AN: My first and so far only mid-canon piece. Borne from an attempt to rationalize the fact that Valentine dropped the mother of all warning signs on Harry ("Do you like spy movies?") and yet Harry continued his assignment without taking any precautions. The second half is me trying to make peace with the fact that the last image Eggsy has of Harry is of his anger and disappointment.

After twenty-four hours of free time, Harry and Eggsy returned to Kingsman HQ. Out of the corner of his eye, Merlin watched them disappear down the corridor to the barracks, before idly turning back to his computer and resuming his observation of Valentine.

Presently Harry returned on his own. With his eyes still focused on the computer screen, Merlin drew breath and lowered the volume on the feed. "Galahad?

"Yes?" Harry halted at Merlin's side, though he wasn't standing close enough to touch him. Merlin swiveled his chair to face Harry, folding his hands in his lap.

"A word, if you please."

"Certainly," Harry said, a touch of warm amusement in his voice. Merlin squeezed his hands together, trying to broach the subject as gently as possible.

"Do you suspect that Valentine is onto you?" Sometimes it was safer to ask Harry rather than voice his own opinion, especially if his was a negative one.

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Why should he be? I haven't given him any reason to suspect me as anything more than a wealthy philanthropist. I daresay my cover is airtight."

"Don't you find it at all odd that he showed up at the shop at the exact time you were there?" Merlin persisted. He hadn't been able to help himself from listening to the conversation, which had turned out to be both a blessing and a curse. In cases like these, it was hard to say whether he preferred informed speculation, or blissful ignorance.

Harry shook his head. "If he suspected me, he wouldn't have taken my advice on the hatter's."

Merlin shrugged, choosing not to comment on Richmond Valentine's perceived intelligence, or lack thereof. That would be straying from the point.

"What about his parting words?" He smoothly mimicked Valentine's voice. "'My people will be getting in touch with your people very shortly.'"

"Oh, we were only making conversation," Harry said, brushing aside Merlin's concern. But Merlin had heard too much from Valentine to let himself believe that. He shook his head.

"What about your dinner conversation? He asked if you liked spy movies, for goodness sakes. Honestly, Galahad, I've never heard something more incriminating."

Harry stiffened. An average agent wouldn't have been able to detect it, but Merlin knew Harry inside and out. He caught the near-imperceptible flash of light in Harry's eyes, before he smothered it.

"After thirty-four years of service I've learned not to ignore coincidences," Harry said lightly. "But I can't think of any more that can be done. We've got a bug on Valentine. If he knows more than he's letting on, he can't dig any deeper before we're onto him."

Merlin glanced back at the computer screen, not entirely reassured. Something still wasn't adding up, and after thirty-two years of service, Merlin had learned to trust his gut instinct.

Harry was gazing at him, his eyes soft. "Have you any suggestions for our next move?"

Taking a deep breath, Merlin rose from his seat. He tried his best to find the words that would harm Harry the least, but at last could only manage a straightforward response.

"I think you should sit this mission out," he said. "Or at the very least, keep your head down."

Instantly Harry's eyes hardened. "That's not a valid option, Merlin. When have I ever failed to complete an assignment? Sending in another agent would only overcomplicate matters." A smirk appeared on his lips, though his eyes were devoid of humor. "Besides, I can't have him taking all the credit."

"Are you aware of how risky it is to pursue Valentine alone?" Merlin argued, dropping all pretense. So what if his true concerns were made obvious- Harry should already know how he felt.

"He's close to discovering what you are, Galahad. You can't deny it. Whatever plans he's making, I can guarantee you that there's no role for you to play in them."

"I'm well aware," Harry said quietly, looking away from Merlin. "But, as I've told you before, we've played with greater odds against us. I can hardly ignore my duty. I agreed to take on this mission, and I'm determined to see it through to the end."

He looked back at Merlin with an expression close to defiance, but Merlin could read beyond the careless veneer. Harry was troubled, acknowledging the danger, but at the same time strongly compelled to finish his assignment. As if it was no longer a matter of choice, but necessity.

If Merlin could have his way, he would have taken Harry off the assignment and chained him to his side until this Valentine business was over. But he'd grown accustomed to not getting his way. The least he could do was monitor Harry through his video link, never letting him out of his sight.

"To whom do you owe the completion of your mission?" Merlin murmured. "Arthur? Lancelot? Yourself?"

"Perhaps all three," Harry muttered. Slowly he reached out, taking Merlin's hand in his. "But that's enough discussion. You've got more important things to worry about." He glanced at the monitor. "Such as the final test."

Merlin was about to insist that nothing could be more important than Harry's welfare, but he heard the shuttle rattle into place behind him. Harry stepped back, severing contact with Merlin, as the shuttle door opened to reveal Percival and Roxy, back from their outing.

By the time Harry was on the plane to Kentucky, there was no point in asking if he was sure about his actions. He'd made his conviction very clear the moment he boarded the plane. But his solemn silence implied that more potent emotions were brewing beneath his skin.

Merlin knew he shouldn't pry, especially in a professional setting, but as the silence crept on he couldn't help remarking, "You're awfully quiet, Galahad."

Harry didn't answer for a few seconds, but then he said, "Merlin, did you by any chance listen to my conversation with Eggsy?"

Merlin shook his head automatically, forgetting that Harry couldn't see him. After discovering that Eggsy had refused a proper dismissal and made off with a Kingsman cab, Harry had immediately gone in search of him. But Merlin had had his hands and ears busy with Valentine at the time, and didn't know how the impending conversation had panned out.

"What happened?" he asked.

Harry sighed, and Merlin pictured him closing his eyes, sinking back into the smooth leather seat. "Some harsh words were said, from both parties. I told him to stay put at my place until I get back, but I doubt he'll listen."

He fell silent, but Merlin could feel the weight of the air pressing him down, even as the space between him and Harry grew greater and greater. He pushed his glasses up on his nose, not sure what to say. Harry had banked all his hopes on Eggsy, seeing in him a chance to make up for his failures seventeen years prior. Having Eggsy deny the life he'd been offered must prove crushing. But Merlin had come to know Eggsy well during training, and he wasn't surprised at the results of the final test. He felt he should apologize to Harry, but knew in his heart that such a notion was ridiculous. Fair was fair. Eggsy had made his choice, and while it didn't benefit Kingsman, Merlin couldn't fault him for following his heart.

"I should have known that he'd fail the test," Harry spoke up, sounding pensive. "It wasn't in his nature, but I had hoped…"

"You feel he would have made a more suitable recruit?" Merlin guessed.

"I don't mean to slag off Roxy in any way," Harry backtracked. "Percival did a fine job on her. Talk about a slap in the face of old traditions. I just thought that Eggsy…"

He trailed off, and Merlin wondered if Harry realized how selfish he was beginning to sound. Not as a sore loser, but as a man whose quest for atonement was so strong that he failed to recognize that Eggsy and Lee Unwin were two entirely different people.

"You have a right to be disappointed," Merlin said. "But are you disappointed for the right reasons?"

Silence. Then- "Shit."

"What is it?"

"He told me he was sorry before I left," Harry sighed. "Let's hope this mission wraps up quickly. I think we both have some apologies to make."

Merlin gave a curt nod, not caring if Harry could see it this time. Good. He stared into the monitor, tracking the plane on its flight.

"Let's concentrate on saving the world first, okay?"

"Of course," Harry agreed. "Save the world first. Then to you, Merlin."

"Then to me," Merlin echoed. He clenched his hands together. Then to me. Come back to me. Come back…

But for the first time, Harry disobeyed his orders.