Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn

Koa

Don't you just wanna wake up dark as a lake
Smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze?

He can see the moment Zavien turns to him, shoulders tense and back drawn straight as though bracing to take a blow. It makes Koa's breath catch to see his friend so entrenched in armor, and for a second he's worried that it's him Zav's steeling against, that his absence has been so unforgivable as to make the Commander bristle at the sight of him.

But then the moment passes as their eyes meet and Zavien crumples, and Koa feels stupid for his fears. In a few quick strides the men are together, Zavien clinging to Koa like he's a lifeboat, Koa holding his friend afloat with all the strength he has to give. "Zav."

Then there's a brief silence as Koa breathes deeply, mouth suddenly dry, words abruptly failing, because what is he supposed to say? "Great speech, Commander," he settles for finally, drawing back far enough to offer his friend a weary smile. "Have you eaten anything today? I'm guessing no." Because if he were in Zavien's shoes he knows that self-care would have been the first thing to go by the wayside, that he'd be putting the needs of his people far above his own. And that Zavien would be the one forcing him to stop and eat a proper meal and take a shower and feel his feelings, so it's truly the least that Koa can do, providing a shoulder for his friend.

If you're drunk on life, babe, I think it's great
But while in this world I think I'll take my whiskey neat