Spread Your Wings and Fly

Chapter 2

I don't actually know how far the Holt residence is from the Garrison but I'm gonna make it far just coz. Enjoy!
Disclaimer – I do Not own Voltron Legendary Defender

Chapter 2
Katie Pov

I never went to the presentations because I never saw the need to. The people were happier. They had Lance and Allura and Coran. They had Hunk and Shiro. They didn't need me to go. Yes, I was one of the Paladins. But that was a long time ago. I've moved on.

I rarely saw the other Paladins and that was fine with me. I was having my own troubles and I didn't want to bother them. I didn't even tell my parents or Matt about them. No one would understand anyway.

"Pidge! Come down! You've been on that laptop all day. You need a break", mom called. I groaned. My parents were always telling me to get out more. I probably should be going to college and getting a job by now, but I just couldn't find the motivation. I loved learning, but I just couldn't handle more school right now.
"Give me a few more minutes!" I yell back down.
"Now!" I sigh and do as she says.

"Why do you need me to get out? I'm perfectly fine staying upstairs in my room. If you really want me to, I'll go out on the roof and..." I stop talking as I see Shiro in the doorway. I frown. "Hey Shiro. What're you doing here? Wait, I don't have to go to one of the presentations do I?" Shiro chuckled.
"No Pidge. I just wanted to talk to you. Alone. Come on a jog with me?" I didn't really like exercise but, seeing as it was Shiro, I couldn't really say no.

"Okay. Just let me get some shoes on." I raced to my bedroom and put on a more suitable running outfit. Once I was dressed and ready to go, I walked back down stairs to see Shiro lacing his own shoes.
"Right. Where do you want to take me?" I was curious as to why Shiro would want to go on a jog with me without my dad or Matt but I just accepted it. Sometimes Shiro could be very mysterious.

The run started off slowly with us just trying to get into a rhythm. After a few minutes of being silent, Shiro started talking. It was simple small talk and it kind of pissed me off.
"So how are you?"
"Not bad. Why did you drag me out here? You said you wanted to talk to me alone. So. Start talking." Shiro chuckled again and took a left turn.

Ahead, I saw his hoverbike and wondered why he'd make me run all the way here when he could've just driven it up to my house. When we reached the bike, Shiro climbed on. He held a hand out to help me on but I ignored it. I didn't need help. I wasn't useless. I held onto his waist as he started the bike up and sped into the distance.

"Where are you taking me?! Do my parents know?!" I had to yell to be heard over the bike's loud motor but he heard me.
"Everything's fine Pidge. Your parents know and so does your brother. Where we're going, you'll see for yourself soon." I held on tighter as he made a more dangerous turn, almost throwing me off the bike. 'Cursed short arms! Cursed small figure!' My shoulder-blade length hair whipped behind me as we rode even faster.

I couldn't see where we were going because I was so short and Shiro's body blocked my view. I was getting annoyed as the minutes passed and we traveled further from home. I didn't like going out anymore, just like I didn't like to before I met the other Paladins. I liked being alone then because people always made fun of me.

But my reason is different now. I don't go to the presentations for specific reasons. Reasons that I've told nobody. No one will ever know. I didn't build these walls up after the war only for them to be torn down. No. I built these walls so no one would find out how much I was hurting inside. How much anger, guilt, sadness and loneliness was being built up inside of me. How much fear.

No one would know because I didn't want to burden them with my stupid fears. So I stayed in my room or on the roof. Never going anywhere and never seeing anyone except for my family and the occasional person who walked past out house. No one would know. No one would ever know. No one needed to know.

"We're here." I snapped out of my thoughts just as we pulled up outside Keith's house. I frowned. I didn't understand. I didn't need to see Keith and I was pretty sure Shiro could've come on his own if it was just a friendly visit. Shiro cut the engine and I was grateful I didn't have to yell to be heard anymore.

"Shiro, why are we here. I don't have to see Keith do I?" Shiro was already off the hoverbike and I decided that I would have to follow if I was to ever get answers. With a sigh, I hopped off and followed him as he started to walk toward Keith's house. When we were a few meters away, he stopped and turned to me.

"Katie, I need you to promise me something. And you have to promise it now." I cross my arms.
"Fine. What do you want me to promise?"
"That while I'm..." He stops talking and I gesture for him to continue. "That while I'm gone, you'll take care of him. You're both the most like family to me and I know you'll be able to help each other more than what the others can do. You both knew me the most." I gape at him, not quite wanting to believe what I was hearing.

"You're... you're going? Where? And why do I have to look after emo?! Can't Lance do that? They are boyfriends after all. Keith doesn't need me and... and... and he never needed me." Shiro held my shoulders as I began shaking uncontrollably. Memories flashed past in my vision and I could no longer feel Shiro. I couldn't see where I was.

I heard a voice. It was the same voice that kept me awake at nights. The same voice that I feared. The same voice. With the same words.
"You're weak. They're all better off without you. Especially him. He's happy without you. Always was. Always will be." I was crying and screaming.
"No! No no no no no no..."

"Katie! Katie! Katie!" I came back to the present. I was lying on the ground with Shiro's arms wrapped around me, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Shhh. It's okay. Nothing will hurt you. Everything will be okay." I wanted to believe him. I really did. But I just couldn't. Nothing would be okay. Never again.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next one will come soon!