[Comprehensive British and American] How agents solve the single problem

44

Phoebe froze.

She looked down at Merlin who was inspecting her wounds. Phoebe had never looked down at him, let alone heard Merlin speak in such a tone—the instructor and quartermaster of the Royal Secret Service has a status that is almost unambiguous, and most of the logistics staff They were all afraid of his majesty, and even field agents did not dare to easily touch Merlin's bottom line.

And now, he lowered his profile and pleaded with her.

"Just dealing with the sprain."

Seeing that she didn't respond, Merlin continued to speak: "If you don't want to see me, I'll leave when I'm done, okay?"

Phoebe: "..."

She was still angry, angry at Merlin's calmness, angry at his calculations, angry at his ability to say "exchange" in a tone that almost didn't matter, but when Merlin looked up at Phoebe with earnest eyes, she still controlled I can't help but feel soft-hearted.

The girl was silent for a long time, and then reluctantly let the door open.

Merlin stood up quickly.

Just as Phoebe was about to turn around and enter the door, she felt a sudden lightness around her waist, and she was easily hugged horizontally from behind by Merlin.

She trembled in shock, then hugged Merlin's shoulders, the familiar smell of soap powder and the sun quickly filled Phoebe's lungs.She whimpered, and before she had time to feel nostalgic, Merlin had strode into the bedroom and placed her beside the bed.

The moment he let go of his hand, Phoebe really used all her strength to restrain herself from thrusting into Merlin's arms.

The room was silent, but Merlin didn't care.

Phoebe's foot was lightly held in broad hands, and her left foot was like a petite porcelain ornament in the man's hand.The callus in his palm lightly rubbed against her skin, a warm touch came, a little painful and itchy.

Instinctively, Phoebe gripped the edge of the sheet and curled her toes.

Merlin's breathing paused following Phoebe's movements.

But he was fine, Merlin just reached out to Phoebe: "Ointment."

Phoebe handed him the ointment in her bosom.

When the cold medicine was applied to the sprain, the pain made Phoebe flinch a little, but Merlin's hand held her foot firmly, and the girl couldn't break free.

"It hurts?" he asked.

"……Um."

"Don't do it again after that," Merlin said. "It's not worth it."

The ointment is applied evenly, followed by a spray.After a simple treatment, Merlin let go of his hand.

Why did it end so soon? Phoebe silently withdrew her left foot and looked to the other end of the room.

"Don't move around recently, it will aggravate the injury."

"..."

This isn't London, they're in Monaco, and Phoebe's on a mission to assist James Bond, how can she not move?

The girl's silence said it all, and Merlin sighed.

He put the topical medicine on the bedside, then got up without saying a word, went to the bathroom to wash off the ointment on his hands, and came back and told him again: "I will ask a nurse to help you tomorrow, Phoebe, you go to bed early."

Then Merlin turned to leave.

After agreeing to deal with the wound, Merlin fulfilled his promise.He took a step towards the bedroom door, but just after he unlocked the door, a sob behind him stopped Merlin's movements abruptly.

The long golden hair scattered on both sides of her cheeks, blocking her view, and there was no sound except for a sob that was leaked unintentionally. She just wiped away her tears silently, lowered her head, and couldn't see her expression clearly.

The heart aches for anyone watching this scene, not to mention Phoebe rarely cries.In the past, Phoebe always had bright eyes, and a curious smile on her pretty face. Even if she was dissatisfied or unhappy, she would choose to express it directly—unlike now, where Phoebe no longer knows the time of the night. How many times have I cried, even refusing to make any sound.

Merlin couldn't take the steps to leave no matter what.

"Phoebe," the man whispered, "let me stay and take care of you."

"Hate Merlin," replied Phoebe, wiping away tears, "hate you."

But she didn't refuse Merlin's request, and she didn't just pick up the things at hand and smash them directly.

Merlin thought that Phoebe probably wouldn't mind him taking this as a tacit signal.So he let go of his grip on the edge of the door, and turned to Phoebe again.

"I know you're mad, Phoebe."

"Hate you!"

The man wiped his eyebrows.

He bent down, and Merlin reached out to caress the girl's cheek, and his thumb landed on the base of her ear, gently guiding her to raise her head.

"Okay, girl," Merlin carefully wiped the tears off Phoebe's face with the other hand, "don't cry."

But his words only brought more violent tears, and the crystal tears rolled down from Phoebe's eyes unstoppably. She looked at Merlin with tears in her eyes, and sobbed, "Why did Merlin lie to me?"

Merlin: "..."

"Strictly speaking, I didn't lie to you," Merlin's tone sank. "I'm telling the truth, Phoebe, if you must trade with someone to get close to me, it's better to trade with me directly."

"But, this is not something that can be exchanged!"

"It's not, Phoebe."

He didn't want to do that either.

"Have you ever wondered why I refused to promise you before?"

"Merlin thinks I'm naive."

"..."

Why are you still thinking about this matter.

Merlin smiled bitterly with a headache, and shook his head: "Because I think it's unfair to you, girl."

It's so easy to fulfill Phoebe's wish.Although there is no need to go through life and death on the front line, Merlin has also seen countless times of agents using this method in exchange for the information or benefits they want. approach, but will not object to it.

But Phoebe is not the target of the mission, and Merlin is willing to respect her instead of treating her as someone to solve physical problems and get what they need.

"Remember when I told you that I don't need anything of value from you," Merlin continued, "because I don't want to use you, Phoebe, but if you promised Q something and kept it from me, you have In order to use the value, I can't let a person who has a quid pro quo with MI6 be by my side."

Merlin was not his real name, but his position in the Royal Secret Service.

Phoebe, who used to be a cat, knew a lot of secrets about royal agents, and Merlin never regarded her as an outsider. He trusted her and never avoided her in this regard.

But Merlin had to avoid a person related to MI6.

"You have conflicting interests with the royal agents, Phoebe, then you are not someone who can be completely trusted. But I still hope to have no reservations about you. In order to maintain this, I am willing to exchange with you instead of Watching you strike a deal with MI6's quartermaster."

He hoped that Phoebe would understand what he meant.

Of course she could, his girl was always smart, and without Melin's trouble, a few simple reminders were enough for Phoebe to realize everything by herself.

The hand resting on Phoebe's cheek was firm and strong. The Phoebe in the past would definitely give up all persistence because of his comfort and touch, and throw herself into his arms without disappointment, acting coquettish and losing her temper.

But not this time.

Phoebe just stared at Merlin quietly, her gray eyes were still stubborn and unwilling to give in.

It wasn't what Merlin wanted, but luckily she didn't cry anymore.

"What if I did it for Merlin's benefit?" she asked.

"That's not okay," Merlin replied decisively. "Whether you treat me well is up to me to judge, girl. And I don't need you to be nice to me. I only hope you can be nice to yourself."

"Merlin always says that."

She was not swayed by his words.

"I always say that I want to be for myself, that I want my own friends, and that I want to be an independent and thoughtful girl."

Phoebe tilted her head, avoiding the man's touch.

This was the first time Phoebe had voluntarily escaped Merlin's comfort.

"Then Merlin should understand." She calmed down completely, "Even if there is no this time, there will be a next time. It was Merlin who pushed me away, so I shouldn't be blamed."

Merlin was speechless.

Of course he understood, which was why he wanted Phoebe to be an ordinary girl instead of trying to be a secret agent.

Sooner or later, there will be a day when even the supernatural Merlin can't stop an independent and complete soul from walking her own path, even if this path will keep her away from herself.

Merlin just wished that day came later.

But the smart Phoebe, the fast-growing Phoebe, always brings him surprises, and always exceeds Merlin's estimates in unexpected places.

Even though many people reminded her not to get off the ground, Phoebe stood up from the bed again.

Her soft fingertips landed on Merlin's chest, and those hands had pulled his skirt countless times, or wrapped his neck around his neck, trying to get close to him and get close to him.

But this time, Phoebe dragged his injured left foot and pushed him calmly and firmly.

"I don't need Merlin to take care of me, I don't need to hire a nurse, and I don't need Merlin to bother to achieve any... exchange," Phoebe said. "I will reduce the chances of walking and try not to go to the ground. Even if I need it, Bond will help me."

She slowly withdrew her hand.

"Merlin has completed Merlin's task, and I have completed my goal."

The misty mist faded from her eyes, and the clear gray pupils shone with many emotions and expressions that Merlin had never seen in her eyes.

Phoebe sat back on the edge of the bed, the petite girl's back straight.

"I will try my best to meet Merlin's expectations, you won't stop me, will you?"

At this moment, Merlin finally realized clearly that Phoebe was no longer that white cat who would forget everything when coaxed.

The author has something to say: The girl is getting more and more difficult to coax, go to Merlin if you have a headache, you won't lose your hair anyway! 【Alas.

Jiang Hua, who continues to be in a state of exhaustion and insists on updating outside, asks for praise QAQ!

Thanks to Luoshu Tsubaki and Mr. A for the landmines, meme!