（ he has been party to more deaths than he would ever willingly recount — though the tally is held unflinching in the back of his mind. but something in that curdling scream makes him grit his teeth, even as he ducks forwards to get away from her body as it burns.
he acts because there is no choice — it is that or die. the other two are dispatched quickly, quietly — while their shock at the death of their comrade is fresh, and then he is making his way to jim's side based on a triangulation of the shot and his breathing. he reaches out, touching his elbow and using it as a waypoint to slide his hand down to the gun jim is still holding. he abhors physical contact — a long-distance combatant, he rarely touches someone physically unless it is an act of violence — but it can be a grounding thing all the same.
he tries, very gently, to disentangle the man's fingers from the weapon. ）
Jim. （ he does not often forego honourifics without purpose. ） We need to move.
（ they cannot remain here, surrounded by death and evidence of the fight. ）
no subject
he acts because there is no choice — it is that or die. the other two are dispatched quickly, quietly — while their shock at the death of their comrade is fresh, and then he is making his way to jim's side based on a triangulation of the shot and his breathing. he reaches out, touching his elbow and using it as a waypoint to slide his hand down to the gun jim is still holding. he abhors physical contact — a long-distance combatant, he rarely touches someone physically unless it is an act of violence — but it can be a grounding thing all the same.
he tries, very gently, to disentangle the man's fingers from the weapon. ）
Jim. （ he does not often forego honourifics without purpose. ） We need to move.
（ they cannot remain here, surrounded by death and evidence of the fight. ）