No beta. I haven't posted in ages but Kingsman just rocked my world so...there's this.

I just wanted to get this out into the world. Enjoy...

"This gun is live," he warned.

Roxy frowned, but reached for the gun regardless. It was cool and heavy in her hand. Merlin stood quietly, clipboard in hand, eyes hooded and stoic.

There was plastic drop cloth on the floor, yet somehow she was still shocked when he told her calmly, "Shoot the dog."

She stared at him, eyes wide. Her hand tightened on the strange weapon. Was that shot gun cartridge?

Her mind raced. Each one of their tests was designed for a specific outcome. Working under pressure. Teamwork. Fear tactics...but this? She was at a loss.

What's the desired conclusion?

Her voice was raw, too emotional when she asked, "What are you trying to determine? If I can follow orders? Or if I can kill?"

He didn't respond except to repeat, "Shoot the dog."

She glanced over at Puck, her faithful companion from these last few months. He sat straight, tall and attentive, his tail thumped lightly against the floor. He was almost majestic, but the poodle curls undermined the image. She now understood why Merlin told the candidates not to hold their pups.

"This is a no win scenario, Merlin," she argued, "What are you looking for? Either I'm a cold blooded killer, or a coward."

He continued to stare. Silent.

She was angry now, she wanted to shatter the far window with a bullet. She almost leveled the gun in Merlin's face. Just to see him flinch. She wanted to. Anything, but put it in Puck's skull.

Then it came to her. Ages ago. When Percy first recruited her, "Kingsman will test your limits," he'd said, "Typical military protocol, but we're guardians not assassins...not always at least."

Preserve peace and protect life.

The parachute. The train. Now the dog.

The rush in her veins was heady, she was dizzy with relief. She looked at Merlin, and his face had changed, there was a wrinkle at his brow: confusion. Probably because she was smiling like a lunatic.

"Merlin," she crowed, "You've proven yourself to be a filthy liar."

He opened his mouth. To defend himself, to order her again, it didn't matter, because she slid the magazine free and pulled back the bolt, catching the chambered bullet midair.

It was a blank. Of course, it's a fucking blank.

The look on his face was marvelous. Surprise was a rare sight on the unflappable Scotsman and here she stood, front and center for the show.

She punched the blank back into the magazine, slid it home and chambered it. She leveled it at Puck, "With pleasure, sir."

She pulled the trigger, the bang was loud and the kick shuddered up her arm. But Puck was fine. He startled at the noise but quieted at Roxy's command.

Merlin peered at her curiously, "No one's ever done that before," but there was a smile at his lips, "Please know I'm very impressed."

His eyes lost their focus on her for a moment, but his smile grew larger. From months of training she knew he was listening to his glasses' comm. He centered on her again, "Let me be the first to congratulate you. Welcome to Kingsman, Lancelot."

~fin~

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