A Dance With Death | Blade and Acheron HSR Fanfiction

3 - Two Different Dates

(Art by @honkaisr_ on Twitter)

Go out for drinks, they said, they'd chat about their respective missions and see if they could cooperate, they said. Well, here they were sitting across from each other, Acheron absentmindedly drinking while Blade just sat there, cross-armed and pouty faced, making sure the woman who knew his identity wouldn't suddenly spill.

"You haven't taken a sip of your drink."

"I've recently had a bad experience."

The woman set her drink down on the table and used a napkin to wipe some stains off her lips. After realizing that they were getting nowhere due to his silence and reserved nature, she'd be the one to start initiating a conversation.

"I've witnessed your swordplay on the news a couple of times. You're quite unique, you know? From the sword grip alone, I could tell a lot about your style."

Blade scoffed, feeling a bit insulted that someone could so easily deduce his fighting style simply by watching how he held a sword. "What do you know?" He challenged, hoping to prove her response incorrect out of nothing but pride.

"Sword kept behind the arm when idling is enough of a tell." Acheron replied quite confidently, her gaze locked with Blade's hoping that she'd get some approval from her knowledge. "Xianzhou Alliance. That stance is the baseline for the Sentinels' swordstyle there."

Blade's eyes widened slightly enough for him to try and hide his surprise, yet enough for Acheron to notice and smile knowing she was correct. "Cloud Knights, not 'Sentinels.'" Was the response she was met with, because Blade was trying to not 'lose' a pointless argument.

Upon realizing a potential opportunity to connect and to experience fighting against a potential equal, she offered Blade some practice for them both. "We should spar sometime. There's plenty of open space in Penacony's outskirts away from the central hub."

The request honestly did intrigue the Stellaron Hunter. After all, the only worthy practice he'd had for a while was the battle against Jingliu during the Quintet's reunion. Sparring against Kafka bored him due to her preference of range and mind games when it came to fighting Blade specifically, Silver Wolf's 'gaming' techniques confused him even if he'd win, and Sam fought like a deadly brute–efficient but no style.

Unfortunately he was already suffering from time constraints due to his obligation to his mission and the script. "I don't think I have time..." He said as he flicked his wrist to view the timer on his watch.

0 Hours, 54 Minutes, and 34 Seconds

...

No idiot, you do have time.

"...20 minutes at most then I'd have to leave for my mission."

Acheron stood up from the seat and nudged Blade to follow. His stoic demeanor betrayed his internal feelings–giddy and excited for a good fight. Acheron felt a similar way, although significantly more subdued than even Blade's emotions. They both sought a good fight and a display of skill's mastery, something that talented swordspeople seek.

.

.

.

Acheron led Blade to a rooftop on the Dream's Edge region of Penacony. Vast and open, very little property or architecture to unintentionally destroy, perfect for a battle between two masters. Blade stood on one edge facing outwards, the Shard Sword already having its sanguine sheen of blood and power. Acheron stood opposite, also facing outwards, knelt as she gripped her Odachi tight, but never unsheathing the blade.