Poetry [ongoing]

Armor (free verse, inspired by Six of Crows)

[This poem is from Kaz to Inej, both characters from the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. The photo is a teaser for the upcoming Netflix series Shadow and Bone, which will feature these characters, with Jesper, Inej, and Kaz from left to right. 

March 29, 2021]

CW: mentions of blood, injuries, PTSD; also, vague Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom spoilers

Armor

I've looked at you a thousand times.

I don't remember the day I stopped

seeing a spy, a wraith, a shadow in the night

and started seeing you.

We've all had our fair share of pain.

I see the light that blazes in your eyes,

a flame kindled by rage, the only thing

that keeps you on your feet.

How can you look at me and stand your ground

when so many have run away?

How can you look at my bare hands

without seeing the blood on them?

You fear I'll leave you if you're broken,

but I was broken long ago.

We're both shards of who we were,

with wounds that never fully healed.

I speak of contracts, of investments,

but we both know the truth:

you will never belong to me.

Your fate is in your hands, not mine.

I want you to have your freedom,

but deep inside me is a darker voice

begging you to stay.

I don't want to be alone again.

You look me in the eyes and ask me

to stand before you without armor.

I thought that armor made me strong,

but without it, I'm nothing.

I've felt my leg shatter under me,

felt the agony of skin on skin,

but nothing ever compared to

knowing I could have lost you.

So I'll run, I'll walk,

I'll crawl to your side.

If I have to drag myself

through hell, I'll find you again.

We are stronger than we were,

and every day is a battle

that we will fight together.

I am your armor, and you are mine.