Strangers in Paradise
"Urgh.." Allura swept aside a stray lock of hair as she crouched under the open diagnostics center of the small ship.
"Problems?" Lotor's voice interupted her concentration.
Allura jumped as she nearly banged her head on the console. She hadn't even heard Lotor or the clack of the makeshift staff he carried. Allura ducked her head out from beneath the console.
"Not really. It's just a pain is all. Fixing ships is more Hunk's forte, not mine." Allura grimaced.
"Well, take a break. You've been at it for hours."
"And I'd like to get home, thank you very much." Allura snapped as she tried to focus on what she was working on. Her small soldering tool slipped out of her hand and she cursed.
"Why, Princess, I didn't think you KNEW such language.." Lotor bent down closer.
Allura could just FEEL him smirking even without seeing him.
"There's a lot you don't know about me." Allura finally found the tool but put it aside. He was right. She DID need to take a break.
"I might say the same, Princess." Lotor said.
Allura scooted out from under the console and she heard Lotor step back. He seemed to be doing quite well under the circumstances. They had been here only a few days, but so far his vision had not improved. Allura had fashioned a rough staff for him from a nearby tree and he nagivated their 'camp' area quite well. In fact, he went 'exploring', much to Allura's relief and alarm. When she stood up, Lotor was right in front of her.
He wrinkled his nose. "You've been in the engine, haven't you? You smell like a ship's jockey."
Allura snapped. "No thanks to you."
"Yes, yes. Blame the eee - vil Prince Lotor." He chuckled lowly as Allura looked at him astonished. He was certainly in a good mood for a change.
"Come with me, my blurry beauty. I'm going to show you something."
"BLURRY beauty?" Allura smirked. "What HAVE you been drinking, Lotor?"
"Only the presence of your fair company, my sweet." He bowed to her.
"Oh brother." Allura rolled her eyes. Why in the world was she reacting to him this way?
~ Because you're seeing him as a person and not a monster..~ Her inner thoughts chided her.
"Come with me, Princess - please."
Allura raised a brow. Since when did he have manners? She shrugged and let him lead the way.
It was a little slow going because at times he would have to stop and identify his landmarks. Allura would help him when he asked, but for the most part he stubbornly made his way ahead of her. After a little while, she could hear the sound of rushing water. Once they cleared the lush vegetation, her eyes opened wide in delight.
"Why Lotor - it's a lagoon with a waterfall!"
"Yes." Lotor smiled as he stopped just short of the bank. "Now I remember WHY I remember the coordinates. My mother used to take me and my younger sister here when we were quite small. I remember her playing with us in this lagoon. I used to pick flowers for her along the bank." Suddenly he smiled with rememberance. "AND I used to snag some of the water creatures and try to put them down my sister's suit."
"Now WHY am I not surprised?" Allura smirked.
"Oh I'm sure you were a michevious little princess as well, my sweet. But I thought you would like this, as I know your ship doesn't have such bathing amenities."
"I must admit a sonic shower doesn't quite - hey!" Allura exclaimed. "What's to stop you from - "
"Seeing you?" Lotor completed her sentence. Then he said a little bitterly, "What do you think? I'll simply have to rely upon my memory."
"You've never seen me naked!" Allura's temper flared.
"But I HAVE imagined." Lotor's grin turned wolfish and Allura backed away out of habit.
"I just BET." Allura's temper flared.
Lotor laughed and then he said, "What? You don't think men look at you and imagine you that way?"
"They're more honorable than to - " Allura's sentence was cut off.
"Oh sure, tell me another one." Lotor said slyly. "Tell me something princess. Have you ever imagined ME sans clothing?"
"NO!" Allura flushed furiously.
"Ah ha! You have! Well, I COULD oblige you right now.." Lotor grinned. He couldn't see her clearly, but he was sure that she was red-faced.
"I have NOT and you WILL not, you insufferable, egotistical PRINCE!" Allura turned to walk away, but Lotor caught the movement and snagged her arm. "Let go!" Allura tried to pull away.
"I didn't bring you here to have an arguement, my tempermental princess. I only wanted to show you a place where I once knew joy."
Allura's expression turned from one of anger to one of regret. She had let him get under her skin when he only wanted to give her a sort of gift.
"Lotor, I am - sorry." Allura said. "It is beautiful."
"Describe it to me." He said wistfully.
"Describe it?" Allura looked at the lush landscape of the lagoon. "It's well - a large lagoon with flowers growing along the banks - blue, red, pink, yellow, there's even some white ones. They resemble roses I think."
"They're still growing." Lotor smiled. "So they weren't killed by the laserfire."
Allura frowned. "Weren't killed?"
"Father found out." Now it was Lotor's turn to frown in memory. "He came with a ship filled with soldiers even though this place was only inhabited by Mother, sister and myself. Ruined everything, he did. Lazon cannons, lasers. My father wanted to destroy everything that gave her pleasure."
"But what happened? I mean your mother and your sister?"
Lotor's expression hardened.
"He killed her. My sister was killed, caught in crossfire trying to save her little pet. My father took me away to Doom after that."
How awful! Allura's heart felt for what Lotor went through. Now she understood in part why he had done the things he had done, although he still was responsible for his actions.
"I'm sorry, Lotor." He had let her arm go and Allura touched his hand gently.
"It was long ago, Princess. It cannot be taken back.." He sighed.
"Thank you for showing this to me." Allura didn't realize that her fingertips were gently caressing his large hand, but Lotor did. His skin tingled with her touch.
"I'm glad that I could." Lotor turned to face her, seeing only a blurry face with a pile of gold hair on top of that. "I would use it if I were you. I know it's taking time to repair your ship. You would want to be clean when your friends arrive - and I know that they will sooner or later."
She nodded, not knowing what to say. That was quite true, knowing Keith and the others.
"Come on, let's have some lunch.." Allura took his hand and together they went back to their campsite.
Blind Faith - Chapter Twenty
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