I clutched my life and wished it kept
Marcus hadn’t expected to hear his name, so when he turned, the sight of Theea tugged a genuine smile from him before he could think to hide it. Relief warmed his chest, dissolving the nerves that had coiled there since he stepped through the barracks doors.
"Yeah,” Marcus said almost dumbly, shifting some on his heels. "Looking to get some experience under my belt." His cerulean gaze caught on the way she patted her shortsword. It made his lips twitch into a grin of his own. “Looks good on you. The sword, I mean.” He suddenly busied himself adjusting this scarf, pretending not to notice the warmth creeping across his ears. He cleared his throat. “If you want to try it out, I’d be glad to spar with you.”
He gave a small, almost boyish shrug, the corner of his mouth lifting. “We could keep it simple. First clean strike wins?” His eyes lingered on her a moment too long before he forced himself to glance back toward the sparring ring, where steel still clanged against steel.
My dearest love, I'm not done yet
infinite inspiration and endless thanks to odd and sky
