"Find out anything new last night, Merlin?" Morgana asked as she arrived home rather early the next evening.

"Um."

Something in his voice must have given her reason to pause because she turned her sharp gaze on him. "What is it?"

"Well, I talked to the chief of police again."

"Oh, Merlin."

"No wait. It wasn't... It wasn't like that. I talked to his detective a few days ago, and this time I saved the chief of police from some of the folks down by the docks. Edwin was going to burn him alive. He was actually on fire. Arthur, that is. So I rescued him. And you can't tell me that that wasn't a good samaritan act!"

"It was a good samaritan act, Merlin. It just wasn't a good self-preservation act."

He chuckled at that, stretching his legs out from beneath him. "Probably not. But he seemed a good sort. Kind. He liked flying."

"Get that dreamy look off your face, Merlin Emrys."

He ducked his head, feeling his cheeks flame. "I know. I know. Nothing can ever happen. We're too different, he would never look at me in real life, there's no reason for us to even get along despite that we both have the same interests at heart for the people of Camelot!"

"You've clearly thought about this," Morgana drawled, hooking her stylish pumps over her fingers as she went to her room.

"When you're done changing, check out my bad guy map in my room. Tell me what you think."

Merlin went back to his book—something he hadn't time for in a long time, but felt the right to indulge.

"Nimueh's a new name," Morgana commented simply as she came back and leaned against the back of the sofa, staring at Merlin.

He tucked his bookmark in and then leaned forward, eager for someone to talk to about this. "Yes. I'm thinking that Morgause and Nimueh are in charge. Cenred, Mordred, and Grunhilda are all seconds in command. The rest of those people are all in charge of separate areas, you see."

"Mm. Valiant is drugs. Anhora does the mixing of said drugs. I think Sophia and Vivian are into prostitution. Grunhilda does intimidation. And Edwin does.. I don't even know. Lending? It's just a huge ring of bad that is going to get worse and spread like a disease if I don't stop it."

"Yes. This is true."

"But..." he said slowly, "I don't think that I can do this alone."

"Alone... Merlin..." Morgana's eyes met his, suspicious and intrusive.

"Yes, I was thinking of asking Arthur for help. He seemed... disgruntled that I was taking over his job." He held his breath while Morgana's eyes bored into him.

"I don't know if it's a good idea, but it's your decision, Merlin. I'm not your mother, and I can't tell you what to do."

Merlin nodded, letting it out. "I'm going to ask him to help."

She nodded. "I'm going to bed then. Be careful, Merlin."

He was careful. He left via the roof as usual, soaring to Arthur's flat that he did not watch Arthur climb into when he'd dropped him off. Knocking politely on the window after he'd landed on his balcony, he waited. Then knocked harder. Huffing a sigh he finally whispered, "aagored" and the latch popped open for him to slide the door just enough to the side for him to enter. There was a light on at the end of the hall, indicating Arthur's location.

"Arthur?"

He'd barely had time to poke his head into the room when Arthur was already on the move, gun fired and locked on him.

"Rhoi'r gorau I!" Merlin shrieked and everything ground to a halt. He ducked out of the path of the stationary bullet and then whispered "ailddechrau."

Arthur gaped and then whirled to face the, to him, newly relocated Warlock. "Shit man! What the bloody—"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know you were going to shoot!"

"What the hell are you doing in my flat?" Arthur demanded, the gun lowering a bit in the face of Merlin's raised hands.

"I needed... Um. Can we put the gun away, please? It's making me nervous."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to ask you something."

"How did you get in?"
"I magicked the door open. Your balcony."

Arthur sighed and lowered the gun, allowing Merlin to notice for the first time that he wasn't wearing anything other than a pair of boxers. "What do you want, Warlock."

"I think I know what's going on down by the docks," Merlin breathed as he also relaxed, perching on one of Arthur's chairs. "And I think...I think I need your help to do it."

Setting the gun back on his bedside table, Arthur stared. "You're coming to me for help for something that I should be dealing with myself. And if anything, this entire situation is completely backwards."

Merlin grinned. "Well, sorry. But I think I know more about this than you do at this point. Did you find anything out about those names that I gave you?"

"Nimueh. The photo I found of her in our database is the same as the woman—albeit with different hair—as the one who was dating my mate."

"Was?"

"They broke up," Arthur said darkly.

Merlin nodded. "No loss there then. Well. Morgause and Nimueh are the ringleaders."

Arthur nodded as Merlin repeated the information he'd given Morgana.

"So I want to stop them."

"So do I," Arthur replied, giving him a measuring look.

"So I thought that we might as well do it together. It would be more...effective. Having the law on my side. You know."

"No, Warlock. I don't. There has never been any sort of precedent for this. Ever," Arthur drawled, folding his arms across his chest as he sat down on the edge of his bed. "However, I cannot deny that this would be advantageous for the both of us. Seeing as I can't let you keep doing all of our work."

"I knew you were upset about that," Merlin countered.

"Well what do you expect when you make us feel particularly useless?" Arthur complained gruffly.

Merlin couldn't help his grin. "Fantastic! Well not you, but that's a great compliment! Thanks so much!"

"You're an idiot."

"Thanks. You're a clodpole, so I guess we're all even then, yeah?"

Arthur gaped. "God, you're too unbelievable sometimes."

"I'll take that as another compliment."

"You had better," Arthur exclaimed, incredulous. "The other would be..." He shook his head. Sighed. "Did you have a plan for this assault?"

Merlin blinked. "Assaul—oh! The attack. Well. There are magic users amongst them. Several." He set his staff down by his feet and leaned his elbows on his knees. "Morgause, Nimueh, Edwin, Sophia, Valiant, and Grunhilda are all magic users."

Arthur paled. "How did they get so many? And why are you the only good one?"

"There are surely more good ones out there, but they don't get to be famous because they aren't committing crimes. There are lots of healers that I've encountered. So they're doing something good."

"Right... Will you be able to handle them?" Arthur asked.

"Yes."

He blinked. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure," Merlin said stoutly. "I'm powerful."

"Powerful enough to defeat six magic users that are all going to be focusing on you at the same time?"

"Yes." Merlin paused. "Though I'd rather not. That's why I want you guys to create a distraction. Preferably some sort of explosion. Though I could do that too. But I don't want to create that much damage to the area. That wouldn't be good. So I guess, just storming the place and creating chaos?"

"That's not a very good plan," Arthur said flatly.

Merlin thought a minute, realising the truth. He wasn't very used to working with others. "True. However, I can put protection over your people. That way they'll be less likely to get hurt. Because I really don't want them to get hurt. You shouldn't have to lose anyone."

Arthur looked down at that, leaving Merlin to feel a little raw. But he nodded. "So then what? Since this is your plan, apparently."

"I... Do you have a piece of paper?"

Arthur made a face. "Yes. There's one on the table over there you can use."

Merlin floated it over to him and appeared a pen. Smoothing the paper over hardened air, he drew out the layout of the docks and where the individuals were focused. "Nimueh and Morgause tend to keep back here," he said, pointing out an area to Arthur. "And Grunhilda, Anhora, Valiant, and Edwin are mainly in this area while Vivian and Cenred are more behind things, down by the power generators they've set up. So I was thinking that if units were focused on these areas, then that would do well to distract the underlings that they have there. Also, we could make use of smoke bombs and tear gas."

"I think you've watched too many cop dramas..." Arthur muttered, still staring at the floating piece of paper.

"Were you listening at all?" Merlin snapped.

"I... Yes! Stop getting pissy."

Merlin sighed. "Ask."

"What?"

"Your questions about me. We may as well get them out of the way. Ask."

"What the hell's with the outfit?"

Merlin was grateful for the mask that covered his cheeks as he was certain they were rather pink. "It just...is what I change into. It's not like I chose it or anything. When I change—from normal to ...to this, it's what my magic gives me."

"It makes you look like some sort of gay dandy?"

"Shut up! It's...it's sharp!" But he hated the way it came out as more of a question. "Next."

"Are you really really powerful?"
"Yes, I really am."

"Show me."

"What do you want me to show you?"

"Anything," Arthur said, leaning forward. "None of this little stuff. I want something big."

"Well, it can't be too big, otherwise it'll give me away," Merlin said. "But," he continued before Arthur could interject, "let's see what I can do...Dewch â sêr a'r tonnau a swn y môr." The room shifted as the ceiling faded into the twinkle of stars, the wall behind Merlin melting away to show waves lapping at a beach and the sound of waves permeating the silence.

Arthur's jaw dropped comically and he jumped off his bed and spun around, staring. "It's just a... an illusion, right?"

Merlin rubbed his jaw, wondering how Arthur's could hang so low. "No. It's real. Illusions are easy. You could run into the waves if you wanted."

"Did you...transport us somewhere?"

"No. We're still in your room."

"This is... This is amazing!" Arthur ran past Merlin towards the waves, yelping as they rushed over his bare feet. "They're cold!"

"It's night time, Arthur, and the waves are usually cold this time of year."

"Yes... but..." He trotted back, shaking sand off of his feet. "It's so real. I mean... I was expecting them to be warm."

"Why?"

"Because...you made them?"

Merlin arched a brow, tilting his head. "That makes no sense."

Arthur snorted. "I thought they would be warm because you made them," he repeated. "And if you made them, then it would make sense that your fake waves would be warm because that would make them more pleasant."

"So essentially you're saying they should be warm because that would be ideal, and the purpose of magic is to make things ideal."

"Yes." Arthur frowned. "No?"

"Well. Whatever. I was thinking tomorrow for the attack. Would you be able to get your precinct ready?"

"Tomorrow!" Arthur jerked back to the present, Merlin's magical world fading around them. "No. No, too soon. I need to make the reports, and then get everyone organised and briefed."

Merlin nodded. "Right then. When can you be ready?"

"Monday."

"Monday is it then. I'll be ready."

"Where shall I meet you?"

"Meet? I don't think..."

"I want my people to know that you're on our side so we don't get any stray bullets headed your way." Arthur ducked his head suddenly. "And I think I've kind of painted you as a baddie."

"Me?" Merlin recoiled.

"I didn't know!" Arthur quickly covered. "I didn't know who you were—still don't actually—and I didn't know what you were doing in my city."

A grin came to his lips suddenly and Merlin shook his head. "Alright then. I'll believe you. I'll meet you..."

"Come to the precinct. At dusk."

"Is that a complicated way of getting me to turn myself in?"

"No," Arthur laughed. "I'd have done it by now if I were going to."

"Like you could catch me," Merlin said, laughter in his voice.

Arthur smiled. "You remind me of someone, you know?"

Merlin didn't dare let his grin falter. "Oh?"

"Some bloke..." Arthur replied, tossing the words aside with a wave of his hand.

"And?"

"Just some bloke! I don't have to describe my love life to you."

"Love life?" Merlin echoed as the world spun a bit. Did Arthur fancy him?"

Arthur flushed a bit in the dim light and looked away. "Well. Let me know if you need anything or if you have any ideas. Is there a way for me to...I dunno, contact you? Do you leave calling cards?" His voice twisted wryly on the last part.

Merlin laughed. "No. I don't. I don't have a way for people to get in touch with me asides from screaming or needing help... Though... Though I could. Galw cerdyn." In his hand a little card appeared. He handed it over to Arthur. Say my name when you hold it and tell me to come. I'll know."

"Right..." Arthur held the thing with a bit of awe. "Well. Goodnight then."

"Goodnight!" Merlin skipped out of the room, trotting down the hallway and was opening the door to the balcony when he heard his name whispered in his ear and a tug on his chest. He frowned and then walked back down the hall to Arthur's room. Arthur who was grinning madly in the centre of his room, holding the calling card.

"I just wanted to check and be sure it worked," he said.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Well now you know it does. Goodnight, Arthur."

"Goodnight, Warlock."


Arthur strode into the building, filled with purpose and triumph. This was his city, and he was going to protect it, rid the evil in it. And he had Warlock on his side. Powerful, amazing Warlock. He grinned.

"Do you even need your coffee this morning, Arthur, or are you just that pleased with yourself?" Gwen teased.

"Guinevere! Schedule a precinct wide meeting for this afternoon at three. I need everyone there. Including your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend!" Gwen turned red.

"Yes! Lance is part of this whole business, so we need him here too."

"I'm not! But—wait. I haven't—we aren't," Gwen sputtered behind him as he pushed his office door open and set down to plan the meeting.

Arthur was incredibly proud of his productivity all morning and through lunch. When he happened to glance at the clock, he was surprised, again, to find it almost a quarter after one. As if on cue, his stomach sharply berated him for his neglect. He stretched up out of his chair and moved to the doorway. "Gwen, I'm going out for lunch, in case anyone needs me. I'll be back at three."

Despite the fact that it was late, Arthur meandered around the restaurants close to where he'd seen that big-eared bloke, Merlin, before. The whole conversation with Warlock had prompted the feelings that he might have been ignoring to the surface. The man was irreverent, that was for sure. But he definitely looked fit in that suit. Crediband's did an amazing job with the tailoring, but Merlin made sure it looked divine.

His luck was good today, however, because there was Merlin, not in the Crediband's suit, but another that didn't fit quite as well, but was black and therefore still flattering. "Merlin!"

The man jerked and then spun around, wide-eyed.

Arthur laughed.

Merlin noticed him then and rolled his eyes heavenward. "I should have known."

"What? I saw you and wanted to say hello."

"We hardly know each other, Arthur. What would you want with me?"

Arthur screwed up his face. "What?"

"Why would you even talk to me?" The man asked, a hand canted on his hip.

"Do I need a reason?" he replied, confused.

Merlin's face softened. "Do you like me, Arthur?"

The straightforwardness of the question floored him a bit, but Arthur thought he recovered admirably. "Um."

Merlin smiled, his whole face changing. "Really?"

The man must be adept at speaking 'Arthur.' "Well."

Merlin laughed.

Clearing his throat, Arthur began again, "I was out for lunch, and I saw you. I thought I might take advantage of the company while I eat. If you haven't eaten yet yourself."

Merlin tilted his head, waiting. "Alright."

"Really? Oh good. Here I was, thinking I was making a fool out of myself."

"Probably no worse than that first day I met you. Saw you."

"Yes," Arthur replied, feeling the equilibrium even out between them again. "The King's Table again? My treat."

"What? No! I couldn't ask you to—"

"Good thing you aren't then, right? I offered." With everything else that seemed to be going right, Arthur couldn't help but feel a little magnanimous with his money and time. "Come on." He offered an arm to Merlin who laughed but accepted it.

"So what are your chief of police duties anyway," Merlin asked across the table some time later.

Arthur shrugged. "Protect the people. You know. There's..." He bit his tongue, unsure if he should continue, but then Merlin's eager face changed his mind. "There's something big going down soon."

"Something big sounds ominous."

Arthur huffed. "Of course. It's... complicated. But the coolest part," Arthur said with a grin, "is the fact that Warlock is going to be helping!"

"What?"

Arthur was proud of the way that Merlin's face flushed with awe. "Yeah! He came to my flat last night and we had a long talk about assault strategy."

"Did you now," Merlin drawled.

Arthur flushed. "Stop that! It was nothing like that! I don't even know who he is."

"If you did though! What would you do?" Merlin countered, leaning forward on the table.

"I... I don't know." Arthur shrugged. "It wouldn't make any difference, I'm sure. Besides..." Arthur slid his eyes towards Merlin. "I already have a person of interest."

"Really?" Merlin sounded interested now, his cheeks flushed.

"Oh yes," Arthur drawled, leaning back in his chair. "It's just a little thing. Nothing really. But I wanted to tell him before... Well. Before the big thing."

Merlin's grin almost split his face. "Really."

"Can you say anything besides 'really,' Merlin?"

"I can say 'yes, I like you too, you gorgeous prat.' And I can say 'yes I'd like to go out with you.' But I'm not sure which you'd be interested in."

"Both," Arthur decided. "I'll call you. Right now I have a meeting to get back to."

"All top secret like and dangerous."

"Absolutely."

Merlin stood, looking solemn. "Very well. I wish you the best and hope that you will call me Saturday evening for dinner because I should very much like to see you again."

Arthur smiled, paid the bill, and then escorted Merlin out. "I will. I'll call you."

Except that he forgot.

The meeting passed without a hitch and his entire precinct was aghast at the idea of the legendary Warlock, whom Arthur had been chasing for a good while now, helping them against the baddies corrupting the docks. He'd dazzled them with details, though not too many because the man had anonymity to uphold, and maybe Arthur could help that along.

Fuelled by the thought of Merlin's slim fingers around a wineglass stem, he worked hard. So hard that Saturday night came and passed into Sunday morning while Arthur closed his eyes and let his head fall onto his desk.

He cursed as his mobile told him it was 4:42 A.M. So he slumped into bed and slept until 1. He phoned Merlin, left an apologetic message and then went back to paperwork and strategy plans, feeling the thrill of decisive action sweep through him. Monday was coming.