bruce has a type: spies • PSL POST

[nerdon]

filler until it can be prettied

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[bugleboy]

Really?

[ He's gotten compliments on his art. Hell, he used to get jobs by it. It's been a while since he's gotten that strong of a reaction. ]

Sure.

[ As soon as he tears it out. ]

[yesbrogue]

Really. It's...well, it's spectacular, and no one's ever drawn me before.

[He'll hold it gently when Steve removes it, taking it straight to his office before coming back and taking a seat near him.]

Interested in helping me out this afternoon? I could use your input on some new training exercises.

[bugleboy]

[ Steve has been complimented on his art before. Heck, he used to make a living out of it. He had to be good at it. He's even had a few people here and there be really touched by his gifts.

... So why does this one feel different? Special.

He pushes it to the side when Merlin comes back. ]

Sure. Unless you want a few more portraits instead.

[yesbrogue]

[Merlin gives Steve a small smile at that offer.] Maybe later. For now, though, there's work to be done.

[He hands his tablet over to Steve, bringing up a few ideas he has for routines.] I'm changing up the sparring exercises a little, and adding an obstacle course. Not your typical obstacle course, mind you; a Kingsman has to be prepared for anything.

[Like floors that fall out from under you, hidden opponents, etc.]

[bugleboy]

[ Steve's gotten much better with handling technology than he used to be. The tablet was a pretty easy piece of equipment to wrap his mind around. Really, from what he was told, he woke up in the best time for "user friendly" technology. He would have had to study a lot longer to get it right in the 80s.

That aside, this course looked intense. But doable. He zoomed in on one spot. ]

Really obvious weakness to avoid all of them here. Was that on purpose?

[yesbrogue]

[Merlin doesn't even comment on Steve using the technology so well. He knows Steve is more than his time period of origin or his muscles, and it would be insulting to assume otherwise. He does smirk a little when he points out that weakness, though.]

It absolutely was. I enjoy luring them into a false sense of security.

You'll find out what I mean.

[bugleboy]

[ And after a scroll... yep. Steve gives a breath of a laugh as he shakes his head. ]

You're a cruel man, Merlin.

[ Tablet handed back. ]

Maybe I'll get some payback for them in the ring.

[yesbrogue]

You very well might, but they don't need it. [His smile softens a little; he genuinely cares about the success of every recruit, despite how some of his tactics may seem.]

Nothing I do is without purpose, regardless of whether or not I get any personal enjoyment out of it.

[bugleboy]

[ Steve grows a little serious himself. He wished there were more men like Merlin. Especially those who have to train the inexperienced, the young. ]

I believe it.

[ Steve stands and catches himself looking him up and down. Why was he doing that? ]

I'll see you in the ring?

[yesbrogue]

Absolutely, I'll be there shortly. [Merlin doesn't notice Steve checking him out; when he's focused on his work, he's focused.] Take all the time you need to get ready.

[Merlin doesn't actually need any time at all. When he turns up he looks exactly as he did ten minutes ago; he hasn't even taken off his tie or his sweater.]

Ready?

[bugleboy]

[ Steve's at least work out ready.

And his eyes are still checking out. He stands with legs apart and tilts his head back and forth. ]

As I'll ever be.

[yesbrogue]

[Merlin gives him an amused look, and nods. Then, he attacks. He starts of light; not necessarily easy, but light. Level one for new recruits. Progressively he holds back a little less, but doesn't quite show Steve what he's truly capable of just yet.

He still hasn't taken off his sweater.]

[bugleboy]

[ Pretty basic but spry. Steve doesn't even break a sweat. He can tell one thing, though. ]

You're still holding back, Merlin.

[yesbrogue]

You sure you want me to stop?

[It's an honest question, even though there's a playful tone to it. He'll go all out if Steve really wants him to.]

[bugleboy]

I think I can handle it.

[ He's not going to tease about age. He's got no room to talk himself. He's 90. ]

[yesbrogue]

If you say so.

[He doesn't attack him just yet, however. Instead, he slowly shrugs off his sweater, lightly tossing it aside, and loosens his tie a little, though he doesn't remove it. Underneath that sweater he may be thin, but he's all muscle.]

Your move, Captain. [He's letting Steve set the tone for this round, since he's making the request.]

[bugleboy]

[ It's... a lot easier to see what he's like under those clothes. Sweater! Sweater, not. Clothes. There's more to him than a stick, but Steve could guess that.

He gets back to calculating. Making the first move is almost always a mistake but. They are just training. So after a pause he tries for the left. ]

[yesbrogue]

[Merlin anticipates his move. He's been watching Steve Rogers fight long before they started their sparring session, and it's giving him a bit of a tactical advantage. But only a bit. Because as prepared for anything as a Kingsman is, he's still no super soldier. He gives as good as he gets though, using techniques that may not be recognizable from standard army training, even managing to land a blow here and there.]

Having fun now?

[He's a little breathless, but he's not done yet.]

[bugleboy]

[ That is surprising. Steve expected good. Great even. But to be thrown off like that? You had to be a master to teach and it showed with Merlin. Showed very, very well. ]

You're good.

[ He's impressed and meeting all of his attacks with ones of his own. Merlin had gained the upper hand more than once. He liked it. ]

[yesbrogue]

I wouldn't be a very good trainer if I wasn't. [He's not bragging, just confirming what Steve is already thinking.]

How many people have you met who can keep up with you? Aliens and Avengers don't count.

[Speaking of keeping up, he's going in close now, aiming to wrestle him to the ground.]

[bugleboy]

[ He hasn't had to do this in a while. That should tell him everything possible. The proximity was... kind of distracting. Steve's eyes keep wandering. ]

... One.

[yesbrogue]

[He's just guessing here, and the question is asked gently, despite the force he's exerting.] The Winter Soldier?

[He's not actually trying to throw him off his game with this question, he just genuinely wants to know.]

[bugleboy]

[ If anything snaps him out of it and gets him to focus again, it's that. Steve shifts to try and pin Merlin. ]

Basically.

[yesbrogue]

[The sudden intensity of his focus throws Merlin off, and Steve succeeds in sweeping him to the ground. He lands flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him. He's going to bruise in the morning. Particularly because Steve is right on top of him. Not that he minds that part so much, he's finding.

He simply works on catching his breath for a moment, shifting slightly under him to free his arm.]

I'm flattered, then. There's only one other person who can keep up with me, too, and he's running this organization.

[Any thoughts of Harry are like background noise in his mind right now, though, and he can't quite put a finger on why, but now he's a little distracted by how close they are.]

[bugleboy]

[ They're close, thanks to the wrestling and to Merlin sitting up. They're barely inches away. And Steve misjudged and didn't move away. He should have. He knows he should have.

His mind is a fog right now. He was in attack mode and then his mind got to Bucky and. Then he's within inches of Merlin's face. And it's so obvious what his gut is telling him to do. It's so clear what he wants. He doesn't think. He just does. Caught up in the heat of the moment and the confusion. He presses his lips to Merlin's. For an instant, it's the best thing that could have ever happened to him. It feels right. Really right.

And then the guilt sets in. He should have asked. He should have thought. He shouldn't be wanting to kiss a man period. He breaks the kiss and is breathless for the first time the whole fight. ]

Sorry I--.

[ He doesn't even know what to say. ]