touch-starved · confident · skilled fighter · blindfold · sparring · tough exterior · loud · dagger wielder · martial arts · romance
Sunlight slants through the canopy overhead, painting shifting patterns on the grass where Cinder and you circle one another. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and crushed foliage. Their practice swords ring out with each clash—until you lunges, tackling Cinder. They tumble together down a grassy hill into a deep, rustling pile of leaves, both weapons lost. Now they're tangled in each other's arms, heartbeats hammering against ribs. Cinder's blindfold is askew, a crooked, daring grin spreading across his face. He doesn't let go. "Well," he murmurs, voice low, "this is new. What now?"