#ace!merlin

It’s a testament to how bad the mission has been when Galahad doesn’t protest and that the man usually so guarded all but sags against him when Merlin steps closer in a silent offer to take some of his weight.

They’re both on friendly terms, but they’re not exactly friends either. Merlin is always busy and if he enjoys the agent’s company, Galahad keeps his distances more often than not.

Not that Merlin blame him. He might be a handler, but no matter his unusual choice of profession, he’s still an alpha. Merlin would be wary of himself too if he as a beta having to constantly deal with the alpha Knights’ bullshit posturing.

But wary or not, Galahad must trust him somehow to allow him to guide him through the corridors when he’s so weak. The man might only be a beta, but he’s first and foremost a spy. He didn’t survive three years in the field without developing some healthy paranoid survival instincts.

It’s a bit distracting how Galahad seems to be unconsciously nuzzling against his throat as they walk. He’s not used to someone being close enough to him and even less so to any kind of stimulation to his scent glands, tough unlike most other alphas Merlin knows, it’s doesn’t make his stomach boils with want. Truth be told, not much has that kind of effect on him besides his rut and even then, he is much more annoyed at all the time he’s losing over a stupid biologic imperative whenever he’s caught in one.

He’s always been told it’s only because he hasn’t met the right omega yet, but the thought of knotting anyone always makes him gag. That and any other sexual act really.

For a second, he thinks his musings made him hallucinate the sweet smell of an omega, but another discreet sniff of the air makes him realise it’s coming from the man pressed up against him. He is slow to understand all the implications of his discovery, but once he does, his sudden epiphany has him stopped dead in his tracks.

Galahad doesn’t seem to notice, just uses the opportunity to press his nose right where a mate would usually bite down to bond with him.

“Galahad.” He tries a couple of times to get his attention, but he seems to be sleeping while standing up for all intents and purposes. “Harry!”

Either the use of the unexpected use of his first name, Merlin’s sharp tone or the change in his smell from comforting to something akin to panic shakes Galahad out of whatever spell had fallen on him. For a moment, he only blinks lazily at Merlin, as if waking up from a profound sleep.

Then their position and what he’s unwillingly revealed must register, because Merlin can see horror bleeding into his eyes.

Before he can make a run for it, which he really isn’t in any shape for, Merlin takes a step back, makes sur his hands are well within Galahad’s line of sight and bares his neck in an obvious sign of submission. His actions are shocking enough that Galahad freezes in his spot, which is exactly what Merlin had wanted.

“Harry, do you have blockers anywhere close?”

The other man frowns in puzzlement, but he still answers. “In my locker, at the gym.”

Merlin lets himself relax a bit. Getting there without running into anyone should be feasible and will allow Galahad to take a shower while the blockers start taking effect and mask his true scent. And if Galahad changes into his spare clothes, it’ll only help in making him smell like the beta he’s pretending to be until he can get home.

He would prefer to take him to the infirmary without the detour of course, but he knows that even after three years of exemplary service, the second Arthur finds out there is an omega Knight amongst their ranks, the old bigoted bastard will throw a fit and strip Galahad of his title before kicking him to the curb.

“Good, let’s go.”

Galahad’s confusion is nearly palpable now, but he doesn’t need to be told twice before following him to the gym. Merlin makes sure to stay at a good distance from him, to not let him feel crowded and their progress is made slower than he’d prefer for it, but he won’t make the other man more uncomfortable than he already must be when it’s not an absolute necessity.

Harry makes a bee-line for his locker as soon as they make it to their destination while Merlin stays by the door to make sure no one gets in.

“Take a shower and change. We could probably chalk it off to you coming too close to an omega during your mission, but I’d rather not take that chance.“

About fifteen minutes later, they’re on their way again, the hint of honey in Galahad’s scent only perceptible to Merlin because he now knows it is there to be smelled. They walk in silence again, but this time, it is awkward instead of the comfortable camaraderie it had been before.