with each love i cut loose i was never the same
Flora doesn’t interrupt, but she doesn’t soften either.
The word infected still lingers between them like smoke, curling sharp in the quiet, and despite Liam’s insistence—despite the scowl and the earnest tone—her posture doesn’t shift an inch. Her fingers remain close to her belt, and her eyes never stray from his, unreadable but watchful in that way predators are when they're not sure if they’re done hunting yet.
She hears the words. The Family never asked anything of me. You’re in no danger. I couldn’t best you. Only one of those, she believes.
So when Liam straightens and makes to leave, Flora merely nods once, her voice smooth and light in contrast to the tension still humming beneath her skin. "Yep, you too."
She doesn’t watch him go. Not past the first few steps, anyway. Her attention returns to her daggers, to the next target tree. A flick of her wrist sends steel whistling back through the clearing.
~FIN
The word infected still lingers between them like smoke, curling sharp in the quiet, and despite Liam’s insistence—despite the scowl and the earnest tone—her posture doesn’t shift an inch. Her fingers remain close to her belt, and her eyes never stray from his, unreadable but watchful in that way predators are when they're not sure if they’re done hunting yet.
She hears the words. The Family never asked anything of me. You’re in no danger. I couldn’t best you. Only one of those, she believes.
So when Liam straightens and makes to leave, Flora merely nods once, her voice smooth and light in contrast to the tension still humming beneath her skin. "Yep, you too."
She doesn’t watch him go. Not past the first few steps, anyway. Her attention returns to her daggers, to the next target tree. A flick of her wrist sends steel whistling back through the clearing.
~FIN
