[ he'd pushed her out of the firelight's safety, for all intents and purposes damning her to a painful death. and yet when she looks at him with frightened eyes, there's something else he doesn't expect to see there — compassion, of a sort. concern. his men care for his safety because they are his guards and it is their duty to die for him if they must. but she has no such obligation, and she stays all the same. the brush of her fingers at his arm feels like a lightning strike.
but she knows. his blood hasn't faded, and neither has hers. it's pity. his stomach turns, his knuckles white where he grips his sword. he can almost feel the heavy, phantom hand of his uncle trying to push him to his knees. ]
Together. [ he has to fight to get the word out, to wrangle his panic under some semblance of control once more. taking her arm, he pulls her close to him, feeling the rapid pace of her heart. ] Stay close to me. We'll run.
[ with the dogs snapping and snarling, their growls filling the air, he plunges into the fray with her, his sword slick with blood when they finally break through into the firelight. here, there are others, all with their own secrets, but laurent doesn't read any of them. he can't. he's too filled with shame about his own on display again, and he turns away from the girl, wiping his sleeve over his eyes. better get away from her before his anger takes hold again. ]
no subject
but she knows. his blood hasn't faded, and neither has hers. it's pity. his stomach turns, his knuckles white where he grips his sword. he can almost feel the heavy, phantom hand of his uncle trying to push him to his knees. ]
Together. [ he has to fight to get the word out, to wrangle his panic under some semblance of control once more. taking her arm, he pulls her close to him, feeling the rapid pace of her heart. ] Stay close to me. We'll run.
[ with the dogs snapping and snarling, their growls filling the air, he plunges into the fray with her, his sword slick with blood when they finally break through into the firelight. here, there are others, all with their own secrets, but laurent doesn't read any of them. he can't. he's too filled with shame about his own on display again, and he turns away from the girl, wiping his sleeve over his eyes. better get away from her before his anger takes hold again. ]
Leave me.