Okay, so this is for the fic swap that I agreed to do with @morte-mistrata forever ago. Just some cute Matt and Pidge familial fluff. I hope you like it!
“So …” Matt started as he sat with Katie in his lap, arms wrapped tightly around her as she played her video game, his head resting on top of her own as he felt her heart beat against his chest. She was alive. She was here. It was the little things you forgot you missed after so long of giving up hope. Having Katie back was a miracle. She gave a small hum of recognition to his unfinished inquiry, indicating that she was indeed listening to him.
“Yeah?” She asked again, verbally when Matt still didn’t pick back up fast enough.
“So,” He started again, dipping his head to rest against her shoulder, turning it so that he was nestling his nose into her neck. She made no move to stop him as he spoke again, “You snuck into the Garrison, no once, but twice?” he asked, his breath tickling her neck if the small little shoulder twitch was anything to go by. She still didn’t push him off or tell him to move though, so he stayed there, just breathing her in. Feeling her being alive and well in his arms. Death had permeated everything he’d done with the resistance. He never wanted to have to bury another comrade or smell burning flesh ever again. Katie smelled of fresh dew on flower petals though. Of the clear sky after the rain in the forest. Of gentile dirt, undisturbed by man. She smelled fresh and alive and Matt wanted to remember this scent for forever. Wanted to preserve it, preserve her. Wanted to throw his baby sister into a cryo pod and send her back to Earth to protect her from this gruesome battle. War was no place for a girl her age. She should be back home, worrying about colleges and future careers, not trying to stop inter-universal conquerors. Not, carrying the stress of the fate of the universe and Earth on her shoulders. This couldn’t be healthy for her.
“I did.” She answers casually, killing the newest boss with practiced ease. It was her third time through on this level after all. “The first time I got caught because I was sloppy. Though, the second time I’m sort of surprised they didn’t catch me sooner.” She says flippantly. He can’t help it, he chuckles, he missed this. Just sitting with her and talking.
“Yeah, the first time Iverson caught me hacking into his computer and then kicked me out when I screamed at him and kicked him as security was pulling me out of his office. T’was quite the scene I caused my bro my bro.” She smiles. “I wasn’t going to let them tell me you and dad were dead though.” She adds, quieter this time. “They called it ‘pilot error,’ but I know how much your team trained. I know how good of a pilot Shiro was. He promised me before you guys left that he would bring you both home and I know he meant it. There was no way it was pilot error, especially with the data they had collected from the trip so far. They were lying and I was going to prove it.” Her voice was hard and determined. She was only sixteen, she shouldn’t have to deal with these things. He needed to change the subject to something lighter. This had backfired on him faster than he had thought it would.
“So you came to space with your own little harem then?” He joked, kissing her cheek, feeling her face heat up in embarrassment under his lips.
“I so did not bring a harem.”
“Really? Three very handsome young men and ‘Shiro the Hero’ doesn’t count as a harem? Plus then you found a beautiful princess to help save. Face it little sister, you’re living a storybook fairytale in the best way possible.” Matt jokes, smiling as he pulls back to rest his chin back on top of Katie’s head. “So, do I need to put the fear of god into any of them?” He asked casually when she didn’t respond. He did see the reflection of her rolling her eyes in the screen though.
“There isn’t really a whole lot of time to think about that sort of thing Matt. Plus, they’re my friends, that’d be weird.” She tries to defend herself. He can see through it though. He knows all of her tells, after all, some things just don’t change.
“You’re lying Katie, I can feel it. Your pulse just got a little quicker as did your words. Who is it?” he asks, pressing her for an answer. He needs to know if they’re good enough for his precious, beautiful, wonderful baby sister. “Is it Shiro? You’ll have a lot of competition if it is. Everyone loves him.” He teases, and graciously takes the elbow to the gut that she gives him for that one. He deserved it for teasing after all.
“Ew, gross Matt, Shiro is hot and all, but he’s way too old for me. He’s more like family than a love interest.” She defends.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. Lance is more your type isn’t he? Tall and handsome?” Matt smirks. “You did say at one point when you were younger than you wanted a trophy husband.” he smiles. Lance was a good guy, he would treat Katie right. He could approve of him.
“Lance? I do love Lance, but not like that.” Her voice is soft as she pauses her game. “Lance is super sweet and I honestly love him more than probably any of the others, but, that love is familial too. He was the one that helped me whenever I missed you and dad too much. He would let me cuddle with him, he’d brush my hair and sing me songs to help ease my stress. He’s like a brother. I love Lance like I love you. He’ll always bring me food when even I don’t notice that I’ve suddenly worked through a meal. Even if I don’t agree he’ll pick me up and drag me to bed and tell me to sleep when I’ve been working too long. He takes care of me like I were his own sister.” She pauses here, and Matt can see in the reflection of her eyes that she’s trying to think of the right words to use. “He acted like you do, and I think that’s why I let him do all that, because he was you while you were missing.” Matt would have to pull Lance aside and give him a hug for that then, thank him for taking care of Katie in his absence.
“He sounds like a good friend.”
“He is. So yeah, I love Lance, but not like that.” She smiles and turns sideways in his lap, forcing him to readjust his own position for optimum comfort as well. “And before you ask, no, I don’t like Keith either. He’s too much of a hot head. He thinks things through, but not in a way that I agree with half the time. And when Shiro isn’t with him, it’s like his self preservation and logic just, disappear. I wouldn’t be able to stand that in a relationship.”
“So that just leaves Hunk then. Hmm, I suppose he’s a good guy. I haven’t spent too much time with him yet, but he does seem to keep you on your toes, and it sounds like he can challenge you intellectually, which is good.” Matt says as he brushes some of the longer hair from in front of Katie’s eyes, back behind her ears.
“Wrong again big bro. I like Hunk, but it isn’t like that. I admire his brain, and his kindness, but not in a romantic sense”
“Hmmm, well, that does take care of all the boys on the ship other than Coran, but I might have to put my foot down there. If Shiro is too old, Coran is definitely too old as well.” He says, to which he gets a light smack to the shoulder. He deserved that one, knew it was coming. “Okay, okay, so then, Allura?” He asked with a soft smile as he moved his right hand back to lean back some, his left hand staying just where it was, rubbing her thigh comfortingly. She didn’t need to say anything, the way her shoulders pitched forwards and and up to her ears said it all.
“It’s totally one sided though, and it’s probably just a crush. Besides, there’s no time for that sort of thing in a war.” she says quietly. “Besides, she’s older than me too, I probably just seem like a child to her.” she pouts.
“Now listen here young lady; you, are amazing, okay? You are smart, and brave, and resourceful, and adaptive. You’re beautiful, and caring, and loyal. Katie, there is not a single being out here in the huge wide universe that you don’t deserve. The question here is: do they deserve you? If you don’t want to act on this little crush, that’s fine, but as soon as it turns from a crush to something you want to act on, let me know and I’ll make sure to have this princess falling into your tiny little noodle arms in no time.” Matt tells her, smiling at the playful scowl she gives him at the small jab at her physical stature. He’d really missed this, just sitting together with his amazing little sister and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. They needed to do this more often.
“Fine, but only if you promise to tell your crush how you feel about him too.” She smirks. It was a reasonable request, but he still felt the need to overreact, because he was nothing if not a drama queen.
“My crush? Who ever said I had a crush on anyone?” He asks, his grin wide and his left hand pressed to his chest above his heart as he feigned scandalous. The universe might be in trouble, but at least they had each other again, and that was all that mattered to Matt.
