Pidge was torn. As much as she was telling herself that leaving was the right thing to do, abandoning her new family to find her lost one was still a hard decision to make. But the team will be fine without me… They can find a new paladin, one who's stronger and has less emotional baggage than me… Whatever. She had already made up her mind. Her shuttle was already prepared; all she had to do was tell the others about her decision. Pidge was so deep in thought on the way back to the main hall that she wasn't even aware of Allura's presence until the princess was right in front of her.
"So, Pidge," she said. "we haven't really had much time to talk. Tell me about yourself."
What was there to tell? Well, there was a lot, but Pidge wasn't really ready to start spilling deep secrets. She decided to go with something more lighthearted – even though she dreaded eventually having to tell the princess of her choice to leave. That doesn't mean I should kill the mood right now, though.
"Hmm… Well, I like peanut butter, and I like peanut butter cookies, but I hate peanuts. They're so dry! Also, I sweat a lot. I mean, in general. Unrelated to the peanuts." Oh gosh now she was rambling and making herself look like an idiot… Great job, Pidge.
Allura froze for a second. "Well," she started. "I was thinking of something a little more…personal. After all, we have a lot in common." At this point Allura was flashing her a wide smile, and Pidge was more than a little uncomfortable. What is going on?
She decided to entertain the princess anyway. We have a lot in common? "Like what?"
"Well both of us had our fathers taken away-"
"Yeah, but I'm going to get mine back." Her eyes widened as soon as she could register what she said. It just slipped out! "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it!"
Allura took a deep breath and pushed the sadness from her eyes. She smiled again, somehow able to ignore Pidge's outburst. "It's okay, Pidge. I just want you to know that you can confide in me if there's anything you ever want to talk to me about." She stared expectantly at the paladin. "Anything…" Pidge stared at her a moment. Should I tell her now? She just got back into a good mood; I can't ruin that for her! No. Allura deserved to know.
"Actually, I do have something to tell you." Pidge tried to avoid Allura's eager gaze. "I-I'm leaving team Voltron."
Pidge heard the princess gasp and then freeze. "Wait, what?!" And out comes the truth.
"I decrypted the information from the Galra ship about where my family might be, or at least where they were." Deep breaths, Pidge. She tried to straighten up, to appear stronger than she felt. "I've made up my mind; I'm leaving tonight."
It pained Pidge to see her friend with such desperate eyes. "Pidge, you can't! You're one of five paladins! You have a sacred trust to defend the universe!" I know, Allura. I'm sorry!
She stepped back to avoid Allura's grasp. "My first priority is to find my family!" They're all alone… "I thought you of all people would understand… If you had a chance to get your father back, wouldn't you?" No, Pidge! She wouldn't! Allura understands where her priorities lie – unlike you. Pidge shook her head. She needed to do this, and no one would stop her. She sighed and turned away. "I'm sorry. I should go tell everyone else." And she left, leaving the Altean princess standing behind her in shock.
Pidge found the others not long after. Hunk, Keith, and Lance all looked like they were having a good time. They were all relaxed and having fun for what felt like the first time in a long while. She couldn't ruin that. I'm going to have to tell them eventually, but the least I can do is give them more time to be happy before I break the mood. Instead she walked outside towards Shiro.
He was tense - when was he not? – and his stance was that of a trained soldier. She wondered if he was like this before the Galra, or if self-preservation had forced him down this road. Maybe it was a bit of both. She trudged up beside him, with Rover hovering nearby. "Hey Shiro, I have something to tell you…"
Shiro was disappointed to see her go, but he understood her reasoning behind it. The rest of the team, however, did not. Hunk looked as though he was about to cry, Allura was still trying to comprehend the situation, and Keith was yelling at her. Finally, Shiro had had enough. "Keith, that's not how a team works. People have to want to be a part of it; they can't be forced." Keith still looked angry, but he didn't say anything else. Shiro turned to her. "If you want to leave, we won't try to stop you, but please," His voice took on a tone of pleading. "just think about what you're doing."
Guys, can't you see that I'm not happy about this either? But my family needs me! Pidge took a deep breath and steeled herself for the hardest words she'd ever had to say. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to find someone else to pilot the green lion." Then she was walking away towards the hanger, with Allura's last words hanging in her head.
"This team is falling apart! How will we ever form Voltron?"