Chapter Text
The first time it happened, Pidge was certain she had imagined it.
She and Hunk were walking through the bridge, where Allura was looking intently at a holoscreen in front of her.
Pidge paid her no mind as she and Hunk moved toward the kitchen. "What's on the menu for today? I'm starving."
<See if you wanna snack on these tiddies.>
Pidge stopped.
She turned back to look at Allura, who showed no sign of having said anything.
Pidge shook her head, and jogged to catch up with Hunk, who was answering her question, though Pidge didn't register it at all.
---
The second time it happened, Pidge suspected something was up.
She was in the common room, playing a handheld video game they'd picked up a few supply runs back. And she was having trouble.
"This level is impossible!" She shouted, tossing the game onto the couch beside her.
It was possible, she supposed, that the game literally couldn't be beaten. That there was some element of Kentari biology or psychology that humans lacked, and that this level required to proceed.
"No." She screwed up her face in determination. "No, Katie Holt does not quit!"
<Neither does her ass.>
Pidge jumped.
She felt a blush rise in her cheeks as she looked behind her. The words were Altean, untranslated, and the voice was Allura's.
Sure enough, Allura was there behind her, but at the far end of the room, clearly focused on the datapad in her hand.
Allura noticed Pidge staring at her and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Pidge?"
This, like usual, was translated into Pidge's native Italian.
"No." She said, though her blush deepened. "Nothing."
Allura shrugged slightly and went back to her datapad.
---
The third and fourth time it happened, Pidge was certain Allura was making comments under her breath and playing it off. The comments themselves were racy, even overtly sexual, and each time Pidge's face lit up pink.
It was the fifth time, however, that Allura became even more overt.
Pidge was explaining Altean pronunciation to Shiro and Keith.
"There's a lot of hard consenants in, and at least three different variations of the 'z' sound. But one of the harder aspects has been voiced and unvoiced L's. You really have to put your tongue into it."
As an example, she repeated in Altean, <You have to put your tongue into it.>
<I love when you put your tongue into it.> Allura said, walking up to them.
<What?!>
"What did she say?" Shiro asked, oblivious.
<She said-> Pidge realized she was still speaking Altean.
Allura beat her to the explanation. "I was complimenting her on her pronunciation." She smiled, "She's becoming very proficient."
Stunned, Pidge opted not to argue with her.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea for us all to learn." Keith said. "You never know when the translators might fail."
Shiro agreed, "Not to mention it would help keep Altean culture alive in some small way."
"I'd like that." Allura said. She put an arm around Pidge's scrunched shoulder. "And I'm sure Katie would be an excellent tutor." <And I would be a very good girl for teacher.>
Pidge was too occupied with trying - and failing - to fight down her blush to say anything. She just nodded.
---
The first time it happened, it had genuinely been an accident. Allura overheard Pidge speaking and her comment had simply slipped out.
She knew how to speak so that the translator didn't translate it, a trick usually used when even the best translation of a phrase leaves something to be desired. It was the reason "quiznak" wasn't translated into the nearest Earthling cuss word.
She had honestly forgotten that Pidge had learned Altean.
After she'd said it, she held completely still, hoping Pidge hadn't heard her.
However, in the reflection of the Bridge's viewscreen, she saw Pidge look back at her, sporting the cutest blush Allura had ever seen.
Once she'd left, Allura knew that what she wanted most in that moment was to see that blush again.
---
The second time had been to test the waters. To see if Pidge would call her out when they were alone. Instead, Pidge's reaction was even cuter. Allura almost wished she were more of a creep, just enough to have recorded it.
The third and fourth time were each bolder, being in earshot of at least one of the other Paladins. In each instance, Pidge reacted, but still didn't call her out.
The fifth time, however, was the first time she had done it as part of a conversation. And it was also by far the greatest reaction she had gotten out of Pidge.
She replayed that moment over and over again in her mind. Pidge's blushing face, her fidgeting hands, her stammering voice. It was so adorable that, in the moment, Allura felt like she could die happy.
---
Since that time, Allura pulled back a little, returning to her passing comments whenever Pidge accidentally set her up. She did it, however, in front of anyone who might be listening. Anyone save Coran.
"You doing alright Pidge?" Lance asked.
Pidge yawned. "I didn't sleep well last night."
This was unrelated to Allura's comments. Just a usual part of being Pidge.
<You'd sleep a lot better in my bed, I'm sure.>
Pidge jolted to alertness. "Lance, will you excuse me for a second?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." Lance didn't understand, but he didn't ask.
"Allura!"
She startled at the sound of her own name. She turned to see Pidge striding toward her, face practically glowing.
"Y-yes Pidge? How can I help you?"
<Can I speak to you for a second? Alone?> She motioned to the hallway.
Allura began to sweat. <Of course.>
Once in the hallway, once certain they were alone, Pidge wheeled on her.
<What's the big idea?>
Allura made a show of feigning ignorance. <Why, Pidge, whatever do you mean?>
Pidge lunged forward, slamming her hands into the wall behind Allura. They connected with a loud sound, one arm on either side keeping her in place.
<Cut the quiznak! You know exactly what I mean.>
Allura felt her pulse quicken but forced a half-smile. Even now, Pidge's face was adorable. <Do I? I think you'll need to be more specific.>
Pidge's blush deepened. <These comments. The ones you keep making. J-just what the hell are you trying to do?>
Allura gathered her confidence. She didn't feel threatened, she knew that Pidge couldn't, and more importantly wouldn't, do anything to hurt her. Still, she felt her resolve weakening as Pidge held her eyes.
<To tell you the truth, I've become addicted to your blushing face.>
<What?!>
<I can't help it. You're so cute, I just have to tease you a little.>
Pidge sputtered, trying to say something, but failing completely.
<However, I know it's despicable. If it's become unbearable for you, just tell me. I'll stop.>
She meant it, too. If Pidge asked her, she would quit cold turkey. It would still be worth it, just to have this confrontation to replay in her mind.
Pidge stared at her. This was all just to get a rise out of her? Because Allura thought her blushing face was cute?!
There were many decisions Pidge could have made. She could have asked Allura to stop. She could have dropped it and walked away. She could have taken Allura to task for playing around with her feelings, and she would have had every right to do so.
Instead, she closed the distance between them until their lips met.
Allura's eyes grew wide, but she made no effort to resist. She felt her pulse rush ever faster, felt heat rise in her own cheeks.
When Pidge pulled away, Allura was blushing harder than her.
Allura brought a hand to her lips. <W-what was that?!>
<A declaration.> Pidge stepped away and started walking down the hall. She stopped at the end, just before turning, and looked back. <A declaration of war.>
---
The first time it happened was days later, days in which Allura thought Pidge might have forgotten, or possibly forgiven her. Days in which Allura had made no further comments to torment Pidge.
It happened suddenly, and what's worse is that it happened in front of everyone.
"We'll be pulling into Yhomall soon." Allura stood at the helm. "Remember your briefing and be on your best behavior."
<Anything for you, darling.>
Allura practically jumped. She looked over at Pidge who smiled at her and winked.
<Pidge this isn't the time.> She warned.
<You're right.> Pidge grinned. <That sort of talk really belongs in the bedroom.>
<Katie!>
Everyone turned to look at Allura and her already blushing face grew darker.
"What was that?" Shiro looked concerned.
"I was reminding her of part of Yhomalli etiquette." Pidge said, her demeanor cool and measured. "No big deal."
Shiro looked to Allura. Pidge also looked to Allura, almost daring her to argue.
"It would have made for a terrible faux pas." Allura confirmed. "I'm very thankful Pidge reminded me of it."
Shiro crooked an eyebrow, but dropped the subject, turning back to the viewscreen.
<I can see what you mean.> Pidge said, softly enough that only Allura would hear her. <I might just become an addict as well.>