pidge_out | Victory Road IC Inbox

Hey, it's Pidge. Can't answer right now-- Rover quit it! --so leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.
Rover, what did I say--?!?!

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From:

pidge_out

[Pidge just rolls her eyes at that, and when he sees how full of himself he's getting over "winning" this argument (heavy on the air-quotes, as far as she's concerned) she pushes a hand into his face as if to wipe it away.]

Well, you're slow. Hurry up.

[He barely even has to tug before she's moving closer, and now the color in her cheeks is much more prominent. Does he like it? He seems happy enough.]

Sorry it's not more... [She makes a vague gesture with her hands, embarrassed.] Uh- Fancy? Or expensive, or anything. I wasn't sure-- I just hoped you'd like it, even if it's kinda lame.

From:

spacebaloney

[He has just enough time to lick her palm like the nasty dog he is when she puts her hand in his face before she pulls it back and replaces it with her entire body as his behest. Now Lance is pressing his lips against hers softly before barely moving away to whisper against them.]

Shut up. I love it.

[He does. He really does. Lance knows Pidge isn't the gushy, grand gestures of romance kind of person (that's him), so for her to do this much means more than anything else. No expensive gifts needed; the thought counts for much more than money could.]

And I love you, my midget gremlin.

From:

pidge_out

[She had a lot more flailing to do still, flustered by the fact that she can never seem to outdo Lance when it comes to the romance department. Hell, she'd give anything to just be able to reach his level. And there was a lot more to ramble about; how she feels bad about that struggle and she wishes it came more naturally to her. But then Lance kisses her and that seems to melt the anxiety away, replaced with butterflies and the excited flip of her stomach.

And hearing those three words again. Lance hasn't said it since Shiro's wedding, and he'd been pretty drunk so Pidge hadn't even been sure he remembered saying it at all. But it sends a stupid, electric tingle up her spine that ends in a small, warm smile across her face.]

I love you too, you dork.

[She can say it now, and she's proud of herself for that. And it's not just lip service or telling Lance what he wants to hear (and besides, when has she ever done that). She means it, and she hopes he can tell.]

From:

spacebaloney

[No one should strive to reach Lance's level. His level has been borne from a need to be approved, to be The One for someone, from insecurity that one day he might not be enough. While he does these days mostly because he loves Pidge and actions speak louder than words, he'd be remiss to ignore the fact his skills were practiced to for impressing rather than affection.

Also, yeah, Lance was pretty well trashed when he admitted he loved Pidge, but they don't call alcohol the truth serum for nothing. Though, hearing her say it back, now? Today? Of all days? Sure beats any fancy schmancy chocolate one can buy.

It's enough to surprise him where he pulls back with furrow between his brows.]

Really?

From:

pidge_out

[His reaction makes her shy again, blushing and tucking herself in a little bit, glancing off to the side. That smile is still on her face since she can't seem to shake it off, reaching up to awkwardly tuck some loose hair behind her ear.]

Well, yeah. Of course.

[And then a thought crosses her mind, one that surprises her enough that it gives her the courage to look back up into his face.]

Is- Is that a surprise?

From:

spacebaloney

Yeah?

[It's more of a question than a proper answer because he really didn't expect her to think it shouldn't be a surprise. Now Lance is left blinking at her for a few seconds before finding words to form his point.]

I mean, last time I said it, you didn't say it back, so I kinda thought...

[Not that she didn't care for him, but maybe she wasn't ready to love him yet. Or maybe just didn't feel as strongly as he did for her. The fact that she loved him back and just couldn't get her mouth to form the words never really struck Lance as possible.

Also, he was drunk so maybe Pidge thought he was just a wino babbling which to be honest, he kind of was.]

From:

pidge_out

[Her face goes a little redder, her eyes a little wider.]

Oh, I-- I thought you didn't remember that. [Wait.] I-I mean! I'm not saying that I didn't want you to remember it, just- You seemed pretty drunk, and we were at a wedding so you could've just been saying stuff... I was just surprised, I guess? And- And I wasn't ready to actually say it... And you were drunk!

[And since he hadn't said it again, there was definitely a part of her that had wondered if he'd actually meant it. She had been about 85% sure he did, but that still left a 15% chance she was wrong. But at least the time between then and now had allowed her to properly assess her feelings and come to her 100% certain conclusion. Once she'd done that, it had seemed to her like her affections were obvious. Apparently not obvious enough to Lance. That's something to work on.]

From:

spacebaloney

Why wouldn't I remember? I wasn't that drunk!

[And most importantly, Lance might talk a lot of shit and be the galaxy's biggest flirt, but he has never once told a girl he loved her when he didn't. His mama taught him better than that to begin with and also Lance isn't that big of a jerkass to play with a girl's feelings that. Most of all, he wouldn't want someone to say they loved him only to be lying so they could get the better of him.

The reason why he didn't say it again was because he didn't want to make it seem like he was pressuring Pidge into returning the sentiment. He knew how he felt about her; the alcohol was just a bit of liquid bravery to put it into words. Lance hasn't drank since that night and well, today's Valentine's Day. Two occasions one should say it.]

You thought I didn't meant it? All this time? [Lance glances away from her out into the distance off the porch.] Damn...

[What does one say to that? How does one respond to finding out your girlfriend thought you were just bullshitting her?]

From:

pidge_out

[It's Pidge's turn for her brow to furrow, concerned. Oh no. Did she fuck it up? She fucked it up. She finally manages to say "I love you" and then screws herself over by talking about how her brain had short-circuited when Lance said it first. She chews on the inside of her cheek for a second, finding herself studying one of the undone buttons of Lance's shirt.]

That's not it, Lance. I just wasn't sure you remembered. And you never said it again, so I didn't think bringing it up out of nowhere was the best idea.

[It never occurred to her that he just didn't want her to feel pressured. She's worse at this than she thought. And that makes her reach up and wipe a hand down her face.]

Man... I really need to work on my communication skills...

From:

spacebaloney

[It's one thing to not be ready to say it. Lance gets that. He totally understands if Pidge wasn't ready to say it. It's the other part where she just thought he was a drunk saying it because weddings are romantic and full of emotion and wow, if that doesn't feel like a lack of faith in him, Lance doesn't know what is.]

I didn't say it again because you didn't say it back and I didn't want you to feel like I was forcing you to feel something you didn't. It's just that today is Valentine's Day and all..

[Because that's his biggest fear: she doesn't feel nearly the same as he does and she's just with him for shits and giggles. Not that Pidge is that kind of girl, but Lance's insecurity tells him believable lies all the time.]

I figured if you didn't love me back, just liking me would be good enough.

[He frowns some more before opening the box of chocolates and picking one at random to pop whole into his mouth. He'll just eat his feelings right now if Pidge doesn't mind. Communication? Who's that?]

From:

pidge_out

[Pidge frowns, watching him mindlessly pick out a chocolate. And it hits her right in the gut, hard, that he doesn't go making a big show out of choosing which one to eat because they were a precious gift and she hates that she did this to him. So she lets impulse take over, lets a part of her temper get the better of her as she gets back up into Lance's space. She practically grabs him by the chin so that he'll look at her, her expression serious and no-nonsense.]

Lance, if I didn't love you I would've said so. I wouldn't have stayed with you after that if it had felt like you were forcing me into something I didn't want. But I'm still here. Because I want to be, and because you've become someone that I don't want to live without.

[She draws in a breath, bracing herself. Honesty time. Time to spill all the beans and be vulnerable and open. And if she can't do that for Lance, then she doesn't deserve to be in a relationship, period.]

When you said it back then, I- Yeah, I thought you were too drunk to really know what you were saying, but that was also literally the moment I realized I felt the same way. I didn't say it back because I didn't wanna do that to you without being completely one hundred percent sure of myself, and because I thought you wouldn't remember in the morning.

[With that she finally releases him. Her hands find the bottom edge of her jacket and she starts to wring the fabric anxiously, eyes dropping to watch the movement while her face burns in shame. She's still certain she's fucked this up, and she doubts that her honesty fixed anything.] But it's true. I do. And- And I'm sorry for doubting you. And for making you think I didn't feel the same way.

From:

spacebaloney

[Lance is far too busy chewing out his frustrations when Pidge is suddenly in his space, all up in his face, and he's thinking she's about to kick his ass for some unknown reason.

That would be kind of hot if it means getting yoked up by a girl, but what is hotter is that she doesn't hit him. No, Pidge is suddenly talking and all Lance can do is listen until she has said every one that needed to be said and that he needed to hear. They really need to start communicating better, but even more, start believing in each other more. He loves her and she loves him. If there's anything they've got in this world, it's the other person.

Now that he's free from her grasp, Lance leans into her space now, a smirk curling the corner of his lips.]

Your breath smells like Meowth booty.

[Because god, who is Lance but the dummy who breaks the tension by insulting his girlfriend simply because it'll redirect her anger from rolling internally and to being a nice distraction while she strangles him. Better she be mad at him than at herself. Lance never wants Pidge to feel pain ever again if he can help it.]

From:

pidge_out

[There's a second where she's still unsure of whether or not she's gotten through, but then she sees that beginning of a smirk and she hears what he's saying, and-- Her cheeks go hot, her eyes widen a little, and then she screws her face up into something like annoyance and has to beat a fist lightly into his chest for that. Rude much!]

You-- You're so--

[She hits him again, even lighter, and then hides her expression by pressing her forehead against him. Pidge had no idea what she would've done if she'd irreversibly fucked this up by being such a shitty communicator with her fucking boyfriend.]

Uuuugghh you freaked me out. Don't ever do that to me again or I'll kill you in your sleep.

[She says that, and she does sound angry (and to some extent she means it), but the relieved smile has not left her face. She's just not ready to show it to Lance yet.]

From:

spacebaloney

[This tiny baby toddler fist of her has never done any damage to him and it certainly won't be doing any now, but Lance knows this is how Pidge shows her emotions. Violence is their love language, apparently.

Pidge can do a lot of bad things, but Lance loves her so much, can never see himself with any other gremlin but this one, that he'd forgive her. And now that he's sure she feels the same about him as he does her, that ring in his pocket seems to hold a lot more significance.

Running his fingers through her hair, Lance laughs because he isn't ready to let Pidge stop redirecting her anger.]

Before or after we have sex? Cause you know how sleepy bustin' a nut makes me, so I prefer after.

[He doesn't need to see it to know it's there. He can just feel it. One of those instinct things.]

From:

pidge_out

[She's so stubborn and huffy right now, refusing to let go of her absolutely meaningless bit of anger. Because Lance is right; it's a good distraction from her own frustration at herself, and she's happy to jump on it. Even though the fingers in her hair are soothing as hell and it's so close to drawing all the bad energy right out of her.]

Before.

[She finally pulls back a little, just enough so she can level him with a playful glare.]

Right before the clothes come off for makeup sex. Forget the sleep part.

From:

spacebaloney

[She's cute when she's stubborn and huffy and honestly, Lance wouldn't want her any other way. It's how he met her and how he'd like to keep her. Plus, when Pidge stops being stubborn and huffy, that probably means she's closing herself off and when they've come this far, that's the last thing Lance wants her to do towards him.]

Before? [He pulls back farther than she does, grossed out look on his face like he just caught a whiff of Pidge after she'd spent one too many days at her computer desk and none in the shower.] Wow, so you're gonna do my corpse? You kinky lil' shit. Emphasis on the lil'. by the way.

From:

pidge_out

[That glare does not budge. It is cemented to her face for the time being, clearly unfazed by being accused of necrophilia. The banter is back on, after all. And despite the look she's put on she feels nothing but glee.]

Back to short jokes and kinkshaming, huh? I can do whatever I want with your body. Dead men don't get a say.

From:

spacebaloney

Right, so when I come back to haunt you by hiding all your peanut butter cookies and rearranging your gadget shit to make sure that no matter what, you'll always be missing that one important screw, you'll have no one to blame but yourself.

[For those six last words, Lance decides that booping Pidge's nose with the tip of his finger punctuates his point nicely. Then he takes that same finger and just slightly, every so slightly, sticks it in one of her nostrils because what says love more than your man trying to dig for gold?

Or maybe less love and finding more ways to gross her out.]

From:

pidge_out

[She almost sees it coming. His fingers are dangerous when Lance wants them to be, so as soon as he's booping her snoot her hackles rise up. In the end it does her absolutely no good; she's half a second behind and her raising her hand to stop him just ends up pushing his finger further into her nostril. At which point she flails back with an undignified snort, the sound of which surprises her so much she very nearly bursts out laughing.]

L-Lance!

[The way she barks out his name is meant to sound angrier than it does, tainted by the surprise that so wants to come out as laughter. All of which she tries to cover up by vigorously wiping at her nose. It's... not very effective.]

Why-- You're so weird, I swear!

From:

spacebaloney

[Pidge really needs to react faster than that. Though considering Lance is the youngest of of five, the fact he is speedy is borne from trying to get something off the dinner table before it's all gone and trying to run from his older brothers when they felt particularly trolly. That practice is serving him well today.]

Says the chick who wants to hump my dried up dick.[He peers at his finger and frowns, acting as if there's something really on the tip, then reaches out towards her.] C'mere. I gotta wipe my finger.

[Because he's certainly not using his expensive silk shirt as a handkerchief!]

From:

pidge_out

[And Pidge is immediately backing the hell up, arms out in front of her to further keep Lance at bay.]

Nope. No no no, absolutely not.

[Except even as she refutes him her eyes are sparkling, playful and giddy and more than happy to be back to their usual banter. The smile keeps tugging at the corner of her lips, threatening to break the façade of annoyance that she's put up. But she's still about two seconds away from just turning tail and sprinting down the beach.]

You wipe on me and this date is over.

From:

spacebaloney

It's your boogers! Why are you afraid of your own boogers?

[The box of candy has been lying on Lance's lap all this time, but now he shoves it aside to chase after his girlfriend, gross finger still pointed her way. Because, as everybody knows in this house, what belongs to you, sticks to you. That includes Pokemon and snot alike.]

And that's no threat. We live in the same house and that would make things awkward and you don't do awkward.

[Also he still has a plan residing in his pocket that Lance wants to put into motion, so yeah, he's hoping the date continues.]

From:

pidge_out

It's the principal of the boogers!

[As soon as Lance gets up, Pidge really starts to move. She really should at least head in the direction of wherever their actual destination is. And she would be... if she knew where exactly Lance was planning on taking her. For now, at least jumping off the porch and keeping herself out of Lance's long reach is more or less doable.]

I could learn to do awkward! We can start right now. For every time you stick your finger in my nose, we lose a date!

[It's absolutely an empty threat, though. Going out with Lance is fun, even when she has her own reservations about the plan going into it.]

From:

spacebaloney

Yeah, and the principal of it is that they belong in your nose!

[It's good that she had no idea where he's taking her today because that gives Lance so many methods of getting her close enough to wipe his finger. For now, though, he gives into the stalking of his prey by following her off the porch and onto the sand that lives where a lawn would.]

Sounds fake. You love me too much to turn down a date with me. Besides, I'm too cure to reject and you know it.

[Big talk from a man who five minutes ago wasn't even sure Pidge even really liked him, much less loved him.]

Besides, you're going the wrong way for our date today.

From:

pidge_out

Which is why you shouldn't be taking them out in the first place!

[She makes no comment either way on his next statement. He's right, but she doesn't have to admit that. So she will instead do the next best thing: threaten him.] I will taze you, Lance.

[It's an empty threat, but still. She feels a little better having said it.]

Where are you taking me? Is there some big party happening in the city or something?