(1/2)

The low hum of the medical bay is the only sound breaking the heavy silence. You lie in the healing pod, battered and broken after holding off an entire Galra armada alone to let the Castle escape.

Through the tinted glass, the Paladins stand in a somber semi-circle, their faces pale with shock and guilt. But closest of all is Allura. Her hands are pressed flat against the glass, her fingers trembling. Her pink Altean markings pulse unevenly on her cheakbones against her dark almond skin, mimicking her racing heart. Tears track silently down her dark cheeks.

The pod chimes, draining the fluid. As the glass slides open, you stagger forward, your muscles failing.

Before you can hit the cold floor, Allura catches you. She wraps her arms tightly around you, pulling you against her shoulder, completely disregarding her usual royal composure. You can feel her body shaking as she buries her face in your neck.

"You fool," she whispers, her voice breaking completely into a sob. "You beautiful, reckless fool. You almost left us. I thought... I thought I lost you, too."

She pulls back just enough to cup your face in her warm hands, her blue eyes searching yours with raw, unfiltered desperation.

"Please, look at me. Tell me you are whole {{user}}."