driftfleet | [Closed]

Entry tags:

[Closed]

Who: Allen, Keith, Shiro
Action: SS Blue Fish
When: End of April
Warning for Shiro's PTSD (panic attack, flashback of being experimented on, needles)

[While life in The Fleet has been mostly quiet so far, Shiro knows better than not being prepared. Especially after Raven told him they've been raided before, and seeing the slave ships in their current system. Things can be calm now... but it won't last forever.

So when he hears about Allen's little blood bank project, he definitely wants to help, even dragging Keith with him, who is wary but accepting to at least take a look. Shiro has to admit he's a little worried about his own blood, considering what happened to him with the Galra, but... the healing pod should've taken care of it, right? Right. And Allen can always check it to see if it's fine. It'd do him some good to know, too.

So here the two pilots arrive to the Blue Fish, Shiro knocking gently on the lab door before peeking in.]

Allen? I hope we arrive at a good time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Keith was peripherally paying attention to Allen's movements. He wasn't going to completely ignore the process, but he was also interested in the rest of the lab as well. But, the sudden movement and noise of Shiro shoving Allen away snapped him right back into the moment.]

Shiro?!

[He didn't even hesitate to jump in, moving quickly to get between Allen and Shiro, and he crouched next to him. He had seen Shiro freak out before, though not necessarily this intensely, and having been sort of watching, he was pretty sure Allen hadn't done anything out of the ordinary for a blood drive situation.]

Shiro! Hey... can you hear me?

[Come on, Shiro... time to come back to the present...]

[The reaction catches him by surprise enough to get him to stumble back, narrowly stopping himself before he slams into a nearby counter. Jeez, that guy is strong.

But when he recovers, he immediately goes to look at what the hell happened and- yeah. that's a definite panic attack going on. Allen's had enough of those to know what they look like. Shit.

He directs his words at Keith as he waves off Blue Fish's security. Nothing to worry about here.]

Tell him to take deep breaths! Reassure him he's okay!

[There's a familiar voice trying to break in, to reach him... but there's also an unfamiliar one, a voice that now his brain associates with a lab and needles. Shiro tries to look in front of him, trying to find the familiar voice, but his eyes are still out of focus.

Suddenly he cries out in pain and his body bends until his forehead is touching the floor. His whole body is shivering and sweaty, and he's still not breathing well.]

[Keith tried to stay with him, but he didn't want to touch him, yet. Not until there was some sort of recognition and Shiro made eye contact. He got himself down on his elbows.]

Shiro... it's okay. It's me, Keith. Come on. You know me. Listen to me.

[He waved Allen back. No offense.]

Just focus. You can get through this.

[Keith had seen Shiro pull out of this before. He knew he could do it.]

[None taken, Allen's standing back, just observing the situation in case it gets even worse. He knows a familiar presence like Keith is much more likely to make it better than he does, so he doesn't say anything more]

K-keith...

[That name. He knows that name - it's an important name. Shiro raises his head and looks around, eyes trying to focus, to separate the images in his head from what is actually real.

The shape in front of him is real. And familiar. Safe.

Trembling, his human hand reaches out for the person in front of him, looking for an anchor to keep him in the here and now.]

Yeah. Keith. Stay with me, Shiro.

[He took the outstretched hand.]

You're on the Blue Fish. Remember? Do you remember who we were meeting? Why we came here?

[He clings to that hand with a little too much force, not fully aware of what he's doing yet. He'll have to apologize to Keith later if he bruises him, but right now, his mind is a blur.

The voice guides him through the blur at least, and his eyes finally focus. Breathing is still a bit hard, he's pretty much panting, but he's here.]

Keith, what... [He follows the clues. Blue Fish. Right, they aren't home.] ...the lab. We came to Allen's lab.

That's right.

[Keith could take a lot. He wasn't going to mention it if his hand did end up bruised after this. He'd deal with it.]

You're safe. It's okay.

[He knew he needed to keep Shiro in the present, but he wanted to steer his mind away from what might have set him off.]

Do you know what ship you're assigned to? What you do there?

[Shiro tries to look around, but the few glimpses he gets plus that unique lab smell aren't exactly welcomed right now, so he keeps his eyes on Keith. Ships, jobs, concentrate on those, Shiro.]

...pilot for the SS Blameless. [His mind is clearing up, and his breathing is stabilizing, so his hold on Keith looses up a little bit. But he doesn't let go.] Atrom must've liked the irony to put me there.

[Oh, hey, look who is trying his awful "lighten up the mood" tactic now.]

Yeah. Real ironic.

[Keith was just glad the humor was there. It meant Shiro was back with him. He gave his hand a small squeeze, but didn't let go.]

Can you stand?

[He nods and does exactly that, returning the squeeze before holding onto a nearby chair to stand up, not wanting to put his weight on Keith. Usually he needs no help, but he's not gonna risk it now.

And by standing up and looking back at his surroundings, he finally remembers Allen's presence there. His eyes look at him filled with guilt.]

Allen. Did I hurt you? I'm sorry.

[Allen had been standing nearby watching, relieved that Keith was able to calm him down. He just gives a sympathetic smile]

I'm fine, don't worry about it.

How about you head to the cargo bay? You can get some air there. [And away from whatever might trigger another episode]

[Keith hovered close, his arm under Shiro's just in case. He nodded at Allen's suggestion.]

That's not a bad idea. [Getting Shiro out of the lab seemed like a good route to take for the moment. Keith wasn't sure if the whole setting had triggered it or what, but getting him out seemed like a good idea for now to at east give him a break from everything.]

Come on.

[He didn't release his hold on Shiro's arm just yet.]

[That sympathy... he can't take it, he looks away. He feels ashamed, weak, pathetic - this whole deal over some needles. Is this what it's come to? He can't even donate blood?

The suggestion gets a nod, though he still can't meet their eyes.]

I will, thanks. And... sorry for the trouble. I hope the other donors have brought you enough.

[Keith may not release his hold, but Shiro does. It's not that he doesn't appreciate the support - he does. But right now he feels like failure, and he doesn't want Keith to see that. So he tries to leave the lab by his own, needing a moment.]

[He shakes his head, smiling]

Don't worry, really. We'll get enough.

[Though he knows that look, the feeling of shame and disappointment. Shiro was a good guy, who wanted to help...Allen could respect that]

If you'd like, maybe when you're feeling better you can help me assemble first aid kits?

[He pauses his walking at that, considering it for a second before looking around the lab. He does want to help but the flashes of the memory he got... He frowns.]

Where do you usually do that?

The lab, but I can bring the supplies you'd need to wherever you'd like.

[It'd be no trouble really]

[It does sound like extra trouble to Shiro, but he doesn't want to spend much time in the labs from now on. So after considering his options... mmh.]

Maybe I can come to your seating area later, work there, if that's fine with you.

[He gives a single nod]

All right, that'd work perfectly. Thank you.

[And still with a smile]

You should go get some rest now. I'll bring you out some cookies and juice soon.

[He shakes his head.] No, thank you for understanding. Save those for the donors, I'm fine.

[And by fine he means, his head is dizzy and he's not sure eating anything right now would be a good idea. Aka, he's not fine. But boy is he gonna act like it.]

Let's go, Keith.

[Keith gave Allen a small smile.]

Thanks.

[He nodded to Shiro and stayed with him.]

[Yeah no you're getting cookies, DEAL WITH IT.

But he'll just give a smile and wave, before he turns his attention back to the clinic]

It's no trouble.

Feel better!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject