Radial Balance
She had bruises.
They splayed across her torso like five ugly stamp marks, marring her pale skin with purplish stains. She twisted experimentally and winced, breath ragged for a moment as pain shot up her side.
They marked the difference between flying
and falling.
The morning was still and stifled with the heat of a twelve o' clock sun.
It was always bright, in this land where time flowed backwards. The vast space and utter silence were more unsettling than the darkest night. When he looked at the sky, he saw no moon. There were only twin stars, suspended like forgotten puppets.
He awoke to slow suffocation.
"I'm sorry." His apology was not insincere, but was delivered with no intonation.
Mira rubbed at sleepless eyes. "What do you mean?" She rasped, wincing at the unexpected hoarseness of her tone and why hadn't it been Baron or Ace that had knocked at the door, someone that had already seen her at her worst –
"I hurt you." He said simply, eyes glued to the side of the doorframe opposite the one he was leaning against.
"What?" She clutched at the blankets pooled around her waist, propping herself up awkwardly to look presentable. "You saved me, Shun. There's nothing to apologize about, I –"
She hesitated for a moment. "I am eternally indebted."
His lips quirked wryly at her intensity. "Right. Honor code?"
"H-Huh? I didn't mean…" the leader of The Resistance was horrified at the blush that stained her cheeks. "I, well, I…never mind."
"I have to go meditate." He leaned away from the doorframe. "Don't mention the whole 'debt' thing again, it's fine."
Her face fell. "Right…"
Like so many Phantoms before him, he disappeared.
"I'm a mess." She whispered to the ghost of her brother she still talked to, sometimes, "You'd be so ashamed of me if you saw me right now. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't even think straight. I…" her voice cracked. "I'm the leader!" Her fingernails dug into her palm, knuckles turning white. "I can't act like such a...such a girl."
Her spiel left her short of breath; a sharp pain stung her ribcage –
And the corners of her vision were so hazy.
"Idiot," she hissed at herself, stumbling over to the window that had the best view of the training grounds.
Dan's voice rang out with unmarred confidence, yet she smiled bitterly because they were both losing to the same person.
||a/n :: This is intentionally open to interpretation. You could see it as totally Shun/Mira or not at all.
Anyways, I do like the pairing because of the character development for Shun. Mira/Dan is still my favorite, but Mira is a character I like to pair with almost everyone (Shun too, for that matter) so expect lots of Mira-centric stuff coming your way...(Mira/Gus!)
Also, I did not imply Shun/Dan at the end. Really.
butwhoamikidding :D