The Arcana: Fragments

XII: Jokes on You

Julian x Asra x Reader

Asra growled in frustration, "Don't chop at the damn thing, it's not a sword!". Stifling laughter I watched as Julian struggled to remove the spear from the hay bale he practiced his sparring with. I was grateful I had convinced Asra to train Julian for the upcoming colosseum fight, but Julian was proving to be more difficult to train than necessary. "Well you know what else isn't a sword? This thing! Perhaps it might have occurred to you that I have no interest in fighting with spears, or can you not tell?", Julian released his grip on the spear, kicking the bale in frustration. He threw off the chest plate and helmet, "And these stupid, constricting, useless pieces of iron! Damn them all!"

Asra rested his hands on his hips and threw his head back to look up at the sky. From the look on his face I could tell he was debating the point of even living. Looking over at me sitting on the empty bench he managed a small grin. I returned it in encouragement, to which he groaned and approached Julian. "Fine, lets try things your way. Strip", Asra ordered. Julian went beet red at the command. "I-.. sorry, what? If I heard you right you told me-.."

"Strip", Asra said again.

Julian became a nervous, stammering mess. He looked over Asras shoulder to stare directly at me. I shrugged my shoulders in equal confusion. "Ugh, for goodness sake", Asra spun Julian around and began roughly removing the armor from his body, tossing it in several directions into the surrounding woods. I smirked at the fact that Julian was biting his lower lip in certain obvious distress.

Once finished, all that remained were the gauntlets that covered Julian's arms, leaving his chest bare and exposed save for the leather straps that held his gauntlets in place. Wanting to be of some use, I stood and approached the weapon table that held every weapon imaginable, from sai blades to arakhs to throwing stars. Observing the options before me I decided on two intricately steel carved daggers, deciding he might like these best.

I approached the two, their bodies both gleaming with sweat. "Why don't you give these a try, handsome?", I teased. Julian blushed even redder, sheepishly looking at me and Asra. "Sure, alright", he agreed. Asra smiled, "A good choice, y/n", he kissed my cheek and gently guided me away from the sparring space.

"Don't hurt him too much", I winked at Asra.

"I don't know, I think he'd like it", he raised an eyebrow at Julian curiously.

"Would you, Julian?", I asked.

Julian just stood there, unsure who to look at. Asra and I burst out laughing.

"Perhaps you need some encouragement", Asra lunged forward, threatening Julian with a blade of his own. It came dangerously close to his neck, Julian's throat bobbed as he swallowed nervously before a mischievous smile formed on his lips.

"This shouldn't be humorous, if this were real you'd be dead", Asra noted. "The jokes on you", Julian replied coolly.

I gasped as I glanced down and noticed what was happening between Julians legs. Confused, Asra looked back at me as I covered my mouth. Taking the advantage the doctor swooped down on his knee and kicked the magicians feet out from under him. He fell back into the ground with a hard thump.

"The joke being?", Asra hissed angrily, beginning to stand. Julian now pointed his blade at Asras neck, making him settle back to the ground slowly and deep down I could hear the sound of Asras pride being broken instantly.

"Well, now I'm horny", Julian said.

After a brief moment of silence between the three of us, we all eventually fell to the floor in a fit of uncontrollable laughing. Eventually, Asra had decided he was ready for the fight, "All that work I put in for you, Ilya, and all you needed was to be half naked and armed with butter knives".

[06.22.2019]