Apotheosis

First Shift

It starts slow, like a trickle.

Then gradually, it builds up, becoming more like that of a stream. Gone with its faintness and lightness, it is heavy; dense and impenetrable. It is a flood and as always, it is too late until Allura notices. It tingles in her bones, across her flesh and to the tips of her fingers. It is a buzz, constant and busy, making its presence known as it travels below her skin and reverberates, even in the air around her.

The hum...

And she can feel it.

She can feel everything. The shift of the very air as the automatic doors slide open and close, the faint whir of particles activating as she checks the status of the ship on its holographic screens, the very vibration of the very ship itself as it travels across the vast emptiness of space. It echoes within her. The energy that makes and connects all these things, it sings to her. Flowing over and into her and just like the intake of oxygen, she accepts it in. Becoming a part of her, it does and in return, she becomes the river. Forever flowing, constant until even that in its self, ends and then restarts. Like ouroboros, the stream turns in on itself and Allura becomes an ocean.

Never ending, overflowing... and devouring.

The princess exhales a sharp gasp before inhaling deeply as she presses her fingers to her sternum and opening her eyes, finds herself in an empty training deck. Though, not empty for much longer. Looking towards the door, she can feel him before it even slides open and when it does, the ocean within her surges.

Shiro enters with the confidence and the assurance of a prideful soldier. It is stunning to think that he was once a slave, tortured and forced to take lives for the entertainment of others. That is on the surface however, on the inside; her eyes rove over his form, he is not as well put together as he makes it seem. A smile springs to Shiro's lips at the sight of her and she dips her head in a slight nod of greeting.

A fine specimen of his species, he is. Aside from the three other human males, his presence is the most dominating and most condensed. Though he, himself is calculating and precise, both in body and in mind; he, of course, isn't perfect. He carries his own doubts and fears just like everyone else on this ship and she can feel it. Feel just how overbearing it is for him and Allura can't help the thought of just wanting to take him apart and build him back up from nothing. Erase his fears and decimate the horrors that echo within his mind; that radiate out with his energy. He is so fearful.

"Morning, Shiro. It's a pleasure of you to join me so early," She greets just as soon as he is close enough.

"Pleasure's all mine, princess. Also," His soft smile becomes a cheeky one and he points a finger to the ceiling, "I heard the alarm."

The princess shoots him a sly grin and he chuckles, the sound deep and rumbling. It's a game they play; this friendly banter as they wait for the remaining paladins to arrive and as always, there's a formality whenever he speaks her name. A part of her wonders how long it'll last.

His tone is strong and unwavering, carrying a slight earthen tint. What would he sound like becoming undone?

The thought is so sudden and so random; Allura's eyes go wide and immediately, Shiro's sharp ones catch on to it, "Is everything alright, princess?"

Fuchsia and blue meet wandering grey and Allura releases the breath that she had unconsciously sucked in before giving him a soft smile, her mask of professionality betraying nothing of her previous thought," Of course, Shiro. Everything's fine, what about you?" She raises her arms above her head in a stretch as she asks the question and in catching her drift, Shiro copies her.