The blood splatters were nothing compared to the look in the child's eyes. Desolate, quietly foreboding. He shivered, feeling as if his very soul were being pierced by that heavy gaze.
The duplicate was still breathing - if only so faintly it could barely be seen. He was easily supported by the one staring at him so chillingly, head cradled in crook of arm.
"You have trespassed upon my heart."
Funny, it wasn't as deep as he thought it was going to be. He had been half-expecting the earth shaking tone of a god, not the low tenor of a child grown in a man's world.
Tremulously, he had the urge to bow. To bow and scrape and beg for mercy. … Not forgiveness, no. Even from here he could see just how wrong he was to be an accomplice in such bloodshed. But he steeled his nerves in the face of that judgement so fairly given to him.
"I know," He replied quietly, nodding once. This caused a flicker of surprise in the other's eyes, followed by quickly-dampened curiosity.
"Then you know you must be punished for what you have done."
Another nod.
Carefully, the unconscious child was gathered up as he stood. It was a possessive gesture. In the dim light of the street corner, a luminescent eye flickered to life on the chi-man's blood-stained forehead.
He lifted his chin, mirroring the other's gesture.
The next words were uttered quietly. He had to strain his ears to pick up the resonant sentence.
"Penalty Game - Binding Ivy."
His last sight before the thorny plant obscured his vision was of the smaller stirring in his opponent's arms, an affectionate nuzzle and kiss upon his cheek in answer.