with every breath I'm breathing in

She stands before the Warlord, feeling at once like a child again. The same little girl that had hidden from the Warlord, tucked herself behind Bas. Tucked herself away behind him, hovering close to his side. He’d saved her. Was she betraying him now, in this? Fuck. Standing here now, looking at Sirius like this… he looked old. Formidable still, but old.

“You raised me, well, you and Halo. You know what I’m made of. You gave me a new lease on life, let me give back now.” Her tone is stone sober, maintaining steady eye contact with the Warlord. “Let me pick up the slack until Azure comes home.” The words are a concession. Writing Azure off as gone forever wasn’t something Hazel was willing to do, for Bas’s sake if nothing else. “If Bas is going to take over the Armada someday, then this is experience I need, too. I’m ready Sirius.” Sober as a judge, the girl does as she’s been asked— she pleads her case.