tratie one shots ~

5. Solace

3rd person POV

"Keep Miranda safe, Katie. You know that she didn't have it easy in the orphanage before we took her in. She needs to feel safe with you. And because I love you so much, I trust you enough to keep her safe."

The words kept repeating in Katie's head, like a mantra, a neverending ritual. Her head was pounding, her armor was half broken, she had cuts all over her face and her legs were feeling like jelly, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All she could think of was Miranda, and how she had watched Miranda getting stabbed in the stomach, from afar, yet helpless as she was battling a dracaena. She was running, she realised. She couldn't feel anything, her legs were numb, but she willed herself to run.

Katie burst into the small cramped room outside the infirmary. Her dirt and tear streaked face had an expression of utter fear, concern, and anger all at once. All of the heads inside the room whipped around to look at her. Travis, Connor, Percy, Sherman, Leo, Lou Ellen, Piper, Annabeth, and Cecil looked at her. Their expressions of half pity, half sorrow.

"So? Is she alright? What's going on?" Katie's voice echoed around the room. No one answered.  Finally, Travis sighed and got up. 

"Miranda's going to need surgery, Katie". 

At that, Katie's whole world crumbled. It was her father's dying wish to keep Miranda safe, after all that Miranda had gone through, she had promised to keep Miranda safe. If only she'd been there for her sister. 

Anger surged through her veins as she yelled out in frustration. Travis watched in anguish as the girl he absolutely adored blamed herself. 

"Katie-Kat it's not your fault. She'll be alright." He reached for her wrist.

Katie turned around, eyes blazing; "Don't touch me!" She cried out, taking out her anger on him. At that, Travis grabbed her hand, rubbing it soothingly. Clearly, having voiced out her anger the first time, Katie didn't hesitate to punch him in his chest. He let out a small 'oof' but let her punch him as she seemed to be taking out all her anger out on him, and not on herself, which he was thankful for because he knew that guilt could kill a person, (Alden, where my kotlc fans at) which he knew from experience after beating himself up when his elder brother, Luke was killed.  

She punched him a few more times, before completely breaking down into tear. Travis pulled her by the waist, encapsulating her in his warm embrace, as he patted her back and whispered sweet words in her ears to calm her down. He then, kissed her forehead and lead her into the other room of the infirmary, to treat her cuts. 

She had never been more grateful to him that now.