TRAINING MONTAGE

[shiro2hero]

CHARACTERS: Shiro & Virtually Everyone
WHEN: Day 11 - 13 (ish)
WHERE: Training area
SUMMARY: Taming the savage brain symbiote.
WARNINGS: violence, probably some kind of triggering nonsense, will update this as needed


((ooc notes: Okay, so just to keep everything neat and tidy, the actual prompts and everything will be in comments below. Day 11 is going to be closed to Brood Members [Gacrux the hot mess], Day 12 is recovery day (if anyone wants in on that), and Day 13 is the free-for-all.))

Comments

[greentech]

"Hey, I know..." Katie replies. She settles a hand against his arm, trying to figure out what to say. She's fourteen; what does she tell him?

"Feelings and emotions can be dumb, but you don't have to handle them all on your own. I'm here. So is everyone else!"

She can hear those thoughts flickering through her head and she pushes back, trying to clear them out of her head. She's not going to let this beat her and she's definitely not going to let it beat him.

"It's OK, Shiro. We all support each other. You don't have to do this by yourself or think that you're worth less."

[shiro2hero]

She's fourteen, but she's a reality check. In her blunt, honest way. They need that -- he needs that. Just Pidge, being herself. It's all he's ever needed from her.

Hopefully, she can get that sense from him. That he's grateful she's here. And he doesn't want anything more than just her. Being who she is. And, hopefully, those are more welcome sensations than the last batch.

"... I'd make a leg to stand on joke, for that, but you're an arm."

Thank you -- drifts through every word. Every flat bit of dry humor. It's not her job to fix this, and he could never, would never, put that on her shoulders. The reminder is, for now, enough. And one he needs to never forget.

Then the arm draped over her shoulders tugs her over, into a hug.

[greentech]

Katie leans into the hug and squeezes him tightly around the middle. He's the only piece of home she has here. She's not about to let him go without a fight. That's clear in every thought and every action and in the way she gives him a squeeze. She's there for him and always will be.

Giving up isn't in her.

[shiro2hero]

He'll just say it for real, now. Because leaving it unsaid feels too much like a weight, even if she could, in all honesty, probably feel it.

"Thank you."

He squeezes her back. Blowing out a long breath.

"I'm going to do better. Keep it all in mind better, all right?"

[greentech]

"Of course I will," Katie doesn't let him go just yet. Instead she stands there and buries her head against his chest, fingers tight against the cloth of his shirt. She doesn't want to let go. Not right now. He's solid, immovable, and a permanent part of her world.

"Just... help me remember who we are sometimes, OK?"

This place is getting to her. Sometimes she doesn't know if the emotions are hers or just feedback.

[shiro2hero]

If she's not going to let go, then neither is he. If she needs this just as much as he does, then... then he won't push her away. Or cut this short. Instead, he just keeps his arms circled around her. As much of a wall from the rest of this place as he can give.

"As often as you need me to."

It's a promise. Like an oath. The last thing they've got left of home.

"It's a deal."

[greentech]

"Good."

She won't forget about home. She won't forget about her brother or her father or Keith or Lance or Hunk or Allura or Coran or any of it. She's going to stay her. She's not going to let herself sink into this mess of thoughts and emotions that aren't even hers. That's a promise (mostly to herself).

[shiro2hero]

He'll do whatever he can for her. To keep her from slipping away like so many other people have while they've been here. She's important, she's family.

... but on the other side, that means keeping himself here as much as possible. If she's relying on him, then he can't let her down. He can't let himself fall.

"We can do this."