Broken but Together Shatt

Terrors

A few days have passed and some of the paladins wondered as to why Shiro had been MIA from 1-3 pm. The first day wasn't too much to worry everyone shrugged it off as to he was by himself to think, which happens every once in a while, so this wasn't too off. After the 3rd day everyone was worried except Matt, who knew exactly where Shiro was.

Shiro enjoyed his naps now, at first it was childish and he just kinda laid on the bed, Matt eventually coaching him on how to actually take the naps. Matt also noted that if he slept in the bed the night before Shiro slept well and didn't wake up from nightmares. Nothing elevated in stress showing the nightmare were slowing to a halt. They do show up every once in a while to make the paladin relive a horrible memory but they were manageable now. Matt found that comforting. Some days if nothing was going on Matt would lay with Shiro and keep him company, that was rare though, and he would leave halfway through because something came up.

Allura was very suspicious in the two's activities. Clearly noting Shiro had more energy and was more focused, however she didn't like how no one could find him between those hours but showed up if Voltron was needed, over ready to go and way more focused. That was typical apparently but the looks Matt and Shiro gave each other afterwards caused her concern.

She found her way to Matt while Shiro was sleeping, maybe he would know answers, none of the paladins knew and neither did the mice, that was odd for even them. Matt only turned off something when she entered the room, but she saw several charts on a constant feed. Maybe he was scanning something? She thought and was met with a smile. "How can I help you?" He asked kindly. He seem so, unaware of the situation. "Shiro is missing." That caused a concerned face to appear as he raised a brow questioningly, "How so?" She cleared her throat, "From the hours 1-3 he has been missing. No one can find him." Matt now showed a coy smirk, "Have you checked him room?"

She looked back at him eyes wide, "why I would never!" Matt only chuckled and span back around bringing what he shut down back into view, "I'm joking. You can come look if you want." Allura walked over quickly curious, "What are you doing?" Matt only smiled, "I've been watching him sleep. If you look," he pulled up a graph over the current one still being recorded, "these graphs show his REM sleep patterns showing how often he goes into a deep sleep. If you look at the ones earlier his cycle is irregular. Which can cause health problems. So I told him that he for a week should sleep from 1-3 so he would have time to regulate his sleep schedule. He has done well in doing that so far. I would have given him a sleep aid but seeing how Voltron could be needed at any moment." He trailed off she knew the end of that. That would put everyone in danger, "So he...." Matt turned around and smiled, "He is doing better, if you look at his vitals after every day we have done this they have been getting progressively better. He also has cut back in coffee not needing it as a crutch. Which I'm very proud in how far he has come in such a short time." Allura stood there in amazement unable to say much. Then something changed drastically and Matt looked at the sleep charts seeing that he was awake but Shiro didn't move. His heart rate skyrocketed. Matt cursed and got up quickly. "What are you doing? What's wrong with him." Allura called after Matt who was running out of the room. "He is having a night terror." She looked at him confused as she followed him down the hallway. He sighed, "He is awake but his brain is tricking him j to thinking he is dreaming. He is imagining something or feels like something is getting on his bed. It's not normal but is not unheard of. Normally I would let this thing resolve itself but in Shiro's case I want him to keep his schedule. This might only set himself back." She nodded and looked at him, "What's so special about the heart rate?" Matt looked at her a little befuddled, "Have you ever had that odd feeling in your chest when you get scared and it feel like your heart stopped for a moment?" She nodded and he continued, "That's the change in the rate. It's trying to bring your body back to its normal level. It indicated stress, anxiety, fear, happiness and arousal. But it can strain the body if it is like that for too long." Matt opened the door and looked at her, "If he hits me or you don't blame it on him." She bit her lip worried, "what can I do?" Matt opened the door, "Help me comfort him." Right as that happens Matt's voice went soft and he stepped in slowly, making himself known but not scaring Shiro, he seemingly talked in a unknown language to the Altaen.

"Shiro, respice in me. Focus in meam vocem." Shiro's eyes looked to the side slightly, Matt sat down and grabbed his hand speaking in that tongue he hasn't heard in a long long time. His brain recognized the translation quickly. Matt still spoke in the language, "Allura is with me." Shiro then saw Allura step into view and his arm felt like it was burning. The fear probably activated it. As Allura stepped closer the burning weakened and Matt saw that the arm was turning blue. Probably reacting with her quintessence. "Allura can you put your hand on his arm for me?"

Allura was confused by the command. "Why?" Matt pointed to it, "It's blue. It's not purple." Matt as right his gaullra arm is now glowing a soft blue and she placed her hand on it lightly and slowly. Matt moved to pick Shiro up slightly and place him in his arms forcing him to look at the doorway flooding with light. His voice still soft and he still spoke in Latin to him, "Its fine. Let's get you come coffee once you can move and we can talk. I'll forego the tests today. I promise."

Shiro then started to cry, his resolve breaking, no one but Matt has seen this before and Allura moves away and shut the door. Shiro gripped onto Matt who only shushed him holding him close. Allura watched as Matt held him. She realized how much each other needed the other. Matt grounded Shiro in something that none of the paladins could do. He understood him. They understood each other, they've been through the same shit, just wanting to explore space and learn to being a slave, brutally beaten and forced to fight for their capturers entertainment. They had crawled out of the pits of hell and still were suffering knowing that heaven was way too far for them to reach but they still tried. They were broken but at least they had each other.

Allura moves over and placed a hand on Shiro's back rubbing it softly, soothing him. Shiro pulled himself together surprisingly quick. He cleared his throat muttering an apology at Allura, the princess was confused. "Why apologize? You may be a leader but that doesn't mean you always have to be 100 percent ready to go at any walk moment. I just expect you to be emotionally stable in the black lion is all." Shiro chuckled at that knowing she was joking slightly, he understood her humor. She smiled a bit and got up, "I will leave you two alone then." As she went to move Shiro grabbed her arm, "Wait." She looked at him wanting an answer to his sudden outburst, "I would like to explain it to you..... the whole thing kinda involved both of you. I felt like have the right to know. Unless you don't want to that's fine I-" Allura smiled placing a finger to her lips telling him to shut up but kindly, "Just like old times." Shiro smiled back, "I'd like that." Matt was happy they started to get along again. Maybe she was coming around.