Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"I don't know clubs. Here, stand with your feet apart, grip the sword." Carver walks toward him, watching him fall into the position. "A little wider," he says of the feet, looking down at them first. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Right. Like so?" Andy confirms. "Feels... pretty good. A little... shaky. Bet I could lunge great like this though. Or dodge to the side."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah. Now, your grip is atrocious," he adds, reaching around him to correct his grip from behind. "Here, loosen your thumb. Like so."

[Tethras Clan]

"Oh wow. Yeah, This feels much better. Less strain on my wrist to move the blade." Andy twists a little, offering Carver a bright smile over his shoulder.

[Carver Amell]

Which puts said smile inches from Carver's face. He freezes, suddenly painfully aware how close his hips are to Andy's, how if he just leaned down a little he could--

He drops Andy's wrist, taking a step back, his cheeks flushed. 

[Tethras Clan]

"You alright?" Andy says with concern, dropping his stance to turn around.

[Carver Amell]

"I--"

What is wrong with you, Carver Hawke? He's just a man. A pretty man, but a man. You're not-- this isn't--

"Fine." 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy studies Carver for a moment, a slight frown forming. "...right. If you're sure," he finally says. "Back to work then?" So saying, he falls back into the stance, getting it just about correct, just a half inch or so from 'good.'

[Carver Amell]

He hesitates. Almost, he says something, but then he closes his mouth, straightens a bit, and says, "Shift your left hand a little lower, you're not giving yourself enough leverage."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy follows that instruction and the next dozen or so. During a series of repetitions, he glances at Carver briefly. Fuck it. If he doesn't want to answer, then he won't. Not exactly shy about speaking his mind and it isn't even something all that personal. Probably. "Where did you learn to use a blade?"

[Carver Amell]

"Nyra, actually. Teacher called Mr Grover, a private tutor. I wanted to learn to protect people, so he taught me swordsmanship."

[Tethras Clan]

"Really?" Andy gives Carver an appraising look, then a nod. "That's pretty rare, someone coming to weapon craft so late and being good enough to teach already. You were... what, seventeen at least? And it's only been a few years?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver shrugs a shoulder. "Seems I'm a natural. I used to do a lot of woodcutting so the muscles were mostly there already."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy smiles and it's only a little bitter. "Must be a family thing. Each of you are talented in your way. Lucky, the both of you."

[Carver Amell]

A family thing...? I'm talented? Lucky? 

He blushes, just a little, looking over Andy with an appraising eye. "..thanks," he says, after a long moment.