Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way of it.
Feeling Beautiful
"Before we see anything, some order has to be restored." Tristian stated firmly, his tone one Harry had never had directed at him before, but he'd seen the older dominant use it to keep others in line over the years. Ergo he knew to listen and obey when Tristian used it, because he'd seen what happened to those who didn't. And listening now was especially important since Harry knew for a fact that Tristian was a very by the book, planning everything out in advance sort of leader, which meant the last thirty minutes or so were the stuff of nightmares for him. Not that there was a high chance something could go wrong, everything had been too spontaneous for someone to have planned an attempted kidnapping or assassination, but still…Tristian's blood pressure had to be skyrocketing at the moment, which only made Tristian that much more likely to blow up if pushed much further.
"As this gift is for you, Mr. Hart, you, Mr. Unwin, and Ms. Binoche will go and see the present first. I will follow with Mrs. King, as she is most eager to see what this present is." Tristian was very much aware of Anna's presence still, though the girl looked everywhere but at him every time he looked in her direction. "Percival and Ms. Morton will hang back with the rest, and everyone who wishes to will get a chance to see the gift in due course. Moving in an orderly fashion, one at a time."
Tristian tone made it clear that he was already bending more than he was comfortable with, and if any of them had a problem with what he'd just said, he'd call the Guild Master.
"Uhm, just one thing first."
Coming forward Rachel surprised Harry by exchanging a look with Serena that Harry wasn't sure how to interpret, and then Rachel was moving in to whisper something in Tristian's ear. Something that had Tristian's tight features easing a little.
But what she said was between the two of them, apparently, since Rachel just said whatever it was she needed to tell him and then returned to Colin's side, where she'd been assigned to stay until told otherwise. And once there she ignored the questioning looks she was getting, though she winked at Roxy, who winked back.
Heading whipping back and forth as she obviously tried to figure out why all this was necessary, Anna probably would have been on her phone looking them all up to see how they were famous if she hadn't been terrified of Tristian misinterpreting her reaching into her pocket for it. Most humans might not recognize or believe in dragons these days, but many of them did still have the instincts to recognize predators who were not to be crossed.
After another pause to confirm that Eggsy actually wanted her to retrieve the 'present' they'd all come here to see, as well as waiting for confirmation that it was okay with Tristan for them to move ahead, Serena smiled encouragingly and then asked Anna to go and retrieve the box with Harry's present in it from the back. She was to bring it over to the fitting room area, and then leave these customers to her.
Orders given, with Anna running off to do as bided, Serena started walking in the direction they were going while talking to Harry like he was just another customer. "I had Eggsy bring me some of your clothes, Harry, and the measurements he got from your tailor. Normally I don't trust anyone's numbers but my own, but eyeballing it, I think what I've made will fit you nearly perfectly." A knowing look over her shoulder in Harry's direction. "And don't worry; I researched you to get a sense of your tastes beforehand. Eggsy had some suggestions, but I kept him in line."
"Oi."
"Eggsy, Harry and I love you. But we would both agree, I think, that if we did not love you, your taste in fashion would require great vats of wine to stomach at times."
Laughing, he couldn't help himself, Harry took Eggsy's hand and gave it a squeeze in silent apology. Because the truth did hurt sometimes. Though on an entirely different note, he had a feeling he was going to like Serena quite a bit.
That, and Harry appreciated all the reassurance he could get given that they were surrounded by apparel meant for women as opposed to men. He'd seen a few possibly androgynous outfits on displays, but the tables and racks around them all seemed to be displaying beautiful and sexy silk and lace garments meant for women. Or crossdressers. Which he was not.
And it was definitely time for him to think about something else before his nerves got the best of him. "So how long have you known the Unwins, Serena?"
"I babysat Eggsy when he was little, if you can believe it. I had a 'orrible crush on his father." A sound of amusement as Serena motioned towards the hallway that led into the fitting rooms. "I was twelve when I met Lee. I was being teased in the park by some boys from my school, and my dragon was strong even then. It came into my eyes, scaring them. Scaring me, too. Lee saw what was happening and came over to help me, and when he found out that my sperm donor was not in my life, and my maman didn't know anyone in the dragon world to train me, he offered his and his family's services."
Since most dragons bragged about their number of offspring as proof of their prowess and strength of line, Harry assumed that whoever Serena's father was, he was of an old family who thought it was perfectly alright to have affairs with humans, but not to breed with them. And if her father was British, odds were the man in question was a member of their Guild. But who?
"And did the Unwins inform you of the penalties that result from trespassing in a Guild's territory?" Veronica wanted to know, their consort not even visible since Tristian was in her way. She'd been oddly quiet up until now, no doubt trying to see a way to turn this all to her advantage. That nothing was going her way was obviously getting to her. Enough that she sought to regain some ground by sniping at Serena.
"Yes, as a matter of fact. And not just them. But as Merlin McNab is a silent partner in my business, above and beyond the fact that Kingsman has no claim on this part of the city, I have broken no laws." Serena's smile was just as cool as her voice. "But it's kind of you to worry for my well-being."
Laura Barker was, naturally, all over that first little tidbit in a heartbeat, no doubt eager to win points with Veronica, above and beyond her love of starting shit. "You and McNab, hmm? And how well do you two know each other?"
In a finger snap the temperature of the room dropped to sub-zero levels as Serena whirled around and aimed her piercing gaze at the twit, her look suggesting she was seriously considering going dragon on her arse. "You would be wise not to insult Merlin in my presence, little girl. This is my lair, and that means according to YOUR laws I can take insult and challenge you in a heartbeat if I so wish. And I have been trained by three generations of Unwins as to how to protect myself. I would tear you to bits."
Pale as snow, Laura actually swayed a little on her feet while her 'friends' took an obvious step back from her. And they all looked that much paler when Rachel informed her that she'd help Serena teach them a lesson, if necessary.
Being a healer, Rachel had access to a lot of sharp implements and life threatening substances. Not to mention who would put the twit back together afterwards, if not her?
"You would be wise to watch your threats." Veronica warned as she came to her stooge's defense, though her expression suggested she was wary of starting something too. Because while it was rare, a challenge between omegas, it had happened before and dominants were not allowed to fight in their place unless both sides agreed to it. And as this was Serena's lair, Eggsy's friend could challenge the consort if Veronica offered up enough perceived offense. And Veronica would have no choice but to accept said challenge, or face great dishonor.
Veronica was not a fighter.
Luckily for Veronica, it was then that Anna returned with a large, flat box in her arms, the girl stammering out an apology for not being faster. A customer had waylaid her.
"No problem, Anna, thank you." Taking the box from her assistant Serena smiled as though she hadn't just threatened to tear a woman to bits, and then asked her assistant to go assist Emma in watching the front of the shop.
The request had Anna casting one more wistful look in Eggsy's direction, but a look from Tristian had her fleeing back to the front as ordered.
Walking over to a table by the dressing room, Serena set the box down on it and then removed the lid before pushing back the tissue paper inside. "Harry, if you would like to see, now, Eggsy's surprise for you."
Putting his trust in Serena's fashion sense, and clinging to the fact that Eggsy would have surely refused to let the rest of the group see it if the item of clothing wasn't appropriate for others' eyes, Harry took a calming breath and then stepped up to the table.
"Oh."
Breath catching, Harry stared at the two articles of clothing neatly folded in front of him in shocked awe. The color was…old gold was the best word that came to mind. Not bright and shiny, but aged and all the more beautiful and valuable for it. On the left side were silk pajama bottoms, which when he pulled them out to inspect Harry judged would indeed slide lovingly over his body and fit him nearly as well as his tailored trousers. The robe beside it, well it was just lovely. Knee length, he guessed, and with hints of a red sheen that the bottoms lacked, to give it something extra.
"There's another set underneath that one."
Glancing over at Serena Harry returned her pleased expression with one of his own, and then gently he set aside the first set, eager to see what lay underneath.
The second pair was, in some ways, the exact opposite of the first. These bottoms reminded Harry immediately of icebergs, the underwater section that glowed blueish white in images he'd seen in the past. The robe was tailored more, and the material more white and slightly more sheer than the bottoms, but just as stunning as the first in its own way.
Stroking his hand over the cloth one last time, Harry smiled and then moved over to where Eggsy watched anxiously, framing his mate's face between his hands as he leaned down and kissed him as lovingly and sweetly as he'd learned to do.
"Whatever gave you the idea?" Harry asked when he broke the kiss off, ignoring for the moment the exclamations his gifts were getting behind him as the others got their peeks in turn.
Eggsy gave him that smile Harry loved most. The one that lit up his mate's whole face and made Eggsy look too beautiful for words. "I saw ya lookin in the mirror a couple times in your pajamas, and ya didn't look pleased, so I figured I'd get ya some new ones."
Looking back, Harry could remember fretting over whether or not to wear his pajamas to bed, how he looked in them and what Eggsy thought of them. Eggsy must have noticed and…
That called for another kiss.
)
As it turned out Serena and Rachel had not only been introduced by Merlin, but were already fast friends. Rachel got most of her underwear and such from Serena's place these days, and she was more than happy to gang up on the snobs to try and convince them to look at some of Serena's stuff so that Harry and Eggsy could have their moment with Serena, as Harry complimented her work. The consort and her friends, well Colin was more than willing to stand guard with his children against them, Percival having a hard time doing his actual job since it was obvious he wanted to at least go over and properly introduce himself to Serena but couldn't leave his consort's side, much less hit on another woman while on the job.
They didn't have to stand guard between the two opposing parties for long though, as only a couple minutes passed after the unveiling before Veronica's phone went off in her purse, the brief conversation that followed, and the tone Veronica used, suggesting that she wanted them all to know she was being called back to the King estate unexpectedly.
Which naturally had them all thinking that this call wasn't at all unexpected, and in fact planned.
But of course none of them called her on it, and accepted her apologies while assuring her that of course they'd come look at designers with her another time.
Harry wasn't the least surprised, either, when Rachel announced that she'd be staying behind to look at Serena's latest stock and chat with her friend for a bit, and so she'd say good bye now rather than join them in heading back to the restaurant where their transportation would be waiting.
"I'll say good bye here as well." Colin seconded, his interest in remaining likely having quite a bit to do with his son's interest in Serena. "Roxanne can see me home afterwards. I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon, and look forward to seeing you all again soon."
"And Harry still needs ta try on his stuff ta make sure it fits, so he'll be staying too." Eggsy added firmly, obviously not about to risk Veronica insisting that Harry leave with her and the other unwilling omegas who didn't have the guts to say that they wanted to stay and look at the pretty things around them.
"Percival, I'll have you stay behind to watch over the rest of the consort's guests with your sister and Unwin. I assume you two are willing to help insure that everyone gets home safely?" Tristan spoke with a knowing look in his eyes.
Percival sent his boss a look that spoke his thanks louder than words as he nodded, Roxy and Eggsy doing the same.
"Excellent. Now, Ladies, shall we go?"
"Thank you all for coming." Serena stated as she followed them towards the door. "And I hope that when Mrs. Hesketh Saville is better, she'll join you in visiting my shop again."
"What do you mean, when Mrs. Hesketh Saville is better?" Veronica demanded to know, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
The look Serena gave her in response was practically angelic in comparison. "I may not be a part of your Guild, but even I know that the only reason why Mrs. Hesketh Saville wouldn't be with you, given her standing in the Guild, is if she was too sick to attend. I can't imagine any previous plans she might have had that would be more important than a lunch with her consort. Obviously her cousin, Mrs. Estelle Hesketh, isn't here because she goes to the South of France annually at this time, unless her cousin decided to go with her this year?"
Harry had no idea how Serena knew to bring that up, but for the look it put on Veronica's face he could have kissed her.
"I doubt very much anything here would interest her."
"You'd know better than me, I suppose. Have a good afternoon, Ladies. Tristian."
Veronica didn't return the sentiment as she stalked towards the door without looking back to make sure the others were following, those with better manners at least smiling or nodding in Serena's direction as they hurried after their consort.
And then they were all gone, thank God.
And as soon as they were out of sight Rachel stated what everyone else was thinking.
"All right, thank God that's over before blood was shed since none of those idiots would have been worth breaking a nail 'over. But more importantly, how the hell did she know to bring us to this area at the same time you two were coming here? Because as Merlin would say, coincidence is bollocks, and I'll eat one of his bloody laptops if she didn't set that lunch up solely so that she could try to set up…whatever the hell she was trying to set up here."
"I'm thinking a cell hack." Was Roxy's opinion, waving hers around for emphasis. "The lunch was last minute, and Eggsy first told me about all this weeks ago. But if you read our last text conversation about it, well it could read as us coming here as a couple for some intimate shopping."
Eggsy made choking noises to make it clear that that idea still made him nauseous.
"Is she really so stupid to think they could be a couple?" Serena wanted to know, whacking Eggsy upside the head for his dramatics as she spoke. "I mean I don't see the two of them together as often as you all, and never once have I thought they'd make a good couple. They have no chemistry in that way."
"Not to mention I could do better."
"And I've got Harry, so who could compare ta him." Eggsy shot back smugly, he and Roxy exchanging the sort of good natured 'anything you can do, I can do better' look that was so much a part of their friendship.
"Well I think it would be best if Merlin looked over both your phones. Harry's too for that matter, for signs of tampering. And you should all be careful what you text and such for the next little while." Distaste on his face, Colin was visibly angry on their behalf.
"Damn. I knew I should have sent Harry more sexy texts."
Serena saved Harry the trouble of whacking Eggsy upside the head again.
