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"Starting early, are we?" Merlin muttered, taking a quick glance around. "Good, good." He settled in his normal seat to get started on his own work.
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"Couldn't sleep," Valerie muttered. "Decided to be useful."
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Merlin nodded. "Alright," he agreed. "Keep on, then."
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Valerie continued to flip through footage for a few more hours, until a reminder on her phone went off for a mid-morning tea break. She habitually stood up and stretched a bit before the rest of her brain caught up with her and reminded her that 'Callie' didn't know where the tea service was kept. She grumbled under her breath a little. Tea would go a long way towards comforting her.
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Merlin glanced over at her. "Need a break?" he guessed. Oh yes, that was right about the time Valerie always took her tea break. He did try to make it a habit of knowing people's habits.
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"Just a small one," Valerie admitted. "I don't know how you can stare at these screens all day."
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"Practice rice," Merlin told her with a shrug. "Go on up to the kitchens, someone there will make you some tea and a snack."
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Valerie took a step in the correct direction for the kitchen, and then stopped, remembering herself.
"The kitchens?" she asked. |
Merlin smiled a little at her. It was just the two of them down in his lair right now.
"Drop the act, lass," he murmured. "I already know. Oh, and welcome back." |
Valerie swore softly.
"God damn it," she said. "How? We're identical." |
"Physically, perhaps, but there are subtle differences," Merlin told her. "Things you've picked up working here, word choices the two of you make." He shrugged a little. "Nothing noticeable to anyone who doesn't know you well."
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"Does anybody else know?" Valerie asked. "Or just you?"
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"Just me," Merlin confirmed. "As far as Kingsman goes, anyway." He looked at her for a moment before he shook his head. "Now go on and get some tea."
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Valerie sighed and nodded. She wanted tea. Once she had some, she went back to settle in Merlin's little lair and keep scrutinizing the CCTV footage.
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Merlin let her work in quiet. And everything remained quiet for the next day and a half, up until he heard Valerie swearing. Then he got up and hurried over to her to see what was happening.
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Valerie had looped around a few seconds of video and was studying it closely.
"Right here," she said. "That's her, that's my sister." She tapped on the screen right where a young woman in a dark dress was being forced into a van. |
Merlin didn't even ask if she was sure. He just grabbed the plate number, muttering, "How the hell did we miss this...?" And then he was back to his station, running the plates.
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Valerie anxiously waited for Merlin to run the plates. They finally had some information, and she wanted to get out there and find her sister.
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It didn't take long once Merlin had the information. Less than an hour later, he not only knew who owned the car, but he knew where the car was. He summoned Harry, Eggsy, and the SHIELD team to inform them.
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"Merlin, what's going on?" Eggsy asked as he came in. Harry was right on his heels.
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"Found her," Merlin said, not even looking up from his tablet. "Coordinates and directions are there." He nodded to another tablet, just waiting for them. "I'm sure the SHIELD team will want to go as well."
"Yes, we will," Coulson answered. He'd been just behind Harry and Eggsy. |
"Line forms behind me," Valerie said, already gathering her things. She glanced at Merlin, and Coulson, daring them to object.
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Neither of them objected, so much, but Coulson did say, "Stay with us, please."
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Valerie nodded, and looked at Merlin.
"Merlin, if I may kit myself out, please?" she asked. Hey, she might have been a desk agent, but she still knew how to defend herself and use most of the Kingsman arsenal. |
Merlin nodded, pushing a button to open the little armory he had in his lair. "Take what you need," he agreed. "Be ready in five minutes." He aimed that at the room in general so people would have a bit of warning to get prepped and be ready to go.
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