The hit Anna takes is enough to freeze the fire-imbued ether in Zelos' veins for a moment, guilt crystallizing in his chest as the blades then block and threaten Sheena away from moving, then address him to give himself up. As quickly as it came he then squashes it down. The logical part of Zelos' brain knows that the promise of choice is as empty as it comes--it really, really would be easier to bring back and control him if he's force-restarted through killing his driver, and then no one would have to worry about the Aegis throwing a fit on the way back.
Doesn't matter what the blades offer, what they say--if he puts himself in their hands then Zelos is going to die.
'Like hell am I going to die here.'
Sheena's disgust and shock grip at Zelos tightly, hot and fervent in the wake of his cold guilt. Something in his chest is then emboldened with her push, and he savours it, lets it shakily rouse him up from his kneel. He laughs, gathers attention, and plasters a large grin on his face. "Ooff, tough choice. I guess it's nice of you guys to offer, at least," he grits out, ether pooling in his hands. "Unfortunately, though," Zelos straightens up, scoffs, "you lost me the moment you called me a fucking thing!"
As soon as Sheena lunges forward, Zelos, with a cry, releases the ether in his hands in a short blast that heats up the air directly around all five of them. It's meant to be disarming. Then, he moves quickly to gather that ether around Sheena's knife, setting it alight for her to do as she will with it. She can handle it.
Zelos sways. Discharging ether after the mess that just happened and his own leftover pain leaves him dizzy and with his vision swimming, veins slightly alight again with the manifested fire he has to keep and maintain, but he ignores it to summon his sword in a flash of bright, orange light. He's wasting ether fast, but their survival requires it, so before he can succumb to exhaustion Zelos pushes himself forward as well, over to swing at Anna's attacker with a broad slash, strong enough that it knocks them off their feet upon making contact with their weapon.
SOME CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AMONG THIS CHAOS AT LEAST
Doesn't matter what the blades offer, what they say--if he puts himself in their hands then Zelos is going to die.
Sheena's disgust and shock grip at Zelos tightly, hot and fervent in the wake of his cold guilt. Something in his chest is then emboldened with her push, and he savours it, lets it shakily rouse him up from his kneel. He laughs, gathers attention, and plasters a large grin on his face. "Ooff, tough choice. I guess it's nice of you guys to offer, at least," he grits out, ether pooling in his hands. "Unfortunately, though," Zelos straightens up, scoffs, "you lost me the moment you called me a fucking thing!"
As soon as Sheena lunges forward, Zelos, with a cry, releases the ether in his hands in a short blast that heats up the air directly around all five of them. It's meant to be disarming. Then, he moves quickly to gather that ether around Sheena's knife, setting it alight for her to do as she will with it. She can handle it.
Zelos sways. Discharging ether after the mess that just happened and his own leftover pain leaves him dizzy and with his vision swimming, veins slightly alight again with the manifested fire he has to keep and maintain, but he ignores it to summon his sword in a flash of bright, orange light. He's wasting ether fast, but their survival requires it, so before he can succumb to exhaustion Zelos pushes himself forward as well, over to swing at Anna's attacker with a broad slash, strong enough that it knocks them off their feet upon making contact with their weapon.