Chapter Text
"Lance isn't dumb. He's actually pretty observant."
"I know, I know. I'm just telling you what I heard from Pidge."
Veronica adjusted her glasses but didn't look up from her computer. "He's really trusting, Holt. If Pidge said 'I'm a boy' then Pidge was a boy, simple as that. He had no reason to think otherwise. He's typically a good judge of character, so he trusts his first impression of someone and it's hard to get him to change his mind. That's why he sees Shiro as someone to look up to rather than the equal Shiro treats him as."
"Shiro treats everyone as an equal as far as I've seen. Even in combat. He could hate someone with every inch of his body and still shake their hand at the end of the day. Metaphorically speaking, anyway. We aren't ever really given the chance lately."
"You make him sound aggressive. I heard Lance call him "Space Dad" the other day. It's almost surreal that the man who lost his arm in a gladiator ring and the guy that fell asleep on the floor in the mess hall are one and the same."
"Speaking of which, let's head down there now. We might me able to catch Pidge and Lance before they leave again."
Matt and Veronica had bonded rather quickly upon Matt's arrival with the rebel forces. Before the Kerberos mission, they'd worked together under Commander Holt, but it wasn't until now that they'd really paid each other any mind. They once again worked side by side with the Commander, and with Veronica's knowledge of the Garrison's advancements, and Matt's knowledge of the alien tech and beings, the two made a great team. They often partnered up when Lance and Pidge were not available for ground missions. They talked of their family often, but lately it had evolved into several minutes of defending Lance from Matt's bragging of Pidge. She knew he meant nothing by it, she liked to brag on her brother at times too, but something about everyone underestimating him was growing incredibly aggravating.
The pair walked the busy Garrison halls, passing by engineers talking needlessly loud about the integrated tech they were working on, as well as open doors leading to new cadets' rooms. Since the battle against Sendak had been won, the Garrison became much more exclusive in terms of their recruits. Entry exams had been made more difficult, and physical exams had more requirements. That didn't deter anyone from attempting to get in, but the incoming wave of cadets was rather thin compared to previous years. Had these measures been in place when the now-Paladins had tried to enroll, there was a good chance they would have been turned away.
"Do you think it's wise to keep taking in recruits? The war isn't over, but the possibility of deploying these kids..." Matt looked from face to face as they passed, wondering if the age restriction has changed, too.
"It's war. We do what we have to for the good of the entire planet. It would be wrong of us not to educate our people on how to defend themselves, or to deny their right to protect their home."
"I supposed that's true... But we have intergalactic reinforcements, too. Experienced soldiers."
"Experience has nothing on proper motivation. The fact Katie found you so far out in space proves that. You shouldn't second guess the will power of a man who has something worth defending."
The mess hall was empty, save for a few gaggles of whispering cadets and a trio of familiar faces clad in white armor. The Red, Green, and Black Paladins sat at a long table near the center of the Mess. Keith spoke, gesturing with his hands and leaning over an empty plate. Across from him, Lance pointed at him with his fork and said something in response causing Pidge, to his right, to nearly choke on her food. The latter two laughed and high-fived, and he spotted the approaching pair first.
"Veronica, Matt, hey!"
Matt gave a small wave, heading off for a plate of food. Veronica sat next to Keith, just across from Pidge, and used Lance's spoon to steal a bite of his food. He blocked her second attempt with his fork.
"Have you guys checked in with the Yellow and Blue Lions recently?" She made a playful jab at his hand.
Keith stood, lifting his plate, "Actually, they should be calling in in another varga or two. You're welcome to join us when we get the transmission. If anyone needs me until then I'll either be in Ground Control or the Black hangar. I'll leave my comm on." He scooped his helmet in his other arm, throwing out his trash on his way out of the Mess.
"So, why the armor? Did you just get back from training or something?"
Her little brother flashed a dazzling smile,"Showin' off for the new recruits, running a few flight drills to show 'em how it's done, and as always, exceeding the fans' expectations."
Pidge elbowed him. "You can hardly consider them your fans. They're just glad someone else is going to be on the front lines the next time we're attacked."
"No way, they were definitely cheering for us."
"Yeah, because we saved their butts. We might be their heroes, but it's not like-"
A young cadet tapped Lance on the shoulder. She bashfully asked for a photo with the Red Paladin, her favorite Paladin, she added, and naturally he didn't disappoint. After a few shots, she returned to her table, giggling with her friends.
"Sorry, Pidge, what was it you were saying again?" He beamed. She stabbed her fork into her food.
"Forget it."
"Hey, I can't help that I'm a natural charmer."
"You've got about as much charm as Nunvil has flavor."
"Nunvil has lots of flavor, just not the good kind."
"And how does that invalidate my analogy?"
"Aren't you the one that called me cute back on the Dalterian Belt?"
"I was comparing you to a Yalmor. That's hardly the same thing."
"No no no, no. You specifically said -"
"I said the Yalmor was cute."
"Cute like me."
"Cute in a creepy, ugly, hideous sort of way."
"Admit it, Pidge. You think I'm cute."
"Over my cold, dead corpse."
"Gee, when's the wedding?" Veronica cut in, with her signature flattened sarcasm. Lance kicked her under the table and Pidge rolled her eyes, but they both had a faint hint of a blush across their cheeks.
Matt returned, setting a plate in front of Veronica and then himself, sitting in the place Keith had been minutes earlier.
"What's with you two?"
"Nothing," they said in unison.
He and Veronica shared a sly look, laughing to themselves under their breath.
"So," he said, lifting his fork, "any news from the Balmera?"
His sister shook her head. "Nothing new, at least not today. Hunk and the princess haven't checked in, and we haven't heard anything from Coran, either, though that's understandable. They're so far out, it's hard to imagine even the Lions' signals to reach this far. Last we heard, they nearly had all the crystals we need, but they may be stopping by Arus as well."
"What about the Balmerans? Are they coming back?"
"Shay, definitely. I think it's safe to say she and Hunk will be fairly inseparable. Rax, I'm not sure. He might stay, but there's also a good chance he'll stick with Shay."
"And the princess?"
"Out of your league." She snickered.
"Not what I meant, Short-stack." He flicked a bit of food at her, but in good nature.
"~Lance, come in.~" The Red Paladin lifted his helmet onto his head with one hand.
"Yeah?"
"~We got a transmission coming in. It's Allura. I'm still in Ground Control, but it's probably best to take this straight to the Lions in case of any sensitive information, so I'll need you to handle it. I'll meet you in the Red hangar when I'm done here.~"
"Roger that, Team Leader." He nodded to Pidge, and the two took off, not bothering to deal with their plates.
Their siblings, they'd left sitting together, eating quietly; suddenly acutely aware of just how many of the people in the mess hall were whispering about them. No one approached them, but it was obvious they'd considered it. The Paladins had become worldwide celebrities of a sort, but while the Holts were all brought into the limelight, Lance had done his best to keep the McClains hidden from view - not out of embarrassment or anything like that, but out of protection of their privacy. She didn't mind her connection to Voltron being kept under public wrap, but the shock that ensued when someone did find her out, especially at the Galaxy Garrison, was a bit melodramatic and unnecessary. She'd had to deal with more than a few of Lance's admirers. And yet...
"Mark my words, Holt. By the time this war is really over, we'll be in-laws."
"Huh?"
"Those two are clearly made for each other."
"Why do you say that?"
"Oh, don't tell me you don't see it."
"I thought Lance might have had a thing for the princess."
"Yeah? And who doesn't?" She nudged him jokingly. "Besides, even though it kind of looks like she might like him back, that means nothing in the long run. Maybe you'll get a shot with her."
"Ha ha. I don't think Pidge is interested in Lance, either."
"It's not as though she'd tell you."
"We tell each other everything."
"A person with nothing to hide wouldn't keep a journal."
"I...I guess that's true, but-"
"But either way, you're her brother. She's not going to tell you all of the same things she tells her friends, like Lance, or Hunk... Or me."
"Wait... What? What did she tell you?"
Veronica simply smiled and continued to eat.