After Harry had been shot by Valentine, he had been touch and go for quite awhile. Getting shot in the head would normally kill most men, but, at the risk of sounding too high-handed, Harry Hart was not exactly most men. Weeks passed without him awakening from a coma, but on the day he did Harry was not alone. To his slight surprise it was not Merlin or a doctor or a nurse at his bedside, but Eggsy, looking a little worse for the wear. The boy looked haggard, and had a few painful looking scratches on his face that had obviously been much worse before they started healing.
But all worrying thoughts about Eggsy's injuries and 'What the bloody hell happened while I was asleep' all flew away when Eggsy's eyes met Harry's and a beautiful beaming smile lit up his face.
"Harry," Eggsy breathed, and suddenly Harry was being kissed, quite nicely in fact, and he felt a blooming warmth encompass his heart as Eggsy kissed him eagerly and joyfully, muttering small things like "Idiot" and "What the fuck were you thinking going alone" all the while. Harry happily complied with Eggsy's kisses and kissed his boy, his boy, back just as fervently as Eggsy was kissing him.
Sadly their reunion was cut short as a small team of medical professionals, and Merlin, bustled in. Harry actually hadn't noticed them until Merlin was pulling Eggsy off of Harry with a scoff. "You can do that later. In case you hadn't noticed, Galahad here has been in a coma for almost two months."
"Of course I fucking noticed! I've been in here ever since you told me he was alive you ass!" But Eggsy did at least have the decency to blush at Merlin's words. Harry, for all the world, honestly didn't care and would have been happy to continue kissing Eggsy. The doctors and nurses, and Merlin, apparently didn't agree and sent Eggsy off to wait outside while Harry was checked over.
Harry sighed and settled back into the bed as Eggsy left, only looking at Merlin when the boy had left. "I don't see what all the fuss is about."
Merlin snorted and brought out his clipboard, "Really now? Would you like to see the video of you getting shot in the head by Valentine then? From your perspective or one of the cameras across the street? It's a great watch, blood everywhere and your almost dead body twitching on the ground."
Harry grimaced and looked away when Merlin began pulling up the video footage. "I don't need to see it, I was there after all."
"Well if you're calling your life threatening injuries small then apparently you weren't."
"I never said they were small."
"Mhmm," Merlin smiled softly and Harry glanced over at him again, taking a good look at his old friend. Merlin looked just as haggard as Eggsy had, sans the numerous facial wounds. The life of a Kingsman was not a safe one, Merlin knew that, but Harry still felt a small pinch of guilt at the tired look on his friend's face.
"I'm assuming by the fact that I'm receiving medical attention and that you and Eggsy are still alive that Valentine failed in his mission?" Harry asked, trying to regain a small semblance of professionalism.
"That, or I made a deal with Valentine to save your life and these are the few medical professionals that survived the aftermath." Merlin said, stone-faced. Harry felt his face fall for a moment before Merlin smirked and said, "I'm just kidding with you. Eggsy and Roxy stopped him, with a little help from me. You would've been proud watching those two. Hell, Eggsy even got an offer from a Swedish princess."
At that Harry's face fell a little further. Despite the rather passionate kiss from Eggsy, Harry did feel a large amount of doubt and worry. Honestly he had felt something for the boy since he had met him again after all these years. But Harry thought his feelings would go quite unrequited, after all he was much older than Eggsy and Harry would be lying if that didn't make him nervous. Of course Eggsy would be receiving offers from others around his own age, and older if Harry was anything to go by. Eggsy was a handsome young man so it only made sense but the thought of him being wrapped in the arms of another felt like a punch to Harry's gut.
Harry was saved the trouble of worrying further when Merlin mentioned off-handedly, "He rejected her though. I was wondering why, she's was quite beautiful. I guessed he had someone else in mind and after that little display it looks like I was right."
"You bastard."
Harry smiled and Merlin smiled back. "So, in light of very recent developments I'm putting you on no shagging for at least a month after you get out of here. And no doing it in the hospital either, god knows none of us need to walk in on that." Merlin's slightly disgusted face pulled a laugh out of Harry.
"Merlin I never took you for such a prude!" Harry joked.
"I'm not, I just don't need to see you and the boy going at it like damn animals in heat. Do whatever you like in your own home, just don't do it here." Merlin said.
"My own home?" Harry looked up at the ceiling and felt a small flash of inspiration hit him. "Merlin?"
"Yes?"
"Is Eggsy still living with his mother and that other hideous man?" Harry asked.
"If you're talking about his stepfather, then no. Eggsy apparently took care of him close after he defeated Valentine. After everything that happened, Kingsman decided to take him on despite failing the dog test. He's been set up with a nice little allowance that allowed him to get his mum, sister, and him into a better home." Merlin answered, "Why did you want to know? Worried about the boy?"
"Something like that." Harry said.
Merlin looked like he was going to ask something else, but was interrupted by a doctor coming over and asking to speak with him. Merlin said goodbye to Harry, "But I'll be back to check on you later," and left with the doctor.
Harry relaxed in the hospital bed (as much as he possibly could, the drugs were wearing off a bit and he could feel an annoying amount of pain working its way back into his body) and thought quietly. What he was planning might be a bit rushed, but after almost dying he wasn't exactly eager to draw things out. If Eggsy's mother and sister were safe and happy then Eggsy might...well, Harry would have to ask first. He did so hope that Eggsy would be agreeable to the idea.
Harry popped the question to Eggsy a few days after he began to truly recover from his injuries. This meant that Harry was able to stay awake longer than a few minutes at a time. The longest he had managed to stay awake was the first time he had awoken to see Eggsy by his side; and even then that only lasted for fifteen minutes maximum. For the next few days he was constantly drifting in and out of consciousness as his injuries really began to catch up with him. A gunshot wound to the head, as Merlin had said, was no small thing after all.
Despite his annoyance at being bed-ridden, Harry was taking a small amount of pleasure in it because it meant he got to spend more time with Eggsy. His Eggsy. Not some Swedish princess's Eggsy, but his, Harry Hart's.
His boy had spent almost all of Harry's waking moments by his bedside, only occasionally being replaced by Merlin, and, surprisingly, Roxy (or rather Lancelot, after all she did pass the test). He was puzzled the first time he saw her there, but when Roxy noticed his gaze she just said, "I'm here because Eggsy is a mother hen and doesn't want you waking up alone. I can't let the git stay here all the time, else he would collapse and smell so bad he'd wake the dead in the morgue. So while he freshens up, you're stuck with me."
Harry thanked her politely and they spent the rest of their time together in companionable silence until Eggsy or Merlin would come back, ending Roxy's visit.
By the end of a week Harry was allowed to walk on his own, which he personally thought was ridiculous. "I was shot in the head, not the legs." He said to Eggsy.
"Just being careful bruv. You've been bedridden for a long time." Eggsy watched anxiously as Harry teetered on his feet. It was almost enchanting to see him so worried over Harry.
Harry attempted to take a step forward but felt his legs give way underneath him and he stumbled. He would have fallen if Eggsy hadn't been right there to catch him.
"Harry! Are you alright?" Eggsy fussed. He immediately took Harry back to his bed where Harry sat down.
Ok, so maybe Harry wasn't ready to go walking around the garden yet. But he would be damned if he wasn't going to at least get himself to the bathroom at least once today.
"Harry?" Eggsy crouched to look into the older man's face, taking Harry's hands in his. Harry felt his heart beat just a little fast and thanked goodness he wasn't linked up to the heart monitor at the moment. He smiled softly at Eggsy and gave him a light kiss on the lips.
"I'm alright Eggsy."
Eggsy sighed, relieved. He made to let go of Harry's hands, but Harry gripped them a little tighter to show he wasn't ready to let go of Eggsy.
"Eggsy," Harry started.
"Yes?"
"Would you," Harry cleared his throat, suddenly feeling nervous, "would you perhaps like to come home with me?"
"Harry you aren't ready to go home yet." Eggsy said, looking cross.
"That isn't what I meant Eggsy," Harry sighed, "What I mean is, would you like to move in with me?"
Eggsy stepped back a little, looking surprised. Harry was really hoping it wasn't an unpleasant surprise. "I know we haven't talked much about us but I do care for you Eggsy, most ardently, and I want to have you close to me. I've asked Merlin about your family's situation and I know now that you've been taking care of your mother and sister and if you don't want to leave them I completely understand-" Harry rambled on, feeling very nervous all of a sudden. Eggsy wasn't saying anything, he was just staring at Harry. "-and if you want to, I mean I wouldn't mind you bringing JB or anything and I've been told I make a good flat mate and-"
Harry was stopped when Eggsy put a hand over his mouth and began to laugh. Harry had a few moment to feel insulted until Eggsy removed his hand and kissed Harry again, peppering his lips with happy, light kisses.
"I'll take that as a yes then?" Harry asked, feeling lightheaded.
Eggsy said "Yes" before resuming his kissing, but this time with more fervor and lingering allowed. Harry pulled Eggsy closer and closed his eyes as they continued, the kisses becoming more open mouthed and heated. Harry almost groaned when he heard Eggsy making a soft whining noise, pushing himself closer into Harry's grasp.
"No, stop that you two."
Harry did actually groan this time, letting his head fall onto Eggsy's shoulder in a childish gesture. "Merlin, bugger off."
Eggsy was looking around, "Merlin?"
"The cameras, Eggsy." Harry explained with a sigh. He glared into one of the hospital cameras that littered the room. "Fuck off."
"I told you earlier Harry, no strenuous activities until you're discharged."
"Did he actually tell you that?" Eggsy whispered to Harry.
"Not those words exactly, no." Harry, feeling rather pissed off, held Eggsy tighter, flipped the camera off, and resumed kissing Eggsy with fervor.
"Oh, come on now Harry. Don't make me send in someone to stop you." Merlin sounded exasperated, but Harry could hear an underlying amount of amusement in his tone.
Stubbornly Harry clung to Eggsy, but the moment had been broken, and Harry could feel Eggsy's mouth moving in laughter as they kissed. Harry sighed sadly and let go of Eggsy, but did it regretfully. Eggsy chuckled and pressed a quick kiss to Harry's lips before backing away. "Don't worry bruv, we'll have plenty of time for that later, yeah?"
"Yes, of course." Harry agreed, albeit somewhat sourly.
Harry used to hate being on medical leave. It meant most of his time was spent laying around waiting for his body to heal, and even when he was discharged from the hospital he started going a little crazy just waiting to be allowed back into the field again. Merlin jokingly called him a workaholic, and Harry unfortunately found himself agreeing with that statement.
Except that was in the past, and the present Harry now had Eggsy.
Eggsy made medical leave more than tolerable, he made it so that Harry was actually enjoying his time off. Which was a miracle in of itself.
When Harry was in the hospital, the boy had been by his side as much as he could possibly manage. As an active Kingsman Eggsy couldn't be there all the time, but he surprised Harry by coming by more often than he thought was possible.
Harry had questioned Merlin about it one day when Merlin was busy on his clipboard. Merlin absentmindedly said "We aren't sure what position to give him yet, so he's been given a few tasks around town but nothing big until we're positive where we want him."
"And where would that be?" Harry asked. Merlin briefly looked up from his clipboard and met Harry's gaze.
"Well," he said lightly, "I suppose it depends on who takes on the mantle of Arthur."
Oh.
Harry hadn't asked again. It wasn't a conversation he was quite ready to have yet. At the moment he still held the position of Galahad, and that was alright. For now.
And Eggsy seemed happy. So Harry was willing to let himself take the rare chance and just take the time he had been given to relax and not worry about anything. Which surprisingly lasted up until Eggsy moved into Harry's house.
And then everything went to shit.
It started with Eggsy's damn dog, the pug JB. Harry wasn't a man to hold grudges, it just wasn't the gentlemanly thing to do, but he did admit to himself that he did blame the dog for Eggsy not making it into Kingsman the first time around. But Eggsy seemed to have a thing for small animals, and loved JB dearly. So Harry put up with having the dog in his house, and grew accustomed to it during the first week of their cohabitation.
Now if only it had been the one dog.
The first new addition to their household came in the form of a cat. A dirty cat with matted fur, big dark eyes, and a back leg twisted at a painful looking angle. And then there was Eggsy, looking at Harry morosely, holding the creature like a little boy asking his parents to keep the poor thing.
"Harry, some bloody teenagers were torturing it. Kept throwing rocks at the poor thing. I couldn't leave it alone." Eggsy said. The cat mewed pitifully and rubbed its head underneath Eggsy's chin. Harry could see by the expression on Eggsy's face that if he said no, he would be fighting a already lost battle.
"I suppose we'll need to get it looked at. I think I still have Mr. Pickles veterinarian's number somewhere. Suppose I should give them up a call?" Harry asked.
The brilliant smile on Eggsy's face and passionate kiss he gave Harry was worth it.
Eggsy appropriately named the cat Eliza. After getting her in the bath at the veterinarian (which took three people to do) it was revealed she had beautiful white fur under all the dirt. She got a splint for her leg, and promptly declared herself mistress of the household when JB attempted to growl at her and she hissed right back, forcing the pug to back down.
"Do you think they'll fight a lot?" Eggsy asked Harry, looking at them concerned.
"No, I believe they'll get along marvelously after some time." Harry almost wanted to laugh as JB slunk away from Eliza.
"I hope you're right." Eggsy said.
"Don't worry love. JB will manage to work his way into her heart eventually, he does that with everyone. Acts a little grumpy at first, but he's a big sweetheart and he can't hide it. He's like you in that aspect."
Eggsy snorted, but given the way he squeezed Harry's hand, Harry assumed no offense was taken.
"Thanks, by the way. I know taking in strays is a little off, but I've always felt bad for those animals. Maybe I just relate to them or something." Eggsy said. Harry leaned down and kissed Eggsy.
"It's alright, as long as it's just the one." Harry murmured.
"Yeah, just the one." Eggsy agreed.
Harry couldn't believe he fooled himself into believing Eggsy's words.
