PIDGE ONE SHOTS‼️

HIDDEN FREQUENCIES

Late nights at the Garrison had become your norm, but tonight felt different. The sterile glow of computer screens and the hum of distant machinery filled the otherwise empty room as you leaned over a terminal, pretending to study. In truth, your attention wasn't on the data scrolling before you, but on the person across the room—Pidge.

You'd grown close over the past few months, working together on assignments, sharing the occasional inside joke, and spending more time than you'd ever expected sneaking around the Garrison's restricted areas. Pidge was brilliant—more so than anyone you'd ever met. Her mind worked at lightning speed, constantly solving problems and uncovering mysteries. But she wasn't just all tech and puzzles. She was caring, fierce in her loyalty to those she loved, and someone who made you want to be part of her world.

Tonight, she was at her usual spot, crouched over her laptop, eyes flicking back and forth between screens as she worked on one of her secret projects. She had been unusually quiet since dinner, her focus more intense than usual, which was saying something for Pidge.

You hesitated for a moment before finally walking over, stopping just behind her. "Hey, Pidge, everything okay?" you asked, keeping your voice low, not wanting to startle her.

Pidge didn't look up, but her fingers paused briefly over her keyboard. "Yeah. Just... hitting a bit of a wall with this encryption," she muttered, clearly frustrated.

You leaned in a little, catching a glimpse of her screen, even though most of it went over your head. "Is this about Matt again?" you asked softly.

Pidge sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah. I thought I had found something—a signal or a transmission that could've been from his location. But every time I think I'm getting closer, it slips away." She finally looked up at you, her eyes shadowed with fatigue. "It's like trying to grab smoke."

Your heart clenched at the exhaustion in her voice. You knew how much this search weighed on her, how much she missed her family. Every lead was a lifeline, but every dead end seemed to hit her harder. And though she was tough, you could see that the uncertainty was taking its toll.

"I'm sorry," you said softly, pulling up a chair beside her. "But you'll find him, Pidge. I know you will. You're too smart not to."

For the first time that night, Pidge let out a small, tired chuckle. "You've got way too much faith in me."

"It's not faith if it's based on facts," you teased gently. "And the fact is, you're the smartest person in this entire place."

Pidge blushed faintly at the compliment, turning her attention back to the screen as if to hide it. "Yeah, well... thanks," she muttered. "I guess I needed to hear that."

The two of you sat in silence for a moment, the soft whir of the computers filling the space between you. You could feel the weight of unsaid things hanging in the air. There had been moments between you and Pidge, small ones—shared glances, lingering touches—that made your heart race. But neither of you had acknowledged them. Not yet.

Taking a deep breath, you decided now was as good a time as any. "Pidge," you started, hesitating when she looked over at you, her green eyes locking onto yours.

"Yeah?" she asked, her tone curious but patient.

You fumbled for words, suddenly unsure of how to express everything you'd been feeling. "I know you're focused on finding Matt and figuring out everything with the Garrison. And I want to help you. But... I also just want you to know that... I care about you. A lot."

Pidge blinked, her brows knitting together slightly in confusion. "Of course you do. We're friends, right?"

You laughed softly, rubbing the back of your neck. "Yeah, but... I mean, I care about you more than just as a friend. I... I really like you, Pidge."

For a moment, the air felt thick with tension as Pidge processed your words. Her expression shifted, surprise flickering in her eyes, followed by something else—something softer. She looked down at her hands, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve as if trying to gather her thoughts.

"I... didn't expect that," she admitted quietly, glancing up at you through her bangs. "I mean, I've been so focused on all this—on finding Matt and figuring out what happened to Dad—that I didn't really think about... that kind of stuff."

Your heart sank a little, but you nodded, trying to give her space. "It's okay if you're not there, Pidge. I didn't mean to put pressure on you. I just... I thought you should know."

For a few long seconds, Pidge didn't say anything, her eyes flicking back and forth as if running calculations in her mind. Then, finally, she smiled—small, a little shy, but genuine.

"I'm not really good at this," she admitted. "Feelings, I mean. But... I like you too. I just didn't know what to do about it."

You blinked, your heart doing a somersault in your chest. "Wait, really?"

Pidge nodded, her blush deepening. "Yeah. I guess I just... I've been so focused on Matt that I didn't realize how much I liked being around you. But when you said that just now, it kind of clicked. I don't know how to handle it exactly, but... I'm not against figuring it out together."

A wide grin spread across your face, relief and happiness flooding through you. "We can take it slow. No pressure, I promise."

Pidge's smile grew a little more confident, and she reached out to lightly punch your shoulder. "Thanks. And, uh... thanks for sticking with me through all this. You've been a real help. More than you know."

You chuckled, rubbing your shoulder where she'd punched it, but the warmth in her eyes told you that she meant it. "Anytime. I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time in a while, the tension in the room seemed to lift. You both turned back to the screen, your hands brushing lightly as you leaned in to help her with her work. There was still a long road ahead, but for now, you were happy to take things one step at a time—with Pidge by your side.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for tonight.