ajsrandomTitle: Testing the Magic
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Leon
Summary: Leon checks out Merlin's magical skills.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 679
Prompt: #186, domestic
Author's Notes: Enjoy! :)
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After a few minutes of magic “tricks,” Arthur’s personal secretary knocked on the door and entered. He strode over to Arthur and whispered in his ear. Merlin watched the man and said, “I guess my time is up.” He stood.
Arthur stood with him. “Sorry about this. It’s a domestic issue I need to take care of. Thanks for coming by, Merlin. I look forward to ‘working’ with you.” He offered Merlin his hand.
Merlin chuckled and took his hand. “Same here. Until next time then.”
“See you later, Merlin.”
Merlin was ushered out. Someone from Security was there to conduct Merlin to his first session with Leon. Well, he didn’t exactly say he was from Security, but the black suit and earpiece gave it away. He led Merlin back toward his own room, but turned into a different corridor before they got there.
Eventually they ended up at a door labeled “Security.” The man led Merlin inside and Leon was waiting there to greet him. “Hello there, Merlin. Ready for your training?”
“Not really, but let’s do it anyway.”
Leon clapped a hand to his shoulder. “I like your attitude. Come, we have a room where I can test what you know.”
Merlin gulped. “O-Okay.”
Leon led them to a room devoid of furniture and with obviously padded walls. “All right. You’ll have to protect the Prince from all threats, foreign and domestic, physical and magical. Right now I’m going to test your magical defenses. Get ready.”
Merlin set his stance and raised his hand. Leon came at him like a bear. Merlin yelled “Ӕtstendeaþ!” and Leon froze in place. Leon couldn’t move a muscle except what he needed to breathe. “Ende,” Merlin said and Leon could move again.
“Good,” Leon praised. “That was the first time I’ve experienced that particular variation of the spell, but I liked it. Being able to breathe was quite nice.”
Merlin’s eyes widened; he was genuinely surprised to hear that. “Wow.”
Leon backed away from Merlin again. “I’m going to try something different now. Be alert.” Before Merlin could say anything, Leon whipped a gun out from nowhere and made to fire.
Merlin’s eyes flashed gold and he felt his magic work to form a shield in front of him. Something bounced off of it and dropped to the floor. He saw Leon’s eyes go wide then get shrewd. He chucked the gun at the shield and watched it bounce off and clatter to the floor. Leon raised both hands in “surrender” and Merlin consciously willed the shield away.
“Well,” Leon said, “I didn’t expect that. You have instinctual magic?”
“Yes. All my life.”
“Wait. How long have you had your powers?”
“My mum says I could move things with my mind before I could talk.”
Leon’s mouth fell open. “That long?”
“Apparently I was born with it.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Not even a little.”
“Well, I think I have a fairly good idea of your defensive capabilities. Now I want to see your offensive.”
Merlin took apart the gun on the floor then exploded the bullets left over, while shielding them. He threw Leon against the wall. He lit part of the wall on fire then put it out immediately. By the end of it all, Leon looked pretty satisfied.
“Do you have any hand-to-hand combat experience?” Merlin shook his head. “Wrestling?” Merlin shook his head again. “Did you do any kind of sport?”
“Sorry, Leon, I didn’t. I preferred the scholarly arts.”
“Well, I’ve got my work cut out for me then. I’ll work out a physical training schedule for you, so come here every day at 9 a.m. except weekends.” He shook Merlin’s hand. “Thanks for coming by.”
Merlin laughed. “Like I had a choice.”
“Oh, you did, but I think you’ll fit in here nicely.” He walked Merlin to the door. “See you in the morning, Merlin.”
And Merlin found himself outside the door and heading back to his room. He certainly had a lot to think about from his long day, and he hadn’t even seen Gaius yet.