He wasn’t quite himself.
Or perhaps he was, but there were too many words at current to swallow. Too many things he could and couldn’t say, and the thumb tucked into his fist threatened to pierce the flesh of his palm with how hard he tried to sate those feelings of fear and disgust. There was no way he could face Karna so soon -- not now, not several feet apart or even if they'd been standing right in front of each other with hands tightening strictly around each other’s throats, but he knew he must, and so the bitterness of his defeat and existence bubbled quietly beneath the surface.
He paused in a stand-still with his own thoughts, hovering just outside the kitchen with clenched fists like a child who was too afraid to ask for a favor. The awkward silence that spread between them was so obstinately crushing, and yet Arjuna wasn’t sure where to even begin. Or even if he wanted to...
-- but the moon must eventually part the clouds to shine once more. That alone was true. All he need do is surrender his pride...
@vaikartana
