Lotor Appreciation Week (2018)

Day 6: Hurt/Sick

It was a party, a night meant for laughter and merriment, but as he watched the paladins from afar while they playfully conversed amongst themselves and with the locals of the planet which they had recently liberated from one of Lotor's opposers, the Galra emperor's heart hung in a heavy weight in his chest. Sighing quietly to himself as to not disturb anyone else with his gloom, he tore his eyes away from the crowd and quietly made his way towards the door nearest to him, slipping out into the hallway with the belief that no one had observed his departure; however, he had failed to notice the pair of vibrant azure eyes that had been watching him with obvious concern since the moment the party began.

Biting her lip, Allura cast a glance over her shoulder, and to her relief, she discovered Coran chatting away with the newly restored leader of Cryrofaen, his exaggerated hand gestures and cheeky grin indicating that he was likely entertaining their host with some wild story that was more fiction than fact. After plucking two milkshake glasses off of a passing tray, the princess quickly but casually wove her way through the crowd, releasing a breath she hadn't she was holding when she made it through the door and out into the empty hall, but as she glanced off to her left and then her right, she realized that she now had another predicament on her hands.

'Which way did he go?'

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps greeted Allura's ears, prompting her to spin around so abruptly that she frightened the young servant girl that was currently making her way towards the massive ballroom with a tray of fresh horderves. Luckily, the girl managed to regain her balance before she dropped her delivery and humbly bowed before Allura with a smile.

"You frightened me, lady paladin. Do you need something?" she asked in a sweet, sing song voice that reminded Allura of the tweeting of the morning birds on Altea.

"Yes. Have you seen Emperor Lotor by chance? He seems to have slipped off."

"Ah, yes! I saw him only a few moments ago! He appeared to be heading towards the balcony at the end of this hallway. Would you like me to show you where it is?"

"No, I think I can find it, but thank you. I won't hold you from your duties any longer. Thank you so much for your help." Allura gushed before briskly taking off in the direction that the servant girl had come, leaving the youth somewhat perplexed as she watched the princess for a moment before entering the noisy ballroom, cheers echoing through the air at the arrival of more food.

After a few dobashes, Allura managed to locate the balcony the young girl had mentioned and sure enough there Lotor stood basking in the light of the planet's three moons, his expression pained as he stared up at the stars above. As she slowly approached him, Lotor quickly became aware of the princess's presence and sharply turned his head away from her in an attempt to hide his face, but one glance into her eyes told him that she already knew why he had left.

"Here, I thought this might help lift your spirits a bit." the princess purred before offering him the glass of creamy Earth deliciousness along with a smile.

Lotor wanted to refuse but he nonetheless found himself accepting the drink and taking a sip before engaging in a conversation. "Should you not be back in the ballroom enjoying your victory-"

"Our victory. We couldn't have done this without you, Lotor." Allura interrupted, the glow of her eyes brightening.

"Perhaps." Lotor mumbled more to himself than to his companion as his eyes returned to the stars above, hinting that his mind was somewhere many worlds away.

"You're thinking about your generals, aren't you?" Allura continued as she leaned against the railing of the balcony, her attention flitting back and forth between the crystal clear sky and the Galra leader at her side, her expression soft and somewhat sad as well.

"Yes. Although they were the best soldiers I ever knew, they were also some of the silliest Galra I had ever met. If not for the war, I believe they would've gotten along nicely with your paladins."

"Maybe someday they will. There is always hope."

"Yes, I suppose there is. Unfortunately, optimism is not a trait you will find in most of my people."

"Yet it is one of my people's greatest strengths. Like I said, there is always hope."

Lotor gave a dry chuckle before taking another sip of his drink. "When you think of Altea, do you ever feel such a sense of longing that it makes you sick to your stomach and you wish you could return things to the way they were in an instant?"

"Yes, I have felt that way many times. I believe Lance once said that the Earthlings call such a feeling 'homesickness'." Allura answered as she brushed away a small tear before it could slither down her cheek.

"Homesickness, how fitting." Lotor mused with a weary smile. "It's utterly awful."

"Yes, yes it is."