KOA
Pip is the first one to see the blonde approaching, launching off her bonded's shoulders and trilling a greeting note. A beat later Koa's attention follows, his dull eyes widening in surprise as he recognizes the face. All at once he's terribly aware of just what a wreck he must look like: hair disheveled, a bruise on his temple, three days of stubble patchworked on his chin. His shirt is torn across a bicep, evidence of a not-unremarkable journey through the forest. It isn't the way he would have wanted to present himself to her, and he can feel a flush of heat creep unbidden up the back of his neck.
Of course he'd expected to run into Sohalia eventually- hell, it was a significant factor in why he wound up here. But planning something and having it happen are entirely different things, especially as he'd anticipate having at least a day to languish in the pit of his despair. Koa wishes it had been Zav who found him; at least then he wouldn't be so embarrassed, wouldn't have to pretend to be okay.
"Hey, Soh," he answers her greeting lamely, affecting a half smile and not quite meeting her silver gaze. He's already opened his mouth to open the second question when the third one hits him like a ton of bricks; he inhales sharply, teeth clacking shut as he turns his face away from her, as though he might be able to hide the flickering anguish and and guilt.
"I guess you heard, then," he murmurs softly, his knuckles white as he grips the rail. Shaking his head, Koa lets out a low, mirthless chuckle, his copper eyes squeezing shut as guilt roils in his gut. "Seems like I really was the last to find out. Some brother I am, huh?" It's another in a long list of people he hadn't been able to protect, relationships fractured by his own ineptitude.
A list which, when you think about it, Soh's been in at least twice.
Dropping his head into his hands, Koa mutters something (fortunately) inaudible. Fortunate, because nothing he has to say in this moment would count as a positive contribution to the world.
Of course he'd expected to run into Sohalia eventually- hell, it was a significant factor in why he wound up here. But planning something and having it happen are entirely different things, especially as he'd anticipate having at least a day to languish in the pit of his despair. Koa wishes it had been Zav who found him; at least then he wouldn't be so embarrassed, wouldn't have to pretend to be okay.
"Hey, Soh," he answers her greeting lamely, affecting a half smile and not quite meeting her silver gaze. He's already opened his mouth to open the second question when the third one hits him like a ton of bricks; he inhales sharply, teeth clacking shut as he turns his face away from her, as though he might be able to hide the flickering anguish and and guilt.
"I guess you heard, then," he murmurs softly, his knuckles white as he grips the rail. Shaking his head, Koa lets out a low, mirthless chuckle, his copper eyes squeezing shut as guilt roils in his gut. "Seems like I really was the last to find out. Some brother I am, huh?" It's another in a long list of people he hadn't been able to protect, relationships fractured by his own ineptitude.
A list which, when you think about it, Soh's been in at least twice.
Dropping his head into his hands, Koa mutters something (fortunately) inaudible. Fortunate, because nothing he has to say in this moment would count as a positive contribution to the world.
Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
Code stolen from Queen Sky
