Lovely »Pidge/Katie • Voltron«

-16- Heaven's Joy

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December 8, 7805

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Had she not been flooded with greetings, Shiro and Katie would still be attached. They had to separate themselves, compose themselves, before they entered the control room. They were practically on the verge of consummating an unholy marriage. But not that night, she wished for it be under oblique rather than crossed. He obliged.

In his heart there was no woman, no man- no living being equal to his Katie for she was superior. He knew that as fact for as long as eternity could supply. The realities did not go against this, nothing could and he was blessed to find himself with her.

Shiro had to protect what he had with her, she was nearly married to an empire of deception. Her body was almost used to represent the disgusting bloodline. Her life close to become corrupted by a horrid future.

He looked on with a tender expression seen only from true love. All were captivated by her beauty, who wouldn't? All were entranced by her strength, who wouldn't?

"Alright, alright, step away from the girl. Look at her, she can barely breathe."

The group of hooligans dropped her, abruptly noticing her flushed expression do to lack of oxygen. She inhaled deeply and gratefully smiled towards her partner.

"Apologies, Pidge. All of us are incredibly excited to see you." Allura said cheerfully.

"I suppose we have to empty the pod, I mean that's not her body. Correct?" Coran asked himself before suspiciously eyeing the young lady.

"My body?" Katie asked Shiro as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"It's a long story." He responded with a sigh.

"You had funeral! Lots of tears, your body is literally an advanced mummy!" Lance exclaimed in quick voice.

"But we'll take it away. Obviously you're alive." Keith added with a rare smile.

"True, I am. I didn't mean to cause such trouble and I hope all of you will forgive me." She bowed her head.

The others were surprised, including the man affectionately holding her. How could she apologize? She was the one taking horrid things, meanwhile they were simply grieving stupidly and unknowingly.

"Katie, darling, you have nothing to be sorry for." Allura endearingly reasoned.

"If anything, we should be sorry. You were with that monster while we did nothing." Keith's eyes widened. "You probably thought we didn't give a shit! Oh God..."

"Honestly, I believed that. I was convinced you had been searching for a new Green Paladin." She remembered Lotor breaking the 'news' to her, how heartbroken she was.

At first, she had refused to be fooled with such a stupid idea. Her closest friends abandoning hope of finding her, but for some reason an overwhelming feeling of insecurity weighed her down. A self realization that life never gave her a true purpose and had always wanted her to give up.

The way life took away her brother and father, emptying out the shell of her mother. Hiding her identity for her teenage years. Forcing her to fight a battle she had no power over. Shoving her through the grief of realizing she'd never be able to bring life. Her feelings abused by those who promised to care for her.

All of those harmful doings compiled, heavier and denser. She nearly took away someone's will to live without knowing. Lotor stopped her.

"Lotor..." Pidge breathed softly.

"I know, Katie, you don't have to worry about him anymore. He can't hurt you, we won't let him." Matt reassured with a comforting smile Pidge had missed so dearly.

Her mind drifted to his words. They thought she was being forced to marry the prince. Instead she was basking in the title of fiancée. She looked down at her left hand. The ring still firmly placed.

"I know. I need to be alone, the past few weeks have been a lot." She pauses and looked up at them with those smoldering golden eyes. "Thank you."

She picked up a small portion of her dress before walking off. The others could only look on, the eyes that haunted them when they saw her corpse were still emptied and terrified. As if she lost herself during her time in the hands of the Galra.

Shiro had just begun to react and catch up with her before Matt held him back with a touch of the shoulder. The brother shook his head in disapproval at his actions.

"Let her."

"But...you all saw that- that's not our Pidge." Hunk insisted.

"She looks like you now." Keith commented, head bowed and fists clenched.

"What?" Shiro asked, his voice raising just a bit.

"She's just like you, that fucker ruined her. She's a fucking prisoner, Katie isn't herself because of Lotor." Keith continued.

He remembered that missing piece all too well. When his unofficial brother, Takashi, hadn't yet gone to Kerberos he could feel the warmth from the fire in his eyes. The Takashi who was so innocent from the dangers of the world was shipped off into space and taken from the Galra.

Then when they found him strapped up to a chair, squirming under insanity. The frosted tips ruining his youthful look, the eyes dark with the ashes of what once was a spitfire. Damaged and quite literally missing a part of himself. No longer going by Takashi, the pure name of a hopeful young man with socially acceptable morals. Instead a blank canvas, Shiro- meaning 'white' yet just as unpredictable and misunderstood.

Now Katie was just like him.

The girl he was so fucking in love with was tainted. Had he been smarter and continued the search perhaps he could've salvaged the most important thing in existence.

"Fuck you." Keith seethed before storming off.

Shiro stiffened, shocked at the words. His best friend, his 'little brother' was blaming him for the loss. They had Katie's physical form back yet she was just as lost as she was before entering the castle. Slowly the others trickled out of the room. Leaving the Black Paladin alone and still.

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A/N: I believe I said I wouldn't do another author's note but here I am. Eating my words. This chapter is long because of the long wait and I apologize. I've also noticed I made it to the thousands on the views which is very humbling to me, so thank you. Also, I love reading everybody's comments and will respond as often as I can. So please comment more. Anyway, I'm working on what's next to see and I hope you all continue to enjoy my work.