"Damn you are committed aren't you?" Keith said in shock. I shrugged again, my neck felt cold. All night I had stayed up running my hands through my hair, it was in a pixie cut now. The lowest part was maybe halfway down my neck. My mind had been racing so fast sleep was impossible.
Keith was currently standing over me and I was on the edge of his bed, he was touching my head and trying to take it all in. I hadn't thought cutting my hair would be as big a deal as it was, but I felt like I had severed more than some dead keratin, it was as if I had removed a piece of myself. Growing my hair out had taken me years, it was something I was so used too.
But to get help, to find my family, I would have no choice but to cut away something of myself. The only question was how far would I have to go?
I need someone with more connections to help me. Keith was helpful, he knows a lot about the Galra, but I need someone who has more.
"I need a disguise so I can stay in the city." I replied after my thoughts ended.
"Your family is really more important to you than your life?" Keith said crossing his arms, "Would they actually agree with your choices?"
I chewed my bottom lip, no they wouldn't they would be pissed. But I can't give up, they are the only people I have left.
"So why Pidge Gunderson?"
"Pidge is an old nickname and Gunderson is my mothers maiden name." I explained, leaving out the actual sentimentality it held. He didn't pry, as shitty as Keith's social skills were he knew when to stop asking.
"You never talk about your mother." He noted nonchalantly. I looked down at my lap and clenched my fists, this was a touchy subject, but I was the one who brought it up.
"You never ask. Besides it's not really something I want to talk about."
Keith nodded his head knowingly, like he knew what it was like. Of course he doesn't, no one can even begin know what I've been through. I had always felt isolated since I lost my family, no one could understand that. Not even Keith.
Who could I go too? I need someone else someone with actual intel and knowledge on detective work.
I got up and got dressed, my clothing choice was small so it was back into the hoodie and black jeans, which is perhaps my favorite outfit. When was the last time I even cleaned this?
Keith was inspecting my food, trying to scrounge up a meal. He didn't really have anything either besides some bottles that I suspected held more than water. He seemed to have his own demons he refused to face, not that I could blame him after everything he went through.
"Here we have some apples and a bag of peanuts." He said offering it to me. I took the apple but cringed away from the peanuts, way to dry. Why I even bought them was a mystery to me. I bit into the apple and let the burst of juice fill my mouth while Keith binged on the nuts.
We ate quietly so my thoughts began to wander again, to the previous night and that morning. What Taksahi had said really struck me, "being short doesn't make you invisible" why had he spotted me so well that day, but not prior? He had to know a lot about this sort of thing, he was a cop after all.
What if I went to... no he wouldn't help me. But if I was able to convince him then maybe, just maybe it could work.
After our impromptu sort of breakfast I stood, my mind was made up. I made my way to the door while Keith was bent over straightening his nest.
"Where the fuck are you going?" Keith asked making me jump. I looked over at him, he was still busy with his pillows.
"I'm heading out." I said as casually as possible.
"Uh. Yeah not alone." He said finally looking at me.
"Last time I checked I go where I fucking want to."
"I'm going with you."
"Yeah but they saw y-" I started before Keith strode by me and started digging in his trunk. He pulled out some black jeans and a matching shirt, he then pulled out the most 80s thing I had ever seen.
"That is the most 80's fucking thing I have ever seen." I told him. He just scoffed and put on a red half jacket. It was weird seeing him without his green one, but this new outfit suited him just as well. As if to make me regret my thoughts he finished his outfit with a pair of fingerless gloves.
I made a grossed out face and he responded by poking his tongue out at me. Why does he even own this outfit?
Maybe because the dude was still hung up on the 80s, the man had a mullet for Christ sake.
I shook my head and pulled him hat back on, for once noting the lack of effort to keep it on without my long hair. We looked at each other and I nodded, ready to leave.
"Well K-Pidge lead the way." Keith said motioning to the door. Rolling my eyes I left and started heading toward the boardwalk.
It was 8 already so I didn't expect to find him but there he was seated in the cafe with a large coffee and the morning news, tucked in the corner booth. He was still in the same outfit as before. I motioned for Keith to follow me and we went in, Takashi didn't seem to notice.
Because the booth was in the corner it made it hard to actually sneak up on him. As quietly and discreetly as possible I took the seat across from him and Keith sat by his side, effectively trapping him.
His head shot up and I saw he had half a donut in his mouth. He took a moment to be confused before he gave a small smile, something that should hard with food hanging from his mouth but he did it with grace.
"Fancy seeing you here, guess your still hell bent on following me?" He said putting down his pastry and folding his paper.
"No I'm here to ask for help." I replied simply. Taksahi sat back and crossed his arms. He made eye contact with Keith as if trying to gauge how serious I was being. Keith just shrugged with a smirk, bastard. Of course he wouldn't help me, Keith was terrified of cops. Maybe even more so than his old Galra gang. To him the idea of rotting in a prison cell is more horrifying than being beaten up on a daily basis for months on end should he ever be discovered.
"Uh-huh. Why should I help you? You stalked me remember." Taksahi said pulling me back to the present.
I snorted and leaned forward, "Last I checked Taksahi no charges were pressed, and besides I think this may be of interest to you; Samuel and Matthew Holt are still alive."
"And what makes you so certain?" He said, not even shocked by my revelation.
"Because last night the goons who took them tried to take me, if they were dead there would be no use for me."
He chuckled but his eyes were troubled, "Unless they wanted to finish the job. It's not like you aren't all that noticeable Katie."
I bit back a withering retort, sass will get you no where, and contemplated my next move. This was where all my plans would be put to the test.
I removed my hat much to his surprise and said, "It not Katie, the name is Pidge and I'm here to hire you as my private detective to follow up the Holt case."
Keith picked up what was left of the doughnut and began eating it, content with his new snack. Takashi didn't even try to stop him.
He sat for a moment pondering my words. His face scrunched up in thought, his eyes were put of focus and he seemed to be having a large internal battle. I gave him the time to think, never breaking eye contact, as if daring him to say yes.
"Fist things first, call me Shiro. I don't much like using my full name, to big." He said suddenly, "Second thing, I don't do private cases unless I have a good reason too. Finally, who's the friend?" He motioned toward Keith with a jerk of the head.
I bored into his eyes, there was a glint of a smile in them. Smirking I replied, "This is Keith, he's been like family to me for a while." The aforementioned man jerked his head up when I said this, a bit of shock lingered in his eyes. I had told him he was a good friend, but never told him I saw him as family.
Shaking my head I stared back at Shiro, my excitement was evident. Finally I will make some head way on my family, finally someone is willing to help me. This was the chance I had been waiting for for over a year.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get started Shiro. We have a lot of work to do."
I stood up and Keith followed suit, Shiro took a second to drain the last of his coffee and leave some money on the table. Together we exited the diner, thoughts of our work weighing on our minds.
All of us were blissfully unaware of the blue-green eyes that watched us, calculating our every move and honing in on our words and preparing for the chance to strike.
