Matt assumed from the smaller frame and higher pitched voice that this stranger was a girl, but for all he knew, it could be a twelve-year old boy. He just hoped that by the time he took Y/N back to the rest of their friends, they'd finally take off the goggles. His curiosity was poking at every little piece inside of his head.

"There you are!" Hunk cried out, racing towards Pidge. As the yellow Paladin made his way towards her, the person ran off at lightning speed into the crowd. Matt's gut wrenched when he lost sight of his new acquaintance, if he could even consider them that.

At the front of the crowd, a tall person pulled the cloth down from their mouth and rose their goggles. It was a man. Just like one from earth. Like a wave, everyone else in the crowd did the same and Matt tried his best to catch a glimpse of the person he'd saved but they were lost in the crowd.

The entire crowd was a mix of human-like aliens and humans that could be from no place other than Earth.

"Woah!" Pidge exclaimed, beginning to shake hands all over the place. "Are some of you from earth?"

Matt would have done the same, introducing himself to everyone just like Pidge was, but he was lost in frantically searching for the person he'd just met. He had felt this strange, automatic connection with them and wanted to talk with them some more. The kind of connection that caused him to feel a strange tug in his gut which told him this person was worth getting to know.

The tall man at the front with pepper grey hair smiled down at Pidge. "We are human. Fifty or so years ago, a group from earth settled on the planet you saved us from to raise experienced peace keepers. The true Aturdirie took us in."

"So you guys are like a secret instillation of peace ninjas?" Lance questioned. "But from where? How?"

The man raised a brow at Lance and his expression hardened. "A Garrison mission gone wrong 50 years ago. I'm sure they are no records of it back on Earth that were ever made publicly accessible. They abandoned us. We were lucky enough, by chance, to be picked up by the Aturdirie and allowed to settle with them."

"Uhhh, okay." Keith grumbled. "But some of you aren't fifty years old?"

"No." The man glared at Keith. "Some were born on Aturdir, others sent from the Garrison."

"Recently?" Keith pressed. "The Garrison has sent people out here?"

"Yes." The man confirmed. "We regained connection with the Garrison about twenty years ago, something I am sure you also know nothing about. Since, they have been sending us the odd person."

Shiro broke his way into the conversation. "So you're saying the Garrison knows about alien life?"

"No, not at all." The man almost laughed. "They believe we have survived out here alone. We have chosen to keep it a secret. The mass panic we knew it would have brought to Earth if we had said anything--we couldn't say anything."

"Wh--" Shiro wanted to ask more but he was cut short.

"You all are very welcome here in the Castle, human and Aturdirie alike. Our Paladins will be sure to make you comfortable and give you everything you need. If you require medical assistance, follow me and Coran to the med-bay. Those who seek water, a bed, and food please follow Pidge, Hunk, Keith, Lance, and Shiro. Matt here will help anyone if they have questions." She looked to Shiro in apology but he just nod back to her softly. People were getting restless, they couldn't stand around forever asking this man questions.

Not actually being a paladin, Matt wasn't surprised by the job he'd been given. While a good quarter of the people followed Coran and Allura away, the other three quarters left following the Paladins. Just before Matt was going to leave, he caught one person still standing in awe at the massive castle.

"Hey, uh—You ok there?" He asked.

At the sound of his voice, the girl turned around, a small smile creeping up on her face. Matt stood stupefied for a moment. She had this Y/H/L, Y/H/C hair which had just been shaken out along with deep Y/E/C eyes. A bright face and soft smile that reminded him of home.

"Ah!" She smiled even more. "Matt, right?" The girl began to amble forwards as she unwrapped the muddied cloth from her hands. The moment she reached her hand out for a proper shake, that was when it hit him.

This girl was the same height as the person he'd rescued and sounded the exact same, just not muffled by the cloth anymore. "Wait!" He gasped. "That was you?!"

"No, it was my evil twin." Her face fell flat. "Of course it was me."

"Why didn't you—how—what'd—what?!" He tried to grasp reality.

"What? Didn't expect to find other humans all the way out here, huh?"

"Well, no." He rubbed the back of his neck, not sure of what to say. "You fought, uhm--really well. You know how to shoot as well?"

"Do you still have your gun?" She asked curiously.

It was like her words just made him pull out the gun, giving it to her willingly. The girl slumped to the floor with it, examining every inch of it. Really, it was a nice blaster with a lot of power.

"Never seen a gun before?" Matt picked it up, attaching it to his side once again.

"Not one like that! It shot with amazing precision. We don't use powered weapons much in our training, so it was a nice change." She admitted bashfully, smiling weakly. Yet again, Matt was a little lost, both amazed and confused by her.

"I should go find my friends." She said, standing up a little bashfully and tuning on her heel. Before she made it far, the blue paladin appeared and introduced himself quite loudly, the sudden noise snapping Matt out of his reverie.

"It'll be busy over there," He nod to the hall filled with people just a ways away from them. "I'm sure we can find you some clean clothes somewhere else if you want." He offered.

Reluctantly, she took his offer. Lance felt like just about the most courteous person to ever exist, despite abandoning his post with the others for this one single person. He also happened to be lucky enough to have overheard Y/N and Matt's little conversation over his gun. "Y'know, maybe later we can take you to the training deck. Tons of powered weapons we could show you!"

"Really?" She questioned, slightly doubtfully.

"Yeah," Lance laughed a little. "As long as you teach us some of your ninja moves in return."

"Ah, alright. Deal." She agreed.

It didn't take long for Lance to find clothes for the girl. In the castles supplies, he'd found a pair of pants and a thick, warm Y/F/C shirt. "Here you go." He offered her the pile of clothes.

"My favourite colour. Nice." She smiled a little. "Thank you, Lance."

"Ah! There's that kindness they talk about." He poked the girls shoulder. "You're welcome."

"And uh—bathroom is right there. I'll meet you out here." Lance said before disappearing into his own bathroom to change.

Matt trailed behind the pair in an awkward, dazed silence. This girl, who he had just met and knew nothing about was already slipping through his fingers. She was already being swept off by the more outgoing, charismatic Lance. Plus, Lance was a paladin of Voltron. Matt knew he couldn't compare to that. He was just a rebel fighter. But he just wanted to talk to her. 

Y/N was quick in her time in the bathroom and when she came out, she stood a little awkwardly with her arms crossed over herself, leaning against the wall. A quick nod was sent Matt's way by her, followed by a soft smile, but he was still too perplexed to even smile back or start a conversation. If he tried, he knew his face would just end up in a crooked mess, so he looked away. But, that didn't stop him from glancing up when he knew she wasn't looking. The shirt Lance had given hung loosely off of her frame, obviously being a few sizes too large. 

"Want to go find your friends?" Lance asked as he bounded out of the bathroom.

Y/N nodded softly, a sudden timidness washing over her, and walked toward Lance. For a while, their walk down the hall was silent, until a question Lance didn't even think to ask hit him. He didn't know how old she was. Space was tricky and all age wise, but he wanted to know. As did Matt, but he didn't have the courage to ask.

"Do you know how old you are?"

"I'm 9.1."

Lance looked to her with confusion.

"Right, sorry—" She took a moment to fiddle with her fingers. "I just turned eighteen in earth years." She smiled.

"Hey, me too!" Lance exclaimed happily.

Of course, Matt wanted to pipe up and state he was just a little bit older also, but he was still lost staring at the girl. Now knowing how old she was, she looked twice as strong and brave. It almost made him feel bad about himself. Matt often felt like things happened for a reason, and was beginning to believe there was a reason he had been there to help her off of Aturdir.

"How about you Matt?" She asked softly, looking back to the honey eyed boy before staring up and examining the castle ceiling. The fact that she said his name with a genuine, caring voice struck his heart.

"Uhm—I think I'm nineteen now." He scratched the back of his head and giggled lightly. "Well, I am, just doesn't feel like it, having been with the Galra so long."

Y/N looked back again, brows furrowed. "Wait—" She stopped dead in her tracks and stared up at Matt with a blank expression. "Matt Holt? The one from the Kerberos mission?"

"Y-Yeah." Matt stuttered.

For a moment, Matt thought Y/N's face couldn't get any more fearful looking, but somehow, it did. "Are you alright?" He asked.

Y/N pondered for a moment, Lance able to see how quickly her mind was spinning just by the look in her eyes. "Uh—yeah. I just—I thought everyone from the Kerberos mission was dead?"

"No, we all lived. My dad is the only one who is still missing." Matt shrugged.

Lance then grabbed Y/N's shoulders and turned her back down the hall. " So, Y/N, what was Aturdir like?"

"It's a lot like Earth." She muttered, her conscience obviously still clouded with something else having to do with the Kerberos mission.

"Do you miss Earth?" Matt asked.

"I've always been so focused on training that I didn't have the time to miss Earth." She said quietly, not even looking back at Matt to answer his question.

Lance frowned a little. "Do you have family there?"

Y/N seemed to stifle a laugh, lowering her head to the floor. "I did."

Lance looked to her in question, obviously asking for an explanation.

She clenched her jaw. "I was--It's a long story. After I finished my first year at the Garrison, I was sent away."

Lance frowned. "I'm sorry..." 

He knew it was such a sensitive topic, he didn't even ask for further detail of the fact that she too was from the Garrison. It wasn't the right time.

She shrugged. "So what about your family? What is their story?"

Lance could feel a smile rising on his face and a warmth invading his heart. Someone actually cared to hear about his family. So, he went on explaining all of his family members, what they were like, the pranks he'd played on them.

While Lance continued telling stories of his past, Matt found himself slipping into his own thoughts. Before the Kerberos mission, he'd always hear from his dad about one particular student always coming and going from highly restricted areas within the Garrison but no one ever told him why. And then, one day, they disappeared. Their records were wiped clean and he couldn't dig up any information on them. The timelines matched up. It must have been her.

Suddenly, the girl walking in front of him collapsed to the cold, hard floor. She grumbled something nearly inaudible under her breath and tried to stand herself, only managing to stumble and collapse again.