AN: I'm so sorry! For whatever reason I thought I published this yesterday but thankfully I checked. Anyways, thanks as always and if you still have any suggestions for the honeymoon, please say so! It's coming next chapter :)
James stood, back straight and eyes afire. He held his hands behind his back, ready and waiting for the man in front of him to say something. The man tried to remain composed but James could read behind it all, going between the wrinkles liking reading between lines in a book.
"You want time off…for a honeymoon?" question Arthur stiffly. He acted like this was the first he'd heard of it. In actuality, James had been standing there for nearly ten minutes waiting for an answer.
"Is that so preposterous?" James asked smoothly as he looked at Arthur curiously.
He didn't respond.
"Yvain got his time off."
"He did."
"Well then what's the problem? Yvain got married. I got married. It's as simple as that."
"Yes, but in this case I would have two…good agents on leave."
"That's not your reason. No need to sugarcoat," James replied with a small smile twinged with sadness and anger. "Just give me a straight answer and I'll be on my way."
Arthur gave him a hard look and James evenly met it. Finally the man said, "A week."
"Yvain got two," James retorted. He didn't actually care about how much time. He was just pushing buttons because he could, not exactly the smartest move but it came naturally.
"One week or nothing," replied Arthur.
James allowed the silence to grow just a moment, making the atmosphere heavier and more uncomfortable. He eventually broke out a smile, though it was fake, and said, "Fine, a week. We'll be leaving two days from now. We'll make sure to keep in contact with Kingsman as well in case an emergency comes up."
Turning to leave, James expected it to be done but he was wrong. Spoken softly but also clearly meant for James to hear, Arthur said, "You're a bloody disgrace to this organization. You and Percival."
"Oh yes, because being gay cancels out saving lives. I should've known," spit James out before he could help himself. Nevertheless, he left before the other could respond or even comprehend what he'd said. James briskly walked away from Arthur's office headed back to the underground part of Kingsman.
When he ran into Harry, quite literally, James realized that he had never really known which way he was going. He was glad he'd run into a friend however.
"Are you alright?" asked Harry, giving James a careful look. "Did you just come back from Arthur?"
"That obvious?" James sighed.
"Not really but then again, I don't think there's anyone else in the building that could so successfully rile you up."
"That is to true," growled out James.
"Well if it's any conciliation, the times are changing, as they always have been, and Kingsman will need to evolve if it wants to survive in this new age. Besides, Arthur's a snob and there's very little to be done with that."
"So basically I just have to wait until he keels over of a heart attack."
Harry chuckled in response. "Maybe so but if there's one thing good going for Chester King, he has run Kingsman as if it were clockwork. Did you get any leave time?"
"Just a week."
"Yvain got two."
"I know, pointed it out to him. Then probably put my life in danger. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't wake up the next day," sighed James. "Such a tragedy. 'Seemingly unimportant tailor murdered'. What will the presses say?"
Harry rolled his eyes at James' over exaggerated tone. "Nobody is going to make a hit out on you. Besides, you can take care of yourself."
"True," James said slowly, "but you didn't see me talking to Arthur. Maybe it was a bit disrespectful but holy shit I was just…urgh! It was infuriating you know?"
"I understand but Arthur's been out of the field for the while. I'm sure you'll be able to see him coming from a mile away," replied Harry.
"What? Sly bastard like that? Naw, he probably deals with poison. Or would have someone else do it for him," James laughed. It eventually turned to a tired sigh though as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Either way, I'm just happy we did get the leave time. Leaving in two days."
"I'll avidly await your return then. Where will you be going?"
"Not sure yet. I'll probably spontaneously decide the day of. Alastair loves it when I do that."
"I'm sure he does," Harry said sarcastically with a small smirk. "Now, I'd love to keep chatting but there is an issue in Kolkata that may need to be defused and I should be getting to it now."
"Well I'll mark that spot off the vacation list," James said with a laugh before they both parted ways.
He went off to see Merlin next, ready to give him the good news. Merlin was working on something and only glanced up upon hearing James come in.
"Yes?"
"Welp, I just had to come and say you will sadly be missing Lancelot and Percival in the next week," James said happily.
Merlin hummed softly to himself before finally saying, "You'll be on your honeymoon, Galahad is in Kolkata, Gawain in America, Yvain is at our base in Berlin, the rest undercover. I do believe my week is looking promising."
"Ah, you know you'll miss us," laughed James. "But I'll see you in a week. Obviously we'll be available to get in contact if needed."
"Dually noted," Merlin replied with a small nod. "Enjoy yourself James. Times like this do not come often."
"Don't I know it. Took me almost seventeen years to get here," he replied before leaving to go find Alastair.
The man was in his designated office, working much more diligently than James would have. He looked up curiously when he heard the other come in but didn't stop what he was doing.
"Good news I hope."
"Yep, got a week."
"Excellent. You didn't antagonize him did you James?" asked Alastair with a pointed look.
"What? Me? Never," he replied with a smile.
"Uh huh. So do we have a plan on where to go?"
"Not yet. I just know I want it to be far," murmured James with a distant look in his eyes. "I've been to so many fascinating places but I so rarely get a chance to sit down and simply…take it all in. I just know I want something new and fascintating."
Alastair couldn't help the fond smile that appeared as he watched the excitement bubble up in James. "Well as I've said before, I'm leaving the choice entirely up to you. Where ever you want to go, I will follow."
"So what about Disneyworld—"
"Except there."
James laughed. "Okay, except Disneyworld. I'll keep that in mind."
"Thank god. Now, I'd love to keep chatting with you over this but there are some serious matters I have to finish so…"
"Got it. I probably have paper work to do too." James let out a disgusted face. "Wish me luck."
Alastair chuckled. "You don't need it."
