EE5 spoilers!
His feet pounded the earth below him, thumping far more noisily than any steps he was permitted to take. Breaths were stripped from his burning lungs before they had ever replenished him, and the scraped, bruised, and sliced arms pumped wildly at his sides as he avoided branches and thorns.
A knife flew from his youthful, lean hands. It lodged, somewhat unsteadily, into the center of the target: a small, red circle tacked to a tree. But he never stopped to see it; he continued sprinting down the path, over roots and rocks, pot holes and cracks.
Fear fueled the intensity of his training- would he fail again?
He felt his heart pound into a painful thrumming as he ducked around a particularly obstructive conifer. Pain was sprouting from his heart and through his lungs, burning along his neck and jaw. Exhaustion would soon take over him.
He could not fail. Not again.
A memory flashed before his eyes: the last time he had failed. The beatings had lasted for days, and seemed to never end.
And he had deserved them all. How could an assassin be an efficient- no, the best- assassin if he only failed? He was a disgrace, and deserved that beating.
Nonetheless, he ran faster.
Large feet pounded the ground in practiced, feather-light steps that made absolutely no noise. Breathing came in short, measured bursts that raced into his lungs, now accustomed to so little oxygen. Corded arms pumped at his well-developed sides as he avoided branches and brambles alike.
A knife flew from his callused hands, lodging itself firmly into the delicate skin of a throat, the man sinking to the forest floor with only the slightest gurgling noise. But he never stopped to see it- he knew it had hit home.
Determination fueled his run- he could not fail. Not this time.
A different light, flashing into his cold brown eyes changed the insolent look he sported. Maybe… Tenderness? Whatever it was, it was wiped away quickly, leaving the solid determination of a man set on his target. Exhaustion had long since tried his strength, but he was beyond that- he ran off of pure will power, knowing that failure could not- and would not- be an option.
A memory flashed before his eyes. The last time he had failed- when he never truly recovered, and when the beginnings of all his problems had started. When his life had passed the point of no return.
And he had deserved that. He had deserved it all.
…But… She didn't.
And he ran faster.
Should be a collection of drabbles/one shots, and definitely with some Sicarius/Amaranthe pairings. Love them. :D