Stop the world

Koa

Don't you just wanna wake up dark as a lake
Smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze?

Thing is, Koa's not a great liar. Or rather, he is when he wants to be - it's just that he often doesn't. Instead he jokes and makes light and tells half-truths, which is what he's doing now, which certainly can lead to some great misunderstandings, as is happening now.

But still. Not technically a lie.

Gods know what he might have done, had he been able to read Flora's thoughts. Died from mortification on the spot? Ran back into the Wilds, never to be seen again? Luckily then that he can't read minds; that Flora responds to his embrace with just as much tight desperation, instead of the slap across the face the Dragoon doubtless deserves. Knots untie inside his shoulders as the Doubletake fits against his chest, a quiet, joyful laugh huffed out at the familiarity of her whispered wrath.

"I know," Koa agrees into her hair, letting his fingers tangle gently in locks of gold. Part of him is aware that this won't last forever, that soon he'll have to tell her the whole story and face her judgment at his failure, his fear. But for right now? He turns his face toward her, nose brushing just above her ear. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you. I scared they got you, too."

If you're drunk on life, babe, I think it's great
But while in this world I think I'll take my whiskey neat