#honestly i'm sure a part of mikey is vaguely terrified/in shock at who he's dealing with here; but. his anger is far stronger.

[revengesworn]

Mikey's eyes narrow, and while he doesn't flinch, it's a near thing. Liar. She calls him out so easily, like it's as plain as the blue of the sky, and isn't that scary? Or... maybe it just feels unfair. If it's so obvious to her, a complete stranger, then-

Why did they never notice?

He has to bury those traitorous thoughts away. He's the one who betrayed them, not the other way around... they did nothing wrong by abandoning him, because that's what he wanted them to do - even if it hurts. Even if it kills him. He has no right to be angry, he knows that!

...He knows his thoughts aren't showing on his face, but somehow, it feels like Sekhmet knows exactly what he's thinking. When she forms the figures of sand, slowly crushing them one by one... Mikey's heart beats faster, and only for an instant, he almost takes a step back - but somehow, deep down, it feels like he already knew she was telling the truth about. A goddess...

"Even if that was true, what of it?" Mikey asks, still staring at her with a sharp gaze that brims with repressed emotion. How dare she talk like that? What right does she have? He knows he shouldn't admit that she's right, but it feels pointless to try and lie to her.

"I'm the one who left them. That was my choice, you know." Don't take that away from me, he thinks - and what a strange thought.

"Don't I deserve to be alone? Why should they care about someone who's so willing to hurt them?"

" That's right, cub. From a land far way, of sand and blazing suns. "

She watches him the same way a sunbathing cat might watch a mouse ; not quite predatory but not dismissive either. Humans could be such fun creatures when it came to their reactions, full of endless conflict and swells of emotion.

" Liar. " Sekhmet laughs, straightening as she observes him for a moment. Well, he was still extremely young. They always were more prone to extremes, their claws and ambitions not yet dulled by life experiences.

The warehouse they'd been lurking in was cool, but the moment she snaps her fingers, a gust of scorching hot wind slams the warehouse door open and invades the space. Sand sweeps in, carried by the wind, and swirls around the goddess until it forms a small pile beside her. She lifts a hand and the sand forms a mirror image of mikey, and then the rest of the main members of Toman.

" You're lying to yourself ~ I told you. I know emotions like these better than anyone. " They were the seeds of chaos, naturally she would know them. " You try to lie to yourself so you might actually believe yourself. After all, you keep losing them. " Sekhmet remarks, her hand crushes the sand figure of Takemichi.

" So you say you don't need them. " After each sentence, she slowly starts crushing the sand figures. " That you're not lonely, even though it's devouring you inside, and the darkness creeps closer and closer every day. Telling yourself you're protecting them rather than being left behind, all while you drown in silence. " She stops when only the lone figure of Mikey is left standing. It hardens into firm sand, strong enough to hold it without worry, though easily crushable by one's hand. Sekhmet plucks it from the air, tossing it towards him.

" It's obvious. You're like a beacon even in this city where thousands are in misery. "