[She figures, at first, that her words have not gotten through to him. Nothing she screams and shouts at him during these moments do. He mocks and is mean in a way that makes her hesitate. And sometimes, now and then, in her darkest moments she wonders if it's really him. The pain he inflicts is agonizing. Had you told her at the beginning of all this that they'd be fighting each other to the end over and over again she'd have said that was stupid. And impossible.
Rakan would never hurt her.
And yet... Time and time they have gone against each other. Clawing and fighting and wounding each other in ways that go beyond the physical. Not to sound petulant but it's really unfair that it has all turned out this way. That she's looking at him now, barely able to take a breath, cause he's threatening to crush her windpipe. That he could, in one flex of his hand, end her life.
She's always surprised that she has any tears left through this ordeal. And through this exhaustion they're finding their way again. His expression... tormented, conflicted... uncertain. Those aren't expressions he'd ever have made. Following her confidently wherever she led. Protecting her endlessly through all her choices both smart and much less so...
She grits her teeth and blinks back any tears. Not here. Not in front of him. He'll make fun of her. Mock her. Which her Rakan would never have done.
And yet, for just a moment, their world seems to stall and time stops. Her fingers on his cheek and the way that he looks at her. Did she do it? Did she reach him? Her heart doesn't dare hope but everything that is happening in front of her eyes is a good sign. His quills drop and she cups his cheek firmer, her eyes widening as well. More so when he suddenly puts her down. Her hand has to remove itself from him as she's unsteady on her feet and her lungs are gratefully taking in air. But she's not going to leave him without her touch for too long. Or that was her intention anyway.
It doesn't feel like she took too much time. Putting a hand to her throat and gasping. Wobbly knees nearly collapsing under her but she remains standing. Her gaze dropped for only a moment. Less than that.
And when their eyes do meet again... He's falling.
Physically falling.]
Rakan!
[She promised. She promised she'd catch him. She darts towards the edge eyes darting and wide. Panic filling every fiber of her being. But her senses remain rational enough to do the right thing. He's holding on and at once she's grabbing his wrist, eyes squeezing shut as she uses all her remaining strength to pull him up.]
Don't be some sap and try and make me let go of you. [The words come out almost like a snarl, the excursion of trying to pull his entire weight up this crumbling formation is a lot.] I am not letting you go. No matter what you do. Or say. I'll jump in after your idiot self if I have to.
[Her talons dig into the ground, the very surface cracking beneath her own feet.]
If you fall... I fall. [Just like how this mess began. How it should have stayed. One should not have gone without the other. And she'll never forgive herself for how long this has taken.] Wherever you go... I'm following. You got it?
[She pulls as hard as she can gasping when she can feel the slightest bit of progress. So she heaves again, talons scrambling and then finding purchase in the ground again. She can hear the others calling their names. Trying to get over to them but the ground is so unsteady and unstable.
She doesn't need them though. She's going to save him. Just like she's been promising!
Another heave and her feathers are flapping as if she can add to her backwards momentum. Anything to give herself the slightest edge. It's getting easier? Or maybe she's deluding herself. Either way, she's certain she's making progress on the crumbling edge. Another tug, her eyes snapping open as this one does actually feel much easier.]
Do you want my SG Rakan icons? :O
Rakan would never hurt her.
And yet... Time and time they have gone against each other. Clawing and fighting and wounding each other in ways that go beyond the physical. Not to sound petulant but it's really unfair that it has all turned out this way. That she's looking at him now, barely able to take a breath, cause he's threatening to crush her windpipe. That he could, in one flex of his hand, end her life.
She's always surprised that she has any tears left through this ordeal. And through this exhaustion they're finding their way again. His expression... tormented, conflicted... uncertain. Those aren't expressions he'd ever have made. Following her confidently wherever she led. Protecting her endlessly through all her choices both smart and much less so...
She grits her teeth and blinks back any tears. Not here. Not in front of him. He'll make fun of her. Mock her. Which her Rakan would never have done.
And yet, for just a moment, their world seems to stall and time stops. Her fingers on his cheek and the way that he looks at her. Did she do it? Did she reach him? Her heart doesn't dare hope but everything that is happening in front of her eyes is a good sign. His quills drop and she cups his cheek firmer, her eyes widening as well. More so when he suddenly puts her down. Her hand has to remove itself from him as she's unsteady on her feet and her lungs are gratefully taking in air. But she's not going to leave him without her touch for too long. Or that was her intention anyway.
It doesn't feel like she took too much time. Putting a hand to her throat and gasping. Wobbly knees nearly collapsing under her but she remains standing. Her gaze dropped for only a moment. Less than that.
And when their eyes do meet again... He's falling.
Physically falling.]
Rakan!
[She promised. She promised she'd catch him. She darts towards the edge eyes darting and wide. Panic filling every fiber of her being. But her senses remain rational enough to do the right thing. He's holding on and at once she's grabbing his wrist, eyes squeezing shut as she uses all her remaining strength to pull him up.]
Don't be some sap and try and make me let go of you. [The words come out almost like a snarl, the excursion of trying to pull his entire weight up this crumbling formation is a lot.] I am not letting you go. No matter what you do. Or say. I'll jump in after your idiot self if I have to.
[Her talons dig into the ground, the very surface cracking beneath her own feet.]
If you fall... I fall. [Just like how this mess began. How it should have stayed. One should not have gone without the other. And she'll never forgive herself for how long this has taken.] Wherever you go... I'm following. You got it?
[She pulls as hard as she can gasping when she can feel the slightest bit of progress. So she heaves again, talons scrambling and then finding purchase in the ground again. She can hear the others calling their names. Trying to get over to them but the ground is so unsteady and unstable.
She doesn't need them though. She's going to save him. Just like she's been promising!
Another heave and her feathers are flapping as if she can add to her backwards momentum. Anything to give herself the slightest edge. It's getting easier? Or maybe she's deluding herself. Either way, she's certain she's making progress on the crumbling edge. Another tug, her eyes snapping open as this one does actually feel much easier.]
Rakan!