Shiro awoke in the middle of the night. He immediately recognised that tight feeling in his chest, and he tried to force air into his lungs, however couldn't.

He wanted to shout for Kassy, but realised quickly she wasn't there. He wasn't there. He was on a Galra ship, strapped up once again, and had the soldiers around him, brandishing their massive syringes and scalpels.

They all kept intense eye contact, and he felt that pain all over again. His bones crushing; the muscle of his arm being sawed away; leaving the red, raw stump, then the horrific burning sensation he received after. They cauterised the wound, and he tried to scream - but no noise exited his body. Then, the rubbing of a metal arm being shoved to replace his old one.

Kassy glanced over at Shiro, who was fast asleep, whimpering softly, that tell-tale expression of excruciating pain on his face.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing to wake him. Slowly, he came to, and he looked up at her.

"It's okay, baby." she whispered. "You're safe. I've got you."

He started to cry, and she helped him sit up, bringing him into a safe, warm hug. Shiro sobbed softly into her chest as she rubbed his back gently, murmuring gently.

"I've got you. It's okay. They're in the past." she said. "And I love you so much."

She had seen Shiro in his bad states; of course he had seen her just as bad, so she knew what he wanted. She knew when it was just them, he didn't have to be leader of Voltron, Paladin of the Black Lion, he didn't even have to be Space Dad. He could just be Shiro: a lost, broken man who really just needed a kind word and someone to touch him kindly.

She kept one of her hands on his back, the other going to his white hair, running her fingers through it gently. He slowly calmed down, his breathing becoming more steady, and his sobbing subsiding.

"You feel better?" she murmured. He nodded, sitting upright slowly.

"Yeah. Thanks, Kassy. I don't know what I'd do without you, to be honest."

She cupped his face, gently wiping the tears away. "You don't need to worry about that."

He sniffled, running his hands over the bedsheets in a calming motion. "What did the Galra do to you?" he mumbled.

Kassy frowned. "I don't think that'll help you, honey."

"I want to know. I need to know that someone on this Earth understands."

She frowned. "Well, they cut my skin open all the time, but you knew about that. Injections, all the time. They did actually use a needle one time, and they took so much blood I was passed out a few days. Umm...  oh, yeah, they infected me a lot with diseases, I think? I overheard some of them talking about it, I thought the stress was making me sick, but turns out they injected me with something."

Shiro nodded. "Okay, I think you get it. Sorry, I had to know." he mumbled. She took his hand again.

"It's okay, sweetie. I'll always be here to wake you from the nightmares. And I love you."

He nodded. "I love you too."

She glanced down at him. "Look... everyone's been asking us. Everyone's making the assumption anyway. Would you maybe like to... make it official?"

Shiro looked up at her in surprise. "Really?"

She nodded. "Well, yeah."

"I promised I'd wait for you, Kassy. And I'd never break a promise to you. I'd love to."

She smiled, kissing his head. "Alright. Night, love. You can order your McDonalds, I'm getting some sleep, before she wakes up and starts kicking my ribs."

Shiro smiled, kissing her cheek. "Okay. Sleep well."

***

Matt found Kassy in her music room, guitar on her lap, halfway through a song, singing along.

"I don't know, don't know, so don't ask me why-
that's how we are, la Seine and I."

"That sounds good." Matt said. She screamed, and threw a cushion at her.

"You're not allowed in here! It's private!"

"But I like listening to you. Here, let me sing, you play."

"I'm not good at guitar!"

"But you are! Come on, Kassy, you have a talent. You can't just hide."

She frowned. "Fine."

She started to play.

"Yes! Wonderwall! My favourite!"

"I thought your favourite was the Pokemon theme song."

"No, it isn't Kassy. That would be embarrassing. Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you!"

Kassy sighed, playing the song as Matt sand. And he did have quite a nice voice, which paired well with the guitar.

"See, look at us! Dream team!" Matt went over, wrapping his arms around her neck. "So, uh, I love you."

"I got with Shiro last night." she mumbled.

"I respect that! Good for him!" he said, his voice going squeaky on the last word. "You're still my favourite girl after my mom and sisters, though."

She smiled, hugging him back. "I love you too, Matt. Thank you for making me smile."