He remembers big news press events before a big launch, but that was normal. And controlled. Sitting at a table in uniform with his crew as cameras flashed and normal questions like ‘is it true you needed your mother’s permission to fly this mission?’ were asked in level volumes. Shiro had been proud then of his work, chin high and eyes bright as he charmed every person in the room. Lance had had nothing on him. He’d soaked up the buzz and awe like dry desert.
This is so much worse. The lions can’t protect them from nosy assholes without stepping on them. Though the thought is tempting, these aren’t enemies. Despite his racing heart and cold sweat his life isn’t at risk. His reputation maybe, but that had been dragged through the mud before. Even though this is different and he has no idea why any of these people know even fragments of things he’d never so much as breathed to the team. Things he kept locked somewhere far far away under the weight of a lion.
At least he hadn’t bolted and left Hunk to fend for himself. There had been nowhere to go but back inside and the idea of being confined with a horde outside makes him feel worse. Shiro’s hands shake even in the safety of Yellow. He still isn’t entirely sure he isn’t about to throw up-which would do a terrible job of brushing off the ambush as nothing. It sticks to him like olkarion sap.
Did someone know? Had they said anything? Was it just conspiracy rumors or did they know something? He’d been so careful. Kept his neck covered on the off chance anyone could read galran. Kept a death grip on the lie about going missing in the void field with everyone else, scoffed at mentions of anything else. Told himself the bragging was only internal or someone would’ve known he was alive sooner. As twisted and fucked as the empire was, at least they hadn’t broadcast his return to the universe.
Black reminds him to breathe, so close she could risk scraping yellow metal. They should absolutely go somewhere else. Somewhere other people don’t exist and he can see the sky and move around and maybe hit something. “Yeah. Please.” Shiro isn’t sure he’s speaking English so he nods just in case. Black purrs some locations to all three of them.