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Lohen thought it was ridiculous. It was like in Inazuman or Liyuan tales of old.
Having to prove your strength to someone’s parents in order to be allowed to date them…
As of late, it’s just a simple “hey, this is my partner.” and that’s it; parents don’t have a big say in it unless absolutely necessary, because it’s not their feelings but their child’s. Apparently it wasn’t like this in Nod-Krai, though… well, it probably was, just not for Illuga.
Nikita, the Starshyna of the Lightkeepers, was a man that is serious and strict when he needs to be, which is often, but he also appears as a man with a heart of gold. He cares deeply about his Ratniki, especially Illuga and Flins. They were special to him. Flins was so for reasons he refuses to disclose, and Illuga for the obvious reason that he's his son. Adoptive son, but son nevertheless. That's the whole reason why Lohen has to fight Nikita. He has to… fight… Nikita… the Starshyna of the Lightkeepers… to prove himself worthy to date his son…
Well, if that’s what it takes to keep Illuga, then he’ll just have to go for it!
The moment that Lohen had made it up to Piramida, eyes were on him. Of course, that kind of happens automatically when you’re not wearing the usual Ratniki uniform, but these stares felt like they had more weight, like the Lightkeepers present knew what was about to go down. Lohen didn’t bat an eye at this, opting to just head to the meeting point they agreed on when Nikita had demanded the duel. When he rounded the corner, his eyes instantly locked onto Illuga. He was standing there with a looming presence right next to him; the Starshyna. Lohen automatically went to stand next to his lover.
“Hi handsome,” He greeted him with a smug smile, standing close enough to take in every detail on the slightly shorter man’s face; the red in his eyes that surrounded his iris before it faded to blue, the birthmark, the dip of his nose, and the ever so slight dimples that showed as Illuga smiled nervously, his cheeks growing a little red at the name calling.
Illuga’s left eye squinted slightly as a gentle kiss was pressed on his cheek, making him feel a little flustered due to the affection but also due to second-hand embarrassment of his father standing right next to him, watching the interaction with narrowed eyes. “Please, be careful,” he muttered instead of returning a greeting, glancing at his lover from the corners of his eyes.
Lohen chuckled lightly. “Don’t you worry, birdie,” He brought a pointy finger to Illuga’s face and caressed his jawline as he moved to stand across from Nikita, ready for battle. “This is going to be easy…”
It was, in fact, not easy.
Lohen had very much underestimated this man. Yes, he knew that Nikita was the Starshyna for a reason other than wits, but he thought he’d at least be able to match his fighting prowess, but Lohen ended up almost only having to dodge, weave, and meet weapons with the Starshyna in order to not get injured. Two things crossed through the knight’s mind; One, Illuga hadn’t told him to be careful with Nikita, but to be careful with himself. Two, this man was an absolute beast.
They had a lot of onlookers, all Lightkeepers that wished to see their Starshyna put a battle hungry knight in his place. Of course, being the whole reason why this duel was even happening, Illuga remained there, as well. The few times that Lohen had been able to look at him, he found a frown on his face every single time. There was anxiety, worry and displeasure written in the frown. Lohen could understand why. The two people Illuga cared most about were taking each other head on in a fight at the moment, after all. Even if it was for Lohen to prove himself worthy of Illuga’s grace, he knows that his boyfriend doesn’t like seeing it, but a father's persistence can be as fierce as a knight’s.
But Lohen kept going for as long as this man wasn’t going to falter, either. If he didn’t win, he’d have to say goodbye to Illuga, and no way was he going to do that! Not after believing he was too intense for anyone, after accepting that he’d never find anyone and being fine with staying alone until his dying day, after meeting the captain of the Nightmare Orioles and finding his heart beating faster because of him, after endless teasing, banter and sparring, and after a confession, one that drowned out his former thoughts about relationships, allowing him to step blindly into one, giving him experiences he wouldn’t have accepted unless they were with Illuga. He’d have to keep going, lest he’d lose the only other thing that gives him as much joy and adrenaline as slaying countless monsters does.
When Lohen saw an opening, he swung, trying to land a hit, but it was blocked without an issue. Oh come on! Surely this man ought to get tired at some point!
Lohen blocked series after series of attacks, finding very little space to do something other than trying not to get hit, space that wasn’t long enough for him to do something with it. Though, now Lohen did see where Illuga got most of his fighting from. There were patterns he recognised, patterns he’d cancelled out and patterns he’d taken advantage of before, except now they were so extreme that he just couldn’t do anything but block and dodge.
After many intense minutes, Lohen could feel himself getting tired. That hasn’t happened in a long time… but why is he the only one!?
Nikita swung his weapon, forcing Lohen to bend down to dodge, but the weapon took a quick turn of action, and suddenly, Lohen found himself down on his knees, head of the weapon right in front of his face, close enough to haze, yet far enough to not touch.
“You’ve lost,” Nikita stated the obvious.
no.
The weapon retreated to the owner’s side.
no-
Glancing at Illuga, a silent sorrow was added to the frown he remained to hold.
he can’t have.
Lohen gripped his weapon tighter, planting a hand on the floor to push himself up. His heart was ramming up a storm in his chest, and he was panting. He felt a little woozy and tired, and he was trembling a little as he stood up. If his polearm was a person’s arm, he would’ve broken it in his hold. His feet shifted back into a battle stance and his polearm was pointed at the Starshyna. “Again!” he demanded. He couldn’t feel a smile on his face like he usually had when he wanted another round. His eyebrows were set in an angry frown that he couldn’t blink away. “Again! Come on, again!”
“Lohen-” Illuga started but was cut off.
“I said again!” Lohen shouted.
He could just grab Illuga and run away, but no. That’d be the pathetic way out, and he couldn’t succumb to something so weak. Nikita is a formidable foe, but he has to win this. He lost now, but next round he’ll win. If not, then the next next round, or the round after, or the rou-
A big, firm hand placed itself on Lohen’s shoulder, snapping himself out of his furious thoughts. “Boy,” Nikita’s voice spoke right in front of him, in close proximity, making Lohen look up at him with that mad look of his. “You have lost the battle,” he repeated the outcome of the duel, but in a different tone, a tone that was lighter than when he said it before. “I have seen enough; you are worthy to be Illuga’s partner,”
. . . what ?
A smile formed on Nikita’s face as he watched how Lohen took in the words, and as his fury dissipated to make place for disbelief. The Starshyna laughed before explaining; “I have seen more than enough people fight in my time as a Lightkeeper. People’s emotions are most obvious when focused on the enemy and how to survive to see another day,” he said, his voice growing gentle. “This duel was a test of strength, and a test of courage. I already knew you were a special case, and you are- you lasted the longest of all people I have sparred with… But I could see your determination to win, your devotion to stay by Illuga’s side even as you couldn’t land a single hit. It’s clear to me that my son means more than what a human being could describe to you, and therefore, I cannot take him from you, even if I wanted to,”
Lohen stared at the smile on the Starshyna’s face, his words registering one by one, but when they did, he let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. His weapon disappeared from his hands, willing itself back into his Vision, and for a few seconds, he was awfully aware of the fact that he was breathing.
His actions made Nikita laugh. His hand retreated, placing itself on the older man’s hip, instead. “Haha, the Grandmaster didn’t tell me you’d be so faint!”
He was not, in any world, faint. After a short moment, Lohen found himself back. He sighed and stood up straight. “Thank you, Starshyna Nikita,” he said, truly grateful for the man’s decision. Though… “I still want another round,”
“Huh?” Nikita’s eyebrows raised, but a smirk formed on his face. “Still haven’t had enough?”
Lohen shook his head. “I haven’t lost a fight in so long, I want to win!” just saying that got him excited. A smile morphed, one that was familiar, one with a craze hidden in it. He felt as if the previous duel hadn’t even happened (he’d be sure to feel it real soon if a second round occurred, though). “Come on, give me all you got! I’ll hit you this time!”
Illuga stepped in between them before Lohen could wield his weapon back into existence. “How about you do that later?” he suggested, glancing at his boyfriend with a look that said ‘not now’. “You’re downright filthy and exhausted. You should at least eat and rest up before initiating combat again,”
“Whaattt?” Lohen complained, though still smiling. “Don’t you want to see me beat your dad in a fight?”
“No,” Illuga said without hesitation, giving Lohen a deadpan look. “Come, you can freshen up at mine,” He got a hold of his boyfriend’s hand and gave him a gentle tug that got the knight to follow.
“Alright, whatever you want, birdie,” Lohen complied easily, his crazed smile softening as he watched the hair at the back of Illuga’s head bounce slightly as he walked.
Nikita watched the two boys leave until they rounded a corner. He still wanted to talk to Illuga, but that could wait. But he couldn’t help revelling over the duel. That boy Lohen, what fighting prowess he has. Nikita hadn’t intended to use the amount of power he’d used, but he was forced to in order to not let that boy get cocky. He had to use nearly his full abilities to see a pure, raw knight fighting hard. But it had been worth it, even though his back was aching from the rapid movements it had to make, and his right arm had a small scab from when their weapons clashed a little too hard and the tip of Lohen’s polearm jabbed his skin through the thick sleeve of his coat. Lohen is fierce, always striving for a test of strength, and he looked a little manic when he deemed combat extremely entertaining, but Illuga’s in safe hands, that much Nikita can tell. Illuga is very capable, but if there comes a time where he can’t carry himself anymore, whenever Illuga’s down in the darkest pits of hell due to personal experiences, Nikita is certain that Lohen could pick up the lantern and guide his son back home.