you can turn off the sun, but I'm still gonna shine
Maybe it's Deimos being fast, maybe it's the literal wall of fire blurring his vision - no matter the reason Koa settles on later, the important thing is he doesn't hit. The blow goes wide, leaving Koa to stagger singed through smoky air, gulping in breaths as he swivels around to face Deimos once more.
Deimos, who now stands shielded by a blaze hot enough to make the Dragoon's skin crawl. Cringing away from the blasted inferno, Koa raises up his wrapped hands in defeat. "That was amazing," the boy declares. "You really are incredible, sir." but there's something new lurking under the curve of his smile, lending a quivering sharpness to his voice. Beyond pain (and fuck is he in pain), beyond awe, fear stains the soldier's thoughts - fear of this General and his prowess, of the fire and ice he wields without thinking.
Fear that next time he faces such an opponent, he won't be able to walk away.
Later he'll process this fear (or not), as well as the revelation about the chakram. For now Koa is content to take the offered respite, trying to maintain an air of bravado as the crowds begin to fade. With another thank you to Deimos the young man excuses himself, claiming he has work to do but actually waiting for an opportunity to slink off to his office and hide away, licking his wounds and trying to come to terms with just how small and weak he really is.
{fin}
Deimos, who now stands shielded by a blaze hot enough to make the Dragoon's skin crawl. Cringing away from the blasted inferno, Koa raises up his wrapped hands in defeat. "That was amazing," the boy declares. "You really are incredible, sir." but there's something new lurking under the curve of his smile, lending a quivering sharpness to his voice. Beyond pain (and fuck is he in pain), beyond awe, fear stains the soldier's thoughts - fear of this General and his prowess, of the fire and ice he wields without thinking.
Fear that next time he faces such an opponent, he won't be able to walk away.
Later he'll process this fear (
{fin}
Koa
