(Marluke art down below)
"You're asking me to teach you how to fight?"
“Please, Luke? I can’t just sit by and watch you fight by yourself. You nearly got killed in that ambush the other day.”
“It’s my job to protect you, my liege. It's only natural that I risk my life for your safety.”
“Luke, I’m nearly 22, I should at least be able to defend myself so you don't have to worry about covering me during a fight. I don't want to be a burden to you. And if more people are going to keep coming after me, that’s all I’m ever going to be.”
“My liege, I'll say this again. I am your sworn protector. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. It is an honor to protect you, not a burden."
“That still doesn't change the fact that you have to keep watching over your shoulder to ensure my safety, when you should be keeping your eyes on the people trying to kill you! At least teach me to defend myself with a sword.”
“Fine. I can see you've made up your mind on this. However, just cause you're new to this doesn't mean I'll be easy on you. And learning how to use the sword will be no simple task.”
“So I've been told. But I'm a fast learner so you won't have to worry about me."
“In that case, we’ll start as soon as I’m off-duty."
“Thanks Luke."
“You don’t need to thank me, Marius."
——
True to his word, Marius took to the sword rather quickly, and became quite capable of defending himself should he and Luke be ambushed again. In just a few short years under Luke’s tutelage, his skill with the sword was almost comparable to his mentor, and he went from simply defending himself to actively fighting alongside Luke. Eventually, the two of them garnered quite the reputation as a formidable duo in combat. And during normal, less exciting days, Marius’s subjects noted with no small amount of interest on the suspiciously close nature of the relationship between the king and his supposed bodyguard. Rumor among them had it that they were courting each other, since he never accepted any of the marriage proposals he received. Everyone knew he didn't actually need a bodyguard.
——
“Okay, Rosa. We’re ready when you are.”
“Try not to hurt each other too badly, I would rather not spend all day patching you guys up again. With that said, you may begin."
——
One last MarLuke before the year ends! I wanted to get this out during Luke's birthday but commissions take time so instead this is coming out during Christmas time. (Happy belated birthday Luke!) Also I know that Luke has an actual knight outfit but I like this one better and it's criminally underused since it only appears in one artwork.
Art:@beewo_ (Instagram)
thanks for feeding my marluke addiction^
Reblogging bc holy shit they actually brought this Luke outfit back in the new art, the prophecy has been fulfilled.