the line between death and life // kenji + steel, day 4

It's over as quickly as it began. In the span of a single minute, you'd been sent on a journey so utterly bizarre that, well after its completion you're still trying and failing to process just exactly what happened.

In order, you list it off in your head. Half walk, half stumble to the site of your first "death" to find your crippled ally. Find not just said ally, but four other tributes loitering about, only one of which you recognize by more than just name. Take the initiative, try and make yourself as threatening as you can be for a half-dead boy who just traveled across half the arena while attacking someone twice as terrifying as yourself. Land a successful hit against said person, and have them not only not retaliate, but show genuine hurt in their eyes, and not just because of the gash you'd torn across her arm. Find yourself utterly confused because if anyone was hardcore enough to toss aside personal bonds in favor of taking the initiative to return home, it would be this girl, but instead of her attacking the friendly familiar face first it had been you. All the while, Steel herself has found some sort of prosthetic and was quite literally hovering above ground, out of sight and out of range of the trio, while the boy from Seven just up and smashed his rock thing into the last boy's chest. And smashed the chest while he was at it, for that matter.

And just as quickly as they had arrived, they had left. And here you were, saved by Terra Markov of all people's mercy (for you'd seen the look in the Two boy's eyes, seen the way he'd sheathed his weapon with an exasperated huff, and you knew he'd be one to keep an eye out for in the future), with your hovering, one-legged ally at your side.

And despite yourself, despite just watching another boy die right in front of you and nearly getting sent to Death's doorsteps again in your own right, you can't help but smile your lopsided smile at the whole situation.

"So, it's, uh," and then your cheeks are ever so slightly heating up and you find yourself looking away from your ally and back to the petal storm. How was it that going toe to toe with a Career and an alliance that outnumbered you three to one were so easy but simple conversation after you had literally died and come back to life was so difficult. "It's good to see you again, Steel," you finally manage after a pause.

And it was. It was always nice to have someone that had your back. And maybe, someone who's own back you could watch in turn.