Kakuriyo Lotura AU

AlasdairToday at 5:29 AM
Lotura Kakuriyo AU where Lotor is the ogre god despite having a human mother, bringing Allura to the hidden realm as collateral for Coran's debt, which is all well and good, we know the premise
I can't decide whether I want her to still do food or something else
Like, maybe something with fabrics and textiles, making kimono or something?? Could be neat!
luToday at 5:29 AM
allura doesn't look the type to cYEAH
YEAH YEAH YEAH!
AlasdairToday at 5:30 AM
She redoes Lotor's entire wardrobe within the week and he's just
"Okay now do this for my entire staff, love u babe"
luToday at 5:30 AM
LFNJFHS
ok but, roasting him constantly for Always wearing the same colors
AlasdairToday at 5:31 AM
"Really, purple and blue, is that ALL you know how to wear?"
She puts him in pink and he looks Dazzling
luToday at 5:31 AM
"...it's what i look best in."
"yeah, bullshit, come here."
god i miss them
AlasdairToday at 5:31 AM
I know, honey
luToday at 5:32 AM
him walking around tenjin-ya in his new kimono and everyone is all :0
there's no hiding the smug grin on his face either when he brags
AlasdairToday at 5:33 AM
He takes her on trips to the market and she finds new inspiration for patterns in the strangest places, she'll literally accost some random stranger for a closer look at how their clothing is sewn, leaving him to have to reign her in like "please excuse my wife, she's a true lover of fine fabrics, by the way I represent Tenjin-ya, you should stop by to see her work--"
luToday at 5:34 AM
WAH
instead of the bowl he buys her some, like,
AlasdairToday at 5:34 AM
She's commissioned to design a new robe for the empress on their royal anniversary and Lotor is Immeasurably Proud of her
He delivers the news himself
luToday at 5:34 AM
oh i'm
i'm so soft FUCK
AlasdairToday at 5:35 AM
Every time he goes off for business or a meeting with the other Hachiyo, he always brings back some new piece of clothing for her to inspect or a book to help her learn new techniques, everything he can to encourage her passion
luToday at 5:36 AM
and he's constantly gifting her fabrics
does she start a business on her own or does he encourage it :eyes:
AlasdairToday at 5:36 AM
Shiro is her favorite model since Lotor's often too busy to stand in one place for hours which makes him Not At All Jealous What Are You Talking About
Oh, she does it on her own, but after she's proven herself to him (strongarming him into a new favorite outfit, no less), he heavily encourages it
"I'm not sure you realize what you've just done. I'm going to work you to the bone, dearest bride of mine."
luToday at 5:38 AM
"oh, yeah? i'd like to see you try."
she's So Confident in her abilities and doesn't need anyone to tell her how amazing she is
AlasdairToday at 5:38 AM
He heaps praise he feels is deserved whether or not she asks for it
luToday at 5:39 AM
she'll never tell him but she loves it
more so the fact that he's just Gushing than about the praise itself
AlasdairToday at 5:39 AM
Because he's so brusque with everyone else
But with her, he shows so many different expressions
luToday at 5:40 AM
every time she catches him smiling, she can't help but go all :0
like, he Always Does It around her but it doesn't get any less exciting to see
AlasdairToday at 5:41 AM
But there are points where he'll get self-conscious about his own smiles if he catches her staring
So he tries to deflect
"See something you like?"
"You know, you could look at this every day if you only married me."
luToday at 5:42 AM
"yeah, i'm thinking about all the different ways i could bludgeon your stupid face."
she'll Never Tell Him
AlasdairToday at 5:43 AM
He just laughs indulgently and looks at her with so much fondness, like, "That's my wife, alright. I'd expect nothing less. So bloodthirsty, I wonder if our children will survive your warpath."
luToday at 5:44 AM
she'll hold up the needle in her hand like, "watch it, keep it up and i'll sew your eyes and mouth shut in your sleep."
AlasdairToday at 5:44 AM
"Do you hear that? That's the sound of my knees knocking together. You're absolutely terrifying."
Oh, but imagine
She's by no means any less inclined to overwork herself in this universe over any other, so when she inevitably comes down with a fever, he orders her into bed, no buts, no refusals
She wakes up in the middle of the night to see him at her bedside, diligently working on the account books only by moonlight so he doesn't disturb her
"Finally awake? You gave me such a scare, Allura. I was worried I'd have to strap you down just to get you to rest."
luToday at 5:47 AM
WAH
she's half-angry that he pulled her away from her work and now she's behind, but
she still gets a warm fuzzy feeling knowing he was so worried about her
AlasdairToday at 5:49 AM
And the way he leans over her, gently pressing the inside of his wrist to her skin to check her temperature, breathing a sigh of relief when he finds her fever broke
"You must be hungry. Shall I ring for something? Anything you'd like to eat, just ask for it."
luToday at 5:51 AM
"here you are fussing about me getting some rest yet you're the one up in the dead of night. if my work can wait until morning, so can yours. come here."
AlasdairToday at 5:51 AM
OH
That's one of the only times he looks genuinely shocked
And unsure of himself
His voice is so small when he asks, "Are you sure it's alright?"
luToday at 5:52 AM
she pulls back the blanket and pats the spot beside her, and she smiles, "hurry up before i change my mind."
AlasdairToday at 5:53 AM
"Far be it from me to need instructions twice."
luToday at 5:53 AM
WAH
AlasdairToday at 5:53 AM
He settles in and wraps a loose arm around her waist, more than allowing her to pull away if she doesn't want it
luToday at 5:55 AM
her first thought is just how warm he is, then how good he smells, and then how much she likes...this. she presses closer, rolling onto her side and draping her own arm around him
and her face is pressed into his chest so her voice is muffled (and dignity saved) when she says, "...thank you for worrying about me."
AlasdairToday at 5:56 AM
She can feel the rumble in his chest as he laughs, like the very idea is preposterous to him
"Never thank me for doing what's only natural. You're precious to me. Worrying is the least I can do."
luToday at 5:58 AM
and even though She Knows she's precious to him, less now as collateral and more by virtue of who she is, but still hearing him say it makes her happy
AlasdairToday at 6:00 AM
It's when she's just on the edge of drifting off to sleep again that she feels him press his lips to the crown of her head, so quick and gentle she thinks she might have imagined it
The one thing she does know for sure is that she feels safe
luToday at 6:00 AM
she! feels! at! home!
full tea but allura can't sleep alone after that night, but it takes her, like
two weeks to say Fuck You to her dignity and ask him to sleep with her again
AlasdairToday at 6:01 AM
The rat bastard never offers, giving her an out in saying "oh fine since you're so desperate I guess I'll do you this favor"
Nope!
He pretends it didn't even happen!
But when she finally sucks it up and asks, he gets the BIGGEST grin
"I was wondering how long it would take you. Of course I'll perform the most sacred duty a husband can have for as long as you like."
luToday at 6:03 AM
allura just rolls her eyes and turns on her heel to go back to work, "now you're really going to change my mind, i'll see you tonight."
but when she settles beside him again that night, she just sighs bc she's so content
like, This™ is where she's supposed to be
AlasdairToday at 6:04 AM
Okay but can I hit you with That Real Shit™
luToday at 6:05 AM
Hit Me
AlasdairToday at 6:07 AM
It's some time after they've settled into a routine. Weeks? Months? Time passes so strangely in the hidden realm that she can't tell and quite frankly, she doesn't care. She loves her job, she loves the people she provides a service to, she loves the responsibility she has when the other staff come to her with their problems, and part of her wonders how far she's gotten into paying off her debt while another larger part tells her to put it out of her mind and focus on getting through day by day
Lotor's been spending more time around Tenjin-ya, declining offers for business that would take him away from the inn for more than a day or two, and though he doesn't say anything of the sort, everyone is picking up on the fact that it's for Allura's sake
They're growing closer, more comfortable with one another, but he's never gone further than stealing a few kisses here and there, leaving her breathless only to walk away and attend to a guest's needs personally
She insists it's not like it Means anything
It doesn't mean she's actually going to Marry the guy
luToday at 6:09 AM
oh no
AlasdairToday at 6:09 AM
Oh no?
luToday at 6:10 AM
Oh No I'm Emo
what happens when one day lotor tells her she's paid off her debt
AlasdairToday at 6:11 AM
I was Getting To That Stop Being So Fast
luToday at 6:11 AM
NFSJKFSDK IM SORRY
AlasdairToday at 6:11 AM
IT'S OKAY I LOVE YOU
luToday at 6:11 AM
continue, love of mine
AlasdairToday at 6:11 AM
WE'RE THE SAME
Anyway so
It's late one night when they're relaxing in their room ("their" room, she doesn't miss a beat when thinking of it as hers along with his), and they've both had a few drinks, some sweet cherry sake that he insists she try since it's been a year after she came to the inn. She's got her head in Lotor's lap ("just to rest my eyes for a little bit") and he's stroking through her hair, humming some nonsense melody that's part of Pidge's compositions and another part his own invention, and then he decides that she'd best get her rest while he finishes up a few odds and ends. Allura is Vehemently Opposed to this and does the only reasonable thing: wrap her arms around his waist and cling with everything she's got, drunkenly mumbling that she can't sleep if he isn't there. Lotor calms her by lifting her head and pressing a kiss to her temple, prying off her grip, and settling her back onto their futon. "I promise, moonlight, I'll be back before you even know I'm gone, and I'll stay until you wake up." Allura takes a moment to process this before nodding, eyes already sliding closed, and lets slip a single soft line of, "Mm, 'kay, I love you."
This gives him pause.
He moves to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, then down her cheek, before he gets up and leaves, because she's already sound asleep.
luToday at 6:19 AM
oh
oh that HURTED
AlasdairToday at 6:20 AM
And this is the one and only time he breaks his word, because far from being back before she knows it, he spends all night confined in his study.
First, processing that she loves him. Then, understanding that he loves her, too, far from the teasing and the possessiveness of a thing he owns being touched by something else. Finally, coming to terms with the fact that he can't hold someone he holds so dear like this, beholden to a debt she inherited through no fault of her own.
Lotor does the only thing he thinks is just, the only thing he feels is right.
He sets her free.
And he sends her home.
The letter he leaves at her bedside is brief, with no personal touch or indication he felt anything at all.
"Allura is henceforth free of all obligation to reside and work at Tenjin-ya. The terms of her debt have been repaid in full, and she is no longer to be treated as a member of staff, management, or an honored guest. She will vacate the premises by this time tomorrow and returned to the apparent realm. Signed, the Master Innkeeper of Tenjin-ya, Ogre God of the Hidden Realm."
He doesn't even use his name.
luToday at 6:26 AM
OH
allura wakes up with an already splitting headache, she shouldn't have drank that much, fuck, where is lotor
there's a letter where he should be and she's already miffed about that, but by the end of the letter instead of feeling relieved that it's been paid she's seething
she storms out of his -- no longer "their" -- room, asking everyone that's awake if they've seen him, where is he, and everyone's like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
he's no where to be found at tenjin-ya, but she remembers his place, where he'd taken her once and they'd had hot-spring eggs and ramune, and allura almost doesn't want to go because she knows he'll be there, but her legs take her there of their own volition
he's already sitting in one of the hot springs when she gets there, his back to her, and allura stops to watch him, almost like he might disappear with hardly a moment's notice
allura comes up behind him and holds the letter in front of his face. "what the hell is this?"
AlasdairToday at 6:33 AM
He doesn't even turn, but she can see the way his shoulders tense at the sound of her voice, like he's expecting a fight. His voice is deliberately even and controlled as he replies, "Just what it looks like. Congratulations, Allura. You've got what you wanted. Now we owe nothing to one another."
luToday at 6:34 AM
and it stings hearing that, because she knows he's right. or at least, he was. he would've been right, at one point.
but he's not anymore.
AlasdairToday at 6:34 AM
Sidenote: This is fucking awful to listen to while all this is going on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRLipqG4FNc
Would recommend
luToday at 6:34 AM
WILL DO
allura rips the letter and tosses the shreds in front of him into the hot springs
"you don't know what i want."
AlasdairToday at 6:37 AM
The laugh he offers in response holds none of his warmth, his wry humor. Instead, it's just bitter. "I assure you, I'm quite capable of taking a hint. You've made your position clear." It's then that he rises to his feet, facing her, steam rising from his skin with how hot the water was, and his expression isn't cold like she expected. It's just tired.
"Go home, Allura. Find another human. Marry them, grow old together, and live a human life. This is no place for someone like you."
luToday at 6:39 AM
allura scoffs and almost wants to do just that, but of course she won't. "what is it with you and thinking you get to tell me what i should do and what i want out of my life?"
"unless i've been horribly mistaken and anything you've ever shown me was just so you could eventually cajole me into marrying you. in which case, yes, i will go back to the human realm."
she doesn't even call it home because it's not, anymore
this is her home, so why is trying to take it away from her?
AlasdairToday at 6:48 AM
He arches an eyebrow, tone perfectly polite, like he's talking about the weather instead of destroying the only good relationship he's ever had, as he says, "Once again, Allura, you're quite right. I don't get to tell you how to live your life. But under my roof, at my inn, among my staff, in my domain, I can and will enforce orders I expect to have obeyed." He reaches to take hold of his robe (hand-stitched with his crest by her own careful hand), and steps out of the spring dripping wet, every inch of him the terrifying ogre god he was supposed to embody as he lets out a whistle, signaling for the kamaitachi to heed him. "We've got an unexpected guest here past her deadline. Take care of it for me." And none of them want to, but what are they going to do, ignore a direct order? So they each take her by the arm and try to coax her away while Lotor finishes dressing and prepares to walk away.
luToday at 6:49 AM
FUCK!!!!!!!!
AlasdairToday at 6:49 AM
:)
luToday at 6:49 AM
okay, but,
even though her shop is On Their Land, it's not Inside tenjin-ya, so
she sticks it to him by just staying there, working constantly
AlasdairToday at 6:51 AM
But also consider the good fucking aesthetic of Allura getting completely shut out of the hidden realm only to find her own way back just like Coran did before her
luToday at 6:52 AM
oh BIG valid
AlasdairToday at 6:52 AM
Forcing herself back in because she is just like her grandfather and she obeys no one but herself
She's the ogre bride whether Lotor likes it or not and she's coming to make good on his promises one way or another
luToday at 6:53 AM
who's more miserable of the two when she leaves
AlasdairToday at 6:53 AM
It's a pretty even split but Lotor's DEEP into that self-hatred spiral because look what he did with his own two hands
luToday at 6:54 AM
:)c
oh oh oh
what if, at first
when allura returns to the apparent realm, everything starts coming back to her
how easy her life is, her friends, her schoolwork
AlasdairToday at 6:55 AM
Yesssss bitch
luToday at 6:55 AM
she'd forgotten how much she missed it because when she was in the hidden realm, tenjin-ya was her life
so now that it's not, she's like, "oh, wow, so this is how i used to live when i wasn't busting my ass for fucking ayakashi? COOL"
but there's still something missing from it
she can never place her finger on what, but it's like there's this huge gaping hole right where her heart should be
and it eats at her until one day, she's visiting coran's grave
she's brought him the Obligatory Bento and sits by it for hours and talks, and she tells him about everything that went down in the hidden realm, at tenjin-ya
and by the end of it she's crying but she doesn't know why
"i should be happy to be back here, coran. i have a life here, i have potential here, why am i so-- so fucking miserable?"
AlasdairToday at 6:58 AM
From behind her, there comes a familiar voice that offers, "I might have an idea or two."
It's Shiro, looking worn out and beaten to hell and back
luToday at 6:59 AM
BABYYYYYYY
allura thinks she's dreaming
AlasdairToday at 6:59 AM
"And I'll just say it right now, you're not alone on that front."
luToday at 7:00 AM
allura jumps up to hug him and just cries into his chest
"i want to go back," she says first. and then, "i'm going back. and you're taking me."
AlasdairToday at 7:02 AM
He's a little nonplussed, taking her by the shoulders as he asks, "Wow, are you sure about that? And here I was thinking I'd have to convince you by talking about how sad the master is and how he's done nothing but mope and brood since you've been gone. You know, nobody would blame you if you hated the guy after this. I might in your shoes."
luToday at 7:03 AM
"i'm going back because it's my home, not because of him."
"...okay, maybe also because of him."
AlasdairToday at 7:03 AM
His grin is brilliant in response
"There's the Allura I know and love."
luToday at 7:05 AM
"she never went anywhere, you know. she was on an emotional vacation."
AlasdairToday at 7:06 AM
Sage nod. "Ah, I know how that goes. You'll have to recommend some vacation spots to me next time."
luToday at 7:06 AM
"will do. i'll let you come with."
allura loops her arm around his and is smiling the whole way back
and just before they enter the hidden realm, she kisses his cheek. "i'm home."
"welcome back, lu."
Shiro Calls Her Lu Because I Say So, Thanks
AlasdairToday at 7:07 AM
You Are Correct
luToday at 7:07 AM
:)c
ok but, when allura arrives, she doesn't even go inside tenjin-ya
she goes straight back to her shop nsjsknjks
yes she missed lotor and wants to jump him, no she'll never tell him
AlasdairToday at 7:08 AM
GOOD
He has to hear about it from Shiro
luToday at 7:08 AM
oh, not even
he steps outside at Fuck O'Clock and sees the light on, and for a hot second lotor thinks he's hallucinating
AlasdairToday at 7:09 AM
Oh, fun fact: Shiro came on his own, Lotor didn't even know he left because he's too busy being a shitlord
luToday at 7:09 AM
EXACTLY
NSJSKSJKS
lotor tries gets closer without being seen, and there she is, working on kimono like she never even left
and he wants to go to her, run to her even, because he missed her so much and he can't believe that she even wanted to come back after what he did
AlasdairToday at 7:11 AM
He Doesn't Have The Right
luToday at 7:11 AM
YUP
she's so absorbed in her work and she looks so beautiful doing it, but he's already ruined enough for her that he can't bring himself to move
and allura knows he's watching her but does she say so? No
AlasdairToday at 7:11 AM
The whole fucking inn is getting tired of looking at him staring longingly out the window
luToday at 7:12 AM
LMSFHSJFHSKS
someone, from the balcony: "JUST FUCKING TALK TO HER"
AlasdairToday at 7:12 AM
Lotor: "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS FEELINGS ARE HARD"
luToday at 7:12 AM
lotor wants to shrivel up and die
LMAOFJAFHKF