Training Day

[knowledgeordeath]

Who: Kolivan and YOU
Broadcast: Nope
Action: On the Iskaulit
When: Today!

[Kolivan has been getting more familiar with locations here but one thing is clear...he needs to keep up with his own personal training. This may be a peaceful time here but he knows there are dangerous people already in this place. People he needs to prepare himself for should they decide to be anything less than peaceful.

So he's either in the gym or the obstacle course when he's not attending to his duties on the ship he was assigned. It means he's not asleep much but then again it's not like he is one to spend much time at rest. Not when he feels that there is a very real danger he needs to be prepared for. Just in case. Because he doesn't ever want to be caught off guard again and overwhelmed. He wants to be able to face his foes head on and not lose.

This also means it's easy enough to come across him and even if he doesn't look your way instantly it seems rather clear that he already knows you're there. Like he sensed your arrival. But it's only when he's finished a series of complex movements (with his sword and legs in the gym or through the more complicated area of the obstacle course) that he actually acknowledges you.]

Do you need something?

[It's gruff but...he's always like this. Don't mind him.]

Comments

[knowledgeordeath]

Your landings are poor. They will require work.

[Leave it to Kolivan to take a situation like this and suddenly turn it into a lesson instead. But he does allow Keith time to get air in his lungs.

For like two seconds before he rushes at him to aim a fist at his face.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith knew he wouldn't have long, and he barely managed to bite back a response to Kolivan's critique as he found himself once more on the defensive. He dodged, moving in the opposite direction of Kolivan's swing, and brought his weapon around for a strike at Kolivan's ribs, hopefully before the larger Blade changed his momentum.]

[knowledgeordeath]

[His chest is a huge target and it's a decent place to aim for. However, he expects better than that so he changes his momentum to a flip to move over the top of Keith.]

Go for the head. Aim to kill.

[tempredmental]

[As soon as Keith spotted the shift to go over, he dropped low to dodge and get maneuvering room, spinning as he moved in order to keep Kolivan in his line of sight. Keith didn't look all that thrilled with the idea of taking a weapon to his leader's head in a sparring match, to be quite honest. Not that he didn't think Kolivan couldn't take it, but it wasn't something he liked doing... even if his opponent was willing to go all out and possibly even kill him... like Shiro's clone.

The statement caused him to stop. He didn't drop his guard, but he didn't attack. Kolivan had gotten into his head.]

[knowledgeordeath]

[His eyes narrow and he rushes at him. This time it really looks like Kolivan is trying to kill him. Of course he isn't but to fight another Blade, to spar with another Blade, and not give everything in that moment...

After the recent time of seeing all his Blades killed off, of being responsible for more being killed after, he feels more responsible for them than ever. If something happens to him he wants them to be alright. He wants them to be able to fight when he can't be there and...

Kolivan carries more guilt inside him than he lets on. Right now, he just wants Keith to be able to do what it takes to live. And that means being able to fight someone he likes with everything he has.]

[tempredmental]

[There was a moment of panic, and Keith almost got lost to the moment. No, this wasn't Shiro's clone. Yes, this was Kolivan. No, they weren't actually fighting for their lives. Yes, this was sparring, even if that meant rougher fighting than what humans did to spar.

He visibly hesitated for that split second before he reacted. It was enough for Kolivan to make his point.

Idiot! Keith heard himself yell in his own head. He had to focus!

Keith swung hard with the practice weapon he held, his initial thought only to block because he was convinced he was too late. The angle cut upwards to account for their height difference, but the swing was wild, a reaction more than an actual block.]

[knowledgeordeath]

[The erratic swing are almost pathetic. He finds himself able to essentially slap the weapon to the side as he swings his fist around to aim directly for Keith's face. Like he plans to punch sense into him.

But that's not all. He's already pushing forward again, another swing of his blade coming at Keith again.

There's too much hesitation here. Hesitation like this could get him killed. It's a hard lesson to learn but it's one he feels he has to teach right now. Even if it means that Keith will be walking out of here with a number of bruises.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith grunted as he took the punch, barely stumbling quickly enough to block the blade with his own weapon, a more solid reaction this time. He clenched his jaw, his teeth grit together with the effort to recover. Kolivan had him back on his heels again, and he knew he needed to turn the tables fast. But his head wasn't in it. Keith had lost his focus as the idea of fighting for his life against someone he cared about, a friend, a loved one, had hit a nerve that was surprisingly still raw.

His heel caught the edge of one of the mats, and Keith fell backwards, landing on his back. He parried fast, knowing the hit from Kolivan's blade was coming.]

[knowledgeordeath]

[The sword stops only a breath away from Keith. A breath hangs in the air, the large Galra not moving right away.

When he does, he rights himself to look down and Keith who has fallen to the ground.]

You hesitated. That hesitation could get you or others killed.

[tempredmental]

[Keith sucked in a sharp breath as the blow came close, his eyes closed as he accepted defeat. He didn't move until he heard Kolivan stand, and then opened his eyes.

He was angry at himself. His grip on the practice weapon tightened for a split second as Kolivan spoke, and then Keith growled in frustration, slamming his fist against the floor before he got up. He moved quickly to stand, turning away from Kolivan to stalk off some steam before he faced him again.]

I know.

[He snapped that a little, his entire frame tense as he stood there.]

I don't know what happened.

[That was a lie. He knew exactly what happened. He just didn't want to admit that he still had hang ups about that.]

[knowledgeordeath]

You allowed your personal feelings to get in the way. Rarely anyone doesn't have personal situations they bring into a fight. It's what you do with them that matter.

[He flips his blade around and replaces it at his side. Crossing his arms, he continues to look down at Keith. Honestly he's sure that the boy is already aware of what happened here but that doesn't mean it can't be said aloud. Especially if Keith won't confess it himself.]

When we hesitate, we fall. Our enemies will not allow us the luxury of thinking things through. Even if it turns out to be an ally turned enemy.

[tempredmental]

[Keith didn't want to say it aloud. He didn't want to think that the thing that happened between him and Shiro was sill affecting him like that. He thought it was done. He and Shiro had talked about it.

But, nope... something in the back of his head was clinging to what happened, and he hated to admit that he was having trouble. Thankfully, it only seemed to come out when he was up against someone he cared about.

Yes, Kolivan... Keith actually did care about you...]

I've already had to do that.

[Keith's voice was raw.]

[knowledgeordeath]

You are not the only one who has been forced into fights you never wanted. You have to stretch your mind beyond your own worries.

[Something that is never easy. It's taken Kolivan a long time to get to where he is now. To only really dwell on these problems when he is alone with no one else around him.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith narrowed his eyes.]

I know. Which makes this whole thing even more annoying. I should be able to deal with this!

[He was angry at himself for freezing up.]

[knowledgeordeath]

[Kolivan is silent for a moment and then he says...]

Close your eyes. If you can't keep them that way then blindfold yourself.

[tempredmental]

[Keith looked confused for a moment as he considered it. Then, he took a deep breath, letting it out in a small huff before closing his eyes.]

[knowledgeordeath]

Who is in the room with us?

[tempredmental]

[That got a confused look on Keith's face, his brow furrowing a little.]

Just you and me.

[knowledgeordeath]

Are you certain?

[tempredmental]

[The crease in Keith's brow turned annoyed as he frowned.]

Yes. You were alone when I came in, and no one came in after me.

[What was this all about anyway?]

[knowledgeordeath]

Then where is your enemy?

[And he very suddenly moves to kick Keith from behind.]

[tempredmental]

[For a moment, it was like Keith had no idea what Kolivan was doing, which he didn't, but then it felt to him like that moment when they had been trying to stop Lotor's generals from stealing the teledav piece again. There was a strange feeling in the back of his mind as everything felt like it slowed down, and Keith had the sudden urge to move... so he did, dodging to the side, turning towards Kolivan, and bringing his arms up in front of himself, just in case.]

But we're not enemies!

[knowledgeordeath]

Do you know why I had you close your eyes? Why I had you picture who was with you?

[tempredmental]

[Keith visibly tensed.]

No.

[knowledgeordeath]

Because you are blinding yourself with your emotions. To fight someone you trust in a situation like this will teach you to fight when you have no choice. To not give it your all is an insult to them. So if you are going to blind yourself then you may as well do so completely until you can fight without hesitation.

[And just like that, he goes to kick at him again.]