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She points her gunrod at her chest and frowns, teeth gritted together. Her dual-sided blade touches her chin and she grins, eyes alight with delight. They stare each other down, weapons drawn on each other.
“Too bad this was just a sparring session,” Ashera says after a moment, the first to drop her weapon. “Going out like this. Your weapon to my chest and mine to your throat… It would be thrilling.”
“I’d rather it not come to that,” Eunie replies with a huff, Blade vanishing in a flash. “Our lives aren’t--”
“Just our own,” Ashera chirps. “You’ve told me that more times than I can remember. Don’t worry -- dying to your Blade is my last resort.”
“You’re still so snuffing weird,” Eunie rolls her eyes.
“And you like that about me,” Ashera grins. “Or you wouldn’t have made that pact with me.”
“I’m just not letting you go out on your own,” Eunie huffs. “...There are people that’d miss you.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Do those people include you?”
Eunie just gives her a look. A look that says why else would I wanna die with you ? Ashera understands, a silent conversation passing through the two of them. Their lives are not only their own, they are lives that belong to their comrades and rivals. Their lives belong to many people, including each other.
And, well, despite how Ashera feels she supposes it would be a net-loss for the world if Eunie were to leave it now. She’d love to die to Eunie’s hand herself -- to be put down before her mind leaves her and pain is all that’s left. She’d love that, but the idea of Eunie dying with her sours it a bit.
A beautiful dream turning into a bit of a nightmare. Imagining Eunie bleeding out due to her Blade. Laying next to Ashera’s dead body and clinging to her hand as her breathing becomes heavy. Eyes hazy as she soon passes, still holding to Ashera’s husk.
She makes a face at that. Not a pleasant thought like it should be, not at all. She’s a suicidal maniac, sure, but she’s a suicidal maniac who wants the best for Eunie. The imagery of the light fading from her eyes leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
“And now you’re all frowning,” Eunie says. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Ashera replies with a sigh. “Just thinking a bit, about you and me.”
“Thinking doesn’t seem to be your forte, aren’t you more of a charge in head first sorta gal?” Eunie asks, hand on her hip.
“Usually,” Ashera once again grins, though it’s more crooked this time. “But I can’t help but think when it comes to you. You’re a blessing to this world, Eunie. One too good to go out with the likes of me.”
“You giving up on wanting a glorious death, then?” Eunie cocks an eyebrow.
“Nothing like that,” Ashera says. “Just find a glorious death that doesn’t involve taking you with me. Me, I’m just a beast! A glorious death is about the best I can have, but you?”
“I’m as much a beast as you are,” Eunie replies before Ashera can continue. “If the best for you is death, then it’s the best for me, too.”
“That’s not true,” Ashera replies.
“Yes it is, you snuffing idiot,” Eunie says without missing a beat. “You and I are more similar than either of us wants to admit. Either we’re both beasts who need put down or we’re both blessings to this world. Can’t pick and choose now, love.”
“Oh my,” Ashera says. “You love to trap me in conundrums, don’t you? First you make the idea of dying at your hand less tha pleasant and now this.”
“I’ll get you to realize you’ve got worth past how you die one way or another,” Eunie says, voice softening as she speaks again. “Find a way to deal with that pain, too. Not fair you have to lose yourself like that.”
“Not fair you have to try and take care of me, either,” Ashera says, losing some steam.
“Oh shut it,” Eunie huffs. “I do it because I want to. As much as I hate to admit it, I care about you.”
“Oh my, I’m going to blush,” Ashera places a hand on her cheek. “What am I supposed to say?”
“Nothing,” Eunie says, actually blushing. “Just… stop being so stupid and let me take care of you, just a little bit. Even beasts like us need some love and care sometimes, right?”
Ashera smiles. “I suppose you are, Eunie.”