DEIMOS
the fire can't touch me
for I have burned too many times
for I have burned too many times
Once, he’d been the same – molded to maul, to conquer, to ensure enemies were no longer in existence. Except even then those notions had some failure slashing into their ramparts, and they’d lost kingdoms, friends, allies, brethren, for the sake of so many other insignificant things. That was why he’d teach them to endure, to fortify, to defend, and if the time came for it, destroy. But they weren’t in the latter regions yet, they weren’t here to paint one another in crimson, to strip life away from bone, flesh, and marrow. Protect. Shield. All the other nuances could wait.
Despite the aches, pains, and bruises, the open lacerations still bleeding, they didn’t relinquish. They didn’t cease. Until something gave way, and he hadn’t expected it to be Aisha. He wouldn’t have thought it to be him either, if they were being brutally honest – so eventually something had to fizzle and seethe, breathe and brim over for another day. And even in her growls, in her warm gazes, in the sheathing of blades and hurt limbs, the semblance of a day well spent, of an hour’s time well labored, coiled within his smile. “You should be proud.” Of what, he wouldn’t say – she could pick and choose, arching his brow, making way for Zuriel as she snorted, very loudly, as her horn dipped and began to heal what had been slashed and torn.
And when she finished with both of them, his hand went to pat her neck, and then swung outwards, to catch Aisha on the shoulder. “Come. I can share the stories of my losses too.” Because that was how they became better, even in the bitterness, learning to walk away from battles forged, from lines drawn.
{FIN}
Despite the aches, pains, and bruises, the open lacerations still bleeding, they didn’t relinquish. They didn’t cease. Until something gave way, and he hadn’t expected it to be Aisha. He wouldn’t have thought it to be him either, if they were being brutally honest – so eventually something had to fizzle and seethe, breathe and brim over for another day. And even in her growls, in her warm gazes, in the sheathing of blades and hurt limbs, the semblance of a day well spent, of an hour’s time well labored, coiled within his smile. “You should be proud.” Of what, he wouldn’t say – she could pick and choose, arching his brow, making way for Zuriel as she snorted, very loudly, as her horn dipped and began to heal what had been slashed and torn.
And when she finished with both of them, his hand went to pat her neck, and then swung outwards, to catch Aisha on the shoulder. “Come. I can share the stories of my losses too.” Because that was how they became better, even in the bitterness, learning to walk away from battles forged, from lines drawn.
{FIN}
the sea can't harm me
for I have been drowning all my life
for I have been drowning all my life
