Atlas Gym [early evening]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had arrived in the gym after his flight with Rory and had spent the next few minutes moving equipment out of the way for his sparring practice with Qui-Gon.

Distracting himself from the idea that he'd be using his lightsaber for the first time since arriving in Fandom?

Of course he was. Are you new?

He carefully hung a "Live weapons demonstration in progress. KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING" sign on the door, then waited for the Padawan to arrive.

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[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon collected his saber from the weapons lockers in the school rubble and headed to the gym. It had been some time since he'd had the chance to really spar -- even before he'd come to fandom and he was looking forward to this with an eagerness that was probably unjedi-like.

[sith_happened]

Anakin carefully repressed any residual nervousness he was feeling when Qui-Gon entered the gym. He was the Jedi here and he'd do his best to act exactly like the ones in the Temple would.

He gave Qui-Gon a formal nod as he removed his robe and put it on a nearby chair. "I have already warmed up," he said, "but take your time preparing. How long has it been for you?"

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"A while," Qui-Gon admitted, running through his usual warm up. "Not since Dooku, really."

[sith_happened]

He was going to have to get used to hearing that name, but for now Anakin's lips thinned just a bit. "Well, I'm better than he is," he said, "but my goal isn't to prove that to you today."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"That's okay," Qui-Gon said. "I'm not looking for a, what's the phrase around here? A pissing contest on who's best. Just a chance to spar again. I've missed it. Solo katas aren't the same thing."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled. "Let's get started then," he said, stepping to the center of the floor and gripping the hilt of his lightsaber just a little too tightly.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon grinned and moved out to the center of the floor opposite Anakin, his saber a comfortable weight in his hands as he lit it.

[sith_happened]

Anakin couldn't help responding to the enthusiasm as he lit his own lightsaber, blue beam still a bit of a surprise to look at.

He swung it towards Qui-Gon's head quickly because he'd never been one to half-ass lightsaber sparring, but he certainly wasn't trying to hurt the boy.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon raised his saber to block Anakin's attack, then spun and aimed for Anakin's torso as he moved past him.

[sith_happened]

Anakin's eyes lit up as allowed his body to remember the familiar rhythms of lightsaber combat.

He countered Qui-Gon's move easily and increased their pace a bit as he spun out and aimed his lightsaber towards Qui-Gon's hands.

Padawans always forgot about protecting their limbs when they were learning.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

As much from listening to the Force as from any physical reading of the fight, Qui-Gon jerked back in what looked to be an awkward move, but got all of him out of the way of Anakin's saber.

[sith_happened]

"Good," Anakin said with a small smile, "now watch your stomach."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon tilted his head, confused. "My stomach?"

[sith_happened]

"When you back up like that, you leave your abdomen completely exposed," Anakin lectured. "That's bad."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon considered. "Yes, but... I'd just knocked your saber away. There's time to get back in defensive stance. Unless you had something silly like a double bladed saber."

[sith_happened]

Anakin didn't choke, but it was a close thing. "Just keep it in mind," he said sternly.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon sensed a flare of.... something from Anakin before it was quickly controlled. It wasn't enough for him to get a real idea what it was, but there was definitely something there.

He did his best to put this puzzle to the back of his mind and focus on the sparring; Dooku always had said he was too easily distracted.

With that in mind, Qui-Gon attacked, feinting at Anakin's face then dropping his blade towards his legs instead.

[sith_happened]

Anakin reached into the Force as he jumped, flipping neatly over Qui-Gon's head and bringing his lightsaber up to a guard position immediately.

Force knew he'd learned the counter to that move the hard way.

"Very good," he said, attacking again, aiming his blade at the back of Qui-Gon's knees. "Don't expect everyone to fight as elegantly as Dooku."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon jumped above Anakin's blade, but landed a bit clumsily. "Have you sparred with Dooku?" Qui-Gon asked curiously as he turned back around to face Anakin.

[sith_happened]

"A couple of times," Anakin replied, trying to keep his voice neutral. "He's good. I'm better."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"Does he come back to the Jedi then?" Qui-Gon asked, trying to keep his voice neutral, but a shadow of hope crept in anyway.

[sith_happened]

"His destiny takes him along a different path," Anakin said quietly, then increased the tempo of his lightsaber attack in an effort to distract Qui-Gon.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

It did indeed distract Qui-Gon as he turned his entire focus on blocking Anakin's attack.

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled to himself, finally beginning to feel comfortable in his own skin again.

The sparring sped up even faster. Anakin was good.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon fought with a big grin on his face. He had really missed this since things fell apart with Dooku and it felt good to be able to go full out against an opponent again, get the blood flowing.

It was challenging too -- Anakin was fast and crafty and Qui-Gon didn't know him or his moves like he had Dooku's -- and it was taking all of Qui-Gon's focus to keep up.

[sith_happened]

Anakin could sense how hard Qui-Gon was trying, so he ratcheted back the intensity to a more reasonable level. "Good," he praised as their sabers continued to hit each other with a familiar snap-hiss. "You have learned well."

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"I've had good teachers," Qui-Gon said modestly, though his lips curled up into a faint smile of pleasure.

[sith_happened]

"You still have a long way to go, of course," Anakin said because some things were hardwired into non-Padawans.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

If Qui-Gon had been a little less well trained, there would probably have been eye rolling at that just because he'd heard it so often. "So I've been informed," he said dryly instead.

[sith_happened]

"Another twenty years, if you really apply yourself, you'll be a Knight," Anakin said, clearly tweaking him.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"Change your syntax and you'd sound like Master Yoda," Qui-Gon observed.

[sith_happened]

"I have better hair," Anakin said, grinning and shutting his lightsaber off. He bowed his head at Qui-Gon. "I think that will do for an initial session," he decided.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon returned the bow as he shut off his own saber. "We'll do this again though?" he asked hopefully.

[sith_happened]

"If you'd like," Anakin said with a nod. "I'm a little rusty."

And he was, for him. For anyone else, eh, not so much.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon gave a half shrug. "So am I. Best way to get unrusty is to keep practicing."

[sith_happened]

"And waiting for the next invasion seems extremely ill-advised," Anakin agreed with a small smile.

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"That wouldn't be so much practice as putting our rusty skills into use and hoping they don't freeze up." Qui-Gon paused. "And I think I've stretched that metaphor as far as it would go."

[sith_happened]

"Maybe a little too far," Anakin agreed. "Off you go, Padawan. I will see you soon."