VI
''Come on, tell us the truth. ''Dozens of laughter echoed inside the room. Shiro and Allura exchanged a couple of comments away from the cameramen's ears, catching the attention of more than one by accident. ''We are sure that they are trying to hide it with such an abrupt end.''
''Yes, totally, it's to confuse them and eat us your brains when you don't realize it.''
''That's what the zombies do, genius. ''Pidge's quick comment generated a wave of laughter again. Causing a slight blush of embarrassment from Lance.
''Well clearly the character of Shiro ended up being homosexual, however, he stayed with his communications chief instead Keith.''
''It was a surprise for all the spectators.''
''But the real Shiro did stay with the girl. ''Allura replied amused while taking with determination the hand of Shiro, generating strong howls and laughter of happiness that flooded the environment for the couple.
''So you're officially dating?''
''We started dating from the end of the third season, five years ago. Happily, we'll get married in a couple of months. ''The surprise was taken unexpectedly, giving as a relief one of the most beloved hetero ships of the cast of Voltron.
''We are very happy for you.''
''Congratulations! ''Shiro and Allura thanked him with sweetness. Meanwhile, Keith, who watched the happy couple attentively, felt an alien hand caress the contour of his palm, smiling inertia knowing who it was. Beside him, Katie looked at him with a usual smirk, as if she were raising the suspicion that both teammates would declare their relationship that night as he supposed before starting, Keith bit his lip funny. However, that moment barely lasted when the question of another journalist resonated in the environment.
''But seriously. Going back to the most interesting topic. If the Sheith didn't get to be a canon, then the klance is ... ''This time it was part of Keith to respond, since the subject began to lengthen more than it should and the producer had already warned them to give concise answers so that it wouldn't happen again.
''Our characters didn't end up together at the end of the series, Lance stays on earth protecting the legacy of Allura, and Keith is busy in the missions of Marmora, helping the planets that are still vulnerable because of the empire. But that doesn't mean, that in the possibility that the producers resume the Voltron project again, it will be that way.
''At the end of the day, it is they who decide. ''Added Hunk, who was trying to put an end to a theme that was already so repetitive in all the interviews that were taking place over several weeks, that it began to tire the rest.
''Directors have mentioned not having intentions to retake the series in the future. What makes you feel, since you will not see each other often?''
''Do we agree that it is a mixture of happiness and sadness? ''Lance asked observing his colleagues, all nodded with a slight smile. ''We were very happy to finish a series that lasted for eight years, it is like a life project for us that we could see finished at last.''
''Pidge and I, for example, started with fourteen years in the first season. ''Confirmed Keith, drawing the attention of the entire cast.
''It is true! They were the youngest, I think, for the same reason they always ended up arguing about the script.''
''It was inevitable, Keith Kogane lacked personality.''
''Hey!''
''Was not it with Lance with whom Keith most often argued during the first seasons?''
One of the journalists inquired, causing a new ovation that they thought they had missed. Keith groaned under his breath at the insistence of returning to the same subject they tried to avoid all the time, tightening slightly Shiro and Pidge, who were close to him and could hear clearly.
Although over the years Keith had gained some maturity and patience with the interviews, he still held that clear impulsive characteristic of sending everything to shit. The possibility of saying something wrong or too rude to interviewers or fans of the series in question, was always a danger to bear in mind that could bury your career in seconds.
Even with the series concluded a couple of months ago.
He was an actor, a person handed over to those who watched him on screen, he knew that all his behavior had to be well thought out and, as far as possible, neutral. Not to generate sides of which were already quite violent by themselves. The series had taken a passionate fandom with his personal preferences and the insistence of seeing him romantically with a man.
It hadn't bothered him to approach Lance jokingly and slightly daring once he had the confidence to do it on the spotlights of the cameras over the years, considering that at first they were barely talking outside of the recording, but both knew that they should take advantage of that, show for their benefit. That generated more sales in the series, positive votes in his image and, also, greater relevance in his future as an actor.
Also, it was quite fun to see Pidge nervous every time he played a dangerous line along with Lance. Who, at her young age and full adolescence during the filming of the series, dangerous friction and shameless coquetry was something she didn't know how to handle at first.
She had been his first friend, because having the same age and interests at the end about paranormal events and government conspiracies, they managed to overcome the barrier of violence during the first months of filming and become curiously inseparable as time passed.
Of course, they were always careful that no one saw them too close to each other, or in addition to add Lance or Shiro to the equation. The public always turned aside to talk about seeing Keith with some of his cast friends, without worrying that little Katie was also integrated.
It was as if she didn't exist for them, as if her presence in a romantic interest was out of the question. She was Katie Holt, the green paladin who was excited with robots and alien technology, not with the boys, much less with their own staff.
It was a fact that Keith kept him happy the first few years, given that his personal life was kept away due to the morbid fantasy that the viewers held over reality.
However, his relationship with Katie had changed to a different one. They were no longer two children scared and excited to participate in the series that they loved to imitate during their childhood, nor the two teenagers who took care of their backs to the dangers of adult life and expository of what it was to be an actor so short age.
They were the support of the other, the ground wire when one failed, the confidant about their fears and objectives of what the future hoarded after Voltron. They were the person who filled the extra position in each of the tables in their homes, and the loved one with whom they discovered their first experiences of a teenage romance.
That's why perhaps, Keith was already too tired to continue feeding the followers of a ship who never saw any meaning, and didn't want to affect the future of his career.
He looked at Katie again when one of the questions was directed at Hunk and Shiro, playing with her hair that had grown enough to cover her shoulders, approached her carefully while drawing her attention.
''I want to say it.'' It was the only thing he needed to comment so that she understood what he was referring to. Pidge simply smiled interestedly, never taking her eyes off the front.
''Do you think they go mad? ''She whispered looking at the reporters. ''They will not leave you alone for weeks, and you will break Lance's heart.''
''He will be replaced. '' Growled making her release a short laugh, she had the bad intention to disturb him with his best friend, once he had overcome the embarrassment that caused him in his early years.
''And your fans?''
She asked more worried. It was not the first time that Keith had told him that he wanted to tell the world about their relationship once they had formally formalized, in a kind of demonstration of love for her.
Everyone who knew him and worked with them knew it, and they were fascinated by the professionalism they had in separating their work and personal lives when one of them interfered in their partner's meetings. They were together long before Allura and Shiro even, so they were accustomed to managing within the world of entertainment and staying together in spite of everything.
They were a good couple, but Katie was worried about the media spotlight. But when Keith was so required to be with people who were not her.
Frankly, I was scared.
''Everything will be fine, I think it's a good time, Katie. We're done, we've done our job.'' He took his hand under the table with force, giving her confidence. ''And what better to officially start it together?''
''You're an idiot. ''She smiled with tenderness. Keith was a lot of things, but one of the ones that impressed Pidge most was how ridiculously cheesy he could be from time to time. She returned his grip, lightly lifting the ring on his ring that joined them as a future promise, determined.
''Miss Katherine and Keith seem a little closer than other interviews? '' Again, the questions were directed to Keith, somewhat puzzled.
''Are you dating too?'' Asked a girl with innocence towards both. In an unexpected moment, both their friends and journalists, were attentive to what they would respond. They gave themselves one last look, and it was Katie's turn to respond.
''Of course not.'' A deep relief rumbled through the entire room, to give Pidge enough time to raise her hand next to Keith's. ''We are fiancée, we will get married next year.''
''Congratulations Pidge.'' Lance threw his cell phone at her to watch the screen. ''You have destroyed twitter for three hours with the #givetokeithaboyfriend.''
'' Are you interested?'' She consulted curious, but Lance just made the gesture that seemed to think seriously.
''It depends, does he snore at night?''
''Quite.''
''Then I prefer Shiro as a second option. No offense, mullet.''
''Do I still snore?'' Keith asked surprised, receiving a soft caress on his cheek from Katie to calm him down. She knew he didn't like it, thinking that he interrupted her sleep cause of the noise.
''Only when you are exhausted, is it not so strong to wake me up. ''Before she could check Lance's phone, because of her own lack of account to see it, Shiro took it from her hands before unlocking it.
''Hey!''
''There are too many unnecessary comments yet, I don't want you to read that.''
''I will read them in any way.'' She answered with simplicity, but Shiro was not completely convinced, returning the cell phone to Lance. ''You can't protect me from the networks all the time ...''
''Just, not tonight.'' He gave them both a glass of champagne that Coran had struggled to open a few minutes ago, she accepted surrendered, she was too tired to fight with him. ''Now we have to celebrate, I didn't bring you to my home to continue with work, understood?''
''Yeah, space dad.''
She smiled amused when Shiro grimaced in disgust as he walked away, which was a vile lie. He was very happy about that ridiculous nickname that Hunk had given him.
Looking back, while watching the golden liquid shine on his fingers, she could feel the weight of eight years of his life with all his companions, who laughed and talked about what life would bring them from that moment. Something in her insides stirred in bitterness, remembering the last day of recording, where the tears and whimpers were all day long. Nobody wanted to get to his house that night.
It was the end of a cycle that she was not sure wanted to finish, Voltron was her life, a project that included even his own families to be part of the shooting. But before continuing to think about that, she felt great hands encircle his waist gently.
''It's okay, Pidge. You know we will continue to see each other frequently.'' She laughed lightly, it was amazing how easy it was for Keith to read her face and know her thoughts.
''I know.''
''Besides ... ''He kissed her lips with devotion, one that heated Katie's heart hard. ''We will always have good memories, so smile and enjoy tonight.''
''Yes, you're right.''
They walked hand in hand to approach their neighbors, while both hands did not stop interlacing throughout the evening.
A new era began in their lives, together.