Chapter 30

The kiss was short and no emotion was shown on either side. The crowd clapped a little. Lance finally let Kiera stand and led her back to where the other Paladins were.

When they arrived, Kiera let how mortified she was and how much she hadn't wanted to do that take over her face. She faced the wall as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Kiera." Allura whispered "Are you alright?"

Kiera furiously wiped the tear away "I didn't want to kiss him. But the crowd expected us to. I didn't want to raise suspicions."

Allura placed a hand gently on her shoulder "You are very brace, Kiera. I admire you for that."

"Thanks, Allura." She whispered as she placed a hand on the princess's hand. She had finally used Allura's name.

She looked around at the Paladins. Hunk was back. Keith was still out. Where was Pidge?

"Where's Pidge?" Kiera whispered to Allura.

A look of sadness crossed her face "She said she needed some air right as your lips touched Lance's. I fear she may be hurt. You must go talk to her."

"I will." Kiera said "Where is she?"

Allura pointed "She went to that balcony."

"Thanks." Kiera said and quickly rushed off in that direction.

She reached the balcony doors and placed a hand on the handle. There were curtains and she couldn't see Pidge.

Kiera took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Pidge stood in her light green dress, staring out at the stars and the lit up village. Her eyes were filled with something that Kiera couldn't quite place. Her knuckles were turning white on the balcony railing.

"Pigeon?" Kiera asked quietly. Pidge didn't respond. Kiera gently placed a hand on her shoulder "Pidge are you alright?"

Silence from the Green Paladin. She simply stood there.

After a long pause, she said "You kissed him."

Kiera felt like she'd been stabbed.

Pidge kept going, still not looking at Kiera "You kissed him at the end of the dance. You kissed him in front of everyone. You kissed him instead of..." she trailed off.

Tears grew in Kiera's eyes "I know. I had to. The crowd thought we were in love and-"

"And what, Kiera?" Pidge said, turning on her "You had to give in to your crush finally? You had to just kiss him with no regard to anyone? Oh, I love Lance, better kiss him now!"

A tear fell down Kiera's cheek "Its not like that-"

"Sure, it's not like that." Pidge was really angry "You didn't kiss him. Yeah, of course. Kiera, if you love him, fine. But remember earlier? When you basically told me your brother had a crush on Lance? He saw the kiss too. He had almost come back from getting air, saw you guys and left again, tears running down his face. How could you do that to your own brother?"

Tears started slipping down Kiera's cheeks. She used her fists to wipe them away but more came. She turned away from Pidge and let herself cry.

"Kiera, if you can't stay loyal to your brother, what was anyone who was going to try and like you going to expect?" Demanded Pidge.

"It's not like that." Kiera said then practically screamed "Its not like that!"

Pidge fell silent. Kiera's fists were balled at her sides and her face was a mess of tears. She slowly turned to Pidge and looked her in the eye.

"I don't love Lance." She said menacingly slow "I love someone else."

"Really? Who?" Pidge crossed her arms "It sure looked like you loved Lance."

Kiera scowled at her "I love someone else. And I won't be able to tell her. Ever. Because she hates me."

"So it's a girl." Pidge said "Is it Allura? Of course it's Allura, everyone loves Allura. She is so perfect and princessy and polite and badass."

"It's not Allura." Kiera said "Its someone else that I met a while ago. She has my heart. Forever. Even if she won't give me hers."

Pidge snarled "Well that was pretty damn romantic, Kiera. Whoever you love will be lucky to have you." She tried to leave the balcony but Kiera caught her wrist. Kiera's face was cast downwards.

Pidge tried to loosen her grip to no avail. Kiera had a very strong grip.

Kiera didn't even try to pull Pidge anywhere. She just gripped her wrist. Her eyes were cleared of tears and she wiped the ones on her cheeks away with her other hand.

Pidge bit Kiera's wrist and Kiera yelped, letting go. Pidge tried to run from the balcony but Kiera was faster.

She grabbed Pidge's neck and violently pushed her against the wall of the balcony, fury blazing in her eyes.

Hands wrapped around Pidge's neck, Kiera growled "You're such an idiot."

"And what, you're going to choke me to death?" Pidge crossed her arms "The others will never trust you after that."

"Let me tell you how this would work." Kiera sneered "If I tried to kill you right now, I could. With my bare hands. You would be dead in a few minutes. I would get away by stealing one of the pods. You'd never see your father or your brother again. Never fly Green again. You'd never see anyone you loved or any of your friends ever again."

Pidge's eyes filled with fear and Kiera continued in a low voice "You'd never know who I love. You'd never see your Paladins again." She looked at Pidge's eyes "I could kill you so easily right now. It would rid me of a few problems." She tightened her grip for a second on Pidge's neck.

"P-please don't kill me." Pidge almost whimpered "I want to see my family again."

Kiera's feral instincts were taking over and she placed her fingers around Pidge's air tube and Carotid artery. Her eyes blazed in anger.

Pidge actually whimpered and said "Get off me." She tried to kick Kiera but they were too close together.

Kiera's eyes cleared and she realized where she was and what she had been about to do. She backed off of Pidge and turned around, facing the glowing city.

She grabbed the railing, squeezing it hard "I'm sorry Pigeon."

Pidge was gulping air down her throat behind her. Kiera had squeezed harder than she had meant to. Complete silence fell between the two girls. Kiera could hear the wind rustling the strange trees and the music coming from the ballroom.

Finally, Pidge broke the silence. She sounded incredibly sad when she said "You should tell that girl you like that you like her."

"I don't know..." Kiera said "She probably doesn't like me back. Or like me at all for that matter."

"Oh, I think anyone you like would have to like you back." Pidge sounded scared and angry "Or you would kill them."

Kiera whipped her head around "That's not who I am."

"Oh, really?" Pidge crossed her arms "Because you were about to kill me! Kiss the person you love, Kiera. Right now. Go find them and kiss them. I don't care anymore." She started to walk back to the ballroom again.

This time, Kiera caught her hand "Should I actually kiss her, Pidge? Should I actually go find her and kiss her?"

Pidge nodded without looking at her.

Kiera breathed slowly, trying to calm her beating heart "Fine, I will." She let go of Pidge's hand who started to walk into the ballroom.

Kiera lunged forward and grabbed Pidge's waist, spinning her around. Pidge tried to struggle but Kiera held her tight. She pulled there bodies together.

Before Pidge could say anything, Kiera leaned forward and connected their lips. Pidge stiffened beneath her. Kiera stayed where she was.

Pidge pulled her bright red face away and stuttered "Me?" Kiera nodded shyly. They stood completely still for a moment.

Then Pidge put both her hand on Kiera face and pulled her down, pressing their lips together. This time, Kiera stiffened a little before wrapping her hands around Pidge's waist and holding her closer.

And it was perfect.