The night was always the Green Paladin's day. She thrived in the dark and was sluggish when sunlight landed on her skin. Maybe that was why Pidge had always wanted to go to space when she was younger. Not only to follow in her father's footsteps but to be completely surrounded by the night.
Currently, Pidge was shoving through the refrigerator, looking for anything to get her energy surging again. Surely there were a few alien energy drinks left from the space mall. Not finding anything and guessing that Hunk had hidden her drinks once again, Pidge decided that she should probably sleep. It was a big day for everyone tomorrow, anyways. She needed to be on full alert for it. Turning out of the kitchen, she made the slow pace back to her room but stopped when she heard the raised voices of Allura and Coran.
Pidge never means to eavesdrop.
Okay, that was a lie, but Pidge was curious, though she thought she already knew what they would be talking about. It had been simultaneously the most talked about and avoided subject in the castle: the marriage of Allura and Lotor. Now, it wasn't official yet. That's what they were doing tomorrow— announcing their intentions to marry.
"Coran," She gasped, and Pidge flinched at the rawness of it. Her gut squeezed in guilt. "I don't know if I can do it— My father said he only ever wanted me to marry for love. I know he helped us win the war, I know and I keep bringing myself back to it, but whenever I look at him, all I can see is Zarkon and my people dying..."
"Allura—" Coran started gently, but Pidge didn't want to listen anymore, and went farther down the hallway toward her room.
It was three weeks ago that the war ended. In that time, political conferences were held, Pidge turned nineteen, and Matt went off on another rescue mission. Hunk and Lance finally stopped pining and got together. Shiro started sleeping regularly, and Keith let his sword out of his sight for the most part. Everything happening showed that they were going to be okay—
Until they got the message from a reluctant Lotor. It wasn't his fault, not really.
The newly appointed leaders of the planets in the immediate and surrounding provinces had decided that they wanted to start off the Peace with an alliance between Voltron and the Galra, as they had been the main forces in combat. Of course, they wanted a marriage to bind the two together. Immediately, the most popular were the princess and Lotor.
After all, who didn't love a wedding?
Allura was devastated and spent two days in her room. She had been utterly inconsolable. The proposal was set to be a public spectacle, to happen at a banquet- and the party was the next day. But was there anything that Pidge could do?
Of their own accord, Pidge's feet went the opposite way of the hangar where Green was waiting. Instead, they took her to the room Lotor was currently inhabiting in the castle. Pidge hadn't actually spoken to the Galran prince before, not one word. But now was a good time to start, she supposed. She didn't even know what she was doing there in the first place, but a plan was forming in her mind, and she knocked on the door.
Once, twice.
She held her breath until the door opened, a disgruntled and tired looking Galran prince appearing in front of her. He was as beautiful as ever, she though, not even sleep could muddle his perfect genes. Lotor looked puzzled to see the green paladin, but he quietly invited her in, nonetheless, surprising Pidge. She expected at least a bit of resistance. Once inside with the door closed, he offered her some tea and she accepted, the room quiet as he bustled around and set a mug into her hands.
After a few minutes, he finally broke the silence. "What is it that I can help you with, Miss Katherine?" His voice was like honey to her ears, but she tried not to let it show in her confused state.
Pidge drummed her fingers on her mug. Index-Middle-Ring-Pinky. Over and over. How was she supposed to word this?
"It's about tomorrow's proposal," She finally started. Lotor nodded and Pidge felt a bubble of confidence build up in her as she continued. "Does it have to be with Allura? Would anyone closely related to Voltron work?"
Lotor thought for what was only a few moments but felt like an eternity. "It doesn't have to be with Allura, no. What are you thinking of?" His tone was questioning and curious. Pidge knew he more than likely didn't want this just as much as Allura, but would he want her even less?
Before she could second guess herself anymore, she rushed the words out as if they would be her last. "So it would work if you were to marry me instead?"
Lotor paused, his entire movements ceasing. Pidge though he looked as if he had forgotten how to function entirely. He was going to reject her, and she embraced herself for it. Finally, he said, "And why would you want that?"
Pidge bit her lip and took a drink of the tea to give herself some time to formulate an answer. It was bitter and cold, though she could have sworn it had been scalding just a few moments ago. She looked everywhere but at him directly. His mussed bed. His perfectly organized shelves. Finally, she sighed and said, "I overheard Allura talking about how unhappy the situation is making her. How she's expected to follow through because she's a princess even though her father wanted her to marry for love," Pidge looked up at him. "She's already been through a lot. I want her to have the chance to live her life how she wants. Out of everyone, she deserves to be happy."
"But will this make you happy?" Lotor's voice was surprisingly soft, and it startled Pidge so much that she forgot how to form words for a few moments. Would this make her happy? No. But when she thought about how distressed and dejected Allura has been for the past week, Pidge's own happiness was low on the list.
"If Allura gets to fulfill her and her father's dream, then I will be," Pidge said, with enough conviction that she even believed herself.
There was another long pause. "Then I accept your proposal," Gently, Lotor took the tea mug from Pidge and stood up from his chair. "But you should get some sleep now. From what I hear from the other paladins, you don't get enough anyways."
Pidge got up and followed Lotor out of his room and down the hallway. The silent walk was surprisingly comfortable, even with the conversation they'd had just minutes prior. Pidge figured they both were just pondering on what they had just agreed to, and what it would mean for the both of them. When they were outside Pidge's door, Pidge looked up at him. She didn't know whether to thank him or to apologize, but was interrupted when Lotor took her hand, kissing her calloused and greased knuckles. He nodded at her, turned, and went back down the hallway. Pidge took a moment to process what had happened before opening her door and entering the room. Closing the door behind her, she didn't bother changing into her night clothes before she slipped underneath the covers of her bed.
She laid there for a while before she was able to finally fall asleep, her stomach twisted in knots.
xx
The next morning, Pidge barely managed to drag herself out of bed. She was awake long before her alarm went off, her stomach cramping from how anxiety. She dragged herself around her room to get ready. What was she supposed to wear? Were they all going to match? Pidge worried about this as she brushed her teeth. After she rinsed, she glanced up at her mass of dirty blonde hair and tugged at a few strands.
What was she supposed to do with this?
To hell with it, she decided. He already accepted anyway.
The kitchen was full to the brim with people when she finally entered, dressed in her casual clothes— shorts and a tank top. It wasn't what she was going to wear to the banquet, but she figured they would talk about their clothing during breakfast. The kitchen area was especially full because of Lotor and his generals. Everyone was buzzing around, getting ready for the day's big event. Allura was nowhere to be seen.
Lotor only glanced at her when she walked in. Pidge wondered if he was going to say anything about their arrangement and tried to give him a questioning look. Lotor shook his head slightly and looked away from her so no one would notice their interaction, and it worked. The kitchen was too hectic for anyone to pay much attention to anyone else at all.
Pidge averted her gaze and heaved a mental sigh of relief. Hopefully he doesn't say anything to anyone before the banquet— that would ruin the whole plan. But Pidge's intuition told her he wouldn't say anything to them. Why would she show up to his room in the middle of the night if she were just going to tell them anyway? Pidge finally found a seat beside Lance, who was sighing.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked him as Hunk promptly set a plate down in front of her, kissed his boyfriend, and spun away back towards the stoves. "Thanks!" She shouted at him, laughing lightly.
"It's just my boyfriend, Pidge." Lance laid his chin on his fist while he watched Hunk make the next batch of eggs. "He's so dreamy."
Pidge grinned and began eating. She was glad that they finally revealed their feelings for one another. It made for less tension throughout the day. As she shoveled eggs into her mouth, she couldn't help but glance at the stoic Galran prince. There was a sudden commotion at the door and Allura appeared, looking beautiful even with her hair pinned up in curlers. She walked in and took deliberate care not to acknowledge Lotor at all. His generals glared at the blatant disrespect, but Lotor murmured something to them and they looked away with a snort.
"Paladins! I completely forgot to tell you, but you should wear your armor to the banquet tonight. No need to find any fancy clothing because we want you to be easily recognizable. I'll see you all in a few vargas," She relayed quickly, and made a hasty exit.
"Doesn't she mean like a couple vargas? The banquet starts in three," Hunk asked, but everyone just shrugged and he went back to heating up the bacon.
Suddenly, Pidge didn't feel like she could eat anymore. She took her plate back up to the sink, where Keith was on dish duty and smiled at him before placing it on the counter.
"Done already?" Hunk asked, and she nodded, forcing a small grin to her face.
"Yeah, just going to get an extra nap in before the banquet." She laughed like it was a joke and turned out into the hallway. Her easy smile fell immediately when out of sight from her friends, and her nerves returned full force. How was she going to do this? She quickly made her way back to her room and basically threw herself inside, slamming the door shut behind her. She laid on her bed, hugging a pillow to her stomach.
It was hitting her that she was about to marry without love. She was going to be the partner of a King, but it was just a contractual relationship. Tears formed in her eyes, but she wouldn't go back on it now. She'd rather go through it than Allura, and anyway, all of her goals were done. She'd found her father and brother, and had discovered more technology than she could have ever dreamed.
Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself and though of the positive sides. She'd be able to do whatever she wanted. She would have the money and resources to do a lot of research for her projects. She could eat good food and visit planets and help build other's resources back up. Eventually they would have children, and then she would have someone to love, and someone to love her back. Finally, she couldn't lay down anymore.
Getting up, she was pacing around the room when her brother entered, without knocking, of course. Pidge stopped immediately and hoped her eyes weren't watery.
But Matt was always able to see straight through her. "What's wrong?"
Pidge avoided answering, turning around to hopefully air the wetness off her cheeks. "I didn't know you were back. When did you get here?"
Matt came up behind her, and she felt his fingers brush her shoulder. "I got back literally just now, but-"
"How did your mission go?" She asked, pretending to look at something else.
He tried again to turn her around, but she walked over to the closet as if to decide what to wear. "It was good, we got everyone and there were no casualties. Katie-"
"And what was the planet like?" She asked, reaching to look through the shirts, but Matt finally got a hold of her and turned her around, cupping her shoulders in his hands and shaking her slightly.
"Katie, come on." His face was full of concern for her, and she guiltily looked at the ground. "I know there's something wrong with you. Just spit it out," Pidge sighed inwardly.
"I'm just worried about Allura and the banquet tonight," She couldn't lie to her brother- he would know immediately if she did, but half-truths never seemed to occur to him.
Matt pulled her down to sit on her bed, taking her hands gently in his. "Katie, everything is going to be fine. As a princess, it's Allura's duty to ensure alliances in this manner."
"That doesn't make it right though," Pidge grumbled, finally looking up at him.
"I know," Matt hugged her to him tightly, and she relished in the warmth, pretending for just a moment that it was going to turn out okay. "But we can't change anything."
No, she thought, you're the one who can't change anything.
The Holt siblings sat like that until it was time to get ready for the banquet.
xx
Pidge was uncomfortable to say the least.
The banquet hall was massive. Everything was white with blue accents— The tablecloths, the flowers, even the napkins. Leaders from every planet and their cousins were gathered around and mingling. They all especially wanted an audience with the five paladins of Voltron. It was as if they were the shiny new toys the parents were trying to grab for a Christmas present.
Pidge tried her hardest to be polite, but her smile kept slipping into a grimace.
The paladins minus Allura stood in tight formation, keeping as close as possible so as not to be swept away. Shiro kept accidentally elbowing her as he tried to back away from aliens that wanted to introduce their unmarried daughters to him. It's like Pride and Prejudice, Pidge thought wryly. Lance and Hunk were having the easiest time of things. They held hands while Lance charmed the crowd, Hunk gratefully staying silent beside him. Keith, however, was pouting sourly, so no one dared approach him for fear they would meet the end of his sword. Pidge was backed behind Shiro and Keith, no one could get close enough to her to start a horribly polite conversation. She caught a glimpse of her brother farther away, talking to a few friends she recognized as being part of the rebellion in the earlier part of the war.
Allura hadn't been late as they'd thought she might be earlier, and she was as beautiful as ever. She was wearing a pink and blue Altean style dress, her white hair in loose curls that cascaded thickly down her back. She was on the arm of a uncharacteristically downcast Coran, but her entrance sparked awestruck gasps from lords and ladies alike. She kept her head high with a pleasant smile on her lips. She never looked uncomfortable as she walked deeper into the banquet hall, but once she got close enough Pidge could see the indents of where her nails had dug into the skin of her palms.
Pidge's heart pounded in her chest as Lotor stepped onto a raised floor in the center of the room, looking as calm and collected as ever. She barely been able to see him over the shoulders of her friends the whole forty minutes they'd been there, but Lotor's effortless beauty took her breath away. She felt a sense of guilt, knowing that if he hadn't wanted to marry Allura, he definitely didn't want to marry her— more than likely, she thought with a painful tug to her heart, he only accepted because it was a lesser evil to take someone willing than someone aching for another.
He had an easy smile, and Pidge couldn't help but wonder how forced it was, knowing what was coming. She was only grateful that he hadn't revealed their plans. Her hands became clammy and she tried to discreetly rub them on the fabric covering her stomach.
"Good evening, everyone." He said, his voice echoing over the room. Everyone stopped talking at once, grinning at each other and sliding their eyes towards Allura. Pidge looked over at her and saw the princess keeping a straight face. Lotor continued after a breath, "This banquet marks the first step towards the New Peace! I am honored to be before you as a part of it. I have many plans for our bright future, to cast the darkness that my parents created away from us," There was a cheer, and Lotor waited for it to die down before continuing. Pidge swore she saw Lotor's wide smile dim just a bit. "Now, to make a great alliance, a wedding must be had to bond everyone together," Pidge heard Allura take a quick breath. "And if she would, would Miss Katherine Holt please join me?"
There was a collective gasp, and Allura looked over at the small paladin sharply. Pidge averted her gaze and squeezed past a stunned Shiro and Keith, keeping her head held high as she imagined Allura would. Lotor waited until she stood beside him before speaking again, letting a bit of warmth trickle into his words, or was she imagining it?
When she finally reached the platform, Lotor took her hands and with his eyes, asked one more time, if this was truly what she wanted. She looked over at her friends' grieved faces, hoping they would understand when the time came and nodded. Not skipping a beat, Lotor got to his knees, as if begging her. "Miss Katherine, though we have only known each other a short while, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
"Yes." She said simply, keeping her voice light. Her insides were shattered with anxiety of her future, but at least she secured one of her dearest friends' dreams.
As polite applause rang out, Lotor got to his feet and let go of one of her hands to pull something out of his pocket. Bringing it into her view, she realized it was a box. "You are very brave, Miss Katherine." He said quickly. "Would you do me the honor of wearing my ring?"
Pidge nodded numbly and felt a cool piece of metal slide onto her finger. Looking down, she could see clearly that the jewelry was a beautiful work of art. It was a man's ring, but Lotor's fingers were slender like hers, and it fit snugly onto her finger. She looked at it, trying to process what it meant. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry— it was made of pure silver, tinged green. Where the two, vine like pieces met, a lilac stone shone brightly.
"It's beautiful," Pidge said breathlessly, and was startled when Lotor chuckled.
"It was my grandfathers. He didn't want my future spouse to wear something that my parents may have picked out," He explained, with an air of humor. "He said they had bad taste." Lotor leaned back then, pulling away from her hands but placing one of his own carefully on the small of her back.
The people were swarming towards them then. Many had gifts that were given to Pidge, and those were placed to the side as to give the lords and ladies in front of them their full attention. When Allura, Coran, her brother and the other four paladins finally had their turn in line, their faces were stoic. Coran tried to smile, but ended up having to excuse himself quickly.
"Congratulations on your engagement." Allura said after an awkward silence. The princesses mouth was set in a line, and Pidge only nodded. She felt as if she could barely breathe, looking at them as they were. Pidge dared to glance at her older brother and shrank back almost immediately— his eyes were looking at her in a sort of desperation before glaring daggers at the Galran prince. Her friends looked betrayed, as if she had ruined everything for them. But how? No one else offered anything else to say after a few moments, so the next took their place in line.
They stayed like that for the rest of the banquet as leaders tried to smother them with their congratulations. Pidge kept her best face on and did her best to breathe evenly. Lotor's hand never moved from its place on her back, and she was grateful, because if it hadn't been there she might have fallen over from the shock of it all.
Right after the banquet finally ended, Pidge had several small presents that, from the looks of them, had definitely been for Allura. When they were finally able to extract themselves from the crowd, Lotor walked her back to the castle. They kept a nice distance from each other, Pidge thought, and she kept her eyes on the stars in order to keep her mind off of what was likely ahead of her.
"Tomorrow," Lotor said suddenly. "we will be leaving for another quadrant to announce the news there. Please be ready after your breakfast." Pidge nodded so that he'd know that she had heard him. When they arrived at the castle doors, Lotor kissed her hand once more and bid her goodnight, turning back to go to his own quarters. Now that they were on a Galran planet, Lotor didn't have to stay in their castle anymore. Pidge sort of wished that he were still staying with them, so her friends wouldn't have the opportunity to bombard her with their questions and opinions, but she knew she would have to face them sooner or later.
Taking a deep breath, Pidge opened the door. She wasn't surprised to see everyone standing in the foyer. It was silent for a few ticks as they regarded one another. She wanted to shrink back. She wanted to run past them into her room, but she stood as tall as she could and looked at them levelly.
"Join us in the kitchen if you would, Pidge." Shiro said, and despite the words, Pidge knew that there wasn't another option. Quietly she followed them, keeping her eyes cast downward even as she sat down on one of the stools. Once everyone was settled, Allura took it upon herself to make tea, setting the pot a little too roughly on the stove.
"When did you decide to do this, Katherine?" Allura asked tightly, turning her back on them. The iciness of her tone and the use of Pidge's full name caused her to flinch.
"Last night." She said, still not looking up at them.
"Why?" Matt asked desperately, taking the seat directly beside her. "Is Lotor making you do this?" He took ahold of her shoulder and turned her towards him, his voice desperate. "Did he do something to you that you didn't want to tell us?"
"No!" Pidge, startled by the anger bubbling up in her, drew back from her brother and glared at him. "I asked him to marry me."
"When?" Shiro asked, his mouth pulled down in a frown. Matt had finally let go of her, but Pidge felt as if she could still feel his fingers digging into her skin.
She turned her eyes away again. "Last night. Early this morning. I'm not entirely sure what time it was."
It was deathly quiet for a moment. Pidge could almost taste the tension in the air. She kept her hands pressed into her stomach to stop them from shaking.
"Why?" Allura asked simply, finally turning to face her. The princesses face was pulled back in a grimace, in disbelief of what she was hearing.
"I wanted you to marry like your father wanted." Pidge said simply, finally looking up into Allura's narrowed eyes. She kept her face a blank mask and said nothing more. There wasn't more to be said about it.
"How is that supposed to make me feel?" Allura asked tightly, pouring the tea into the many cups in front of her. "Surely you don't want this. It is my duty as princess of the Altean court to assure alliances like this, and it wasn't your place to interfere."
"Pidge," Shiro said now, before she could respond. "You're just a child."
Pidge fixed her gaze on him. "We were all children when the war started. Why wasn't anyone upset about it then? Either way, I'm an adult now, and I can make my own decisions."
Shiro's look was level, his eyes hard. "Your father told me to take care of you."
"When I was a child, yes, but I've fought in a war, and if that didn't make me an adult, I'm not sure what will. It doesn't matter anymore anyway. "
There was an outcry around her now, and she couldn't concentrate on what anyone was saying. It got to be too much, and she got to her feet, slamming her hand onto the countertop.
"Shut up! I'm doing what I think is right. I understand why you all are upset, but what's done is done. You all can either support me or be mad at me for the rest of our lives. The decision has been made. There's no turning back," The room was quiet now. She took a deep breath. "I'm leaving with Lotor in the morning." And with that, she left the room, wishing that there was a door to slam behind her.
Pidge ran straight to her lion and sat by her paw, feeling a pressure lift off her immediately. Green surged understanding and acceptance through Pidge's entire body, and she sighed in relief, leaning back against the lion's cool metal, she closed her eyes. She took a few deep breaths, and when she opened her eyes once more, Lance was standing in front of her. She sighed.
"Look, I don't feel like arguing anymore—" But instead of saying anything, Lance only sat beside her and hugged her small body to his.
Almost immediately, she started to cry. She didn't want to lose her friends. She knew her future was a lonely one, and suddenly thinking her friends wouldn't be there for her to talk to during it was unbearable.
Lance rubbed soothing circles into her back, letting her weep uninterrupted. He whispered words in his native language, and Pidge found that as she tried to decipher what he was saying, she calmed down. Soon enough she was only occasionally sniffling, and then found it in her to ask, "What are you thinking?" Lance carded his fingers through her hair for a moment before saying anything.
"I think that you wouldn't have made this decision if you didn't know what you were doing. And, I'm going to support you like I always have." His words struck a chord in her and she started crying anew, wrinkling his shirt under her fingers.
"Thank you," She gasped around her tears.
"No problem, Pidgeon." Lance said easily, and the use of her nickname caused a small smile to grace her lips. "Now, why don't we get you packed for your big day tomorrow, yeah?" Pidge nodded and Lance pulled her to her feet, holding her hand all the way to her room.
When they finally arrived, not meeting anyone in the hallway, she turned on her light and realized as she took in what needed to be packed that she had too many tools and projects to take with her, especially with her small bag. Lance seemed to notice her dilemma immediately.
"I'll give you my duffle bags, and I'm sure Hunk wouldn't mind giving you his either." He said, making sure that she heard. Pidge felt like crying again but took a deep breath and nodded.
"Thank you for everything, Lance," Pidge's voice was uncharacteristically small, but Lance didn't say anything about it and went out the door.
Pidge decided to pack what little clothes she owned first and was in the middle of doing so when Lance returned, followed by her brother, the other paladins, and Allura. Their eyes were red and puffy, but before Pidge could say anything or leave, Allura held her hands up in a surrendering gesture. "We're not here to say anything, just to help you pack."
Pidge nodded, tears of gratitude flooding her eyes. God, she really needed to stop crying. "Thank you, guys." She said, and wanted to hug them, but it was already getting late and things needed to be done.
Everyone set to work immediately, having brought their own bags with them. Shiro worked on getting Pidge's books together while Hunk and Matt carefully picked up her projects, trying to figure out how to put them away without damaging them. Keith was folding up her blankets. Lance and Allura had decided to continue to help her with her clothes.
"You don't really have much clothing, do you?" The princess said, eyeing the almost bare closet. The bag they had selected was almost half full. Pidge bit her lip.
"I've only ever had about a weeks' worth," Pidge shrugged.
"I'll be back," Allura suddenly said, turning around and leaving the room. Lance glanced at Pidge and then back at the closet.
"What happened to your jacket?" He asked, eyeing her.
"It was shredded in a mission a few months ago," Pidge said sadly. That was her favorite jacket, and she mourned it all the time. "I haven't really had the time to get another one," Lance was already pulling his own jacket off. "What're you-"
He held it out to her. "Have mine."
"No, Lance, I can't- You got that from your mother."
"She can give me another one." He said gently. "And she would beat me to a pulp if she knew I let a friend go somewhere without a jacket. Pidge, please. To remember me."
"I don't need a piece of clothing to remember my best friend," Pidge said, but she took the garment nonetheless and slipped it on over her armor, still warm from the heat of Lance's body. "Thank you." She said softly, pulling it closer to her.
"Anytime," Lance was back to folding her clothes like nothing had happened. Every so often, Pidge could see her friends glancing at the ring on her finger. It really was beautiful, but it still felt foreign on her finger. She thought back to when Lotor had held her hand as he slipped it on, how his skin had been soft and smooth. Blushing to herself, Pidge turned around and grabbed the remaining clothes out of her dresser, putting them in the bag of clothes. The bag was now almost full but compared to the other bags her friends had brought, it was still relatively small.
"Well now we see where your priorities lie," Keith said, a grin on his face. Pidge managed a smile, going to help them pack the rest of her items. It was then that Allura returned, carrying a bundle of bright and elaborate clothing.
"I remembered," She said, laying the items out on the bed, "that I had some clothing from when I was younger. It should fit you, and it's the perfect style for a future queen."
Pidge's eyes widened. She'd forgotten that, when they married, she'd be a queen. But was she really up for it? She wasn't graceful, or beautiful, or even trained to have that kind of position. As if reading her mind, Allura turned to her and said, kindly, "No one is ever trained enough to take on a ruler's position, no matter how much they've learned. I'm sure Lotor will answer any questions you have, and so will I."
Pidge hugged her tightly, tears threatening to leave her eyes once again. "Thank you so much." She said, her voice a little higher than usual. Soon she was smothered by her group of friends, their armor digging into her the tighter they squeezed, but she didn't mind in the moment. Matt was directly behind her, his chin sitting on her shoulder. When they let go a few moment later, Pidge suddenly thought of something, looking around at her packed luggage.
"What's going to happen to Green?" She asked, and everyone looked to Allura.
"Well," Allura said once everyone pulled back, a curious look on her face, "I hadn't thought about it."
"There isn't anyone to fight anymore anyways," No one had thought about it at all— They'd been celebrating too much, and then mourning the rest of the time. "And it's not like I can take her with me."
"That's probably for the best," Shiro said quietly. "Even with the alliance, we can't afford to divide the lions again."
"But Pidge," Allura interjected, "Please keep the armor. Who knows if you'll need it? Your bond with your lion is one of the strongest I've ever seen. She won't let you get hurt, no matter how far away you are."
"It's getting late though, and you need your rest for tomorrow." Hunk said, oddly somber.
"He's right." Matt said. "Who knows what you'll be doing tomorrow." It was silent for a few ticks then, and Pidge knew they were about to leave to their respective rooms. She didn't want them to leave just yet though, so she came up with an idea.
"Will you all stay with me? Please?" She asked quickly, holding her hands in front of her. The stature made her feel like a child.
Lance smiled. "Of course. We'll probably need another mattress or two though." Hunk and Shiro went off to grab theirs while the rest of them moved Pidge's things to the hallway to assure there'd be enough room. Once her mattress was on the floor, Hunk and Shiro returned and placed their mattresses on either side of hers. They went off again, and before she knew it, the mattresses were covered in blankets and pillows. They went to change into their respective sleepwear and Pidge hurriedly threw her armor into her clothing bag and changed into a t shirt and shorts, waiting patiently for her friends to return.
The came back soon after that, knocking to make sure she wasn't still undressed and then came in. The boys were wearing outfits similar to hers, but Allura was wearing a pretty nightgown. Pidge thought it looked cute and comfortable and was wondering if she'd ever be able to get one herself.
They situated themselves on the mattress, and Pidge was told to be in the very middle, so she was wedged between Lance and her brother. Shiro muttered as he turned the light off but was smiling before they were plunged into darkness. It took a moment for everyone to calm down, the giggles fading into silence as they became situated.
"Pidge?" Matt whispered, his voice amplified by the silence. "Are you scared?" It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Pidge wondered if they were collectively holding their breath, straining to hear her answer.
After a moment, she said, "Yes." She said it quietly, but she knew they had heard. Both Matt and Lance took hold of her hands tightly, shifting closer towards her.
"Yes," She said it under her breath, but everyone heard.
She stayed huddled against them for the rest of the night. No one said anything further, but by one they all fell asleep until Pidge was the only one left. She spent the rest of the night listening to her friends deep breathing and wishing to remember that moment for the rest of her life.
xx
In the morning, Pidge was gently shaken awake. Everyone was gone but Allura, who looked down at her kindly.
"They're making breakfast," The princess explained. "I'm going to help you get ready. The first thing about being a queen is presentation. You're already lovely, Pidge, so all we have to do is enhance that."
Pidge nodded blearily and got up, rubbing her eyes and inspecting a few outfits laid out on the floor. Allura continued, "I took the liberty of, uh, messaging- is that what it's called? Well, I asked him what you could be expecting today, and he said that you would be going into the next part of the galaxy to be featured in a broadcast of your engagement. He planned that out so you wouldn't have to meet a lot of new people until you can be trained a bit more in your duties."
"I'll have to thank him later," Pidge murmured, a numb feeling spreading throughout her chest.
"So, which do you like best? The faster you pick, the more food you get to eat." She said kindly, watching Pidge as she looked at the clothing.
Pidge deflated when she noticed that they were all dresses, though she had to admit- they were very beautiful. Quickly, she chose the dark green dress, embroidered with gold thread. The color made her feel closer to her lion.
Pidge had a hard time figuring out how to put the dress on but was able to manage it with some help from Allura. After repacking everything, they made their way into the dining room. When Pidge walked in, several whistles sounded, and she flushed.
"Oh my god I can say I'm related to royalty," Matt said, a glint in his eyes.
Pidge didn't hesitate. "Just keep using your 'I came back from the dead' line."
"Pidge," Hunk interjected before things could become heated, "come eat." When Pidge got a plate, she saw that everything on the table was her favorite foods. There was even a few that she remembered from their garrison days. She pointed at them.
"Let's hope they don't taste like pigs," Everyone but Allura barked out a laugh.
"Garrison joke," Shiro explained, and then they dug in.
Pidge enjoyed her food until a bell sounded, sending her heart flying. The anxiety that she was keeping in the back of her head flared up now, and she set her fork down with a little more force than necessary. Matt looked at her in concern.
"I didn't know the castle had an alarm," Lance said with an air of uncertainty for the situation, his head cocked to the side.
"I installed it with Coran last week," Pidge said distractedly, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She found that she couldn't meet anyone's eyes— She was afraid that if she did, she would burst into tears immediately.
"I'll get it," Shiro said, but it didn't matter; Pidge was already on her way out the door.
"It would be rude of me to not be there." Was her only explanation, keeping her eyes to the floor. She could hear Shiro walking behind her, but she didn't slow down until she reached the door, opening it up to reveal her fiancé. The thought of it caused her to blush. His eyes widened when he saw her.
"Miss Katherine, may I be so bold to tell you- You look absolutely divine," Pidge thought she could see his own cheeks darken when he noticed that she wasn't the only one there. He coughed. "Are you ready? I have a few people with me that will grab your things."
"Yes, I-" Her eyes widened, "Excuse me, I actually have one more thing I have to do first," And with that she tore down the hall, the flats falling off of her feet as she ran.
Within a few minutes she was standing in front of her lion. Green had been patiently waiting. Pidge stood in front of her, placing a hand on her metal paw. Pidge could swear that she felt a dull thrum underneath her fingertips.
"Well, girl," She said, her voice cracking. "Looks like the end of the line," She had to take another moment. "I'm going to miss you."
Pidge didn't know how long she stood there until someone cleared their throat behind her. It was Lotor, and he looked slightly uncomfortable.
"I'm terribly sorry miss Katherine, but we really must be leaving," He held up her shoes. "I grabbed these for you," Pidge took one last look at her lion before turning and joining Lotor at the door, thanking him for the shoes as she put them back on.
"Sorry. I'd forgotten to say goodbye." She said, looking back at her lion wistfully. Tears rose up again in her eyes, and a few fell before she could pull them back. She wiped her face with the sleeves of the dress and didn't make eye contact with him as they walked back down the hall.
"I completely understand. I'm sorry you have to leave her," Lotor said genuinely, and Pidge felt embarrassed for showing this side of her to him.
"It's alright," She said simply, trying to get away from what he had just witnessed. "We should get going though."
"Right," Lotor said, and Pidge kept herself from looking back again. If she caught another glimpse, she would definitely start crying again.
The goodbye she said to her friends and brother were harder. They took turns giving her hugs and then shared a group hug. Lotor was standing to the side, politely looking around at everything but them. The tears flowed freely down her face now, and as she hugged her brother one last time, he crushed her to him, whispering that he promised to talk to their parents about the situation. Thinking about her family back on earth made her cry more. Who knows when she would see them again?
Too soon, she was out of the castle and following Lotor towards his ship. Her bags had already been taken in, he told her, and he showed her to the window where she could see her friends standing outside. They waved, and she waved back. She watched them on the ground after they took off, and stared at them until she couldn't see them anymore. Almost immediately, she was whisked away from the window and taken on a tour of the ship, courtesy of one of Lotor's generals, whose name she found out to be Acxa.
Acxa was curt and to the point as she talked, and Pidge thought it'd be best if she kept her mouth shut, trying to memorize where everything was. It didn't take long for the Galra general to deposit Pidge into her room. She was told to wait there until Lotor came to 'collect' her. Pidge didn't appreciate how it was worded, but she bit her tongue and waited. She felt more like an object than a person already, and a sense of despair was filling her.
The room was rather large- more like a small apartment, really. Her bags were in a pile in the corner, and Pidge figured that she would be staying there for a while. It was only a few moments of quiet until someone knocked on her door. Pidge looked up and called for them to come in. It was Lotor, of course, and Pidge stood up immediately- She'd been fiddling with a peculiar looking plant in the corner. He didn't say anything about it.
"Miss Katherine, we're going to be arriving at the news studio in just a few dobashes. I'm sure princess Allura has already informed you?"
"Oh! Yeah. Thank you, by the way."
"It's not a problem. I figured it would be better," Lotor said. "I have a few questions to ask you, if I may come in?"
Pidge's eyes widened when she realized he was still standing in the doorway. "Of course- I'm used to people just coming in when they wanted."
"I see," Was the only thing Lotor said as he entered, stopping just a few feet away from where Pidge was standing. She could feel the awkward tension in the air. "There are a few matters that need to be discussed before we're filmed."
"Shoot," She said, and Lotor blinked in confusion.
"Shoot what?" For the first time since entering the ship, Pidge could feel a small smile slipping onto her face.
"On Earth, it's just a way to say 'go ahead'."
"Why don't you just say that then?" Lotor asked, but then shook his head. "Never mind that. What day to you want the wedding to be?"
Pidge's heart fluttered. Of course, it had to be talked about- she couldn't avoid it forever. They couldn't have a long engagement or it would make their futures weirder, so she thought about what day it was on Earth at that moment.
"How about April twenty-second?" Pidge saw more confusion on Lotor's face and rushed to continue. "It's in seven quintents. A week."
"Are you sure?" He asked, sounding surprised that she wanted a date so soon.
"I'm not going to put it off forever. We have to start sooner or later." Pidge shrugged self-consciously.
"I already have someone planning it, unless you want to? I'm told that Earth women usually want an elaborate wedding—"
"Oh god, please don't." She said quickly, an embarrassed blush rising to her face when she realized that she interrupted him.
"No? Is my information inaccurate?" He asked, his eyebrows pulling up quizzically.
"For me, yes. Women usually want big weddings, but I'd rather just have a small amount of people that I know. Does it have to be a big celebration? Do you want a big wedding?"
"It always has been in the past to cater to political leaders," Pidge deflated, "but I suppose it's not tradition, and I'm not a big fan of big gatherings either. It will be a small ceremony then. And you'll want all your friends there as well I assume?"
"Yes, and yours too."
"I'm afraid that I don't have any friends, " Lotor said it in such a way that Pidge's heart twanged.
"What about Acxa, Zethrid and Ezor?" She knew the names of the other generals now because of Acxa mentioning where their quarters were.
"They are my comrades." Lotor said simply.
"So are my friends." Pidge countered, trying to prove a point, and suddenly felt a little sad for her soon-to-be-husband. Did he not understand that people could be more than one thing to you?
"If it makes you happy, I'll invite them when I talk to the wedding planner." He said, and Pidge felt a surge of happiness at the prospect of seeing her friends again.
"Thank you." She said simply and hoped that maybe they could build a friendship themselves in the future. If not, her existence was going to be a lonely one, she thought.
"It's no problem. I want you to be as comfortable as possible here, considering the circumstances."
"I appreciate that," There was a pause.
"Also, during the broadcast, I'll do most of the talking." He said carefully. "No offense intended, but you haven't had the necessary training for speaking in front of an audience."
"No, I completely understand." She said, a little relieved.
She heard a small noise coming from Lotor, and he touched his earpiece before looking back at her and offering his arm. "Are you ready?"
Pidge gently put her arm in his and took a deep breath, "Yes."
They walked through the ship quietly, passing by guards and technicians. When they finally got off of the airstrip, Pidge took a deep breath of the air. There was a faint scent of what smelled like plums in the air, soothing her.
The planet they had landed on reminded pidge of New York— not that she'd ever been there. She'd only seen pictures, brought home by her mother's sister. Everywhere, different races milled around, most with video recorders and other kinds of camera equipment, hoping to get the next big hit. The planet Puig was known throughout the quadrant as being the most unbiased and reliable news network.
Lotor led her down a few blocks. "While we're here, we have to keep our heads down. The people here don't really understand boundaries well when it comes to getting the information they need for a good story, and we have to be at the studio soon." Pidge nodded and they increased their pace. It was fine for a while until someone gasped near them.
"Is that Prince Lotor and his fiancé?" They asked loudly, and more people turned their heads. Damnit, Pidge thought as people started to crowd closer to them.
"I knew we should have landed closer," Lotor muttered as they ducked into a random building to their right. It looked to be a hotel, the only person inside being an elderly alien behind the counter. He didn't look up when they came in. "We still have a few blocks to go." He finally met her gaze. "I'm terribly sorry about this."
"It's alright. I'm sure if anyone tried to do anything, we could take them. And I'm used to it anyways- I'm a paladin, remember?" She tried to smile encouragingly, but her heart refused to stop pounding in her chest. She hoped it wasn't terribly audible.
Lotor's lip curled in a wry smile. "It's hard to forget. The bad thing about being royal is that we aren't supposed to fend off any attackers. It's seen as undignified."
Pidge arched a brow. "It that tradition?"
The Galran prince chuckled. "Well, no. I wasn't going to follow that anyways. But we can hardly be violent with fans. It's just a hassle trying to get away from their cameras."
"I understand," Pidge thought for a moment. "Why don't we just run?"
"Run? I had thought of that, but my legs are a lot longer than yours." He motioned towards her.
"I've been running every day for the past four years. Bring it on," She leaned down and removed her shoes. "I'm ready now."
Lotor eyed her feet. "Without your shoes?"
"They'll just slow me down," was all the explanation she gave. Lotor seemed to realize this and held out a hand.
"Then let's run, shall we?"
Pidge laced her fingers through his, and they exploded back into the street. The mob was being held back by Zethrid, Acxa and Ezor. They looked back when they heard the door open.
"Your Highness!" Zethrid shouted, but Lotor was already cutting through the crowd, pulling Pidge along with him. She brushed by people, but her footing was always sure, so she didn't stumble. Lotor didn't let go of her hand when they were free from the crowd. Instead, he looked back at her and laughed. Pidge marveled at the sight, telling herself that her heart was only pounding from adrenaline.
"I'm surprised you didn't fall!" He shouted. Pidge pumped her legs faster until they were right beside each other, no one taking the lead.
"I've had a lot of practice." She said wryly. The air whipped at her face and she felt a sense of freedom, her legs pumping, giddiness surging through her.
"The building is just up here to the right." He said easily.
They slowed down as they reached the block. Everyone from the original crowd was way behind them, and they took the moment of respite to regain their breath. Lotor wasn't breathing heavily, though, and Pidge didn't allow herself to either. They entered the building then, and Pidge found the light blue lobby charming.
Suddenly, as if the thought had just struck him, Lotor turned to her, his eyes sparkling, "Would you mind joining me for dinner after this?"
Pidge breathed out a "Yes," and then someone was calling Lotor's attention. He was a tan skinned man, his cheeks the color of lilacs. He had a pleasant aura, Pidge thought, and he smiled at them.
"Your Highnesses, you made it just in time. I am Neba, and I'm going to lead you to your prep rooms, okay?"
Lotor nodded and the doors burst open behind him.
"Lotor, a little warning please." Zethrid grumbled.
"I'll do my best." Lotor said simply, and as they were following Neba to a hallway, Pidge could hear the generals whispering.
"Was that a joke? Why are they holding hands if they only just met?"
Pidge's cheeks burned when she realized that they were still holding hands, but Lotor held onto her so tightly that she couldn't have let go if she wanted to. He was probably just keeping up appearances. Neba led them down a series of hallways, bustling interns skirting around them and passing conversations in side rooms. When they finally reached where they were going, Neba turned back to them with a wide professional smile.
"I made sure your rooms were right next to each other," He said, "There's about fifteen minutes before call, so you may freshen up if you wish," It was if he was looking directly at Pidge, who was looking down at her scratched feet, clearly where she held her dress up to walk, her shoes clutched in her extra fingers.
Their hands finally slid apart when they entered their respective rooms, neither of them looking at each other. She closed the door quietly behind her, took a deep breath, and grabbed her phone. She sat down on the plush chair in front of the vanity and dropped her shoes to the floor. The vanity was well lit and covered in makeup, but Pidge didn't know how to touch her face up. She figured she looked as good as she was going to get anyways, and dialed Lance. It rang for a few moments, and then the call was picked up.
"Hey hunny-bunny. What's up?"
"I'm just freshening up for the news thing and missing everyone." She sighed.
"We miss you too. Also, I saw a video where you and Lotor were holding hands and running. What do you have to say about that?"
"That already in the—" How was she even surprised? "Anyways, I just wanted to check in. How is everything going?"
Lance took a moment to answer. "Everyone's just upset that you're gone. Allura most of all I think."
"Allura?"
"Yeah. She's blaming herself because you took her place, and we know you're unhappy. Matt told us about your dream wedding from when you were kids and it's kind of got to us."
Pidge sighed. "I'm doing what I think is best, and I let go of that dream when the war started. I don't mind marrying someone I don't love." She kept her voice light as she said it, though she didn't entirely mean it. "That's why I made this decision. I respect Lotor and he respects me. We've gone over a couple of things and he's been asking my opinions on decisions about what we're going to do. After all," she added wryly, "now I have all the time and resources in the world for my hobby."
"Really?" Lance asked, a tone of disbelief in his voice.
"Yeah, like he's taking my feelings into account when making decisions," Pidge told him about the conversation they'd had earlier about Earth woman and weddings. "When he found out I wasn't comfortable with that, he immediately changed everything."
"That's really awesome actually. Whenever he was here, he seemed standoffish."
"I know, but I think he was just nervous in a new area. But he asked me to dinner, and I'm kind of freaking out about it. Like, I spent most of my teen years looking for my dad and brother and fighting a fucking war!" Pidge ran a hand through her hair. "I've never been on a date before."
"Pidge, just be yourself. I'm sure he'll love you just like everyone else." Pidge's heart gave a particularly loud thud. Though she wanted to believe it was true, she doubted it. How could they come to love each other with the circumstances?
"I don't know Lance. I think I'd rather be fighting a giant monster right now."
"You'll do great. We're backing you up, remember?" He said gently, and she nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. Just then there was a knock on the door, and Neba peered in when Pidge indicated that it was okay to come in, Neba poked his face through the opening.
"Lady Holt? It's time." Pidge nodded and he closed the door once more.
"Look," She said to Lance, "I've got to go. They're about to start the interview. Love you."
"Love you too! You'll do great!" Pidge ended the call and got to her feet, slipping her shoes back on and putting her phone back in her pocket. She made sure everything was in place before she left the room, finding Lotor waiting outside.
"Ready?" He asked, and Pidge grimaced.
"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Pidge noticed Lotor's dress change and asked, "Was I supposed to change too?"
Lotor shook his head. "I only changed to match you more." They started following Neba once again and it only took a moment to get where they were going. Neba turned around and opened the door for them.
"Here's the stage. Now, the feed is going to be live, but there isn't going to be an audience. All we're going to do is ask you both questions about the wedding and any upcoming plans for the New Peace. Does that sound okay?"
Lotor nodded, then looked down at Pidge. "How does that sound to you?"
"It sounds fine," She said, but still couldn't shake her nervousness. Despite their reputation, the last news outlet had announced that her father and brother were dead, despite the signs Pidge gave them to prove otherwise. She hoped this one wouldn't twist any words.
The stage looked like any normal living room: Plush couches, a coffee table. The only thing was missing was two entire walls. Instead, that empty space was full of cameras at different angles. A woman got up from her chair when they entered, a pretty pink skinned girl with curly blonde hair. She shook both of their hands with a bright smile before speaking.
"Thank you both so much for coming. It's an honor- I'm Simone."
"Thank you for having us," After exchanging pleasantries about their trip and such, they got to sit down on the loveseat with mugs of warm tea.
"So, can I ask you guys a few warm up questions before we start rolling?" When given the go ahead, Simone straightened in her seat. "You two got engaged yesterday. How much do you know about each other?"
"Admittedly not a lot, but we're working on it." Lotor said, looking over at Pidge. She decided that the loveseat was a little small.
"And Katherine- can I call you Katie?"
"I'd actually prefer if you didn't." Pidge said, hoping she didn't sound rude, but Simone only made a little note and continued.
"That's not a problem at all. Katherine, you've been fighting the war since you were fourteen. What did you think when you became a paladin of Voltron?"
"Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed," She said, laughing lightly, "I was honored to be given the opportunity to help with the war, and am glad that through that I could bring my family safely home."
There was a pause. Pidge's heart was pounding in her chest- she hoped that Lotor couldn't hear it. Simone nodded, a bright smile on her face.
"Perfect! Alright your Highnesses, we're going to begin in three, two, one..."
Simone looked to the cameras, her smile bright and inviting. "Hello everyone! I'm currently with the most talked about couple across the galaxy— Prince Lotor and Katherine Holt! We're going to be talking some about the New Peace and the couple's upcoming wedding," She turned back to face them. "So, about the wedding first. What are you guys thinking of doing with it?"
"Well," Lotor said, "We've decided that we're going to have a small wedding with only immediate family and friends to be more comfortable with each other and build a better understanding together. We'll have a gathering later for a big celebration after Katherine and I have settled in, but that's still way in the future."
"And what day?" Simone asked.
"Seven quintents from today." Lotor answered easily, and Pidge did her best to keep the polite smile on her face.
"Katherine," Pidge's heart leapt painfully, "what kind of theme are you thinking of?"
"Something to do with nature and a lot of sun." She said, trying to keep the waver out of her voice. She thought she did pretty well and made sure not to look at the cameras.
"That sounds absolutely lovely! And I see you already have a ring?" She said in a sing song voice, and Pidge nodded, showing it to her with what she hoped was a pleased smile. "That's beautiful! Lotor, is there anything you want to tell us about it?"
"Oh, it's just a family heirloom," He said, shrugging with an easy smile. Pidge wondered if she'd been the only one he told.
"It's just gorgeous," Simone gushed. "Katherine, a little birdie told me that you're originally from Earth, in a country called Italy? Would you mind telling us about it?"
"Well, it's settled around a fault line, so there's a lot of earthquakes, but then it's also by a few volcanoes, which have erupted three times in the last hundred years. It's very beautiful." To be truthful, Pidge hadn't thought about Italy itself since she'd been gone. She'd just been focused on getting her family back to Earth.
"But why would humans live there if it's so dangerous?"
"I don't think that there's another place any Italians would rather be."
"I guess that's understandable then," Simone laughed. "Now, about the New Peace," Pidge thought she felt Lotor's arm twitch where it pressed against hers. "What are some things you have planned for that?"
"Well, for starters, we're going to oversee special cleanups of every planet and plant new vegetation. Then we're going to take care of things from the palace on Galra and help any way we can. That's the only information I can give you for now."
"Will Katherine be helping with this?" She asked.
"Of course, she is to be queen. Why would she not?"
"Well, since Katherine is a paladin of Voltron, rumors have been going around that she would mainly be spending time with her lion and the others as she has done for the past four years. Anything to say about that?"
Pidge couldn't help but speak up. "I still and always will be a Voltron paladin," She took a deep breath. "but as of now I've stepped aside to fulfil my duties as queen and help Lotor help the galaxy and our people." Pidge kept her eyes on Simone, but she could feel Lotor's gaze on her face.
The broadcast didn't last much longer after that. Simone thanked them again and curtsied before taking their mugs and exiting out the door. Neba was in the hallways as he said he would be.
"That was wonderful!" Neba exclaimed. "Thank you both very much for this opportunity."
"It was our pleasure. Where is the rest of our party?" Lotor was as calm and collected as ever; Pidge envied him. They were walking back down the hallway now
"They were asked to stay in the lobby. They were assured that you were most protected."
"That's not enough," Lotor muttered, and when they entered the lobby, it was obvious that he was right. Immediately when the doors opened, three heads turned, and his generals immediately leapt to their feet.
"Your Highness!" Zethrid shouted when they drew nearer. "They wouldn't let us through."
"It's alright, Zethrid. I am able to take care of myself you know." He said, smiling knowingly.
"Well yeah," Ezor said, in a 'duh' sort of way. "but we were still worried."
Lotor looked taken aback, but was kept from saying anything when Acxa spoke up, "Where are we going next?"
"To the ship, and then I'll give you orders from there."
They all bid goodbye to Neba and left the building. There were significantly less people outside now, and the group had an easy time walking back to their ship. Lotor and his generals spoke easily to each other, but Pidge wasn't comfortable enough to say anything. She thought about how nice it felt to have Lotor's hand in hers, and blushed. She was embarrassed to be thinking that it had fit nicely in her hand.
When they were almost to the ship, Pidge noticed Lotor looking at her from time to time. After a few minutes of this, she finally asked him what he was doing.
"I was just thinking," He said, "that even though you don't have any training, you have a talent for keeping your emotions in check while on camera. You did very well. You handled that last comment nicely."
"Well thank you," Pidge said, blushing. She hoped that it was too dark for him to see it. "Though I would be way better if you gave me some tips."
"I would be happy to." Lotor said, and then they reached the ship. Lotor gave his generals some instructions, then asked Pidge to escort her back to her room. Pidge once again tried to name all the areas as they passed before the arrived back at her new room, and as they entered, she turned to him.
"How much time am I going to be spending in this room?" She asked.
"Well, we will be using this vessel for some time, but you are not confined to that specific area, of course." Lotor said confusedly. "What made you think you weren't allowed to roam as you please?"
"Acxa made it pretty clear that she didn't want me wandering around." Pidge explained, a little embarrassed.
Lotor sighed. "Acxa is jealous, but she doesn't have any authority over you. You are of higher rank. You're free to move as you please- you are my fiancé after all, so you have clearance to everything," He raised an eyebrow, and she blushed. "I will see you in two hours, miss Katherine." Lotor walked away then, Pidge stuck in place for nearly a minute.
Where were they going to eat? Should she dress up more, dress down or keep what she has on? Never in her life had Pidge thought so much about her looks, except, well, when she was trying to look like a boy in the beginning of her adventure.
Going further into her room, she decided to forget about it and unpack. Her books went to the shelf and all her clothes in the dresser. All the furniture was nailed to the ground in case of turbulence or an attack. She decided to try and keep her projects in a somewhat organized manner, but she ended up just keeping them in their bags and dumping them in the corner.
Deciding that she looked fine, Pidge fiddled with a few wires that had sprouted form a piece of torn metal inside the topmost bag. What was she supposed to do for two hours? Lotor had said that she could go where she wanted, but she wasn't entirely comfortable with that idea yet— especially not without Lance or Hunk. Suddenly, once again, she felt alone.
She was— She'd left all her friends and got onto a ship that was god-knows how far away. It had been less than a day, but she already felt a hole inside her.
Determined to get out of her slump, Pidge took the bag and sat down by it, pulling the pieces out and toying with them. She bit her lip, trying to decide if she had enough scraps to make what she had in mind.
"Where are the goddamn wall outlets?"