Through The Darkness Falling 22/?
Sequel to: Journey of Love
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Marcus and Neroon, or anyone else from
Babylon 5.
Authors notes: Rated PG-13. Contains slash: two males in a romantic/sexual (although not explicit) relationship. If this offends you please turn back now.
[…] Denotes thoughts
Honorable Combat
I extended my pike in my right hand, leaving it resting against the length of my body, merely watching Salic as he stepped backward from me. I was overjoyed to have my fighting staff with me once again as I twirled it in a few simple warm-up rotations. The Craedem continued to watch us in silence as Salic slowly took off his overcoat and folded it on a nearby bench. He stared at me for a moment before dropping his concealed weapons on the clothing as well. By the time he was finished the pile included a spare pike, a short-sword as well as a flying cutlass. I smirked in delight, thoroughly impressed by Salic's concealed arsenal. He watched me speculatively as I did the same, only including my PPG, poison cartridges and my dagger.
After retuning to the center of the courtyard solemnly we both took up positions facing the other. I snapped my denn'bok to attention with military precision, watching impassively as Salic followed suit. With a complex twirl, Salic maneuvered his pike into a fight-ready position as it crossed his body at an angle, locked at his elbow. Although I was taught by the best on Minbar, my fighting style was vastly different from the standard Minbari criterion of combat, as became evident in my fighting stance. Instead of the usual offensive stance I took up a defensive position, thereby taking my disadvantageous physical stature into account.
I am sure Salic observed all of this the few seconds we stood there before he ultimately attacked, but from his face he gave no clues as to his state of mind. He looked neither arrogantly overconfident nor disdainful at having to fight a human in a Minbari fighting challenge. In fact, Salic looked quite calm as he catalogued my fighting stance. When the fighting finally began it was Salic who made the first offensive move by trying to sweep my feet out from under me.
I jumped out of the way in time and swung my pike at his unprotected head, hoping to end this combat early on. Salic blocked at the last moment, bringing his pike vertical from the ground to strike me in the same movement as he knocked my pike aside. I was hit with a stinging slap on my left side, near my ribs, but I just shrugged off the discomfort and moved away slightly as Salic's denn'bok made a complicated defensive pattern between us, moving so fast that I was barely able to keep track of it's position. Suddenly Salic snapped an attack at my throat, which I blocked haphazardly. Our pikes continued to clash noisily for many minutes, sparks flying from the impact of metal on metal. I would attack and then defend, but I couldn't seem to get the upper hand. My only consolation was that Salic seemed to be in much the same boat. I was so immersed in our battle that I was unaware of the commotion around us until I heard Macarle scream out in pain.
I knocked Salic away harshly before turning toward the entrance of the tower, there I saw Neroon standing over Macarle menacingly, keeping the Minbari kneeling at his feet with an arm twisted in front of him.
"What the bloody hell?" I gasped shocked, for although I knew that Neroon would notice my absence soon and come after me, I figured I would have more time. When Macarle continued struggling futilely against Neroon's furious hold Neroon knocked him down viciously with a chop to the back of the neck. Macarle lay on the ground at Neroon's feet barely moving. Soon enough Neroon tried to move forward, only to be intercepted by the Craedem.
"Get out of my way." Neroon hissed, keeping his temper barely. He continued to look at me menacingly, but could get no further. Just as it looked like he was about to be attacked, leaders from all of the Warrior Caste Clans entered, backing up Neroon. While I was busy watching my mate growl threateningly at the warriors quickly surrounding him on all sides, Salic was watching the proceedings with something near anticipation. "Just what the hell are you playing at, Marcus?"
"I'm trying to save your bloody life, you ungrateful prat!" I snapped sharply, glaring at the enraged warrior. I noticed Malinar, Shamar and Maiko in the crowd watching the Craedem cautiously.
"By getting yourself killed?" Neroon snarled. Before I could answer, Salic thought it would be a good time to interrupt.
"I have no intention of killing the Anla'shoc, Neroon." He explained calmly, ignoring the bruise that covered the left side of his face. "It was not Denn'Sha that Marcus asked for. No in fact we have come to a deal of sorts."
"A deal?" Neroon calmed slightly, as I held my breath. "What kind of deal?"
"If I am to loose, I have promised the full support of the Craedem to you, but if I win, Marcus steps down as Alit as well as your mate."
"You agreed to this?" Neroon asked me monotonously.
"Yes." I answered softly, barely getting the words out due to the golf ball-sized lump in my throat.
"Why?" He asked softly in return. I gazed into his eyes, silently conveying all the love and loyalty I had for him before answering calmly. "I could not take the chance of you getting killed."
It seemed the right answer, because Neroon's murderous expression softened slightly, although he looked no less dangerous.
"Make sure you win, then." Neroon answered impassively, standing stiffly off to the side.
"I plan to." I assured Neroon arrogantly, flashing him a quick smirk before turning back to my opponent.
Sequel to: Journey of Love
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Marcus and Neroon, or anyone else from
Babylon 5.
Authors notes: Rated PG-13. Contains slash: two males in a romantic/sexual (although not explicit) relationship. If this offends you please turn back now.
[…] Denotes thoughts
Honorable Combat
I extended my pike in my right hand, leaving it resting against the length of my body, merely watching Salic as he stepped backward from me. I was overjoyed to have my fighting staff with me once again as I twirled it in a few simple warm-up rotations. The Craedem continued to watch us in silence as Salic slowly took off his overcoat and folded it on a nearby bench. He stared at me for a moment before dropping his concealed weapons on the clothing as well. By the time he was finished the pile included a spare pike, a short-sword as well as a flying cutlass. I smirked in delight, thoroughly impressed by Salic's concealed arsenal. He watched me speculatively as I did the same, only including my PPG, poison cartridges and my dagger.
After retuning to the center of the courtyard solemnly we both took up positions facing the other. I snapped my denn'bok to attention with military precision, watching impassively as Salic followed suit. With a complex twirl, Salic maneuvered his pike into a fight-ready position as it crossed his body at an angle, locked at his elbow. Although I was taught by the best on Minbar, my fighting style was vastly different from the standard Minbari criterion of combat, as became evident in my fighting stance. Instead of the usual offensive stance I took up a defensive position, thereby taking my disadvantageous physical stature into account.
I am sure Salic observed all of this the few seconds we stood there before he ultimately attacked, but from his face he gave no clues as to his state of mind. He looked neither arrogantly overconfident nor disdainful at having to fight a human in a Minbari fighting challenge. In fact, Salic looked quite calm as he catalogued my fighting stance. When the fighting finally began it was Salic who made the first offensive move by trying to sweep my feet out from under me.
I jumped out of the way in time and swung my pike at his unprotected head, hoping to end this combat early on. Salic blocked at the last moment, bringing his pike vertical from the ground to strike me in the same movement as he knocked my pike aside. I was hit with a stinging slap on my left side, near my ribs, but I just shrugged off the discomfort and moved away slightly as Salic's denn'bok made a complicated defensive pattern between us, moving so fast that I was barely able to keep track of it's position. Suddenly Salic snapped an attack at my throat, which I blocked haphazardly. Our pikes continued to clash noisily for many minutes, sparks flying from the impact of metal on metal. I would attack and then defend, but I couldn't seem to get the upper hand. My only consolation was that Salic seemed to be in much the same boat. I was so immersed in our battle that I was unaware of the commotion around us until I heard Macarle scream out in pain.
I knocked Salic away harshly before turning toward the entrance of the tower, there I saw Neroon standing over Macarle menacingly, keeping the Minbari kneeling at his feet with an arm twisted in front of him.
"What the bloody hell?" I gasped shocked, for although I knew that Neroon would notice my absence soon and come after me, I figured I would have more time. When Macarle continued struggling futilely against Neroon's furious hold Neroon knocked him down viciously with a chop to the back of the neck. Macarle lay on the ground at Neroon's feet barely moving. Soon enough Neroon tried to move forward, only to be intercepted by the Craedem.
"Get out of my way." Neroon hissed, keeping his temper barely. He continued to look at me menacingly, but could get no further. Just as it looked like he was about to be attacked, leaders from all of the Warrior Caste Clans entered, backing up Neroon. While I was busy watching my mate growl threateningly at the warriors quickly surrounding him on all sides, Salic was watching the proceedings with something near anticipation. "Just what the hell are you playing at, Marcus?"
"I'm trying to save your bloody life, you ungrateful prat!" I snapped sharply, glaring at the enraged warrior. I noticed Malinar, Shamar and Maiko in the crowd watching the Craedem cautiously.
"By getting yourself killed?" Neroon snarled. Before I could answer, Salic thought it would be a good time to interrupt.
"I have no intention of killing the Anla'shoc, Neroon." He explained calmly, ignoring the bruise that covered the left side of his face. "It was not Denn'Sha that Marcus asked for. No in fact we have come to a deal of sorts."
"A deal?" Neroon calmed slightly, as I held my breath. "What kind of deal?"
"If I am to loose, I have promised the full support of the Craedem to you, but if I win, Marcus steps down as Alit as well as your mate."
"You agreed to this?" Neroon asked me monotonously.
"Yes." I answered softly, barely getting the words out due to the golf ball-sized lump in my throat.
"Why?" He asked softly in return. I gazed into his eyes, silently conveying all the love and loyalty I had for him before answering calmly. "I could not take the chance of you getting killed."
It seemed the right answer, because Neroon's murderous expression softened slightly, although he looked no less dangerous.
"Make sure you win, then." Neroon answered impassively, standing stiffly off to the side.
"I plan to." I assured Neroon arrogantly, flashing him a quick smirk before turning back to my opponent.