Until I See You Again: War Of The White Lion

Pressure

Is it me or is coffee basically filtered water and drugs? Do you agree? Why am I like this?

Shiro's POV

"Everyone, I have called this meeting for a very specific reason," I announce to everyone in the small rectangular room.

"Why?" Lance asks.

"You need to know this. That goes to all of you."

"Ugh, is this about rules?" Keith groans, leaning back in his swivel chair.

"I'll behave. I swear."

"We all know that promise is going to be broken, Pidge." Hunk snickers.

"Everyone, quiet down, please. This is serious." I command.

"How serious can this be? We are crammed into a small room."  Hunk complains.

I sigh and Adam facepalms for a second and then takes a deep breath. He then takes direction.

"It's the best we could get. This is completely soundproof, camera and audio free room. We are calling this the safe room and Takashi is going to explain why."

Adam nods to me and I pull out the handbook from my jacket pocket. I pull it out and hold it up for everyone to see.

"Everyone, this is the Sendai Base handbook. On pages 274 and 500, I highlighted texts you guys will need to be aware of." I explain, flipping through the pages to find the yellow highlighted words.

"What is it?" Pidge asks, leaning forward in her chair.

I look up to everyone, at least I have their attention, but everyone seems restless today. Once I break the news everyone is going to start a ruckus. Thank god this room is 100% soundproof. I finally flip to the page and hold it up for people to see.

"They are rules and regulations restricting open relationships, especially LGBT relationships," I say solemnly.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Let me see!"

"I can't read it, move over!"

"Your hand is in the way!"

Everyone crowds around the book to see the text. I hand the book to Lance and he and flips between the pages, his eyes scanning the words. Then his face darkens.

"This is so stupid!" Keith exclaims.

"I'm sorry, but that's the way things are run here," I say calmly, trying to get them to settle down but this has only added fire to the flame.

"This is bullshit!" Lance shouts.

"I know!" Adam agrees with the same anger and intensity.

"And they can refuse services?" Pidge asks, her voice low and hissed.

"Yes, they reserve the right," I explain.

"This is absolute bullshit! I bet Admiral Sanda chose this place just to stop us." Lance accuses.

"No, she didn't," I explain, gesturing for him to calm down.

"How do you know?" Keith asks, standing up.

"We talked to her. We came out to her." Adam explains, standing up as well, almost challenging Keith.

"You did!?" Everyone shouts simultaneously.

Everyone starts talking all at once and then shouting. People's voices rise like a sea and drown one another out in unnerving sound.

"Everyone calm down!" I try to shout over everyone but I realize that all I'm doing is adding to the noise pollution.
I slam my fist in the table to get everyone's attention but all it does is just shoot pain into my hand and wrist.