[ he wants to recoil, immediately -- from the tears, and the apology. trusting her led to your demise, a wicked little voice says in the back of his mind, but lotor almost immediately quashes it. he created his own demise, and he walked the path he did. all allura ever attempted to do was make him a better person, something he likely did not deserve, and he had chased that happiness for too long, rather than cutting it out when he should have.

however much he knows he did what he did out of good intentions, to protect what little shreds of his heritage still existed after zarkon's wrath, lotor knows that he had strayed from his path. and he had almost dragged allura down the same route. however much anger he holds against zarkon and haggar for crushing whatever hopes he had of a future, lotor could never forgive himself if allura suffered the same fate.

and, as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't stand to see her cry. ]

My dearest Allura. [ an exhale -- lighthearted, despite the disjointed memory swirling around them, as he lifts a hand to gently wipe away her tears, cupping her cheek with a free hand briefly. ] You are too kind for your own good.

[ he releases her face, then, to press a button -- opening the doors of the bridge to a hallway, pulling her gently with him. ]

You owe me nothing, and I owe you more than I can say. You have nothing to apologize for.