[He can feel it breathing down his neck. Akechi's killing intent.
Before, he did this, too. Going in to crush when defenses were low, when guards weren't up. Akira recognizes it. He knows he has to dodge correctly, or his life will be forfeit.
His heart beats against his chest, at his pulse points, where he holds his own blood back from flowing. His breath is both quiet and loud, distracting and centering. Focus. Focus.
There is nothing else he needs to think about but Akechi Goro and Loki.
He waits, waits, waits. Waits right up until the moment the blows will be struck. The blades come down, Laevateinn tears at the earth, and Akira is
already up in the air, backflipping to MISS the attack that's coming.
Christ, it's so much harder to jump like this with the normal rules of gravity. He can feel the pull, the strain, the ache where he's injured and even where he is not.
Akira lands, eyeballing the shattered earth that now lies between them.
He makes two decisions in rapid succession. The first - he must bind the wound on his shoulder. He can't fight at full capacity if he holds it down the entire time. He tears part of his sleeve apart, starts talking to occupy Akechi while he tries to make quick work of it all.]
Looks like you missed a little bit. [His tone could almost be bored, if it weren't for the clear hunger and excitement hanging beneath it all.] But that's alright. I'll give you another shot soon.
[Goading, because he has to, because Akechi won't be stalled by idle small talk - and because he wants to. He loves talking to Akechi like this. He loves seeing Akechi like this. He loves being this way, both of them, completely unrestrained.
Unrestrained, so he lets it slip out, too.]
I like seeing you this way. Wild and free. Nothing holding you back, the way it should be. [A firm tie.] This is the way you're meant to be when you're across from me like this. [A secure knot.] So don't leave me disappointed!
[His body goes low to the ground, dagger flashing behind his back. Ready to kick off, as Arséne winds up.
His second decision.
He's already hurt, clock already ticking - so hurting himself more is a worthy trade. A One-shot Kill will even the playing field, unless Akechi is quick enough to dodge it.]
these are gonna help Future Yama when she has to bank a single proof for three lines of cws (d19 <3)
Before, he did this, too. Going in to crush when defenses were low, when guards weren't up. Akira recognizes it. He knows he has to dodge correctly, or his life will be forfeit.
His heart beats against his chest, at his pulse points, where he holds his own blood back from flowing. His breath is both quiet and loud, distracting and centering. Focus. Focus.
He waits, waits, waits. Waits right up until the moment the blows will be struck. The blades come down, Laevateinn tears at the earth, and Akira is
Christ, it's so much harder to jump like this with the normal rules of gravity. He can feel the pull, the strain, the ache where he's injured and even where he is not.
Akira lands, eyeballing the shattered earth that now lies between them.
He makes two decisions in rapid succession. The first - he must bind the wound on his shoulder. He can't fight at full capacity if he holds it down the entire time. He tears part of his sleeve apart, starts talking to occupy Akechi while he tries to make quick work of it all.]
Looks like you missed a little bit. [His tone could almost be bored, if it weren't for the clear hunger and excitement hanging beneath it all.] But that's alright. I'll give you another shot soon.
[Goading, because he has to, because Akechi won't be stalled by idle small talk - and because he wants to. He loves talking to Akechi like this. He loves seeing Akechi like this. He loves being this way, both of them, completely unrestrained.
Unrestrained, so he lets it slip out, too.]
I like seeing you this way. Wild and free. Nothing holding you back, the way it should be. [A firm tie.] This is the way you're meant to be when you're across from me like this. [A secure knot.] So don't leave me disappointed!
[His body goes low to the ground, dagger flashing behind his back. Ready to kick off, as Arséne winds up.
His second decision.
He's already hurt, clock already ticking - so hurting himself more is a worthy trade. A One-shot Kill will even the playing field, unless Akechi is quick enough to dodge it.]