What Not to Do (Kallisti)

[Oriena]

When he reached for her arm she went to wrench free, but his grip loosened almost the moment he grabbed hold. Most people wouldn’t dare, not least when her mercurial moods blew hot and vindictive. She was apt to lash out because she could, not because she should. Ori glared Nox down, but she did stay; a vengeful goddess halted only by penitent plea. His sorry touched nothing. After tonight she knew how most to hurt him. But whatever he had seemed to think before, she wasn’t interested in destroying him like that. Or at all.

In the end it was a single word that placated her. War. It drew her inscrutable gaze back to his, and whatever claws might have slashed at his kindness sheathed wordlessly instead. She was aware of the soft touch at her elbow and ignored it. Most of the girls wouldn’t risk being so familiar, except for Claire, but Ori didn’t move away either. He had already said all this. Oriena wasn’t suicidal, but she still didn’t appreciate the suggestion that they wait.

“Neither of those things deserve a bullet,” she said eventually. How fucking deep did that indoctrination go? She sighed a little, and the sultry liquidity of her limbs returned. The moment of anger passed. A sly smirk accompanied the look she gave him as she shifted a little closer. “Nox, you’re bleeding on my arm.” An exaggeration of the shallow cut along his wrist. Warning against the touch, or concern for the injury; he could decide that. Ori didn’t move away, but a truce didn’t preclude some torment.

“If you want me to behave, then you need to give me something to do,” she repeated. Slower this time.