Inigo was a man of fancy—a lover of court and elegance and socialization. He was ill-fitted for the battlefield from day one, but even though he’d taken plenty of shortcuts here and there, he’d never backed down entirely. Even when it got tough and he thought he couldn’t stand the screaming of a man beneath his blade for one more day, he kept fighting. Now, with sword in hand and blood on his finery, Inigo wasn’t smiling. Brows furrowed as he peered out from behind the wall. The ruined structure would offer cover, but not for long, and Inigo knew it as he watched the enemy approach.
”They have horses,” he murmured so that only she could hear. “They’ll run us down before we can get to safety.” Brown eyes reel as his chest heaves from exertion, searching for Lucina’s gaze like that would give him comfort. “Someone needs to warn the others. Lucina…”
”One of us has to die for this to work. They’ll catch up to both of us on foot.”
At the corner of his mouth is the tiniest glimpse of a smile that grows and grows like a flower, even against adversity. “You go on ahead—use the walls for cover. If they’re focused on me they won’t search for you. You can save the others.”
Ah, how he would love to see the end of the war—return to a world where he might philander and relax as much as he wished to, but… “You’re more important in this than I am. You’re the one we all look up to—the one we’re all rooting for. I can’t lead like you can.” He’s smiling now, completely, even as tears begin to roll down his cheeks. “Be strong, Lucina. I know you can win this war, even without a philanderer at your side.”
A pause, where he seems lost for words for just a moment, like they’d caught in his throat on the way to his lips. Then, with only the faintest tremble in his voice: “Promise you’ll keep smiling? Even when it gets hard. I’m sure it’ll inspire everyone just as it would inspire me.”
The moment he begins to speak she knows what his intentions are. This isn't the first time he thought to sacrifice himself, back in their ruined future he and her cousin took it upon themselves to do the unthinkable. It was only through her intervention that their lives weren't needlessly thrown away. And while their circumstances were different this time she refused to accept it. "How can you ask that of me?" Clearly distraught as her knuckles become white from clenching her sword so tightly. "Am I destined to live on while everyone around me dies? I wont allow it," a small crack in her strong tone.
Back when her parents died she'd been completely powerless, and although she'd attained power that feeling resurfaced time and time again. She was made to merely remain because of her status while those around her risked their lives. All because of the blood in her veins, and eventually she fears that's all she'll have left in the end. She can barely bring herself to look at him, that foolish smile present even now, was that all he intended to leave behind? For that smile to simply fade into memory. She fiercely shakes her head, "Don't weigh my life against your own, and while I still have my life I intend to keep yours safe," she would keep them all safe. She promised her deceased father she would change the world, vowed before his throne that she would protect Ylisse. Yet what use was it when those she cared about wouldn't be there to see it? When those that should be there weren't?
"I shan't, live so you can see it for yourself…please," a plea for him to not do anything reckless, yet reckless was all they had. Peeking over the wall, she knows their options are limited, yet not so limited that one of them must die. A deep intake of breath follows as she contemplates her next move, one she hopes will prevent further deaths. "I'm faster than you, my chances of leading them away and surviving are much higher than yours," a stern glance thrown his way. If it came down to it she would order him to leave while she remained as a distraction.
pixelskylines
titsay
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
izzy806
gamechangershow
