"You sure that you're well enough for this?"
"Scared, Eggsy?" Susan chuckled as she rolled her shoulders and stood opposite the other agent. "You don't have to hold back. I won't."
"I don't plan to. Just being a proper gent and all that."
It's been two weeks since the incident and she was finally given the go signal for an all-out training. Of course the first thing that Merlin had to settle for training were the points of adjustment. She was more than willing to. She was itching for something to happen ever since they found conditions that they all agreed to. Given, she was agreeable to almost everything.
CONDITIONS:
Rovi:
She would live in the HQ for her first year back in the Kingsman.
Weekly consultations with the medical departments throughout her stay and whenever necessary once she's out of training.
Rovilyn be allowed to reach out to Steve Rogers and anyone necessary for assistance.
Harry:
Reports of the information she had disregarding her time skip such as missions and actions that the Q branch were going to partake upon her return, both current and those that she was going to do upon return.
Reports on what were considered unrecordable information that she had during her time. Secrets of the Kingsman that only the Trinity knew and would bring to their graves.
Merlin:
Her whole training would be under his jurisdiction and his alone.
He would be the one to pick her first official mission.
A tracker for her cat and whatever pet she would decide to get in the future.
Susan:
She's informed.
It would be a lie to say that she wasn't excited. She was and also curious for so many reasons. First and foremost being if she could still fit to this time's standard of being a Kingsman. Following close was wanting to know what kind of Kingsman the world needed during this age.
"Rules?" Eggsy asked but didn't look away from her. She gave him a point for that.
"Just one." She could easily imagine Merlin looking up his cliptab to answer. He stood in between Roxy and Harry with the now familiar stern face and furrowed brows. Percival and Mordred standing together just a few steps away. "The fight ends when either of your backs meets the ground.
Susan was already moving before the last word was uttered. She crossed the distance to Eggsy, crowding his space, and aimed for his throat. Her right hand pulled back over her left shoulder. Palm down. Striking out. She saw how surprise froze his features and how instinct forced it out to react. The transition was so fast that she couldn't help her grin when he pulled back and deflected, pushing her hand to her right. A momentum she used to her advantage. She twisted her body until her hands were on the floor, right leg whipping out and hooking around Eggsy's closer leg. Pull.
There was no thud of a body falling. An ungraceful backflip instead. Another point to him. She stood back up and cocked her head to the side, catching the tension and the lack of smile on Eggsy's lips.
Interesting.
In the end she was the one with her back on the floor, exhilarated.
Eggsy was improving in terms of fight dynamics. He was more in tune to Roxy's movements even when they trained separately for the past few months. Roxy as usual, adjusted fluidly. It also helped that her stamina improved to match up with him. A definite step forward with the lack of a hiccup when Roxy stepped in and joined the fight. A step back just by the fact that their own moves were used against each other to bring Roxy down.
The hiccup that happened when Mordred and Percival stepped in was another step back. The pause that followed couldn't be denied even when they caught up after a few moments. It could turn the tide of the fight even when its four against one.
"This looks familiar."
The senior two did their best to accommodate them, but they obviously had their own agenda, Mordred in particular. What did he find intriguing enough to join the fight and bring Percival in it as well?
"Not entirely familiar. I spoke too soon."
Merlin saved the report and then turned to Susan. She looked a bit weary with her shoulders tensed. There was a slight strain around her eyes too. Things that only one could notice if they looked past the victory, amusement and intrigue that was oozing out of her.
She was able to bring down Eggsy and Roxy even with their tandem. Bring down as in, their backs would've met the ground if she didn't save them. Played with them. She also held herself well when the two versus one became four versus one. She brought Percival to his knees and scaled, scaled, Mordred just to escape the fray for a bit. She held herself so well that the control was hers even in the end, when she dropped to her back, smirking, just to signal the end of the fight.
She might've noticed that he was staring, because she met his gaze. Of course, a standard shooting range would be familiar. It was standard. The unfamiliar would be the guns. To what degree, Merlin was curious to know. "How unfamiliar?"
"Curious modifications." She stepped away from his side and closer to the guns laid out before them. "A Tokarev with a shotgun barrel for example. Is this the new world standard or just the Kingsman?"
"Kingsman standard firearm." He stepped up to her side and tilted his head to the target. He took the modified Tokarev and offered it to her. "We'll go through the standard firearm set today. Then we'll see about the other weapons tomorrow."
"Begin."
"Wait. Don't push yourself."
"I'm not planning to."
"You have that expression on."
Susan frowned, "What expression?"
"Like this." Eggsy furrowed his brows too much and set his lips to a firm line. Susan felt her own face mimic it before warping to confusion. She knew she have certain expressions, but she didn't expect that someone would point it out so soon. A little comment that echoed lifetimes of similar events. Almost like reincarnation without the dying part. "That was your face when I said we can't do bars just yet for the third time."
Third time was two days ago. The bars were the uneven bars that Eggsy was practicing on when she caught him a couple of days after their fourth hand to hand fight. She had noted his skill during their first fight, and had mulled over the idea of asking him for some extra assistance. It was cemented when such skill was consistent in the fights that followed. She asked him on the spot the moment he landed from his routine.
Eggsy agreed. They devised a schedule. Then, there they were. Susan going for her first attempt of a handspring vault.
"Don't try any fancy twist or somersault. Remember, you said you just wanted to try. Just try a flip." Yes. She did say that. She wasn't a complete beginner since she had a background of dancing. However, there were differences and she wasn't planning on crossing the line. She wasn't aiming to be a gymnast, but to learn something new that she could incorporate to her techniques. "Whenever you're ready."
She was honestly surprised that she was able to do it. The movement familiar and she finally understood why Eggsy chose to start with this.
"You do quite a number of one-handed backflips to evade. Handstands would be easy for you. Also, I've thought of ways to counter those evasions. Am yet to act on them."
"I'm surprised." She grinned. "With the tally we have I thought I need to make the patterns more obvious."
"Well, you were a newcomer." He threw her towel at her face with a laugh. "Emphasis on were."
She glared at him, for a moment. He gave her a deceivingly innocent smile that she could only roll her eyes to. She threw the towel back at him and returned to the starting point, rolling her shoulders on the way. "Emphasis noted, most humble Eggsy."
"Appreciate it."
She did another vault. A small falter on the landing that could easily be remedied. She did another.
The movement gave her a rush that put her to a quick transition of emotions. A strange hyperfocus-blank-hyperfocus pattern that spanned a few seconds.
She vaulted again.
"You should have Roxy teach you something too."
"I am not yet prepared to know the intricacies of clubbing as a price for it." She felt his hands on her back guiding her through a vault. She landed steadier after. "Thank you."
"Don't push yourself. Give yourself a breathing break in between." He nudged her away from the vault and handed her some water. "You go out to look around the area almost every other night. I'm surprised she hadn't lured you into one when she goes with you. And what's the price of my lessons? I haven't received any payment."
"Because you're the one paying."
"Oi! That wasn't in the details of our business arrangement."
"We are yet to settle a contract about it."
There was a pause, both of them looking at each other with barely held grins. "It's weird talking about a business arrangement that includes Captain America in the details."
She couldn't help but laugh at that only for it to cut off midway.
It was strange. She could still feel the undercurrent of tension, but she could easily ignore it if she wanted to. Sometimes, she couldn't even feel it. She doubted that they trusted her completely, but their effort was heartwarming. "Thank you, Eggsy."
"Not a problem." He winked at her. Another roll of her eyes. He chuckled and made his way to the vault table. "But really, ask Roxy."
"I know." She started her cool down stretches. "I'm mentally preparing myself for that clubbing. That's the least I could do."
"I'm not gonna force you if you don't want to, Susan." Susan was halfway a stretch when she heard it. She completed her stretch in the silence that followed and when she unfurled, there was a smile. Roxy stood just outside the gymnastics area watching Eggsy do his own set of vaults.
"I want to." That took Roxy's attention. A gaze that dissected her sincerity and her reasons. "I am curious."
Roxy didn't grin or even smile. She just shifted her body weight to the side, hips jutting out. "I'll make sure not to disappoint."
Susan wasn't sure if she should be curious, scared, or excited.
Eggsy landed with a final flourish. "You can always research it, Su."
"No. Don't. Don't you dare."
Susan could only nod at that. The last Susan heard, Roxy was sent to a quick recon mission. She didn't know the details but she noticed her coordinating with Mordred. It was her turn to look at Roxy for injuries. "Have you gone to the infirmary?"
"I just came from debrief. Merlin wants to see you, Susan. He'll meet you at the lab. Harry's looking for Eggsy."
They were already moving.
Merlin asking for her was out of scheduled routine. Susan always had her lessons with Eggsy before afternoon tea. Afternoon tea that she spent with either David, Hamlet, or Rovilyn. After tea, her lessons will continue. Wednesdays would be History and Economics with Mordred, while Tuesdays were for code making and breaking with Roxy. But with the mission call, Merlin had been substituting for both with the help of Eggsy and Harry.
"How is Francis? Is he back?" Susan expected Mordred to be back, but there's always a chance he went straight to another mission.
"Yes. He wouldn't be staying though. Something came up."
Susan was privy to some information the moment she started official training. Primary of them was the drug syndicate that they were still pursuing. It proved to be a complex dismantling project. The war that Mordred and Percival instigated between the now annihilated Carter syndicate and this newly named Candy one made it a fact. They disappeared for a week with a series of candy drug related deaths in their wake. All children. It was horrifying to see in the morning news.
"Any news about Uncle?" It was Roxy's turn to ask.
"Whatever Merlin told you is what we have. We haven't had news of Alistair." Or at least news about Percival that's not top secret.
"It's still too early for reports. Give him some credit Rox." Eggsy paused which made them look at him. "Should we change before meeting them? I ain't smelling like a summer garden all sweaty like this.
Roxy gave a small smirk. "Harry had seen you in worse, Eggsy. Go."
He was gone with only a parting nod. Roxy turned to Susan then. "You need to change though. I think you have an appointment out."
Curious.
"I'll be going to the infirmary. I don't know what Harry and Merlin are planning, but better be ready."
"Thank you Roxy. Take care."
They parted ways. Susan made sure to change quick. There was little possibility that she'll be sent out to a mission, but she could help in other ways. She was more than willing. She would take paperwork if she's allowed. Healing people, if she's not allowed. Anything.
She was breathless when she reached the lab doors. She didn't run, but she walked in haste. Running would be an overreaction to the information she had. She knocked. Let the silence have a chance after.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Si— She opened the door and stepped right into Tension's arms. Raised shoulders. Glares. Hands wanting to turn to fists but did not, should not. Two men stood before each other and her entrance did nothing to break their glaring match.
One.
Two.
Three.
"Should I come back after you've regained your maturity?" Susan raised an eyebrow. "If you actually gained one in the first place."
Francis scoffed, pulling back from the glaring match. "Tell that to him. He's not the one facing the horror first hand."
Merlin returned to his workstation, fingers moving in routine. In a few moments, the programs and files on the screens disappeared. Susan caught few details about the possible debrief and probably the reason of their conflict. "We couldnae be reckless in this. Ye know that Mordred."
"You think I don't know? There's harm in being too careful as well. Surely that, you know." Subtle disdain and desperation, a combination Susan was familiar of hearing. "What we're doing is stretching this too long."
"Did something happen? Mordred?" In all the days she'd known the man, he was kind even amid his obvious mischief. It was a different ilk than Eggsy's mischief, but it was a sort that Susan had experience with. She enjoyed his company, both in silence and noise. She enjoyed their little games and storytelling during her lessons with him.
Francis didn't answer her question and his countenance cleared away the anger. He gave her a tired and bitter smile instead. She scowled. She had lived too long and too many times for this dawdling. She placed a hand on his arm. It took a lot not to grip down and hold him there. "What happened Francis?"
She pleaded with her eyes.
"One of Eunice's friends was a victim. I don't want him to just be a statistic." Francis' expression was more a physical blow before his words could even sink in. The emotions in those blue eyes were too much. "The boy was barely nine years old."
Eunice. Francis' eight year old niece. A little girl who loved making laminated keychains from her drawings and giving them away. A child that Susan was yet to meet but could imagine to have a smile as bright as Lucy's. A child with the same fascination and determination to art as her late sister had. Eunice, who Francis talked about with a soft smile that reached his eyes.
Something always felt more real when you know someone going through it. The danger loomed closer and its choking hold wrapped close.
"Francis." She could feel the anger beneath the touch of her hand. She wanted to know the details. She needed to, but it wasn't her place to ask. "Care and recklessness can work hand in hand, but it requires a delicate balance. I—We do not want you to just be a statistic."
The tension reached for a crescendo in silence. It jumped over the blades of realization as they were stabbed to their conscious.
"Thank you." The tension broke with a sagging sigh. Francis moved away, going to the door before pausing and turning back to them. "Expect a report in two days. I'll try to put more details this time."
"Come back alive, Mordred."
"Of course, Merlin." The smile made the atmosphere lighten for a bit. "Wish me luck, Queen Guinevere."
"You have all of it."
She was only able to sigh quietly in relief when the footsteps faded.
"Miss Pevensie."
"Merlin."
There's the new tension. He moved to the other door of his lab. "Follow me."
Silence accompanied them to the shop. It accompanied them when Merlin motioned her to ride shotgun as he took the driver's seat of a car waiting for them there. It lounged on the back seat and Susan was a bit thankful it stayed there. Tension claimed the dashboard.
"You plan to continue substituting." The view outside the window was familiar from her excursions, so she turned away and stared at him. The only sign he heard her was the slight tilt of his head to her direction. A habit she noticed easily only because she knew of so many who did the same. Wolves, Ravens and Crows, Owls, Edmund and herself, to name a few. "While being Merlin as well."
Other than the advantage of technology and modernization, nothing much had changed with the tasks of The Trinity. Harry had told her such. And while she was slowly understanding the technological advantage, she also saw the responsibilities it added.
It was easy to conclude that Merlin had been and was still doing a herculean task. Silence reigned once more after that. Susan turned back to the window and let herself be drowned in thoughts and memories.
The travel didn't take long compared to her first two trips with the Kingsman. It did take them to the sparser part of town and it piqued her curiosity. She thought they were going to a shooting range but the engine dying before an obvious animal rescue center was surprising.
The Kingsman of her time never required animals.
The door opening pulled her back to reality.
"Please." Merlin paused halfway out the car. "Please, do not stretch yourself too thin.
You're bound to miss something big if you carry on like this."
A beat of silence was all the sign she got that he listened. Then,
"I don't plan to be a statistic."
After that, he was gone and she needed a few moments to actually react. The reaction? Another roll of her eyes and a smirk. The latter stayed when she stepped out the car and followed to where he was. He did wait for her by the door and explained why they were there.
"Welcome to—Mr. Dareon! We haven't seen you in a while." There's a tired and sheepish chuckle. "Given you did call to schedule but I definitely forgot about that with everything."
"It's nice to see you again, Aileen. Busy week?"
"Oh, more so than usual. We're scattered with the multiple rescues and coordinating with other shelters. I'm really sorry. I hope we still give a good impression to the Miss." Aileen tucked a stray lock of blonde hair then looked at Susan with a smile. "Welcome to Eden Sanctuary. I'm Aileen."
Susan smiled and offered her hand. "Susan. Your dedication to your work is admirable. I am grateful for it and I'm sure I am not the only one."
Aileen clasped her hand and shook it. "Thank you. They deserve such effort."
"So. Mr. Dareon, how many would you be getting?"
"One. Only for Miss—" Merlin paused with a slight widening of her eyes. They haven't settled her public persona or even her story.
"Morgana." She stepped in, grinning conspirationally at Aileen. "Susan Morgana."
Susan could absolutely read the 'Men and their memory.' in Aileen's grin. "The puppies are outside in the play field. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. It makes the cubs fall asleep easier when tired."
"Well. Come with me."
Merlin planned the puppy adoption to take half an hour at most. It was supposed to be pretty straightforward and even if there were plan changes, he didn't expect this sort.
This being sitting on the ground of the puppy play field; grass staining his trousers, a puppy sleeping on his crossed legs and another snuggled to the side, Susan's abandoned shoes and coat on his other side. This being watching Susan run around and play all out with the puppies, while Aileen laughed at the sides.
How?
Aileen offered. Susan accepted. She lured him with a sleepy puppy in her arms and passing it to him. "You be the sleepy pup haven, so they don't get trampled on."
So now here he was.
"Pull. Pull. Pull." Susan played tug of war with a border terrier with one hand, and petted a labradoodle with her other. "Stop!"
Still tugging.
"Little one, stop."
Still tugging.
"Stop."
The puppy didn't listen. She let go of the rope and let the puppy fall on his bottom. A pause, then she took the end of the rope once more. She pulled once more with a smile. "Pull!"
He looked down at the puppies he got under his care, running a finger over their heads. A beagle and a mastiff.
"Another sleepy puppy for the sleepy puppy haven." He looked up to see Aileen approach with a sleeping husky. "Is there still space for one?"
"Of course. There'll always be one." He couldn't stop the smile.
Aileen placed the pup down with care, then sat down beside it. She stretched her arms and settled with a smile. "I didn't think she'll accept the offer."
"What do you mean?"
"We always offer people who come in during the puppies' playtime. Usually, it's not even playing but just being inside the playfield as they make their pick."
They watched as Susan laid down on the grass and played with a black german shepherd labrador mix. Her white shirt stained with dirt, grass and pawprints.
"I didn't expect that she'll go all out. Everyone knew you are a busy sort, Mr. Dareon, and that you love these dogs very much. It's nice to see you bond with them again this way."
He chuckled. "Aye. I guess it's been too long since I visited to play. I didn't even realize."
"With what happened with the world recently, I'm not surprised. I'm just relieved that we're all finding our feet again and a normalcy."
Susan giggled as the pup licked her neck and pulled at her hair. Another was trying to climb up on her stomach and there was another that kept licking on her toes.
"Does she work with you with the puppies?"
"No, but she is a coworker."
"Huh. She's good with them. I thought she worked with you and you just volunteered to be the one to pick up the puppies."
She was good. She knew her way with the puppies and he noticed her testing their trainability. "Maybe it's because she has a cat."
Aileen shrugged. "Could be."
In the end, they helped getting the puppies back to their kennels. Merlin was tasked to bring the sleeping pups even then. Susan and Aileen chatted all through the process. The black german lab followed Susan while she moved within the playfield and waited for her return when she exited.
"Now, my dear little boy," She picked the pup up and settled him on the crook of her arm, then picked up her coat and shoes. "May I take you home with me?"
She got kisses as an answer.
"I'll be taking that as a yes."
"Do you have a name for him?" Aileen motioned them to a waiting area. "We rescued him just recently so we haven't named him yet."
"Yes." Susan's smile was of definite fond memories. "Maugrim."
Alistair was a chemical engineer by profession. He only ended up as a Kingsman due to curious circumstances that's worth its own story altogether. Even then, he was still a chemical engineer. He was very familiar with the basic of chemical reactions.
Or reactions in general.
Confusion. Amusement. Shiftings both obvious and not.
It would be a disservice to not start at the beginning.
He and Susan were on their way to the kitchen from one of the chemical labs. He had just finished explaining and updating her of the concoctions used by the Kingsman. He had found her knowledgeable, especially with the herbal side of chemicals. He was also surprised to find that he enjoyed their conversations and found her line of questions intriguing. It clued him on her preferences in dealing with different things.
He had seen Eggsy and Roxy rounding the corner. He had also known that they've been spotted.
"Excuse me." He honestly thought that when Susan said that it was to go to the youngsters.
No. She didn't seem to notice them and instead went to another direction. It only took him a few moments to conclude where she's going.
"Hey. Where's Susan going?"
"Be quiet and let's see."
"Uncle—"
"Quiet."
The setting? The mansion's foyer.
"I don't know you." Susan's voice almost echoed.
"A bit too forward, don't you think? I doubt you'll know each person here."
"You're too beautiful to not know and remember." Blue met blue.
"What?!" Eggsy was promptly shushed.
"Too? You make it sound so bad." The so-called stranger loomed over Susan. Her long blonde hair slipping off one shoulder to brush against Susan's cheek.
"Too bad for my heart."
"Oh?" The volume dropped. The distance decreased. "Jealousy?"
"No."
Susan's hands moved, one trailing at the other's hair and the other hovering over their face. Both stopped, shy inches from touching cheeks. Before any words could be spoken, Alistair could see what those were just from the expression on her face. "Fascination."
Her eyes flickered to the other's lips. Blood red. "Curiosity."
Back to the eyes, her hovering fingers tracing its shape. "Admiration."
A pause. Alistair could hear Eggsy's quick breathing and he was tempted to look at his state. Unfortunately, what was before him was the most interesting of the moment.
"May I touch?"
"For fuck's sake—" Eggsy's strangled words couldn't even break the tension in the room.
"I know of you, Guinevere." This time, a hand hovered and traced close Susan's lips. "Yours is a beauty that I am blessed to behold, mere lady that I am. Though, how about a game?"
"A game?"
"Three guesses for my name. Whoever wins, gains the privilege to touch."
Time seemed nonexistent. If it did, then it was stretching itself to make these few moments feel longer. Stretch it so that this meeting felt like it was long coming. That there was so much history. To whose favor was it? Susan or the stranger?
"Bedivere?"
If Alistair was just a bit closer, he would be able to describe the shift of light in the stranger's eyes. This far? He was confident with his approximation. The stranger was only a stranger to Susan, after all. He's sure there would be a slight crinkling of the corners of the eyes.
"No? Interesting. Dagonet?"
"Are you teasing me, Your Highness? Have you met Dagonet? He would never look as fabulous as me."
"Majesty. It's majesty."
Everything paused to take that in.
"Gawain!" Merlin. Stern. He stood on the other end of the hall with Harry by his side.
Susan froze, her back tensed. Gawain, with all her dramatics, sighed and rolled her eyes. "Damn meddlers."
"Gawain!" Eggsy, this time.
Gawain took hold of Susan. An arm around the waist and a large hand spanning the side of her face. Susan held onto her, fingers tangled with blonde locks. Bodies pressed by the waist. Gawain's larger form almost overwhelming Susan's smaller one as she was arched back.
They were kissing only to break apart laughing.
Harry was immensely amused. Eggsy was immensely confused. Roxy was immensely contemplative. Merlin was immensely unamused.
Alistair was immensely curious.
"Oh dear. I hope we didn't break someone." Susan turned to Eggsy. "Are you alright?"
"Horrified, but he won't be having a heart attack anytime soon." Roxy patted Eggsy's back with a smirk. "Breathe, Galahad."
"He looks torn between defending my honor and questioning said honor."
Eggsy shook his head and huffed. Susan chuckled once more.
"If it makes you feel better, Galahad, Mordred and I were introduced to the Queen as normal as one could imagine." Alistair couldn't help commenting. "Given who we are, of course."
Susan only knew of the name Alistair and Francis once they were comfortable to give it to her.
"There's nothing wrong with simple yo's and heya's, exchange of names, nice to meet you bruvs, is there?"
"No. Nothing wrong at all. Where's the fun in that, though?"
"Also, wasn't it you that proposed marriage to her after—was it three days? Such flair for drama, Galahad."
"That was just for fu—" Eggsy's eyes widened and a blush crawled from his neck to his cheeks. Alistair was a bit disappointed when it didn't reach the tip of his ears. "How'd you know that? You're not even here, Gawain."
"I'm sorry, Eggsy-dear. You are just too adorable to not tease."
"Forgiven." One needed to strain their ears just to hear that. A collective chuckle followed.
"Susan Pevensie. My thanks for indulging my curiosity."
"Cassandra Sal, a pleasure. I'm here to replace Francis for the time being. I'm assuming that you won't mind." She pulled out a handkerchief from her dress pocket, then started cleaning her lipstick stained thumb. "I'll introduce Harvey to you tomorrow."
"I'd love to spend more time with you, but please do not sacrifice your comfort."
"Thank you." Alistair hadn't seen that soft look on Cassandra's face in so long.
It was only three days later that Susan met Harvey Sal. Powersuit. Glasses. Blond hair in a low ponytail.
Alistair was there.
"Would you rather have Cassandra?"
"Do you want to be her at this moment?"
"... No."
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yes."
"Then that's all that matters." Susan offered a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Harvey."
Alistair couldn't help but look back a final time before he stepped out of the room. Harvey and Susan were still talking, teasing smiles on their faces.