ARISTOS ACHAION // Awesamdude X Reader

15

The tapered heads of your spears slotted together as Sam pushed back against your spear, not sparing any of his strength as he shunted you backwards. You skidded to the edge of the painted circle on the floor, trying to dig your heels into the planks. Wrenching your spear back, you just barely stopped yourself from exiting the circle, ducking under Sam's arm and darting back to the middle.

He flipped the spear in his hand turning around to square up against you again. "Remember, the end of the spear isn't the only part you can utilize in a fight - the staff is your main asset here."

You nodded, squaring up as Sam rushed you again, slamming the handle of his spear into yours like you were fighting with staffs. You had been sparring for a good while - sweat had built up on your brow and the back of your neck for the exertion needed to fight Sam off time and time again. This much strenuous physical activity surely wasn't helping the healing process of your cuts, but you were pleased to say that you were learning your way around the spear that Sam had handed you.

Sam seemed pleased at your progress as well, praising you when your instincts had you block blows and when you would land a hit on him (not as often as you would have liked - but you still got a couple blows in). If this had been a real fight, you would have been easily outmatched, but it wasn't and Sam kept the tips coming as you sparred on.

"Try using the back end of it as well." He said, pivoting around you and hitting you with the butt of his spear - not too hard, but hard enough that you stumbled a half step forward. "Any blows you can land - even if they're not deadly - you should. They'll wear him down."

"Right." You said, spinning back around to face Sam head on, catching the handle of his spear with the handle of your own. Your arm strained at the effort, but you paid it no mind - there would be time to rest later, but you were going to get the most out of sparring with Sam now.

Sam was ready for you, sliding your spear down the edge of his and freeing his own, bringing it up to quickly whip the head of the spear in your direction. You ducked your head, letting the tip of the spear pass through the air where your nose had been. Sensing an opportunity, you lunged out with your spear, hitting Sam in the leg with the butt end.

Sam glanced down as the metal connected with his thigh, stepping back. "Good job." He said, spinning around to wind up for his next attack. "Keep up that sort of thing."

The praise made you grin as you dropped to your knees, letting the blow Sam had started make your hair flutter in a breeze instead of hitting you right across the middle. From a lower vantage point now, you swept your spear upwards, hoping to catch Sam off guard.

You should have known better.

A strong kick sent your spear flying out of your hand, clattering to the floor outside the ring. In the same movement the head of Sam's spear found it's place under your chin, the sharpened edge hovering dangerously closed the soft flesh of your neck. Looking down at you, Sam huffed out a laugh. "Come on." He said. "Did you really think you could get me with that?"

The flat of the spearhead forced you to look up at him, your chest heaving from the heavy workout. "Perhaps." You said.

Sam grinned in earnest now, pulling his spear back and sticking out a hand for you to grab. You did, letting him pull you up off the ground with ease - it was like you weighed nothing to him. You weren't that surprised though - he had been one of the champions before he had been the warden, after all. Of course he would be ridiculously strong.

"Thank you." You said, brushing off the dirt that was clinging to you from the fall.

Sam just nodded, twirling his spear again, his eyes wandering over you for a moment, calculating. "You seem tired out, we could stop here-"

"One more go." You said, turning to fetch your spear from where it had gotten thrown across the ring."

"You're sure?"

You nodded, picking it up from the ground and tightening your grip around the handle again. "It's my life on the line here, I'd rather get as much preparation in as I can."

"Unfortunately so." Sam said, voice pensive.

It surprised you a little bit, that. With how many prisoners he saw die by the day, you would have though another life would have meant nothing to him, yet he had seemed genuine. Perhaps it was just that you had managed to defeat Diana - it would be a shame to waste such an uncommon occurrence.

Stuck in thought, you almost didn't notice Sam's approach, spear in hand as he charged with all the ferocity and grace of a lion going in for the kill.

Snapping back to reality, you dodged in the last possible moment, spinning your spear around to try and get a hit in while he was unsuspecting. It didn't work though - the butt of your spear didn't even get a chance to graze skin before Sam was twisting around and batting your spear away.

You were appreciative that he wasn't holding back on you, but letting you get at least one hit in would have been nice.

Still, you tried your best to whip back around as fast as you could, bringing your spear up into the block position. It was no use though, as Sam just used his own spear to lock the weapons together, using his superior strength to hold them out of the way, leaving you exposed to an attack.

You couldn't help but laugh when he headbutted you.