Good morrow, my amazing friends and readers,
I wanted to take a moment to respond to comments left in the reviews of this story and I'm fairly sure you will know when the shout out is for you.
Bromance:
Yes, Hunk and Pidge are pretty close. Something about a technical genius and a brilliant mechanic. As you can guess, I have big plans for hunk and there was some foreshadowing for Pidge a bit back (did you miss it?). I'm actually really excited for what I can do with these two over the coming weeks.
For my guest who warned me that they had no tomatoes in their hands:
genius/skilled surgeon/good pilot/beautiful princess/prophetess/avatar. doesn't seem like she is too perfect for a mere mortal? Hmmm... be careful what you wish for, remember that she did just play God and decide someone would die and that plays a lot in this story. Be careful what you ask for, I can promise you that this is definitely already addressed. I won't say when or where, but when it happens, it'll hit you like a ton of 'Oh no, she did not just write that' sort of bricks. :D
Hmm.. no safe jump seat, I think this one is more along the lines of they won't consider putting her in flight because they don't want to risk her royal bits before there is an heir and a spare and then some. Like the 'I think Allura is too good to be true' comments, I think you'll like how we address this in the coming chapters. Luckily this one is something does come up sooner rather than later.
And now, without further babble, on with the show.. err brief, but fun chapter.
The Guardian
Chapter Twenty One: Checkers, War and Connect Four
Pidge and Hunk managed to snag sandwiches before heading up to the rec room. Both were a bit stressed, but for different reasons.
"Hunk, you and Roxxy okay," Pidge asked as they settled in, a worn checker board between them.
Hunk scowled as he placed the black discs on the board, trying to ignore the question. Of course he covered up his embarrassment by shoving his sandwich into his mouth and taking a much larger bite than he should have.
Pidge sighed, nibbled at the crust he'd pulled off the bread and placed his checker pieces on the board as well. "You really think you can avoid the question that easily?"
Hunk ignored him and took the first move on the board.
"Hey big guy! I know that your mad, but come on. You can't just let one girl ruin your day. Just think about it! We launched a robeast into a volcano without Keith, the Black Lion or Voltron! And we were a part of that!"
Hunk sighed, pushing at his plate before throwing the folding game board like a frisbee.
Pidge blinked in surprise. "Well, at least it wasn't your lunch. Now, you going to talk about it?"
"I just don't understand it. We learned so much about how these bond things work and how important they are, and now we're here and poof," Hunk waved his fingers in front of his face for emphasis, "suddenly I have one of them too. Not just any girl, like the girl of my dreams. Smart, funny, beautiful, loves kid, loves this planet that we got sent to for the sake of Keith and his princess and she doesn't want me. She's a body guard, doesn't believe she gets to have something like this."
Hunk trailed off in thought, his lower lip quivering as he started to sob. "I just don't understand it Little Buddy! If it hadn't been for Keith I never would of met her and she doesn't want me. How do I accept that the woman that is meant, no is the other half of my soul doesn't want anything to do with me?"
"Women," Pidge grumbled. "Hunk, I don't know whats going on in her head, but you're the best friend I've ever had. Well, if you don't count my brother Chip and I know it feels weird right now, but maybe she just needs time."
Hunk wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before sniffling. "You think so?"
Pidge nodded. "Think about it, big guy. Keith and the princess, they had two years to get used to the idea of what is going on with them. Something tells me that under normal circumstances that the princess wouldn't be as easy to get along with as she is right now. Maybe it has to do with her being a doctor, but something is just off about her."
"You really think Roxxy just needs time?"
"Well," Pidge sighed, pulling a worn, half falling apart plastic set up for connect four from the same box he pulled the checker board from. "I mean, well. It's not like you're just going to walk up to her, sweep her off her feet and lay one on her. You don't strike me as the type for that."
When Pidge looked up from the plastic contraption that had kept them busy for hours on their transport ship he found Hunk gone, the only remnants of his presence crumbs from his sandwich on his plate. "What I say?"
Hunk was striding through the halls of the Gradem Fortress with a sens of purpose. No longer dressed in his flight suit he decided he was going to do things right, even if he was worried about wearing a skirt.
Dressed as a knight during ceremony dresses, he was struggling not to fidget or even blush as he passed people in the halls. Every time he started to consider changing his mind he would focus on her presence and follow the invisible thread that connected them together. When he found himself in the emergency intake for the medical center he realized he was blushing, but he didn't care.
Pushing his way passed medical staff he threw open the curtain surrounding a little girl who clinging to her mother and trying to keep Roxxy from looking at an arm that was craddled to her chest. Waving shyly at the mother and daughter, Hunk cleared his throat and Roxxy turned toward him. With a gasp, she turned red with anger, her mouth opening to say something scathing.
Catching her off guard he pulled her into his arms and depped her back. His lips connecting with hers, tongues pressing together of their own wills.
When he felt her quake in his arms he righted them and stepped back. Just think about it, he thought before offering the startled mother and wide eyed girl a half bow. "My ladies," he said, turning on a booted heel and walking off toward the lift with a spring in his step. Maybe he should have talked to Pidge sooner.