we shall heal our wounds, collect our dead
"Mm, so do I," Ronin admits in a soft voice, before he shakes off the old nostalgia and focuses instead on the here and now. Theea takes his pointers with the casual grace of someone who had already known what he was going to say, and that doesn't surprise him either, a smile kicking up the corner of his mouth. "I'm starting to think that you may have punched your roommate for good reason rather than by accident," he admits with a chuckle. "You spar well."
And it's precisely because of that compliment that Ronin already braces himself for the blow he can feel coming. He forces his body to remain still when Theea moves, despite instinct and muscle memory wanting to pivot and twist and dodge out of the way, and a soft huff of breath hitches in his lungs when she connects. Coughing out a laugh and inclining his head in approval, he takes a step back and gestures for her to go again.
"That's good. Now let's see what you've really got," he invites. "This time, though, I hope you won't mind if I respond."
And it's precisely because of that compliment that Ronin already braces himself for the blow he can feel coming. He forces his body to remain still when Theea moves, despite instinct and muscle memory wanting to pivot and twist and dodge out of the way, and a soft huff of breath hitches in his lungs when she connects. Coughing out a laugh and inclining his head in approval, he takes a step back and gestures for her to go again.
"That's good. Now let's see what you've really got," he invites. "This time, though, I hope you won't mind if I respond."
THE WHITE KNIGHT
and continue fighting
