Wings in the Dark

Chapter 16: Inevitabilities

(Several Months Later)

*Reader's POV*

"Don't pull your punches--you wouldn't if this was real, and we need to be sure you can do this if you have to. It's not like it will actually hurt me if you get me--we're training with metal for a reason. At worst I might be out for an hour or so."

"The last time you were 'out' it was for a few days."

"Last time I was injured, exhausted, starving, and he was using wood. Besides, even if the blade gets me I don't think that's one of the injuries that would knock me out. It would just hurt like a bitch for a while until it healed up."

"You're still not supposed to actually hurt someone in training. Which is what you're telling me to do."

"Don't pull the punch...you hear the irony of that, too, right?"

"Tch."

"I appreciate the concern, but really, Captain, don't worry about seriously hurting me if you make contact, I'll be okay."

You were circling back into the at-the-ready position for a spar, as Levi flipped the blade in his hand back from his usual reverse grip to a front facing one.

He wasn't trying to slash someone with this training, he was trying to pierce straight to the heart. You were certain he was perfectly capable of decapitation if he wanted to, but this was a little different.

Well, he was probably perfectly capable of an accurate stab as much as a slash, even if he usually held his blades in a reverse grip that wasn't as ideal for stabbing. But there was also the added resistance of a vampire of significant strength and speed greater than his. This was something the two of you needed to practice, no matter how silly it sounded that Captain Levi, Humanity's Strongest, needed to practice stabbing something.

Plus, he'd already commented that the knife you were using wasn't his first choice, one that was longer than the little switchblades or smaller knives he had hidden on his person even now outside of the Underground, and significantly smaller than the blades you used on Titans. You'd chosen it because it was about the length and weight of a standard whittled stake, and was close to something he'd actually handle if he was actively trying to kill a vampire.

Actually, now that you thought about it, with all those wooden knives you'd used in training back in the Cadet Corps, it was a good thing you'd been significantly stronger and faster than anyone in the cadets, since one wrong move could have meant death for you if you'd been distracted and they'd been capable.

Oh, the things you realized with a bit of reflection.

Once more, the two of you fell into an at-the-ready position, that serious glint in Levi's eyes returning to tell you that he was focused entirely on the task at hand, and ideally, he wouldn't be holding back this time.

You wanted to make sure he could actually spear someone at your level if he needed to, which meant no pulling punches. Even if it meant you took a blade to the heart. You were well-fed and energized, and you were confident your healing was up-to-par for a steel blade anywhere in the chest. You'd be fine. So, you wanted him to come after you--really come after you, to be sure.

You didn't have to tell him how to stab someone in the heart. It was just a matter if he could get through a vampire's defenses in a full-fledged fight.

Levi wasn't moving first, which had you smiling on the inside. He wouldn't move faster than a vampire, so he was letting you come to him. He was definitely learning, at least that was certain.