Veesway fell with a grunt, hitting hard on his back, blood coming from his lips. A harsh burning on his knuckles told Sway that he’d cut himself on his teeth, but it was easily ignored. That tough skin wouldn’t bleed much, as it was designed specifically to take these blows.
Veesway struggled to sit up as a loud explosion announced the destruction of another obelisk. As it fell, Sway could feel the easing of gravity under his feet. Not much, just a little. There were still more obelisks making up for what was being lost.
His father didn’t notice, however, as he brought a shaking hand to his lips and dapped his fingers to the dark red, nearly brown blood. He brought them back, staring at the soft skin of his hands with eyes widened in horror.
Was it the first time he’d seen himself bleed? Surely not. But at the same time, Sway wouldn’t be shocked if it was.
Veesway’s eyes darted up to him again. “You hit me…”
“I held back,” Sway said calmly, hating that he did so. He shouldn’t have shown him any sort of clemency after taking Grace. “You deserved it.”
“You hit me!” He said again, his crest dropped to his head, tail completely tight.
Completely opposite of Sway. He could feel his crest standing tall and proud, his tail feathers spread wide. His true self on full display.
“Get over it,” he sneered. “You took my female. You threatened to steal my youngling. Did you think there’d be no repercussions?”
“Doyou?” Veesway shot back, getting to his feet, blood trickling through the feathers of his chin. He threw out his hand, gesturing to the Humility that was still overhead, terrorizing a rapidly emptying city. “The peacekeepers will have you killed!”
“I doubt it.”
“You’re destroying an entire city!” He yelled as yet another building top was obliterated.
“Yes, I am.”
Veesway’s mouth dropped, stunned by his nonchalance. “How could you…”
“You really are ignorant, aren’t you?” Sway smirked. “What a charmed life you must have lived. Have you ever faced consequences? For anything?”
“Charmed life?” He sputtered, fury driving his crest up. “I’ve lost my mate! I’ve lost my son! The things I have suffered are beyond compare! And now, you come to steal my grandhatchling and destroy my Song. You are a monster!”
“So what if I am?” Sway asked, unconcerned. “So are you.”
Veesway gave him an incredulous look. Like he just said something absolutely ludicrous. “Me? You’re callingmea monster! A murderer like you?!”
“Aren’t you?” Sway asked. “You were going to rip my young from their mother’s arms then throw her into the wild before she even had a chance to heal. I might be a murderer, but at least I’m one who has the courage to kill someone myself, and doesn’t deny it under some deluded, self-righteous idea of superiority.”
“You-Ah!”
Sway grabbed him by the neck, jerking him up onto his toes. Veesway choked, struggling but breathing, as he grabbed onto Sway’s hand. Trying to ease some of the pressure off his throat. Yet still, he didn’t try to fight back.
By his people’s standards, the fact that Veesway wasn’t trying to fight him off violently, even now, would be considered honorable. While a person couldn’t be blamed for acting out in violence to defend their lives or that of their family, those who would refuse to do so, even under such extreme circumstances, were people to be admired. They were considered to be noble paragons of the ideal type of behavior.
But looking at him now, Sway found it all rather pathetic.
Was pacifism really such a noble pursuit? Was it really worth dying for? The only struggle this cowardly male made was to try to alleviate the weight on his neck. He wasn’t even scratching at Sway’s hand or pulling at his fingers.
He was worse than helpless. At least someone who was helpless had a reason for being unable to protect themselves. Weakness or injury or inability – those were understandable. Veesway had theabilityto do something, and he just wouldn’t.
And in that moment, Sway actually saw himself in this male that could be considered his father. His own behavior, his own choices, were reflected back at him. The only difference was that Sway would have absolutely fought back in his position.
Because this wasn’t noble. This wasn’t admirable. This was worse than fighting and failing to gain any ground. At least, in that, there was an attempt.
Veesway was choking on a cry for help, looking for backup that wasn’t coming. All the domini mercenaries were laid out at the base of the steps of headquarters, victims to the xenom male who was currently climbing up to join them.
Veesway would really rather expect and demand others to dirty their hands, to fight his battles, than to take on the responsibility, and therefore the blame, of fighting them himself.
Exactly as Sway had been doing.
