw others in chains for the crime of having something you and your father wanted." She paused, seeming to struggle to get herself under control. "Maybe you can do that and see that and not care. But that is not who I am.
"Name me childish or foolish all that you like, but I will never be as you are. Deal with that," she said, "Because frankly, you have no alternative."
"I do have an alternative," he said, seething as she threw his own words back at him. "My father expects me to take command of the fleet. I can hardly take you with me. You can 'be yourself' by yourself."
He turned his back on her and walked back into the bedchamber.
After a moment he heard the shower turn on in the bathing chamber behind him. Cursing under his breath about the stubborn harpy he'd wed, he peeled off one of his boots. Hefting it in one hand, he threw it as hard as he could at the mirror that covered one wall.
It struck the diamond-hard material with an unsatisfying thump and fell to the floor.
On to Chapter 21
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Date: 2011-12-15 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2011-12-16 12:27 am (UTC)Thanks!
More!
Date: 2011-12-16 04:15 am (UTC)Re: More!
Date: 2011-12-16 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-28 10:27 pm (UTC)Kogane glanced back at him. "Sounds like I'd be doing her a favor."
Oooh burn! XD
And busted smelling of perfume and having another woman's hair on him. XD
MWa ha ha! That was so surprising to hear it was her mother who had lovers. I love how jealous Lotor is, canceling such a tradition, insisting she not be on a first name basis with Keith! It's oddly hilarious!
This was a good chapter, though personal preferances had me like chapter 19 more. I blame it on there being too much Keith in this one! j/k XD
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Date: 2011-12-31 11:38 pm (UTC)In this story, I had the idea that the Arus royal line was matrilineal or least that it didn't matter what the heir's sex was, so the actual ruler was Allura's mother. Her father was more of a consort, and her mother married him partly because she thought he might be able to bring back the lions, which he did, but their marriage was not a love match.
Chapter 19 is my favorite too. But I can't have them always getting along, right?
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Date: 2011-12-31 11:40 pm (UTC)Ah....I'm glad I had the right reaction about Lotor's jealous little fit! XD
Yes they can't always get along.....but less Keith is also a plus! XD *so biased*
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Date: 2012-01-01 12:13 am (UTC)I like it when Lotor flails a bit. *so mean*
You are biased! But I actually like the way the two of them are so oil and water. I enjoyed writing them together. :) Still, I don't plan for them to take any road trips or anything.
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Date: 2015-11-18 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-11-18 02:38 pm (UTC)I've tried so far unsuccesfully to get back together with my Lotor muse. X_X In the meantime it's been VERY satisfying with my Hook muse! XD
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Date: 2012-01-18 09:06 am (UTC)Well, I'm definitely looking forward to more as usual. I also keep thinking about a line I think Lotor's father said in the last chapter. Something about how you can't make a wife out of an enemy and she can never truly love him. Not that I think they're doomed but I definitely love the little hints that Allura still may not desire Lotor as much as he hopes. Really drives home the fact that she's still kinda conquered goods. Love that you keep them up and down and that you remind us that Allura is not so wholly enamored with him.
Right. More. Soon. Er...PLEASE. Ha, ha.
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Date: 2012-01-19 05:44 am (UTC)Yes, when Allura's talking about people in chains because they had something that Doom wanted, she might easily be including herself. There's some serious issues with this pairing, as much as I adore it, and I think it makes it more interesting.
Thanks so much for this feedback. It's very encouraging.
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Date: 2012-03-18 12:20 pm (UTC)Not gonna lie, I just laughed and laughed watching Kogane freak out when Lotor announced his impending fatherhood!
Anyway, you asked me what language I was used to last time I commented, and that would be the Japanese version (long unnecessary story, ha ha). Even now I had to go back and change "Sincline" back to "Lotor" in this comment (and had to pause to recall the name).
Since I came back I've reread the fic from beginning to end about three times and then reread all of my favorite parts! The smut's great, of course. It's gratuitous but also retains an air of class; the language you use is really deft. But the courting is just as enjoyable, and most recently of course I just love the fight scene with Kogane and Lotor's dialogue. Can't wait to see where this goes, when you have time. :D
I also wanted to show some appreciation by making fanart for you, if you're interested in seeing it. It's viewable here (http://pinkuchama.tumblr.com/post/19507538365/fala-sincline-nsfw), and if you have a DeviantArt account a larger version is here (http://pinku.deviantart.com/art/Fala-Sincline-290971090) (I think a login is necessary to be able to see mature-themed artwork there.) Wanted to make the setting in Nephalem and in turn obvious it refers to your fic (hence the cast), but also wanted it to be iconic/recognizable (hence Fala's circlet, even though it's off/her hair's down during their antics).
Thank you for writing this fic!
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Date: 2012-03-19 05:11 pm (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed the fic. Your feedback was a wonderful surprise. I've been thinking about it and hoping to write some more soon. Just curious, which parts are your favorite?
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Date: 2012-03-25 07:08 am (UTC)Oh wow, I just went through the princeofdoom.com to get to this fic's comments and saw that you posted it! I shrank a little at seeing that you went so far as to give attention to it through a site update (because editing sites is what I do for a living and I see it as a chore and didn't want to hassle you by doing fanart and having to do that), but also realize this is probably recreation for you. XD;;
Anyway, one of my favorite parts is in Chapter four, where Allura's trying to strike up a conversation about books-- (but really, [insert mundanity here]), and Lotor's just not having it as he's dropping his gauntlets. Just the idea that they both know this is ridiculous, but are both moving toward what they know is inevitable is really adorable to me. They're still a bit awkward.
Chapter seven, too, was nice. The line where it's mentioned that seeing the Blue Lion was like visiting Allura's grave, with this immediate juxtaposition of what's essentially heaven, as she's napping on a beach and Lotor's just lying there with her LIKE A BOSS. I feel bad for the team (though it's still really fun for me to imagine what it'd be like to see how the team would react to the truth) and hope that they'll be forgiving in the fact that she's actually come to care about her husband, and that not all members could take it as a betrayal. (Though, of course, no matter what the outcome is, it's always in how or why it's presented that makes it entertaining, not necessarily the results.)
(I don't ever imagine Lotor and the team all skipping arm in arm together in a field of flowers after all of this, but there's always a bit of suspense because the team just has little to no idea about what's going on, and it's an entertaining idea to hold in the back of my mind as I read the fic. As every opportunity to show a bit of the truth appears Kogane's only able to imagine things in the worst possible way. Poor guy must be gnashing his teeth at the idea that Lotor's probably seen/touched/etc. nearly every inch of Allura's lady-parts. When the orphans show up on Arus, for example, it's just great how what they say is just misconstrued into something horrifying.)
On a visceral level, too, I like the part where Lotor's busting apart every brothel in Nephalem to find Allura, and there's the threat about killing everyone the brothel keeper cares about in order to get the princess back. Nephalem in general was really enjoyable to read because of details like how others refer to Arus as some backwater nation (to us Allura and the team seem so important by virtue of being protagonists, but I don't recall ever knowing what other uninvolved planets may think of Arus). Plus, using the idea of masks and how putting them on, (and removing her circlet) seems to have made the princess less inhibited/more honest with herself up until she sees the mirrored ceiling. She still stands up for the marginalized but is still brave. She still has a love for nature and animals, and might be at a little bit of a loss when interacting with peers, but being affectionate with Lotor hasn't particularly conflicted with these things. He actually has a lot to offer besides the sex, and his devotion is infallible, so I have to wonder how she could mess that up, and to what lengths would she go in order to fix it.
I also reread the sex. :D
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Date: 2012-03-29 04:14 am (UTC)she's napping on a beach and Lotor's just lying there with her LIKE A BOSS.
LIKE A BOSS. I love it! Having Lotor's actions be misinterpreted by the Voltron Force due to prejudice, as well as just bad luck has been a really fun theme. I'm so glad that's coming through.
Poor guy must be gnashing his teeth at the idea that Lotor's probably seen/touched/etc. nearly every inch of Allura's lady-parts.
You know it. >:)
Nephalem in general was really enjoyable to read because of details like how others refer to Arus as some backwater nation.
I really liked this particular aspect, too. I think for me it's because makes Lotor seem both more sophisticated and interesting AND more in love with Allura at the same time, and puts him in positive contrast to Zarkon whose only priority is more wealth and power. In the cartoon, Arus was clearly a happening place at one time to have developed such amazing technology, yet its urban centers had been destroyed and most of its people seemed to be rural villagers or refugees. It was easy to think of it in the same light as many civilizations that have come and gone on our own planet, leaving behind spectacular art and architecture, but now considered backwaters, or even buried in the wilds and lost completely from human memory.
If it's rereadable, then I'm doing it right.
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Date: 2012-03-29 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-25 02:54 am (UTC)I must say that you are a wonderful writer and have stayed truthful to the characters. I went through the chapters very quickly and was quite disheartened to reach the end. I notice from the posted comments that this chapter was added quite some time ago. I beg of you, please continue writing. I wish to know how you will continue with the plot.
This is wonderful story. Thank you.
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Date: 2013-02-03 04:08 am (UTC)Lotor found his funny bone
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Date: 2013-06-23 10:10 pm (UTC)