It had been a week or so since Katie's first day with Coran. Meanwhile, she had grown close to him and the princes. In particular, Shiro. She felt nervous around him at first but soon felt that he was the easiest person to talk to since Matt, which worried her a bit. Already, she had slipped up a couple times regarding her identity. She had told him about learning to cook and such, which wasn't necessarily bad, she just worried he would find out she was, well… a she. Katie knew cooking was often considered a feminine thing, which she thought was stupid, but she worried any little detail could give her away.
In fact, Katie felt as insecure in her identity as ever. It was like she was walking on thin ice, with the knowledge that it would break soon, but never knowing exactly when she would crash through to be swallowed by the cold water awaiting her.
Now, she saw much less of Lotor, which was to her liking. He was nice, don't get the wrong idea. He'd just started acting strange around her. Katie almost wanted the prickly Lotor back. Now, she always felt his eyes looking at her, analyzing her, never wavering. He even started doing things like sitting really close to her at breakfast, the only meal they had together with her new schedule, his hip glued to hers. Lotor also seemed to hate her friends, glaring at them when they sat near her or basically did anything that would catch her attention.
Now, Katie laid in her bed, awake before the daily waking call of the screeching Iverson. Given the small slivers of light peeking through the drawn curtains of the shared guards' room, she assumed that it would be any minute now. She internally groaned at the mere thought of lugging her body from the sheets of her bed. She was tired as heck. Despite her tiredness, she wasn't able to clear her anxious thoughts as she lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Katie wasn't even sure she'd slept at all. The fact that she returned from her extra work with Coran after everyone had already had lights-out didn't help.
After dressing and breakfast, she'd head toward her and Coran's meeting place, where she'd begin her day. And then she'd see Shiro and Keith. The thought made her smile, and, as much as they thought it was stupid, thinking of the older prince made her blush a bit.
'Stop that' Katie commanded herself. 'You're here on a mission. Besides, he'd never go for a commoner boy'. She huffed inwardly, honestly a bit angry at herself.
Katie slightly jumped as a door's slam ricocheted through the silence. Iverson. He carried on with his typical yelling and then stomped out of the room once satisfied with his work. She heard Lance whining to Hunk about having to get up so early, which made her giggle. She hopped down and greeted her childhood friends with a smile, met with an overdramatic grimace from Lance and a weak, tired smile from Hunk.
The trio hastily readied themselves for the day, Pidge excusing herself to the restroom like usual. She made sure to secure her beloved picture in her pocket. The one taken when her family was still whole. In the photograph, she was hugging Matt. Back when she still had long hair and wore dresses. It made her feel just a bit better to hold it close to her.
They began to walk out together, but Katie stiffened and jumped when she felt an arm suddenly slung around her shoulders. She looked up to see Lotor's face twisted into a smug grin.
"Hey there, Pidge. What's up?" he asked. Hunk and Lance looked back to see Lotor with Katie. Hunk never liked this guy. Since day one, he'd had a bad feeling about him, and the murderous looks Lotor had sent his and Lance's way certainly didn't improve his impression. He'd spoken about this to Lance, and even he seemed to be wary of the guy. The two instantly fell in step with their friend, Hunk next to Katie and Lance next to Lotor, who wasn't very pleased about this. He curled up his lip in disgust and pulled Katie closer to him so that her side was pressed against him. She squirmed a bit.
"Oh, umm, hi" she said, working her way out of his grip.
The four made their way to the mess hall, Lance and Hunk trying to separate Lotor and Katie as much as they could.
Lotor snarled from behind. Those two needed to back off. How was he supposed to talk to her when those dopes kept getting in the way? It was almost the end of the month. Tomorrow was the last day, specifically. When he and Nyma would have to leave. He wanted to at least try to convince her to come with him willingly, and of course, he wasn't going to have that conversation in front of the others. If only he could get her alone for just a few minutes.
Lotor contemplated this throughout breakfast and soon came up with an idea to get her alone. After breakfast, he was supposed to go to training along with the others, while the girl would be walking to meet that weird mustache guy. He'd just have to risk being late.
Katie said her goodbyes to Hunk and Lance, making her way to the meeting place. Lotor followed behind her after making sure her two friends weren't watching. He caught up to her and pulled her shoulder to face him, which made her yelp. He spoke in a low voice. "Listen, I know things. Things about your family. Meet me tonight when you get back. I'll be waiting at the edge of the woods, past the gate".
Katie gapped at him, taken by surprise. He knew about… Matt and Dad? "W-hat? How?" she called after him, starting to follow. But… where had he gone? It's like he'd vanished into thin air.
"Good morning, Pidge!" a familiar voice called. Katie jumped and looked back to see Coran, who she attempted to smile back at. "Is everything alright? You look as though you've seen a grizzle-phantom".
"Oh, I'm fine. Just a bit tired", she lied.
Coran didn't seem convinced but decided not to push the subject. Instead, he led her through their usual routine. They arrived at the kitchen, and Coran warmly greeted the chefs. Pidge was still acting weird. He worried about the girl. The man was shaken from his thoughts by a loud hacking and clattering from behind the door. He raced in without his usual care for a dignified entrance, Pidge on his heels.
Behind the door laid the king, deathly pale, on the ground along with some plates and silverware that must have fallen from the table when he did. The queen and Shiro were at his side, the boy checking for a pulse while the queen called for help when Coran entered: "We need a doctor! Someone get a doctor!"
Coran told Pidge to stay with the family, while he went to get the medics. She went to Keith's side when she saw him. His view was blocked, as he stood behind Shiro and his mother. The young prince was crying. Pidge quickly gathered the boy she'd grown so fond of in her arms. She knelt down so that his tear-streaked cheek pressed against her shoulder. Katie cradled him, although she had soon learned that he hated being babied (or at least pretended to), but he didn't seem to mind now, not when he saw his father collapse, barely breathing. Shiro announced that he felt a pulse.
The medics rushed in with Coran tagging behind them. They put the king on a stretcher. The queen looked back at the princes. "Boys, stay with the guard. Your duties and lessons are canceled for today". Coran gave her a questioning look. "Coran, I want you with me by my husband's side".
The two quickly trailed after the medics, leaving Pidge with the boys. Keith was still in Katie's arms, while Shiro seemed to just now notice they were there. He silently got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around both Katie and Keith. Katie felt kind of bad for being comforted by his touch. After all, this was their father at stake, not her own, but then again, she'd had quite the eventful morning. First with Lotor supposedly having information about her own missing family, now with someone almost dying before her very eyes. It was stressful to say the least.
Even on his knees, the older prince still stood a few inches above her own head. He was rather tall, Katie knew, but his height was somehow different than Lotor's, although the two were about the same size. While Lotor made her feel small and weak, Shiro's very presence comforted her, made her feel stronger. Over Keith's head, her eyes met his. Even at a time like this, he was still trying to be strong for everyone else. But Katie saw pain in his eyes. Worry. Fear.
The three huddled together for who knows how long- minutes, hours-, Katie didn't really know. None really knew what to do. No one had come to check up on them, for everyone's focus was on their ruler. Wordlessly, Shiro grabbed each of his acquaintance's hands and led them. And wordlessly, the two followed. They ended up in the palace garden, a calm place filled with colorful wildflowers and a few marble decorations, bird baths, and benches.
They all sat in the garden silently, seated at a bench. It wasn't an awkward silence, more like a mutual understanding that there was really nothing to say. The outdoors seemed to console their troubled minds.
They spent hours in the garden, pressed up against one another as they sat on a bench. Keith, being the most shaken, sat in the middle. Once again, Katie met Shiro's eyes. He was scared. Although he didn't always act like a dignified royal, he didn't show much vulnerability. He played and goofed around, but no one ever knew how truly fearful he was of his future. He frequently worried about when he would become ruler of the Kingdom of Altea, but no one ever knew how much he worried. Not even Keith, who he was closest to. But around Pidge, he didn't feel like he'd let her down if he revealed that yes, he was scared. Terrified. Katie gave him a look, and in that moment, he knew she understood.
Coran found the three in the garden just an hour or so before sundown. Before anyone could ask any questions, he assured them that "The king is okay. He's now resting". He gave them a forced smile. "Prince Keith, I believe it's time for you to go to bed. Prince Takashi, you've been asked for by the queen".
Keith pouted. "No one else has to go to bed!", he protested.
"Growing boys need sleep", Coran answered, taking Keith by the hand to lead him to his room. "Oh, and Pidge? You may take leave early today. Take care. I'll see you in the morning".
Katie just nodded and exited silently. Then she remembered: she was meant to meet Lotor soon. After everyone had gone to bed. She looked up at the sky, given that the sun had just gone down, and it was summer, she assumed that lights out was only a few minutes ago. She thought that it was probably best to wait a while before meeting with Lotor. It would give her time to calm down a bit. Besides, she usually got back around half an hour later. He wouldn't expect her for a while. To pass time and gather her bearings, she decided to take a walk around the palace grounds.
Meanwhile, Shiro stood outside the door of the room his mother was in. He had an idea what she wanted to talk about, but nothing could prepare him for the words coming from his own mom. With a deep breath, he entered to find his mother seated at a table. She nodded toward a chair across from her, which Shiro took.
The queen cleared her throat. "Takashi, as you know, you're getting older. In only a few weeks you'll be eighteen. And age comes with responsibility. We didn't expect something like this to happen so soon, but with your father in this condition, it's possible that you may have to soon take the crown. Permanently". She looked for her son's reaction, which was looking a little sick, but he didn't look shocked. She didn't know if that was a good thing or not. The queen continued. "Your duties have been getting heavier with age, but I'm afraid it will all come quite suddenly now. While your father is ill, you will take his place until… if… he recovers. I'm not going to lie to you, Takashi. He's not doing well", her voice broke a bit, but she did her best to cover it up. "Thus, I think it would be a good idea for you to get a wife by your eighteenth birthday".
Shiro's eyes bulged. Wife? He was still a teenager! He couldn't do this, he wasn't ready, he wasn't ready, he wasn't ready! "B-but", he stuttered.
The queen looked at him sympathetically. "You know the law, Takashi". Of course. The law. Crafted hundreds of years ago, it commanded that an Altean ruler have a spouse of opposite sex, so that there would be an heir.
He shifted his eyes from his mother's face. "I'm going to need some time". And with that, he uncharacteristically ran from the room. His feet had a mind of their own, and they brought him to the garden. He was always able to think better here. To calm down.
Shiro fell on his knees, leaning his upper body on the seat of the bench he had previously shared with his brother and Pidge. He panted, feeling his eyes get watery. His hands tightened on the bench seat. He was about to take the role of a king. King's don't cry. He clenched his teeth and tried to look elsewhere. Anywhere other than his knuckles, which shook and were white because of how tightly he clenched them. Then, something on the bench caught his eye. A photograph.
The picture showed two people: a boy and a girl, siblings by the looks of it. And one of them looked really familiar. At first he thought the boy had to be Pidge, but it soon dawned upon him that Pidge was the girl. He could tell by the gentle curve of her face, dotted with the cute freckles he admired when he thought she wasn't looking. His mouth hung open.
"Better close that. You'll catch bugs". Shiro whipped around and sighed in relief when he saw it was only Keith that had snuck up on him.
"I thought you were supposed to be sleeping".
Keith shrugged his shoulders with a little smirk on his face. "Don't expect me to follow orders that are stupid". He then leaned over his brother's shoulder. "I'm gonna miss her".
"What? How did you-"
"It's pretty obvious. And tomorrow's her last day helping Coran. Didn't you know? Also, what did mom say?"
Shiro hesitated. "I'll tell you later. I- I don't think I'll be able to see her tomorrow", he answered, thinking about the upcoming duties his mother spoke of. An idea popped in his head. He would return the picture to her and get to say goodbye. "Keith, stay here". He ran out of the garden, clutching the picture to his chest.
Katie looked up at the sky once more. She figured it was about time to meet Lotor. She arrived at the guards' quarters. Where was she supposed to meet him, again? A dark shadow then slipped out from behind the building. Lotor.
"Happy you could make it", he said. Katie started feeling very strange again.
Katie didn't bother beating around the bush. She clenched her fists, more so out of fear than anger, and asked, "What do you know, and how do you know it?". She tried to still the wobble in her voice.
"I know quite a lot of things. For example, I know you're no boy". He paused to evaluate her reaction. "I can give you so much. You'd get to see your family". He grabbed her hands in his. "Everyday. Wealth beyond your wildest dreams. All you have to do is come with me."
Shiro slowed his steps when he spotted Pidge with some other man. They were holding hands. But Pidge didn't look very happy. What in the world was going on? He stood in the shadow of the night, out of sight, but able to see the two.
"All you have to do is come with me".
Pidge's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"Marriage".
It took a second for Katie to process his words. "What?! You're crazy! Where are they?!". She tore her hands from his and bared her teeth.
Lotor actually looked a bit hurt for a moment, but he quickly covered it up with a smirk. "So is that a no?"
"Hell yeah it's a no!"
"As you wish, my dear". Lotor pulled a cloth out from his pocket and swiftly grabbed Katie around the waist, forcing the cloth over her nose and mouth. She let out stifled screams as she struggled.
Shiro didn't know what to do, but his feet were already carrying him toward the scene. "Get away from her!" he yelled, attacking Lotor, trying not to hurt Pidge in the process. The girl was already passed out. The screaming had just made her more desperate for air.
A girl with long blonde hair in a maid's outfit came out of the shadows, a chloroform-dowsed cloth in her own hand. The other held a young boy, already passed out.
"Keith!" Shiro yelled. Distracted, Lotor was able to land a good punch, knocking Shiro to ground. The woman then came up behind him, after setting down Keith, and she clamped the cloth over Shiro's face. His world soon went black.
