A/N: Time to get down to the juicy stuff!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Malayian or the world in which they live.
Practicing in the Dark
Lucivar walked slowly through the gardens trying to clear his thoughts. It was late, and the crescent moon shone very little light onto the path in front of him. Lucivar didn't need the light though. His eyes glowed in the darkness as he inhaled the crisp scent of the early autumn night. The leaves had only just begun to change color, and it was still warm enough to enjoy a stroll through the garden's at night.
Lucivar turned a corner, and followed the path as it wound around to a section of the garden devoted to several courts, walled gardens that were mainly grass surrounded like flowers. If provided the observer a secluded area to sit and relax.
Lucivar's ears perked up as he heard a grunt coming from on of the courts. Curious as to who would be out at this time of night, he turned into the court and slipped into the shadows to watch the fighter who was going through a knife routine. He smiled to himself recognizing Malayian as she whirled around, stabbing at her invisible enemy.
Lucivar watched her finish the routine and begin an unarmed exercise, admiring the movements of her body as she twisted and kicked, cursing to herself when she made an error. So this was how she was improving so quickly. Lucivar had always been amazed by the way Malayian had lapped up all of his lessons. She was so eager to learn everything he had to teach her that she almost never argued with his instruction. Lucivar snorted softly to himself. She never argued unless he asked her to take a day off of course.
Malayian finished the run through in a defensive crouch, and Lucivar stepped out of the shadows applauding slowly. Malayian whirled around in surprise, arms up fight position.
"So now I know how you're become so good so fast," Lucivar told her, still applauding. He smiled at her look of surprise, and caught himself. Why did he smile so dammed much around her.
Malayian brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "I have to get better, and I don't have enough time during the day."
"You're very good," Lucivar allowed, wishing he had something else to tell her.
"Not good enough," she muttered under her breath.
"Not good enough for who?" Lucivar asked.
"For myself. I need to be able to beat you."
Lucivar wanted to laugh. "If that's you're goal, then you may never reach it."
Malayian smiled evilly. "Don't worry, Lucivar. I always reach my goals." Her voice saying his name sent a chill up his spine.
"Well would you like a partner to practice with. At least you could see how close you are to your goal," Lucivar offered.
Malayian hesitated for a moment. "Unarmed combat?"
"Alright," Lucivar conceded, recognizing that she had chosen her greatest strength. He stripped off his tunic, and stretched for a moment. "Until one of us is pinned."
Malayian growled. Lucivar had strength on his side in that, but she didn't argue.
Lucivar had to admit, as they began to fight, that Malayian might indeed one day meet her goal. She was extremely agile, and had become more so since he had first fought her. She ducked and spun out of his grasp time and time again, until he was gasping for breath. Finally he managed to push her to the ground, his legs straddling her hips he held her shoulders onto the ground, and no amount of wriggling could free her.
Lucivar laughed as she cursed, even though he was panting with exhaustion.
"Let…go….of me…you bastard," Malayian panted out. Lucivar smiled, but just continued to hold her down.
But instead of relaxing and waiting for him to decide that he could let her up, the way Jaenelle did, Malayian fought harder, her breath coming in fast pants as she thrashed beneath him. Confused, Lucivar caught her eye. He was startled to see true panic in their darkness. Then she began to tremble uncontrollably.
"L….Lucivar. Could you p…please let m…me up," Malayian begged. Still taken aback by her forceful reaction to being pinned, Lucivar released her. Malayian shot out from beneath him, turning away as she composed herself.
Lucivar rocked off of his knees onto the balls of his feet and stood up. He walked over to her and placed a hand on one shoulder. Malayian flinched and pushed it off forcefully. Sighing Lucivar stepped a bit away from her, trying to give her room to breath.
After a few moments Lucivar heard her breathing return to normal and felt that it was safe for him to speak.
"I take it this is part of the past you refuse to tell anyone about?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to tell me about it now."
There was no response.
"Malayian, you're in Kaeleer now. You can leave your past behind, but you'll never be able to if don't tell someone."
"My past is unimportant. No one cares," she spat out.
"Everyone here is getting over scars of the past, Malayian."
"Right!" she practically shouted, whirling to face him. "And they don't care about mine. My problems are no different from anyone else's here!"
"I care," Lucivar told her, wondering where these words were coming from. He'd never wanted to help any of the dejected refugees from Terrielle as much as he wanted to help this crazy ex-assassin now.
"Do you really want to hear about it?" Malayian asked him, sarcastically. "Do you really want to sit around and listen to all the annoying details of my disreputable life? Details that don't matter to anyone but me, because I'm insane and can't get past them?"
Smiling wryly, Lucivar caught her gaze. "Yes, I do." Malayian cursed. "Some inside," Lucivar said. "I'll make coffee and we can talk."
A/N: Yes, I am cruel enough to make you wait until nest time before I give you Malayian's past, but don't worry. I'm having far too much fun writing this to make you wait too long. This one was corny, I know, but I'm a romantic, what can I say. Keep reviewing please.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Malayian or the world in which they live.
Practicing in the Dark
Lucivar walked slowly through the gardens trying to clear his thoughts. It was late, and the crescent moon shone very little light onto the path in front of him. Lucivar didn't need the light though. His eyes glowed in the darkness as he inhaled the crisp scent of the early autumn night. The leaves had only just begun to change color, and it was still warm enough to enjoy a stroll through the garden's at night.
Lucivar turned a corner, and followed the path as it wound around to a section of the garden devoted to several courts, walled gardens that were mainly grass surrounded like flowers. If provided the observer a secluded area to sit and relax.
Lucivar's ears perked up as he heard a grunt coming from on of the courts. Curious as to who would be out at this time of night, he turned into the court and slipped into the shadows to watch the fighter who was going through a knife routine. He smiled to himself recognizing Malayian as she whirled around, stabbing at her invisible enemy.
Lucivar watched her finish the routine and begin an unarmed exercise, admiring the movements of her body as she twisted and kicked, cursing to herself when she made an error. So this was how she was improving so quickly. Lucivar had always been amazed by the way Malayian had lapped up all of his lessons. She was so eager to learn everything he had to teach her that she almost never argued with his instruction. Lucivar snorted softly to himself. She never argued unless he asked her to take a day off of course.
Malayian finished the run through in a defensive crouch, and Lucivar stepped out of the shadows applauding slowly. Malayian whirled around in surprise, arms up fight position.
"So now I know how you're become so good so fast," Lucivar told her, still applauding. He smiled at her look of surprise, and caught himself. Why did he smile so dammed much around her.
Malayian brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "I have to get better, and I don't have enough time during the day."
"You're very good," Lucivar allowed, wishing he had something else to tell her.
"Not good enough," she muttered under her breath.
"Not good enough for who?" Lucivar asked.
"For myself. I need to be able to beat you."
Lucivar wanted to laugh. "If that's you're goal, then you may never reach it."
Malayian smiled evilly. "Don't worry, Lucivar. I always reach my goals." Her voice saying his name sent a chill up his spine.
"Well would you like a partner to practice with. At least you could see how close you are to your goal," Lucivar offered.
Malayian hesitated for a moment. "Unarmed combat?"
"Alright," Lucivar conceded, recognizing that she had chosen her greatest strength. He stripped off his tunic, and stretched for a moment. "Until one of us is pinned."
Malayian growled. Lucivar had strength on his side in that, but she didn't argue.
Lucivar had to admit, as they began to fight, that Malayian might indeed one day meet her goal. She was extremely agile, and had become more so since he had first fought her. She ducked and spun out of his grasp time and time again, until he was gasping for breath. Finally he managed to push her to the ground, his legs straddling her hips he held her shoulders onto the ground, and no amount of wriggling could free her.
Lucivar laughed as she cursed, even though he was panting with exhaustion.
"Let…go….of me…you bastard," Malayian panted out. Lucivar smiled, but just continued to hold her down.
But instead of relaxing and waiting for him to decide that he could let her up, the way Jaenelle did, Malayian fought harder, her breath coming in fast pants as she thrashed beneath him. Confused, Lucivar caught her eye. He was startled to see true panic in their darkness. Then she began to tremble uncontrollably.
"L….Lucivar. Could you p…please let m…me up," Malayian begged. Still taken aback by her forceful reaction to being pinned, Lucivar released her. Malayian shot out from beneath him, turning away as she composed herself.
Lucivar rocked off of his knees onto the balls of his feet and stood up. He walked over to her and placed a hand on one shoulder. Malayian flinched and pushed it off forcefully. Sighing Lucivar stepped a bit away from her, trying to give her room to breath.
After a few moments Lucivar heard her breathing return to normal and felt that it was safe for him to speak.
"I take it this is part of the past you refuse to tell anyone about?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to tell me about it now."
There was no response.
"Malayian, you're in Kaeleer now. You can leave your past behind, but you'll never be able to if don't tell someone."
"My past is unimportant. No one cares," she spat out.
"Everyone here is getting over scars of the past, Malayian."
"Right!" she practically shouted, whirling to face him. "And they don't care about mine. My problems are no different from anyone else's here!"
"I care," Lucivar told her, wondering where these words were coming from. He'd never wanted to help any of the dejected refugees from Terrielle as much as he wanted to help this crazy ex-assassin now.
"Do you really want to hear about it?" Malayian asked him, sarcastically. "Do you really want to sit around and listen to all the annoying details of my disreputable life? Details that don't matter to anyone but me, because I'm insane and can't get past them?"
Smiling wryly, Lucivar caught her gaze. "Yes, I do." Malayian cursed. "Some inside," Lucivar said. "I'll make coffee and we can talk."
A/N: Yes, I am cruel enough to make you wait until nest time before I give you Malayian's past, but don't worry. I'm having far too much fun writing this to make you wait too long. This one was corny, I know, but I'm a romantic, what can I say. Keep reviewing please.