[Everything I do—Why? Is this what you meant to happen?!]
[There was a lot Fang didn't pretend to understand about Kaede. A snarl and brandished claws, however, was universal language.]
[Guess I deserve it, after what I did!]
[And for one horrible, slow-motion instant, Fang considered allowing it. That lead weight in her gut and the cold in her limbs that had nothing to do with the weather urged her not to defend herself. She made a choice, after all. Like when her family had turned to Cie'th.]
[Don't... if you take another step, you'll fall off the edge into something you can't walk back from...]
[Fang suddenly steps in, her hand leaving her face to catch Kaede's swinging forearm on her own in a terrible impact of bone-on-bone. It's just a spark in spite of the rain, her anger acting as desperate kindling, something that still might not catch—but for now, the embers will do. Fang made a choice, but she also made a promise.]
I'll give you that first one free, [she said lowly, more clearly than her previous muttering. Even with here eye closed—miraculously unharmed by Kaede's claws—it still stung with blood, and the rain relentlessly stung the bloody furrows on her face. She itched to swing back. Itched to scream, to roar, to follow the moons' advice and return what was inflicted on her.] But any more you're gonna have to bloody earn.
[Earn was punctuated with a hard shove against Kaede's sternum—and even then, Fang could feel her wrist threatening to buckle. Whatever. She didn't need her hands to fight. Not this kind of fight, anyway.]
no subject
[There was a lot Fang didn't pretend to understand about Kaede. A snarl and brandished claws, however, was universal language.]
[Guess I deserve it, after what I did!]
[And for one horrible, slow-motion instant, Fang considered allowing it. That lead weight in her gut and the cold in her limbs that had nothing to do with the weather urged her not to defend herself. She made a choice, after all. Like when her family had turned to Cie'th.]
[Don't... if you take another step, you'll fall off the edge into something you can't walk back from...]
[Fang suddenly steps in, her hand leaving her face to catch Kaede's swinging forearm on her own in a terrible impact of bone-on-bone. It's just a spark in spite of the rain, her anger acting as desperate kindling, something that still might not catch—but for now, the embers will do. Fang made a choice, but she also made a promise.]
I'll give you that first one free, [she said lowly, more clearly than her previous muttering. Even with here eye closed—miraculously unharmed by Kaede's claws—it still stung with blood, and the rain relentlessly stung the bloody furrows on her face. She itched to swing back. Itched to scream, to roar, to follow the moons' advice and return what was inflicted on her.] But any more you're gonna have to bloody earn.
[Earn was punctuated with a hard shove against Kaede's sternum—and even then, Fang could feel her wrist threatening to buckle. Whatever. She didn't need her hands to fight. Not this kind of fight, anyway.]