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By all accounts Acxa should not have been born with a soulmark. Most halflings didn't have a match, being the offspring of at best a fling between a high ranking galra and a slave or at worst the product of something less savory. Just another thing that kept her people separate from the pure bloods, another reason as to why they never should've been born. Yet, by some power's will, Acxa was born with a string of words in bright red that trailed around her ankle.
Whether they were a blessing or a curse...was to be seen.
Her mother told her that it was a blessing, believing that one day it would lead to a better life for them. Acxa was the child of a Galra general and a slave woman form one of the poorest colony worlds. The mines underneath the turquoise colored surface had long run out of the precious metals they carried, leaving little profit or resources for anyone too poor to leave the surface. The generals who came and went every few decaphobes considered it to be a punishment world, a place that good soldiers were sent after failing the main fleet in conquest. No one took interested in keeping the remaining populace safe and fed. Acxa could remember the nights her mother came late with small scraps of food she had stolen from the kitchens she slaved in. The fact that Acxa had a match meant that this dreary present wouldn't last forever. It didn't help that apparently her soulmate was one who seemed to have a heroic streak.
"Don't move, I'm here to help." The words on her skin spoke.
Her mother saw it as a blessing, but Acxa couldn't think of it in that light. She couldn't think of her future mate as a child period. Mother died of fever when she was seven and from that point all Acxa's focus on was her own survival.
When mother left, so did the old shack that they had taken shelter in. The soldiers came and cleaned the place out too move in another slave family, so Acxa had to run. The streets became her new home after that, a box in a back alley becoming her new house. Food and water were even harder to find on the streets, and eventually Acxa resorted to thievery to get by. Street venders were common in the few settlements that remained on her mother planet's surface, but at first they were more trouble then they were worth. The venders were all in a race for survival of their own after all, they couldn't tolerate thieves if they themselves wanted to eat. Not that it didn't stop Acxa from stealing, it just made her be smarter about it. Eventually she learned that the Venders didn't keep damaged product, so after making a slingshot out of the trash in the alleyway, she had made a system of targets to hit, damage their fruits and then take from the dumpsters once they finished cleaning.
After years of this she had kind of forgotten about her soulmate.
Lotor found her as a teenager, still living on the streets, but saw her potential and took her in. It was like a miracle, suddenly having a bed to sleep in and a home to call her own again. Oddly enough this meant she never mentioned her mark to Lotor. It was always covered by her armor, so it could never be brought up by anyone else. Besides, she had been taught that these types of things were supposed to be kept private. Soulmarks were rare amongst half-breeds, and most of them were killed off by their Galra parents in case they were matched with a military leader of high importance, to save the family from embarrassment. So, she kept this one little secret from her savior. One day she would be grateful for the foresight.
The only people she ever really told about her mark, were Ezor and Zethrid, and that was only because they were a soulmatch with each other. Not that they told anyone else about their bond. To the outside world they were merely close comrades in arms, only Acxa saw the true romantic tension between them. It was both endearing and sickening. And of course both of them would take every opportunity to tease her about her own mark. Saying that she was such a lucky girl to have such a hero for a soulmate. Acxa would always roll her eyes and focus again on the task at hand. It didn't matter who her soulmate was, they weren't the one who saved her. Lotor was, and she needed to stay in his good graces if it meant her survival. So, she did everything he asked, without much question.
Of course this meant, she had gone through with some deplorable tasks that she couldn't wait to forget about, and her current assignment no doubt would follow suit, considering she was stuck in the muscles and veins of giant space worm looking for a quiznaking rock! The things she did for lotor. Even worse the roof of her pod was sealed shut so she couldn't get out without doing some serious damage to her ship. She could reach out to the others with just her suit, but without her ship she might vulnerable to any dangers that leered inside of the weblum. Perhaps she should've gone through the gills rather then a wound in the creature's side, but it wasn't like there was an instructional video on how gather scultrite from inside of a weblum.
She sighed closing her eyes and leaning back into her seat, there must be a way out of this situation.
Thump
Acxa tried very hard not to startle, and she did a pretty good job considering there was suddenly a person laying on top of her pod. The figure was slimly built, possibly shorter then her, and dressed in armor of white and red. She swallowed, wondering if she really recognized it or if it was a trick of the light. However once she saw them stand and a matching blade materialized in their grasp there was no doubting who they were. The red paladin of voltron.
Acxa was familiar with the legends, every child in the universe was told about the defender of the universe at some point in their lives. However, the older Acxa grew the more it felt like a fairytale. The empire was too vast for a single team of five to take down, besides even if they could no one would be fighting for her people. So, when rumors of Voltron's return reached Lotor's fleet she wrote them off. If the big robot was back they would have a bone to pick with the emperor first, not the exiled prince, so likely it wouldn't be her problem for a while.
Yet, here she was, trapped in a weblum and the right hand of voltron comes crashing on top of her. The ancients must be laughing at her from where ever they rested.
The paladin cut off the muscle fibers covering her shield, then raised their sword towards the glass.
"Don't move, I'm here to help."
Her ankle burned, and Acxa knew, yet she couldn't believe. Her mother had been wrong, her mark was a curse. Acxa swore her loyalty to Lotor, but she was matched to one of those who could possibly be the doom bringers to her savior. For a moment she was too stunned to speak, to move. The red blade cut through her blast shield, never touching her, and only pulled away one a hole big enough for her to crawl through was made. The paladin reached out a hand, and she only hesitated for a moment before taking it. Acxa might have been unsure of the future, but she would take this chance to further her own survival. The gentle rescue was suddenly ripped away form her and the paladin jerked her forward and stole her blaster right out her holster.
"You're Galra," He said.
Some part of her felt disappointed at that, even if the action was understandable, they were on opposite sides of a war. Oh...she could never let Ezor and Zethrid, find out about her star-crossed soulmate they would never shut up about it.
A screech came from above and suddenly a sense of danger rose in the atmosphere. She looked up finding a cloud of...something.
"Not those things again!" The paladin growled.
Acxa didn't think twice before activating the self destruct sequence on her pod, with the cut out blast shield it wasn't useful for an escape anyway.
"You're turning this ship into a bomb," The paladin said in an almost impressed tone.
Escape had escalated quickly from there, they both took off in their suits, distance was everything when a bomb was about to go off. That was an expected reaction, what Acxa wasn't expecting was for the paladin to try and shield her from the blast. They were enemies, and she hadn't said anything, he why would he save her?
It was only right she return the favor, by stealing back her blaster and shooting the remaining bacteria.
"I uh, guess you can keep your weapon," her soulmate said smartly, Acxa smiled to herself.
They continued through the stomachs, and Acxa found herself staring. It was odd, usually she was always paying attention to her surrounding, survival instincts were finely tuned to make sure no one would sneak up on her. Yet, here her attention was drifting. She chose to call it curiosity, after all she might not ever get to be this close to paladin again. Soulmates or not they were enemies first. So, she watched him move, taking in every detail she could. His visor was clear, so his features were visible if a little distorted. Pale flesh, with dark eyes and bangs, were oddly appealing. She found herself wondering what the rest of him looked like.
It didn't take long for them to meet up with whomever he was speaking to on his closed comm link. Another paladin, the yellow one, he was rounder, and bigger, but the white in his eyes spoke of a similarity of blood. They were the same species. At least that's what Acxa believed until...
"He's Galra."
"What you all know each other?"
Acxa tried very hard not to react. Could it be? Could the red paladin be a galra half-blood? It seemed impossible. Half-breeds never were given glory. Acxa believed herself to be incredibly lucky that Lotor found her. Apparently her match was too. He must have been a great warrior in order for the red lion to proclaim him worthy. All throughout the time Sendak had it in his position it never took a pilot he offered it. Some began to believe that the lion would refuse all Galra that approach, after what Emperor Zarkon did to King Alfor. Yet, here was undeniable proof that they, all the pure bloods, were merely unworthy, while a mutt did what they couldn't. If they knew there would be riot. Acxa had half the mind to laugh, but kept her composure. Though it was getting harder to hold her tongue. The more she learned and studied the more she wanted direct answers.
The bacteria returned and once more Acxa was challenge, Galra mates always battled together. It was a right of passage, your partner had to be your defender and avenger at the same time. Between his sword and her gun their movements quickly began to flow like natural river water. It was another nail in the coffin that they were meant to be. Then he pulled her into that crevasse and shielded her a second time.
"So your just like the rest of them."
Those words cut deeper then they should've. Acxa wasn't like the rest of them, she couldn't be. She couldn't be pure or ruthless. Lotor was the same, she had to trust. She was only doing what she had to survive. She left the weblum hoping that the war would keep distance between the two of them. They had only met once and he didn't even know who she was, but Acxa was certain of one thing. She wouldn't be able to kill him.
Lotor was summoned to take over the throne not even a movement later.
The following phodes were hard. Acxa had to hide her worry each time they engaged the paladins underneath Lotor's orders. Thayserix. The alternate reality portal. The entire fight in the ulippa system she was pulling her shots, not wanting to actually hurt him on accident. Some part of her was grateful he got away that day, even if Lotor punished her by putting her in charge of the construction of the sincline ships. That actually worked in her favor, the droid didn't pay much attention unless she gave orders, and they were pretty self-sufficient already, so she had free time to research her soulmate. Stalker like perhaps, but it was all she could work with. Keith Kogane his named turned out to be, his non galra half from a backwater planet that was entirely unknown to the empire. She found images of him, not in armor, finding herself enjoying the mane he was able to grow, though his ears were weird. From a far she watched through all those phodes, even finding broad castes of the Voltron Shows. However it was clear he didn't want to be in them. His words were forced and movements stiff. Acxa knew the feeling. Unless she knew what she was doing it was best to stay in the background.
Acxa told herself to be content with this, staying in the background of her soulmate's life. It was for the best. Wasn't it?
Zarkon recovered, and Narti was killed.
The death of Acxa's silent sister rattled her. She'd never show it to Lotor, he was still her safety net even if it was to keep her safe from his own blade. However, she knew that Zethrid and Ezor were ready to rebel the moment Narti fell to the floor. They were scared, their stability was threatened. Acxa knew they wouldn't act until she said so though. They trusted her with decisions like that. Even if she was just as frightened as they were. Acxa decided to bite her tongue for now, see whatever plan was left.
Lotor's plan failed, and now Acxa had to make a choice.
Stand on a rock in the cold of space, surrounded by the ruins of her father world, it felt like a turning point. They all knew it.
"Told ya so, all Lotor's plans failed," Ezor said.
"He's gonna turn on us, as soon as its in his best interest. We have to strike first," Zethrid added.
"If we turn him over to Galra headquarter now, they might show us mercy."
"There's another option," Acxa cut in, and moving forward.
She knew better then to approach lotor with the mood he was currently in. No one was allowed to interrupt while he was scheming, and she used to respect that, but things have changed.
"Sir?"
"What is it Acxa?"
"With your father hunting us, we have limited options, but one faction might shelter us."
"You're suggest we ally ourselves with the Coalition?" Lotor hummed, "It's worth considering, even I do manage to reclaim power without their aid I would still have deal with their rebellion in the long run. Working together might benefit both parties."
Acxa smiled on the inside, this would benefit her in more ways than one. Even if her soulmate didn't want her, he'd still had enough power that by association, Lotor or anyone else would think twice before threatening her, fearing the wrath of Voltron.
Unfortunately this plan also meant flying through a sun. As they exited the radiation of the nova plain, Acxa could hear Ezor breathing heavily through the comms. It had been an intense trip, but at least now they knew Voltron and the rebellion were launching a full scale assault. It would be the perfect opportunity for an introduction. One that Lotor took full advantage off, ordering to fired on the fleet ship the rebels were trying to destroy.
Which thankfully worked in their favor. And now Acxa was standing on a nearby moon, waiting for Voltron to arrive to talk alliance agreements. She was exhausted, a lack of rest and higher amounts of stress forming weariness in her skeleton. Ezor and Zethrid had taken to sitting in the silver dust of the moon's surface, as they waited. Lotor was standing ahead, regal in his patience.
Voltron arrived fully formed, landing just far away enough that Acxa and the others wouldn't be blown away. The statement was clearly made, a warning to not try anything stupid. Voltron Split into the lions, Black in the middle with the other colors surrounding them, forming an imperial wall, a threshold that soon Acxa would have to cross. Be it alone or with the others. She knew that she couldn't follow Lotor any more.
She eyed the red lion at first, and blinked in confusion when a Paladin dressed in blue emerged. Where was...Her gaze drifted towards black, finding a shock of red leaping from the large set of jaws. The Black lion had changed after the assault on the home ship, hadn't it? Once more he amazed her, a half-breed judged worthy enough to command the universe's ultimate weapon. Zarkon would be ticked to know a mutt stood in his place now.
"Wait that's Lotor?" The blue-well red-Paladin called out, "he looks nothing like Zarkon."
"Lucky kid," The green Paladin said.
Lotor step forward, approaching Keith, but Acxa was faster. She needed to do this. Even if it was the only time they talked...
"I'm sorry to do this to you," She said.
And the shock in his eyes revealed everything.
Keith didn't believe in soulmates.
Maybe once he did. When he was small, and the world didn't seen so cruel. But even when his pop was still around they never really had a deep conversation regarding topic of soulmates. All Keith really could remembered was one Halloween night where he asked...
"Do you think they took my candy?"
Pa laughed, "why would you think that, son?"
"They're apologizing to me? They must done something bad."
"Maybe, but maybe their just shy. You'd be surprised by how many people are scared to meet their matches."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was terrified when I met your mom."
It had been so much easier back then. But all good things came to an end, and Keith's childhood was burned up when his father went down in the line of duty. Foster care took him without much thought. They seemed nice at first, but Keith soon learned that it would last long. The social workers only pretended to care, and the families he was placed with were only after the novelty. It never lasted. In the beginning, Keith had held onto hope his mom would come for him, Pa said she loved them. But she wasn't there when he died, and now she wasn't there to save Keith. That's when the words wrapped around his collarbone began to lose their meaning. With each family that rejected him, the more he believed that love wasn't for him. Pa loved him, but he was gone.
After three years, Keith could only look in the mirror, look at his mark, and feel nothing. No excitement, not even anger, just numbness.
"I'm sorry to do this to you,"
Keith thought finally understood why.
The cycle of rejection didn't end until he turned fourteen, and oddly enough after he stole a car.
Shiro was a weird foster guardian (Keith would never call him father or dad, Shiro was way to young for that, besides they were more brothers by the end of it), he didn't try to change Keith, he didn't scream at him for bad grades, forgetting a chore or getting in a fight. Disappointment was reserved for the last one, but it never made Keith feel too bad. It only made him want to do better, but it was hard. Keith wasn't used to people being in his corner. They always turned their backs on him, for years he waited for the other shoe to drop. It never did. Not with Shiro. But once more good things didn't last.
Kerberos came, and Shiro left. Keith knew it wasn't intentional. Shiro promised he wouldn't abandon him, and Shiro wasn't a liar, but everyone else apparently was. Shiro didn't make the kind of mistakes that they were saying he did. The crash story was complete bullshit, and they all knew it! Keith was the only one who seemed to be comfortable with using his voice however. No one listened though. He was just the problem for everyone else again, and was discarded as always. Not even Adam was in his corner anymore, and that hurt, but Keith tried not to get to mad at him, Adam was grieving too.
By then Keith was eighteen and the Foster system wasn't an option anymore. Thankfully, his father's assets were now finally his. It was only a small desert property and a rundown shack, but it was enough. He had dug through the remaining junk his father left in the place. Looking for something...Maybe some part of him wanted to find his mom, but quickly he abandoned that idea, if she wanted him or his father she would found him by now. No, he had to find Shiro. That year in the desert was freeing. He may have become a hermit, and definitely made a murder board worthy of a conspiracy theorist but hey, he was hearing energy and cat purring cut him some slack.
Then a space ship flew out of the sky, and Keith knew he had to do something. With out much of a plan, he grabbed some of his father's bombs (where the hell did Pa get those?), and broke into a government crime scene. Maybe not the smartest idea, but hey it got him Shiro back. It also got them blasted into the middle of a space war against a bunch of purple people but hey, the details didn't matter.
At least, not until Keith saw the familiar symbol on Ulaz's blade. Turns out, his Pop was keeping a lot more from him when it came to his mom, or maybe Keith wasn't old enough to be told. Then again at what age is appropriate for you to tell you kid that they are half alien and their mom is a rebel space ninja? In between, all the tension on the castle of lions, Keith did try to get more answers regarding his mom from Kolivan, sadly the blade Leader was tight lipped about all his agents. Antok had been more sympathetic, telling Keith that he had trained his mother, given her that blade, and from the way he spoke they were close in someway. However Keith still couldn't get a name.
After learning about his heritage, he began to look at his mark a little differently. The topic of soulmates had come up when Lance and Allura turned out to be a match. Hunk and Pidge were a platonic pair, with Hunk having a secondary romantic match with Shay. Coran turned out to be without a match, but it didn't keep the older Altean down for long. Shiro didn't talk about Adam beyond saying he had found his own. And well, after that everyone asked about Keith's, so he showed them. Not missing how Allura cringed at the blue-purple coloring of his mark. Antok told him is was unusual for a halfling to have a mark in the first place, no doubt who ever they were would be important, and likely galra...
Keith never had felt self-conscious about his mark before, but with a war going on and the nature of the words, he wouldn't be surprised if their first meeting ended with one of them getting shot or stabbed.
Thankfully his soulmate worries were short lived. Zarkon needed to go down, and at first it seemed like they're crazed plan succeeded. However, that joyful victory was washed away when Keith ran into the Black Lion's cockpit, finding his brother gone. Grief came hard and fast, Keith fell into the denial and anger stages pretty quickly. Shiro wasn't gone, he wasn't dead! Keith would find him, and the longer the search went on the more frustrated he grew. With himself and with the others. Why wouldn't they help him! Why were they giving up on Shiro!? It took a while, but eventually Keith just had to accept Shiro's death. The war didn't stop, the universe still needed them. When the Black Lion called, Keith answered, he didn't want too but he had to honor his brother.
Leading Voltron was hard. Keith wasn't patient or understanding like Shiro was. It took a lot for him to learn that he couldn't just look out for himself anymore. The others relied on him for more then just a sword now. It didn't help that on top of his new role new threats came out of the wood works too. Zarkon apparently had a kid (and didn't that just produce some wonderful images!), and Lotor was an unknown threat. The Coalition needed more support and that meant drawing new people in by doing shows which Keith hated. Let's just say that there was a reason as to why he never took drama as an elective class. Keith keep in touch with Kolivon, going on a blade mission anytime he had. Which led to Regris dying. Overall it was a rough couple months.
Then Nexzula happened. Honestly Keith needed a quiznacking vacation! Who the hell decided that it was good idea to turn an entire planet into a bomb!!!?!?!?! Believe him he was happy that they reclaim a third of the Empire, but goodness gracious he needed a nap. Of course, even when the chaos was over, there was no time for a break. No, Lotor wanted to talk, and Keith let the others talk him out of stomping on the guy.
Keith took a breath, trying to will away his headache and exhaustion before leaping down onto the moon's surface. He planned to let Allura do most of the talking. His battery was drained and she was supposed to be the diplomat anyway. His boots hit the soft surface of the moon, and of course Lotor approached him. Honestly he had to agree with Lance on the whole appearance thing, Lotor looked nothing like old man.
"It's a pleasure, Black Paladin," Lotor greeting.
"Prince Lotor," Keith spoke flatly, where was Allura, "What do you want?"
Lotor almost stumbled at the blunt reply, before continuing to speak and Keith was kind of proud of that as he tuned out the carefully selected words the prince spat. Oh, yeah flattery wouldn't get this blue-blood anywhere with Keith right now. Thankfully by then Allura had come by and taken over.
He blinked and suddenly one of the generals was in front of him. The one he had seen in the weblum. What did she...?
"Uhm hello?" Keith said after a second of staring.
"I'm sorry to do this to you," She spoke.
Keith choked, and the rest of his team were no better. They had all seen his mark, they all knew his words. Hunk and Pidge's jaws dropped. Allura froze, and Lance squawked. Quiznack, this just got a whole lot more complicated.
The Castle of Lions was far more empty, and less imposing then what Acxa expected. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling rather exposed in the thin silk pajamas, the Altean with the mustache fitted her with.
Voltron had thankfully accepted them, Acxa wasn't sure if it was the soulmate match or if they were taking Lotor's offer seriously. Before Acxa could blink they were stuffed into Altean healing pods, not a surprising reaction, and honestly she was glad for it. She could still feel the remaining chill of the pod, but her exhaustion had lessened. Acxa was the best off of her comrades, so she was released before the others. Honestly when she felt to the ground she expected strong arms to wrestle her into a prison cell. Not the oddly kind Altean that got her clothing to wear, Coran he said to call him.
"Are you feeling alright, everything in tip top shape?" Coran chirped once she was dressed.
"A little cold," Acxa answered.
"Oh don't worry about that, it's perfectly normal, give it a varga and it will be gone. Now if you will follow me."
Coran continued to ramble as they walked through the empty halls, the lights dimmed no doubt trying to mimic a night cycle. Her blaster had been taken, but that was expected and if it came to it she could kill with her bare hands. Not that she could afford to right now. She needed to make this work, Lotor was going to be upset that she didn't tell him about the soul-match, and she couldn't lie to him and say she didn't know. Being a model prisoner was her best shot at staying alive. So, quietly following Coran, she went.
"Alright," The altean eventually said stopping at a large door, "Here we go. You can go right in," he didn't open the door.
"You're letting a prisoner open the door to her cell?" Acxa asked.
"Cell?" Coran chortled, "Oh goodness no. This leads to the training deck."
Acxa's brows furrowed in confusion.
Coran's chipper-ness dimmed slightly, his smile growing more warm, "Look, I know the princess wants you and your buddies in a cell as soon as possible, but I thought you might want to have a chance to speak with him first," the altean opened the door, revealing her soulmate on the training deck, deep into a duel with some kind of drone.
"This is not-" She tried to object.
Coran scoffed, "Oh don't even start. One look at the two of you and I knew you needed a chance to talk before anything. I've seen that confused look of love so many times!" his smile dimmed, "and I think he needs this as much as you do, dear. The world, even 10,000 years ago, was too cruel to people in your situations. The both of you have been given a gift, I must ask you don't waste it. From what I have seen of humans they latch on to their bonds with others tightly and will fight before letting go. I've seen how the recent death of his brother has effected the young paladin, he might stumble but don't fault him for that. Well good luck!"
Acxa was suddenly pushed into the training room, the door shut behind her with a thump. Okay...this was happening...Blinking at the sudden action Acxa decided not to waste this opportunity. Turning back to her match, Acxa took a reasonable amount of pleasure in admiring his fighting skills. No longed was he dressed in his armor, rather oddly simple clothing. A black tunic that only covered his shoulders, tall boots, and pants that were slightly loose. Nothing like the body suits she was used to, they must be traditional wear from his non-galran side. His black hair flowing freely, why did it look fluffier then it did in the pictures?
The robot felt, and his shoulder's sagged, "End training sequence," he said, exhaustion leaking into his voice.
Acxa bit her lip maybe this wasn't the best moment. Keith walked over to the side of the room, grabbing a towel to whip off the gathered perspiration on his face.
Then again, she might not get this chance again, clearing her throat, Acxa stepped forward, "Black paladin."
Her match jumped, tossing up the towel in his grasp as he whirled around, with heavy breathing he choked out, "Oh, you're...you're awake."
"Yes. I am," Acxa said, when she couldn't find any other words.
"uh...does Coran know you're here?" Keith said stroking the back of his neck for some reason.
"Yes. He escorted me. HE said we should have a chance to speak."
Keith sighed, "Of course he did. uhm...okay listen...ah," his voice trailed off for several moments.
"Yes Paladin?" Acxa said wondering if the lack of speech was normal.
"Keith!" He said forcefully, "Keith, just uh, call me keith okay?"
Acxa nodded.
"yeah, just keith, you don't have to be formal...ah...I'm sorry I don't think I caught your name..." His face shifted to a reddish hue and he clenched his hair in one fist.
Acxa stiffened, "It's Acxa, Uhm, I'm sorry I don't know how to throw my name to you."
"What?"
"Uhm you said, you couldn't catch my name, I was unaware I had to or how to throw it at you."
"Oh no, you don't throw you're name. I just meant I didn't hear you say it, if you told me before..."
"I didn't tell you before...but why not just say that?"
"I have no idea."
The atmosphere quickly grew even more awkward, words dying on both their lips. Acxa wasn't sure if she was doing this right. Shouldn't there be a sudden connection or was that just a myth, truth be told she remembered little of the legends her mother told her regarding soulmates.
Keith took a deep breath, muttering to himself, before speaking again, "Sorry, I'm not good at this...D-do you want to go for a walk or something?"
Acxa didn't have any better ideas so she nodded. Keith grabbed what appeared to be a separate slip on tunic, this one white and red with long sleeves, and lead them out of the training deck (that she oh so wanted to try), and into the tall empty halls once more. Keith didn't speak, and Acxa didn't either. Unsure whether or not if he would find it offensive. She was in unknown territory after all, both physically and literally. When it came to the galra the soulmate with higher rank had the power until their first duel, where the winner would be considered the dominant one afterward. As Black Paladin Keith clearly held higher rank above Acxa's current status as a prisoner. However, Acxa was assuming Keith was following the rules of soulmatching by Galra standards, with half-breeds it can be hard to pin down how traditional they are in terms of their "superior half". So, she kept quiet and analyzed every interaction.
A sudden chill ran up her spine, causing her to shudder. Unknown cold seeping into her muscles and tendons again. Seems as if the cryo pod was still wearing off. She rubbed her arms in an attempt to ward the feeling away.
"You cold?" Keith suddenly spoke.
Acxa nearly startled at the question. Why ask? Was he looking for weaknesses in her?
"Merely after effects of the healing pod. I'll be fine," She stated plainly.
"Here," He lifted up the slip on tunic, and draped it over her shoulders.
Acxa stiffened, he didn't touch her but the loose heavy material on her shoulders, while warm, felt foreign, "What are you doing?"
"Uhm," He was rubbing the back of his neck again, "You said you were cold, so I gave you may jacket to use until you warm up. I get cryo chills too, they aren't fun."
"Oh thank you," Acxa said quickly, pulling the 'jacket' closer to her. It was nice and warm.
"Your welcome," He said, and they continued down the hall.
"May I ask, where are we going?" Acxa eventually questioned, usually she'd be tracking the number of turns they were making, but the exhaustion was starting to linger again, dulling her awareness. Though perhaps it was the sense of safety she had felt since speaking to him, that was making her less sharp.
"Observation deck. It's really the only place I can think of going too right now," Keith said.
The observation deck was smaller then Acxa expected, merely a room with couches and a large bay window. A view of the vast star-scape of the galaxy stretching before them through a thin sheet of sealed glass. Keith walked over to one of the sofas taking a seat while pulling a cushion into his lap. Taking a chance, Acxa made her self sit on his side, not to close, but in range they could converse comfortably.
"Pretty isn't it?" Keith started.
"The view?" Acxa said, "I suppose."
"You can say you don't like it. I don't mind."
"Really?"
"I prefer honestly over flattery," Keith sighed.
"It doesn't differ much from what I usually see out my own windows."
"I guess that's one way to see it."
Acxa bit her lip, "What do you see?"
"Home," Keith said, squeezing his cushion, "Well, not literally, Earth is to far to be visible, but stars remind me of home."
Curiosity rose in her, he almost spoke fondly of his home planet, "How so?"
"As a kid me and my Pa lived far from the city in the desert. When the sun went down you could see millions of stars on a clear night. He used to take me out before bed to name the constellations."
"Sounds...peaceful."
"It was, as long as you made sure the rattlers or coyotes didn't get you."
What were rattlers? Perhaps they were predators or a rogue faction. Acxa made a note to ask about them once they were on better terms. If Keith was still fond of his home world, likely he'd want to go back at some point. Would he want her to join him?
"Can I be blunt with you?" Keith asked, pulling Acxa from her thoughts.
She nodded.
"I..I wasn't waiting for you," he said with a shameful expression.
Acxa's brows furrowed in confusion, "Elaborate."
"Where I come from most people dream about meeting there matches, plan out their whole lives for when they finally meet them. I didn't do that for you. I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted," Acxa said, unsure how to react. Plan out your life with your soulmate, before meeting your soulmate? That seemed pointless, there were far to many unknowns to properly form a plan of action, "Can I ask why?"
"My mother left my Pa, they were a match, but she left. She didn't even come back when he died. She's probably got a good reason, but after I lost pa, I just...tuned out I guess. Soulmates didn't end well for a folks, why would it work out for me."
"I didn't wait for you either," Acxa stated plainly, "I lost my family young too, I needed to focus on keeping myself alive. Survival was more important then fairytales."
"Can't argue with you on that."
There was a short pause.
"So, what happens now?" Acxa eventually asked.
"You mean to you?" Keith said, "well, Allura gets final say on who stays in her ship, so she's the one Lotor will have to convince. Personally, I don't trust your boss, and i would rather keep him in a pod."
"Lotor saved me," Acxa said.
"I didn't mean to offend you. It's just something doesn't feel right about him, though that doesn't mean he can't prove me wrong."
"Your suspicion is noted, unappreciated but noted, and I meant about us, our courtship."
His face once more deepened into a red color, "Uhm, well, what exactly are you looking for? I've never really done the whole dating thing."
"I'm not sure, courtship is something I am also unfamiliar with."
"Really? I-I mean, you are very pretty..."
It was her turn for her cheeks to warm, "Beauty means nothing to a galra if one isn't pure."
Keith huffed, "Racists assholes."
Acxa held back a snort at his blunt statement, "Regardless, we are in unknown territory."
"I guess then we make our own path," Keith said.
"This is not a simple mission. I do not have a plan."
"No, but we can only push forward, and sometimes you don't need a plan," he smiled his face softening in a way Acxa had never witnessed before.
She nodded. Keith's eyes grew deary for a moment, before his jaw unhooked, revealing a set of blunted teeth as he let out a yawn. The action contagious as Acxa felt her head cloud as the same thing happened to her.
"Well, guess we better hit the hay," Keith said his voice suddenly slipping into a forgien accent, "C'mon I'll walk you to your room," He held out his hand to her.
Acxa took it.