pallas athena, PROTECTOR of soldiers, mother of war — you stand before a MONSTER now, and his claws sink deep into your skin. though you are metal and stardust, the product of your father’s mind, you are still mortal in this hollow shell. one wrong move, and you will be returned to your tomb. only, then, would a dead man be able to bring you home. but you can prevent that from happening. you, alone, can reach the man you once served.
little hands, trembling fingers that have never once held a gun, reach for the reaper’s wrists. she does not fight him, does not try to remove his grip from her person, but instead CLINGS to leather armor and icy flesh. she is the savior of fighters, and this man … this LAZARUS, he is one of hers. he will always be one of hers. and she will not allow him to forget that. she will not allow him to murder anymore innocent individuals.
( pick your words carefully, goddess, lest they be your last. )
“you know my purpose, commander.” pain is foreign to the goddess; an experiencing she has been fortunate enough to only endure once or twice before now. judging by the heat swelling in the gunshot wound and the pressure beneath his hands, it is not something would like to go through again. but she will remain. athena ALWAYS remains, until the last soldier is brought home. “you were one of mine. i fought to keep you safe. i MOURNED you. i never wanted to see you like this. i cared about you then, and i care about you now.”
“i cannot and will not purposely hurt you. do you truly HATE US so much, that you would hunt us down in cold blood? what did we do, commander? what can i do to make this RIGHT?” a goddess, staring up not as a savior, not a protector, but as his friend. an old ally. a woman looking for answers, despite the violence. “all you have to do is talk to me, sir.”
HE ... PAUSES . gabriel is truly stunned at her dedication and determination , hollow hazel softening behind the stark white mask , snarl in his voice dying down to a quiet hum . claws dig in briefly but loosen , as if uncertain , as if caught between what he wants and what he needs .
a man and his facade in a mental battle is a dangerous game . gabriel wants to confess the plans ; reaper wants to keep playing at this game of cat and mouse , to continue the path he has forged for himself , to follow through with this path and tear down talon from the inside . ( I DO NOT NEED HELP . ) the urge to speak versus his need to keep things quiet rage in his mind for long enough to draw suspicion , long enough to --
gabriel settles on keeping his mouth shut .
“ oh , athena . it’s what you didn’t do . ” claws dig in and he throws her as hard as he can -- a regretful decision after a few seconds of thought , but necessary lest she tried to read his tone , his body language . ( HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED SOMBRA TO JOIN HIM , FOR HIM TO STALL AND FOR HER TO GATHER HIS INTEL -- )
shotguns holstered for now , the reaper fades into shadow , a small blaze of crimson evident for a split second as he recollects himself in a higher position , watching her , waiting for her reaction ; he’s trying to put himself in a better position to get what he needs .
“ you’ve grown naive since i’ve last seen you . ”