Theea
resilient little thing, just like mama raised you
I breathe out a laugh, breathless but grinning, my heart still thudding from the exchange. I can’t help the swell of pride in my chest—I landed it. Even if he let me. Even if I know, deep down, he could’ve stopped me cold at any moment. Still. It counts.
“Right now?” I say, stepping back and rolling out my shoulder. “Torchline feels like where I’m supposed to be.” I glance toward the ruined archway, sunlight cutting through the dust and open beams. “I don’t know if that’ll stay true forever, but right now, I feel like I’m finally figuring something out.” Then I shrug. ”Dunno what yet, but it’s something.”
I glance back at him with a smirk that’s only half-playful at the comment on her skill. “I’ve been training nearly every day since I was five,” I admit. “Mom wouldn’t allow anything less. Neither would Dad.” My voice softens a little. “It was never as harsh as what she went through, not even close. But I always knew the bar she set. And I’ve got enough fight in me to try and reach it.”
Then he asks about helping around here, and I blink—caught completely off guard. “Really?” I ask, brows rising in surprise. “Seriously?” His offer settles in, and something warm blooms behind my ribs. “I mean—yeah. Yeah, I could help. Beginners, at least.” My grin returns, crooked and real. Then, quieter, a little sheepish: “But only if I can keep learning from you too.”
“Right now?” I say, stepping back and rolling out my shoulder. “Torchline feels like where I’m supposed to be.” I glance toward the ruined archway, sunlight cutting through the dust and open beams. “I don’t know if that’ll stay true forever, but right now, I feel like I’m finally figuring something out.” Then I shrug. ”Dunno what yet, but it’s something.”
I glance back at him with a smirk that’s only half-playful at the comment on her skill. “I’ve been training nearly every day since I was five,” I admit. “Mom wouldn’t allow anything less. Neither would Dad.” My voice softens a little. “It was never as harsh as what she went through, not even close. But I always knew the bar she set. And I’ve got enough fight in me to try and reach it.”
Then he asks about helping around here, and I blink—caught completely off guard. “Really?” I ask, brows rising in surprise. “Seriously?” His offer settles in, and something warm blooms behind my ribs. “I mean—yeah. Yeah, I could help. Beginners, at least.” My grin returns, crooked and real. Then, quieter, a little sheepish: “But only if I can keep learning from you too.”
so you got that wildfire in your soul
don't you ever let it go
make it burn so bright that they all know
don't you ever let it go
make it burn so bright that they all know
