PARADOX ↦ ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

29

"They definitely kissed."

"Shut up Pidge." Acxa muttered as she lifted the shorter teen onto the horse.

"They literally walked out into the woods, hand in hand, Keith wearing Lance's jacket." Pidge said as she held on, Ezor climbing up behind her just moments later.

"They wouldn't have kissed." Acxa said, rolling her eyes and making sure Rover was next to their horse before she climbed up herself in front of Pidge, who sat in front of Ezor.

"We don't know that." Shiro chuckled as he lead the white horse toward where Allura stood, putting out the fire.

"You're supporting love right now?" Acxa asked him as he walked past. "Even with all the serious problems going around?"

Shiro laughed again. "When are there not problems going on around here?" He said and offered Allura a hand to step up on the horse.

Allura didn't take his hand, rather put her foot in the stirrup herself and swung her leg over the saddle. She wasn't going to be treated like a princess after all. Shiro used the stirrup after her and sat on the back, sitting on the edge of the saddle in order to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable.

Narti then approached on her horse, Hunk leading this time with the reins in his hand. She kept a hand on his shoulder for stability as she looked back at Lotor and Coran together on a horse.

"I thought you rode with Lance?" Ezor asked, her tone still soft and fragile.

Lotor laughed softly, gesturing back to where Coran's horse stood. "I offered to give Coran a ride."

"The two back there seemed like they would be much happier if they rode together." Coran chuckled, his hand on his knee.

A moment later, the horse that Coran once rode was with the others. Keith sat behind Lance, still wearing the dark green jacket as they lead the horse to the others. Keith's arm was around the dark skinned boy, so he 'wouldn't fall off.'

"Yeah, they definitely kissed last night." Pidge mumbled before she felt Acxa nudge her to shut up.

Lance noticed the eyes on them before he glanced at each person. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked, a brow raising before Lotor cleared his throat.

"No. There isn't." He smiled and looked at the others. "Allura will lead the way to Altea from here. We have to stick together but for safety purposes around the trees, we will stay at a slower speed." He told the group.

They nodded and Allura took lead, the group walking with their horses, Rover sticking next to Acxa's horse to be near Pidge. Shiro sat with Allura, but didn't speak for now. He just had to give her time to open up to the others. That's all.

Hunk stayed in the middle of the group, glancing back at Narti for a moment. She was tired, barely able to keep herself up on the horse. Her eyes were heavy and her hands kept her upright.

He sighed before he looked ahead. "You should get some rest. I don't mind if you lean against me." He said, wanting to make sure she was at least able to regain some energy after being up so late. She sighed before she gently leaned her forehead against his back, nothing more. He looked back at her before he smiled softly. She reminded him of Shay in a way. Her sincere qualities, the fact she valued the lives of others before anything else. He quickly looked back toward the rest of the group, trying to shake his thoughts off of Shay.

He and Shay had been together for almost four years before everything has happened. He didn't know if she was dead or alive. After her grandmother passed away and her father got a job opportunity in England, she was forced to move. That didn't stop them from being able to FaceTime or to call each other when they could. They were together, no matter how far the lengths were.. He still believed they were. It had been years, but he never stopped thinking about her.

Narti kept her head against his back before she laid against him again, her eyes closing and causing her to drift off ever so slightly. She still had her gun around her shoulders, ready for anything.

Lance smiled when he felt Keith lean against him, his eyes still looking ahead. Keith had Lance's hood up, his hair in his eyes as it fell. He was in desperate need of a haircut, or even a ponytail holder.

Keith closed his eyes, exhausted as well from the night before. He had stayed up longer than he should have, sure, but he wouldn't ever regret it. He and Lance talked, shared things. It was a bonding moment for him. And he would be damned if Lance didn't remember.

While the others stayed behind, Allura lead the way, her eyes fixed on the directions of the sun and trails. She lead her horse through the trees at some points, but it wasn't long before the group ended up on a trail. The path was worn and even, easy to cross through the forest.

"Have you ever played 20 Questions?"

Allura looked back at Shiro after he spoke. "No. I haven't. Nor do I plan on playing it anytime soon."

Shiro nodded slowly, respecting her answer. He then couldn't help himself, he wondered so much about her. "Your accent, where's it from?"

"United States." She said simply, knowing she was born here and raised here. "My parents were from Britain before they moved here though. My mother had me and I picked the accent up from them." She told him.

Shiro nodded slowly, his hands on his knees as the horse went through the forest. "It's beautiful."

Allura kept her gaze on the trees ahead, not looking away for a few moments. She felt her cheeks heat up when he spoke though, but never turned to look back at him.

"Where did you get your scar?" She asked a moment later, still gazing ahead.

Shiro smiled before he responded, seeing she was becoming more comfortable. "It was two years ago. Walker hit me and I fell, tried to slash at me. I got hit in the head and the next thing I see was blood coming down my nose." He lied, knowing the real story was much more complicated.

She nodded and glanced back at the rest of the group before she finally glanced at him. She could tell something in his voice. Allura smiled at him before she looked ahead once more.

"Maybe next time we talk, you can tell me the actual story."