Notes: Hey there!
Thank you all for the reviews!
I know the chapters have been short and sweet, and this one is too, but in the next one the story will pick up, I promise!
Chapter 2
When Harry Hart was invited for a "job interview" with the Kingsman he was just 23 years old; eager to serve, thirsty for adventure, dying to prove himself.
Two years after that Merlin came in: a quiet young man, already considered a genius. They were an unlikely pair: Merlin was so quiet and focused, while Harry was the perfect charming spy.
Harry had been a bit too cocky back then and Merlin had cultivated a certain pleasure for putting him on his place. They had hated each other for a few years.
Then, one day, Merlin saved this life. No hesitation, no questions asked, Merlin just jumped in on a situation that had nothing to do with him and saved Harry.
In the world they lived it was very hard to trust people, but Harry knew that Merlin had his back. He'd had it for many years now, surpassing that stupid rivalry and becoming a true friendship.
Now Harry couldn't repay all these years of trust, because the fucking MI-6 had put a fucking leash on him and he felt like he was letting his best friend down.
It had taken him some time to calm the other agents and even more time to fend off Eggsy and Roxy's questions. The younger agents finally dropped the subject, but only after he promised he would explain it better later.
He kind of wished that this "later" never arrived.
Now he needed to talk to Merlin and he wasn't looking forward to it. He owned him this much, though.
Harry took a deep breath before knocking on the door of Merlin's office. There was no answer, but he went in anyway.
Merlin was sitting in front of his computer, working.
"I am busy." The man said dryly.
"No, you're not." Harry spoke softly. "Merlin, I am sorry."
"It's not your fault." Merlin's voice was perfectly calm. "And it is of no consequence."
"That's not true." Harry indicated. "I know how you feel about Valentina."
Merlin became completely still. Then, "I don't feel anything. It was a long time ago."
Harry wanted to say that it was a lie, but there was no need to rub it off. Not right now.
God knew what would happen when Valentina actually arrived in three days.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Harry asked, concern covering all of the words, besides the frustration of being unable to solve this. "Anything at all?"
Merlin sighed and finally turned his chair around to look at Harry. "There's nothing we can do. I'll be fine. Professional."
Somehow, Harry found that very hard to believe, but all he said was, "I'm sure you will."
XxX
"What are you thinking about?"
Bors turned his head in Urien's direction and raised a brow. "Do you actually care?"
"Not really." Urien admitted without shame. "But all of this situation has already bored me, so I might as well ask about something else."
Bors rolled his eyes. "You're not concerned about the MI-6?" He asked, completely skeptical.
"I am concerned." Urien insisted. "But there's absolutely nothing I can do about it, I have no idea who this Valentina person is. She is from before my time in here."
"I didn't meet her personally as well. But I was here for the aftermath." Bors said. "She left a mess on her wake."
Urien shrugged. "Not our problem then. What is in your head?"
"I wanted to recommend my daughter for the training." Bors finally said. "I was just wondering if I can still do that now. Or if I should."
"Why the hell not?" Urien arched a brow. "Better her than some snot-nosed kid from the MI-6. I'm sure Arthur would agree."
Bors watched the other man, somewhat surprised. Urien was a prick at best and he hardly ever thought of anyone that wasn't himself, much less gave any kind of relevant input to any conversation. "I will." Bors nodded.
"Good." Urien got up, satisfied with himself for whatever reason. "I'm leaving now. This place has been downright depressing lately. I need a drink."
Bors rolled his eyes as the man left. It figured.
XxX
"It doesn't make sense to me." Eggsy sulked later that same night.
Roxy, who was used to the boy's moods by now, just rolled her eyes and decided to humor him a bit. "What?"
"This whole Valentina story that Harry told us. I think he lied."
Well, Roxy thought the same, if she were honest. Harry had asked to talk to them and explained the situation. She didn't think he lied about everything, she actually thought he told mostly the truth, but not all of it.
"Why do you think so?" She asked, instead of agreeing, just to see what Eggsy had in his mind.
"I believe that she was a Kingsman that jumped to the MI-6 on her first chance." Eggsy spoke. "But that this is the whole story? No way in fucking hell. Merlin looked pissed! I've never seen him like that before."
"I agree." Roxy sighed, sinking deeper into her armchair. "This Valentina isn't just a turncoat. She did something nasty on her way out." She chewed her bottom lip.
"What?" Eggsy prompted. "I know that face."
Eggsy had learned to read her so easily. It would be offensive if she hadn't done the same with him. They were open books to each other.
"I have a theory, but it's kind of gossip…" She spoke carefully.
"Sounds interesting." Eggsy grinned. "Tell me."
"Once, some time ago, uncle Percival told me that he really missed the days when Merlin wasn't so grumpy." Roxy started, thinking carefully about what she wanted to say. "I told him I couldn't imagine Merlin in any different way and he said that Merlin was a funny guy when they were younger. Seriously funny."
Eggsy looked disturbed by the idea. "I can't even picture that."
"Neither can I. So I asked him what had changed. Percival was quiet for a while, then he shook his head and said 'what happens to every man for better or worse: a woman'." Roxy tapped her fingernail against her lip. "I knew he wasn't about to tell me more, but that got me thinking… What kind of woman would tie Merlin in knots like that?"
Eggsy arched a brow. "Maybe a woman that betrayed the whole agency." He completed her idea.
"Harry looked like he felt really bad about this person being back here and he is Merlin's best friend." Roxy continued. "It kind of makes sense."
"And he'd never tell us that, because he wouldn't do that to Merlin." Eggsy was thinking pretty hard about this.
"Should we do something?" Roxy asked, a bit worried. "I feel like we should help somehow."
"We can't help without more information." Eggsy indicated. "But who can we ask?"
"Percival and Harry wouldn't ever say anything." Roxy sighed. "Urien and Caradoc are from after that time."
"Bors probably wouldn't gossip as well, much less Dagonet. He probably thinks it's beneath him." Eggsy snorted.
They traded looks. "Gareth." They said at the same time.
XxX
These had been hellish days. Merlin was barely talking to any of them, Urien and Dagonet were being bigger pricks than usual, Lancelot and Galahad were up to something else and nobody else was useful in this agency.
The only bright thing recently had been Bors indicating his daughter for a position. Harry was actually quite satisfied with that and told the man to bring her to the mansion at once.
The last time he had seen Rebecca she was a smartass teenager. She had grown up to be quite a lovely smart-assed young lady. Harry was very interested in seeing her during the training.
There was a soft knock on his door, then Roxy put her head inside the room. "Arthur… They're here."
Well, fuck.
Notes: Let me know your feelings!
Also...
I have a board on Pinterest for this, you can find it HERE
I hope you enjoy it!
