For Zuko

[noblerworld]

Seifer spent a lot of his time sparring. Partly as part of his training and preparations but partly because he just enjoyed it. Whether it was with Zell or Luke or Arya; just the testing of strength, the battle of abilities, the thrill of winning, it all delighted him. Of his regular partners though, perhaps the one he most enjoyed sparring with was Zuko. The other teen was as close to an equal as anyone he'd met since Squall; ambitious, strong, quick and utterly unwilling to either quit or settle for second best.

They were evenly matched in both talent and stubbornness, so their spars tended to be lengthy affairs, dragging on for a while until one or the other managed to gain an advantage.

This one, Seifer thought as he dodged away from his bare chested opponents wicked two sword sweep, was no exception.

Comments

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer grinned as the blows came, until he landed on the ground, spitting blood and with a black eye and a busted lip already emerging and then the grin faded.

This was quickly becoming a real beating, and yet it didn't occur to Seifer to be afraid, didn't occur to him to run, didn't even occur to him that he'd lost a friend here. He just stood straight and tried his best to dodge, tried his best to counter, tried his best to remain standing until his body gave way comppletely.

[irisewiththesun.livejournal.com]

Zuko's several more blows in before he starts getting control of himself, the cloud of blind rage lifting enough for him to realize he needs to stop before he gets Seifer to the point he can't walk, or worse.

Panting, he pushes into a backflip, then another flip sideways, putting some distance between himself and Seifer. He stands with his fists clenched at his sides and glares, and now that he's more or less immobile he's feeling the wound in his chest more than ever. It hurts.

"What were you thinking?" he spits out, even though he can't think of any possible justification he'll accept.

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer could explain that it was meant as a mark of respect. That it was a sign of how formidable Zuko was, that getting through his guard was a moment worth memorialising permanentally. That he wouldn't take any offense to anyone scarring him, so it didn't occur to him that the reverse wasn't true.

But he didn't feel like saying any of that.

So he just looked up at Zuko, one eye half closed involunatrily where he'd been punched, and said.

"It looks good on you."

[irisewiththesun.livejournal.com]

"How can you say that?" Zuko yells back, the pain continuing to bleed through gradually more as his adrenaline subsides. "What are you trying to prove, Seifer? Huh? What made you think I'd want another scar when getting the first one was such a great experience?" His voice at the end is venomous, dripping with sarcasm, and Zuko is having to work too hard to hold himself back physically to bother with the volume of his voice.

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer's pretty sure he has no idea how Zuko got that scar. He doesn't think he ever cared enough to ask.

He still doesn't care now and he doesn't need to explain himself to Zuko. His own anger and pain were coming to the surface, as well. He'd just had the shit beaten out of him and that was starting to matter.

"Guess I thought you were tougher than you are."

[irisewiththesun.livejournal.com]

Seifer's not the first to try and get a rise out of Zuko by questioning his capabilities. He still remembers the Agni Kai with Zhao like it was yesterday. He's already hot, though, and an instant later his broadswords are back in his hands, one of them pointed straight at Seifer. "You have no idea," he growls, starting to back away, and as he connects his swords and sheathes them he has to work not to wince.

"No idea," he repeats, then turns and starts to stalk away, in the direction of the compound.

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer watched him go, and then, after enough time had passed, he picked up his own weapon and headed off towards the compound himself.