crabbysaint:

There was no way he was going to let his doubts and fears of the past keep him grounded any longer. Athena chose to bring him back for a reason, didn’t she? Whatever the hell that reason was, Deathmask supposed the only thing he could really do now was move forward. 

Though towards what was the question that kept the Cancer Saint awake in the late hours of the night, images of his past missions plaguing his mind and trying to lure him back into the same madness he had been pulled into before.

“R-Right…”

Whatever happened, he couldn’t let Shiryu figure out what was currently going through his head. Dohko would likely find out no matter what, but he doubted the old Saint would voice it in front of the kid. 

Why do I even care about what this brat thinks?

Maybe it was because of embarrassment, or perhaps out of shame in allowing the boy to rouse fear in his chest a second damned time. Deathmask sighed and gripped the straps of his Cloth box tightly, willing himself to take a step.

              ❖││✘ＲＩＳＩＮＧ ＤＲＡＧＯＮ✘││❖

                                                                         ^{Whatever managed to} HALT ^{the cancer saints movements prior, he slightly wished would do} WONDERS ^{on that contraption he called a mouth. However, Shiryu was quick to} DISMISS ^{his slightly building hostility but not enough to throw away his guard. For all he knew, Deathmask was still the} SAME SCUM ^{that turned his back on Athena & followed the} EVIL WILL ^{of a corrupted Saga. The track record that followed this saint was} REPULSIVE; ^{Why would he come all this way to see Dohko? Did he not figure he would be here?}

                  QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS.

                                                                         ^{But Shiryu would rather not fill their journey with unneeded small talk. He was not good at it & even if he was, having a conversations with} THAT MAN ^{just seemed to be even more of a} CHORE. ^{But, the more they walked & the longer he was allowed to} STEW ^{on his own closed minded thoughts, the more he began to RESENT his way of thinking. What redemption could be found if a chance wasn’t given? Shiryu slowed his movements; giving room for Deathmask to CATCH UP. He was not one for SMALL TALK.}

                                                                    ^{❛ I cannot help but WONDER, after this, where do you plan on going? Back to} GREECE? ^❜