In Too Deep

thirteen

Allura paced back and forth, worrying at her nail. Jasmine knocked twice before opening the door, startling the princess. "Well?" Allura asked. "What's going on?"

"The queen is going to be put in a safe location until Zarkon and Haggar are stopped." She slumped against the door. "I fear for the prince's life; Nyma and Rolo still haven't returned."

"Well," Allura scratched her head, "maybe it's better this way. As long as Zarkon and Haggar don't know where he is, then he'll be safe."

*knock knock* someone went at the window.

"AH!" Jasmine shrieked and dropped to the floor. "WHAT IS IT?!"

Allura was shocked to see who it was, and smiled as she opened the glass. "Lotor? What in the deep blue are you doing here?"

Lotor squeezed through the window, being cautious of his dorsal fin. "I came to make sure the queen was safe from my father."

"She'll be fine." Allura kissed his cheek. "It's good to see you."

He returned the gesture by kissing her knuckles. "It's always a pleasure to be with you, as well."

Fighting a dark scarlet blush, Allura turned to Jasmine, who still cowered on the floor. "It's okay, Jasmine. Lotor's a friend."

"B-but he's... he's a sh-shArk!"

"Don't worry." She held Jasmine's arms to help her up. "He's one of the good ones."

"There are good ones?"

Lotor smiled politely, waving off the unintended insult. "I know my appearance can be rather threatening, but-"

"-but he's just a big, cuddly guppy." Allura teased as she pinched his cheek.

Sending a pout to the princess, Lotor muttered, "Yes. That is completely accurate."

It seemed to put Jasmine at ease, since she giggled with Allura, but then remembered her place. "Oh! Um, Prince Lotor, if you're planning to stay then I can set up a room for you. Close to the princess I take it?"

"No thank you. I won't be here long. Do you mind if I see the queen? It's important that she's put somewhere even a shark can't get to."

Jasmine fiddled with her fingers. "...I don't know. No one is really allowed to see the queen. For security reasons."

Allura stepped in, holding the servant's shoulder. "He has a point, though. Who better to shark proof a room than a shark?"

"Oh... that is true." Jasmine nodded and went to leave the room. "Alright, follow me."

The three swam past guards and ducked in corners to avoid getting in trouble, and eventually they reached the dungeon, which Allura was shocked by. "You mean she's down here? That's strange."

"King River figured it would've been the last place someone would think to look for a queen."

"Smart." Lotor mumbled, brushing his hand along the walls. "Feels sturdy."

"Well, I'd hope so." Allura nudged him. "It is a dungeon after all."

"This way." Jasmine pushed on a rock that stuck out of the wall which turned out to be a secret button; it first scanned her palm, gave a little beep beep sound, and a portion of the wall then slid to the side like an automatic door.

Allura's eyes sparkled. "Wow! A secret room! It's so cool! So... secretive," she whispered giddily.

Lotor examined the 'rock' and hummed with satisfaction. "Fascinating. Has this always been here or did you need to build this for the queen?"