Chapter 14

"What about superheroes?" Lance asked Pidge.

It was Sunday, October 6th. Allura had managed to text everyone about costume shopping around midnight after the game and just about everyone was immediately on board.

Except Keith. Naturally.

The emo had texted an instant reply into the group chat with a simple "No". Which of course brought on a lot of rapid fire from Lance that was just pure begging and pleading. The two went back and forth for almost an entire hour until Allura saw it fit to take control and shut both of them up.

It ended with a displeased Keith and a chastised but happy Lance.

"I don't really want to wear tights, Lance," she answered him, leaning back into the cushioned red couch she was currently sharing with her emo friend.

The costume shop they had chosen was a bit old fashioned and dusty. Blood red furniture was placed in almost every corner and centered in front of the changing rooms where her lanky friend was currently rummaging through a rack of outfits.

They were all waiting on Allura and Lotor, who occupied the two curtained changing rooms.

"I don't think anyone wants to see either of you in tights," commented Keith.

"Shut it, mullet. You don't get to give opinions if you don't participate." The cuban gave the emo a glare as he said this, pointing a finger at him.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Barely. All you've been doing is moping," the brunette told him. "Maybe go try something on. You are gonna need something for the party anyways."

"I already have something."

Lance swirled around from the rack he was browsing to give Keith a skeptical expression. "You have a costume already?"

The asian smirked, crossing his arm confidently on his chest. Pidge wasn't sure if he was only saying he had a costume to just get a rise out of the cuban or if he actually had one.

"Yes, I do. I got it off a Halloween website."

"What is it?" Pidge asked.

"Not saying, but it's definitely something you've never seen before."

"Oh great. It's probably something stupid," groaned Lance.

"At least I have something. You're still scavenging for something you and Pidge can duo," the asian said snipply. Being somewhere he obviously didn't want to be, coupled with the fact that Lance wasn't exactly trying to be nice about the teen not joining in, was probably nagging her neighbor.

"Well I might have made some progress by now if someone would help."

She guessed that was directed at her.

"I'm not the shopping fanatic here, Lance. You are," Pidge told him. She knew anything she picked would probably be vetoed. She's good at finding solo Halloween costumes. She never really had to match someone on a theme.

Before the cuban could retort, Allura and Lotor both exited their individual rooms at the same time. "How wonderful is this?"

The princess did a spin with a bright and joyful smile and

a black hooded cape flowed around her. The inside of it was a bright red made from silk and it shined as it swayed, hugging her around the shoulders.

A wicked but simple long black dress graced her figure, dragging along the floor a bit at the bottom. "I am a royal vampire!" She said excitedly.

"We both are," Lotor laughed beside the princess, happy to see his girlfriend enjoying herself so much.

The football captain's cape was the same but instead of a beautiful dress he wore a fancy but old style looking black suit.

The couple looked amazing as they stood by one another. Which wasn't anything new seeing as they were the most popular couple at Garrison high.

"See, Pidge," the cuban pointed at the two. "They have a great outfit because they looked together."

The brunette rolled her eyes, ignoring her best friend. "You guys look amazing in those. Are you getting them?"

"I think so. With a couple more accessories and makeup we could look phenomenal," answered Allura.

"We already do," Lotor said, grabbing the end of his cape and whooshing it around him with a dramatic flare. Allura chuckled cutely and kissed her boyfriend on the cheek.

Honestly, the way the two acted together made the brunette envious. She never had someone to be cute and adorable with. She only had friends that she was silly with and sometimes wondered if there was a difference.

Does it feel different to joke around with someone you are romantically involved with?

The thought made her glance away from the endearing moment her friends were having and instead she looked over to her crush.

He had momentarily stopped his ravenous searching to smile fondly at the couple. Perhaps he was thinking the same thing? Maybe all the people he had been with never had the kind of charisma and connection Allura and Lotor seemed to have.

They understood each other and worked well together. She was positive all Lance had was short insignificant flings. If you could even call them that.

A frown settled on the cuban's mouth as he continued to watch the two.

Or maybe he was just staring fondly at Allura. He didn't act like it at the parlor 2 weeks ago but he could have lied or not have realized it. He could still be pining over the lovely cheer captain and now he was upsetting himself because he realized Lotor was still in the picture.

Lance had a bad habit of scoping out what he wanted before looking at the big picture.

But Lance wouldn't do that. He wouldn't betray Lotor. He knew how much the guy loved the princess and would never jeopardize their relationship or his and Lotors friendship. Not to mention she would have known if Lance lied.

She was just being jealous and jumping the gun.

The brunette watched him sigh heavily before ocean blue met her honey brown. He blushed when he caught her looking at him, eyes widening before being placed back on the racks.

"Ok! I think I may have found something I like." Hunk came barreling around the corner, a bagged costume in hand. "Oh wow, you guys look great!" He commented towards Allura and Lotor. He then turned his bag around fully so the five could see it.

"A minion?"Keith questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"It's great, right?!" He smiled largely, obviously excited about his pick.

Everyone but Keith nodded with smiles. "Why more yellow? Don't you wear enough yellow as Is?" The asian asked.

"Leave him alone. I think it's a perfect fit. Besides, Hunk looks good in yellow," Pidge said, giving Hunk a friendly wink.

The linebacker laughed, "This is why Pidge is my favorite."

"What?! Buddy I thought I was your favorite," Lance whined.

"Sorry but Pidge compliments and understands better," Hunk said as he placed his future purchase on the couch next to Keith.

"But I give you more affection!" The cuban pouted.

Pidge shook her head at him and his dramatic antics. "Has anyone seen Matt?" The brunette asked, looking around for her brother from where she's seated.She just noticed that he had dragged his boyfriend off the minute they were in the store and she hadnt see either of them since.

"I think I saw him and Shiro trying stuff in the back, at the other dressing room." Hunk offered up.

Nodding, she stood and stretched. "I'm gonna go find them and maybe see if I can find some costumes."

"You're gonna help??" Lance asked hopefully.

"Yeah, maybe I'll find some separate outfits from the same theme."

"Good idea. I'm coming with,"the cuban said, placing what he had down and jogging up beside her. "You coming, Keith?"

"No thanks, the couch and I are still becoming acquainted with each other."

"So, how about we try the Disney section. I feel like horror would be too much," Lance said as they walked away from their friends .

She nodded in answer as they rounded a corner, "Fine, but I will not be a princess, got it?"

The cuban gave her a firm nod. "Got it." He did a mock salute and trudged on ahead of her. "I'll look down here and you can start wherever you want."

Pidge sighed as she watched him go. She really didn't know what exactly he was looking for. What level of "Razzle dazzle", as he so beautifully put it in the car, he wanted.

She had already offered up Leia and Hon, which now that she thought about it, she guessed Leia could be considered a Disney princess.

And she really didn't want to be associated with princesses on Halloween. People could be a little more creative as adults. She wasn't 5 after all.

After he had quickly turned down Star Wars for it being "Overplayed", she offered up Devil and Angel.

Apparently that was too old style for him.

So until now she had let him do most of the shopping, thinking he would appreciate it more if he got to do what he wanted.

But apparently she was wrong and the long trip that was supposed to be quick and brief, was starting to make her feel like Keith and she wanted to leave. Badly.

"Pidge!" The brunette looked behind her and stopped browsing on the doctor and nurse outfits she had been glancing at.

The dress was a little slutty for her taste but Lance would make a handsome doctor.

Matt came bounding towards her, Shiro in tow. Lance peaked his head out from the many racks to see what was going on but once he saw the two, he decided to stand beside her.

"Check this out," Matt said, pulling his boyfriend up next to him. They were both dressed in nice black suits and black shades. "We are "The Gays in Black", get it?" Her brother asked, laughing hysterically.

Pidge couldn't help a smile at her brother's dorky joke and Lance snorted beside her.

Shiro shook his head.

She'd bet anything that Matt had run the joke ragged around his boyfriend already.

"That's cool, you guys look great," the cuban told the two.

"I know! At first I just flipped over it. But once I thought about it and the joke came to mind, there was no way I could pass it up," said Matt, a large smile was plastered on his face.

"It's great, babe. Now let's go purchase it and get going." Shiro grabbed his boyfriend's hand and gave it a small tug.

"Wait, you're already leaving?" Pidge asked them. She knew she looked a little sad. She could feel the frown settle on her face and the solemn sound in her voice.

"Sorry, Pidge. Tomorrow is Monday and we have a lot of classes," her brother told her. He grabbed the end of her braid that had fallen over her shoulder and tugged it gently. It was a comfort/teasing thing that had become a habit between them. "I'll be back next week, ok?"

She nodded and embraced him.They had been at the store for awhile. It was her fault she didn't spend more time with them."Make sure to tell everyone else bye. Especially Keith."

"Do you honestly think I would miss the opportunity to show everyone this," he gestured to his outfit.

"Come on," Shiro said, tugging his boyfriend's arm one more time while rolling his eyes fondly. "Good luck on finding

something."

"We are gonna need it," the brunette mumbled, waving to them as they walked.

"Pidgey!" Lance squealed behind her. "Why didn't you tell me you had these over here!"

Scrunching an inquisitive eyebrow, she watched as he reached over her and grabbed two plastic bags.

"Seriously?" She asked.

The cuban was grinning, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited child.

A captain hook outfit with the big feathered hat was hanging from his right hand. She guessed that was his seeing as the one placed in his left hand was definitely for a girl.

"Tinkerbell?! Really, Lance?"

"It's Perfect. I would totally rock a captain costume with my devilish good looks," he paused to give her a dramatic and smoldering look. "And you are small with an obvious temper."

Ok, he had her there.

"Plus, it's green! Your favorite color."

Had her again.

She looked to the outfit, scrutinizing it. It's short dress looked like it would stop about mid thigh and it was cut all jagged like. Sparkly wings could be seen on the back of the smiling model that wore it in the picture and it had what looked like sheen and shiny sleeves that started from the top of the heart shaped neckline.

"Not that I care, but what kind of shoes would I even wear with that."

"They are included," he said cheerfully, pointing to the bottom of the picture.

So they are.

Green silk slippers that were donned with little white balls at the top, stared back at her.

At Least they aren't heels. Be grateful for the small things.

She exhaled loudly, groaning a bit. "This is what you want?"

He nodded eagerly.

"If I say yes, can we go now?"

He nodded once more.

"Fine, but I'm not trying it on," she said simply.

"Yes!!" Long lanky arms pulled her in for a hug and she blushed from how tightly he wrapped himself around her.

The cuban squeezed her, repeating "Thank you" over and over and Pidge was happy he didn't seem to realize her now red shaded skin.

Immediately, his cologne of mint and pine enveloped her and she had to resist the urge not to bury herself into his chest.He smelled so much like his jacket that she apparently forgot to give him Friday night. Which she seemed to forget again today.

At this point it might as well be hers. Sadly the scent was faded though.

"There you two are. We are about to leave. Everyone is getting hungry," said Keith as he walked up to them.

Pidge released herself from her crush quickly and turned towards her emo friend. He smirked once he caught sight of her red face and looked as if he was about to ask a question but the brunette glared, silencing whatever stupid and embarrassing thing that he was gonna spew out his mouth.

"Right on time, mullet. We just found something," said Lance, not taking notice of the silent looks his two friends were giving each other.

"Oh yeah?" The asian asked.

"Yup. It's captain hook and tinkerbell."

Keith couldn't have smiled larger at the Information the cuban just gave him. "Tinkerbell. How fitting."

"How's that?" The brunette asked. She knew the reasons that Lance thought the character was a good choice but she also knew Keith well enough to know that his reasons were most likely insulting.

"Oh you know. You're both short, stubborn, jealous, turn red when angry, kind of like now," he smirked, knowing the jealous one got her a bit. "You both like green, you both wear green, and you both can easily put your hair up in those little bun hair things."

Is that it?" She questioned suspiciously. She was honestly expecting worse.

"Oh! And you're both really-"

He better not.

"-Cute."

Son of a bitch.

"Uh-oh," Lance said behind her.

Honey blazed with anger in a predatory way and she looked ready to pounce, "Run." That was all the warning the asian got before he turned quickly and ran, laughing loudly.

"Get back here, Kogane!"she yelled, chasing the boy at a remarkable speed for someone with such short legs.

"We are gonna get kicked out," Lance sighed. He tucked the plastic covered costumes under his arms and then began to jog after his best friend.

He didn't need her killing anyone before he actually bought the outfits.

Authors note: Sorry it's so short. Haven't had a lot of time but figured something short and cutesy would be good.