Chapter Text
Megatronus grinned as he studied Orion Pax’s movements. It was genuine in its nature, yet still appeared challenging.
He moved his larger frame with ease in every stride, avoiding Orion’s every pending blow. The unskilled librarian was quite agile. He even held a potential vigilance that the champion gladiator admired. Orion was relentless in his every move, each one calculated and paced. Orion was never one to be haste, even when it came to that of sparring. He was strategic and tactful, almost as if he acted merely with his intricate thoughts and his frame just happened to mirror them. Megatronus appreciated his determination.
“I must admit,” the gladiator began, even as the archivist spun his frame to throw his lower pede against Megatronus’s shin. “Your efforts are indeed admirable, my friend.”
Orion hummed deeply, “Perhaps I am ready to fight amongst your men.”
Megatronus had to laugh, “My men would crush you.”
The archivist mirrored Megatronus’s swift movements against him, letting his servo strike Megatronus with a commendable force as his frame spun to follow his back kick. Surprisingly, the gladiator found himself stumbling a few steps back.
“While I do not doubt that, I can assure you I would best their agility,” Orion humbly laughed.
His ability to counter was fluent and came naturally. It was no secret among the pair that Orion Pax could quite easily be taken down, but Megatronus delayed, for he enjoyed sparring with the librarian. The process of teaching was just as satisfying to Megatronus as learning was to Orion Pax. The gladiator had no intention of overwhelming Orion, instead he simply chose to mentor the curious archivist. Orion was surprisingly unpredictable, despite his lack of practice in the field. Although, every choice strike was steadfast. Some of which genuinely caught the gladiator off guard.
Megatronus always watched Orion carefully, however. He noticed the archivist's stance was off just shy of a micron. It was an undeniably amateur mistake that Megatronus had witnessed innumerable times while training. Unmindful of his mistake, Orion simply prepared another combination to use against Megatronus. As his fist shot toward the gladiator, a pede easily slipped between his own and a heavy grasp reached forward to twist the archivist’s fist until he spun around completely. Orion Pax felt all of the breath deep in his chassis escape his lips as he quickly felt his frame collide with the wall.
Megatronus smirked slightly, obviously pleased. It was an expression that Orion didn’t particularly appreciate.
“What was that about your agility?” Megatronus lightly taunted. His grip did not relent.
Orion huffed, struggling to move against Megatronus’s firm pin. He could feel those digits tighten around his frame, and his intakes caught in his throat. “I never said I could best you, Megatronus.”
“But you could best the ones I’ve spent strenuous eons training?” Megatronus questioned the archivist’s confidence.
Orion found himself smiling, “I could try.”