By Amanda Pizzolatto

Word Count:

Rating: G

Summary: An AU of Roman Holiday based on Vultron: Legendary Defender.

Keith watched as the girl slept soundly. He had to wonder why she’d been sleeping on a bench near the edge of a bridge, anyhow? She nearly rolled off the bench onto his feet, she was so drunk. But he had felt an obligation to help her out, so help her out he did. He asked her several questions to find out where he needed to take her, but she only mumbled about how her adviser and the doctor were so mean by giving her a drug to put her to sleep. They didn’t tell her it was meant to put her to sleep, all she wanted was some fun. Keith let out a sigh and a groan, realizing as she kept going on that he wouldn’t get the information he needed to get her back home. He changed plans and gave his address to the driver. He brought her to his little apartment a few blocks away, and she practically collapsed on his bed the instant they walked into the door. He had told her to sleep on the couch, but when he came back from giving her some privacy to change, she was sound asleep on the bed. Now that he finally looked at her, sleeping like a baby, he thought she looked really cute. He had never seen a dark-skinned girl with white locks before, but she was undoubtedly rocking the look.

He finally broke his gaze to concentrate on his questions. He was going to speak with the elusive Princess Allura in a special press conference the next day, and he wanted to make sure everything his editor had wanted him to ask was written down. Keith often found that writing something down helped him remember things. After a few minutes, when he was absolutely sure he had everything, he turned in for the night, taking the couch.

He woke up the next morning with a start, as bells rang outside his room. He rushed to the window and let out a yelp as he glanced at the clock tower. He was late!! He glanced at the girl still sleeping on his bed before quickly getting changed and heading out. Shiro was waiting for him when he arrived at the newspaper office, and Keith wasn’t sure if he should tell him the truth. Shiro clearly wasn’t happy with his tardiness as he waved Keith into his office. Lance merely smirked at Keith as Keith passed his desk on the way in.

“So, Keith, where were you?” asked Shiro once Keith closed the door behind him.

Keith let out a sigh, might as well come clean. “I’m sorry, Shiro, I slept in late. I was so ready for today too! I wrote everything out again and I even set up my alarm! But, go figure, my alarm clock died. Then again, I probably wouldn’t have even heard it since I didn’t even hear the clock tower near my apartment until it was noon . . . when I woke up.”

Shiro only raised his eyebrow. “You didn’t even hear the clock tower? Man, you were knocked out! What did you do?”

“Nothing much, just helping out a girl who was really, really drunk and sleeping on the bench near the bridge. Didn’t want any punk to take advantage of her, or for her to fall and hurt herself.”

Shiro let out a sigh. “Well, I’ll forgive you, since you were doing a good deed . . . and you didn’t lie to me,” he quipped as he glanced past Keith at the door.

“Did Lance try to come up with an excuse?” asked Keith with a smile. He didn’t know what it was with that guy, but he was always talking about the two of them being rivals and trying to get one up on him. Eventually, it had gotten under Keith’s skin, and he began to compete with Lance, though that got on Shiro’s nerves.

“Don’t go there,” remarked Shiro firmly.

“Sorry,” muttered Keith.

“Anyway, it’s a good thing you didn’t go,” began Shiro.

Keith glanced at him in surprise. “Why not?”

Shiro placed a newspaper on his desk. “Because the princess came down with a fever last night and the press conference was called off.”

“Ah,” replied Keith as he picked up the paper. His eyes nearly bulged at the exclusive picture shown on the front page. That was the girl he took to his apartment! Could it be?

Shiro sat down at his desk, turning to some paperwork, and didn’t see Keith’s expression. “Since that was your big thing today, well, you’re basically off the rest of the day. Enjoy it,” he remarked.

“Oh, um, thanks, Shiro. I think I will,” replied Keith as he turned and just about dashed out the door.

Shiro blinked in surprise, but shrugged it off and went back to work. Keith ran helter-skelter all the way back to his apartment, nearly upsetting some vendors on the way. But he made it to his apartment and quickly unlocked the door. He opened the door slowly, in case she was still asleep, or was trying to get dressed. There she was, still curled up on his bed, sleeping soundly. Keith closed the door softly before turning back to the paper in his hand. So, they were going to cover up her disappearance with an illness? He tapped the paper with his index finger as he thought intently. Should he head back to the office and ask if Shiro wanted an exclusive, and how much would he pay for it? Keith shook his head “no”; best not to promise something that might not happen. But he could prepare for it, right? Proceed as if he would get an interview and then present it to Shiro. That seemed to be the best and safest route. She did have every right to refuse. But the biggest question of all was, why was she out last night, without a guard? He cracked open the door; she was still sleeping. He got into the room and walked quietly to the phone. Years of karate classes certainly paid off as he was able to make it to the phone without so much as making a squeak on the hardwood floors. He picked up the receiver and quickly dialed a number, tapping his leg as he waited impatiently for the person on the other end to pick up.

“Matt Holt speaking,” began the voice on the other line.

“Hey Matt, could you help me with a possible story?”

“A possible story? What are you talking about? You didn’t tell Shiro about this, did you?”

“No, I couldn’t; it’s a new development, and I’m not sure if I’ll even get it. But I want to be ready in case I do.”

Matt sighed. “And you want me to be on standby to take any necessary pictures, right?”

“Yes! Um . . . please?”

“Alright, what’s the scoop?”

“It’s about Princess Allura,” replied Keith, sneaking a glance back at the princess. She was still asleep. He recalled the previous night’s conversation; she had been telling the truth – she wasn’t drunk, after all. She had been given a drug to help her sleep, and sleep she was definitely doing.  

There was a pause before Matt spoke. “You mean the princess we were supposed to see today but she became sick?”

“Yes, about that . . . that’s the development. See, she’s not sick.”

“What? And how do you know this?”

“Because I helped her last night, and now she’s sound asleep in my bed,” replied Keith.

“Wait, what?”

“Sh, keep it down! She was given a drug by her personal doctor to help her sleep. I just didn’t realize it would make her sleep this long,” muttered Keith, checking to see if Matt’s voice had traveled far enough to wake her. She didn’t move an inch.

“And how do you know that?”

“She told me so herself before the drug took full effect, last night.”

“And why didn’t you just tell Shiro this?”

“Because I just found out who she is by reading the paper, and, well . . . I didn’t want to get Shiro’s hopes up high. She does have every right to refuse,” replied Keith.

“Ugh, then don’t drag me into anything until you’re absolutely sure,” said Matt. He let out a sigh. “I can be at your place in fifteen minutes. Will that work?”

“Hmm . . . that might be too much for her. She is by herself without her guard.”

Matt laughed. “Based on what I know about this princess, I think she can handle herself.”

“But two guys with her, in an apartment?”

“Good point. Then let’s meet at, shall we say . . . Vrepit Sal’s in a half hour.”

Keith nodded. “I think that will work . . . provided I can wake the princess.”

“Well, you work on that; I’ll get to Vrepit Sal’s and get us a table.”

“Alright, meet you there. Bye.”

“Bye!” Matt hung up his phone right before Keith did.

Keith turned towards the princess and let out a huff. Hopefully the drug was wearing off at this point. He walked over to the bed and began to poke her.

“Um, princess? Your majesty? It’s mid-afternoon, time to get up,” he said rather softly.

She moaned and rolled over. “Five more minutes,” she mumbled. Well, at least the drug was wearing off.

“No, you need to get up. You need to get back,” stated Keith, taking to gently shaking her.

“Hmm . . . get back where?”

“You’re in my bed,” Keith finally blurted.

She sat straight up in his bed. “What?” She glanced at him; amethysts met sapphires as the two tried to figure out what to say next.

“I-I found you by the bridge last night. You said you were given a drug to get some sleep. I guess you don’t remember much of last night, do you,” Keith finally said, scooting to the foot of the bed.

“No, but, um, thank you, for taking care of me . . . and letting me sleep in your bed.” She glanced behind him. “That sofa must have been hard to sleep on.”

Keith shrugged. “Oh no, it’s fine. I often fall asleep on there when I have late nights.”

“Oh, what do you do?”

“Oh, um . . .” He was, thankfully, interrupted by the phone. “Uh, excuse me.” He rushed over to get it. “Hello, Keith Kogane speaking . . .”

“Keith, I know it hasn’t been a half hour yet, but could you make it quick? Vrepit Sal’s is filling up quick. Apparently, this new guy Sal hired is so good that everyone is coming here for a taste of his food!” came Matt’s voice on the other line.

“Oh, wow, okay, uh . . . we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thank you!” stated Matt before hanging up.

“Who was that?” asked Allura.

“Oh, um, a coworker of mine. We were going to have lunch at our regular spot, but apparently, they hired a new guy who’s so good, he’s bringing in customers, and the tables are filling up fast. So, um . . . you want to join us?”

“Oh, well, I don’t want to impose . . .” She was interrupted by the sound of her growling stomach. “But food sounds really good right now,” she stated with a sheepish grin.

Keith chuckled. “That it does. Here, I’ll go into the bathroom if you want, so you can get changed real quick.”

“That would be a good idea. Thank you.”

Keith nodded and walked into the bathroom. “Let me know when you’re done!” he stated.

“Will do!! Thank you!” she replied.

“You’re welcome!” replied Keith. He took to pacing around in the little bathroom while he waited for her.

“I’m done!” called out Allura a couple of minutes later.

“Thank heavens,” he muttered as he walked out of the bathroom. She was back in the pink blouse, blue skirt, and blue heels that she’d been wearing the night before. He paused; looking at her now in the morning light, well, he couldn’t help but realize how pretty she was.

“So, where are we going?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

“Oh, um, this great restaurant called Vrepit Sal’s. It’s a local favorite. And, um, before we go . . . hi, I’m Keith Kogane.”

She smiled as she shook hands with him. “It’s nice to meet you, Keith Kogane. I’m . . . Larmina.”

Keith smirked; nice alias. “Nice to meet you, Larmina. Let’s get to that restaurant, shall we?”

“Yes! I’m hungry!” she blurted.

“Good, me too. Come on!” Keith led the way out the door and towards the restaurant.

Matt wasn’t kidding when he said Vrepit Sal’s was filling up fast. Keith and Allura had to maneuver through a growing crowd before they found Matt.

“Hey, Keith! Over here!” shouted Matt as he waved his arms. Keith led Allura towards him.

“Hey Matt, you weren’t kidding,” blurted Keith as he took a look around.

“Hey, I told you.” Matt caught a glimpse of Allura and rose from his seat. “And man, you weren’t kidding when you said you met a cutie. Hello ma’am, I’m Matt Holt, at your service,” said Matt as he bowed and kissed her hand. Keith rolled his eyes.

Allura smiled warmly, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Matt was flirting with her. “Oh, a pleasure to meet you too, Matt Holt. I’m, ah . . . Larmina.”

“Larmina . . .?”

“Oh, uh, Gordan, Larmina Gordan.”

Matt smiled charmingly. “Nice to meet you Larmina Gordan.” He pressed her hand to his lips again.

“Okay, okay, enough, we need to sit down and order soon. The lady’s hungry,” blurted Keith as he broke up the two.

“Ah, yes, we shall not keep our lady waiting for lunch long. Oh, waiter!” called out Matt.

Keith and Allura sat down at the table while Matt went off in search of a waiter, or at least a menu.

“So, this is busier than usual?” asked Allura.

“Very much so. I don’t like crowds, but this is great business for Sal. He’s a great guy. I’d introduce you, but apparently he’s too busy to come out here and chat with us like he used to.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. It must have been fun to have him come out and chat with his customers.”

“Oh yeah, lots of fun. That’s why everyone who comes here regularly enjoys it; it has that air of familiarity, a hint of home, if you will,” stated Keith.

“So, what do you and Matt do?” asked Allura.

“Uh . . .” began Keith. Should he tell her? “Well, um . . .”

“Hey man, sorry about the wait . . . hey, where’s Matt?” asked a big guy as he got to their table.

“Uh, Matt went looking for you, I think,” stated Keith.

“Okay, I guess you’re the rest of his party, huh? Oh! You’re Keith Kogane, aren’t you? One of the chief reporters at the Arusian Planet, right?”

Keith stiffened – well, that answered that. “Uh, yeah, yeah, I am. Glad you know who I am.”

“Oh, come on man, it’s not hard. I’m Hunk, the new guy here. Well, here at Vrepit Sal’s. I’m Lance’s best friend, so he tells me all about your rivalry.”

Keith groaned. “Of course. Think you could tell him I don’t want to be his rival? It’s pretty annoying that the instant he shows up, he pegs me as his rival, and I didn’t do anything!”

Hunk shrugged. “I can try.”

“He’s more likely to listen to you.”

“True, but I think his brain closes up the instant someone tries to say something good about you.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” muttered Keith.

“I mean, he does think you are the best, so if he wants to get to be the best, he has to look up to the best. And sometimes that comes out as rivalry.”

Keith blinked at Hunk’s words. Really?

“Okay, so . . . oh, hi Hunk!”

“Hiya Matt! Great timing! I just got here to take your order!” stated Hunk, as the two shook hands.

“Well, I already know what I want, and I’m sure Keith does too. But our friend Larmina has never been here before, so she doesn’t know the menu,” stated Matt as he handed her one.

“Thank you!” said Allura with a warm smile as she took the menu. She quickly began to peruse it.

“You’re welcome, my lady. Well, Hunk, I definitely want my usual, a bacon cheeseburger with fries,” stated Matt.

Hunk quickly wrote it down. “Alright. Keith?”

“Uh, I’ll take my usual too, chicken tenders with mac and cheese.”

“Mac and cheese? What’s mac and cheese?” asked Allura. Matt and Keith shot each other a glance.

“Um, it’s a pasta stirred into a thick, creamy cheese sauce with bread crumbs sprinkled on top,” explained Keith. “It’s my favorite.” He grinned.

“Well, may I try it? I’ve never had it before,” stated Allura.

“Uh, yeah, sure. Um, two chicken tenders with mac and cheese,” stated Keith.

“Alright, anything to drink?”

“Oh, Coke, definitely,” stated Matt.

“I’ll take iced tea,” said Keith.

“Do you serve wine?” asked Allura. The three guys glanced at her in shock.

But Hunk’s eyes widened as he grinned. “I like how you think, Larmina. Wine with cheese is the best combo! And I have just the wine to serve with your mac and cheese!” With that, he was off. Matt and Keith glanced at each other.

“So, you two work for the Arusian Planet, huh?” asked Allura, glancing between the two.

“Uh, yes ma’am,” stated Keith.

“And you’re a famous reporter? I guess I can understand why that Lance fellow would want to be your rival,” she continued.

Matt raised an eyebrow. “How does she know about Lance?”

Keith shot him a sheepish grin. “Because apparently he and Hunk are best buds, and Hunk recognized me.”

“Oh, that explains that.”

“So, if Keith is a reporter, what are you, Matt?”

“I’m his photographer and general tech man. If something goes wrong with your tech, you can count on Matt Holt to fix it.”

Allura chuckled. “Sounds like a good slogan.”

“Yeah, that it does. I guess it doesn’t help that I am helping my father in his store a lot too.”

“So, you have two jobs?” asked Allura.

“Yes, but it takes care of the bills, so what can I say?” He shrugged.

“You don’t get paid that much at the newspaper?”

“Oh, he does, he just doesn’t like sitting around doing nothing,” quipped Keith.

“And last I checked, neither did you,” quipped Matt with a smirk.

“Of course not, that’s why he goes around at night helping young ladies stay safe,” replied Allura with a warm smile. Keith blushed.

Matt laughed. “Dude, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you blush. But then again, this is the first time a lovely lady has praised you, so it’s understandable. I’d blush if she praised me too.”

“You’d blush just by looking at her,” quipped Keith.

Matt glanced at Allura, and did blush as he grinned sheepishly. Keith burst out laughing.

“Man, I know you too well.”

“Yeah, we need to change that,” replied Matt.

“Here you go! One bacon cheeseburger with fries and Coke, one chicken tenders with mac and cheese and iced tea, and one chicken tenders with mac and cheese and wine, for the lady,” said a guy who wasn’t Hunk.

“Sal!” exclaimed Matt and Keith.

“Hya boys!! Since Hunk took the order, I figured I’d bring you your food so I can say hi! And see this new addition to your table,” he said, winking at Allura.

“Hello, I’m Larmina Gordan,” said Allura as she held out her hand.

“Nice to meet you Larmina. You be careful with these two.”

“What?” exclaimed Matt and Keith.

“These two knuckle-brains get into a lot of trouble. But don’t worry, they can take care of themselves. I don’t expect you to save them all the time,” quipped Sal with a mischievous grin.

“Sal!” blurted the two guys while Allura burst out laughing.

“Well, thank you for your concern, Sal, but if anything were to happen, I’d be sending them running along with the trouble.”

Sal laughed. “Atta girl! She fits right in! But which one of you is she going to choose?” he asked, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at Matt and Keith. But his eyes lingered on Keith, apparently already placing his bets.

“Guess there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to find some trouble!’ quipped Matt.

Keith groaned. “Can we just get through lunch first?”

“And I would like to see some of Arus first too,” blurted Allura.

“Ah, then that shall actually be the test,” said Sal with a smirk.

“What would?” asked all three when he became silent.

“Tell you what, Larmina, there’s this dance going on at the coast tonight. If you’re not worn out by then, you should join us! Hunk will be there catering, and I’ll be there to help.”

“That sounds like fun!’ exclaimed Allura.

“Then I guess that’ll be the plan for tonight,” stated Keith.

“Great!! Sorry fellas, but I gotta go . . .”

“No kidding, I’ve never seen this many people here!” blurted Matt.

“Right? All thanks to Hunk. But there’s still a lot to be done. See you three tonight!” Sal said with a wave as he left their table.

“See you tonight!” exclaimed the three in reply as they waved back. They dove into their food.

Allura was the first to speak once she swallowed some mac and cheese. “Oh, this is wonderful! You have good taste!” she told Keith.

“Uh, thanks,” replied Keith before taking a sip of his tea.

“Well, since we already have plans for tonight, let’s figure out what plans we should have for the rest of the day?” said Matt between bites of cheeseburger.

“Mm-hmm,” muttered Keith before taking a bite.

Matt and Allura mainly took care of the plans for the day, with Keith interjecting every now and then, but it mainly consisted of going to see the big tourist sights of Arus. When they finished eating, Keith and Matt took care of the bill. Allura preceded the two out of the restaurant and on into an adventure she would never forget. But by then, Keith already found himself falling for her, and by the dance, she was falling for him too.

(All characters from Voltron: Legendary Defender)