I stand before Muriel as Morga watches. Before I move she adjusts my stance and shows him how to block. "Alright I think you're ready. Begin." She waves a hand at us and I begin slowly, grabbing Muriel's arms and pulling them down. He frees himself and moves to hit but I block it with crossed arms and smile. I pull his hand and slide behind him, locking his arm in place. As he looses balance I trip him and catch him before he hits the floor. "I'm sorry..." I whisper in his ear. Morgan's hawk eyes stare at me and she hisses, "Never apologise to your enemy!"
"He's not my enemy!!" This is the loudest I've spoken to her. She huffs and crosses her arms as I help up Muriel. "Muriel you need to be faster and better at resisting. Y/n you need to be more unexpected. Practice tonight." She leaves after giving her notes and I'm left with a quiet Muriel. "How are you feeling?"
"...I don't want this..."
I frown and hug him tightly. "You know... when we kissed earlier?"
He nods, growing a little pink.
"I was terrified to do that. I've never been good at it or confident in anyway but... I don't regret it at all."
"I ...thought you were really good..." He stutters the words out, blushing fully now.
I smile and tuck some hair behind his ear. "I know this is scary, but i promise it will help way more in future."
"It's not as nice..."
"as what?"
"the...kiss..."
"Well if you do really well, maybe you'll get one." I smile and reach up high to pat his head. He stares wide eyed as I rummage in my bag. "Nadia gave me this book on fighting poses and techniques." I pull out a little book and search through the pages for a bit.
"Okay..." I get up and leave the book beside us. Muriel puts his hands up and nervously readies himself. "Keep your legs wider and lower your body." I direct him carefully. He awkwardly shuffles but doesn't quite get it right. I move behind him and pull his body down more, "move a little to the side too like this."
"Okay..." He concentrates hard. I go back to stand in front of him and look him deep in the eyes. "Eyes on me, all the time. You need to see what I'm about to do next."
"Eyes on you." He whispers.
"Okay if you see me coming at you with a punch, dodge it and pull my arm so that I fall and then you'll be able to pin me. Okay?"
He nods and I start a punch quite slowly. He hesitates and holds my arm, giving it a little tug. I smile and chuckle a little, "You need to be faster and stronger, it's okay you won't hurt me."
"What if I do...accidentally..." He says nervously.
"It's okay." I cup his cheeks and move back to my spot. "You try punching me and I'll show you what to do."
He hesitates and takes in a breath before throwing a punch. I promptly dodge it and and pull him to the floor, pinning his hands down.
"Did that hurt?" I check him.
"N-no." He looks up and me and blushes.
"See? I'll be fine." I smile and get up off him. He stands before me and breathes in a few times before I throw the punch. He quickly takes my arm and brings me to the floor. But before he can pin me I turn him to the floor and pin him down again. "Pulled a lil sneaky on ya!"
He chuckles and looks away. I place a little kiss on his lips and stroke his hair, "You did really well though."
"Oh." He blushes deeply and looks up at me. I release him and check back with the book. "Okay lets just practice your speed." I get up and ready my fists. "I'll just trying punching and you either dodge or block, depending on location of the hit."
He nods nervously and puts his arms out. I start hitting towards his face, chest, shoulder. He dodges and blocks quickly, really improving. "You're so good!" I say breathlessly, hitting by his chest. He grabs my arm and pulls me down, finally pinning me. "Yes!" I smile, wiggling excitedly. He has a sad look in his eyes but smiles a little. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah I just... I can't stop being scared of it going wrong and me...hurting you."
"Muriel..." I sit up and hold his face, "You're not a monster. I need you to understand that."
"I can't trust myself..."
"I trust you..." My hands slide down his arms to his hands.
"You shouldn't..."
"Why?"
"I'm terrible..."
"Not to me. These hands have never hurt me. We fight to protect each other. You'd never hurt me and I'd never hurt you."
He pulls me into a hug and we stay there, comfortably silent. I bury my face into his shoulder and kiss below his ear and he lets out a little laugh, "That feels funny." I smile mischievously and cover him with kisses. We're interrupted by a looming figure. "This doesn't seem like practice." Morga scowls.
"Oh we did though! I used this book Nadia gave me!" I hold up the book. Morga inspects it and raises an eyebrow. "This was Montag's."
"Oh?"
"I'll allow you to sleep now, then."
"Thank you!" I pull Muriel to bed and we fall asleep curled up together.
