UPDATE: I thought about making this a series but decided to keep in a mutli-chapter fanfic instead with each chapter loosely or even directly related to the last. Also, with that said, the name of the entire work will now be called Kingsman version 2.0 and the first chapter will be called The "Death" of a Kingsman.
AN: I immediately thought up this once I finished the movie. Hopefully everyone enjoys this!
The death of a Kingsman deserved mourning. It was simply that the mourning often didn't take place until days if not even weeks or months later. Merlin had no time to mourn Galahad's passing and only just kept the tears at bay. Instead, Arthur's true nature was revealed and Merlin was pulled into saving the world with Lancelot and Eggsy, now the new Galahad.
The entire experience was a thrill, one that even while in the field he hadn't fully experienced, though that was probably due to the fact that the entire world usually wasn't in danger all at once and from the same threat. Nevertheless Merlin was content to going back to behind the scenes. He still did field work of course; besides, you sometimes had to go and loosen up the joints. But managing computers, planning safe routes, hacking into criminals' networks, was really more his thing.
Because of this, he sometimes had the pleasure, or more often difficulty, of managing multiple operations at once, keeping him away from his barely used home. Of course a Kingsman had a duty to the world but he also had a duty to his family. However, like the former Galahad, Merlin had none, at least no immediate relatives. So, it was extremely rare that he went home at all unless to sleep.
Nevertheless, the death of Valentine had allowed much needed rest for all the agents directly involved. Of course, the Earth was in a bit of chaos as about half of the governmental jobs of the world were now vacant along with a few celebrities but it would right itself again in no time.
Besides, though he could give a very stirring speech if need be, Merlin was a spy and not a politician.
It had been two days since his return to Kingsman. Two days since the new Galahad stepped up. Yet Merlin still couldn't help but think of him as Eggsy. Usually, he was the one that needed to remind others to use code names but he felt that the boy would always be Eggsy. Maybe it was because he'd worked so closely with the former Galahad. Their missions had almost always been connected in some shape or fashion and they had even started their service close to the same time. Even without missions they had always been…closer.
Perhaps that was why he was finally crying. He hadn't done so the day before, to high strung from the recent events. But he was calmer now, more level headed, and yet now his emotions decided to show up, growing like waves during a tsunami until they flowed down his face. He didn't sob or scream, that would have meant a lack of self control, though it was happening anyway, but he kept trying to wipe away the tears until it seemed like a pointless attempt.
His eyes remained watery and ached as the day wore on, making nearly anything impossible to do. However, as Afternoon Tea approached, his buzzer sounded.
The timing was odd as he hadn't been expecting anyone and he quickly attempted to clear the redness from his eyes as he approached the door. The only person he could think of was Eggsy who, though a very fine Kingsman, did occasionally forget the importance of things like calling beforehand. He opened the door, ready to hear about some new mission or perhaps even just someone in the need of a chat but instead found himself surprised.
Merlin didn't get surprised regularly.
Or shocked for that matter and he was in shock now. He wasn't sure what to do. Whether to just step aside and ask him in, cry a bit, or even punch him for all that he'd put Merlin through.
Merlin opened his mouth to speak and he almost immediately said the former code name but this really wasn't a time for that and instead he got out a rather breathy, "Harry."
"Merlin, a pleasure to see you as always. I am sorry I didn't inform you earlier but the others believed I should visit you personally instead of you being told by a second source."
Giving a small nod, Merlin's eyes finally moved away from the face to where the bandage was, wrapped around Harry's face. He then moved his eyes back to Harry, who really didn't look that good, and said, "If I was a superstitious man I'd say your ghost had come to visit me. Either way, would you like to come in?"
"That would be much appreciated. Perhaps we could go to your living room. I honestly don't think I can stand for much longer."
Merlin quickly moved aside and closed the door. He lead Harry into the next room, as if he didn't know where it was, and then quickly looked at the clock.
"Would you care to have your Afternoon Tea with me?"
"I would love nothing more but I honestly don't think I can stomach to much at the moment. A cup of tea would be lovely however," Harry replied as he sat down. Merlin could tell he truly wasn't well from his posture and the way he more fell onto the couch instead of carefully seating himself.
Merlin went to go make the tea though and hurried back, handing Harry his cup as he sat beside him. "May I be frank with you Harry?"
"Certainly."
"Then I must ask why you're not in a fucking hospital."
"I have a duty to my family. And I wasn't going to let some messenger come deliver you the news of my resurrection or wait a week before coming to you," Harry responded in a rather disgusted tone.
Merlin nodded, fully understanding what he meant, yet couldn't help but ask, "How did you survive?"
"Valentine's fear of gore and his lack of experience with a gun is what saved me. Even that close he didn't hit me point blank only grazed me and knocked me out. They left immediately without checking, probably due to Valentine's fear, and I was found and brought to a hospital. Before V-Day could occur however, I did wake up and succeed in locking myself into a bathroom. I would probably look better if I hadn't been subject to the noise produced by the SIM cards. When Percival came to collect my body, he instead found me alive, sorted everything out, and then brought me back here only today."
"So you got lucky. Lucky rarely is with us but it seems to favor you," Merlin replied with a small smile. "Do Eggsy and Lancelot know?"
"Yes, Galahad and Lancelot know."
"Then what will you do? This has never happened before."
"True, but the position of Arthur has yet to be filled. We'll have to officially vote on it but from my brief discussion with the others they believe it's the right choice. Of course, we'll need your vote as well."
"You know you have it," Merlin responded with a small smile. "And I…I thank you for coming here. You don't know how much it means that…well that you're alive."
"I dare say; are you getting emotional with me Merlin?"
"Don't be such a shit. Obviously I am," Merlin replied and quickly took Harry's face into his hands, kissing him softly and just loving the fact that he was so near, that the one he thought he'd lost forever was here with him now. "You," Merlin said softly, his breath softly brushing against Harry's skin, "are going to go to bed and will sleep so that way when I wake up in the morning I can know this wasn't a dream. Then you're going to be stuck in a hospital bed for however long you need until you're back to health. Is that understood?"
"I'll follow the order to a T," Harry said smiling.
"Good, I'll be there soon." Merlin took care of the tea and allowed himself a few moments to calm down. He then went back to his bedroom and couldn't help but give a fond smile as Harry had only succeeded in pulling his shoes off and throwing off his jacket before falling sleep. It was so un-Harry.
Skipping dinner, Merlin changed into his pajamas slowly and then moved in next to Harry. He took his hand and simply held it as a reminder that Harry really was there. When he finally woke up and found that Harry had moved closer in his sleep, his arm thrown over his body, Merlin couldn't help but smile. To be a Kingsman was a worth wild duty but one that often took more than what was received. For once, Merlin gained something instead of lost it.