Chapter Text
"I'd rather not."
Kiran blinks owlishly. "Ah?"
Even with his mask and neutral expression, Kiran can clearly tell that Gerome doesn't care much for this conversation. Maybe Kiran should be a little insulted, but they were kinda expecting this.
Minerva grumbles beside him, nudging his arm. He turns to the wyvern, resting his hand on its head and scratching it to its hearts content. Kiran had been lucky to find the two out here-- Gerome usually goes wherever Minerva wants to go, and this time around it was a field not too far from the castle. They thought it would be an alright moment to approach-- the two seemed content, with Minerva napping in the grass, somehow curled around Gerome like a protective barrier. Maybe Gerome would be more approachable since he seemed content, but he had bristled the second he heard their footsteps.
Gerome silently looks at them. Kiran doesn't fidget under his gaze, not yet, but they get the feeling they're going to make a fool of themselves if this keeps up.
"I mean. That's fine." Kiran says, adverting their eyes to the sky. It's really nice out today-- it was cold with the wind, but the clear sky let the sunlight even out the temperature. Other heroes had taken this opportunity to spar and train with each other in the extensive training grounds the Askr castle provided. A few heroes had asked where Gerome was-- they wanted to see what the newest recruit could do. So Kiran volunteered to find him and invite him to spar, thinking that maybe he'd be compliant-- well...
"You're not obligated to," Kiran continues, "It's an open offer. I, ah, thought maybe... Minerva would enjoy stretching her wings...?" Ah. They didn't really plan for such a blunt rejection. Now that they think about it, Gerome's one of the most isolated heroes around-- why on earth would he turn a new leaf and suddenly decide to participate with the others?
Gerome looks away, and it kinda feels like a dismissal. Kiran shuffles their feet, saying, "I apologize for bothering you," and turns to leave-- only to stumble with the heavy weight on the end of their cloak.
It's-- Minerva, having rolled over ever so slightly to now have an entire limb resting along the tail end of the cloak. Kiran tugs slightly, hoping that the wyvern would roll off, but Minerva stays put, opening up an eye to look directly at them. They sigh, bending down awkwardly to pat the wyvern's head.
"I wanted to release Minerva into the wild," Gerome speaks suddenly. Kiran looks up to him, noticing he was watching the wyvern lean into Kiran's hand. "I didn't want her to be chained down to fighting anymore. She doesn't deserve to be targeted anymore. So why must I stay here, fighting a war I don't care for?"
Kiran's hand stills against Minerva's scales. There's a large, jagged scar running along the side of Minerva's neck, a telltale sign of a bloody battle. "You don't have to."
Gerome's eyebrow raises at their words. Kiran takes a deep breath and continues rubbing the wyvern's head. "I'm not stopping you from doing exactly what you want. You can release Minerva into the wild, and go on your own way. Maybe in a different world, though-- I don't know if this one will settle down from warfare for a while. You can do it. No one will stop you."
"Should you even be saying that?" Gerome asks, "I doubt anyone will agree with you."
"And? It's not fair to force people to fight a war they don't want to fight in. You and Minerva are not an exception to that." Kiran says. With another gentle tug, Minerva relents and allows the tail end of the cloak to move from beneath her. Kiran stands, swiping stray grass blades off their pants. "You can just say the word, and I'll return you to wherever you're from, or let you go somewhere else."
Gerome looks up to them, his emotion covered by the mask. It's quiet for a moment, Kiran either waiting for him to turn away or give them an answer to that offer.
"This world isn't yours," Gerome says, "why do you fight for it?"
Kiran pauses. "I fight... because I can keep this world from becoming what remains of yours-- and so this world can become one that's worthy of letting Minerva fly free without worry."
Gerome shifts, turning to look at them full-on instead of through the corner of his eye. Kiran just smiles at him.
"I wasn't lying about what I said earlier. If you want to leave, just ask me. So, until you make the decision, feel free to fly wherever you want." Kiran waves goodbye before turning on their heel, leaving Gerome and Minerva to their own.