game of thrones au

[greatdealofbravery]

They don't speak to one another, as a rule. Arthur is quiet at the best of times, and now that they're off together in a comfortable property he generally keeps to himself. He works for most of the day, or spends it in the village, and returns quietly at nightfall, sharing Jack's bed but not conversing with him much.

It's a rare sight, finding him down in the courtyard for the day, working on caring for his (surprisingly many) weapons, treating the leather he fights in when he does, the horse's tack as well.

Since they moved out here, he hasn't had much occasion to think about fighting. The sword in his hand almost feels unfamiliar.

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[forever_jack]

Jack's family have been on at him to keep up his sword skills (which is a bit of a joke really, since he never really had any to begin with) so he's reluctantly headed down to the courtyard to put in a bit of practice.

Imagine his surprise when he sees his mousy little spouse already there before him, sword in hand. He watches the way Arthur's gazing down at said sword as if he's almost never held it before, and grins mischievously. He wanders into sight, the picture of cocky nonchalance, and waves the tip of his sword around a bit.

"Fancy a bit of sparring?" he offers, already picturing himself trouncing his beloved, an image which definitely gets his blood going.

It's not that he hates his husband or anything – in fact, though still strained, their relationship is better than he ever hoped it would be – it's just that some things are ingrained after a lifetime of rivalry between their two families.

[greatdealofbravery]

Arthur snorts, a decidedly uncomplimentary sound, as though the idea is ridiculous. They are, after all, decidedly unmatched. Jack may not have researched his skills (though to be fair, he does deliberately keep them quiet, better to be underestimated in a fight than have your opponent knowingly match you) but Arthur has certainly researched Jack's.

He knows he can take him.

"Not a good idea."

Though the look he gives him from under his lashes is decidedly contemplative. They get along all right most of the time, but Jack has an exuberance that Arthur can sometimes find sort of... strident. The fantasy of laying him out flat is more than a little tempting.

[forever_jack]

To be frank, it never even occurred to Jack that Arthur might be at all interested in weapons or fighting, especially after his tactic of strategic submission on their wedding night. He's not the sort to look much beyond the obvious, not in this kind of instance at any rate.

He takes Arthur's response (of course) as a reluctance to get beaten and immediately turns on the charm in an attempt to get him to reconsider.

"Aww, come on, it'll be fun!" Wheedling, letting his sword drop as he moves in a bit closer, trying out the famous Jack Harkness smile. "I promise not to thrash you too quickly."

[greatdealofbravery]

Oh Jack. Jack, Jack, Jack. His eyes flash at the challenge, and he stands up, stretching until his spine pops before moving to pick up the sword with an air of 'oh, all right.'

"I don't think it'll be half the fun you think it'll be."

He tries to warn him, so that his conscience will be clear later on.

"But-"

[forever_jack]

There. He knows no-one can resist that smile. He smirks as Arthur picks up his sword, readying himself.

"But what? Come on, let's just give it a go. That's all I ask."

He waits till Arthur's nods that he's ready, and then lunges in.

[greatdealofbravery]

Arthur blocks his first blow and slips in under his guard, and hits him hard with a shoulder, then deals a ringing hit to the arm holding his sword, just above the wrist, firm enough to get it good and deadened.

"Has anyone ever told you you telegraph your movements shamefully?"

He's out again, circling him, like a cat toying with its' prey.

If Jack comes at him again, he'll find himself flat on his back.

[forever_jack]

It's all so fast that Jack hardly knows what hits him. In fact, he finds himself looking round to make sure that was actually Arthur, that they haven't suddenly be joined by someone else. And then he looks back at Arthur, who somehow looks completely different - alert and steady and confident - and his eyes flash, because here, at last, is the fight he was expecting that first night, and if there's anything Jack loves, it's a challenge.

His arm hurts like hell and it's only grim determination that's keeping his hand gripping his sword. Despite that, he's grinning widely as he goes for Arthur again, exhilaration running through his veins.

[greatdealofbravery]

Down it is, then. Arthur drops him fast, and stays atop him, one knee on his chest, blade at his throat. He looks utterly ruthless, methodical, like he's doing something he's done a hundred times before. He looks like a professional.

"Forfeit, sweetheart."

Maybe not entirely professional. That might be a tiny bit of a sadistic glint in his eye.

"Then you can try again."

[forever_jack]

Jack is almost as surprised as he was the first time. The breath is knocked out of him as he lands on his back and for a moment the only thing he can think about is trying to get air back into his lungs.

It's not long, though, before the sight of Arthur kneeling purposefully over him – and the faint prick of the sword at his throat – filters through, and he stares up at him, trying to make sense of the change that's come over his spouse.

Whatever it is, though, wherever it came from, there's no denying he likes it.

Well, except for— "Forfeit?" Panted, disbelieving.

[greatdealofbravery]

He draws the blade he keeps in his boot (yes, always) with the spare hand, and brings it up to threaten him with, holding the sword so it's more blunt against his throat. He won't be able to thrash up and cut himself accidentally, and Arthur can keep him down with the much more intimate, explicit threat of the knife.

"Do you think you're in a position to be able to do something to me?"

[forever_jack]

Jack's eyes go even rounder at the revelation (his quiet little Arthur keeps a knife in his boot???) and his body goes a little bit stiller. He swallows past the dual threat of the blades at his throat.

"What do you want?" Direct as always, even if there is a tiny tell-tale tremor in his voice. He doesn't think Arthur would really hurt him, but there's no denying who has the power at this moment.

[greatdealofbravery]

He grins, and brings the knife up so Jack can see he's holding it away from his skin. The sword stays, but it isn't all that dangerous. He's grinning, dimples out, looking his age for just a split second.

"I want fresh figs. Next time you're in the market, that's my prize. Bring them back for me."

[forever_jack]

For the first time since their wedding night, when it was the two of them against the world, Jack feels that sense of camaraderie once more. He sees the man he could like rather than just tolerate.

He grins back, relaxing again. "Done."

There are far worse things, after all, that Arthur could have asked of him.

[greatdealofbravery]

He rolls off him, graceful as a cat, and has the knife away in a flash. He reaches down to offer him a hand up.

"Want to go again? I can give you a few pointers."

This, he doesn't mean to sound insulting, more earnestly hopeful.

"I helped train most of the guard, back home."

[forever_jack]

He accepts the hand, glad that it's his left and not the one Arthur left feeling temporarily dead.

"Sure," he agrees, after a moment of battling with his pride, shaking out his injured arm and leaning down to pick up his dropped sword. "Where'd you learn all that, anyway?"

[greatdealofbravery]

"I'm the smallest of several boys."

Reminding him, with a laugh.

"I had to learn to be quick. People think they can get the best of me."

[forever_jack]

"Huh. Didn't really work that way with my lot." He was a long way from being the smallest, of course, but more than that, he'd tended to use force of personality rather than brute strength to get his own way.

He gives Arthur an assessing look up and down, with a good deal more respect than he ever has before. "You seem to have made it work for you, anyway!"

[greatdealofbravery]

"I love it."

He admits, picking up Jack's sword to put in his hand.

"I like any chance to be that... meticulous. Physicality is something you can hone, sure as you can learn chess. Let's start with your stance- show me."

[forever_jack]

Jack shakes his head with a half-laugh as he obediently (for the moment) takes up position.

"See, detail just makes me bored. I can admire it in others, but I just can't seem to stay interested long enough to attain it myself."

[greatdealofbravery]

"Yes, but you do like bodies."

He reminds him, coming in to insert a knee between his, kicking his stance a hair wider. He touches his hips at the same time, squaring him off.

"Do you feel how that changes your balance? How much more grounded you are?"

[forever_jack]

"Think of it like sex?" he murmurs, eyes narrowing as he considers it. Not that he has a particularly long attention span even for sex, but it's a darn sight longer than it is for most other things.

Certainly, having Arthur right there in his space, touching him, the closest he's been probably both literally and metaphorically since that first night, is doing very interesting things to him.

Belatedly, he concentrates on the question and, after a moment, nods. "Yeah, feels stronger."

[greatdealofbravery]

"Good. I'll say one thing for you, you do have coordinated hips."

Is his low quip, close to Jack's ear. It's funny, once he has a little bit of confidence to him, in a domain like this where he's very much in control, everything changes.

"When I drop you again, I think I want a pot of honey, to go with the figs."

[forever_jack]

Jack knows he's being played, but it's beyond him not to respond, both to the innuendo and to the taunt. His eyes flash as he waggles his sword towards Arthur's, gesturing him to pick it up and ready himself.

"Oh yeah? In your dreams, Dream-boy!"

He doesn't really think he'll win even one round, at this point, but the teasing is half the fun of this sort of thing. His grin takes the sting out of the jibe, as he thinks a moment and then tries a different sort of approach this time.

[greatdealofbravery]

Arthur is kinder, lets him get a swing or two in, before attacking him with a flurry of blows, blade a glittering arc.

This time he backs him into the wall rather than getting him to the ground, sword point up against his throat.

[forever_jack]

"All right, honey it is," Jack surrenders breathlessly, more quickly this time. Body and ego are both starting to feel rather bruised.

He gives Arthur a hopeful little smile. "Teach me to be better?"