Platoshipping (Critias x Timaeus)

. . .

"I've won again, Critias."

Critias almost snarled at the tip of the practice blade that pointed at his forehead.

"I noticed," he snapped, smacking the blade aside with his gauntleted hand.

It was always hard to tell, but Timaeus might have half smiled, a pleased look flickering in his single open eye. The rest of his face remained as impassive as ever. Ugh. He was infuriating, always quiet and reserved and noble.

He ignored the hand that Timaeus offered to him and stood up on his own. He stabbed his sword into the ground—a childish display of frustration, but surprisingly satisfying. Again, Timaeus' lips quirked slightly.

Critias sent a half glare at the small crowd that had gathered at the edge of the training ground. They began to disperse immediately. It was no secret that Critias hated an audience, but few could resist coming by to watch two of the kingdom's greatest knights in a sparring match. They tried to leave before it was over so that Critias wouldn't notice, but he always did. Annoying people, looking for a show.

"You overextended yourself on that last slash," said Timaeus, as he passed Critias to replace his practice sword. "If you step too far forward from that angle, it's far too easy to throw you off balance."

Critias just grunted in response. But he didfile the information away in the back of his mind. He wasn't so petty as to be unable to take advice; being able to handle himself in battle was of the utmost importance to the kingdom, and he would be a poor knight not to take advice when it came from such a trustworthy source.

He just wasn't going to let Timaeus know that he was considering his advice.

And again, Timaeus' lips quirked upwards slightly. Critias scowled. He hatedwhen Timaeus made that face.

Timaeus' eyes slid over to watch the dispersing crowd of the townspeople who had stopped by to watch.

"Must you always scare them off?"

"We are not a sideshow," Critias snapped, stabbing his sword back into place. "We are the Knights of Atlantis."

"Isn't it good for them to see our strength? To be confident that we are constantly improving?"

"Mmm. You're too cheerful."

"You're too solemn. I suppose we make a good team, then."

Critias hmphed softly, but he half smiled.

"Perhaps," he said. "By the way, you forgot to have your sword checked after that last battle. I had it sent to the smithy already."

Timaeus glanced up from where he had been frowning and searching for his normal weapon on the racks. He blinked. And then a real, full smile crossed his face.

"Thank you," he said, nodding.

Critias shrugged.

"Come. It should be ready for you to use again. We should pick it up before we return to the court."

Timaeus nodded. He waited for a moment for Critias to fall into step beside him, and then began on his way. Critias glanced down at the shorter, quieter knight.

He had to smile.

Infuriating or not, they did make a rather good team, didn't they?

. . .

A/N: I...I don't even know. I'm sorry, this one is short and weird and not in depth, I just...I don't know. Writing these is getting harder and harder. Next is Platinumshipping (Pegasus x Kisara).