This chapter went places I was not expecting, compared to when I first thought of it.. As I was writing, I tried to think how each of them would react, Pidge being logical about it, while Keith being emotional about it and then I started to think about how he was raised and what Shiro would have taught him, and how Pidge outside of Allura is pretty much his only female friend and well, it turned into this...tell me what you think?

The suffocating weight on Pidge's chest and the buzzing haze in her mind was easing and erasing. Now that she was out of that crowded ballroom. She could focus on the mission, what they needed to get, and how they were going to get it, and vague instructions on how to find it.

She hated working with limited knowledge, having the layout of the place, locations of cameras and other mechanical security features, but little to no info on Guard patterns, rotation, numbers? None of that… it was frustrating, but this wasn't too different than how they handled things during the first few months as a team, before they had the blades, before they had any major allies.

At least having Keith with her, they could adapt to whatever might come their way. Fighting one on one few could beat Keith, and she hadn't met a piece of tech she couldn't bend to her will. Their only major downfall was her freakin noisy dress.

The multiple layers of the skirt creating rustling every time she turned or swayed her body in the slightest. It hadn't seemed very noisy or noticeable as she tried it on, or as they walked around in the open. But now that every light sound could be the difference between staying hidden or being discovered; the ruffles were close to deafening.

Keith kept glancing back at her, tensing each time the dress shifted a little too loudly. She mouthed a sorry, holding her dress a little tighter and higher each time. The effort felt futile as at least one of the layer would always find some way to shuffle around.

Making their way through this place, was much slower than it should have been for them, all because of the dress… it gradually frustrating both of them more and more. Clearly, she had to make sure that any future stealth missions had a thoroughly tested stealth dress, that if she would ever let them convince her to do something like this again.

They froze, footsteps echoed in the distance unable to tell if it was a guard or servant, and they were barely halfway to where they needed to be. With limited rooms around them and much too far away from the main party to make any believable excuse; or at least no excuse Keith or her could pull off.

Pidge's mentally brought up the blueprint of this area and what each room size was and it's most likely function. She glanced around only three rooms and only one that could be a feasible hiding spot.

She rushed over to the door she needed to get through, her fingers rapidly tapping over the control panel, breaking down the basic code that made up the locking mechanism.

Corner of her eye she could see Keith stepping between her and the approaching sounds of footsteps. Reaching for his blade, seeing him make a double take before glancing back at her, probably recalling that his weapon was on her. Shaking his head and facing in the direction of the noise again, sliding into a fighting stance, just as she got the door to open.

The room was small and dark with only bits of the light from the hall to illuminate the little room, judging by the folded clothes or sheets, it was some kind of linen closet. This would work for their hiding spot.

Pidge letting go of one side of her dress, reaching out for Keith's arm, her small hand pulling on his armoured arm, Keith locked his legs stopping her from leading him. It through Pidge off a little, he never used to resist her guiding him before.

Keith whipped his head around to face her, Pidge letting go of the rest of her heavy dress to point aggressively at the room, tugging on his arm again this time with more force, Keith gradually easing his stance and followed her in.

The room was small but fit the two of them with relative ease, hearing the steps getting ever closer. Pidge moving around Keith to hit the coded panel inside the room; closing the door. Drowning the room in darkness as the door closed.

She stepped back bumping into Keith, the telltale ruffle noise of her dress felt like it was echoing in the small room as she twisted to face him.

Seemingly with little thought, Keith stopped her, snaking an arm around her waist and holding her close to his form. The room was pitch black she could see anything, needing to purely rely on her other sense, she felt the chin of his helmet rest on her shoulder.

"Don't move" his whispered into her ear, making as little noise as he needed to. She made no noise of confirmation, knowing that would be little help in this situation, she could feel him nodding slightly against her shoulder. Before ever so slowly shifting and moving behind her.

Keith keeping his right arm firmly pressed around her waist, he carefully bent down. Pidge feeling his legs pressing into her dress, knees brushing around her outer legs, as he squatted down. Hearing a rustle of her dress's layers and feeling a slight shift in the skirt part of her dress. Briefly wondering what he was doing.

The footsteps were so close now, Keith's fingers gripping her side a little tighter, wondering if he was preparing to attack or getting enough leverage to lunge forward while holding her and keeping her out of harm's way. It wasn't uncommon for Keith to take a hit for her, and it made sense now more than ever. His armour could take a few hits and still leave him relatively unharmed, her dress, on the other hand, gave her little to no protection.

The footsteps came up to the door and… passed them without so much as a pause in their steps.

She relaxed slightly but refused to let herself sigh, or make any kind of noise, knowing that the slightest sound could make their passer by round back towards them.

The small noise in the distance of more echoing steps made both of them tense again, they sounded a fair distance away but had no way to tell if they were going to come towards them or head down a different corridor.

Keith lifted up the many layers that made up the skirt of her dress, Pidge sharply breathing through her nose and almost biting her tongue, startling her with the action. Keith froze, Pidge mind scrabbling for a moment, wondering why he would even want to or need to lift her dress, then she thought of what Keith needed… his blade was hidden under her dress.

She figured it would make less noise for him to lift up her dress and get his blade than her trying to bend over and fumble with the layers herself. Keith must have figured the same and it was way he was currently trying to do what he was doing. Pidge using her right hand to gently tap the arm he had around her waist, signally him it was okay to continue.

Pidge could feel a burst of cool air brushing over her legs as Keith kept lifting her dress higher. She felt the side of his helmet lightly brushing against her arm using it as a guild to where she was in the pitch black room as he gradually stood up. Pidge could tell he was taking special care to make as little noise as possible as he moved her dress, holding still as the front of her dress reached her mid-thigh. Pidge feeling the layers of her dress bunching up against her the bottom of her stomach just below his arm that was still wrapped firmly around her waist.

Keith held the dress there till he finished standing resting his chin on her shoulder, leaning a little more forward and over her shoulder. Granting his arm a little more movement, dipping his hand under her dress, his gloved fingers brushing over her leg.

She couldn't stop herself from shivering as the cold touch of his glove touched her skin, biting her lower lip to hold back a squeak of surprise. It must have not been silent enough as she felt his head tilt a little towards her.

She nodded the side of her head brushing up and down against the side of his helmet, hoping he could feel the movement and read it's meaning. The sound of muffled steps growing closer, no doubt now that the person was heading to their door, it left little time for them, but they still had to play this cautiously encase the person would just pass them as the last one did. His whole gloved hand pressed against the bare skin of her thigh, the cool sensation against her warm skin making a shiver travel all the way up her spine but she at least had enough control to stop any noises this time.

Pidge swore she could feel goosebumps forming everywhere his glove hand touched, as he slowly glided his hand up higher till he felt the strap of the weapon holster. His fingers gliding over the strap going outwards. That was when her mind so helpfully clicked in and reminded her; Keith's weapon was on her other leg.

Pidge quickly used her left arm to grab his exploring left arm, her hand guiding down over his armour, sliding over the back of his gloved hand and her fingers between his fingers. She could practically feel his confusion as the metal of his helmet pressed against her cheek, her mind's eye envisioning the questioning look he was giving her.

She kept her focus on his hand and her eyes on the door as she tugged his hand, thankful the little tug was all it took for him to let her take the lead this time. The footsteps getting uncomfortably close; she carefully guided his hand over the straps, trying to make as little noise as possible, feeling the pinky and thumb of his glove brushing over skin as she leads him to the right weapon.

She could only move her hand so far without moving her body, letting go of his hand to let him feel out where his weapon was on his own. Keith's wrist and arm sliding through her hand as it reaches towards her outer thigh, her fingers gliding over the smooth armour of along his arm.

Pidge could feel the sheath of the hoster shift as he found it, hand sliding up the hoster to find the handle to his blade as the steps paused in front of their door.

Light flashed into the room partly blinding them both, Keith focuses shifting to getting his weapon gripping the handle and sliding it out without hurting Pidge.

Her hand gripping his wrist like a vice, Pidge's eyes registering the person at the door before he could, his hand and weapon remaining hidden under the curtain of her skirt.

A servant girl, judging by the uniform, eyes wide and face flushing a deep purple.

"I-I'm so sorry, I-didn't-know" the girl rambled out her words "I-I just continue what you're doing" she squeaked slamming her hand on the control panel closing the door and shuffling away making little noises of discomfort.

They both stayed still as confusion flooded them both, the servant didn't seem scared at all, surprised for sure and very...embarrassed? She didn't even confront them about being there, and even apologized like she had interrupted something.

It took a few long moments of deduction before the reason hit Pidge, and she registered how they must look to an outsider.

Keith's body pressed flush against her back, his helmet and her face leaning and pressing against the side of each other, his right arm wrapped firmly around her waist keeping her close and still with her hand still resting over his, with a mix of her and his's hands under her dress.

"Oh," Pidge blushed, unable to hold back the noise of realization, as he put the pieces together.

"What?" Keith questioned just above a whisper, his helmet sliding over her cheek and ruffling the bangs of her wig as turned to look at her.

"She thought you were feeling me up" Pidge replied, no wonder the girl was embarrassed she thought she walked in on a noble having a secret affair with her knight.

"Feeling you up?" Keith questioned, clearly having no idea, what that term meant.

She felt her cheeks growing a little hotter knowing she had to explain "She thought you were sexually touching and fondling me" Pidge told him, feeling Keith jolt against her as her words sunk in, before bolting backwards, scrabbling to get his arms off of her and getting as far away from her as possible, banging against the shelves behind them.

Pidge wasn't sure if she should feel insulted he had such a strong reaction to the thought of touching her like that or amused with how embarrassed the usually stoic Keith probably was right now.

She chooses the later, though felt a little disappointed she couldn't see his face right now thanks to the darkroom and his helmet.

"Relax I know that wasn't your intention" Pidge assured him, a smile spreading across her lips as she tried to envision what a flustered embarrassed Keith's face looked like right now.

There was a light ruffle of her dress as she turned to face him, reaching out, her hand touching the armour on his chest, His body going as stiff as a statue.

"Keith, are you oka-"

"Sorry" Keith blurted out "you can punch or hit me"

"What!?" she questioned; where was this coming from?

"I'm so sorry, I never meant to force that kind of touch on you, I never meant to force you to stay still for that reason" Keith sounding so guilty his voice struggling to stay quiet and she could feel him trembling against his hand.

Pidge couldn't understand why he was acting like this, acting so panicked and guilty, and saying he forced this on her, Pidge trying to see things from Keith's point of view, trying to think what he had done that seemed so wrong it was shaking him to his core...oh damn it did he think he sexually assaulted her?

She could picture Shiro teaching Keith that forcefully touching a girl or anyone like that was the worst thing any person could do. She could see how Keith now seeing his actions in hindsight might see her shivering as fear instead of a reaction from his cold gloves, or her needing to stay still for the sake of their lives; as a way to trap her into not fighting him. Keith still trembling against her hand, making her feel guilty for her earlier amusement.

"Woah, Keith, calm down" Pidge softly hushed, her hands gently patting over his chest and shoulders till she could feel his head gently pulling his head down as she rested her forehead against the forehead of his helmet, trying to make him focus on her over whatever thoughts were rampaging through his head.

"I know you weren't feeling me up, I know you were only trying to get your weapon" she softly assured, his trembling subsiding a little.

"I'm sorry Pidge, I didn't think... you know I would never force that kind of thing on you," Keith told her quietly, and though she couldn't see his face she could still hear the guilt gripping voice.

"I know" she whispered back, nodding her head against his helmet. "Just make sure to think about it in the future, you were lucky it happened with me this time"

"Lucky?" he questioned, Pidge hearing a little angry slip into his tone.

"Yes," she answered nodding against his helmet again "because I know you Keith, you're one of the few people in this galaxy I really trust. I understand you did what you did to try and help the situation, I never once thought you were doing it for... that other reason" She could feel a little extra weight against her head, figuring he was now letting himself rest his head against hers.

"Also do you think for a second if you were crossing a line, I wouldn't be grabbing my own weapon and shocking the daylights out of you?" she questioned with a raised brow.

Pidge could hear Keith let out an amused huff in his helmet, his trembling casing.

"Pidge…" Keith started than paused, his tone suggesting he wanted to ask a question. PIdge staying quiet giving him time to properly form his question or think through his words. "...Can I hug you?"

She felt a smile tug on her lips, "Always" she replied raising onto her tiptoes to slide her arms around his neck, feeling his shoulders slump as he gently wraps an arm around her waist, his other arm wrapping over her back, and ever so lightly pulling her closer to him.

She had never gotten a hug from Keith before, surprised with how tender and gentle he was hugging her, wondering if all his hugs were like this.

The door whooshed opened behind Pidge, hearing a feminine squeak and a stumbling apology before the door quickly whooshed closed again.

"We need to get out of this closet" Keith muttered.

"Agree" Pidge replied nodding against his shoulder, his arms lingering around her for a few more seconds before slowly letting her go.