Day 24: "Survival"
Whumptober 2024 Prompt: Survival
Ship: Maki Zenin x Nobara Kugisaki
Maki hadn't expected the ambush. A mission that should have been routine—a low-grade curse lurking near a construction site—had somehow spiraled into chaos. Now she found herself shoulder to shoulder with Nobara, both of them breathing hard, the metallic tang of blood heavy in the air.
The curse was far more powerful than they'd anticipated, relentless in its pursuit. The injuries they'd both sustained left them worn but determined. Nobara's arm was bleeding, and Maki's vision swam from a nasty blow to the head, but neither would back down.
"Not much of a survivor, are you?" Nobara grunted, wiping blood from her lip as she turned to Maki, her smirk attempting to mask the fear in her eyes.
Maki gave her a sideways grin, though it wavered. "Speak for yourself. I'm just getting warmed up."
But the truth was, they were both struggling. The curse seemed to draw energy from their fatigue, growing stronger as their strength dwindled. Maki could feel Nobara inching closer, her presence a steadying force in the middle of chaos.
"Plan?" Nobara asked, her gaze fixed on the curse as it circled them, dark tendrils whipping through the air like broken chains.
"Stay alive," Maki said grimly, gripping her cursed tool with shaking hands.
They waited, reading each other's movements as they'd done countless times before. When the curse lunged, Maki pushed forward, her blade cutting through the darkness, while Nobara moved to her side, nails poised in a fierce grip.
In the frantic battle, they fought like they were one entity, their movements synchronized despite the exhaustion weighing them down. They dodged and countered, relying on their instincts and trust in each other to pull through. Finally, Maki delivered a precise strike that severed the curse's form, sending it dissipating into the night.
As silence fell, both collapsed onto the ground, chests heaving with exertion. Maki leaned back against the nearest wall, closing her eyes to steady herself. Nobara dropped beside her, her arm grazing Maki's, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
"You know… surviving with you isn't so bad," Nobara murmured, her voice softer than usual. She let her head fall back, her gaze fixed on the stars, and a slight smile tugged at her lips.
Maki chuckled, nudging her gently. "Good, because you're stuck with me."
A comfortable silence settled between them, filled only with the sound of their breathing. Maki turned her head, her eyes meeting Nobara's, and something unspoken passed between them—a promise, a quiet acknowledgment of the strength they found in each other.
Reaching out, Maki took Nobara's hand, her grip firm but gentle, and they stayed like that, two warriors, two survivors, both finding comfort in each other's presence as the first hints of dawn crept into the sky.