( All the while, he never takes his burning green gaze off of Phantom; never paying mind to the humming above his head. He can't afford to be distracted. )

( He has little idea what on earth the other is talking about; all he knows in that moment is the terror, both for himself and for his partner, who's just coming to after the fall from earlier. )

( He sends them a silent signal; to /run./ But where to? Kirin's just as cornered. )

( He's forced to stop, facing the menace; his expression still twists into a burning scowl, but the look of /fear/ in his eyes betrays him. He was built for the task of seeking and destroying, but never before had /he/ been the one hunted, and it terrifies him. )

N... Never. I won't go quietly.

... I can tell that the weight of battle and its aftermath is heavy on your shoulders sometimes. I know that it does for myself.

The best we can do for Maestro is to help them carry such a weight. Perhaps one day, they'll be willing to emerge again, since they know that...