A/N: So I had 4 votes for slash, 12 for gen and 7 lovely people said they would read it either way. I've decided that this will be just a friendship fic, with some Arthur/Gwen on the side cause that's the way my muse was leaning anyway. I promise that my next fic will wonderfully romantic though!

If you do want to read some slashy spy goodness, I recommend James Bond Eat Your Heart Out, by grave-walker, which is both hot and hilarious, or The Incident With the Thingy, by sparky77 over on LJ.

Merlin felt a sense of resignation creeping up his spine as he studied the file on Arthur Pendragon. Usually he had at least a week to prepare for undercover operations, but Kilgarrah had told him to report back with a plan this afternoon. There just wasn't enough time for him to set up a solid new identity. He could beg Kilgarrah for a few more days, but Pendragon was already in danger, he couldn't afford to waste his time. Especially since he already had an in at Round Table Pharmaceuticals that didn't require a new identity.

Merlin did what any good spy does when he needs help. He called his mother.

"Merlin dear!" Exclaimed Hunith. "How are you? You haven't called in such a long time!" Merlin winced guiltily. It's hard to call your mum when you're pretending to be a tough-ass cocaine dealer.

"I'm alright Mum, how are you?" He chatted with her for 20 minutes or so, telling her a little bit about his time undercover (leaving out the more gruesome parts), but mostly just listening to her talk about her friends and her job.

After a while he managed to segue into the actual purpose of his call.

"Hey Mum, can you give me Dr. Gaius' phone number? I need some help with a case."

"Sure sweetheart, he'll be thrilled to hear from you, he loves all that secretive spy stuff."

'Thanks Mum."

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too."

The next day, Merlin arrived at the Round Table Pharmaceuticals Research Laboratory, located in the basement of the Round Table Headquarters. He was greeted enthusiastically by Dr. Gaius, lead scientist of the Excalibur Project, Round Table's cure for cocaine addiction.

"Merlin my boy! I thought you were supposed to visit on Wednesday!"

"It is Wednesday." Merlin fought back a smile and embraced his mother's old friend.

"Oh! I'm sorry Merlin but I seem to have mixed up my schedule. I had planned to show you around the lab and get you started, but I'm supposed to meet Arthur and his father Uther for lunch. Perhaps you'd like to join us? I can introduce you to Arthur, and maybe we can find a job that's more suited to you than laboratory assistant. I'd love to have you work for me, of course, you're smarter than most of my assistants combined, but I think you would prefer to be closer to the business side of the company." Dr. Gaius smiled conspiratorially at him and raised his eyebrow. Merlin fought back a chuckle. The doctor really did love "all that secretive spy stuff." Dr. Gaius knew that he worked for the SIS, but not what he did or why he was interested in Round Table Pharmaceuticals.

"Sure, that sounds perfect," said Merlin.

They met Arthur and Uther at a nearby Thai restaurant. Merlin thought that Arthur actually seemed more imposing in person, while Uther seemed less austere. Gaius introduced him as his good friend's son who was looking for a job. Uther shook his hand politely. Arthur was too busy harassing the waiter to pay any attention to the introduction.

"I ordered sparkling water, not still, and I asked you get me a new fork, this one looks like it hasn't even been cleaned! Do you think this is an acceptable way to run a restaurant? One word from me and half your customers will never come here again!"

The poor waiter was obviously distressed. "I'm sorry sir, I'm very sorry, I get you new fork and water." Merlin wondered if perhaps he hadn't understood Arthur's request the first time he made it, English obviously wasn't his native language.

"About time," sneered Arthur. "If it had taken any longer to get it through your thick skull I would have wondered whether you had a brain in there at all."

Merlin was liking Arthur less and less with every word that came out of his arrogant mouth. "Hey, come on now, that's enough. There's no need to be cruel."

"Do I know you?" Asked Arthur.

"Er, I'm Merlin."

"So I don't know you, and yet you think you can tell me what to do."

"That was my mistake."

"Yes, I think so."

"Yeah, and my second mistake was thinking you wouldn't turn out to be the arrogant prat most people say you are." Merlin winced as the words flew out of his mouth. He was usually much more suave than this, but Arthur's entitled arrogance really got under his skin.

Arthur gaped at him. "You can't talk to me like that!"

"Apparently I can." So much for befriending Arthur Pendragon. This was definitely not helping him with his ultimate objective.

Uther chuckled while Arthur gaped at him. "Your boy has a backbone Gaius."

Merlin, however, wasn't paying any attention to the elder Pendragon. The back of his neck was prickling, the way it did when someone had him in their sights. He glanced warily around the small restaurant. He had already taken note of all the ways in and out, but the large glass window next to their table made him feel vulnerable. Merlin glanced outside and saw the sun glinting on something in the small alley across the street and one building down. His sense of unease exploded into a sense of panic and he reacted instantly.

"Down!" He yelled as he threw himself sideways and knocked Arthur to the floor. The window shattered and a bullet drove into the wall seconds later, right where Arthur's head had been.

Dr. Gaius and Uther both gaped in astonishment. Merlin crawled around the table and peered over the windowsill, just in time to see a dark haired woman toss her sniper rifle into a nearby bin and disappear into the crowded street. Merlin debated with himself for a moment, and then decided to stay at the restaurant. He hadn't seen the woman's face, she would have already changed her clothes and disappeared. If he chased after her he probably wouldn't find her, and he would have blown his cover for nothing.

Instead, he stayed and pretended to be shaken up.

"You saved my life!" Exclaimed Arthur disbelievingly.

"I saw a woman with a big gun outside the window!" Merlin fabricated.

When the police arrived and took his statement, he told them the same thing. A few hours later, when all the paperwork was done, he and Dr. Gaius decided to return to the labs. Arthur had been assigned police protection, Merlin doubted that another attempt would be made on his life for a few days at least, they would wait until his guard was down again.

"Wait!" Said Uther as they made to leave. "Merlin, you saved the life of my son, you deserve a reward."

"Oh no," said Merlin, "you don't need to do that."

"Nonsense, your actions merit something quite special. I know! You need a job and Arthur needs a new executive assistant. Gaius tells me you're very competent and reliable, and the job will pay much more than working in the laboratory."

"Father!" Exclaimed Arthur unhappily, but he didn't make any further protests.

Merlin's mind raced. This was perfect! He couldn't have planned it better, he would be close to Arthur all day, every day, in a perfect position to protect him.

He glanced at Arthur's sour face. Ugh. He would be close to the arrogant prat all day, every day.

Damn you Kilgarrah.

A/N: Please let me know if you like it :)