#acxa

voltron as textposts etc. 61

At one point, Allura would have killed for silence. She'd fallen asleep in the midst of a war, with lasers and bombs flying into the homes of her childhood friends and family. Then, after ten thousand "years," a group of humans awoke her in the midst of that same, unending war.

Allura had not known peace for ages. Daytime flipped between arguments, battle, and boisterous activity. Nighttime was either filled with more fighting or the distant echoes of screams clattering through her sleep, nightmares filled with remnants of her father and mother.

Even when the universe seemed to hush, her mind could never rest. She could never rest.

Now that the paladins are on earth, she has time to herself. Quiet time.

It is not relaxing. Every corner she turns, expecting to see Shiro scouring records, Lance reading, Hunk and Pidge engineering, or Keith training. She comes up empty every time. It leaves a gaping hole in her chest, especially on nights like tonight, when sleep refuses to claim her in its shuttered embrace.

"Princess." A voice from behind startles her, causing her to spin on her heel with hands raised defensively. If there is a foe, she's unable to do much harm right now, anyhow- she's dressed only in a nightgown and robe.

However, the being before her is not an enemy. Well, not anymore.

"Acxa?" Allura questions, lowering her hands. "What are you doing here?" It sounds accusatory leaving her mouth.

"I am here to forge connections between the Rebels and the Coalition," Acxa responds with militaristic candor. "I arrived this afternoon."

A brief hint of annoyance tugs at Allura. Why wasn't she notified of this? The anger must show on her face, because Acxa looks suddenly uncomfortable. How novel. Allura has never seen her show even the slightest hint of emotion in their past encounters beyond awkward, tense interactions.

"I will continue on my way," Acxa finally says, walking the opposite way from Allura.

"I apologize, I apologize," Allura interrupts, waving away her thoughts. "I am not upset with you. Just the communication of the Earthlings, that is all. Please don't feel as though you cannot share a hallway with me."

Acxa pauses, looking between Allura and the hallway behind her. "If you are certain."

"I am," Allura affirms. "We can walk together to wherever it is you are headed."

"The training room," Acxa informs her, slowly stepping toward Allura as if approaching a wild animal. Allura, however, does not plan on bolting. She nods, gesturing for them to walk.

To her pleasant surprise, Acxa falls in step beside her. In all honesty, Allura expected her offer to be rejected. While they weren't entirely hateful toward one another anymore, there certainly was a unique and difficult history between the two women.

As they walk, silence once more descends over the hall. Mind swirling, Allura tries not to think about how odd it was for her to invite Acxa on her nighttime walk. She'd been so tangled in thoughts of being alone, she'd latched onto the first thing resembling company that fell in her path. Truly, she is pathetic.

But at least Acxa answered, sparing her of some shame.

"Why are you awake at this hour?"

Allura turns her head, expression questioning. Acxa is staring straight ahead as she strides forward, but clearly senses Allura's curious eyes landing on her. "I know Alteans do not tend to be active when the sun is hidden. Why are you?"

"My sleep schedule is erratic," Allura admits, wringing her hands. "Sometimes, I am up until the morning. Other days, I am fast asleep before the sun sets. I suppose it is a product of the war."

"The Galra prefer to keep an inverted schedule to yours," Acxa acknowledges. "We prefer the moon."

"But what about your other half?" Allura interjects, her curiosity piqued. "Did your non-Galra parent also come from a nocturnal race?"

The air seems to go cold as the question leaves her mouth. Embarassment flushes through Allura almost immediately as the implications of her question sink in.

"Oh, quiznak, was that insensitive?” Allura blurts. She pushes back the instinct to apologetically grasp Acxa’s arm; the Altean custom likely wouldn’t appeal to the detached former general.

“No,” Acxa allows with a slight tilt to her head, face impassively neutral. “Others rarely ask about the other part of my heritage. I was unprepared.”

"I see." Truly, Allura hadn't considered that Acxa might not be used to discussing the other half of her heritage. It makes complete sense, though; the Galra are not fond of mixed blood. Lotor, Acxa, Zethrid, and Ezor are considered abnormalities by their standards. Despite being a half-blood himself, Allura doubts Lotor was fond of group bonding with his generals over their shared ostracization.

She shudders at the notion.

"My mother was fond of the sun," Acxa explains, faint moonlight spilling across the bridge of her nose as they move past a window. Her brow furrows. "I do not remember her very well. But she often encouraged me to stay awake during the day, even if it was difficult for me to do so. She wanted me to see her home planet during its most wakeful hours."

"Oh," Allura breathes, caught off guard by Acxa's honesty. "I struggle to remember my mother, as well. Some of our fondest memories were walks in the gardens. Was that... did your mother do that, too, with you?"

"We would hunt in the forest," Acxa snorts. "She was not a delicate woman, like you and your mother."

A laugh bubbles out from Allura's chest, warm in its unexpectedness. "I was not very delicate as a young girl. My mother wanted me to appreciate the garden flowers in the daytime, but I would always get into trouble, somehow. I destroyed at least three prized species when I traipsed about the grounds."

Amusement is subtly written on Acxa, hints of it emerging in the quirk of her lips and the twitch of her cheek. "I believed you to be a regal, tailored princess."

"I am," Allura agrees, gaze cast on her layered pink nightgown. "I am the model of Altean royalty."

"And is that all?" Acxa asks, her dark, blue eyes piercing straight through Allura.

"It is all the war requires of me," Allura states, voice strong. As always, her mind betrays her, lets her picture a peaceful day under a bright, big sun, with endless food and drink and the company of her paladins. A day free of duty. Unimaginable, yet persistent in her wildest wishes.

Acxa stops in her tracks, and Allura falters, realizing they have reached their destination. "I should leave you to train."

"Perhaps." Acxa nods, head tilting.

"Thank you for spending time with me tonight," Allura tells her, surprised by how much she means it. "It was unexpected, but nonetheless very pleasant." In fact, her lungs do breathe a bit easier, having the chance to converse with someone between the shadows of the lonely night. Even as she returns to her quarters, unable to sleep, it will be with less weight than she had carried before this encounter.

"If you are not so regal and tailored tonight, would you care to join me?"

"What?" Allura's head snaps in Acxa's direction, only to see her holding the door open with an invitation.

"I have heard you are quite vicious in battle," Acxa continues. "I would like to see for myself."

Allura toys with the idea. It has been a long time since she's fought on the ground. She cannot afford to grow rusty, as the war approaches its breaking point. Acxa is quite skilled and would fill in well for the now-lost training bot.

And, most importantly, Allura would rather not be alone anymore.

"If you are certain," Allura echoes Acxa's earlier words.

"I am," Acxa affirms.

With nervous energy, Allura nods in return, stepping into the training room. Nightgown fluttering around her feet, she reaches for a spear.