#* pda

     A pawn is taken, from near the back of the procession, and she hears him choke on his own spit -- such a loud sound in such a quiet room. Not lifting her eyes to acknowledge his challenge, she answers in time, “ Lissa is an adult, and as a sage, she’s one of our best. I know you hate having her fight but-- ”

     “ I know. ” he cut her off, the gloved hand going to move a different piece -- the enemy, she must remember he is the enemy -- towards her challenge. Every time, he did this, demanded her longer, refused to let her strategies be unquestioned, even when her hands were sure and pressed strongly against the map.

     Rajya clicked her tongue, and moved another figure, this one mounted high upon a decorated like a Valkyrie, next to Lissa’s piece. “ They fight better as a team. ” Stone voice does not waver, and she glances upwards; her eyes are stone too, unfeeling and unkind, looking at him like he’s naught but a fool. The enemy, she repeated, Chrom is the enemy, but she lets him in on the secret, her voice dropping, “ Like two halves of one whole. ”

     Storm brewing does not make her falter, even once their eyes are locked and she realizes just how close he is, their arms barely inches away from each other. Enemy licks at his lips, and she realizes he is staring at the earthen skin of her own, not meeting her own gaze; enemy seems to move forward, with a stuttering, “ I-I-I see. ” 

     Perhaps she means to, glance down when he spoke, to watch red lips become slightly brighter; just enough for her to notice, and gods, of course she noticed. Hate swells, and Rajya burns in her own skin, lunging forward. Nails dig into his collar and drags him down, and their mouths practically hit together, a fitting rage in the gnashing of teeth, and fervor eats out her throat. While she had a death grip upon him, as does he upon her, scrunching up the cloak and pulling it tight, so she is pressed flush against him, their only barrier are clothes far too thick. 

     At some point, though, she must come up for air, and her grip drops; eyes train on his lower jaw, while he’s gasping, reeling for air. for a moment, she almost leans down and tries to press her lips on his collarbone--There! Right there! It dawns on her -- and she pushes him down to the ground, a thud makes the world vibrate. Her face is red, so awfully red. Wordlessly, she does as she’s always done, and runs until she cannot breathe.