heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another

KOA

He'd like to sweep her off her feet and onto the couch for appropriate youthful ravishment. Problem is, he's still feeling decidedly unsteady, and the couch bears splatters of his blood. Not a particularly romantic combo, but hey. They're making do.

Koa lands a final kiss before letting her pull away, breathless and beaming and feeling the thrumming of his heart in his chest like a wildfire. She tucks against him and he holds her there, raising his arms to wrap around her shoulders, fingers caressing loose coils of hair. Even now he can't get enough of her, continuing to rain thoughtless kisses upon that golden crown. He'll hold Flora there for as long as she lets him, shielded against the Real World by a bubble of giddy, giggling ardor.

Again he presses his lips to her temple. "I should have done this five years ago," the young Dragoon laughs, wistful and wondering at the past they could have had. If only he'd known what she was thinking sooner, how closely their desires truly aligned.

And if only he could foresee the fragility of this moment, a soap bubble surrounded by gleaming thorns. Jack, and Sohalia, and Dahlia, and the Family---

For now, Koa's happy to remain blissfully ignorant. But that can't last for long.

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!