No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
"I have certainly been better," Koa admits as he comes to a stop, his smile growing crooked and strained. "Anju and the rest of leadership have been... generous with long-term assignments for the past couple seasons. A more paranoid person might even think they were intentionally keeping me out of Stormbreak." He rolls his shoulders in a shrug as though to say but certainly not me, I don't think that - then winces as the movement pulls his still recovering rotator cuff.
He follows her lead toward the bench; he'll make no complaint about getting off his feet. "How have you been, Lena?" Koa asks as they settle, peering searchingly into Lena's face. "I talked to Zavien... I can't even begin to imagine what that was like for you. I'm so sorry I wasn't here." Koa reaches for her hand, if she lets him, guilt pinching his voice and face.
He follows her lead toward the bench; he'll make no complaint about getting off his feet. "How have you been, Lena?" Koa asks as they settle, peering searchingly into Lena's face. "I talked to Zavien... I can't even begin to imagine what that was like for you. I'm so sorry I wasn't here." Koa reaches for her hand, if she lets him, guilt pinching his voice and face.
Koa
