(A/N: Inspired by the line 'blades don't need reloading'. I do not ship this.)

They spent hours at it, at Kratos's (Lord Yggdrasill's) insistence. Cold steel clashed and rang as two men blurred almost beyond seeing, attacking one another with a ferocity that seemed dangerous to anyone watching. It was, in fact, highly controlled and well-managed; they danced almost an identical pattern to the previous round, and to the one preceeding that, and to all the skirmishes they'd had in the past month.

Then Zelos stepped in when he should have stepped out, and immediately Kratos's blade was at his throat, the battle suddenly frozen. As the younger an blinked a thin rivulet of sweat out of his eye, he said carefully, "Yield."

Kratos withdrew, lowering his sword and looking away.

Zelos ran a hand through his hair, drawing it away from his face, and asked, "Are we finished now?"

Kratos looked over him; Zelos's posture was slumped forward slightly, and he was breathing heavily, and his knuckles were white. The older man frowned to himself and sheathed his own sword, replying, "Fine."

Zelos threw his blade down onto the grass and sat down heavily next to it, sighing, "Why do we have to do this so much?"

"Lord Yggdrasill commands it."

"That's all you ever say."

"That is the only answer ever required." Kratos's tone grew more firm as he said that, and he was rewarded with another sigh from the young Chosen.

"Fine, old man."

He had no patience for this. Kratos walked away, just some small distance, and drew his sword again, beginning to practice forms with his back to the redhead.

Zelos remained in his seated position for a few moments, glaring sullenly at the ground. He scuffed at it with his toe, listening to Kratos's blade slice through the air, and not for the first time wondered what the angel was thinking. Ever.

Regardless, he didn't care. And he wasn't going to stand for this. With a heavy sigh, he plucked his sword from its fallen position and rounded on the other man.

With a clash of steel on steel the two reengaged, and the dance went on.