Chapter Text
It was Allura's idea for a grand ball. A ball of celebration. After all these years of fighting Zarkon and his son Lotor, they've won. It was not a question of why the party was to be thrown. The castle's main hall was prepped in a glamour of decorations. The golden lights of the lit hall was beyond words of beauty. Truly, Coran and Allura outdid themselves. The music was lively and the guests livelier. All sorts of races and personalities come together in a joy filled occasion. Allura was laughing and smiling with leaders of planets who had gathered to discuss the successes of Voltron.
The other paladins were attending to adoring fans. Most of them anyways.
Pidge had kept to herself, by the food tables. She was joined by Hunk, but even as he had stuffed himself of the cuisines and snacks, he was surrounded by those who were to congratulate him. Staying by his side was Shay. Pidge smiled. She knew there was something akin to fancying that the two shared. Interesting children they may have, too. Pidge chuckled at the thought. A frown crept onto her face as she looked over to see Matthew and her father sharing a bonding moment with Keith and Shiro. Pidge had given them the benefit of being with their teammate once again. After all, she hadn't been away from their side since they'd been found. Even when both had to heal in the pods, she was always with them.
They'd all have to go home soon. Everyone. She'd moved plenty of times in the past, due to her father's work, to know how it'd go. The team, Allura, and Coran would promise to stay in touch, never let go of the friendships they've grown. They'd do so, but only for months. They'd start to drift and before they knew it, they were all just strangers they'd once known. Pidge looked down at her green silky dress. Her sleeves, transparent, had reached to her elbows and Pidge had decided to wear her hair down to the shoulder length it had reached, tucked with a white headband. You couldn't expect that short hair wouldn't grow in years time.
She lost herself in thought, looking down at her heels. Plans to settle back on Earth, how her family would move most likely once again to escape the short living fame paparazzi brought. How the news of Voltron would die down and become old. She almost didn't hear a familiar voice interrupt her thoughts. "Everything okay, Pidgeotto?"
Pidge had jumped and looked up at the tall paladin, his dark brown hair nicely groomed. His soft blue eyes almost smiled as big as his grin. He looked actually really good in his black tuxedo, a blue trimming to conclude to guests that he was in fact the blue Paladin. Shaking her head, Pidge gave him a light punch to the arm. "You should really warn someone before scaring them. But I am okay. Why do you ask, Mr. Sharpshooter?"
Lance seemed amused by his nickname. No matter how many times Pidge called him that, he always grinned and chuckled. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he stood next to her and leaned on the table gently. "I dunno, you looked down. Got anything on your mind?"
"Earth..." Pidge sighed. That got Lance's attention.
"What about it?"
"What are you going to do? When we get back. I assume you'll go back to Garrison, or your family at the very least. Hunk is... Keith and Shiro will room together, they said. I'm going back home with Matt and dad, but what about you?" Pidge asked. This seemed to really surprise Lance, as he was never really expecting that the Green Paladin would be curious to what he was planning to do when they all returned home. He sighed.
"Really... I don't know. I guess my family was an idea but I truly have no idea," he looked down at his feet, shuffling his left foot along the thin line of light as a distraction. "But like you said, maybe I'll go back to Garrison. Learn to pilot something that isn't a giant cat, get a job as a fighter space pilot. I've practically created a sufficient resume for it up here." Lance chuckled as he thought aloud.
Pidge laughed at the ramblings. Her chest was beating fast, and she soon collected herself to calm down. Once her laugh turned into a small smile, she sighed. "I'll confess..." She looked up at Lance and shrugged.
"I was thinking if we stayed in touch, we all could hang out. Maybe you and I could play video games properly. Index finger and pinky infinite lives. I could use that as an advantage against you," Pidge smiled and waited for a reply. Lance only looked at her with his blue orbs in wonder. This was making her chest beat faster, her face almost flushing, almost revealing a blush that wasn't just the makeup. She had to take deep breaths to stop it.
"But that was just-"
An announcement and a change of tune, and soon there was an abundance of couples together. A song, Altean most likely, was pouring out in an almost romantic like manner. Pidge cursed in her head. If he asked her-
"Perhaps you can finish that thought in a dance?" Shit. He asked with a hand extended to her, offering an opportunity to join the crowd in a dance. Her head was screaming to say no, to refuse. How could she betray her team to this selfish manner? But her heart... It forced her hand to accept his, to allow his other hand to rest on the small of her waist. It pounded as her eyes betrayed her, to look up to his face. Resting a hand on his shoulder, she shakily let him lead.
"So what was just?" Huh? Oh...
"Oh uh... It was just a suggestion..." Lance smiled gently.
"I'd actually love to show off my gaming skills to you one day."
It was just after those words that they let the dance take over. The song roared it's atmosphere upon the guests. Pidge was never really great at dancing she could admit, but for some reason, her feet were gracefully following those of Lance's. The melody had only added to Pidge being hypnotized and mesmerized by Lance's eyes. The dance had her shaky, knowing she was close to Lance. So close. His mouth looked tempting, her need to kiss them intensified. This scared her, but it was exciting. Anew. Her heart was racing fast.
They seemed to be the only ones in the room, spinning and stepping along to the beat. Her dress flowed with the air as their spins continued. Her head felt rushed, dizzy. Was it the spinning or was it possibly him? Her stomach filled with a fluttery feeling as she realized he dipped her, holding her securely. They paused for a few ticks, gazing into each other's eyes. As he slowly brought her back up, she was getting closer to his face. Only for her to realize he was leaning. Their eyes both dropped to a half lidded gaze. Pidge's heart was beating so fast, she could hear it pounding in her ears. Lance softly whispered.
"Katie...?" That sent something off in her. Her eyes widened. She pushed him off gently. No. No no no. He was only going to disconnect from her. She shuffled away from him, holding her arms up defensively against her chest. He looked confused. "K-Katie what are you-"
She didn't let him finish. She only hurried out of the hall. No no no no no! NO! Finding her way outside to a balcony, she leaned against the railings. No. This wasn't supposed to happen.
She couldn't love him. Her best friend, ally, and fellow teammate. She held her chest as it squeezed. She refused to cry and yet the tears flowed. He was just going to leave her after they returned to Earth. He wasn't going to stay true to his promise. No one ever did if she ever made a friend. "Dammit Lance..."
"Pidge?" She turned around to find Hunk, whose black and yellow trimmed tuxedo seemed to have some sweat from the dancing. Pidge wiped her eyes of tears.
"Hunk? Shouldn't you be with Shay?" She asked, concerned she was keeping him from her. He looked at her in a concerned way.
"We saw what happened... She suggested I go to you but... Pidge?" Hunk got closer and Pidge decided it was enough. She clung to the big guy and shook. He patted her back as he shushed her. "Hey... Hey... It's okay..."
"I love him... I can't love him Hunk... I can't!" Pidge sobbed into his chest. Hunk stopped for a second before sighing.
"I know you do..."
She only held him tighter, trying to stop. Trying to forget that perhaps Lance would never keep a promise to keep in touch with her. Trying to fight the pain in her chest that stabbed with every beat of her heart. But worst of all...
Trying to forget her feelings for him in general.