Only You (Shiro x Reader)

Twenty One

(Y/n)'s Point of View

"Nngh.." I groaned as I merely opened my eyes in view of my familiar room. My body felt horrendously sore, I could barely move anything. Blinking was already a struggle itself. I stare towards the ceiling, my eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness of the room.

What the hell happened?

I manage to barely move my arm to feel along my side. Grimacing as my fingertips slide alongside my abdomen. Bang. It all came back to me, the mission, Hunk, the trap, and my selfless ass trying to save him. Shit, guess I really am just a shield to this team. I hope I did a good enough job in protecting him. I hope he's alright.

I carefully sit up, wincing at the sharp soreness running along my upper body. Not to metion the pulsing throbs thumping alongside my head. I swivel the legs over the surface of the bed so they would dangle over the floor. Carefully grabbing hold onto the wall I rise up. If it weren't for these legs I would've landed back onto the floor by now.

Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic. You think you're worthy? Of them? They'd be better off without you. Do you truly believe that you proved yourself by risking your own life for one of them? Are you actually starting to care for them?

I ignore the heavyweight feeling emitted from her voice by shaking my head. She would never leave me alone, and it's not like I had to tell the rest of the team about it, they wouldn't care. I managed to hide the fact that her voice still haunts me and feeds off of my hidden despair. No one needed to know, and I was going to keep it that way.

I looked down towards my body. White tape embedded most of my shoulders and abdomen. Was it really this bad? I let out a small grunt as I step and head out of my room. The door slides open and the familiar cool breeze of the castle hallway greets my face. Judging by the dimmed lights of the corridor, everyone was most likely still asleep. I glance over at Shiro's door, and let out a weak smile. I lifted my hands and softly glared down at them. You still want to be with someone like me?

I slowly begin to walk towards the training deck, since everyone was asleep, I decided to take the liberty of it being free of use. I wince in slight pain due to the horrible soreness not ridding itself away.

I made my way to the deck, the brightly illuminated lights nearly blinding me as I walked in. I squint as my eyes try to adjust to the strong glare. Maybe some of this pain would ease off in action, so I walk to the center of the large room. I didn't want to push myself too hard, but I didn't want to be proved as weak either. "Start training level two!" I yell out. The familiar robot dropped down from the ceiling before me.

Its altean energy seemed to turn on, before it lunged toward me in a flash. Luckily I had time to activate the prosthetics and steady myself for the incoming strike. It charged at me with a fast speed and I was barely able to dodge its attack, not before losing my footing and tripping over the ridges of the floor. The bot took the opportunity to try and hit me from the ground. I narrowly dodged the bot's staff from hitting my head before sliding under its legs and getting back up again.

The bot wasted no time on charging towards me again, its staff instantly retracting into a sword. I barely had time to process before it swung for my head. I bent my body back as I could feel the coolness of the blade almost touch the tip of my nose. It was like all of it was happening in slow motion, before the bot once again withdrew their sword and lunged for me.
The bending of my back must've been too rough on my side, because a whole whirl of pain erupted as I let out a loud grunt.

The bot took this opportunity to hit my chest and send me flying back. I landed onto the hard floor and struggled to get up, as the soreness was only making my limbs weaker. I realized that the bot ran over to me to strike me once more. I gritted my teeth and braced myself for the incoming hit.

"End training sequence!" yells out a hoarse voice.

I glance up, my eyes blurry from the weariness of my weak form, but still managing to see the staggeringly tall leader. I try to lift myself up from the ground, my arms thought otherwise and let me fall once again. "Augh.." I grunt out before Shiro ran over and knelt to my side.

"(Y/n)? What are you doing up? You're supposed to be resting." He says worriedly as he helps me up. I shift out from his grip and shuffle away from him. "There's no time to be resting Shiro, I have to train. I can't fall behind because of some measly injury." I say as I continue to walk away from him. "But (Y/n), it wasn't some-" he tries to speak but I cut him off.

"Look Shiro, I fucked up okay? After what happened with Hunk, I shouldn't have to rely on you guys to finish my battles for me. I still don't know if Hunk's alright." I stiffened at the thought of him being hurt. "I-If anything were to happen to him, or to the rest of the team, even you, I don't think I would be able to live with myself, knowing that this n-never would've happened if I wasn't so hopeless."

A small tear managed to escape from eye and run down my cheek. I immediately wiped it in hope that he wouldn't see me crying. My markings were giving out a feeling of discomfort throughout my body but I chose to ignore it. "(Y/n).." He said to get my attention. Shiro walked in front of me so he could be in my view, yet I still looked down to our feet. I then felt a shift in position and steady arms wrapped around me. I stiffened at the sudden act, not hugging back, but allowing him to stay in the embrace. Once again my eyes were getting glazed, and few tears seeping their way onto my face. I didn't even know why I was crying, I was only saying the truth.

Shiro's embrace only seemed to get tighter as the minutes passed by. He only seemed to break the silence by simply whispering "You're one of the strongest people I've ever met (Y/n), don't let yourself think that you're any less."

I knew he meant it, but there was still a part inside me that would lure these terrible thoughts and told me he was lying.

I gaze up to look at Shiro, eyes still blurry from the recent tears, but still visible enough to see the man that loved me. He hesitantly brought my face close to his, and leaning down to my level, closing his eyes and-

"Rise and shine paladins! Get dressed and meet in the lounging area for a special announcement, and don't be late! Especially you Lance.."

Allura's boisterously loud voice interrupted our scenic moment, as I nearly jolted from the unexpected shock and Shiro almost toppled over me. We manage to regain ourselves, before staring at the awkward situation we were in and erupting with laughter.

He extends out his hand with a smile. "We should go meet up with them." He says warmly. I take his hand, and we both walk out of the training deck and towards the lounging area. As we silently walk down the hallway, hand in hand, I gently lean my head on Shiro's shoulder.

"Shiro?" I say in almost a whisper as we started to near towards the lounging area. "Yes?" He openly mumbles back. I squeeze his hand as we're about to walk in to meet with the others.

"Thank you."