Okay, I'm sorry for taking this long to get this chapter out. I was having a little bit of trouble with Keith and Hunk oddly enough because well, Hunk's usually a nice guy and this situation is different to what he's used to handling with the team. That said, I do hope you enjoy this chapter!

3. Subtle Signs

Pidge knew that avoiding the others would make them more suspicious that something was going on but she had no idea what to tell them so she had come to sit in her room that had been arranged for her on the Atlas. There had to be some easy excuse that would sound believable when she said it, but their connection as Voltron meant they shared each other's pain when combined. Why couldn't I form the shield I usually can? I could have gotten us all killed. I let everyone down, what's wrong with me? Maybe I should talk to Keith about this. I wouldn't blame him if he wants to throw me off the team.

"Pidge?" Her boyfriend's voice cut through her and for once she really didn't want to hear another lecture when she felt bad enough already but knew that could end badly so she got up and opened the door to let James into the room.

"Hey," Pidge said quietly, not looking up at him.

"What was all that about?" James said, raising an eyebrow at her. "I've never seen Voltron as pathetic as it was back there and you guys were moving so slow. You guys out of practice or something?"

Pidge couldn't reply. She didn't want to mention that Keith had asked to form a shield and she had been unable to follow that simple command because it would lead to him getting angry but she didn't want to lie either. So she didn't say anything at all and just looked at him silently. In hindsight, she knew that would annoy him but what was she supposed to say?

James frowned. "Oi, Pidge, I'm talking to you." He clicked his fingers in front of her face and she snapped to attention almost instantly.

"I don't know what happened," Pidge finally said. "So I don't know how to answer your question. I'm really tired, James. I just want to rest for a bit so I can figure things out." She made to go sit back on her bed but James grabbed her by the wrist. Her heart sunk at this. Did he want to - right now - she knew fighting it would make him angrier but she honestly didn't have the strength.

"I want to spend time with you," James said shrugging. "You're not too tired for that right?" There was a glint in his eye as there always was when he wanted to have sex with her. There were times when she tried to say no but he would become so sad when she did so she would eventually give in to his demands. They were in a relationship - it was natural, as he constantly kept reminding her - even if it didn't feel like it to her. I've always been different - an outcast - so his views are probably a lot more correct than mine are.

"I need to focus on resting so I can be there for my team," Pidge replied, making to pull her wrist out of his grip albeit the grip tightened around it suddenly, the grip becoming almost painful. "James, please, let go of me." She tried to pry her wrist free but an alarmed cry left her lips as James twisted her wrist, eyes watching her silently, expression becoming darker as he looked at her.

"Pidge? Pidge, are you there?" Hunk's voice was clear as the sound of footsteps approached and James immediately loosened his grip on her wrist, allowing her to break free, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest, silently praying he hadn't heard anything.

"Not a word," James warned her before Hunk entered the room.

"Hey Pidge – oh sorry James," Hunk said apologetically. "I thought Pidge might be alone right now and I was kind of worried about her, that's all."

James smiled at Hunk. "No, it's okay, Hunk although you should know Pidge isn't alone anymore. She has a boyfriend now."

"Yeah, I know," Hunk said, sounding casual but she could sense something off about her friend as he replied which made Pidge bite her lip slightly. "I was just worried about her. She seemed kind of out of it and almost as if she were in pain in the battle, has she told you anything?"

Pidge felt herself shrink down, wishing the ground would swallow her, knowing Hunk didn't know any better. He didn't know how fatal his words would be for her and she didn't know how bad this next beating would be and if she would be able to use clumsiness or walking into the wall as an excuse this time. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know. He was just worried about her as a good friend should be. Her eyes fixated on James, trying to read his expression which seemed calm right now but she knew better. She always knew better, after one year of being with James.

James nodded. "Yeah, Pidge took a pretty nasty fall earlier." His face fell over in concern. "She's so clumsy sometimes. She should be okay after a little bit of rest."

Hunk shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess." He looked to Pidge. "You sure you don't need anything? Food, water or anything?"

Pidge could feel the worry radiating from her friend but plastered a smile on her face as she had earlier for her mother. "I'll let you know if I do." She stepped forward and took James's hand in her own. "Right now, I'm okay with just James here. I'll be okay, Hunk. Like James said, I just need a little bit of rest."

Hunk nodded. "Alright then, I'll let the others know since they were all pretty worried about you." He headed out the door, looking back once and Pidge felt their eyes lock for a moment before she quickly had to look away from the intensity of her friend's gaze. It felt as if he were seeing through her smile somehow and she couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't let her friends pay the price for her flaws.

Hunk somehow could feel that something was off – that Pidge wasn't herself and he knew James had wanted him to leave the room. He didn't know why or the exact details of it but he knew for Pidge's sake, he couldn't just let this go, just as he hadn't been able to let his feelings about Rolo and Nyma go. He headed back to the main room seeing Keith and Shiro talking to a few key members of the Atlas as well as the MFE pilots, his gaze stopping on Keith. He knew their topic was important but Pidge was more important right now.

His fist clenched a bit as he realised this could not wait and Keith needed to know. But what exactly are you going to tell him? That you think whatever Pidge is going through might have something to do with James? You don't have any proof about that. It was true he didn't have proof but he could feel it in his gut that something was seriously wrong and that Pidge needed help but wasn't sure how to ask for it. I don't care if I don't have proof – I know something is off and Keith's our leader as well. He has to know.

Hunk walked over to the middle of the group, tugging at Keith's sleeve. "Keith, I need to talk to you."

Keith frowned a bit and was about to say something but as Hunk's eyes locked with his, his expression became curious and slightly concerned. "Alright, just let me finish up here real quick ok?"

Hunk nodded, pulling away and stepping aside to wait. He fidgeted, looking around. There was a sinking feeling in his heart that there was something really bad happening on this ship right now but he couldn't place his finger on what. Pidge, please stay safe. Out of all the Paladins, he did have a soft spot for the youngest because she was like a little sister to him and he would do anything to somehow take her pain no matter how scared he was.

"Hunk," Keith's voice brought him back to reality and he realised his friend had come over. "What is it? You normally don't interrupt like this unless its something serious."

"Keith, have you noticed anything kind of well…off about Pidge lately?" Hunk asked his friend. "Like she's not herself or something?"

Keith paused for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, she didn't seem like herself in battle and was unable to form the shield too but more than that, she was hurt, in some sort of pain. Due to our combined connection as Voltron, I could feel it too." He peered at Hunk. "Do you know anything about that?"

"I didn't before," Hunk said thoughtfully. "But well, I was worried so I went to go talk to her. James was there and I know that's not that weird but I dunno, something's not right, Keith. He said she suffered a nasty fall and the pain was from that but Pidge isn't clumsy. Like if someone told me that about Lance, I'd believe it in a heartbeat cause he's always walking into walls, you know but Pidge? She's pretty careful about things and its not just that, when I talked about how I came because I wanted to talk to Pidge, thinking she was alone in her room, he sounded a bit possessive? Like telling me that he was her boyfriend and reminding me that she wasn't alone. I mean, I know that. They've been dating for one whole year, why wouldn't I know that? Something isn't right about him, Keith. I know I don't have any proof about it but I can feel it. Pidge is in some kind of bad situation but won't tell anyone and we can't help her until she tells us."

He had thought at first going to Lance but given how protective he could be over Pidge, his best friend would jump to conclusions and probably go and punch James. They did not need that right now – not without proof that James was the cause. He could see Keith listening deeply to his words as if he were thinking about it.

"You think James is…" Keith trailed off, expression darkening slightly and his fist clenched before he exhaled. "We need to know for sure somehow, Hunk. Do you have a way?"

Hunk sighed. "Not yet, but I'm not going to stop until I find out more information. Keith, I know the mission is important, but Pidge's safety is important to me. I need to find out more about this."

Keith nodded in agreement. "It's always affecting her abilities in Voltron so find out what you can ok? I'll see if I notice anything off as well. We're headed to an old Blade of Marmora base to see if we can get a hold of Krolia and some of the other members but in the meantime, try to see what's going on."

"Roger that," Hunk agreed right away as he nodded. "Just Keith? Don't mention this to Lance and the others yet. Even if I think my gut feelings are correct, Lance will probably not wait for proof before going to punch Griffin. I want to make sure he deserves it before letting Lance do that."

Keith chuckled a bit at that. "He probably would. Don't worry, I won't say anything."

Hunk nodded, becoming a little bit lost in his thoughts after that. He didn't know how to prove his theories about James which were just gut feelings at this stage but he would do whatever he could. He wouldn't leave Pidge alone in this. He couldn't leave her alone in this.

"Hunk?" Keith's voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked to see his friend looking at him. "We're going to help Pidge, I promise."

"Yeah, I know," Hunk said softly. "I just hope we can help her before its too late."

Keith's expression firmed and he nodded at that. "We will. I know you'll be able to find out the truth, Hunk. You were able to about Rolo and Nyma."

"Not before Lance got hurt," Hunk countered frowning. "I know Lance was strong and Pidge is too, but he called us when he needed help. I don't get it, why isn't Pidge telling us anything? We're her friends, we can help."

"I don't know," Keith admitted honestly. "But maybe something is stopping her. We just need to find out what. If anyone can, it's you, Hunk."

Hunk watched Keith for a moment before nodding. "Okay. I hope so."