Notes: Hey there!

More Susan for you guys! Thank you so much for the kudos and comments. I really appreciate it.

I'm still working on the personal aspects of Susan's new life, but I promise that we will have some action eventually. I'm also making a one-shot that has nothing but fluff. You'll see it soon.

This was not beta-read (as per usual) and I hope it's not too terrible, because some sentences got me confused...

Here goes nothing.


Chapter 10

The Merlin before this Merlin was very good with some aspects of his job, not so much with others, especially paperwork. When the new Merlin took over he realized the true extension of the other man's mess. Everything that came before him was properly filed and saved. Everything during his time…

Merlin was always supposed to organize the whole thing, besides digitalizing every single file. It obviously never happened.

Actually there was a time he started it and managed to do a good chunk of it, but the old Merlin's mess made the progress slow and eventually he stopped.

Somewhere like… You know, 10 years ago.

It was an extremely boring work and it required a lot of attention, because most files were messy and had mixed pages. Once Merlin found a file on a mission that had four pages of cake recipes in the middle.

"So… I have to organize and digitalize this." Susan asked from her position sitting.

"Yes. Did you understand how the scanner works?" Merlin asked.

"I did." She looked at the pile of paper. "This is going to be torture."

"If you get tired, let me know. And, of course, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. This is my responsibility."

She waved him off. "It's better than staying on the bed."

Merlin observed Susan as she started to organize the papers. It was very slow, because she only had on hand available. She also had a lot of attention to detail, she never scanned anything before reading it and making sure it was on the right folder. Merlin had told her it wasn't necessary, because the computer would organize everything alone, but she told him they should have the hard copies in case those "useless machines" ever stopped working.

She did have a point. They actually had to find the hard copy of her file when she arrived.

So that's how Susan started spending her days. Not the biggest part of them, because her doctor wouldn't let her. She could work for four hours, but she had to have a break half way through.

She would work quietly on the table Merlin got for her, only sometimes asking questions. After a week she asked him if she could bring music. When he said yes, Merlin wasn't expecting the record player that Bors had fixed for her.

She had such a deep love for Sinatra and Elvis that she jumped at the idea of how many more songs they had recorded during the years. Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, the Fontane Sisters, Patti Page, Tony Bennett… She had a passion for music that invaded his office four hours a day.

Sometimes she would hum along what she was listening, but she was such a bad singer. Roxy used to joke that it was good to know that Susan couldn't do something. She was off-key most the time and couldn't manage a decent pitch.

It didn't stop the humming though.

"I am going for today, Merlin." She informed him, one afternoon.

"Of course. Would you mind leaving that playing?" He asked before he could stop himself. This Sinatra's record was a particularly favorite of his.

"Of course." She smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow, Merlin."

"I'll see you then." He looked at her, in time to see Susan leaving the room singing along "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World." She sang the second verse wrong.

XxX

Susan waited with bated breath for the moment where she could finally take this blasted cast out of her left arm. In one week she would be officially cleared from the ribs, but the cast… It would still be there for another two weeks.

Now, if she could be completely honest, being hurt hadn't been too bad. Of course, she was stuck in the house and the paperwork she's been dealing with is pure torture, but it gave her the chance to finally make peace with Merlin.

She never saw him as an enemy, of course. She just had the feeling that he didn't like her very much, or didn't trust her –which was worse. She liked to believe she never took it personally, but that might be a lie. Susan was always difficult with Merlin and nobody else.

But things were better. At least she thought they were. They weren't best buddies, but they got along just fine. They even talked sometimes when she was on his office organizing those cursed files.

"Galahad, don't you dare blow up this fucking building!"

Susan stopped at the door of Merlin's lab upon hearing the man's angry voice. She knew that Eggsy was out on a mission in some other country, but didn't know why he was planning on exploding a building.

"It'd be easier!" She heard Eggsy's voice arguing.

"Do you know the meaning of the word 'stealth', Galahad?" Merlin all but growled.

She tried to contain the small smile before going in.

Merlin was sitting in front of the screens. Susan had seen it work only once and that was when the technician hadn't been in the room. She didn't normally spend time here.

Merlin was totally on his element, not only checking the visual feed that came from Eggsy's glasses, but also checking other cameras. Besides that there were maps and information, plus another four screens showing God knows what.

As if spell bound her feet took her closer. She only realized how close when her hand touched the back rest of Merlin's chair.

"What's he doing now?" She asked.

Merlin didn't even take his eyes from the screen to answer. "He wants to explode the building to get all the militia at the same time, which would normally work, if discretion wasn't fundamental in this job." Merlin said the last part pointedly at the microphone.

"Why is it?" She asked curious.

"For diplomatic reasons. We aren't exactly welcome there. We don't want to alert the authorities until it's all done and Galahad has left the country." Merlin explained exhausted.

"Well, does this building have one of those integrated ventilation systems that recycle air and get none of it from the outside?" She asked.

Merlin was silent for almost a full minute before saying a simple "yes".

"Does Galahad have the sleepy bombs on him?" She insisted.

This time it was Eggsy's voice that said yes.

"Then blow them all on the filter." She said as if it was obvious.

Both men were silent this time before Eggsy was saying something along the lines of "Fuck yes" and went for it.

Merlin turned his face to look at Susan, and found her right over his left shoulder, leaning over him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interfere." She apologized.

"It's okay." He said softly.

Susan had never realized that Merlin eyes were green. She always took them for hazel, but up close they were green. She probably never looked from close enough.

"I'm going to my table." She straightened.

"Of course." He cleared his throat.

She gave him one last smile before moving away.

XxX

Susan always loved dancing and she liked to think that the 50's had had the best songs to do so. She couldn't stand the things that Roxy and Eggsy liked to listen to.

Caradoc and Harry were the ones that always danced with her. But now they wouldn't because of the blasted cast on her arm.

Of course, that didn't stop her from listening to the records.

The room where they normally danced also had a record player, but this one was even better than the one Bors had fixed for her. There were also a lot of records she hadn't even heard yet. Tonight she had plans for a very specific one. There might not be anyone to dance with her, but she sure could dance alone.

"What are you doing?"

She was very ashamed to admit that she shrieked with the sound. Susan tried to compose herself, but by the amused look on Merlin's face when she turned, it hadn't worked very well.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I asked you first." He indicated.

Merlin wasn't wearing glasses. She had never ever seen him without glasses before.

"I just wanted to dance." She informed him. "I couldn't sleep."

Merlin looked around like he was expecting to see someone else. "Is Harry coming?"

"No, he won't dance with me because of the cast." She rolled her eyes. "Same for Caradoc, so I decided to dance alone."

Merlin seemed to be fighting off a smile. "Very independent of you. What do you plan on dancing?"

"Sinatra, of course." She crossed her arms defensively.

"Of course." She had the feeling that he was teasing her. "Would you like me to leave you to it?"

"Depends."

"On?"

He thought he was so funny, right? "Are you offering to dance with me?"

Merlin arched a brow. "Are you asking me?"

"No. It's just that you have been standing there and it's got me wondering." She shrugged. "Maybe you want to dance."

"I suppose I have the time." He said graciously. "I am quite a decent dancer."

"Very reassuring." Susan said sarcastically. "Shall we?"

"We shall." He inclined his head politely on her direction.

She turned to the player and put the record she had previously selected. She was holding the needle above it, when she turned to Merlin.

He had taken off the jumper he was wearing and was rolling the sleeves of his shirt. Susan turned back to the record player.

"Are you ready?" She asked looking at the spinning disc. Her cheeks were not red.

"Yes."

Susan was thinking about listening the first track, but her hand quickly moved to the last one. She was not being silly. It was just… Anyway.

She let the needle fall gently and turned to Merlin. The theme song from "New York, New York" started playing.

He chuckled. "Curious choice."

"Anything Sinatra sings is poetry."

"You are more than a bit biased." He said with a smile, then he looked at her arm. "How are we doing this?"

"Gently." She informed him, putting her left arm –the one with the cast – on his shoulder. "I'm sure we can manage it."

"I'll do my best." He said taking her right hand is his, and putting his other lightly on her back.

He started guiding her on simple steps, just around the room, like he was testing her. Then suddenly he twirled her, making a surprised giggle scape her.

"Did you just giggle?" He asked with a smile, without stopping.

"No, I didn't." She answered primly, only to be twirled again and again.

Merlin could really dance. It shouldn't have surprised her. It did it anyway. They were a bit clumsy because her arm got in the way more than once, but she didn't want to just swing from side to side.

At the end of it she was laughing and Merlin was actually smiling.

Percival, who hadn't even been invited, but was watching from afar, was smiling as well.

XxX

Bors was shot.

It was an explosive projectile. He was hit on the stomach and was on surgery, his condition was critical. The doctors didn't know if they could remove it safely, but every minute the projectile was in his body it did more damage.

Bors was a good man. He was so serious, focused on his work. It was very hard to see him smiling, but he had an acid kind of humor that always made everybody else breathless with laughter.

They did the surgery – where they almost lost him – and put him to recover. The next 48 hours would be essential, and nobody knew what to expect.

Caradoc, his husband, was heartbroken. He wouldn't leave the medical area of the HQ for nothing, much less food and sleep. Eggsy, who had been in the mission with him, felt guilty and destroyed.

Harry was a wreck too. He took very personally when one of his got hurt. Probably seeing Caradoc so bad wasn't helping.

Roxy had been lending a shoulder to Eggsy, so Susan had been offering hers to Harry and Caradoc. She would hold hands, dry tears and just be a very present figure.

She told them to pray and when Caradoc told her he didn't believe in God, she said it was okay and she would pray in his place. She brought him food and made Harry go to sleep.

The first 48 hours came and went, but Bors wouldn't wake up. The doctors were uncertain if this was good or not. But by the end of the first week, when he finally opened his eyes and called Jimmy – Caradoc's real name – they all could breathe easier.

Eggsy tried to pretend he hadn't been crying, Harry said something about vacation for both the agents and Caradoc was between planning a new honeymoon in Bali and crying.

Susan left them all to it, feeling very tired. She was so relieved that Bors was okay. He was a great man, agent and a very dear friend.

She left the house with Reep following close behind her and went down the front steps, until she was in the driveway and had nowhere else to go.

"Guinevere?"

Of course he would be here. Merlin came down the steps and stopped beside her. "What are you doing here?"

Susan took a deep breath before turning to him. "Bors is fine. He will be okay."

"I know." He said confused. "Harry just told me."

"He is fine." She said firmly one more time, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Guinevere?"

Susan gave up the fight. As soon as the tears started rolling down her face she threw her arms around Merlin and sobbed against his chest.

He froze for a second, Reep started whining at Susan's feet and with a sigh the man finally held her and let her cry.

XxX

One of the ally agencies indicated to Harry a Korean doctor that could speed the healing of Susan's wrist. And by speed they meant solve it in a couple of hours.

So she went and when she came back –after spending two days in Korea, because she deserved a good weekend –Eggsy was jumping up and down.

"Roxy has a girlfriend!"

"What are we now?" Roxy grumbled "Twelve?"

Proving he was very mature Eggsy showed his tongue to Roxy and hid behind Susan. "Her name is Meg Li and she has green hair!" He informed the other woman.

Susan rolled her eyes. "Are you really dating, Roxy?"

"No." The girl crossed her arms and glared at Eggsy. "We just met. We are… Getting to know each other. She's a tattoo artist and she likes the same books I do."

That was adorable, she was blushing!

"She sounds lovely." Susan said with a smile, elbowing Eggsy when he opened his mouth. "If you two decide to become serious, you should introduce her to us."

"I will." Roxy promised with a small smile.

"Oh please." Eggsy rolled her eyes. "They are serious. Roxy's just afraid to admit it."

"Oh Lady Lancelot is dating?" Percival, who had just come into the room said. "And who is this person courting my beautiful niece?"

Roxy blushed prettily while Eggsy told all he knew to Percival.

"I'd like to meet your young lady whenever you are ready." Percival smiled at this niece and protégé. "Well, now we should get someone for Galahad and Guinevere."

"Maybe I should take you out, Sue." Eggsy winked cheekily.

"Right." She rolled her eyes. "Where will you find the time between all the girls you are juggling right now?"

"You offend me, Sue." He put his hand to his heart. "You'd be my number one, of course."

She slapped his shoulder and laughed.

"With all due respect, Eggsy, I think Susan would work out better with someone different." Percival cut. "Perhaps someone older, who knows how to dance…"

Eggsy seemed confused, but Susan narrowed her eyes. "Percival…"

"Maybe someone…" His eyes went to someone that was behind Susan. "Merlin! Who do you think would be a good candidate for Susan's hand?"

Now, they were all spies and none of them were idiots. Susan might have realized first, but no one was that far behind. Everybody understood what Percival was suggesting.

Roxy seemed shocked, like the idea never ever would've crossed her mind. Susan refused to look behind her and see Merlin's face.

Now Eggsy… His face was confused, then shocked, then it illuminated with a look that really got Susan worried.

That's all she didn't need in her life.

Damn it.


Notes: The Sinatra record that Merlin likes is "Strangers in the night", it was released on 1966. The one he dances with Susan is part of the "Trilogy: Past Present Future" from 1980, Susan chose the record that is called "The Present: Some Very Good Years". The first track is "You and Me (We Wanted It All)", but she was not ready for a romantic song! hahaha

The Korean doctor is Doctor Helen Cho from "Avengers 2", meaning S.H.I.E.L.D. is the friendly agency. I guess you are all already used to the very weird crossovers going on here... hahaha

Hope you enjoy it!

xoxo