The Scars of a Champion

When I think of that place, I think of pain. The pain that throbbed through my body as I struggled to lift myself up after being knocked down. The pain blaring through my mind as she picked and prodded at any and all memories residing within. But mostly the pain I felt spiritually as I slowly felt myself chip away every torturous minute there. When I think of that place, I think of nothing more than hell. A never-ending cycle of anxiety and exhaustion. The prayers of escape slowly turning into begs of having it all end. To rid me of this life I was forced into. What had I even done to deserve this? I would constantly let that question slither up my throat and slip past my lips. They would always reply with a deep laugh, but never an answer.

It was maddening.

It was only months later- months since that fateful day I had thrown Matt aside and taken his place within the arena- did I finally let my emotions lash out as they strapped me to that damn table. It cold against my expose skin as my ankles and wrists withered around in the restraints until they had become raw. I remembered it clearly, because it was on that day they had robbed me of my arm; finding amusement in my screams.

It was then I had snapped, my vision consumed by nothing more than a heated red as I thrashed more violently than before, my teeth soon finding their way to skin, where I plunged in. Blood immediately coating my tongue and trickling down my throat. I could barely hear the screams erupting from their Galra lips as they slammed down on my head in desperation to get me to release; but I only bit down harder.

It had all happened so fast as they pried me away, I spitting the remaining blood at whoever stood closest, an involuntary growl clawing its way up my throat as I glared at them with wild eyes. My thrashing resuming as I watched more of them trickle into the room, one carrying something unidentifiable in hand. "Put it on as tight as possible!" I heard one yell. "Make sure it's anything but comfortable!"

I shook my head vigorously, their patience thinning as something connected with the side of my head, everything ringing as I desperately tried to refocus my vision. Futile. I was immediately aware of the metal digging into my skin as they strapped something to my face, it only taking moments before recognizing it as some type of muzzle.

Another growl slithered past my lips as I tried to pull away, they too willingly tightening it to the point I felt in digging into my skin, the screaming I produced only worsening the effect. "A fitting item for an animal such as yourself." One sneered, I quickly recognizing it as the one I attacked for he held a blood drenched arm close to his chest. I tried lunging at him again, the restraints seeming to keep me where I was as he ordered them to proceed before exiting the room.

My screaming continued immediately as I felt my skin tear layer by layer before they were soon cutting through meat. The muzzle digging deeper into the bridge of my nose as well as my cheeks as my cries continued to grow louder. Blood quickly coating my tongue once more as the smell became alarmingly strong. My lips sputtering beneath it as muffled pleas quickly took over. It felt like ages until I was able to welcome unconsciousness. But even then I couldn't escape the nightmares.

Days later I was huddled up in a corner of the cell I had become accustomed to over these long torturous months. My hand gripping the metal of where my arm once was. My eyes wide with uncontrollable shock. They had taken my arm and replaced it with their technology? The constant tremors of fear buzzing through my body as I folded in on myself. Desperate to shield myself from everything and everyone.

What had I done to deserve this? I began asking myself once again. Tears quickly welling in my eyes as a broken sob made itself known as I felt the wetness coating the newly made scar on my face. Another constant reminder of the tortures I am being forced to endure. The pain. That unbearable sting panging at my very being as I sat there in that corner. Once again pleading to whoever was out there to make it all stop. One way or another.

It wasn't long after I was stumbling through the halls of the ship they had held be captive on for far too long. The alarms blaring around me as red continued to dance about my vision. Everything was fuzzy, the drug they had previously injected me with quickly taking over as I came in contact with a few guards standing in front of the pod the Galra, Ulaz, had prepared for me. I still had no reason to trust him, remembering the countless times he stood to side as he watched the others do.. unimaginable things to me. Why help me now? It was an answer I didn't care about at the time as I lunged with a scream at the ones blocking my way out. Taking one down before an explosion went off behind me, knocking me into a wall inside the pod, where I unwillingly lost consciousness as it deployed. Sending me to where I was destined to meet the future paladins of voltron.

And it was now I stood amongst them, they each looking at me concerningly as I blinked the past away. A half-hearted smile gracing my lips as I returned my attention to them. "This scar?" I asked, pointing to my face. "It happened during one of my fights in the arena." They all seemed pleased with the answer, nodding slowly before slowly breaking away to do their own things once more. My gaze traveling out towards the never-ending space surrounding us, as I swallowed thickly, reminding myself that I was no longer there, that I was here. Safe amongst the Defenders of the Universe.

"Shiro? You coming?"

I let one more smile grace my lips as I nodded. "Of course."

Reminding myself that I was home.

-end-