Late Night Terrors

Not That Kind Of Girl

After Pidge left, the table went silent as five of the six left watched her leave. Lance, however, dropped from his previous casual attitude and looked at his plate of space goo. While he didn't fully understand why Pidge was so upset about not seeing him, he couldn't help but to feel his own disappointment. He hadn't slept well last night either, but it usually came so naturally to act normally for him.

Coran was the first to speak up. "I don't think that girl is quite as excited as usual to do such things as science." He commented, stroking his mustache in thought. "Shiro, I do hope you weren't too hard on the two yesterday."

As the man said this, Lance was sure he could feel eyes on him. When he looked up, his suspicion was confirmed to be the gaze of the black paladin. It didn't last long, as Shiro soon glanced to the Altean.

"Do you know what teenagers do alone at night, Coran? I don't think that's very appropriate for a paladin." Shiro said, his tone showing a sternness that brought a frown to Lance's lips. "We have more important things to deal with, there's no time for that kind of play."

At that, the Cuban grit his teeth, then stood. His chair slid back with a sound that alerted the whole table, gathering their attention. "That kind of play? Do you even know who you're talking about?"

"Lance, I think you should-"

"No, Hunk. You know just as well as I do that Pidge is not that kind of person. She wasn't in my room for anything bad, Shiro. She's been having nightmares!" Lance was glaring daggers at the man he called his hero, angered more than he thought himself capable. "Just because you think I'm that kind guy, doesn't mean she's that kind of girl. So if you won't let me help her out when she's terrified and alone in the middle of the night, because she thinks she'll never see her brother or dad again, then at least have the decency to do it yourself!" With the rant coming to it's end, Lance left the table of silenced paladins and Alteans to their meal.

He walked from the dining room, past the short brunette whom he didn't notice, and started down the hall towards an empty room. What the others thought of him right now didn't matter, only that what they had thought of Pidge was very wrong. She would never show up to his room with the intention of anything inappropriate, and would likely rip him apart if he tried anything. Not that he wanted to, of course. He made sure to remind himself of that quite often.

When Lance stopped walking, he found himself on a far side of the castle, the room filled with random Altean junk. He leaned against the wall with a sigh and crossed his arms, his eyes falling shut. For a while, that was how he stayed. His consciousness was a bit foggy with emotions and sleep deprivation, passing time he couldn't keep track of.

The sound of approaching steps was feint to his ears, but stirred him enough to crack open an eye. His vision was slightly blurred, but he could make out the figure of the red paladin approaching him from the side.

"Lance." Keith spoke his name with a sigh, looking up at him as he opened his second eye, then rubbed the tiredness from them both. "Have you been in here the whole time?"

Lance yawned and stood up a bit more straight, then recrossed his arms. "Dunno. Why, someone looking for me? Sorry, I dozed off." He chuckled, offering a cocky smile to the other teen out of habit.

"Just about everyone. There must be so much junk in this room that the cameras can't pick up anything. Lance, Pidge thinks you left. She's freaking out." The mullet haired boy said, and before he could say another word Lance had already pushed off of the wall.

"She thinks I left? For the love of quiznak, Keith, where is she?"

"In her room the last I knew. But you aren't allow- I'm talking to air. Whatever!"

***

Out of breath, Lance knocked loudly on Pidge's door, but didn't bother waiting for an answer before he slid it open. "Pidge?" He stepped in, calming his breathing as his gaze fell over the pile of blankets on her bed.

She sat up as he came in, then stood upon seeing it was him. "Lance?" Pidge said his name softly, followed by a sniffle. Obvious by her slightly puffed eyes and red cheeks, she had been crying.

"Pidge.." The blue paladin repeated her name as he stepped forwards, his arms wrapping securely around her. "I'm so sorry, Pidge. I didn't mean to disappear, I just got angry and stomped off. I'm not leaving Voltron, I swear. I wouldn't just leave without a goodbye." He spoke quickly, his eyes squeezed shut as he held her tight against him.

The two were silent a while after he spoke, not moving from that spot as Lance let her cry into his shirt. Eventually she calmed down, and backed up slightly with a frown. "Idiot. I thought you left. We couldn't find you anywhere! I don't want you to leave, I told you that. I-I.." Pidge sighed.

With a soft chuckle, the taller brushed away her remaining tears with gentle thumbs. "I really am sorry. I just.. Needed some time alone, I guess. Didn't realize I was hidden so well. Forgive me?"

Pidge huffed, then took a step back and crossed her arms. "Why were you so casual at the table? It's like you don't even care what Shiro said. Am I just bothering you by-"

"Not once have you bothered me, Pidge." Lance interrupted with a slight frown. "Don't even think that. I.. Honest, I was really happy that I could be the one to help. I just.. Didn't think you would be that upset about it. I'm sure Shiro or anyone else would be better help, but you came to me. Well, I guess it was more of I was the one passing by but-"

This time, it was him who was cut off. "You stood up for me. And.. I'm glad it was you outside of my door that night. I think that you're a lot more of a good person than you give yourself credit for, Lance. You're always joking around, but when you realized that wasn't what I needed you dropped it and were serious." The girl sat back down, but kept her gaze on him. "Shiro treats me like.. Like his best friend's little sister. Keith is already really busy being super emo, and Hunk would worry too much."

As she paused, Lance sat next to her. When he spoke, his voice was soft, his eyes faced forwards. "I worry too, y'know. But it's not like you're weak, you just get a little scared. Who doesn't?"

"You understand that, that's my point. I'm not looking for pity, I just didn't want to be alone.. I was kind of hoping you liked the company, if I'm honest. It's refreshing, seeing how kindly you can smile when you aren't making some dumb joke. I mean the grin is cu- well, nice, but the kind one seems more genuine." The brunette shrugged, her voice having gotten more quiet as her words continued.

"Hey, Pidge?" He finally looked back to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. As the boy opened his mouth to speak again, the words disappeared from his tongue as their eyes met. "Quiznak." He breathed, before he was on his feet and leaving the room in a rush.

#Not sure I like this one as much others, but yeah.. I've been so tired the past few days. Starting a new job is hard! Next part is probably the last.#