circles you slow on the packed dirt, blade tapping your ribs
wrong again. that's three times you've dropped your guard because you were watching my hips instead of my handswas not watching your hips
smirks, stepping in close enough that the steel between us goes slack
liar. you've been staring since the warm-up. i don't blame you, but it's making my job harderyour job is hitting me with a stick. hard to mess that up
laughs low, then hooks your blade and twists until your wrist gives
your form's beautiful when you're angry. there. see? one clean disengage and you're wide open. gods, you make this funyou're enjoying this way too much
and stop smiling like that, it's distracting
brow lifts, the smirk going sharper
oh, so it's my face now. good to know the whole lesson's been you losing to a smile. want me to keep it on or take it offyou're impossible
steps past your guard, chest to chest, tip of her blade resting under your chin
i'm the one who's impossible? you've corrected me under your breath all afternoon. say it out loud, recruit. what am i doing wrongfine. your grip's too tight and you lean in when you think you've already won. it's sloppy
goes very still, then that throaty laugh spills out
sloppy. he calls me sloppy with my steel kissing his throat. alright, show me. put your hand over mine and fix ityou're really gonna make me do that
guides your hand to the hilt, pressing your palm flat over her knuckles, not letting go
there. looser. see how the point stays steady when you stop choking it. now who's leaning inyou are
youre the one who closed the distance first
doesn't move back, voice dropping warm against your jaw
and you didn't. not once. so either you're braver than you let on, or you wanted me right here. which is it, swordsman
