It occurs to Greg one day that he could take Mycroft down in a fight. Not that he wants to! It's just that Mycroft and Sherlock seem to be so skilled in so many things. And Greg sometimes feels inadequate.
He knows that Mycroft has experience in hand to hand combat (there have been some times in the bedroom…) but how much is part of the official secrets act, or so Mycroft says.
But just once, just once, he'd like to do something better than Mycroft does.
Mycroft speaks several languages (European, African and Asian). He fences (foil, epee and sabre). He rides (show jumping and dressage). He cooks (Le Cordon Bleu). He even speed reads! (Well, he would have to, wouldn't he, what with the red box that comes home with him each night).
So he invites Mycroft wrestling, and he's feeling really good because he gets Mycroft pinned and then he realizes that Mycroft isn't even breaking a sweat.
He rolls back onto his heels. "You're letting me win," and with that he stands and walks into the locker room.
Mycroft comes in, looking ludicrously suave even in his gear. "What's this about, Greg?"
"I just don't know why…"
"Why what."
"Why you're with me. I'm not posh; I'm not rich; I'm not young. I feel stupid around you much of the time, clumsy and badly dressed…"
Mycroft smiles, but he doesn't approach. This isn't the moment for an embrace. It will just seem patronizing.
"Do you know what I see when I look at you, Greg."
"No."
"I see a man who has lived. Who lives out loud. All the time. I love my corridors of power, but I live my life behind computer screens and out of official dispatch bags but you're out there. Fighting the good fight."
"So's your brother."
"But he does it to prove something, to himself. You do it because you have to. You're not doing it for glory, but because it's the right thing to do. You have no idea how rare that is. You're one of the good ones, Greg and maybe you never win the silly awards, but you win my heart and my respect."
Greg stared at his feet. "I love you, My."
"I know. Now take me home and I'll give you a different sort of prize."