After the disastrous events involving the Kolese, Shiro is on the mend and Keith must come to terms with his own trauma.

Warnings: Mentions of attempted rape/non-con, violence, ptsd recovery

After he's pinned down by the Ilnesh, time moves in flashes.

Shiro flying back with sickening ragdoll physics. The sounds of his own screams as he's pulled closer. The giant monster hovering, drool dripping and spattering and it's gonna it's gonna itsgonnapleasepleaseohgodpleasenonono Shiro charges and cuts through its body, blood spurting. Shiro in front of him as Kolese scale down the cliff.

Time flows again when Red emerges and the heat of rage is in his mind, anguish blazing like a furnace as she burns the monsters before her. Keith indulges in the shared petty satisfaction of Red needlessly incinerating that thing's corpse when he sees Shiro drop.

He kicks up faster than he thought himself capable and catches Shiro just before he hits the ground. Agony explodes as pressure is put on his broken wrist and he bites back a scream. No, Shiro fought for him, almost died protecting him. There's no time for weakness now, he needs to get him to safety.

Green emerges, materializing from what must be her cloaking. The sounds of weapons, shouting, and pounding feet begin to roar around him as her mouth hatch opens. Hunk appears before them as many more Kolese emerge, most likely stationed around the rear of the cliff as hidden security.

"Hey buddy, lemme get him for you." And he lifts the injured man almost effortlessly, Shiro grunting in pain. "I'm sorry Shiro, we'll get you healed up soon. And Keith? You need some help too?" He's looking directly at Keith's swollen wrist and Keith is endlessly grateful he doesn't mention his obvious lack of clothes.

He tries to answer but the words are stuck in his throat so he shakes his head instead. He steels his legs through sheer willpower, cradles his wrist against his body, and manages to keep pace with Hunk as they sprint back to Green. Keith spares a glance behind him and sees Red's plasma beam create a mock barrier keeping the Kolese away as Lance takes up the rear, laying down cover fire.

Keith tries to avoid everyone's gaze as him and Hunk board and lower Shiro to the floor, but he accidentally catches the horrified expressions on Lance and Pidge's face before he sits down near his brother. He hears Allura shouting orders, and the sights and sounds of Green closing and taking off. Shiro's hand shoots out and Keith unthinkingly grasps it with his uninjured left, squeezing it.

Shiro soon passes out, the grimace on his face smoothing into something approaching peaceful, and Keith is left to the mercy of his own wandering thoughts. The first thing he notices is the aggressive rawness of his throat, most likely from all his screaming. From there his mind inevitably drifts back to that monster and how it dragged him close and it leaned over him and the feeling of its wet spit plop on his stomach and bringing its hand stop it stop it

A sudden weight drops on Keith's shoulders and his heart stops before seeing the pair of blue and white armored legs. 'It's just Lance, calm down.' The weight is wrapped a little tighter around him and he sees it's Lance's green jacket. There's a lump in his throat and he can't push past it to speak. Instead he looks up and Lance gives him a sort of half smile that does nothing for his dim eyes.

Keith turns back to his and Shiro's joined hands, feeling slightly better with the jacket covering him. He feels the essence of a warm, cozy fire in his mind and knows it's Red calming him.

Allura informs them that Coran has a healing pod prepped for both Shiro and Keith as they dock and it's a matter of getting Shiro there in time and changing him into the cryo suit. Once he's set inside, Coran checks over his vitals and confirms that he's stable and will make a full recovery.

The blood pounding in Keith's ears slows at the news and his shoulders lax in relief. He barely hears Coran's next words, "My boy, Number Two tells me you have an injured wrist. May I see?"

Keith extends his arm and winces as a sharp pain jolts through his wrist. Coran looks thoughtful as he examines it, holding the injured part in a surprisingly delicate hold. "Judging from the swelling and the angle of your wrist, you seem to have a fracture. Specifically a Radial Styloid fracture." Keith doesn't question how he knows what kind of fracture it is by only looking at the outside. Coran's medical skills are legendary among the team. "Let's get you dressed in a cryo suit and in that pod Number Four."

At the word dressed, Keith stiffens and feels his face grow hot as he remembers his current state. He's aware of the dried blood on his face and the monster's drool coating his stomach. He shrinks in on himself, feeling everyone's eyes on him. His throat closes up and he tugs the jacket around him a little tighter, letting Coran lead him to the pod area, still softly holding his wrist steady as they walk.

"Hey, uh, Keith?" Keith's heart rate spikes and he whips his head around to see Lance right behind him. "Whoa, my bad. Didn't mean to scare you. I just, I kinda need my jacket back before you go in."

His grip on the jacket tightens on instinct and his heart is pounding in his throat. It's harder to breathe and he hears himself wheeze. Lance must have noticed because he puts his hands up and shakes his head. "Hey I'll give it back, I promise. But if you take it in there it'll disintegrate."

Keith nods his head, he knows this, he shouldn't be freaking out. He's being so stupid. But his hand shakes and refuse to budge and it takes the effort of Coran's gentle prying to slowly loosen his hold until the jacket slides off his shoulders. Keith is exposed now, his face heating up with shame, and he hunches his back, arms wrapped tightly around his torso. It's suddenly freezing, despite the Castle's regulated temperature.

Lance steps in front of him and looks right into his eyes, forcing Keith meet his gaze. "Listen, you don't have to feel ashamed or embarrassed or anything like that. We know some screwed up stuff happened down there and no one here is judging you."

Coran picks up from there. "Number Three is right. You've been nothing but incredibly brave throughout this whole ordeal. So focus your energies on healing up and we'll take care of everything else." Keith wants to snort at the brave comment but he senses Red again soothing his mind with crackling warmth, melting the bitterness and cold away.

He peels off his boots and black gloves, letting Coran put them aside. He does briefly panic when he reaches for his sheath and realizes it's empty, until Lance reassures him that he picked up the knife as they retreated and it's safe and sound.

Keith, with Coran's help, dons the cryo suit before letting Coran bandage and splint his wrist. Before he enters the healing pod, Keith looks over to confirm that Shiro is still there in a sudden rush of irrationality. The last thing he sees are the Paladins, Allura, and Coran, worry and distress written across their faces. Sleep overtakes him.

Keith awakes and he finds himself tumbling forward before a pair of strong arms wrap around him, keeping him upright and steady. "How're you feeling Keith?" Through the mental haze, he registers the voice and arms as belonging to Hunk.

He swallows and is thankful his throat doesn't hurt anymore so he attempts to at least mumble out a "fine." Before the word forms, memories of the past day flood his head and overwhelms his senses and his knees buckle. Hunk keeps him from falling and sits him down on a prepared gurney.

A weight is dropped on Keith's shoulders. "Told you I'd give it back." He looks up to see an easy smile on Lance's face. Gratitude fills his chest and burns his eyes. As a distraction he removes the splint then flexes his fingers, rotates his wrist and, finding no trace of pain or stiffness, slips his arms through the sleeves. The oversized green jacket feels snug and warm and he gives Lance an appreciative nod.

"Hey Keith, we got the blanket pile ready for you. Well...almost...ready..." And Pidge struggles with taming the cartoonishly large pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the floor into something Keith can actually lie on. Hunk and Lance are forced to help and he can't help but look on fondly at the sight.

Keith's eyes wander over to Coran, who flits between monitoring Shiro's vitals and clearing out his own pod. He wants to ask Coran a question, attempts to push it from his mind through his lips but the words are stuck. He tries again and there's only silence. He's struck with the fact that he hasn't spoken since before their rescue and his veins are filled with ice water.

Keith keeps trying to speak until Hunk returns and holds out his hand. "You ready buddy? Everything is all set now." He's tempted to take his hand but knows he can't keep accepting handouts like this. They all probably think he's weak enough, he doesn't need to add to that. So he nods, stands, and slowly walks over until he can settle in the pile.

The three Paladins hover, clearly uneasy about approaching him but unwilling to leave. Allura walks in the medbay and Coran turns at the sound of her clicking heels. "Coran, I've prepared a pod for our descent. We will leave at once." She takes in the scene before her and makes eye contact with Keith, her sudden smile dazzling. "Ah Keith, you're awake now. Excellent. It looks like your injuries have healed quite nicely. I do hope you will allow yourself time to rest properly."

Keith, taken aback, can only bring himself to nod and Allura brightens even more. "Paladins." They all stand to attention at her strong voice. "Coran and myself will be back within three vargas. If anything should happen, please do not hesitate to contact us." And with that, the two leave.

"I wonder where they're going."

"Mostly likely back to that planet, since they're being kind of secretive about it."

"Well I hope they tell those Quiznacking jerks off."

"Me too. What they did was, was just awful. Totally not cool."

"They better do more than just tell them off."

The natural banter between the three is soothing. Before he can help it, a yawn slips out Keith's mouth. Lance grins. "Alright, time to get some sleep Mullet. We'll be close by if you need us." Hunk adds that they'll have some food and drinks ready for him once he wakes up.

Keith tries to resist, not wanting to doze off so soon after waking from cryo-sleep. But the stress from his frayed nerves finally catches up with him and he gives in to the pull of sleep, the image of Shiro suspended in the healing pod's waters slowly fading into black.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The rush of parries ring in his ears and send vibrations up his arms. Keith ducks under a horizontal swipe. The gladiator's midsection is left open and Keith propels with his back legs in a quick lunge that pierces through its body. Keith braces his foot on its torso and pulls his bayard free, the now lifeless robot dummy collapsing to the floor.

He's panting, face damp and shirt soaked with sweat. His muscles ache with exertion but the rushing of adrenaline is heady and he's loathe to quit. Even after nearly two hours of training, the nightmares from earlier in the night threaten to close in on him, its grip blackening the edges of his vision and squeezing his heart.

The moment he pauses, the phantom sensation of his broken wrist returns, fire shooting up his arm and nearly dropping his sword. The monster's grip on his leg bruises as it slams him into the ground, back exploding in pain. His clothes shredded, skin sliced, the grip tightens, dragged through the dirt, saliva pooling on his stomach, its moist rancid breath on his face, its panting as it lowers its hands

"Begin Level 10!" He can't think about it anymore, he can't think he can't he can't he-

The next gladiator drops in and swings its staff around in a brutal cross strike. Keith grips his bayard with two hands and holds it vertically beside his body, blocking the blow and pushing the staff back. His arms shake with the force of the hit and the strain of his effort. The nightmare's tendrils are banished again for now.

Keith is lying prone, Shiro a few feet in front of him. They're back in the clearing. There's a horrible, excruciating white hot pain in his lower body and he can't move his legs. The monster is behind him. He can't see it like this, is too terrified to look back.

But he sees the fresh gorges in the earth from its claws. He hears its deep breathing, the low, throaty growls that escape its mouth. A bead of cold sweat trickles down his temple, his own breathing shallow and wheezing in contrast.

Keith focuses on Shiro again. His brother is face up, unmoving. Keith grits his teeth and pulls himself forward by his forearms, dragging his dead weight body behind him.

"Shiro?" He doesn't answer. There's thick, dark red blood leaking from his mouth and pooling on the ground by his ears. His eyes are half-lidded, dim, blank. He isn't moving.

Keith screams. And screams. And screams. And-

-jolts awake to the sound of his own screaming, heart hammering in his chest. His breathing is harsh, panting as he greedily sucks in air in huge gulps. His hands clutch at his red hoodie. The thickness of it and his black sweatpants overheat his body.

He wipes at his face and catches sweat and tears on his hand. He reasoned that exhaustion would give him a few hours of peace, hence the training. Instead he's transported to that awful place again.

And Shiro was there too, wasn't he? He-he was…. Keith leaps from his bed, grabbing Lance's jacket and donning it on his way out. He sprints to the medbay, the need to see Shiro, to make sure that he's okay, that he's alive, imbues his every thought.

Before him is Shiro's pod, his brother inside. He approaches the monitor and sees his status on the screen below, still shown as stable and healing. Keith's stomach uncurls and he's breathing again, lungs burning from the sprint and blind panic.

His mind is calming from its high now that he knows Shiro is okay, was never in danger, it really was just a dream, and it strikes Keith how ridiculous he's being. He has to get a grip. He's a Paladin of Voltron he can't be like this, he has to get over this it didn't even do anything to him-

He stops that train of thought, the images too overwhelming for him to handle right now. Of what happened. Of what could have happened if Shiro hadn't saved him. He looks up at Shiro again, then lays down. It couldn't hurt to stay here, just for tonight. Just in case something does come up. He ignores that the closeness calms his heart and gives him enough peace to close his eyes and rest.

"W-where are my, my c-clothes?" It's a day after the incident and Keith's first actual words aren't his first choice, or even second or third choice. But they flood out in one continuous hoarse whisper, breaking on every syllable.

Coran, who is monitoring the progress of Shiro's healing, doesn't comment on how it sounds but simply answers the question. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean Number Four. You seem to be wearing your clothes at this moment." And he winks and smiles at Keith as he gestures to the current outfit that Allura and him somehow found and modified yesterday, sans Lance's jacket. (He finally returned it earlier during breakfast, despite Lance's loud protests that he could keep it as long as he needed it.)

Keith wants to return the gesture with a chuckle or roll of his eyes. Wants to respond normally, to be normal again. But he's so out of his own skin that all he can do is focus on how to rephrase his question, to make him understand.

Here lies the issue. He hadn't spoken in nearly a quintant and when he finally does, can finally push past the dread and nerves, he almost shocks himself with how much he despises the sound of his voice. It's ugly and harsh, it reminds him of his screams. Even its lowest whisper rattles his teeth and screeches in his ears. "N-no I, uh, m-my other…" He trails off the sentence, unable to bear hearing his voice anymore.

Coran stops what he's doing and looks at Keith. Stares and observes him. It makes him self conscious, and he wishes he could take back his question, realizing now how dumb it is. He knows what happened to those clothes, to the jacket he loved so much.

Adam had bought it as an early birthday gift, along with the boots, when they went shopping for new clothes. He had mercilessly teased him about how well the half jacket and Go-Go dancer boots went with his mullet but the smile on his face as he bought them anyway was sweet and warm. And now that jacket was g-go- His eyes burn, vision swimming and he wraps his arms around his chest.

Coran's hands lightly squeezes his shoulders, anchoring him back to the present. "I understand now, my boy. While your boots and gloves are safe and sound, I'm afraid the rest of your clothes were too torn to salvage." Keith nods, his energy draining. There was no running from it. The jacket was gone then. At least he still has his boots, and the gloves Shiro gave him.

He nods and tries to pull back but Coran keeps him in place with the slightest pressure. "Keith, I know you have been struggling with this awful turn of events. But I want you to know that we are all here for you now. And we will always be here for you, whether you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to beat back a rampaging Woolen Ragdool." He lets go to put a fist over his chest, in a pose he probably thinks is both heroic and reassuring.

Keith snorts at the sight, then pauses at how natural that was. It's a little easier to keep the small smile on his face, despite its waver. "Thanks." His voice still sounds awful but the gratitude he feels softens his resentment, Coran's kind words unfurling something in his chest.

Coran beams. "Good to hear lad. Now, I believe Princess Allura and the other Paladins are in the lounge. Why don't you join them?" Keith considers this and, realizing he has nothing better to do, relents and goes with a tiny wave, Coran's warm eyes following him.

Apparently Pidge was just leaving to get Keith when he arrives. Furniture has been rearranged, the couches and table off to the far side of the room and an even bigger pile of blankets and pillows are in the center directly in front of the large monitor. A pile that everyone is currently cuddling in as they watch some show or movie on the screen.

"Thank god I don't actually have to get up now." And Pidge waves Keith over from her position nestled in between Hunk's lower legs. Lance is on Hunk's right and Allura, right above Pidge, is stretched out over Hunk and Lance's torsos. The space mice are snoozing on the small of Allura's back.

Keith is a little overwhelmed, not knowing how he'll fit in or if he should just sit off to the side. Hunk answers that question for him though. "Come lay over here, there's plenty of space." And he pats his left side which is actually vacant. Keith hesitates then carefully walks over and fits himself next to Hunk, who puts an arm around him and pulls him a little closer. Allura, who's been keeping her legs up, lowers them on Keith once he's settled in.

"See, was that so hard Mullet?" And Lance get a sharp but harmless thwap across his back from Allura. "Ignore Lance please," and she ignores the cry from him in return. Keith, comfortable enough in his position and smiling from the scene, attempts to get his throat working enough to ask a question. "W-what movie i-is…?" And his rasping voice gives out again. But he's proud of the progress he's making; with each use he hates his voice a little less.

When Allura responds, Keith can hear the child-like excitement in her tone, a far cry from her usual professional demeanor. "It's an old Altean classic called 'Love Discovered in the Pits of Thrygrone.' I watched it with my mother and father all the time growing up."

At this point the music, unlike anything Keith has ever heard on Earth, swells and the two Alteans on-screen move in for a kiss. He hears sniffles from Lance and Hunk and sighs at the prospect of watching a sappy romance flick. But, feeling snug and secure in the group pile, he finds himself wondering if Shiro would enjoy this kind of movie when they all do it again.

Keith wakes slowly, adjusting his eyes to the soft darkness. His...room...? He's warm and cozy and tilting his head, realizes he's wrapped in several blankets. His arms, trapped underneath the fluffy covers, are cradling something soft. He peaks under and sees a pair of large cute eyes staring back at him.

A stuffed toy. Someone gave him a stuffed toy to sleep with. And he not only accepted it but cuddled it in his sleep. He wants to be annoyed. He should be annoyed. But he is super comfortable and in a nice mood and the stuffed animal - whatever it's supposed to be, probably some weird Altean space creature - is very soft. Most importantly, he hasn't had a single nightmare this whole time. So Keith simply settles into his bed, holds the toy close, and closes his eyes. He'll worry about it tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow morning comes and he doesn't think to ask about the stuff toy, partly because he's recovering from a mild nightmare (it started off the usual horrifying way but ended on an alternate ending in which Shiro pulled Keith from the giant monster and they got away) and mostly due to haywire emotions since it's the day Shiro is suppose to leave the pod.

He's happy, so happy that tears keep gathering in his eyes and he hurries to scrub them away each time. He's also terrified because another thought has been plaguing him since he first woke up.

Keith is going to have to tell the others what happened that day.

He really doesn't want to. Just thinking about it twists his stomach in a sudden bout of nausea. And no one has even remotely forced him to talk about it. But if he doesn't then Shiro will have to tell the story himself - which he would do without question - but that would be incredibly selfish of Keith to force him to recall those events alone. Especially since Shiro was left off far worse by them.

During breakfast, which Keith felt comfortable enough to join the others in the kitchen for, he ponders how he should approach it. The biggest hurdle is his speaking ability. While it's improved quite a bit since two quintants ago, he continues to struggle with forming basic sentences. Not to mention how his feelings on everything make it worse.

Keith finishes his plate of food goo but stays behind, still lost in his head. The others sense his need to for space and leave him be, which he's extremely grateful for. But eventually he becomes frustrated with his circling thoughts and stands, deciding to head to the medbay. He's always been a man of action, not of navel-gazing, and he needs to take charge of this situation.

Once he arrives, seeing everyone else already gathered at the pod nearly makes him lose his nerve but he forces himself to keep walking. One step at a time, until he's only a few feet from Shiro.

"Keith, I do hope you're feeling better today." Keith nods in response, knowing that Allura is purposely ignoring the dark bags under his eyes and his still paler than normal skin. Even he noticed how terrible he looks getting ready earlier. Coran adds "Good to see you, Number Four! Number One will be out in less than three vargas, good as new."

The other three are looking at him and Hunk is the one to speak up first, his hands wringing themselves in what Keith has learned to recognize as a sign of anxiety. "Did you get a good night's sleep? We were all super worried since you looked so tired lately, I mean no one could blame you for that of course, but we still can't help it. Oh and I hope you liked the plush toy Allura left you. She thought it would make you feel better."

At that Keith stares back at her and she refuses to meet his eyes, her cheeks suspiciously pink. "W-well it was a holdover from my childhood so I thought we could at least put it to better use."

"But Princess, you were just playing with the stuffed Windoll the other day-"

"Coran! I was merely examining it for defects and grime buildup, I assure you."

Lance and Pidge are snickering at the exchange. "I tried to tell Allura not to give it to you, we manly men don't need kid toys and all, but she was so adamant I couldn't refuse her."

"Yeah right Lance, you were crying the whole time because you wanted one from Allura too-"

"Shut up Pidge, you're making me look bad."

A snort escapes Keith and he struggles to hold back his laughter behind his hand, shaking with the effort. It's quiet for a moment, then the sounds of more laughter echo around the room as everyone else joins in. It eventually cools down and Keith is left with a bubbly feeling in his heart. He exhales, and speaks. "I, uh, I can, I-I mean." Another breath. "I'm, I'm ready to talk. About wha-what happened." The others quickly sober and give him their undivided attention. He's startled by all the eyes trained on him and lowers his own gaze.

It takes a long time to get everything out, starting from how Shiro and him were led away from the group and given "special" food and drink, which Keith deduces is how they were drugged. As he continues, he stutters and stops frequently, voicing growing hoarser. At one point Coran fetches him a water pouch when his voice gives out completely, and he spends several minutes drinking and coughing before he can go on.

Many bottled up feelings surface through the recounting. Anger at the Kolese for drugging and attempting to murder them after Voltron saved their whole planet. The bone-chilling fear of being beaten down and pinned by the Ilnesh, of seeing Shiro cough up so much blood from his injuries. Those horrible chants that still echo in Keith's mind.

He barely touches on what that monster almost did to him. He can't bear the shame of his cowardly screams, of being so useless, of being so scared. But it seems that they figured out what it was trying to do, judging from the clenched jaws and sobs.

Keith most likely wouldn't have been able to continue from this point, if the flames of the Red Lion hadn't barged in his mind. He feels her boiling anger at what they dared to do to her Paladins, as she soothes him with the warmth of a fireplace. He closes his eyes and finishes, sending her waves of gratitude back.

By the end, Coran had come over to Keith's side and let him rest on his shoulder. Keith is wrung out, raw from the tale and leans into the older man, turning it into a hug once Coran wraps both arms around him. Everyone sits quietly, still processing what was revealed to them. Keith is sure they had some idea of what happened that day, considering that they were all fighting the inhabitants in the first place, but the Kolese ruler most likely hid vital details from them.

Allura speaks and draws in her full regality, confirming Keith's theory in the process. "After Shiro emerges from the pod and is properly cared for, we will be paying another visit to the Kolese. It seems their ruler purposely misled us in our previous talks." Keith hears Coran's verbal agreement, voice hardened with...anger?

"I'm coming too, those assholes aren't getting away with hurting my brothers," Pidge's gaze is steel. Lance and Hunk nod their agreement with her, expressions set. Affection swells in Keith and his eyes are wet with unshed tears. Although the events with the Kolese will scar him for years to come, he's fortunate enough to have found people who care for him so much. He wants to thank them for everything they've done these past few days but can't swallow past the lump in his throat. He hopes he can tell them how much he appreciates them soon.

There's a loud beeping noise that echoes through the medbay and every single head turns toward the source. The thirty second warning for the pod's release.

Shiro's finally healed.

Keith steadies himself on Coran and lets go when he's sure his legs are fine enough to walk. He approaches the side of the pod and waits for the glass to open, hearing the others step just behind him.

Shiro opens his eyes and stumbles out.

Keith is waiting with open arms to catch his brother.

Did not expect to actually write this second chapter out but here it is and boy is it a doozy. Got to try out writing PTSD recovery, which is really hard let me tell you, and I hope I did it justice. Both in general and in relation to Keith's character.

Another difficult thing was fitting in the details to remain consistent with ch.1. Also tough but I somehow managed. Hope everyone enjoys and please feel free to leave criticisms behind because I really need them lol