#pidgancemonth2k17day5

[wateryourplance]

Cold (Lance/Pidge)

(Pidgance Month, Day 5: rainforest | i’ll make this one cute and fluffy-- oops never mind lolol and yes, horrible title but i couldn’t come up with anything else Earth setting, Voltron doesn’t exist here but human Allura and Coran do)

“Come on, Pidge! It’s not that cold, I swear!” Lance called as he around in the cool, surprisingly clear water, instantly refreshed.

“You’re just in your underwear!”

“So?” He countered. “You can stare. I won’t mind.”

Pidge groaned loudly, still covering her eyes. “I don’t swim.” She muttered.

“It’s not deep. Plus, you stink. You need this.” Lance said bluntly before submerging himself in the water completely. The sound made Pidge instinctively look up, making sure her companion didn’t get sucked in by some water monster or something.

Fortunately, he was fine.

And Pidge got to find out in the best way possible.

Lance emerged from the water with closed eyes, the sun shining down on him. The water on his body made his body glisten and seemingly glow beneath the sun - he looked like a god. He pulled his wet brown tresses out of his face away from his eyes, the muscles on his glorious back flexing as the droplets of water dripped down his lean figure.

He looked ridiculously gorgeous.

Pidge was frozen in place, ogling in awe at her friend. She couldn’t help but watch, greedily drinking everything she was seeing like fine wine. "Fuck,” she breathed. She had always found Lance attractive, but she didn’t think he was capable of reaching a god-like level.

Lance’s eyes finally fluttered open, his dark lashes still adorned with tiny water droplets. His eyes looked even more blue surrounded by the clear blue water.

Pidge bit down on her bottom lip, insane thoughts filling her head. This was so wrong.

“Pidge?” Lance asked. “Are you feeling okay? You’re like, really red.”

“…maybe I do need to swim.” Pidge sputtered in spite of herself.

Lance grinned. “That’s the spirit!” He whooped. “Strip, strip, strip!”

“Fuck off.” Pidge pushed herself up, trying to figure out how to do this.

She never cared about her physical characteristics; her care was focused on her brain. But right now, she couldn’t think about anything else other than how she looked. Lance looked impossibly perfect, while she was almost certain she looked like a gremlin. She figured to dive in with her clothes on, but she didn’t want to walk around in soggy clothes.

“What’s keeping you?” Lance added as he continued splashing himself with water. “You on your period?”

Pidge glared at him. “No, I just…”

“…don’t have a bra on?”

“No, I do!”

“Then why’re you taking forever?” Lance carped impatiently as he crossed his arms over his firm chest. “We’re friends! I swear I won’t do or say anything stupid.”

Pidge sighed, still indecisive. Lance did have a point.

Hesitantly, she gripped the hem of her top before looking up at him with a warning look. “Look away.”

“What? But it’s not like I won’t be seeing you in your underwear later anyways!”

More heat crawled up her face and to her ears. Lance had a point again.

“Just...just do it!” She yelled in irritation.

“Okay, okay! Jeez...” Lance turned around, grumbling something under his breath.

A surge of relief let her release the breath she had been holding as she pulled her long sleeved top off, a cool gush brushing through her. She was tempted to let out a satisfied moan after freeing herself from that godforsaken jumper (sweater?) that was simply unfit for the tropical climate of the rainforest. She was surprised herself she hadn’t passed out yet due to the weather.

Not that she planned to get stranded in one, anyways. Neither she nor Lance planned any of this.

A chill tickled her spine as the episodes played freshly in her head.

‘It’ll be fun.’ Lance had said. ‘They said that this helicopter’s old but gold. Works perfectly fine! Shiro used it yesterday.’ He had told her. ‘We’ll come back safely. And yeah, man! I totally know how to fly this thing.’

She remembered Lance flying the helicopter smoothly and properly (to her surprise). She remembered them admiring the magnificent green expanse. She remembered them laughing and joking about.

She also remembered when the engine failed. She them plummeting hundreds of feet rapidly. She remembered when the helicopter finally fell hard. She remembered seeing Lance unconscious, forgetting about her own well-being to make sure he was fine. She remembered when he woke up in horror, telling her about how much she had on her face. None of them sustained any serious injuries, other than the dark bruises that had initially hurt and the rather deep wounds. The helicopter caught fire, but almost instantly the rain poured before it could spread.

But they didn’t know how to get back.

The first day was horrific. The rain was pouring hard, and she remembered them taking cover beneath the tallest tree with huge leaves in site, but that didn’t work out too well. After the rain stopped, Lance couldn’t think straight as he was in constant panic while Pidge could only awkwardly encourage him. She encouraged him saying that she’ll get them out of here, and that calmed him down to an extent.

But as more days passed, Pidge’s hope began wavering, while Lance seemed to only grow more and more optimistic, finding the positive sides to nearly everything. (”Did you know that vines can give clean water? Animals can lead us to clean water, too! At least, that’s what I read behind that fruit box...Oh look! Come on, Pidge! After that bird!”)

“It’s already been a week or more.” She said quietly, stripping off her shorts as she neatly folded her clothes. She put them atop a smooth rock as she dipped her foot in the water. “That’s really cold, Lance!” She called.

Lance laughed as he finally turned around. “I know, isn’t it great?” His eyes stayed longer on her than intended as he blushed slightly. She had an adorably petite body, but he noted that she still had slight curves. ‘Wait, ew, was I just checking her out?’ he cleared his throat, “Uh, do-do you need help getting here?”

“No, I got this.” She replied confidently as she took her first step in the water. It was really cold, but it wasn’t unpleasant. She laughed nervously as she put in her next foot, walking slowly towards Lance as she got deeper and deeper. Eventually, she was next to him, waist deep while he was on hip deep. “This feels nice-- LANCE!” She yelped as , the cold shocking her.

Lance laughed heartily. “Oh man, your reaction was priceless!” He taunted.

Only to be splashed at back by surprised as he let out a high-pitched shriek.

Now it was Pidge’s turn to laugh.

“Oh you think that’s funny, huh?” Lance smirked.

Pidge returned the look on his face. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Then this means war!” Lance proclaimed as he rapidly splashed her without any pauses, consequently splashing himself as well. 

“Hate to break it to you, but in literal war you’d be killing yourself right now.” Pidge laughed as she tried shielding herself with one arm while the other one worked in throwing the water at her ‘enemy’.

The pair sloshed around the water like a bunch of children, sharing giggles and profanities. It was the most fun they’d had in days.

For a moment, their current situation was forgotten. They forgot that they were stranded in the middle of a rainforest. That it was possible for them to never be found again. That sudden death was absolutely possible.

But right now, they didn’t think about that.

They focused on each other and how much fun they were having and how adorable the other one would look whenever they’d try doing a huge attack.

Eventually, both parties grew tired and the laughter faded into broad grins as they both sat on a large rock to rest. “That was fun,” said Lance, nudging his companion gently.

“It was.” Pidge confirmed as she caught her breath, tired. “Thanks for that.”

Lance tilted his head. “For what?”

“You know, that.” She gestured to the water. “Thanks for pushing me. to join you.” She awkwardly released.

Lance smiled earnestly at her, pulling himself closer to her. “I had to. You haven’t been in the best mood lately, so...” he shrugged, “there’s that.”

Pidge felt a twinge in her heart upon hearing his words. Right, they were stuck. They were lost. And possibly going to die. A frown replaced the wide smile she had worn. “Do you think...do you think that we’ll get out of here?” She asked quietly.

“I don’t think, Pidge.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Hey, excuse me, I’m trying to be nice here! I wasn’t done yet!” Lance sulked.

Pidge managed a dry chuckle. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

Lance glared at her jokingly, but the corners of his lips twitched upwards. “I don’t just think we’re getting out of here. I know we are.” He assured, slowly taking her hand. To his relief, she let their fingers intertwine, and she didn’t even flinch. “We’re getting out of here. I promise.”

Pidge’s tears blended with the water droplets on her face as she let out a soft whimper, leaning against Lance. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her to sit on his lap, their bare skin against each others’. He slipped one arm off and began stroking the top of her head comfortingly as she cried into her hand. Her other hand was resting on top of Lance’s arm on her waist. “I’m not scared of death, Lance.” She sputtered out through her sobs. “But my family, my job, my friends...”

“I know, Pidge.” Lance soothed. “I feel the same way.”

“All those unfinished projects I had.” She anguished. “I was sup-supposed to visit my parents this-this weekend. And walk my dog I haven’t seen in...in such a long time..” She sounded so miserable, her shoulders shaking violently as she cried.

Lance kissed her damp hair softly. “You will. I promise you.”

“Matt and I were supposed to...supposed to prank Shiro by temporarily dyeing his white hair pink.” Pidge croaked miserably as a soft chortle escaped her throat. “Keith and I were going to test out th-the enhancements I added to his...to his bike.”

Lance rested his chin on her shoulder as the shaking died down. “Yeah?”

“And Allura wanted me to go shopping with her, even though I didn’t want to.” A ghost of a smile finally made its way to her pale face. “Coran suspiciously broke his laptop and wanted me to fix it too.”

“You’re gonna do all of that, I swear it.” Lance encouraged as he left another sweet kiss on her shoulder, but his lips remained there, unmoving.

Pidge calmed down as they sat there without speaking, the sounds of wildlife filling their ears. Though it served as an innocent reminder about their current situation that Pidge had despised for the past three days, she decided that it was only bad if she made it bad.

She was safe. She could still she, hear, breathe and feel.

And most importantly, she wasn’t alone.

She had someone by her side, and it wasn’t just anyone. It was a man she trusted. A man who had been showing her nothing but his kindness and care even before they had ended up in this dismal state. A man who was her friend. A man she loved.

“Pidge?”

Pidge hummed, urging him to continue.

“Would it be weird to say that I love you?” He murmured, sounding a tad bit embarrassed.

Speak of the devil.

She figured this was a tactic of his to get her into a better mood, but their body’s were so close she could faintly feel his heart beating fast.

Pidge didn’t hesitate at all.

“Is it bad to say that I do too?”

And her leapt in joy when he gently took her chin, kissing her lips.

Two weeks and three days - that’s how long they’d been stranded. No helicopters flew past. It was almost like Hunk and the others completely forgot about them.

“You didn’t tell them where we were headed, you idiot. You just wanted to go already.” Pidge had told him once.

They sort of adapted to this living arrangement and learned to improvise, but that didn’t mean they were getting used to it completely. They still wanted to get out and go back to their lives with things staying the way they were before the helicopter had crashed.

It was nighttime now, and the lovers were clinging to each other, trying to share their body heat. Layers of large leaves were over them, but it just wasn’t enough. “Are you feeling okay, Pidge?” Lance whispered.

“I’m...fine. Are you?”

“Yeah, just really cold.”

Pidge frowned as she moved closer to him as she possibly could. “Sorry I can’t give you a lot of heat...”

“It’s okay, Pidgey-pie. The warmth of your love keeps me alive~” He sang jokingly, earning an eye roll from his girlfriend.

“I’m going to sleep. Night, dork.”

“Night, beautiful.”

Lance yawned, smiling sleepily at the still slumbering Pidge. She was on her side, her back turned against him. She must’ve rolled off from his arms when it started getting hot again. He chuckled lovingly as he leaned over her, planting a kiss on her chillingly cold forehead.

Wait.

Cold?

“Pidge?” Lance called, shaking her slightly. “P-Pidge, wake up.”

But she stayed limp.

“Pidge!” He yelled, growing frantic as he made her stiff body lie down on her back. She was so much paler than usual. He leaned close to her face, expecting to feel her warm breath against his cheek

Nothing.

“N-no, Pidge!” He cried hoarsely as large tears formed in his eyes, checking for a pulse. “Come on, Pidge! Wake up! Please!” He screamed in desperation, pumping on her chest. He leaned close once again.

Still nothing.

“Shit, no! Oh my God...” He hissed, pumping a little harder as he picked his pace up. “Pidge, come on!” Angry tears streamed down his cheeks as he opened Pidge’s mouth, placing his mouth on top as he furiously breathed out air.

Nothing.

Lance repeated the process over and over again, desperate to see any signs of life. One breath, a single pulse, a jerk, her temperature to rise again - anything.

He always found himself back to square one.

Lance picked up the corpse through eyes blurred with tears with the remaining strength he had left. His lip was violently quivering as he kissed her cold, blue lips devoid of any warmth. 

“Katie...” He whimpered. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise...”

Lance jolted awake in cold sweat, his eyes and face damp with his sweat and tears. He was...no longer in the rainforest.

Instead, he was in an unfamiliar room with a white blanket on his body. He had no shirt on, but he was wearing a new pair of pants. His pants.

He let out a nervous laugh. That was a crazy dream.

That is, until he saw his hands were covered in bandages. 

So it wasn’t a dream.

In a frenzy he fell off the bed, producing a loud thud. “Pidge!” He screamed, alarmed. He groaned as he weakly pushed himself up, cussing underneath his breath.

Loud footsteps entered his ears. The door flew open, revealing Hunk, Allur, Keith and Shiro. “You’re awake!” They cried in unison as Keith and Hunk immediately ran to his side

“No, get off of me!” Lance violently flailed, trying to get out. “Take me back! Oh God, please! Take me back!” He cried out. “I need to be there for Pidge, please!”

Allura frowned in concern. “L-Lance, please, control yourself--”

“You should’ve given her a proper burial instead of just-- just leaving her to rot out there!” Lance barked angrily, his actions growing more and more aggressive. Hunk and Keith struggled to hold him down.

Shiro finally spoke up.

“She’s being taken care of by Coran in the other room.”

Lance stopped abruptly as he gaped at the older man. “She...she’s not...dead?”

“No. In fact, she was the one awake when we found you both.” Shiro explained. “We couldn’t find you guys anywhere.”

“B-but I remember she was dead...I tried saving her but...”

“It was a bad dream, Lance.” Allura said soothingly, visibly relaxing when Hunk and Keith got him to sit up.

Hunk immediately latched himself to Lance, squeezing the poor Cuban. “It’s so good to see you again, buddy! We were all so worried about you and Pidge! If it weren’t for Keith we wouldn’t have found you guys!”

Lance patted his bulky friend gently on the back before smiling at his emo frenemy. “Thank you, edgelord~”

“Whatever.” Keith murmured, though he returned the smile. “I’m gonna check on Pidge.”

“Wait, Keith.”

“What?”

“Take me with you. I need to see my girlfriend again.”

Everyone in the room but Lance and Keith stared with shocked expressions.

Keith merely shrugged. “I knew it was happening at some point. Just in a less traumatising way.”