[ ah.

there's only the tiniest hesitation before he gently returns the hug, cognizant of the fact that she's now . . . well, weaker. physically, anyway. in all other forms, allura is clearly just as strong as she had been when he saw her last, on the deck of the castle.

there's half a moment of pause, lodged in his throat, because this was never part of the plan. no, the plan was to use voltron as an ends to a mean, in order to achieve the end-goal. he hadn't lied, when he wrote down his wish, though he was being a little trite. lotor has a goal, and he must meet that goal. the universe, truly, depends on it.

but he had never bargained on actually growing to care for allura.

so he returns the hug, in earnest. ]

I am glad you are here, too.

[ quietly, almost into her hair. but he eventually pulls away just a little bit, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes with half a smile, amused. ]

This place feels like less of a prison, because you are here. At least we can suffer through it together.