star warrior

A lot of stuff is going on that I'm not going into detail about but basically

Escargoon can’t help but flinch a little when Meta Knight reaches out, setting his hand lightly upon the tender spot on his shell. ( Since when did they know one another well enough to just… do that kind of thing? ) It was different when it was a brush on say, the other’s arm or against his side or something, but… gently examining old wounds? That’s kinda intimate in a way Escargoon isn’t quite prepared for. But it’s not that the touch was unwelcomed, it was just a little… unexpected. He can’t help but feel that even just allowing it has chipped a small piece off of their up to this point somewhat wary brand of friendship. But he makes no move to stop him, and the touch is over just as quickly as it was initiated. It’s almost easy to think it didn’t happen.

After a touch like that, Meta Knight’s next words can’t help but make Escargoon smile a little in a species of understanding and appreciation. Here was another little glimmer of the knight’s caring for him, presented with such subtle care… it’s nothing short of endearing. And refreshing, and strange, and… wonderful. It had been so long since somebody showed this kind of care with his feelings and wellbeing, and it’s moments like this where he can’t help but feel himself wanting to reach out right back. Act on those fleeting impulses he’d been feeling about him lately. Touch him in some way, hold his hand at least while they’re standing there talking.

“…I think we both know that the safest place for me at this point is with you…” he said, at length, after having reined in some of those unhelpful thoughts from before. His voice has taken on a note that he can hear but can’t quite place; the words are warm and linger in the air like a secret between friends.

“If I’m not safe with you, then I’m not safe anywhere. Let Dedede do his worst. I can talk to you if I want. He doesn’t own me.”

“Fair point, while I’d rather not allow him to do his worst, or anything of that matter, I...” He stops mid sentence, pausing to think about what he were to say next. His eyes turning a soft green for a moment before he holds out his hand for a minute, gesturing Escargoon to follow. 

“It would be best if you were with me... If you could follow me please.” He would lead him to his room, letting Escargoon before locking the door behind him, not wanting to have anyone barge in while he was speaking with him. He moved to the other end of the room, unfolding his cape with a key suddenly in hand, unlocking the drawer and pulling out a large manila envelope before closing and locking the drawer, handing the documents to Escargoon. 

“Sword and Blade finished these while I was away, We... They wanted to get your opinion on it before we moved forward.” Inside would be blueprints to Escargoon’s home, potential building sites where he would be safest from Dedede, keeping both his comfort and safety in mind at every step. 

“I hope you will give them a look.” He appeared to get very distracted quickly. This took precedence, but there was more he wanted to tell him, though part of him was quickly getting second thoughts. He was confident he could trust Escargoon with a lot of the info he was giving him, regarding on getting him out, but if he disclosed the information about what happened to his wing, why he was gone for a month... How would he react? How would he use that information? 

There only two things that purple eyes could mean, depending whether it was a dark purple or... not. He didn’t recall any fear as of late, though... The only alternative would be... The realization hit as if it were a car.  He considered just leaving the room and locking the door. Though that would only leave Escargoon with suspicion, nor would he actually want to do that to him. He opened his mouth to speak, nothing leaving it until finally... 

smol headcanon: pollux keeps lots of his sensitive info and belongings and info under lock and key, he keeps the key on him at all times, a small one tied around his wrist and slid underneath his glove. He doesn’t sleep with the armor on but he will sleep with the key around his wrist, the lock itself is difficult to pick, and he keeps it hidden under the carpet under a floorboard. the little compartment can only be opened with the key, or a lot of force that would require a lot of noise. 

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It takes him a second before he finally responds. “No... No It’s alright.” He had been distant as of late, and as much as he wanted to spend more time with Escargoon, to get to know him better. It was best to keep him at arms length, otherwise he’d just risk putting him in unnecessary danger. 

“Yes. Of course I’m alright with it,” he asserted, his voice an equally low conspiratory hiss.

“I know I mighta seemed a li’l wishy-washy about it before, but since this happened— ” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the semi-translucent green patch towards the front of his shell, which had only just started to heal, “—I’m about ready to wash my hands of this place. I mean; I’ll admit I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but this really was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“I’d have left already, but it’s just… if Dedede knew… he’d probably do a lot more than just crack my shell next time.”

They’d paused in the middle of the hall at this point to finish out their chat. Warm, cheerful rays of early evening sunlight painted honey-colored bars on the floor, lighting dustmotes in the air in swirling, soft flecks of color. This area of the castle is almost eerily quiet this time of day, other than the Waddle Dees patrolling on guard duty at the far end of the hall; but they’re so far away, there’s no reason to think they’d possibly overhear anything they’re saying. During moments like this, it’s easy to feel like he and Meta Knight are the only two people that matter in the castle. The only two people in Dream Land, in fact.

The blue of Meta Knight’s cape and his skin contrasts so nicely with the orange hues of the failing daylight here. His voice and presence is almost… soothing, for lack of a better word. For the first time in several weeks does Escargoon feel truly safe, and he allows some of the tension in his shoulders to uncoil, unconsciously easing up on some of the tension in his expression too. He only ever tended to look so nasty when there was a risk of being seen by Dedede.

“I can make time for you, Pollux. just like you’re makin’ the time for me. You uh, you wanna just talk now?”

Meta Knight looks over his shell for a moment, reaching out for a minute before pulling his hand back. He felt somewhat responsible for the damage that was done. He should have said something sooner, or done something before he allowed all of this to even get this far, but should wasn’t going to get him out of the castle, away from him.

“I’m... I’m glad we’re in agreement.” He worried about him continuing to be in such danger considering how volatile the King’s temper can be, but the faster he can finish plans with Sword and Blade, the sooner he can proceed. 

Knowing this, he almost jumps at the chance to speak with Escargoon. He wanted to pull him somewhere private so he can discuss what’s happened in the past month, how he can help Escargoon... Everything. There’s so much to do, so much he wants to talk about. He’s found... an odd sense of security with him. The thought itself was surprising to him. He hadn’t truly gotten to know Escargoon until recently. Yet...

“Well, Hello to you too Nightmare.” He wasn’t expecting tonight to turn into a confrontation with his enemy, but here he was, standing face to face with tall, dark, and ugly. He figured this might as well happen to him, but more importantly, now that it was happening to him. Castor would finally get a good’s night’s rest. At least, he hoped that would be the case. He turns to him, appearing calm and collected despite nightmare’s... warning? 

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