[ DEFENCE ]: when the sender rushes to defend the receiver against a threat of any description, the receiver takes a moment to consider how they feel about the sender.
battle was harsh . bloodshed was inevitable .
adonis had always been acutely aware of this fact , of course — and yet , as he fought against adversaries , he couldn’t help but have a passing thought of how unfair it was to find himself landed on his back , his blade held against the jaws of a rifthound .
he knew he wouldn’t have time , nor the strength , to hold it off forever — but he could take the strike , couldn’t he ? he’d be fine . he always had been . yet as he braced himself , there was familiarity before him , a dark cloak and darker visage that greeted his gaze . the captain .
he was almost grateful to hear the sound of abyss - corroded , rock - like plating against steel as the harbinger slayed his attacker for him — and for a split second , all was still . or was it ? he wasn’t sure . how many times had his captain saved him ?
thinking back , he supposed there were different kinds of ‘ saving ’ . mental , physical , emotional . and yet , capitano had given him salvation in some form in all ways . it was . . . strange . and for whatever reason , it seemed to scramble his very way of thinking . multiple times he had caught himself staring at the captain a touch too long , admiring that grace that constantly followed him a moment more than necessary .
but that could mean anything , couldn’t it ? surely simple admiration could not be adoration — a soldier was not meant to care more than absolutely necessary . and yet he did . oh , shit .
