Voltron: Shattered

Six

Year 3

Pidge stared up at the ceiling counting the tiles. It's been a year since the galra dumped her in this dump. Sending her to the pit to train. It surprised her how many people came to watch the fights, it was very much hidden from prying eyes. A good place for slavers to sell there slaves making a buck or two on betting wether or not their slave would live or die. Many people were forced into the fights, Pidge didn't really have a choice either. It was either fight in the pit or die of boredom, she picked the obvious answer.

Pushing herself off the bed, Pidge moved towards the bathroom splashing water in her face to wake herself up before the next fight. Looking up she spotted a bruise forming on her cheek. Last night's fight was difficult. A no weapons fight, the man managed to get a few hits on her before Pidge knocked him down. The only way to win the fight was when the other opponent stopped breathing, stopping existing in the universe. Pidge's fists were bloodied badly after that fight, a mix of her own and her opponent.

Pidge's eyes wandered upward landing on the puffiness of her eyes, her frown deepened. After killing the man she left without collecting the reward, breaking down as soon as her room door closed. Watching life slowly leave the man was inhumane. It wasn't right in any way.

"Yet another form of weakness." Pidge spat, pushing down her remorse, turning sharply as a knock sounded on the door. "What?"

"Ma'am they're ready for you."

"ALright." Pidge nodded looking down at herself, her white tank top was dirtied and the shorts barely visible underneath the tank top. Sighing Pidge tapped her watch letting the uniform grow up her body, she'd change later.

Pidge opened the door, eying the squat man, he cleared his throat awkwardly before gesturing her forward. Down a series of hallways and towards the cheering crowd. Stepping out in the blinding spot lights, Pidge squinted looking upwards, spotting dangling ropes filling the room, and a few platforms dangling on ropes, various heights and sizes.

"They set this up quickly, she muttered, glancing out at the crowd, tapping her watch once more and letting her helmet mold over her face. She stepped forward watching as across the pit another opponent stood there. Pidge raised an eyebrow as they met in the middle. For the man had a name tag across his suit.

"Steve?" Pidge asked, smirking.

"Do you have a problem with my name?" The man asked, glowering.

"Nah, it suits ya"

The squat man gestured to the platforms above. "Multiple weapons are allowed for this fight!" He announced, the crowd hanging on his every word. "But you must earn them, the weapons are scattered throughout the dangling platforms, it's first come first serve."

"Now! Let's begin the championship! Welcome back, the Phantom WAAArrriooorrr!" Pidge gripped clenched her fists as the crowd screamed her alias. It was the first thing that came to mind when they asked her name.

"And her opponent!!" The squat man grinned. "STEVE!"

The crowd screamed, obviously aware of the man's talents or what not. The squat man exited the pit and a bell rang. Pidge jumped upward landing on the man's back as he charged at her, using his body as a springboard she launched herself upward latching onto the nearest rope and dangling there, watching Steve glare up at her, before taking a running jump. Surprisingly he shot upwards, latching onto the bottom of the rope Pidge was on.

Anger in his eyes as he pulled himself closer and closer. Pidge let go of the rope letting her foot impact with the man's face with a sickening crunch. She leapt to another rope, sliding down it and landing on a wobbly platform. A dagger sat there, Pidge snatched it up, charging at another rope, launching herself into the air only to get slammed into the nearby wall, she groaned as she slid down onto the platform, Steve standing over her. A sickening grin on his face, as he grabbed the dagger from Pidge's grasp.

Pidge stared up at the man as the dagger angled down towards her heart, she rolled, trying to avoid the stab, the platform moving with her weight. Steve missed her chest, but found home on her shoulder. Pidge bit back a scream as the dagger stuck in there. Pidge kicked upwards, knocking the man off of the platform. She reached over gripping the knife, with a deep breath, she pulled. Crying out in pain as she ripped the knife out, she threw it to the floor, not wanting anything to do with it anymore. The fabric of her suit slowly melded around the wound, stanching the bleeding. She jumped downhards gripping the rope tightly as she neared Steve. With a grunt he charged at her, only to be met with a rope to the neck.

Pidge wrapped it tightly, gripping Steve's waist tightly with her legs. "Go to sleep." She muttered the rope tightening. "Go to sleep!"

The man struggled, pushing against her, trying to no avail to get the rope off of his neck. Pidge watched as his legs gave out, falling to his knees, Pidge stood watching him gasp for air, his face pale.

"HEY!" Pidge's eyes darted upward, freezing as she saw a blue uniform in the crowd, followed by red and black.

"Shoot." Pidge grunted, kicking Steve down.

"This is illegal! Release all of the fighters now." The black paladin said marching towards the squat man.

"I- I can't do that!" He exclaimed, stepping away from him.

"Why not?" The red paladin asked, appearing behind the man.

Pidge could feel a pair of eyes on her, she looked upward, freezing as blue was staring at her with a quizzical look, before his eyes widened.

"Shiro! It's her!"

"Quiznak!" Pidge cursed, kicking Steve down again before racing towards the pit exit. She darted inside the building, almost positive she was being followed, she turned sharply skidding to a stop as she noticed the yellow paladin casually standing in the barracks doorway. He didn't even notice her. Pidge dragged her fingers along the watch letting a blade replace her gloves. She moved forward silently, prepared for the kill.

"Pidge Duck!"

"Don't touch my stuff!"

"Kick me as hard as you can!"

"What no, we're friends."

Pidge stumbled as voices and images flashed through her head, causing her to stumble past Hunk placing her hands out in front of herself to stop her fall, she cried out and the blade found home in her side. Who was in her head? Who was Pidge and why did they want to be kicked?!

Hunk turned around sharply, surprise dawning on his face, before recognition. "Guys I found her!" Pidge cursed, cursed this world, cursed this blade, cursed herself.

Pidge pushed herself up.

"Wait, you shouldn't be moving!" hunk yelled as she raced down the hall, hand placed tightly against her side as her uniform worked on stopping the bleeding.

She slid out the doors of the pit and continued running, she knew there was a galra base nearby, it was abandoned not too long ago, and was still habitable, in fact it was where she was dropped off at in the first place.

She knew full well that the paladins would try to find her, so she would make sure to become unfindable. Slipping into the darkness of the forest.