Summary: An experienced warrior's initial impression of a reluctant, moody, young demi-god.
Character: Draco ... Well, as if I'd bother writing about anyone else - duh !
A/N: inspired by that scene in the forest, where Draco first spars with Perseus and assesses his fighting skills.
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Like A Sting On A Wasp ...
Perseus ... They say he's a demi-god. The son of Zeus.
He claims to be the son of Spyros, a humble fisherman and that the gods stole his family away from him. And he despises them for it. Loathes them with a passion.
Since man foolishly declared war upon the deities - ridiculed and disrespected them - Hades demanded a sacrifice to appease Zeus. The blood of our greatest, most beloved treasure ... the princess, Andromeda. And now, to save her from the Kraken, we have to rely upon this fisherman's adopted son ... To place our trust, our hopes and our lives in the hands of a mere child with no experience of battle or war. And it's fallen upon me - a senior member of the Royal Honour Guard - to teach him the art of warfare and defence ... To train a mere youth who's never handled a sword ... because there'd been no need.
But now there is a great need ... My people and my princess depend upon it. They rely on me - a man they perceive as a cold, callous, heartless bastard, who never smiles - and my men, to make things right.
Before we spar, I tell him the weapon's a part of him ... Like a sting on a wasp ... I warn him to stay focused. To know what's around him. To keep his balance at all times. Because should he fall, he'll die - and the rest of us with him ...
And that's when I attack. After several parries, I soon discover the rumours are true, when I'm swiftly disarmed. Me ... Draco, Captain of the Honour Guard. A man who lives by and depends upon his trusted blade, bested by an inexperienced, young whelp.
As I feel the sharp point of Perseus' sword rest against my bare throat, I finally acknowledge him with a grudging respect.
"There is a god in you ... Be sure to bring it ..."
Finis