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Pidge knows a lot of stuff.
Educational. Bookwise. Facts. Technology. Heck, even fighting now as well as alien things that any person back on Earth would never be able to dream up.
When they went on that mission for the Yulxian Pearl and faced down the Sphinx, the whole group instantly pointed her out as the smartest. When they were barely paladins, she reversed programmed the maze walls to cloak Green and added some new features in the pods (which might have backfired later but still!). She's created a Galra prediction tracker. She figured out how to stop the castle from going into a meltdown and decoded magical spores all in the same day!
But she knows absolutely nothing about…this…
"We're making what now?!?"
"Floral bouquets!" Coran grins widely before spreading his arms enthusiastically at all of the many, many, plants gathered in the greenhouse. The greenhouse is so big, Pidge is pretty sure they can get lost in here, "I remember this ceremony from when I was fresh out of boot camp! I just began my job as an assistant advisor and Alfor, still the prince, and his mother, the queen, came to partake in the ceremony. Each of us had to arrange a flower bouquet!"
"I am not good with nature," Pidge groans before sighing, "Can I just grab whatever looks nice and call it good?"
"No, that will not do," the oldest Altean shakes his head, "You see, this is quite the psychological event for the Wallavians! Every flower has a meaning! But do not worry, I am very sure that flower language is a universal thing! These flowers should mean the same on your planet too as well as Altea!"
"Yeah, but none of us knows what these flowers mean, Coran," Lance huffs before plopping onto a bench in frustration, "I don't know about you, but I do not want to walk around with flowers that say I'm dumb."
"Bold words for someone who tripped his lion on a tree root yesterday," Keith states sarcastically with a raised brow.
"What did you say?" Lance yelps, facing the other, "That tree root popped up out of nowhere, mullet!"
"Sure," Keith snorts in incredulous amusement.
"Yeah well-"
"Knock it off," Shiro sighs before looking around at the flowers, "The faster we start, the sooner we can relax. Is there anything else we should know, Coran?"
"Normally every guest in attendance creates just one, but I think it’s a great idea to show unity and pride by creating one together as Voltron as well," the man snickers as he rubs his mustache in thought, "The people of this planet value their flowers. Well, I'll be off to inquire about any book they may have on flower language. May take a bit of time though. And princess, it's a good idea for you to make one as well. You've never had the pleasure of doing this before."
"I will do so," Allura nods with a determined look. As soon as Coran walks out and the doors shut, she slumps in confusion, "I have no idea what to do…"
"Wait, they didn't like…I don't know…teach the meaning of flowers in like an etiquette lesson?" Hunk asks curiously, rubbing his chin while squinting at the princess, "That seems like something a diplomatic royal should know, you know?"
"I had not learned that yet," Allura grimaces before placing her hands together, "It is customary for us to learn such a thing at 18. However, I did not get a chance with the tension building and the war erupting. And then…well, you know the rest…"
"Oh…sorry," Hunk apologizes as Allura shoots him an accepting smile.
"It is quite alright," she nods before sighing softly, "You did not know. Besides, this could bring me closer to my father. I can imagine him sitting in this very garden, plucking out flowers and arranging them...I wonder what he picked back then…"
Pidge thinks to her own family. Matt wouldn't be big on this nor her dad. But her mom would be everywhere in fascination. She loves plants. Like really likes them.
“I'm sure we can ask the Wallavians after the ceremony,” Shiro speaks up with a hopeful smile aimed at the princess, “They'd probably have records, right? Or word of mouth? This is a diplomatic royalty we're talking about.”
“Thank you, Shiro,” she grins back with genuine gratitude in her eyes, “I'll have to ask.”
"So what are we going to do?" Lance demands from his seat as the silence grows around them, "We don't know the meanings of any of these but if we wait, the party might start without us!"
"Well…" Pidge glances around before noting something, "Uhhh…where did Keith go?"
They all look at her before gazing around. Just as she saw, there is no Keith in sight. How does he do that? Just disappear silently? How long has he been gone?
"Ah, great," Lance scowls, "Dropout's already ditched us. Bet he went to see the sights or something…"
"No, Keith's around in here somewhere," Shiro shakes his head before starting to walk through the plants, "He wouldn't run off and leave us with flower duties."
Pidge hears the conviction in the oldest's voice. She raises a brow before following the man. If anyone knows their loner, it's Shiro. Reluctantly, the other three come behind her as they walk down row after row of all types of flowers and multiple colors of the same ones. She's pretty sure she sees roses, sunflowers, tulips, and more. Don't even get her started on alien plants that she has never dreamt of or maybe Earth ones she doesn't know at all…
After a moment, they hear someone - probably Keith - talking to themself quietly. Once in a while, they hear a stem cut off softly.
They peer down a row to see that it is, in fact, Keith. He's peering at a wall of some kind of flower Pidge doesn't know, seeming to be debating over two different colored ones. In his hand, he clenches nearly a dozen flowers. His blade sits in his other, moving to cut off another one as he collects it.
"YOU KNOW FLOWER LANGUAGE!?!"
Keith whirls around in surprise, automatically dropping in a fighting stance, flowers held protectively to his side and blade transformed into a sword. He quickly steps back so his back is to the wall of plants before he seems to realize it's just them. He relaxes slightly, recalling his blade to its original dagger form before putting it into his sheath and scowling.
"Don't do that," he practically pouts as he crosses his arms, still handling the flowers gently, "I could have sliced your head off."
"No, no, Lance is right," Hunk stares at the bundle Keith's got, "You know what the flowers mean, don't you?"
"Uhhh…yeah," Keith messes with his incomplete bouquet so he doesn't have to look at them, "I do…"
"Dude, you should have told us!" Lance shouts before waving his arms around, "Would have been useful about half an hour ago."
"And would you have believed me if I had said so?" Keith asks bitterly, scrunching up some more defensively, "Every time I say anything, you guys turn it on me. 'Keith just blew his own mind' or 'This is probably way too hard for you to understand, Keith. We'll handle it' or 'Just leave Keith with the physical stuff.'"
He scowls at the ground before clenching his fists, mindful to not crush the flower stems.
"In case you forgot, I was top of the whole fighter pilot class, which isn't easy," Keith hisses at them, "I didn't make it there on just my talent and skills. I studied and worked my ass off to get there and stay there. I had to. It was the only chance I had to stay there and keep the scholarship I had. It was the only way to stay out of the shitty group home because I sure as fuck was not going back there for another three years."
Pidge stares in shock.
Group home?
But that would mean that Keith wasn't living with any relatives. That his parents were either dead or absent or both.
Him not knowing about being half-Galra makes a lot more sense now…
"And in case you forgot, we wouldn't be here now if I wasn't smart enough to change when I shifted the hoverbike because all that added weight would have have made us crash if I did it like I normally did with the usual weight," Keith huffs in frustration, "I learn differently than you guys do, okay? I might have to work through something over and over but I get there when I need to."
He huffs agitatedly before gritting his teeth.
"I had Cs and Ds in school, not because I couldn't get As, but because I was too busy or tired from getting the shit beat out of me by my foster parents or the other kids at the home and everyone constantly telling me that I'd never amount to anything," Keith actually stares at all of them. Pidge has to look away this time in shame, "But no, I'm just a dropout, remember? A discipline case, right? I can't possibly be smart enough."
He turns away from them.
"I'm not as stupid as you think I am…" He whispers morosely.
They stand there in silence. Pidge really starts to examine every conversation she's had with Keith as well as the group in total. And yeah…she winces. Her dad and mom would probably not be happy with her over that. Heck, she's mad at herself, especially knowing personally how bad it feels to get bullied. Keith is telling the truth. They've all been treating him like he isn't super smart. Well, except Shiro.
Shiro was the one to tell Keith to get Rolo and Nyma, knowing he could pilot his way through on a whim. Shiro never automatically assumed something of Keith. Shiro has had intelligent chats with Keith actually, now that she thought about it. She had always thought Keith's silence was proof of him not understanding everything being said. But now she understands it's him listening to Shiro and thinking it out as the older patiently talked on. In fact, she's seen him pull some genius moves that even she wouldn't have ever thought of, be it while piloting, fighting, or more…
"But…Iverson…he said you flunked out…" Lance practically whispers in shock, "He told us you dropped out."
"Yeah, well, the Garrison also said that Shiro crashed the ship and all three of them were dead," Keith deadpans before crossing his arms. He doesn't even bother to turn around, "Dropping out implies I had a choice in leaving. That I wasn't smart enough to stay. That I couldn't handle it there. I was kicked out. Expelled aka booted. You know, like I literally told you the first day we met and found Blue. Because dropping out would have been a lot less painful. At least it would have been my decision."
"But…why?" Hunk asks softly, eyes watering. Pidge doesn't feel much better on her end, "If you weren't having issues with grades or classes, why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Keith snorts dryly before practically hugging himself. Pidge is starting to see that is a defensive move to protect himself, not to be alone, "Shiro was gone. The only person who gave a single shit about me was gone. Shiro really was the only reason I was there. Without him, everything I did was scrutinized ten times worse. It was practically like being straight back in the home again. I couldn't breathe without somehow getting in trouble. I couldn't defend myself against the other cadets because the one barrier I had before to help me was gone. It's far easier to blame the loner kid than try to get to the actual truth, even if said kid was the only one who got beat up."
"Keith, I-" Shiro sounds devastated. Like he's heard this news before but is just as hurt by it, for Keith's sake.
"It's not your fault," Keith shakes his head, "It started before you supposedly died. Nothing I wasn't used to. It just got a lot worse when they announced you were gone."
Heavy silence falls over them for a moment.
"Besides, I wasn't exactly helpful on my part," Keith says quietly, "I was grieving. It felt like when my dad died all over again, but worse because I was old enough to remember everything about Shiro this time. I lasted maybe a week after the announcement? Had to fly a stupid, useless rescue sim to rescue the crew off of Kerberos. I just…I snapped."
Keith laughs darkly.
"I marched right up to Iverson as he was watching the runs and yelled at him," Keith snorts in strange amusement. Pidge feels the same, knowing what she knows of the older man who kind of seemed like a dick even with her limited time undercover, "About how cruel he was for allowing such a simulation when they were barely announced dead. About how he's blind and biased to not realize that maybe I wasn't the actual problem around the Garrison, that maybe it was the actual bullies and corrupt staff members who did wrong. That he was being just as bad as them for looking the other way when people like me need actual help. And you know what he said? He told me not to follow in Shiro's footsteps."
Pidge hears the pained gasp from Lance. She quickly remembers that's exactly what he said to Lance about Keith.
"I was so angry and hurt and done, so I punched him as hard as I could," Keith huffs before leaning his head against the wall, mindful of the plants, "Security had to drag me out of there and gave me five minutes to collect my things before they dumped me outside of Garrison grounds. I walked my way out to the shack and well…you know the rest…"
Pidge doesn't know what to say. Neither do any of the others.
"Fuck…why did I tell you that?" Keith mutters back with wide eyes, “I haven't told anyone about all that ever.”
'Hey, uhhh…Princess?' They can all hear Coran through Allura's earrings, 'I may have found out something we probably should have known beforehand…'
"What is it, Coran?" Allura wonders. They all get the feeling it has to do with whatever is going on with Keith.
'Well, it seems there is one flower in there that does affect the Galra,' Coran pauses, 'It is absolutely not dangerous to them, but it does have truth compelling qualities so it's best that Keith stay away from them. Back in the day, we ran across one. Zarkon talked straight through the night about everything imaginable. He was usually more reserved so we might have to keep it in mind.'
"Well, too late for that," Lance grumbles before sighing.
"Coran, how long are the effects going to last and which flower is it?" Shiro wonders as he stands next to Keith who hasn't moved yet.
'Well, depends how long he was exposed to the flower and how much it would affect his Galra side…possibly a few vargas?' Coran states before they can hear some paper ruffling, 'Okay, the flowers look a lot like a hibiscus with smaller petals also sticking out of the middle and three pollen stems.'
Luckily, Keith isn't holding any in his hand and the wall before him isn't that flower. Pidge realizes that he must have been close to some when he was picking other flowers.
Holy shit, it was a potent flower if that were the case. Even the mind melds haven't ever revealed anything close to this. It's like it just makes people talk. Not necessarily tell the truth but she can tell Keith probably told the truth.
Then again, Keith is a terrible liar now that she thinks about it.
"There's nothing else in here that's dangerous to the Galra, right?" Pidge demands before crossing her arms, “Bad enough we got our friend who is drugged up and telling us shit he doesn't mean to. I don't think we want to run across something that will poison him or something…”
'No, but there is a plant that I think Number Four would actually like!' Coran's grin can be heard through the comms, 'Looks like a black gardenia with red and purple tips, means regeneration and dreams. It releases quite a beautiful smell, if I remember correctly from back in the day. It also works as a mild sedative and sleeping aid for those of Galran descent! Very calming, especially when stuck in an adrenaline rush as we know our young Keith does sometimes! I'll ask the Wallavians if I can grab a few for the ship!'
And then he's gone.
"Hey, uhhh…we're sorry, man," Hunk says first, tapping his fingers together nervously, "We didn't realize how much we were being jerks to you. I…also said some uncalled for stuff…"
"I know you didn't intend to be mean about it," Keith actually turns around this time, facing them, "And it's not exactly anything new. Besides, I always overreact to everything anywa-"
"Dude! Shut the quiznak up!" Lance shouts in incredulous horror. Keith just stares at him with a confused and lost look, "Whoever told you that is a gaslighting asshole! You're allowed to feel what you feel, man! I come from a big family where I'm the youngest and one of the things my family always taught me is that I should freely express myself and my emotions. It doesn't matter what I'm feeling as long as I express it somehow."
"You are perfectly fine telling us when we make you uncomfortable, Keith," Allura says softly, "I know I have not been very kind in the past over your heritage reveal. I truly regret how cruelly I reacted. But we do care about you, as…well, I would like to say as a friend and family. But perhaps we all need to make much more effort to be that for real.”
“I…” Keith starts but stops, unsure of what to say.
“This needs to happen,” Shiro presses his hand to Keith's shoulder gently, “Keith, you deserve friends who will look out for you and be good to you. I know it's hard to hope for. But…I'm your best friend…and I wasn't at one point. I like to think that all our hard work paid off?”
“Of course,” Keith responds automatically, so softly as if he could never think otherwise, “You're…you're everything to me, Shiro. You've…you're always here for me…that means everything to me. You know that…right?”
“I'm starting to,” the older man laughs fondly before holding out his hand. Keith grins wider before grabbing it and falling into the hug Shiro offers, tucking under his jaw, “I'm sorry…for disappearing-”
“Not your fault,” Keith says sternly.
“I know,” the other nods before sighing softly, rubbing a few strands of Keith's hair with a frown on his lips, “But I'm also sorry for telling you to become the leader if something happens to me…”
They all stare in confusion and concern.
When did this happen? What? Keith? Lead? He never mentioned anything about this before?
But Pidge can…see it…Keith usually takes over for Shiro anyway when they have issues and the older is out of it. And again, Shiro knows Keith best. There must be leadership potential if their leader sees something.
“It was cruel of me,” Shiro goes on softly, “And I don't want you to think that you're just a replacement for me. If something should happen to me-”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Keith says with such raw conviction that Pidge believes it herself, “I'll make sure of it.”
“I know you will,” Shiro chuckles warmly before ruffling Keith's hair comfortingly, “But we're at war and anything can happen. And if it does, I want you to lead. But…I want you to be you. You're not going to lead like me, got it? You're not me. Don't try to be me. You know what I see in you as a leader?”
Keith just shakes his head, looking to the side. Shiro chuckles sweetly before gently picking Keith's chin up until the other looks at him.
“I see a man with amazing instincts, who would fight with everything he has to get the mission done and to keep his friends and innocent people safe,” Shiro speaks so fondly, “One who has suffered so much but would never want anyone else to go through that. One who is accepting of all people, even the Galra, because he knows what it feels like to not be accepted by many.”
The older pauses with a small hum.
“I see myself,” Shiro admits back before chuckling fondly, “But an even better version. I was always so proud when you broke my records. Everyone would always say you were unexpected. But I knew you had it in you. Someone who is stronger than me. Smarter. Faster. Tougher. Sharper. Someone who has a lot of potential…”
“But what I do with it…” Keith says softly like it's something Shiro has said before, “Is up to me…”
“Always,” Shiro agrees before pulling away from the younger. He keeps a hold on Keith's shoulder still, “Now, how about we get working on bouquets now? Everyone can say what meaning they want for theirs and you can help us learn what they would be. Sound good to everyone?”
Everyone agrees.
“So you're going to trust me?” Keith snorts dryly as he looks at Lance, “When I could be giving you flowers that mean you're dumb?”
“I think I can,” Lance shrugs before frowning, “I'm…I'm sorry. For everything. I never realized how much what I say hurts you sometimes. No more ‘dropout’ crap and stuff…although I can't promise no teasing and stuff! I grew up in a big family and all that. That shit is a requirement!”
“I don't mind,” Keith scoffs playfully before smirking, “I kind of like it. It's nice to be included…but your lion still tripped over a root!”
“Ah! Mullet!” Lance shouts dramatically while grinning, “Lies! That plant root appeared out of nowhere and tripped my girl! I was there! I saw it!”
“I really hope you were there,” Keith scoffs happily, “Or else who was flying Blue?”
“Oh shut your quiznak!” Lance rolls his eyes. Allura just looks at the ceiling with a flat, faraway, irritated look.
“You're still not using that word correctly,” Keith answers back.
“Yeah, well-”
“Alright, alright,” Shiro laughs before eyeing them all, “Bicker later. Right now, we got some aliens to impress and friends to help.”
They get down to business. Seems like the average bouquet has around 10-20 flowers so they pick 15. Keith really helps them out and they do the same when it comes to his and Voltron's. They're just getting done when Coran appears rather suddenly, smiling widely.
“Well, I found a tablet to help out wit-” He pauses before seeing their flowers, “Seems like you had some success with yourselves over here. They look amazing! Quite beautiful! And uniquely you!”
Keith frowns at that before looking at the oldest man.
“Hey, Coran?” He wonders curiously, “Are there any Galra flowers here besides the two you mentioned?”
“I distinctly remember there being so,” Coran nods before combing through the device in his hand, “Hmmm…not these…not that…I know there must be…Ah, here we go!”
He shows off various plants. Each is more strange than the next, looking very distinctively Galra in both color and structure. Her eyes catch the one that looks so much like the Blade of Marmora symbol. It even has glowing lavender innards.
“Oh, that one looks like your dagger!” Hunk calls out before blinking, “Right? It's not just me, right?”
“Oh, no, it really does look like it,” Shiro nods before looking at the description, “Named after the legendary Marmora. Huh, now I wonder if the Blade named themselves after this or if the group came first. Means resilience and spiritual strength since they're rare but grow in the harshest climates. I think it's perfect."
"I think I want to uhhh...make some changes," Keith nods at his batch before carefully pulling about half of them out, "I think I want to...no, I know I want to start accepting both sides of myself, even the Galra one. I need to replace seven with Galran flowers."
"That sounds like a marvelous idea!" Coran grins widely.
"Coran, is there a Galran flower meaning something like true personal friendship?" Allura wonders curiously before she grips both of Keith's hands gently, smiling at him, "I would be honored to put one in my bouquet, if that's alright with you, Keith?"
He stares back with wide eyes before softening some, nodding with a tiny grin.
"Is there an Altean one of equal meaning?" Keith wonders curiously before plucking the odd flower out before peering at the oldest man, "I can put it in mine too. To uhhh...to show our friendship."
"Such a beautiful plan! You've come so far, you two. All of the team has! I'm so proud!" He wipes his eyes happily before pointing at the book, "As it is, there are two such flowers! They were once used during our ceremonies to show our friendship with each other and I think it needs to be renewed. In this war, we need peace and a way forward. I'm sure the people here will highly appreciate it!"
"And while we're at it," Lance smirks before removing six flowers from the Voltron one, "How about we put in three Galran and three Altean? We might be paladins, but we're not all of Team Voltron!"
"You're right," Hunk agrees before hugging the other teen, "Great idea!"
"I try," Lance scoffs playfully.
"It really is good," Pidge acknowledges before looking at Lance, "And to be fair, we owe you an apology too. We forget that you're also smart too so sorry about that."
The others all agree.
"Thanks," he says before stretching, "So we getting those flowers or what? They're going to be bored without us!"
"Well, we certainly can't have that!" Coran laughs before motioning them towards a section of the greenhouse, "I can teach you all about the Altean and Galran flowers! In fact, Daibazaal, the Galra home planet, had the coolest blossoming seasons and festivals sometimes happened around them! Zarkon used to celebrate such things and the Galran people loved it more. Perhaps traditions can restart when we take the universe back from the Empire."
"I would love to see that," Allura says joyfully, obviously meaning it, "And perhaps they'll let us take some flowers with us and we can exchange traditions."
"Hmmm...that sounds amazing," Shiro grins before bringing Keith into a side-hug. The younger just snickers before nuzzling playfully into the older's side, "I miss cherry blossoms so much. It's been like two deca-phoebs now."
They all cheer before working on the bouquets. Before long, they're up at the ceremony, showing off their flowers and their friendship. Even Pidge enjoys it.