It was Pride Month, and campus was alive with color. Normally, Pidge Holt would be everywhere — but this week was brutal. No sleep, killer migraines, period cramps, and way too much work.

She sat curled up on the dorm lounge couch, headphones on, hoodie halfway zipped. Her once long hair was now cropped short and messy, dyed dark green with a few silver streaks. She wore black cargo pants, a cropped bi flag tee, and combat boots — all function, all edge. Her glasses were upgraded, sleek and tinted. Her vibe? Tired genius with zero patience for bullshit.

Still top of her classes, captain of the science and debate teams, still brilliant — just moodier, more confident, more her. She'd found her brother, her dad, and herself. No more hiding.

She still kept in touch with the Voltron crew — Lance sent her dumb Pride selfies, Hunk spammed her with food pics, Keith quietly reminded her to rest.

A dormmate left her a heating pad and snacks. She smiled faintly. “Parade tomorrow. After a nap and a gallon of coffee.”

For now? She just needed to breathe.