The Salle [afternoon]

[momslilassassin]

Nothing short of being actually set on fire was going to stop Ben from being in the salle today.

Leto was going to show him how to use those knives! If Ben were the type to squeal, he'd be squealing. Since he wasn't, he'd shown up ten minutes before the time they were supposed to meet.

You know, just in case.

[OOC: Ben's here for Leto, but feel free to catch him before/after/watch them...]

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[future_sandworm]

He had suspected there would be something Ben already knew that would come in useful. Leto nodded. He held up one blade, ready to launch it.

"Ready?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben took a deep breath, closing his eyes and feeling where everything was in the Force.

His posture was absolutely relaxed without being sloppy. He was young, but he'd been born to do this sort of thing.

"Ready."

[future_sandworm]

The Force might be something that Leto didn't grasp, but Ben clearly had an idea what to do.

He threw the blade into the air and it hovered, rotating for a few moments before the sharp edges unlocked. Leto took position behind Ben, crouching down and ready to launch himself should his student make a mistake.

The blade launched its first attack.

[momslilassassin]

Even with his eyes closed--especially with his eyes closed--Ben could feel where the blade (and all of its edges) was in the air. When it came almost close enough for Ben to feel the breeze on his skin, he moved out of the way in a quick, fluid motion.

He'd also memorized what he'd seen Leto doing.

[future_sandworm]

Leto couldn't help smiling. Yes, the Jedi must have a good training system. He remained still, waiting to see how Ben would deal with the next attack.

[momslilassassin]

Ben was pretty sure using telekinesis to chunk the blade into the wall would defeat the entire point of the exercise. Besides, the dodging and ducking was fun. There was a rhythm to the way the blade came towards him and he moved away. It was a dance with weapons.

[future_sandworm]

Clearly he had underestimated Ben, but Leto had no problem admitting that to himself. After all, finding out someone was better than you had expected could only be a good thing as long as they were a friend.

"Good," he said quietly. "Now, try the knife."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, using the knife like an extension of his arm, just the way he'd been taught to think of a lightsaber. His balance was a little off, though--the lightsaber didn't have a weight of its own--and while he hit the blade as it whizzed towards his head, it wasn't the prettiest deflection ever.

[future_sandworm]

It wasn't bad for a first attempt though. Leto waited, wanting to see how Ben would manage the next attempt.

[momslilassassin]

Ben had shifted his weight on his feet, unconsciously fixing his error. He'd always been a fast learner, and time spent with Anakin had only improved that when it came to combat.

The next time the blade came past, Ben hit it squarely, deflecting it into the floor.

[future_sandworm]

A clear improvement. "Much better," Leto said. "Do you want to try again?"

[momslilassassin]

"Please!" Ben said, grinning. "This is so much more interesting than remotes."

[future_sandworm]

"You throw it this time," Leto said, grinning. He was quite enjoying this.

[momslilassassin]

"Is there a trick to it?" Ben asked, pulling the blade from the floor.

[future_sandworm]

Leto repeated the motion in the air. "Not quite a trick, but you might have to refine the technique."

[momslilassassin]

"There's no fun in doing things exactly right the first time," Ben said with a small smile as he threw the blade.

[future_sandworm]

"I see you have the right attitude to learning," Leto replied, watching the blade spin into the air. He was a lot more relaxed this time, knowing Ben knew how to react.

[momslilassassin]

And Ben appreciated the change in Leto's emotions. It gave him more confidence in his own abilities. His movements were a lot crisper this time through and he sent the blade hurtling into the floor a lot faster.

[future_sandworm]

"Try to intercept the blade from the other angle," Leto suggested. "It will require a little more strength, and the new trajectory might be a little harder to control, but see what happens."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded and when the blade came spinning at his face, he did as Leto suggested. The strength thing wasn't a problem: he was a lot stronger than he looked.

[future_sandworm]

Perhaps this was too much of a risk, but Leto decided it was one worth taking. He launched the second blade into the air.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's face lit up as he slid out from under one blade and deflected the second one with his knife.

[future_sandworm]

"You learn quickly," Leto said, taking a few steps backwards.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, looking a little shy. "Is that a problem?"

[future_sandworm]

"Should it be?" Leto asked, amused. "Most people would consider it an advantage."