Chapter Text
Merlin looked out over his city from his vantage in one of the city’s tallest buildings, a scotch dangling between his fingers untouched. It had been generations since the Cold War had turned decidedly hot, dragging nations into a third world war. The nuclear powers never used their world-destroying weapons but it was near enough as one half of the world carpet bombed the other. Tired of endless wars, revolutions swelled up, unrest toppling regimes and democracies alike.
The royal family had been slaughtered in their beds, the doors locked on the Houses of Parliament and fire set to those inside. England, then the US, then the world… burned.
In their wake men like him had risen into the void, and far worse.
Chester “Arthur” King, the head of the Kingsman was that worse, the kind of miserable despot Merlin had always despised. It hadn’t always been that way. Once, Chester had cared for the people, lifted a poor Scottish boy up out of the gutter because the boy had been clever and turned him into a man.
Looking back, Merlin wondered if it had all been a manipulation… a calculation in the mind of the king. A way to guarantee Merlin’s loyalty.
He wondered if King had ever truly been that good man or if it was just one more game.
Kingsman had stagnated under Arthur’s rule, giving up the edges of its territory to Baker’s Dozen - and entirely silly nickname for the rabble of Dean’s knuckle-dragging heathens. Losing parcel after parcel on the south side of the river until the drug-slinging sadist pushed them out of the territory. A dozen other smaller gangs carving up the remaining area.
As for the north side of the river, it was entirely controlled by the Kingsman and by Valentine’s Men, Chester’s alliance with the insane leader was sickening. Valentine couldn't have been more evil if he tried. Merlin loathed him.
Valentine was the kind of alpha who believed so utterly in his own gender’s superiority that he surrounded himself with like-minded sycophants. The omegas he kept - and they were ‘kept’ as little more than slaves - were often drugged, listless with hollowed out eyes. It turned Merlin’s stomach.
Moving against Chester would not be easy. If there was one whisper, one allusion that Merlin was not as loyal as he seemed then it wouldn’t matter that Merlin had served Chester for nearly forty years… his life would be over.
“Merlin, my king,” Harry murmured, dropping to one knee briefly on the floor of the former construction site before rising and joining him at the window frame, wind gusting up from the darkness of London below them.
“Ye don’t need to bow to me, Harry.”
Harry clasped Merlin’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “You’re the only king I’ll ever truly serve.”
“We must be careful. Chester grows more paranoid by the day.”
“So long as he remains at the country estate we can stand between the others and his madness.”
Merlin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s like those old stories of the old Roman Emperors, gone mad in their adage.”
“And you are taking the worst of it, old friend. Your position as his Left Hand - “
“Is necessary. When he orders a death… sometimes I can get them to safety… if they’re innocent.”
“Sometimes you cannot, innocent or no.” Harry leaned in close, wrapping his arm around his friend’s shoulders. “You carry a burden of his evils.”
“Have ye ever heard of a sin-eater, Harry?”
The man leaned heavily on his umbrella, shaking his head ruefully.
“It’s a Native American myth… a person who can consume another's sins through a ritual meal.”
“And that’s you?”
“Aye, Harry. I will eat Chester’s sins and guard the Kingsman and the people of this city from him. Now… make yerself a drink and report.”
Merlin watched Harry’s hands move deftly as he made a martini for himself from the bottles Merlin had brought those long months ago. So, it was good news. If it was bad it would be whiskey, straight. When Harry looked up, there was a mischievous glimmer in his remaining eye, the other lost to a territory incursion from Valentine in the years before the truce. “There’s rumours of a new player across the river.”
“And this is good?”
“Yes,” Harry grinned, “we don’t have much information but it seems they are challenging Baker directly, scooped up a bunch of his territory, caught the man flat-footed. Rumour is most of his inner circle turned on him and he’s reeling. Better yet, they’re good to the people. I think you’d like their style. Tithing has gone up but they’re opening free schools and clinics, repairing roads and infrastructure.”
Merlin nodded. “Name?”
“Not sure if it is their real one… I heard a few but the most common is ‘The Queen’s Ravens’.”
“Let’s keep our eye on them and keep quiet as long as possible lest Chester target them. Now,” he said turning back to the windows, “what of Valentine?”
“He’s making excursions over the river, likely trying to take advantage of the chaos in Baker’s men.”
Merlin huffed, palming the back of his neck against the headache forming.
“You are tired, Merlin. You need rest.”
“Aye.”
“You need an omega.”
“No’ with this again. I’m fine, Harry. Besides, any mate I take will become a target for Chester should I become compromised.”
“We will never allow it, for you or any omega you take to bed. And I mean ‘bed’. You don’t need to take a mate to get laid, old friend.” Harry turned to him, squeezing his bicep in affection. “Let me set you up with someone. Just… try. You have been in the same room as an unmated omega in years. Please? You work too hard.”
“And ye think setting me up on a date is gonna make me relax?”
“Alphas need omega hormones to stabilize their biology,” Harry said gently as if explaining to a child. “It’s too easy to devolve into our baser instincts.”
“I could say the same to ye.”
Harry swallowed hard, jaw tightening against a sudden swell of emotion.
“ Christ , Harry,” Merlin cried, a low whine building in his throat, “I forgot the day. It’s… it is, isn’t it?”
“… the anniversary of the day Lee left me. I still… I still don’t know why Merlin. We were happy, weren’t we?”
“Aye, I thought so.”
Harry whimpered, leaning against the glass and peering down into the London night beneath them. “I still dream… still think I’m going to wake up and he’ll be striding through the door. That he’ll come back to me. Fuck . I should have mated him but he wanted to wait. He thought Chester would use him against me.”
“He would have. If he lives, Chester still might. He doesnae trust ye. If Chester knew how close we are.”
“He’d kill you, I know. It’s why we meet like this…” Harry gestured vaguely to the construction site around them, crumbling from decades of neglect. Harry heaved a sigh. “I just want to make him happy. To find him. Wherever he’s gone - “
“I’m always keeping my ear out for news of Lee.”
Harry nodded, dashing the tears from his eyes. “Thank you. Now, about that date…”
~***~
Eggsy jumped the gap between two roofs, crouching low in the shadows and waiting as Ryan and Jamal leapt behind, the former tucking and rolling before coming up onto his feet where the other landed heavily without any of his mate’s grace.
“My Queen,” Ryan grinned cheekily, the gas lamps from below casting an eerie flickering light over the prominents of his face.
Eggsy hated crossing through Bexley Boy’s territory but it couldn’t be helped, they were next on the chopping block, another territory he would claim in the name of the Ravens.
The earbud in his ear chirped, Percival, having hacked and claimed old military channels months before. It was helpful in times like these. Kingsman, of course, still had working cell towers in their territory but Eggsy had yet to find someone to repair the ones in his areas. Still, Dean had gone on the run and one by one the territory lords were falling into line or dying as an example to the others.
“Report,” Eggsy hissed, keeping his voice low.
“My Queen,” the alpha said smoothly in his ear. “There’s unusual chatter in the area. I believe Kingsman might be nearby.”
“Why? They always stayed on their side ‘fore.”
Eggsy could practically hear the alpha’s shrug but, as a former Kingsman, Percival had the best insight. “Perhaps Arthur sees the coup of Baker as a moment of weakness. Perhaps he wants control of both sides of the Thames to control exports downriver. Both are likely. Be careful, Arthur is as mad as a hatter, if he’s crossed the river...”
“Maybe,” Ryan offered, “he’s gone to Pietro’s. Best Italian in the city…”
Jamal scoffed and said sarcastically, “Seems legit.”
Eggsy followed Percy’s directions into the heart of Bexley, if the Kingsman were going to come near his territory there was no way he was missing the opportunity to spy on them. Best part of being Queen of the Ravens, no one knew who he was and, other than his constant shadows in Ryan and Jamal, he could move freely about the territories.
“You have got to be takin’ the piss,” Jamal said in wonderment as they looked across the street at Pietro’s where a few discreet guards were parked up and down the lane.
“Hey,” Ryan admonished, “never underestimate the pull of decent Italian food.”
Eggsy hunkered down along the edge of the rooftop. “Make one pass down the street, see what you can hear.”
“You’ll stay here, Eggs?” Jamal asked. Of the two he took his position as self-appointed bodyguard more seriously.
“Yeah, bruv,” Eggsy said with a shrug. “See what I can see.”
“You and your fucking superior omega vision.”
“Gotta get something nice for all the fucking awful heats I have.”
“You should take a mate,” Jamal said, not for the first time.
“Name a single fucking alpha you know that’s one, unmated and two, won’t try to take the Ravens from me and keep me as their little pup producing whore.”
The silence was telling.
“Exactly. Now, get going.”
As soon as the betas were out of sight, Eggsy slipped down the fire ladder nearby and darted through the shadows across the street and into the alley behind the restaurant. He expected it to be empty. Not only wasn’t it empty, but a gorgeous alpha was there, sagging against the brick wall as he pulled a long drag from his cigarette.
Sure he was older but Eggsy had always liked them mature, his Mum were forever takin’ the piss about how Eggsy liked alphas same age as him. He was fit as fuck, too, though he seemed to be trying to hide it under a cosy jumper and slacks. Thick glasses framed up his eyes and his shaved head reflected the light from the little gaslamp he was standing under.
The wind shifted as Eggsy caught his scent, something low in his belly twisting with desire… with a sense of rightness.
Mine.
Before he realised what was happening, his feet had carried him out of the shadows and into the little puddle of light. The man’s eyes snapped up, not relaxing when he saw Eggsy though the man must have clocked him for an omega… he couldn’t be much else with as tiny as he were. Yeah, Eggsy wasn’t the waifish thin kind of omega most alphas liked but he was still small and his smooth skin and luminous blue eyes screamed his gender. That was before anyone scented him.
Eggsy was a bit impressed the man’s tension didn’t ease. Not half as dumb as most alphas. They figured omegas were weak helpless things but omegas had always made the best assassins. The wind blew again, pushing at Eggsy’s back and carrying his scent to the man in the jumper.
A possessive growl rumbled out through the alley, Eggsy’s hole gushing with slick in response. He could run but he didn’t want to, something in his fucking soul screaming to him that this wasn’t just an alpha, it was his alpha.
Christ , the man was fast as he scooped Eggsy up and pinned him against the wall, scenting him thoroughly.
“Tell me ye smell it,” the Scot demanded.
Fuck, that voice did things to him. It was a good thing the alpha was holding all his weight or he would have collapsed to his knees.
“Yes, alpha, I smell it.”
“My true mate.”
“Yes,” Eggsy huffed. If you’d asked him before he had crawled off the roof he would’ve said he didn’t believe in those kinds of fairy tales, especially for someone with his luck.
“God’s hairy arsehole ye are beautiful.”
Eggsy laughed even as he bent low and breathed the man in thoroughly. There was a wildness to his scent, like open fields and salt spray but also the electric cordite smell of lighting and that low spicy musk all alphas had in some measure. “Pretty fucking gorgeous yourself, guv.”
The alpha reached up, cupping his cheek, his thumb trailing over Eggsy’s jaw. “I’m an old man with a dangerous career. Christ , boyo. It would have been better if we’d never met but now that I’ve scented ye I cannae help but want to mate with ye.”
Eggsy wound his arms around the man’s neck, letting his fingers run over smooth scalp and square features. “You have no idea.” He pulled in another lungful of that intoxicating scent. “Alpha.”
The man shuddered at the word, a whimper of need breaking loose from his throat. “Omega. Mine. My omega.”
“I’m going to kiss you,” Eggsy said gently, guiding the alpha’s head back before brushing their lips together. The man under him sighed, some tension across his shoulders breaking free. He looked younger without it.
“What’s yer name?” the alpha murmured against his lips.
“What’s yours?”
The alpha’s brow furrowed, and some of that stress was back.
“Don’t tell me I made you forget your name, babe.”
“Nae, it’s just…”
“Complicated?” Eggsy ventured. He understood having a complicated relationship with your own name. He hadn’t used his in so many years.
“Yes,” the alpha hissed, folding himself around Eggsy’s body.
A shadow darting near the mouth of the alley reminded him his time was limited. Hell, that could be his betas trying to figure out how to disentangle him from the alpha while he lingered. They’d give up their lives trying to pull him out of the situation. Whoever the fuck the alpha was he was Kingsman, only thing that made sense with the area crawling with ‘em.
“I can’t stay,” Eggsy said, wriggling until the alpha put him down.
He made for the mouth of the alley when the alpha’s voice, croaking with emotion, stopped him. “Omega, please… how will I find you?”
“Meet me at the Southwark Cathedral in a week… same time.”
“That’s in Dean’s territory,” the alpha sneered with revulsion. “Dinnae tell me he has his claws in ye.”
Oh, if only the man knew. “It ain’t no more, bruv. You’re working on old information.”
“The Queen’s Raven,” the alpha said softly.
Eggsy nodded, not turning as shock jolted through him. Shit, if that random Kingsman knew about the Raven’s it was only a matter of time before Arthur came for them… for him.
“Are ye one?”
He did turn then. “What of it?”
“I’m Kingsman.”
Eggsy shrugged. “I knew that before I came in this alley. Meet me in a week, we will figure it out from there.”
“Are ye planning on killing me?”
“Babe,” Eggsy sighed, sauntering back to the alpha’s side before splaying his hands flat across the man’s pectorals. “Pretty sure I’d carve out my own heart first.”
The alpha whimpered, bending to nuzzle at Eggsy’s neck. “You dinnae know how dangerous I’ve just made yer life. I need to protect ye.”
Eggsy stepped back, flicking both his arms so it twisted the catch on his concealed swords. The spring-loaded blades shot out, their steel edges glimmering in the light of the gas lamp. Bullets were too expensive to make, gunpowder even more. Percival, their clever Percival, had developed the hidden blade mechanism. All the Ravens used them.
“Christ,” the alpha hissed.
“I can take care of myself.” Eggsy twisted his wrist the other way, triggering the secondary mechanism and the foot long blade collapsed up his sleeve.
“That shouldnae be so sexy.”
“I gotta go.”
“Wait!” the alpha called again when he turned to leave. “Can I have yer name?”
“No. Not yet. I don’t want to give you a fake one. I don’t want to lie to you, alpha.”
Merlin swallowed against the tightness in his throat. “Alright, omega.”
Eggsy managed a jaunty salute before he dashed back into the night.
~***~
“Merlin?” Harry’s voice drew him back from where he’d leaned against the bricks trying to master his emotions. He felt peeled back, like minced meat and everything ached to follow the boy. But he couldn’t. It was one thing to come into Bexley Boy’s territory unannounced and show a little force, it was something else to go stumbling around the city blind and possibly end up in Raven’s area. And if he went traipsing around the south side of the river Chester would have questions.
“Are you alright, old friend?”
“Old, indeed,” Merlin groused. How old was his true mate? Not a child but certainly not near close enough to his age for comfort.
“Your date is waiting for you.”
“Aye,” Merlin said, pushing himself up off the wall. He didn’t want to go back inside. Didn’t want to pretend to be interested in the simpering affections of the omega who’d never known a day of hardship, who sat securely in her ivory tower a privileged daughter of one of the elite merchants that made their wealth trading across the river.
He didn’t want to pretend he hadn’t just had his life changed by a kiss from a young omega.
“Send her home.”
“Her father - “
“Tell him I’m ill. Smooth it over… I just… I cannae.”
Harry straightened his suit in displeasure. He could read a litany of emotions from the way he fingered his cufflinks, the way he smoothed the non-existent creases from the wool. “A moment.” Harry strode to the end of the alley, calling Bors near. They spoke for a moment before the later dashed away. “It’s done,” Harry called out to him.
His car pulled up, dinner forgotten and they both slipped into the backseat.
“Will you tell me what’s wrong, or must I send Gawain to ask you?”
“That boy could nag a deaf man to his grave,” Merlin complained, leaning back heavily into the seats. “I met someone.”
Harry turned, arch a delicate eyebrow in surprise. “In an empty alley?”
“It wasnae empty the entire time.”
“And?”
“My true mate.”
Long moments of silence stretched as the car moved through empty streets before Harry finally managed, “And you let them get away ?”
“He’s half my age.”
“So?”
“He’s a Raven.”
“Shite.”
“I’m going to see him again… Southwark Cathedral in one week’s time.”
“I’ll go with you,” Harry said firmly. “If he’s a Raven…”
“He doesnae want to hurt me.”
Harry nodded, firmly. He knew the kind of pull one had with their true mate, he would understand. “Doesn’t mean he won’t be followed. I’ll keep my distance but, please. I can’t lose you, old friend.”
“Alright, Harry. Alright.”