"I shouldn't have done it."

Pidge paused her typing and Hunk looked up from whatever space-spice he was concocting. "What are you talking about, Lance?" Pidge shut her laptop and raised her hand to press the device behind her ear.

Lance carded his fingers through his hair. "I..." Pidge heard the com crackle and she tapped it, signaling the other line to keep quiet. "I should have stopped myself, but I didn't, and now... Now he's gone... Maybe he would have stayed. Maybe it's my fault."

"Whoa!" Hunk dropped the ladle and grabbed his lanky friend. "Keith leaving is not your fault, dude."

"He left just three days after we had sex." Lance shrugged Hunk off. "We hated each other, then we suddenly didn't, and then he joins the Galra. I'm seeing a connection no one else sees. I knew it was too damn good to be true."

Pidge scooted to the edge of the counter. "What connection? You two love each other. You loved each other when you argued and competed."

Lance scoffed. "I did... He found out and used me to keep his cover and left with them when they came. I should have known." Lance crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. "Pidge, why are you even defending him? He attacked you when you were defenseless!"

She gripped the edge of the counter. "Why aren't you!? And, even though he gave me two paper cuts and a little bruise that healed within an hour, I know Keith! We've talked about things that you may never know! We told each other secrets. Whatever Keith is doing, what he's done, I trust him. I think he's still on our side."

Hunk sighed, standing between the two. "Pidge, Lance... Please, let's drop it before Shiro comes in. You know he doesn't like that we talk about Keith."

The small girl huffed and her shoulders slumped. "Even if he did come in to scold us for talking about Keith, you know I'd ignore his ass. We're not quite on good-convo terms."

"Pidge!" Coran cried over the intercom. Said girl sighed. "The Princess and I require your assistance again!"

"Of course," she mused, jumping off the counter. "See you two, later." She gave them a loose salute and carried her laptop under her arm. Once she was out the kitchen and the doors shut, Pidge sighed. "Did you hear all that."

It was a moment before the other line responded. "Yeah... Thanks, Pidge..."

She hummed. "No problem. Any progress?"

"I wish. I haven't seen Thace since that once..."

"That's fine." She yawned and turned a corner. "We have all the time in the universe."

~

Pidge groaned, dropping her equipment to rub her face. "Lance, if you're going to sulk and complain in here while I work, at least be useful."

The footsteps that approached her stopped by her feet. She froze and gulped. Lance didn't wear boots. Pidge really wished she could fit her whole body into this tiny space and close the opening.

"It's Shiro, Katie."

Pidge picked up her tool and began to work, hoping it'll keep her busy and distracted. "I hear that, now... I'm working, Takashi. Coran and Allura need me to get this fixed before we go into any form of quick transportation, which we'll need soon."

Shiro sighed. "Katie, why have you been ignoring me? Avoiding me?"

"I'm working." Pidge bit her lip and accidentally cut her finger on wiring. She cursed and cleaned off the small cut with a clean rag she carried with her. "I shouldn't be distracted."

"Did you just hurt yourself?"

"No! I'm f- Shiro!"

Unwilling to put up with this behavior anymore, Shiro grabbed her ankles and tugged her out of the crevice. Pidge's eyes were almost as wide and round as her glasses. He pulled her up to stand an he took the hand with the bloody finger. "Katie, you've got to be careful." He bent down to the first aid kit she and Hunk gathered supplies for months ago and took out some ointment and bandages to wrap around the finger.

Pidge grit her teeth. "I was fine until I got distracted."

She winced as the ointment was rubbed into the cut and the tender skin around it, then looked away as he began to wrap it. "Katie, we need to talk. You can't keep avoiding me." Shiro kept her hand, even though he finished.

Pidge wished she didn't foolishly cut herself so she could still be in the nook, her hands busy and her eyes having focus in something other than Shiro. "What is there to talk about?" She mumbled, twisting the tip of her toe into the floor.

Shiro leaned down and ducked his head, in hopes of making eye contact. "Have I said something wrong? Or is it that you're upset about Keith leaving and you're taking it out on me? Katie, you've been skirting me for two weeks."

Pidge tugged on the hem of her jacket with her free hand. "It's not... Because of Keith. I believe in Keith. I know Keith. I trust that he has something planned."

The black paladin sighed, standing straight. "Katie... He hurt you and went with them without a second thought, and they've clearly had past interactions."

Yeah... When Lance was dying... Pidge worried on her bottom lip. "I have faith in Keith." Shiro ran his prosthetic over his face and threw his hair. "I know he's not our enemy." The device begin her ear vibrated, but a Keith will have to wait for a minute. "Takashi, you know him more than any of us... Do you really think he'd betray us so easily?"

Shiro released her hand. "But is that why you're ignoring me?" Pidge paused, lips parted slightly as if to say something. "No... It's not. So, why? If it's not about Keith, then why are you ignoring me?"

The device vibrated repeatedly. "I have my reasons." Pidge used tucking her hair behind her ears to cover for grabbing the device. "Can I please get back to work? Alone?"

"Not until you tell me." Shiro snatched her wrist and pulled her back before she could turn away. "You have to tell me."

Damn that leader tone. She tried to stop her body from shuddering, but failed.

Pidge swallowed and stepped back. "Fine... It's because you asked me where you could take Allura." Shiro's eyes widened in surprise and his grip loosened. "Happy?" She tore her hand away, tears building in her eyes. "Please leave me alone..." Pidge turned on her heal and dashed out of the room, ignoring Shiro as he called after her.

The green paladin scuttled around the castle, using her own short cuts to get to her lion's hangar. Once their, she climbed into Green's mouth and curled up in the pilot's seat. Pidge pulled out the device and gulped down soft sobs. "What is it, Keith?"

"What took so long!?"

"Shiro wouldn't let me go, then I had to find some place he's not going to be able to get me out of."

Keith made a noise like he wanted to question her, but then stopped himself. "You can tell me later, if you want, but Pidge- I found them! I found your father and brother!"

Pidge sat upright, eyes wide as she gripped the arm rests of the seat. "What!?"

"I know where they are! I've sent the location to your laptop while I was waiting for you to respond, but I see them... I see them right now."

Pidge couldn't hold back a chocked sob or fat tears as she gripped the fabric over her heart. "A-are they..?"

Keith chuckled softly. "They're okay... Both of them. Very well taken care of for Galra prisoners."

Pidge laughed and sobbed in relief. "Thank you, Keith... Thank you..."

"Anything for you, Pidge. You're like a sister to me."

She grinned. "And you're like a brother to me..." Pidge paused, then smirked. "A brother that needs to tone down while he's fucking his boyfriend-"

"Pidge!"