3 Months ago

So far, Shiro had had the perfect wedding. He and Curtis were now officially married, and the reception was now in full swing. Almost everyone from the Atlas crew had been invited, due to Shiro and Curtis both having had prominent positions on the ship. Most notably, all of the remaining former paladins were in attendance, and Lance had quickly been accumulated to that when Pidge pulled him over to a table with Hunk and Keith.

"So, guys, how's the food?" Hunk asked with a hint of trepidation, though there was no need for it as it was delicious as always. Though he usually cooked with the utmost confidence, Hunk had been a bit nervous leading up to the wedding. He had wanted to make sure that everything he and his team made was absolutely perfect for Shiro's big day.

"It's delicious, Hunk." Keith responded in his usual quiet yet reassuring tone. "It is!" Pidge chipped in enthusiastically. She was the one who had visibly changed the most over the past three years, going from a boyish 15-year-old to an 18-year-old woman who, while retaining the glasses, had grown her hair long again and was, most noticeably, a few inches taller. She still retained her fascination with technology, however, and had become even more prominent in developing tech with her family the past 3 years.

Lance chimed in his enthusiastic agreement with everyone else's assessment of Hunk's food. Hunk had remained largely the same over the years, with the exception of a much-needed confidence and self-esteem boost due to his reputation as both a paladin and a world-famous chef. It was with a bit of sadness that Lance admitted to himself that he really had neglected to try and spend time with the man who he had considered his best friend while at the Garrison.

Keith, surprisingly enough, had become a bit more clean-cut since his days as a paladin. He had retained his natural leadership qualities from the Voltron days, and was one of the more respected members of the Blade of Marmora. He made efforts to keep in contact with all of the other paladins. Though Lance would've never thought it would happen when they first became paladins, he and Keith's friendly rivalry was just that – friendly. Though they still greatly enjoyed ribbing on each other, there was no denying that Lance and Keith were good friends.

"Hunk, you've been running around all night. Relax. Come sit down with us!" Lance encouraged him. Hunk sighed, before acquiescing to Lance's request. "I probably should. I'm not gonna miss the chance to sit down with all three of you again." "Hey, Hunk" Pidge's voice rang out "How are your bartending skills?"

While there was an open bar at the reception, and Hunk's team was running it, Pidge was the last person they would've expected to ask about it. However, the idea put some of Lance's old competitive spirit back into him. "Whoever's running the bar, they probably can't make anything half as good as I can!" Lance actually did know how to make a few drinks, though he was exaggerating his skill. "You know, a drink or two does sound good." Hunk admitted. "I'll grab them. What's everyone want?"

After confirming that everyone at the table was, in fact, in the mood for a drink, Hunk returned with four glasses and everyone got to chatting. Refills were in order, and by the third round Keith had begun to spill what was on his mind.

"You know, I really am grateful for you guys. You always have been there for me and I don't know where I'd be without you." It was surprising that two and a half drinks was all it took to get Keith to start spilling his guts, although he had opened up a bit more since the war. "I can talk to you guys about everything, right?"

"Let me guess" Pidge chimed in "You and Acxa broke up again?" Keith looked somewhat surprised "Yeah, how'd you know?"

Pidge finished her drink. "That's like, the third time, right? It's not exactly an uncommon occurrence at this point."

Hunk was slightly more tactful. "I'm sorry, man. I did think that you guys would work out. What went wrong?"

Keith sighed. "I think we may be too similar, if that makes sense. We're both pretty stubborn and I'll admit I sometimes don't know when to give something up. We'll always respect each other at least, I think. It's just weird right now, since we work so closely together with the blades."

"Well, you know what helps with that, Keith?" the black paladin looked up towards Lance when he heard his question. "More drinks!"

(-)

Several more drinks were ordered by each paladin over the course of the night, and that turned into a few more. Hunk, despite his size, did not appear to be a frequent drinker, as evidenced by the giggling and laughing fits he was constantly in while inebriated.

"Guyssss….. guys… thank you allllll… for getting me to RELAX!" Hunk exclaimed a bit too loudly.

"Gonna need… to be a bit more quiet, bud." Keith patted on his shoulder as he said this, quite obviously feeling the effects of the liquor himself. Pidge was rocking her chair back and forth in a drunken glee, while Lance had launched into several different conversation topics without bothering to see if anyone was actually listening to him (They weren't).

"Woah, woah. Looks like you guys have been having fun." The chuckling voice was unmistakable, as Shiro had come over to check on his fellow paladins. "I'm guessing the open bar was a good idea?"

"It sure was! How's the man of the hour?" Lance slurred as he slapped the larger man on the back.

"I'm doing pretty alright, to say the least. Once again, I'm really glad all of you made it. Hunk, are you alright?

He asked this because the look on Hunk's face had turned to one of disgust. Realizing what was about to happen, Shiro moved quickly and pushed Hunk over a trash can behind the bar before he could throw up all over the floor. "Ah damn." Keith groaned in his drunken state. "Need any… help?"

"You should probably stay where you are. Wait, Pidge? You aren't drunk, are you?"

"Don't tellll me what to do, mommmm." She responded, confirming Shiro's fears.

"Colleen will kill me if she knows I let this happen!" Shiro groaned. "Lance, Keith, get her up to her room" This command was complicated by the fact the Keith's face was down on the table in a deep, intoxicated sleep. "Lance, please tell me you can help her."

"I will try, chief." Lance stumbled up and made a mock salute towards Shiro, who would've been more annoyed had he not been busy attempting to direct Hunk's next wave of puke into the trash.

(-)

As Lance and Pidge neared her room in an attempt to prevent Colleen Holt from discovering her daughter's current state, she finally spoke up. "Y'know Lance… you're real nice. People don't tell you but you're real nice." Usually, drunk Lance always had a response, but he had never been good with "deep drunkenness" as he put it. So his response was merely "Thanks, Pidge."

"Really, Lance, I meannn it." She slurred as they reached her hotel room in the luxurious building the Garrison had reserved for the wedding. "Listen, I know that you… you don't always feel okay and I feel bad foyou" Pidge drunkenly spit the last part out as they walked in "And I want you to know thattt."

Lance's emotions on the wedding day had been in turmoil, though he had mainly gotten used to that. But he did feel an urge to spill them all out to Pidge, mainly because he had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn't remember. "I promise you I'm 'kay, Pidgey." Lance responded, trying to play the happy drunk. "You can tell me anything, Lance." Was her sleepy, compassionate response.

Lance couldn't stop himself anymore. "I'm not sure what I'm doing here, Pidge. I don't have a purpose. I… I'm on the farm to distract myself, but its not a purpose… everything I do just comes back to her somehow."

"You're more than Allura, Lance."

"No, I'm not. Its pointless to be here without her." Tears didn't even come now, just sad resignation. "What am I doing here, Pidge?"

"There's other people here for you, Lance. Other people who love you. Maybe you'll find someone else someday."

"I'm not sur-" he began, but before he could finish Pidge's lips were on his. Lance went rigid in shock, not responding in turn but not pushing her back either. She pulled away as quickly as she had kissed him, muttering out a quick apology before stumbling into the bathroom.

(-)

When he saw her the next day, she only complained about her hangover and asked if she had done anything embarrassing while drunk. He denied that she had.

Present day

The Turan-175 Tartarus' size had made for the perfect quarters for its owner – Martin Turan's lodgings were large and comfortable, befitting of a man of such wealth and renown. As the magnate's door slid closed, he made sure that it was on lock, and rapped on the wall next to his bed. A hole slid open, revealing a device displaying views of several vast landscapes of battle cruisers and ground troops. Turan's face grew dark at the sight of the amassing legions.

So, yeah, I kinda made things hard for some characters. Sorry. I promise things won't get too bad for Pidge.