The orc kicked him in the stomach, sending him back into the dirt. The orc got up as Zerras groaned, lifting himself shakily as he regained his breath. His opponent approached, striking across the face as he fell. He looked crumpled, shuddering and silent. He approached, his expression showing he was about to finish him off. As he raised his fists to slam down, Zerras dashed up in a flash, tackling his opponent. Clearly his ruse had worked and the orc fell. Zerras lifted his sword, watching his opponent fiercely before finally driving it into his shoulder. This wouldn't kill him, but it would certainly incapacitate him. The orc growled, clearly in pain. He went to move, but found doing so increased the sharp ache. He fell back, the injuries sustained on his legs, hands, and shoulder too much, and even so, the sword had been pinned so deeply he wouldn't be able to dislodge it as it pinned him to the ground.
Juniper's hands were pressed to her mouth, and when Zerras finally won, her shoulders slumped and tears sprung to her eyes in relief.
He looked up at the announcer fiercely. He had a bloody nose and lip, and yanked his sword from his opponent. The announcer was watching wide eyed before scowling. "That's match."
Juniper was watching Zerras before looking through her bag to find some bandages for his face, her brow furrowing.
The announcer closer up the loot in a bag, stepping down and giving it to Zerras. He wiped off his blade before turning and heading back to June. Smaller matches continued, a new reward pile already forming from bets of the next match.
She approached him earnestly, her brows furrowed tenderly as one hand reached up to cup his jaw gently. There was something else in her gaze, but he would be unable to decipher what it was. Her free hand started dabbing away the blood with some gauze. "Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly, sheathing Oblivion again. Leaning into her touch he exhaled slowly. "Like I said. A little rusty."
She watched him, gently dabbing the blood from his face before she slipped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're okay."
He closed his eyes, hugging her back. "Looks like we got some coins with the box. You could use them for the farm, right?"
She squinted up at him in surprise, pulling away a little. "What? No. Those are yours," she said adamantly, returning to cleaning his wounds, her touch soft and gentle. "Besides, who's to say I'm even going to make it back to the farm? You keep them."
He frowned at her, raising an eyebrow. "What? Of course you'll make it back to the farm. You can rely on me, you know."
She laughed a little uncertainly, ruffling his hair gently. "I know I can. I do. But... I mean, the mountain is dangerous, Zer. If one of us dies, it's more likely that it'd be me."
She watched him, her fingers slipping around his hands gently. There was something hesitant in her gaze, as if she didn't quite believe him, but she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek gently before slipping her hands away, beginning to clean his wounds again.
She finished after a few moments and dropped her hands, slinging his bag over her back. "Come on," she said gently, pulling away from him. "Let's go."
She looked up at him, her ears falling in surprise before perking up. "With me? Yeah, I'm alright. Are you okay?"
