Shiro's phone had yet to go off; was Allura still not here?

No, Keith probably just dragged her inside, he thought, he would want to be out of the cameras ASAP.

"Oh, shit." He whispered. "I didn't think about paparazzi."

Pidge suddenly swung his hand away from their hip and locked arms with him.

"This'll probably look better for casual." They responded, and Shiro breathed a sigh of relief. They were right, of course they were, but it didn't help the waves of panic that came with camera flashes that weren't even on him yet.

Pidge's heart pounded, and they hoped that changing Shiro's hand meant he couldn't feel that. The lights were everywhere, and while they had been accustomed to camera flashes, they weren't accustomed to the sheer amount of people. But Shiro standing next to them felt somehow so comforting, like there was someone else there to take the brunt of the attention, someone who was probably used to it.

""Mr. Shirogane!""

"Takashi, over here!"

"Who's this?"

"Both of you, look this way!"

Guessing by the clamor of voices as they stepped nearer, Shiro was very accustomed to this. So Pidge just smiled, leaned against Shiro's arm, and let him lead.

Pidge's weight on Shiro's arm was the only thing holding him to earth.

Why are there so many people? How do they all know my name?

"Shiro! There you are!"

Allura.

Shiro's business partner stood almost at the door, smiling glamorously for the cameras like it was something she was born to do, floating back towards Shiro and dragging Keith by the elbow.

Her long, white hair had been braided up almost to resemble a crown, a few loose curls near her face, and she was wearing a white-and-blue mermaid style dress with pale pink jewelry, most notably a necklace with the same lioness logo as Shiro's tie.

With mammoth heels hiding under her skirt, she was almost as tall as Shiro, easily making him feel close to something, someone, real.

She saw the panic in his eyes, and, in front of all the cameras, reached out and hugged him.

Keith crossed his arms, glaring from lens to lens, and peeked around his brother and date to see Pidge smiling nervously, but somehow with such practiced confidence that it looked effortless.

Well, he thought, if they can do it, I can do it, and he smiled awkwardly.

Allura and Shiro disengaged, each linking arms with their respective dates again, and Allura chatted easily, dragging them inside with her conversation.

Someone opened the doors for them, and then they were utterly away from the blinding flashes and clamoring voices, plunged into dim lighting and faint string music.

Pidge gripped Shiro's arm tighter out of reflex, trying to orient themselves, and Shiro breathed a sigh of relief.

"God, I always forget how much I hate cameras." He admitted breathlessly, and Allura laughed.

"You did much better this time than the last! And, how rude of you, you haven't introduced your lovely daaaate!"

Allura clasped her hands together under her chin, batting her eyelashes daintily, and Shiro laughed.

"Well, uh, this is Pidge. Pidge, this is my business partner, Allura...she's, uh, she's amazing at just about everything she does."

"Oh, you flatterer." Allura remarked, grabbing Pidge by the wrists and pulling them closer.

They glanced nervously back at Shiro, who smiled encouragingly, and relaxed slightly.

"It's nice to meet you." Pidge greeted calmly, but honestly.

Allura grinned.

"I ordered this outfit for you, though I'm sure you know that by now, and oh, it looks so good on you! Oh, I'm so glad Shiro actually found someone, and you look so cute by his side, I-"

"-Allura!" Shiro interrupted sharply, resting a hand on Pidge's shoulder, as if to keep them safe.

"You'll overwhelm them, really."

Pidge took a grateful step back, finally able to take in their new surroundings.

It was a ballroom, definitely, but there were two curved staircases coming down along the sides, and the gentle strings they'd heard were a quartet sitting alone amongst a sea of chairs on a medium-sized platform. There was a balcony above, with most of the people in the space heading up to it and then to what looked like a huge dining room beyond, an ornate crystal chandelier sending down a cascade of shimmering catch-lights on the polished ballroom floor.

There were a few smaller tables on the first floor, with several vested people carting trays of drinks, and Pidge suddenly realized a problem.

They tugged on Shiro's sleeve discreetly, and as soon as Allura had turned her attention back to Keith, he leaned in.

"Is everything okay? How are you doing?" He asked softly, honestly.

Pidge was taken aback by this.

Does he seriously care that much?

"I-I'm not old enough to drink." They stammered. "And I'm not supposed to mix alcohol with my medications anyway. I can't drink."

Shiro smiled softly, reassuring, and Pidge wanted to melt.

"No worries, I don't drink either, actually. Just, hah, keep an eye out for Allura."

"An eye out for me, why?" Allura cut in, eyebrows raised.

Shiro straightened, poking her in the ribs playfully.

"Because you drink enough for all of us. Come on, let's go find our table." Glancing down at Pidge, he slid his arm around their waist carefully, noting that they flushed slightly, but in no way seemed uncomfortable.

Why am I doing this? Why would I think anyone would be comfortable here?

Allura made a short sound, but seemed unwilling to disagree.

She didn't touch Keith, and he appeared grateful for that.

Pidge resisted the urge to tuck into Shiro's side as they began climbing the stairs; it felt like everyone was staring at them, and they didn't belong. They sirted closer to Shiro nervously, and looked away when he glanced down.

They're so sweet; at least they make a very good distraction.

"How on earth are you keeping up with him, Pidge? Shiro's almost twice your height!" Allura laughed, a champagne glass already in hand.

Where did she even get that?

Shiro shot Allura a dangerous look, but she didn't see. It wouldn't have mattered; Allura was too much of a vivacious person to care for his 'grump'.

He left his hands on Pidge, who didn't mind at all.

Thankfully, nobody inside seemed to really notice Shiro and Allura, much less their dates; their table was against a wall, considerably far away from the stage and podium (and center of attention), yet Shiro and Allura shared a nervous glance about as subtle as the live betta fish in the bowl at the center of the table.

"Aww, hi, little fishy!" Pidge cooed excitedly, bent at the waist, and Shiro, taken by surprise, laughed before he caught himself.

God, that was cute.

Pidge flushed, clearing their throat, and straightened awkwardly. "Er...sorry, I-"

"-Pidge, do you know I love you already?" Allura asked teasingly as she sat down. "Like, really, I want to be your best friend."

Pidge flushed deeper, a nervous little laugh, and Shiro pulled their seat out for them.

"Thank you." They told him softly as he pushed them in, taking the seat between Allura and them, "And I'm flattered, Allura. You're very kind."

Allura smiled warmly, popping an elbow up onto the table and resting her chin on her hand. Keith took the seat next to her quietly.

"Shiro mentioned that space is kinda your thing, have you been helping him with the new designs?"

"'New designs'? I...I don't know what they are, so I guess not." Pidge responded, as casually as Allura had asked. Shiro seemed to stiffen suddenly, leaning forward and attempting to reach to the other side of the vase with the fish in it.

"Who are we sharing our table with? There's four more seats." He changed the subject, though he regretted it as Pidge reached out and took the name card for him.

"So...one side is 'Lion's Den Toys', and the other is…'Pure Snow Productions'. Which one is us?"

Shit, Allura, please don't-

"Wait, Shiro hasn't told you?" Allura asked incredulously, Keith shooting a suspicious look to Shiro as he looked deliberately away.

"Allura, it wasn't really-"

"-We're Lion's Den, Pidge."

"Oh, you make toys? That's really neat!"

Keith snickered quietly. Shiro wanted to sink into the floor.

God, they're too innocent for this, don't make me-

"Well, Shiro is mostly responsible for the artistic side, actually making products. I do most of the business, negotiations and store deals, and we both run the online store."

Pidge listened eagerly, not understanding. Shiro could see it in the bright glimmer in their eyes.

"I didn't peg you as too much of an artist like that, Shiro. How does marketing work, when your focus groups are little kids?" They asked innocently.

Keith cackled as Allura's face fell.

"I-eh-what?" She asked dumbly, cocking her head.

"Pidge, it's not-"

"-Kid, they make sex toys!" Keith finally managed through his crude laughter, and Shiro found himself burying his face in his hands as Pidge's cheeks turned as red as he had seen them yet.

Pidge sat stock-still, same blank look on their face, though they continued to redden, and glanced up at Shiro, who was now rubbing his temple as Allura kicked Keith under the table.

"Oh, Shiro, you didn't want-"

"-Yeah." Shiro interrupted Allura, muffled slightly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"-Too late." Shiro interrupted again.

God, they must think I'm some dirty pervert, this poor kid, they-

"But, I mean, it's not like that's bad business." Pidge said softly, looking up at Shiro encouragingly. "I mean, people are always going to buy that stuff."

"From our experience, even more than most people think!" Allura laughed, depositing her empty drink on a passing tray and picking up a new one.

"Pidge, what did you say the other side of the table was?"

"Pure Snow Products?" Pidge repeated, turning the card over. "It says the invitee-there's only one, actually-is-"

"-My god, Allura, is it really you?"

Shiro watched the color drain from Allura's face and began to regret placing Pidge on the outside of the table as a man with hair as long and white as Allura's sashayed up to the table, placing his hand on Allura's shoulder with a pointed grin.

"Lotoooor! So...good to see you! I...honestly never thought you would be here!"

Allura cried, voice pitchy, patting the hand on her shoulder awkwardly and seeming relieved when it was taken away.

Shiro watched Lotor's gaze skim the group, seeing the dirty smirk he gave Keith before falling to Pidge.

"Well, am I thankful that you all brought the party! Nobody else could make it on my end, and you've brought some lovely guests! Keith, darling, you're looking as anti-establishment as ever-" Lotor moved away from Keith as his face turned lethal, "-and you...you seem...familiar...though...I don't think I've met you, my dear." He finished with a purr, gesturing to Pidge.

They did their best to smile warmly, invitingly, but followed Shiro's example and did not extend a hand to shake.

Oh god, please, don't sit next to them, don't look at them, don't even ask for-

"Won't you introduce me, Shiro? It would be so awkward to sit next to someone whose name I don't know!"

Shiro bit back his instinctive retort and smiled stiffly, politely.

"This is Pidge. Pidge, this is Lotor, Allura's...cousin."

Allura rolled her eyes, out of Lotor's sight. Pidge smiled sweetly.

"It's nice to meet you, Lotor."

"Oh, darling, trust me,"

He slid the seat on their other side out and dropped into it in a single motion. "The pleasure is all mine."

This guy seems...sleazy.

Shiro discreetly tucked his foot around the leg of Pidge's chair, scooting it closer to him and away from the intruder.

Pidge glanced to him nervously as Lotor leaned into their personal space anyway, practically flattening his chest against the table.

"So, how long have you known Pidge, Shiro? He certainly never told me he knew such a lovely little thing like you." Lotor turned to Pidge with the last statement, whose freckles were starting to fade under the threat of blush on their cheeks.

Allura glowered dangerously over her drink, and Keith crossed his arms.

"Er, well...really…"

"...Not nearly as long as it feels like, right?" Pidge finished for Shiro.

That was smart.

"No, not at all." He laughed out his relief easily.

Lotor's heavy-lidded eyes traced down Pidge's body invasively, or at least, what of it was above the tablecloth.

"And...how did you meet?"

""Online."" They both said in unison, than glanced to each other, stifling giggles.

He's really...he's really not that bad.

They can't be real.

"Oh, really?" Lotor drawled, propping his head up on his arm, so close into Pidge's personal space that they could feel his breath on their cheek. "What site?"

"Not any of the ones you're thinking of, Lotor." Shiro answered, a little sharply.

Pidge glanced from him to Lotor, clearly confused.

"What, what, you can't blame me! Not in our line of work…"

"We don't share a line of work, Lotor." Allura finally interjected, placing her drink deliberately on the table.

"Well, I certainly use your products in making mine." Lotor defended innocently.

Pidge pressed their leg to Shiro's under the table, a wordless sign of concern.

"Please, Lotor, we're not here to discuss business, just celebrate it." Shiro tried, feeling somehow faint at Pidge depending on him.

"Fine, fine." Lotor waved his hand carelessly. He looked Pidge over again. "Are we sure we haven't met, my dear? You look so familiar...perhaps we met while you were...less dressed…"

Pidge made a quiet sound, and Shiro glanced down to see their face flush darkly.

For half a second, he considered that maybe Pidge really did know Lotor, only just recognizing him, but then Allura cut in and Pidge covered their mouth with their hand, looking away, and Shiro shook himself.

"Honestly, Lotor, are you about to tell me you could forget such a lovely face? How rude you would be…" Allura challenged as she finished off her glass.

Lotor cleared his throat and retreated.

"Of course. I never could. No, I'm sure we haven't met, Pidge." He smiled flashily at them, and they cast their eyes away.

They had to resist the urge to hide against Shiro's arm, which was almost touching them by how close he had pulled them.

Lotor cleared his throat again as he stood, and left with some muttered excuse of looking for something to drink.

The table sighed as he swaggered out of earshot, and then laughed.

"God, I'll need another drink now if I hope to put up with a night of him."

Allura scowled, already hailing a waiter.

"I'm so sorry about that. I didn't know he would even be here, much less sitting at the same table." Shiro apologized to Pidge, who was still flushing shyly.

They didn't respond immediately.

"I don't film porn." They finally managed. "I'm guessing that was what he was implying. I model, but I'm not a porn actor."

"Nobody ever thought you were. Not even he thinks it; he did the same thing to me." Keith sighed, crossing his arms on the table and resting his head on them. "He's just looking for shy, wide-hipped, potentially-illegal whitish kids. Like us." Keith groaned, probably a little loudly as Allura finally got a server to the table and began lifting drinks from his tray, placing them in front of each member of the table.

"Why?" Pidge asked, as innocent as anything. Shiro really hoped his brother wouldn't say something crude, but he knew him too well to expect it.

"Because people pay more to see kids like that get absolutely wrecked by machines." Keith answered, which made Allura suddenly choke into her drink.

Pidge gently nudged their champagne flute back towards Allura, trying not to react to that. Shiro glared at Keith across the table, who shrugged carelessly.

"The opening address should have been two minutes ago." Allura commented, glancing at her watch and then the stage at the opposite end of the room. Several people were standing on it, conversing semi-casually.

"Not everyone is here yet." Shiro offered, gesturing to the empty seats that constituted more than half of the room.

Allura shrugged.

"Eh. We're really only here because we were invited, anyway; I don't expect we'll be recognized for anything."

"I think I prefer that." Shiro noted.

Keith glanced across the table to Pidge.

"So, you're in college?" He asked, handing Allura his drink as she finished her own.

"Allura, think about slowing down some, please."

Shiro tried, knowing it was pointless.

"Yeah, but my year count is kinda irrelevant, because I've taken all my classes out of order...are you?"

Keith snorted.

"I tried. Dropped out. I couldn't stand any of the professors."

"That's unfortunate." Pidge responded politely, though sweetly. "Do you have any field you want to go into?"

Shiro watched his brother stall, his eyes drifting away, somewhere distant, before he leaned back limply in his seat and dropping his eyes to the tablecloth.

"I like space. Like you." He finally responded. "Space and machines. I work in a motorcycle garage...but I don't really know where I want to go."

"Ah, I have to introduce you to my friend Lance! He's studying engineering, wants to create spaceships."

Did I just offer to introduce my fake date's brother to my best friend?

Keith's lip twitched slightly up.

"Sounds cool."

He responded, before standing awkwardly and walking away.

Shiro fiddled with the drink in front of him.

"Did I say something?" Pidge asked quietly.

"No, babydoll, no, you're fine! Keith dropped out of college after an accident in the engine shop, he's just not really over it yet." Allura promised, totally unperturbed by Shiro's glare at the pet name she'd dubbed his date. Allura lifted what had been Pidge's drink into the air, and Shiro briefly considered snatching it away.

"Allura, are you sure you wouldn't rather have some water?" He asked instead, calm. Pidge resisted the urge to lean against Shiro's arm as he moved his hand across the table towards Allura.

Pidge cried out with a jump as something was thrown unexpectedly onto the table in front of them.

Lotor dropped back into his seat triumphantly, slapping his hand down on top of what he'd thrown, and Shiro had grabbed Pidge out of reflex, pulling them close to him so anxiously that he'd pulled them out of their seat. He glanced down at what was on the table, a clothing line catalogue open to its inner front cover, a double-page spread.

Shiro stared. His throat was suddenly very dry.

"Oh, no…" Pidge whined, hiding their face in their hands.

Allura leaned over the table and dragged the magazine closer to herself, too fast for Pidge, who had reached out quickly and tried to snatch it away.

"Hey, what's going-oh…" Keith had returned to the table, confrontational, but leaned over the back of Allura's chair, staring just as she did.

"I knew I recognized you from somewhere, darling!" Lotor hummed gleefully.

Allura slowly lowered the magazine back to the table, looking from the Pidge trying to pull out of Shiro's grip to the Pidge in the magazine, a Pidge wearing only a pair of underpants, their hair long, curled conveniently over their chest, reclined into the arms of another model, dressed similarly, glossy lips parted slightly, staring seductively into the camera.