They are both stumbling down the hallway, Arthur arm around his waist, and his breath warm on Merlin's skin. Even while knowing this is a ruse, Merlin finds it difficult to disregard the proximity. It leads to certain stiffness in his gait, and tightness in his expression.
"Relax Merlin," Arthur breathes into his ear, making the problem worse, "We are trying to come across as happy drunk couple, and the pinched expression on your face isn't helping."
"I told you I am pants at subterfuge." Merlin snaps, his nerves already on edge.
"Then don't try for it. Just enjoy the company of a devilishly handsome young man around you."
"What? Where? I don't see any devilishly handsome guy." Merlin can't resist quipping.
Arthur throws his head back and laughs, and Merlin can't help the grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He notices the agent's eyes widening and the next minute he is being shoved against the wall, hands on both sides of his face, his lips hovering above Merlin's.
"Arthur…?" Merlin hates how his voice comes out shaky.
"Shh… Someone's coming." Arthur whispers, and then buries his face in Merlin's shoulder. Merlin feels a split second of relief that he didn't try to kiss him, but then Arthur's mouth finds his neck, his lips just resting on his pulse point and he wonders if this isn't worse. Surely Arthur can hear Merlin's heart beating a mile a minute. If he doesn't move soon, Merlin might do something foolish like… beg. Beg for that mouth to move, to give more than a tantalizing hint of what might be.
But then, loud footsteps break the trance, followed by a voice saying.
"Gentlemen. This area is off limits. You have to leave."
"Sorry Merlin." Arthur whispers low, and then finally opens his mouth and licks the skin on Merlin's neck, and he cannot even hope to control the whimper that leaves his mouth.
"Sirs." The man repeats, and Arthur just responds by biting a piece of skin. Merlin has forgotten all about this being a trick. He just wants Arthur to never stop doing this.
"Sir you need to leave." And suddenly Arthur is being pulled away, and Merlin hates himself for the little whine of protest leaving his mouth. Later, he would call it playing his part really well.
"Huh?" Arthur speaks, as confused as Merlin feels, and as out of breath. It takes Merlin a moment to realize that Arthur is pretending. Right. Drunk lovers.
"You are in restricted area. Guests aren't allowed here."
"Do you know who I am? You can't talk to me like that." Arthur plays the part of drunk entitled billionaire pretty well, and now that Merlin's head is not clouded with lust, he can appreciate it better.
"Honestly sir, it doesn't matter. I will accompany you to the stairs."
Merlin, thinking it was time for him to interfere, speaks up. "Arthur, let it go, the good man is just doing his job." He doesn't even try to hide the tremble in his voice- it helps their cover.
And then he looks at the guard, and smiles apologetically, "We were looking for some privacy. And got lost."
"Just this wa…" And Merlin notices that Arthur has his wrist up, the amnesia dart from it plunged in the man's neck. Merlin quickly moves, and supports the man, breaking his sharp fall to the floor. He looks up and Arthur is grinning. Within the next few minutes they have the man sitting comfortably on the floor- which is where he would wake up an hour later, with no recollection of what happened.
When done, they both stand up and Arthur claps Merlin on his shoulder saying, "Good work there. You don't give yourself enough credit. You play the role of swooning mistress very well actually."
In response, because Merlin is a mature adult, he just pokes his tongue out.
"Alright. One down, two more to go. Ready?" Arthur asks, and Merlin just groans in reply.
"I have some information, but I don't know how much help it's going to be."
After clearing the floor of three guards, all of them conveniently placed and unconscious- Arthur had dosed them with the a sedative for extra caution- Arthur had left Merlin to enter the system operating room alone; according to their observations since the morning, there were supposed to be just two people in there, one guard, and one tech who worked if there was a problem. The rest of the system was automated.
At dinner, Merlin comes and sits down in front of him on the balcony of their room. Arthur has already ordered room service, and Merlin first digs into the food, before speaking. All this sneaking around makes people hungry.
"Why do you say that?"
"So get this, I snuck into their main operating room- I was terrified mind you, but I managed to avoid being seen before I incapacitated the guard with the dart, and then I scrambled the video feed, and everything was an all-around pain. "And he can't help biting his teeth on next words "considering I am not a field agent and it's not my job."
"Quit whining Merlin. I already did most of the work for you and waited outside until I was sure you were clear. Just tell me what you found?"
"What if there were alarms. What if the guard had shot me before I could do something? You ever thought of that?"
"Were there?"
"No." He admits grudgingly.
"Then can we get to the good bits here? Or was plan B a complete failure too."
"Alright, so I used the pen containing the sedative on the tech in the room to get my hands on his laptop for a while…"
"And?"
"And nothing. There is nothing in the system about any hidden documents. All the things that would be on auction are there- and there are some really nasty weapons I assure you. Just… no secret fusion research documents."
"Hmm…"
"Are we sure Cenred has them?"
"The intel is good. Cenred has them definitely. Maybe they won't be for general auction, and be sold to a specific interested party?"
"I mean…" Merlin muses as he chews his food, "It would make sense to not keep the record on the network… no matter how secure it is. It's only clever. It's what I would do."
"Where do you think they are?"
"Best bet… in Cenred's suite. I did not get info about the whereabouts of our target, but I checked out the security system of the whole castle. Everywhere it's the standard safety measures but Cenred's whole floor has better security than a nuclear facility. Definitely much better than their systems floor. Makes sense if stuff of real importance isn't there at all."
"How sure are you about this?"
"Look. I am no field agent, but I know the type. The actual intelligent thing to do would've been to keep them somewhere remote. But Cenred is proud and over confident. He is not going to think someone is going to steal his property from his own fortress."
"Alright then. I will try to get into his suite during the club party tomorrow night."
"Uh…" Merlin hedges.
"What now?" Arthur says, exasperated.
"I don't think that's possible." Merlin just states, matter of fact.
"Are you doubting my skills again?"
"If you remember, I was right to doubt them the first time too." He smirks. "There are biometric and retinal scans, motion detectors, voice activators, and a whole lot of failsafe. If we were coming straight in from HQ with a team prepared for robbing a highly secure bank… we may have a chance. Even with all your posturing, you aren't 007, you know?"
"Shut up." Arthur grumbles, to which Merlin makes a show of zipping his lips.
"And for your information, I would make a far better 007."
"Uh-huh." The sarcasm dripping from Merlin's tone is not flattering, but Arthur chooses to ignore it.
Merlin relaxes back into his chair, sipping on his drink, watching Arthur think. When long moments pass without a response, he asks,
"So, what now?"
"I have a plan, but it's not particularly good. Do you have something in your mind?"
"Haven't the foggiest." Merlin shrugs, feeling too loose limbed to bother with something like thinking.
"Ah." Arthur looks distinctly uncomfortable.
"Just spit it out Arthur. Jeez. You look like you bit on a lemon."
"I am trying to think of a way to put it, without you throwing that glass at me."
"I will throw this glass at your head anyway, if you keep me waiting any longer." Merlin warns.
"You aren't going to like it."
"I don't like half the things you say Pendragon. But we only have two days left here and we need a plan."
"Okay then… here is what I think we should do…"
A/N:I am really sorry for the delay. I have been really sick, and in no state to write. Also, ugh, I am not happy with this chapter. These idiots refuse to speak to me, and I am struggling. Hope it wasn't entirely a disaster.