[ CLOSED ] hunting for love

[killuwatt]

Who: Killua Zoldyck and others
When: Septeril 27
Where: the nightmare city of Dream Aefenglom
What: fears and phantoms from the TDM
Warnings: blood, gore, physical and emotional abuse against a minor



Honestly, Killua doesn't really understand what's going on with the whole other city of Dorchacht. He wasn't around for any of it before, and though he's asked and learned what happened and why this is happening now, he's mostly stayed out of it. This isn't his fight. He has his Bonded to focus on, and he doesn't trust his magical abilities very much yet. It feels like an unnecessary risk, especially when it's been taken well in hand by other, more experienced people. He doesn't volunteer.

In the end, it doesn't matter. Maybe he's being punished for his selfish decision.

Comments

[gynvael]

His attention is briefly diverted by the flickering shadow. Unlike the moths, he's learned the hard way these visions are tangible. They've left their share of cuts and scrapes on him. But it takes no interest in him. Just Killua.

The moment Killua turns to the dark shape, Geralt moves. Drawing his sword is usually something he's avoids when he has no intention of following through a fight to the end -- but he only has a second to make his move and few options. So he does.

His fingers curl around the grip. It flips in his hand at the last moment, the blunt end of the pommel aimed at the boy's temple. Knock him out, or at least stun him. The former, ideally.

[killuwatt]

It's best that Geralt doesn't hold back too much. Killua's not nearly as fragile as one might assume given his petite stature; but by now, given the way he moves and fights, Geralt's surely gathered that.

If it weren't for the distraction taking up most of Killua's attention and distorting his reality so far that he doesn't even recognize Geralt, he probably could have dodged. He could have tried to block.

As it is, everything is happening in such a disjointed, nonsensical fashion, Killua doesn't even turn back to Geralt, all of his focus suddenly honed in on the shadow he's screaming at. It's lucky, in a way. It means Geralt is able to move in quickly and carry out his plan just as he'd hoped.

Killua reacts belatedly, hissing through his teeth and stumbling, badly stunned if not yet unconscious. He tries to drop to the ground, to roll away and make a run for it, staggering when his vision swims.

[gynvael]

That Killua's still conscious after a blow like that tells him everything he needs to know about what the boy can withstand. (A fucking lot, apparently.)

He takes the opening without hesitation. As soon as Killua tries to stumble away, Geralt darts to the left to try to intercept and tackle him to the ground. No way he's letting the kid run off while he's practically feral -- not just for his sake but in case he bumps into someone who can't fight him off.

He reaches for Killua at the same time, in an attempt to wrap his arm around his neck and choke him out. Maybe some time knocked out will snap him free of whatever's got its hold on him.

[killuwatt]

He can withstand a whole fucking lot. But this time, after the barrage from earlier, the blow to the head and now Geralt steadily cutting off his air, even Killua can't cling to consciousness without being able to breathe.

It takes a bit longer than it probably should have, by any normal estimate. He's been trained for this too; he can hold his breath longer than most people, even as he tries to fight back. In the end though, despite his stupid shounen protag strength training, he really is only human.

He goes limp under Geralt's grip.

Since this is a dream, though, the consequence of him no longer being aware in it has his body suddenly starting to just sort of... fizzle out in Geralt's arm, slowly losing consistency.