Chapter two: Rocking The Boat
"Matt and I have been working a lot on ironing out the kinks, but Chip is doing a lot better than he was before." Pidge was saying as she tightened another screw.
"Katie's been working nonstop on him since we returned home from our mission last month." Matthew Holt added amusingly. "He's operational, but needs a bit of work to be fully, one hundred percent functional."
"Sounds like your keeping pretty busy." Shiro commented simply.
"Yup." The Green Paladin said, still focused on her work. She then stopped to look up at him. "You ok Shiro? You seem a bit flat today?"
"Yeah, I-.. I didn't get much sleep last night." The admiral admitted. "Just-.. had a lot to think about."
"Well I think your weekly meals together have been wonderful." Sam commented thoughtfully. "And I do believe you should start doing it again." He looked from his children to Shiro. "And don't worry I'll work a few things out for you to make it possible."
"Thank you, Sam." Shiro half smiled. "I'll talk to Kimberly about it and ask Hunk. Keith is going to talk to Allura, Coran and Lance."
"I'll talk to Colleen and get things set up." Sam decided. "Let Keith and the rest of the team know as soon as we do."
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Shiro strode down the hallway. He could almost swear that the dim light was messing with his eyes. He soon realized that he'd put his hand to the wall, following it wherever it took him. His breaths became a bit heavy like he was running, but yet he was only walking. He gradually slowed his walk to a stop and had to place his other hand to the wall as well; leaning his head toward it. His breaths remained just as heavy. A flash of Wayde's attack zapped back to him and when he came out of it, he abruptly slammed his head firmly to the wall between his hands; is breaths now in gasps, like waking from another nightmare. Shiro eyes remained wide, his pupils shrunk as they glazed over and swelled with this crystal glaze.
"Shiro?" The admiral looked up to find his aunt, Julianne Kogane standing there as a single tear slipped from his eye. Not saying even a word, he abruptly took her in his arms; breaking down like no one, even she, had ever seen before. She was taken back by this sudden ambush of a hug, and the tearful, gut-wrenching state he was in; only showing a blank expression on her face, as she hesitantly brought her hands around him.
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Shiro sat at a dark conference room table, his laptop in front of him; acting as the only light other than the gentle glow of the screen to his right. Shiro looked and felt distant, his eyes fixed to the screen in a zombie-like daze; as though it were lulling him into a trance of some kind. The sound of a tray hitting the table shocked him out of it, and he jumped slightly; closing the laptop quickly.
"Now do you wanna tell me what happened back there?" Julianne questioned, pouring some tea into the mugs she'd brought with her.
"Not-.. really." Shiro responded slowly, as she set a mug next to him. He looked up at her, gave a slight, thankful nod and took the cup into his hand.
"Takashi, why do you insist on holding on to your own pain?" His aunt asked him, after taking a sip of her tea and setting it down again. "You have all the family you need to help you work through it, and yet you persist."
"It's complicated." Shiro returned a bit harshly.
"Life is complicated." Julianne corrected tenderly. "But yet we live it every day... you don't have to make it harder on yourself. It's not good for your health. You know you haven't had the best health your whole life, and stress doesn't help it any." She leaned forward onto the table and lowered her head to successfully earn his gaze; placing a hand on his shoulder. "Something is troubling you. I know it by your face." Shiro's eyes widened. "I practically raised you for a considerable chunk of your life." His aunt read his mind. "I can see it in your eyes. You're just like you mother in that way." Shiro dropped his gaze into his lap, sheepishly knowing that he was caught. He opened his laptop and typed in the password to unlock it. And when the screen came up again, he turned it toward her. She stared at him for a moment, their eyes seeming to be their communication. Julianne finally leaned forward to turn her gaze down to read what was on the screen; and covered a gasp with her hand in shock!
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Laughter and chatter was the sound in the air, as the sun shone off towards the horizon; not quite sunken enough for a sunset. The team gathered around the table to assume their seats next to the Allura's statue, as they'd done many times before.
"Where's Shiro?" Lance wondered, gazing back toward the castle expecting to see him coming to join them. "Shouldn't he be here by now?"
"He said he'd be a little late." Keith told him. "Probably had something to take care of first."
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The meal had not yet started when they heard footsteps behind them, and turned to look. Shiro finally arrived, accompanied by two big Garrison officers. Shiro signaled for them to stand by with a wave of his hand, and approached the table to sit down. His demeanor seemed off, bringing a strange presence to the group, even he could feel the awkwardness of his arrival. The team looked from him, to the officers standing erect at the top of the steps where Shiro had left them, then back again.
"Uhh, what's up with those guys?" Lance asked bluntly. Shiro, seeming to ignore their presence, met the Blue Paladin's gaze calmly.
"They're just here accompanying me. Don't mind them." He told him simply. Shiro continued to act as though nothing was off, even though he knew there was. The team hesitantly went back to eating and they resumed their conversations; though the dynamic wasn't quite the same.
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"Tonight was weird, right?" Lance asked pacing back and forth once. "I mean, Shiro showing up with two big guys, and saying that that they're just 'accompanying' him?" Lance curled his pointer and middle fingers on both hands as he quoted Shiro's words. "It doesn't sound like him, if you ask me." Allura looked on this whole time; patiently waiting, as she sat modestly on the bench with her hands folded in her lap.
"Perhaps there's another training session going on. Shiro has been running them to prepare future generations for any form of attack." The Empress suggested innocently.
"Except for those guys were not cadets." Lance retorted suspiciously.
"I'm just as concerned as you are." Allura told him, rising with a sigh. "But I believe Shiro is in need of protection." Lance looked up at her quickly, alarm flashing across his face; and she put it to rest with a gentle hand on his arm. "His role as an admiral can easily make him a target for attack." She ventured. "Those who seek to take down the Garrison or the Galactic Coalition as a whole. Shiro is right in the middle of all of it. And there are people from Shiro's past that might come back to seek revenge. I'm sure that anyone forced to fight in the gladiator arenas may have some form of vendetta against him. Either out of anger or jealousy; it makes sense that he would need extra protection."
"But why would they come back to harm him now?" Lance wondered, clearly dubious.
"Who knows." The Empress admitted. "But that doesn't mean that the possibility should be discarded. Shiro's new role has unpredictable and unknown dangers attached to it." Lance dropped his gaze in thought, pondering her words carefully. "If it makes you feel better we can go to earth to check in on him if you want."
"Yeah,... maybe." The Blue Paladin breathed thoughtfully after a pause. "But- you don't have to come if you don't want to."
"You don't really think I'd let you go alone for something like this, do you?" Allura smirked, grinning at him. Lance smiled and took her hand in his. And they headed off together; out of the room.
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Keith practically had to dodge another Garrison staff member. It seemed different here today. Though it had been a few weeks since he'd last been here, the Garrison seem way more lively than usual. And,... judging by the extra security around nearly every corner, a lot more secure as well. Pidge and Hunk pushed their way through to join him.
"Hey, where you headed?" Hunk asked casually.
"I was coming to see Shiro." Keith replied simply.
"Us too." Pidge admitted. "Garrison Security are everywhere."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that." Keith remarked dryly, weaving in and out to avoid collision with other people walking the opposite direction as he was.
"-Ditto." Lance grunted, pushing in next to them, Allura not far behind. The crowd finally diminished and they could walk comfortably through the halls, noticing more security guards stationed throughout.
"Ugh finally." Lance groaned distastefully, stumbling forward out of the crowd. He glanced back briefly, only to hit a brick wall that was the Red Paladin. "Dude, come on, what's the deal, man?" He questioned, then he looked up at what he was looking at.
Hi guys, how's it going? Don't have much to say other than what I always do. Can't wait to hear your thoughts and, I hope you guys enjoy!! Thx!!!
