Disclaimer: Sadly, I cannot lay any sort of claim to Voltron: Legendary Defender. In another reality, perhaps?

Note: I haven't written anything in years and I mean years. I hope I wrote something tolerable.

Shock.

A deep, near-numbness ran through Pidge Gunderson's body as she fought to remain standing, her hands holding the bar running along the length of the front of the operations deck in an iron grip. Her eyes stared at nothing as her normally astute brain sluggishly processed the words Allura had uttered not twenty seconds ago.

"Now, as to the reason why I called you two up here separately from the other Paladins," the princess began gently as if she had foreseen her words having a rather…interesting effect on the green paladin. "You two are our recon team and you will be completing your part of the mission undercover. The role you will be playing is that of a newly married couple."

Newly married couple…

Married couple…

Couple…

Pidge… and Shiro…

Heat exploded at the base of her neck and ran down her spine. The nineteen year old could only hope that her face wasn't glowing as brightly as Rudolph's nose as well because if that wasn't a sign with the intensity of Las Vegas lights that this was both overwhelming and a version of a dream come true for her, then she wasn't sure what was.

Her captain snapped her out of her reverie. "Pidge?" Shiro asked in a gentle, concerned voice. His hand came to rest on her shoulder. "If this is too much for you…if you're not comfortable with—"

"I'm fine!" Pidge interjected, though with her high-pitched tone and shoulders near her ears suggested otherwise. She cleared her throat and forced herself to relax, taking a slow breath and dropping her shoulders. She grinned, light mischief coming into her amber eyes as she added, "I'm peachy. Good with being your fake missus."

Pidge raised an eyebrow, leaning closer to Shiro, drawling, "Are you comfortable with being my fake mister?"

Shiro laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm good with it."

The green paladin echoed his nod. "Okay." She looked to Allura, waiting for further instructions from the princess.

Allura smiled at the pair before addressing Pidge directly. "Actually, Pidge, I would like to borrow Shiro here for a moment to go over his part of the backstory." She tilted her head, illustrating her intrigue at the notion as she continued, "according to both Hunk and Lance, there are times in interrogation when the teams brought in for questioning failed to get their stories straight. Now I know I should be going over this with both of you together right now, but" there was a twinkle in Allura's eyes. "I am curious as to how you two will do separately and then we'll piece together the full story afterward."

Both paladins laughed. "Okay," Pidge acquiesced with a nod. "I'll go." She straightened her posture and stretched, then turned toward her mission partner. "Try not to make our story too sappy."

"I make no such promises," Shiro replied with a wink, having no idea of the double time Pidge's heart was sent into when he did such things. She managed to roll her eyes and pulled a face which made Shiro laugh and encouraged herself to make a quick getaway as she wasn't sure if she could handle much more.

She had planned on going to the kitchen to grab a water pack and scrounge around the fridge in the hopes of finding something leftover from Hunk's display of his fantastic culinary skills from the night before; but that plan was put on pause when she nearly ran into Lance not too far from the door to the Operations Deck.

"Hi Pidgey!" Lance greeted her. "Everything okay in there? Hunk, Keith and I thought you guys were taking too long."

Pidge scoffed lightly. "Lance, it's barely been two dobeshes. Don't worry, everything's fine."

"You sure?" The blue paladin pressed.

"I'm sure."

Lance slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on heels in an attempted picture of nonchalance. Much as she loved her teammate like another brother, Pidge knew better. A tick later and she wasn't disappointed. "So, why exactly is Allura having you and Shiro be the Daphne and Fred of our group?"

Pidge jolted in surprise at the archaic reference, heat lighting her face. "Wh-what? Fred and Daph…I don't know, Scooby-Doo, why do you and the others care so much?"

Lance laughed off Pidge's jab. "Just curious, Pidgey," he replied. "You and Shiro are usually the pair who go off together on missions after all."

"You know what they say about cats and curiosity, Lance," the green paladin deadpanned.

"Might want to run that by Keith, actually."

"Oh my stars," Pidge sighed tiredly. "Can I please just get to the kitchen? I really want some water."

"Sure!" Lance agreed cheerily as he fell into step with his friend. "But seriously though, Pidge. Can you talk to me or the others about your part of this recon mission or is it classified?"

Pidge shrugged, running a hand through her short hair carelessly. "I guess so, I mean, it's not like Allura demanded our silence on this," she cut Lance a wry look. "And since I know you won't stop pestering me, at least, until Shiro becomes available, then I guess I can tell you."

Mentally patting herself on the back for not rolling her eyes at her friend's eager expression, Pidge explained, "Shiro and I are to go undercover in order to get close to the magistrate of Alecca; you remember when Coran brought up the rumors that he's going to try something against the royal family, right?"

Lance nodded. "Yeah, and it falls to Keith, Hunk and myself to keep an eye on things in and near the castle just in case this magistrate acts prematurely."

Pidge nodded, "right. How Shiro and I come in is that we're pretending to be a newlywed couple—Allura's idea, not mine—because even though this guy is notorious for his miser-like treatment of the people, he's surprisingly soft…" she trailed off when she finally registered Lance's giggling. "What?"

"I-I-I'm sorry, P-Pidge," he managed to get out. "I-it's just…you and Shiro…pretending to be newly married?" He slapped a hand over his mouth to prevent himself from dissolving into further laughter.

She blushed and looked away, shifting slightly on the spot. "Yeah? So?"

Lance managed a sober expression. "Pidge?" His voice was full of true concern. "You know, you don't have to do this if you're not…" he silenced himself when his friend held up a hand.

"Thanks, but I know," Pidge looked at him with a small, soft smile. "Shiro told me the same thing. I said earlier that I'm fine with this mission and I wasn't lying. Now. Why the giggling?"

"Sorry," Lance began with the sheepish tone of a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "It's just…a little hard…picturing you as the lovey-dovey type. I'm more used to you being straightforward and concise with your words and actions." His expression turned sly as he winked, "unless we're talking about technology of course."

"Of course," Pidge parroted without mockery. Her friends knew her well after all. "But I don't think that there's anything really to worry about. It's not like Shiro and I need to be disgusting with one another."

"Depends on someone's definition of 'disgusting'," Lance pointed out. "Now do you really think you can act like you're openly romantic with Shiro and not like it's a terrible read aloud from some script?"

"Yes, Lance," Pidge huffed and rolled her eyes. "Pretty certain I can handle it."

"You're absolutely sure?"

Pidge glared at him, not knowing that she was potentially falling into a trap. "If Nikola Tesla can handle sitting in his laboratory with two of his coils on at full power and not even flinch, I think I can act like a wife in love."

Trust Pidge to compare love to science experiments with all the detached observation of a…scientist. Thankfully Lance was too mischievous and stubborn to back down easily. A slow, shit-eating grin plastered itself across Lance's face. "If you wanna keep this charade up, Pidgey-kins, you're gonna need all the practice you can get." He nodded toward Shiro. "I dare you to go over to your 'husband' right now and kiss him."

Inwardly, Pidge was a combination of rage and shoujo schoolgirl embarrassment with a hint glee because someone was telling her to kiss Shiro. Now yes, it was merely to show that she knew how to give a worthy performance which would allow her to fulfil her undercover role as part of this mission, but she couldn't help what she was feeling. She was nineteen for quiznak's sake! It's not her fault her body was singing with fiery and passionate hormones that drove her crazy every now and then! Hell, she was totally blaming her hormones for considering giving into Lance's dare instead of merely dismissing the sharp shooter.

Miraculously, Pidge managed to keep her face perfectly schooled into a mask that had some semblance of calm despite her pounding heart. Pidge slowly turned back toward the still open door of the Ops Room (she, Hunk and Coran were all guilty of not getting that glitch handled sooner) where she could see that Shiro was now sitting next to Allura, further strategizing for this upcoming mission. His entire demeanor was serious, focused…though apparently not too focused as his gaze soon flickered in her direction and he spared her a quick wink and a grin. We've got this, he silently told her.

Pidge took a deep, slow breath as she tried to will her heart down from its double time pace. Quiznak, why does he have to be so…so…frustratingly cute? The desire to kiss him was there and it was strong. It was the courage department Pidge was seriously lacking in at the moment however, her pesky hormones insisting otherwise.

Lance decided to give her a proverbial shove as he taunted, "What's the matter, Pidgeykins? Your 'husband' too scary to kiss? Or is it because he's not alone?" Laughter filled the blue paladin's voice. "Want me to call him over?"

Pivoting slowly toward her "friend"; her posture stiff and glasses gleaming, Pidge replied in as lofty a voice as she could muster, "Don't bother Lance, I've got this. Kiss Shiro? Piece of cake."

Summoning whatever dredges of bravado she could, Pidge managed to turn and strut toward her leader and friend as though he were seated at the end of a catwalk. Seating herself near him, but so close as to obstruct his attention from Allura, not just yet, Pidge picked up his prosthetic hand with the gentlest of pressure.

The motion just enough to grab his attention, Shiro turns toward Pidge who locks eyes with him as she slowly and deliberately places a lingering kiss on the back of the hand she delicately held. Shiro's eyes widen, his face flushing a beautiful shade of scarlet as his breath hitches. Pidge swears that she's not merely hearing her own roaring heartbeat. For a moment, it feels as if they are the only two in the galaxy.

Shiro tries saying something, "Pi-Ka-I…uh…" Isn't quite successful.

Pidge smirks against his hand, her own eyes glinting in mirth as Shiro squeaked. She also notes that his eyes fall to half-mast and she nearly lets go of his hand when she catches a flicker of…was that desire in his deep, dark depths?

Oh my stars…

The spell is shattered by Lance's howls of laughter and when Allura leans around the frozen black paladin, her own teasing grin on her face. "My my, Pidge," the princess giggled. "This is quite bold for you."

Finally lowering her mission partner's hand from her lips, Pidge maintains her smirk as she replied, "I was just telling my 'husband' here hello."

"H-h-hi," Shiro managed to choke out, face still sporting that handsome blush.

Her smirk smoothing into a full grin, Pidge gently squeezed his hand. "Hi there." She glances back at Lance who is still cracking up. "You doing okay there, 'Lancey-kins'?"

Lance snorted and gazed at the trio on the couch through half-lidded eyes as he leaned against the wall. "Doing great, Pidgey. Interesting kiss, there…"

Pidge held up a hand to halt any further teasing. "You merely said I had to kiss Shiro, Lance. You never specified on the lips." The choked sound Shiro makes from behind her coupled with the sudden slackening of his grip on her hand tells her that probably would've been too much for the young man in any case.

Deigning to be merciful, Allura stepped in; "Alright. Alright, you two. Enough fun at Shiro's expense." Despite her words, the princess's tone still shook with laughter as a grin danced around her lips. "You can save that for later," she winked.

Pidge bit her lip as she gently squeezed Shiro's hand while checking on him. She hoped she hadn't pushed the young man too far. He was still staring at her with wide, unguarded eyes. He kept their gaze locked until he glanced down at her hand clasping his prosthetic, his blush deepening at the realization. At the back of her mind, Pidge couldn't help but wonder if he even felt her lips on his hand or if the blush was a reaction from the visual aspect of the action.

The green paladin also wondered if that flash she had seen in his eyes was truly desire or just some wish of her imagination's.

"Are you okay?" She finally asked him. "Sorry, I probably should've asked you that sooner."

"I'm fine!" Shiro squeaked. Then he winced and cleared his throat. "I'm good. I'm fine." He gave a shaky laugh, still honestly overwhelmed that Pidge out of the blue kissed his hand and for so long and on his Galra crafted hand… "I'm peachy."

Pidge laughed at that, "I'm glad to hear it."

Shiro cocked his head in a show of curiosity, "by the way…why did Lance tell you to kiss me?"

"Oh!" A blush lit Pidge's face and Shiro couldn't help but think once again, just how more adorable it made her. Not that he'd tell her that of course. She'd happily chuck him out of an airlock most likely.

Pidge laughed sheepishly. "Lance…might've questioned on whether or not I could really do my part of this mission…be emotionally invested, y'know?" She glanced away from him. "And I guess you could say I let my ego get the best of me."

Her eyes widened as if something clicked for her, "n-not that I wasn't sincere, I-I just thought that a kiss on the hand was a bit more intimate? And it's less shocking than a sudden kiss on the lips." She hesitated before asking, "do…you think we'll need t-to-to on the lips? In order to be convincing I mean?"

Though a small part of Shiro would have loved to say 'possibly' at the least, his voice was still firm and truthful when he said, "not if it makes you uncomfortable, Pidge. We'll find other ways of selling this."

Pidge smiled at that, "okay." Her smile then turned sly. "Besides, I'd have to say it'd be really out of character for you to suddenly plant one on me with no warning. There better be dinner first."

Shiro spluttered loudly at that, "P-Pidge! Just…just who do you take me for?!"

She laughed, "You are too easy to fluster, Shiro, too easy." The pout on his face made her want to coo, he was adorable and she wondered if he knew it.

Pidge missed his sudden look of a challenge being thrown as he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek; lingering, just as she had done when she kissed his hand.

Smirking at the sudden heat he felt beneath his lips, Shiro pulled away and said, "Well, this is out of order, but shall I pick you up at seven?" It took a bit of willpower to not laugh at his friend's sudden squeak.

Once again, Shiro and Pidge were made to remember that they weren't the only occupants in the room. "Well! As charming and entertaining as all of this is," Allura began. "I really do need to work with Pidge on her side of the story, so for now Shiro, off you go."

Shiro chuckled and stood. "Don't make our story too sappy," he teased, mirroring her words from earlier.

Pidge found that she couldn't even look at him, face too red and her heart beating too quickly. She just nodded. As Shiro moved to lead Lance away from the room as well, she mustered enough sass to call out, "going to have dinner under the stars, are we?" Well, she wasn't wrong, they were in space, not due to land at their destination for another day; there weren't exactly many places for a date.

"I thought the hangar was more suitable," he shot back.

A saccharine grin stretched her lips as she leaned back to catch Shiro's eye, hands placed over her heart as she batted her eyes. "You know me so well, a real Prince Charming."

Her words had more of an effect on him than her silly actions did as he nearly tripped, face warming and suddenly his lips were burning with the sensation of having had her skin beneath them. "Yep," he managed to get out, wincing as his voice came out strangled once more. He barely heard Lance's awe as the blue paladin commented on how smooth he had been with Pidge a few ticks ago for Shiro was still trying to concentrate on making a graceful exit.

Meanwhile as Pidge sat with the Altean princess, she couldn't help but place a hand on the cheek Shiro had kissed. It was a movie cliché move and she knew it, but there was some small part of her that wanted to dash about checking the vents and the pipes, making sure there was nothing that could have caused her to hallucinate that moment.

"You were certainly a lot more open than you thought you'd be," Allura noted brightly. "Are you becoming more comfortable with this mission?"

"Y-yeah…" Comfortable, that was it. She was comfortable with Shiro, finding it suddenly easy to talk and banter with him once she was able to start it. Comfortable with flirting with Shiro. She wanted to bury her face in her hands; oh, Quiznak, she had been flirting with Shiro!

And…she suddenly realized, he had been flirting back.

Sooo...thoughts?