Work Text:
"Keep Talking"
Pidge was rambling. She tended to do that when she was truly in a panic, and she was way beyond panicked at this moment. She and the rest of the Paladins had liberated another planet and had met with their leader along with Princess Allura. The citizens of the planet had heard about Keith's hybrid status and didn't mind that he was part Galra. He had proven himself when he protected their home planet.
During the celebration was when the quakes started. Apparently, the quakes were usually small and barely felt, but that quintant, they were quite severe and caused a bit of a panic. It was during this chaos that Keith and Pidge got caught under some of the roof that had caved in and under part of a wall that had started to crumble. Keith had protected Pidge as best he could and received a concussion for his efforts. The rest of the Paladins (and Allura and the natives) knew that the Red and Green Paladins were trapped and most likely injured, so they were trying to unearth them, but it was slow going since they didn't want to drop more debris on them.
"Heh. This kind of reminds me of this movie Matt was watching. I don't remember the title or much about the movie, but there was a group that got stuck in a very tight cave. At least I think it was a cave."
"I used...to watch...movies with my...Dad."
"Your Dad?"
"Yeah. He was...a firefighter. He...died when I...was seven."
"What kinds of movies would you two watch?"
"All kinds...westerns...fantasy...sci-fi...though he tended...to not watch any...that made fun of...aliens. I...guess I...know why now."
Pidge was still panicked, and she knew she had to keep Keith talking, which wasn't the easiest task. "So, did you watch any movies after your dad died?"
"No. The...foster families...didn't like...me, well...most didn't...so they never...let me."
"Well, then, you missed out on lots of great movies over the years, and you're in luck that my computer has a large file of different movies. When we get out of here and out of the pods, we'll have a movie night."
"That...sounds nice...Pidge, I'm...tired."
"No no no no, Keith. You can't go to sleep yet. You need to keep talking. Please."
"I'll...try."
"Um, tell me a story about you at the Garrison."
"I got...expelled from...the Garrison."
"What? Expelled? Iverson said you had 'discipline issues and flunked out.' What happened?"
"After the...fake news about...the Kerberos mission...Iverson had us...do a rescue...mission to...Kerberos. The loss...was still to raw...for me so I crashed...the simulator. He had...grabbed me and...started yelling...at me and...badmouthing Sh-Shiro. I p-punched...him in th-the eye..so hard th-that he can't s-see...out of it."
Pidge was simultaneously worried about the addition of the stutter to Keith's words and impressed that he had the gall to punch Iverson. "So, that's why he keeps the left eye closed. I had wondered."
Suddenly, there was a shift in the rubble around them and a distinct difference in air quality. Pidge found she could breathe easier. A voice called down to them. "Pidge? Keith? Are you two okay?"
It was Shiro.
"I love being stuck under several hundred pounds of debris, Shiro, but sarcasm aside, Keith's hurt. He saved me from the collapse and got a concussion. I don't know if there are any other injuries though."
"Keith?"
"Sh-Shiro?"
"Yeah. We're trying to get you out."
"I'm t-tired...and cold."
That alarmed Shiro, who told the others. "We have to get to them fast. Keith's not got much time."
Within the next few doboshes, they managed to uncover the two Paladins, who were then rushed to the castle's med bay and put into pods despite Pidge saying she was fine.
Hunk knew how to get her to agree to treatment and said, "If you would get into a pod, I will have peanut butter cookies ready when you get out."
"Deal. Oh, and we're having movie night as well. Keith has missed out on most movies growing up," Pidge told them before she stepped into a pod. Before it took effect, she saw Lance and Hunk give her a thumbs up and Shiro give her a soft smile. It may have been a rough time, but she and Keith made it through, and she learned a bit more about her emo team mate.
Fin