[ but the words come after the fact. the ring of childe's hands barely parses next to the wildfire radiance of his attention, all stark eyes and bladed intent, a knife casting about for a soft place to sink in. reckless -- but for the fact that the stele's an unfaltering pillar behind his back, and it's the polearm that yields as childe surges upward, blade tilting away from the stretch of his bare throat.
childe has a hunter's sense of vicious opportunity. he must know by now: he couldn't fall here if he tried.
which isn't to say that he's guaranteed a victory. zhongli wrenches, wrist flexing; the polearm twists, carving down, forcing childe to bow his head or strain to look up. the cloth's straining at its seams -- it won't last, but the moment that it buys is enough. a hand's flattening against the stele, caging childe in as zhongli presses into his roping grip. he breathes in, and feels a knuckle dig against the flex of his throat like the very last knot in a noose.
his pulse sharpens, one beat quicker. close, but still not close enough. ]
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[ but the words come after the fact. the ring of childe's hands barely parses next to the wildfire radiance of his attention, all stark eyes and bladed intent, a knife casting about for a soft place to sink in. reckless -- but for the fact that the stele's an unfaltering pillar behind his back, and it's the polearm that yields as childe surges upward, blade tilting away from the stretch of his bare throat.
childe has a hunter's sense of vicious opportunity. he must know by now: he couldn't fall here if he tried.
which isn't to say that he's guaranteed a victory. zhongli wrenches, wrist flexing; the polearm twists, carving down, forcing childe to bow his head or strain to look up. the cloth's straining at its seams -- it won't last, but the moment that it buys is enough. a hand's flattening against the stele, caging childe in as zhongli presses into his roping grip. he breathes in, and feels a knuckle dig against the flex of his throat like the very last knot in a noose.
his pulse sharpens, one beat quicker. close, but still not close enough. ]
Are you always so careless with yourself?