There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 50 - Hidden in Plain Sight *BONUS CHAPTERS*

"Forgive me if he was nice to me after you died. Forgive me for valuing kindness," argued Allura because apparently they were going to have this fight right then and there instead of walking off from the main group like the disaster gays.

"I'm not surprised by worthiness," argued Lotor. "I'm surprised by the timing."

"Allura," scolded Melenor. "He's baiting you. You do not need to explain your actions to him. However foolhardy they were..."

"Careful, Allura," said Acxa. "He'll manipulate you into exactly the reaction he wants from you."

"Acxa," began Lotor only to be met with her refusing to meet his eye. In fact she had yet to speak directly to him since his return. "Acxa?" Acxa stuck up her nose and walked away. "What was that?" he asked to nobody in particular.

"That," said Lance's sister, drawing Lotor attention, "is the fight you're actually in." Then he nodded her head for him to follow her.

Lotor sighed, resigning himself to the fact that this was indeed the fight he needed to have. Since his return he thought the most difficult thing would be re-earning the Paladin's trust. He'd neglected to worry about Acxa's trust. She'd always fallen back in line at a moment's notice. He'd really taken advantage of her loyalty in the past... Indeed, he needed to speak to her. He followed, taking long strides in order to catch up with her.

"Acxa, please. If I could just explain..."

"No," said Acxa, spinning back around. "I'm tired of you explaining yourself because all it ever is, is you manipulating me back on your side. All that time following you blindly and never standing up to you. I regret it. Well, I'm standing up to you now. You pulled me from that orphanage and raised me to believe you were my Messiah. Taught me never to question you and I was foolish enough to keep silent no matter where your treachery led me. I never even spoke up when you murdred Narti in front of me."

"She was a clone of Narti, but yes I can understand what that looked like... I behaved like such a beast, earning loyalty through fear."

"I used to think you saved me, but you were the worst thing that ever happened to me. You took my self-hatred and you fed it so it spread to the rest of the universe. I could've been good. I could've been good from the start, but every instinct you instilled in me, I must fight now."

"Acxa, I understand anything I say will seem like a manipulation so I will attempt to be plain with my words. I learned at a very young age that to obtain something I wanted, I could never go for it directly. I needed to by sly and deceptive even if I believed what I was after was for the greater good. I realize that habit became more and more harmful as I went on. I even began to believe that the ends justified the means, no matter what means I took. My twisting of you to make you like me was one of my gravest mistakes. I very much wish I could go back to the start and do it over again, but I can't.

"I can, however, make the most of this second life I've been given. I always saw greatness in you, Acxa. This is why I chose you to stand by my side. If you wish me to keep my distance, I shall, but I hope in some way you can find a way to have a relationship with me."

"By following you, you mean?" scoffed Acxa.

"No Acxa," said Lotor, getting down on his knees, "By me following you. You were the best of all of us. I would trust you with me life."

"Stand up," said Acxa. "I don't want your loyalty. I will, however, be willing to test out occasionally speaking to you again."

"That is far greater than I deserve," said Lotor, standing. "Thank you."