heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another

KOA

"Nah, you woulda handled him." He tries to smile but it comes out like a grimace, levity dissolving into streaks of pain. "I wasn't gonna let anything happen to you," he adds more softly, with a conviction that is neither boastful nor unsteady. He may not be able to keep himself from hurting Flora, but damn if he's gonna let anyone else so much as try.

"Don't worry, I've had worse." This may or may not be true - to Koa's albiet hazy recollection, this is definitely Not Great. Still, he can feel his head already clearing, the roman candles of agony behind his eyes cooling into something more like sparklers.

With healing comes exhaustion, bone-weary emptiness as his tension slowly ebbs away. Without being fully aware of it the Dragoon leans into Flora, laying his bruised hand on the one that cups his bicep, his thumb running gently over knuckles less split and damaged than his. "You're good at that," Koa whispers, copper eyes fluttering shut as the water cascades into his wound. It mixes with dark blood, rivulets of pink gleaming on his neck, staining the collar of his pale blue sweater a dark and rusty red.

With each love I cut loose, I was never the same
Watching still living roots be consumed by the flame

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!