"I... I don't know, Kira. It's like I couldn't attack it. Every time I tried, my body betrayed me. The most I was able to do was try to hold it down."
"You were able to attack me. What the fornicate?"
"Yes. And I killed genali before finding you."
"Probably another one of the ways they modified us. They said something about prey not being able to harm each other when they were talking about this place. They must have skipped that little upgrade for the sand eater over there. Fornicate. I hate the genali."
"I heartily agree, little human."
My eyelid twitches at his insistence on insulting nicknames, but I don't call him on it. For the first time, there isn't any jesting in his voice. No arrogance either.
It's scary as fuck.
He looks vulnerable for a moment before my vision blurs again. I reach up a hand and use the back of it, the only part of it not covered in grime and blood, to wipe at my eyes.
"Tell me what is bothering you," he demands.
"I don't know," I admit, blinking again. "Can you see what's wrong with my eyes?"
Drasuk leans in, his slitted pupils narrowing as he examines me. "You have a nictitating membrane," he says, his voice filled with curiosity.
"A what?" I ask, confused.
"A second eyelid," he explains.
"Like one of the slimes? Fantastic," I mutter, shaking my head. "Just what I needed."
Drasuk chuckles, the sound deep and rumbling. "You did well, Kira. Very well."
I blink at the praise, unsure how to respond. This new rapport is making me wish he'd go back to insulting me.
I know how to respond to that. Maybe not in the most grown-up fashion, but it's familiar ground at least.
I don't have a ready reply.
Instead, I focus on being busy, pulling out a replacement clip for the gun and clicking it into place, then grabbing medical supplies to tend to my wounds. I only have one more clip after this one and it makes me uneasy.
The road rash on my arms and legs stings, but I grit my teeth and clean them as best I can. The pain in my stomach is worse,but I manage to remove most of the spiked hair and bandage the wound.
As I work, I can't help but reflect on the fight. It was brutal and exhausting, but we made it through. Barely. I glance over at Drasuk, who's watching me with a mixture of respect and distress.
"Thanks," I say finally, my voice soft. "For having my back."
Even if he did leave me with all the work, aside from providing a bit of distraction.
Hell, I can handle all of this shit without him. If I haven't proven that by now, especially after fighting something straight out of a monster compendium, I don't know what would.
It feels good, but the sense of pride is fleeting when I glance at him again.
He looks defeated. I realize this is the perfect time to ditch the arrogant fool. Something tells me he wouldn't resist right now.
I huff out a breath. No, that wouldn't be right. I made a promise. Besides, he's useful. There's no sense in being upset with him for a limitation the genali put on him. He did what he could.
His expression is vacant now. Something tells me he isn't as forgiving of himself.
I'd just started getting used to his jokes. I don't like him like this and the urge to cheer him up is strong. To let him know it wasn't his fault.
My world shifts again. I'm not exactly known for being magnanimous.
