KOA
There's a fresh tightness that twists in Koa's heart as Kai describes his life now, how he's slotted himself into a new family of soldiers, found his way up a new set of ranks. A complicated ambivalence pulses through him, communicated by a small half-smile, a series of sidelong glances toward the animated cousin at his side. There's a sense of loss for the life he'd grown up knowing, of envy for what the younger Kai has managed to build in a time when Koa is most rudderless and at sea.
But as Koa listens to his baby cousin, the thing he feels most is pride. Pride for the man the boy has grown into, a man full of heart and earnestness and purpose. A man who wears sincerity like a badge of honor, who Koa has never known to hold a malicious thought in his (admittedly mostly vibe-filled) head. And when Kai admits that the life he has is everything he wanted, Koa pauses a moment before responding with just as much quiet sincerity: "I'm happy for you, kiddo. Really. You've earned it all."
The road is dusty in the dry summer, and a low hum of voices and activity permeates the air as people mill and rush about, making their own preparations to start their new lives. Distracted momentarily as he watches a family pile into a cart, Koa misses the glance Kai throws him, though he catches the tentative question that follows. It's not the first time Kai's asked him to come to Torchline, not even the first time today, and this time Koa's not going to be a chickenshit. Turning to Kai fully, the Dragoon nods. "I will. Once Stormbreak is cleared out and everyone is safe- I'll visit. I promise."
Then because he is firmly allergic to serious moments, he elbows Kai with eyebrows raised and adds: "I mean, if nothing else I'll be there for the wedding. I am your best man, after all." It's something they promised each other years ago, sitting in their fort in the vines beneath the city, and for all that's happened between them and the changes they've gone through they'll always be those boys who grew up as brothers.
After all, Koa lost his mother. He almost lost his sister. He'll be damned if he's going to let himself lose any more kin.
But as Koa listens to his baby cousin, the thing he feels most is pride. Pride for the man the boy has grown into, a man full of heart and earnestness and purpose. A man who wears sincerity like a badge of honor, who Koa has never known to hold a malicious thought in his (admittedly mostly vibe-filled) head. And when Kai admits that the life he has is everything he wanted, Koa pauses a moment before responding with just as much quiet sincerity: "I'm happy for you, kiddo. Really. You've earned it all."
The road is dusty in the dry summer, and a low hum of voices and activity permeates the air as people mill and rush about, making their own preparations to start their new lives. Distracted momentarily as he watches a family pile into a cart, Koa misses the glance Kai throws him, though he catches the tentative question that follows. It's not the first time Kai's asked him to come to Torchline, not even the first time today, and this time Koa's not going to be a chickenshit. Turning to Kai fully, the Dragoon nods. "I will. Once Stormbreak is cleared out and everyone is safe- I'll visit. I promise."
Then because he is firmly allergic to serious moments, he elbows Kai with eyebrows raised and adds: "I mean, if nothing else I'll be there for the wedding. I am your best man, after all." It's something they promised each other years ago, sitting in their fort in the vines beneath the city, and for all that's happened between them and the changes they've gone through they'll always be those boys who grew up as brothers.
After all, Koa lost his mother. He almost lost his sister. He'll be damned if he's going to let himself lose any more kin.
Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
Code stolen from Queen Sky
