Allura stared at her clasped hands, reeling. The black lion was increasingly panicked, nudging the edges of her consciousness.

She wanted nothing more than to run down to the hangar, to run to Shiro, make sure he was alright, but she was pinned to her spot by Kolivan's yellow eyes.

She pushed that need to focus, shoved it towards the black lion, hoping it would retreat. It did, but stayed, hovering on the edge of her consciousness.

The alarm isn't going off, and Coran isn't calling.

That meant everything was okay. Unease crept up her spine, but she pushed it down, facing Kolivan once again.

The negotiations lasted for another varga, time she spent desperately shoving down any worries about the black paladin.

When Kolivan inclined his head, ending their talk, she ended the transmission rapidly and sprinted down to the hangar.

She breezed past Pidge and Hunk on the way, who jumped out of her way. They were slow, though, as if they were exhausted. Pidge's eyes were red.

Allura filed those facts for later, deciding that, for once in her life, she was going to be selfish. And right now, all she wanted was to make sure Shiro was okay.

Her slippers slapped the ground, echoing in the large chamber. The black lion almost appeared as if it was glaring at her.

The small figure at its feet turned around.

Shiro had an odd expression on his face, that quickly morphed into fear and concern.

"Are you alright?!" the both of them burst out. Shiro's eyebrows rose.

"What?"

Allura took a step closer.

"The black lion has been restless." Allura looked into his eyes. "I was deeply concerned about your welfare."

He blinked. His eyes fell, and when they rose to meet hers again, she was shaken by the emotion hidden inside.

She'd never realized that his eyes were actually grey.

"Thank you for your concern." Shiro enunciated carefully. "I'm alright now."

She took a tiny step, bringing them even closer.

"Shiro, you are the leader of this team. You do a wonderful job taking care of the other paladins." She hesitated. "Which is why it's my job to make sure you are alright."

She could feel his emotions recoil back behind a wall. So she decided to break it.

"And even if it was not," she said forcefully. "I would endeavor to do so anyway."

He looked at her in shock, and she held his gaze, hoping that pure force of will would be enough to convince him of her sincerity.

Shiro's shoulders sagged, and he nodded softly, as if he made a decision.

"You're supposed to talk about it." He mumbled.

The black lion creaked, and its jaw lowered, opening wide. Shiro began climbing into its jaws. Allura followed, pausing only a moment at the edge of the cockpit.

Each lion had a bench with a few padded seats near the back, and Allura was only a little surprised to see Shiro eschew his pilot seat in favor of one of those.

The emergency kit in the back of the lion was open, and the blanket normally kept inside was folded up on the edge of the bench.

Shiro placed it behind his lower back, settling in with a sigh. He gestured to another seat.

Allura took it. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the tension radiating from Shiro. His thoughts were clearly a mess, judging by the look on his face. If she spoke, she felt like she would shatter the moment. And she wanted Shiro to talk. About what happened, how he felt. Allura wanted him to talk to her.

He pulled his knees up to his chest, putting his feet on the seat between them. She mirrored him, poking him gently with one foot. His gaze snapped to the smile on her face, and she giggled slightly. His lips twitched up.

They fell silent for a moment.

"My grandfather had it." Shiro broke the silence. "There was a war, a really bad one, right before all the countries on earth made peace with each other. He was a foot soldier. He never talked about it. But history class said it was brutal."

Shiro kept his eyes firmly downward.

"Humans aren't meant to go through significant amounts of trauma. It affects our brains, physiologically. It's called PTSD."

His hands clenched. "Anxiety. Difficulties sleeping, nightmares. Paranoia." His gaze flicked nervously towards Allura. "Certain things can become triggers… cause flashbacks."

A cold shudder ran through her spine.

"You thought you were back in the gladiator ring." Allura finished the thought, sick to her stomach.

Shiro suddenly looked tired and worn. He closed his eyes, leaning back against the lion.

"I wish."

Allura froze.

"At least there, you could do something. Even if it was terrible things. I didn't always get that choice."

A single tear dripped down her cheek. He continued, voice thick and halting.

"I don't know how long I spent in Haggar's lab. I don't even know what they did to me. I think it was the day-" Shiro cut himself off. His hand moved to the joint of his mechanical arm. His shoulders hunched.

Allura's heart dropped to her stomach. She mumbled his name, reaching to put a hand on his knee. He jolted at her touch, then stilled.

"The things you went through," she said firmly, " were beyond anything that any creature in the universe should have to suffer. There is no shame in being scarred by an ordeal, especially the kind that you experienced."

Something small and hopeful flickered in his eyes.

"You are so incredibly strong. It is why you are a great paladin." She continued, noting the solemnity that came over him at the reminder of his duty.

Allura moved her hand from his knee to his cheek.

"And my certainty of that will never change, even if you need to lean on someone." she swallowed. "Lean on me."

Shiro's eyes met hers, and Allura saw a hurricane in them.

"It does not matter what this PTSD is, nor how it affects you. I will be here, for as long as you need someone to be."

Warm tears dripped onto her fingers.

"Princess," he mumbled, leaning into her palm. He caressed her fingers, moving forward. Allura embraced him.

"Allura." he murmured. It took Allura a moment to remember how to breathe. She remembered something Keith had said, weeks ago.

"I am here, Takashi. I am here."

In the coming months, the black paladin would, hesitant and frightened, call upon that promise. Each time grew easier and easier on the two, and they grew so close Allura couldn't imagine life without Takashi, whispering her name.

Eventually, Shiro began to ask about her own hurts, nightmares of the day she was put into the pod. She told him about her people, Altea as it should be. When it hit, truly, fully hit her that she would never experience it again, he held her for hours as she broke in his arms. They grieved, together, for the life that they had lost to the Galra. Some days, after a successful fight or a happy day, they would celebrate what they had, and all the good that they possessed before the war.

Until they fought Zarkon, and Shiro disappeared. When he came back, he never called, never stole a moment to speak with her. And the night before that battle was the last time he ever said her name.

Haha ,u thought I could write something happy. Oops. But like, for real, both of these two have gone through SO MUCH and they need to talk about it

Clone shiro is real and gonna get his butt exposed in season 6 pm me to discuss