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In any skill, it was important not to neglect practice, and with the last of the gradually less restrictive braces cast aside, Luke was happy to finally get around to practicing seriously again without people breathing down his neck about rest or whatever. In appeal to the doctors who continued to insist that he should take it easy, though, he was easing back into it, taking some time out of the day to spar with the learning Emil. One learned fastest when put on the spot, after all, and facing an opponent allowed Emil to see demonstrations of both guarding and striking as well as the shifts in posture that accompanied them.

Luke eased back a few steps, his sword remaining up and ready. "Come on, you can't just stay on guard the whole time," he reprimanded firmly. "Look for an opening and take it! Otherwise your enemy's just going to overpower you." He didn't leave a whole lot of time for Emil to find that opening, going back on strike once more after giving his brief lecture. Though Master Van had insisted on setting up training dummies for him to combat when he was learning, he had found that experience was the best catalyst for the lessons to sink in.

He failed altogether to notice the dark-haired man watching nearby. His focus rested instead with the fact that he could freely practice his swordsmanship again. And thank Arceus for that; he had sorely missed being able to move how he wanted without worrying about balance or aggravating an injury.

Luke paused and raised his own guard, finally taking a strike against his sword instead of dealing them. He gave a partial laugh, "It's better if you keep your eyes open, y'know. Better control over where your sword ends up." He didn't continue his attack this time, instead easing backwards for a break. "It's not that hard to take a swing, right? Just keep that up; it's only practice, so you're not gonna get hurt." Disregarding the fact that it was kind of dangerous to go swinging at people without looking at where you were slashing, but that could be resolved with a little more confidence.

He took a few moments to stretch his arms during which he noticed a familiar individual standing a little ways off. He raised a hand slightly in greeting.

"Ugh, do you have to call me that?" He tried not to sound too embarrassed over the matter, at least, but it was a seriously stupid nickname drawn from an even stupider argument that was really starting to regret having made. The subject changed quickly enough, though, so he didn't pursue it any further. He flexed his arm in demonstration, "It's fine." Did he even say anything about his arm last time? He was wearing the brace, he supposed, and that was telling enough in itself... Well, whatever.

Were he thinking things through a little more thoroughly, he might have explained to Emil how he knew the apparent stranger, but far was it from Luke characteristically to think things through, let alone thoroughly.

Luke nodded in answer to Emil's question, though Yuri gave enough of a reply that he didn't feel the need to elaborate on it. It wasn't exactly a situation that he felt the need to bring up again to pretty much anyone, though he firmly maintained that he could have handled the situation himself if he'd been left to it.

The small assembly was soon approached by another stranger, this one considerably more of a stranger than the last. Luke raised an eyebrow as the guy sidled up beside Emil with a suave "why hello again" to Yuri and Luke, reaching in a fluid motion to secure the blonde boy's arms behind his back. To prevent either of the unrestrained swordsmen from reacting, he raised his hand, clutching a dark metal gun, and pressed the barrel threatening against his captive's temple. "Fancy meeting you here."

Luke blinked in a passing surprise at the situation at hand that gave way to thorough confusion. He wasn't really able to grasp the whole of what was going on besides the understanding that Emil was in danger, so he stood stiffly, brow furrowed, unsure of what he was supposed to do.

The mention of cliches cued a memory and put recognition to the man's face, darkening Luke's expression. He drew his shoulders up, tightening his hand around the hilt, his entire posture almost quivering in the amalgam of fury, worry, and anticipation that shook his composure. "He doesn't have anything to do with you, leave him alone!" he shouted.

The pair's words drew a low chuckle from the man, "Blah blah blah, I didn't come here to talk." The amusement fell from his features. He gestured his head to indicate Emil, "I'm just gonna borrow this kid for a while. Thinking we'll hang out down by the pier, maybe in one of those old warehouses that's not in use anymore." He shrugged. "You're welcome to join us later, though. In fact, I'd recommend it - if you wanna see this kid alive again in the future."

Truly he was the most cliche of all villains.

No, this was not fine. They couldn't just let the guy take off with Emil. They couldn't just trust that he wouldn't kill him as soon as they were out of sight. But dammit, what were they supposed to do...?

With Yuri's assent and Luke's absence of an objection, the man nodded and began moving backwards, tugging roughly on Emil to pull him along. He eventually disappeared into an alley, fading around a darkened corner, leaving Luke staring helplessly after his friend.

"Wh--" No words came to mind nor voice.

Emil was in danger because of Luke. If he hadn't run into those muggers the other day... If he hadn't just let them run off after swearing revenge... If he'd paid closer attention to the guy when he walked up to them... If he had thought of something, anything to do...

Luke's sword fell similarly to the ground, though rather than it being a show of anger, his grip simply refused to support the weight of the weapon any longer. Something within him fell dangerously out of rhythm. From an outside perspective, his breathing shallowed, his face paled, and his knees slowly gave way beneath him. From Luke's own perspective, he suddenly lost all awareness of everything, even of the impact of the ground as he collapsed into it.