A/N: Bella helps Regulus practice for the upcoming fencing tournament. Muggle!AU. RxR. FxF.
Submission for:
Table Pong - Fanfiction Style! Partnership Writing: (dialogue) "Do you want it to impale you?"
THE GREAT AND EXCITING 100TH CHALLENGE!: #53 - Success
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Do you want it to impale you?" Bellatrix asked with a frown as she held the epee out towards her cousin, Regulus.
"No, Bella," Regulus said, eyeing her hand warily. He knew she wouldn't hesitate to drive that blade straight into his body if she could. How happy he was that their swords were guarded.
"Then actually try to dodge the bloody thing," she screamed, lunging towards him as he clumsily jumped back.
Regulus panted as he tried to parry against his cousin. There was an upcoming match between their school and Beauxbatons. Regulus needed a bit of help and he reluctantly asked Bellatrix. Bellatrix was great at fencing, but then again, she loved anything that gave her an outlet for her violent tendencies.
"Stop running and actually attack. You can't win if you don't land any hits," she screeched as she pushed him further back on the platform. She was right, but it was so hard to go up against someone like her who had two years' experience on him.
"I'm trying," he shouted, twisting his epee about him while trying to find a weak spot, but Bellatrix had none. Bellatrix was as good as defence as she was at offense, always keeping her body tucked in and turned to the side. She moved fluidly, always avoiding his attacks, as she drove through with hers.
She tapped the front of his mask forcefully and the buzzer was heard overhead. "My point," she grinned, before stepping back to the starting line. Regulus fumed. This was hopeless.
"Maybe you need a bit more motivation, Reggie," Bellatrix said as she took off her own mask. What was Bellatrix up to? "Take off yours."
Naive Regulus took off his, tossing it to the side as she did hers. She reached up and plucked the little guard off the tip of her epee. Then she got into a fighting stance and shouted, "Begin," stalking towards him without prior warning.
Regulus yelled as she advanced on him. Bellatrix was a madwoman. "Mr Riddle always says to stay protected, Bella."
"What Mr Riddle doesn't know, won't hurt him. But keep talking and it will hurt you," she said as she jabbed at his exposed face.
Regulus fought for his life, well not his life. Bellatrix wasn't going to kill him, but a naggling voice in the back of his mind wouldn't let him completely throw off the idea. There was a manic gleam in her eyes which the mask had previously hidden, sparkling madly as she cackled in delight.
He blocked every one of her attacks though, knowing one wrong move would result in a large gash across his face or his eye being poked out. Bellatrix was taking no care in his protection. But he couldn't deny that he was fighting better than he had been all afternoon.
He parried, blocked an attack and slashed his epee towards his cousin. The side of his blade gave her a nasty cut across her cheek, from the corner of her mouth.
They both froze in shock. Regulus' mouth fell open, his hand almost dropping his blade but remembering still not to lose his guard around his cousin, especially when she was probably on the verge of an all-out killing spree.
Bella slowly rose her hand to the corner of her mouth. The cut was now red, fat drops of blood seeping and pooling in the little dip of her lips. She withdrew her hand and stared at the crimson liquid, then she grinned at him. "You're learning." She walked back to her starting line and said, "Again!"
Regulus shook his head and took a shaky breath as he put himself on guard again. His tiny moment of success was over. He couldn't wait for this practice session to be over.