What bittersweetly afflicted part of their distasteful predicament does Tsubaki fail to comprehend with that utterly thick head still somewhat poised atop trembling shoulders? Please. Has his little, all too quick scuffle of death taught the oh so perfect Pegasus knight nothing- nothing in it’s wake? … even if the attack was draped over him like the finest silk; a silent invite birthing shadowed motives, ugh. Still. It was very much undeserved, although someone had it coming, didn’t they?
Boisterous claims and elegantly false pretenses will only get you so very far, trust a filthy nomad risen from the deepest, poorest depths to know. Even he had the chance to pretend once. … and he dared not take it. Every subtle movement keeps the only man in their cute tent still standing on absolute edge, tension sparking an ache in traumatized bones and teeth gritting in disgust at such a sight.
Why, why reach? For him of all people? Of all things he knows these hands of his are good for, capable of- saving a life is surely not one of them. Heh. Is it? Finally, shoulders find opportunity to slack between what delirious hammering of breaths suffocates the air around them followed by words ( a dying man’s plea ) and finally, movement is made. Albeit slowly, he eases down beside the bedridden perfectionist, uncertainty tugging at his usually callous features.
Oh, my. Is he going soft?
❛ — Fine. I’ll humor you. Only because I still need to get a better look… does it still hurt? Terribly, that is. Please do try not to get yourself impaled next time. hm? ❜
DID HE EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN HONEST ANSWER IN RESPONSE TO HIS QUESTION; some defeated testimonial stating that, yes, it did still hurt, and that he was exhausted in every possible manner? or did he expect to hear exactly what ended up leaving the pegasus knight’s lips ( upon them, a tight-lipped smile meant to reassure ) ------ “ i’m alright; the worst of it’s already passed. “ something dishonest, but by no means tinged with ill-intention. he should know better, he thinks, than to believe for even a second that he’ll get away with something like this; that he’ll somehow be able to pull the wool over zero’s eyes. they’ve danced to this same tune so many times in the past, and in the end, it was always, always the outlaw that emerged the supposed-victor. he didn’t need to hear the truth to know the way of things; tsubaki doesn’t know why he even attempts at it. it does bother him, after all ------ this dishonesty, that is, and all while he’s sitting so close, having allowed sentimentality to sway him. it does. but he quickly comes to find that this doesn’t bother him nearly as much as knowing the amount distress he’s thrust upon zero by ending up here: bedridden and tired and hindering, to boot.
if it meant he might keep it from getting any worse, then he’d continue to play the part.
“ because you might not be there to bail me out, right? i’ll keep it in mind. “ he chuckles, but it’s not so much humored as it is dry ( for what sort of being claiming to embody perfection would ever require a helping hand, a rescue from that which they claimed to own with grace and finesse? ). self-mocking, even. but now was hardly the time for such loathing sentiment ----- not now, with zero at his side, having relented, bent to the tired whim of a “dying” man. for a moment, the pegasus knight cannot help but to wonder if he’s being selfish, foolish; and, if he is, if zero resents him for that. in the midst of the field, their army’s camp a ways away from their current position, an attacker yet-lurking ----- and what he wants is not for his outlawed companion to seek out and destroy the aforementioned, but rather, to remain at his side. to be not a weapon ( the likes of which he likens himself to as it is ), but rather, a comfort.
his hand reaches out just one more time, taking one of the hands belonging to his company in his own ---------- fingers interwoven, grip firm but gentle. his gaze lingers there, upon them, for a long moment. it does not raise, even when his lips part to speak again.
“ ... zero ---------- thank you. “
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