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.
He's A Vision
The Visions Room, located in the basement of Kingsman headquarters, was all but empty save for the covered pool of water in the middle of it. About the size of the average hot tub, though only about a foot in depth, the pool was meant for magical purposes only and was kept covered when not in use. And it was hardly ever used at present as no one on the Kingsman's staff had the skillset required for its use. It was only visitors like Chloe who ever made use of it.
While Redwall and Percival uncovered the pool Chloe's assistant started to draw on the hardwood floor in front of the pool with chalk, getting it ready while Chloe herself took a seat off to the side to remove her sandals. She'd be getting her feet wet shortly.
Merlin, meanwhile, was fiddling with his tablet and scowling at it every five seconds.
"No luck finding an elf in their family tree?"
"Not that makes sense." Merlin gestured with the tablet as he spoke. "Their mother was not an elf. Nor was she a half either because after her father burned out his magic keeping that airplane in the bloody air the man was looked over by a healer as well as human doctors. There isn't a mention of elvish blood anywhere in any of the reports. And yes the healer in question isn't anywhere near Chloe's caliber, but he wasn't a hack either. He'd have seen something, Harry. And if the blood's diluted more than that, then how can Eggsy be powerful enough to influence you? The lass as well. And even going a step farther back there's nothing that would lead me to believe their great-grandparents weren't human either. The paperwork is all there. And sure the wife could have cheated with an elf, she wouldn't be the first or the last, but it would show, Harry."
"And you're forgetting to factor Harry and his power into your equation." Chloe informed them as she came back over to them. "As well as forgetting what happens to the magic of creatures who aren't given what they need to thrive."
"You're suggesting that being around me, bonding with me somehow, has made Eggsy more magical?"
"I'm saying you've provided him with the sort of environment house elves flourish in. And that while it's extremely rare for humans with small amounts of magical blood to demonstrate the gifts that come with that blood…anything is possible with magic. You said the boy's grandfather had an Air gift. Perhaps adding that magic to the mix kick-started the dormant house elf genes, enough that when you were thrown into the mix the boy's magic finally had enough power behind it to grow."
"So you're saying that because the lad and his mum lived in the estates, in a hostile environment to their nature, we'll say, neither showed their elvish strips."
"It's possible. And I'd wager the boy is unaware of both his nature and the instinctive bond he's formed with our friend here." Chloe gave Harry a knowing smile and pat on the shoulder.
Since he had considered the possibility that Eggsy had been fooling him this whole time Harry understood the meaning behind the gesture. But he'd only considered it for a minute or two before drawing the obvious conclusion, which was that if Eggsy had known he was a house elf he would have said so in order to entice Harry to hire him during their first meeting, before Harry was sure his suggested arrangement could work. Or hell, his bloodlines could have gotten Eggsy in to any magical household, which in turn would have provided him with the money he would need to support Daisy all on his own.
Damn. Eggsy wouldn't want to leave him once he found that out, would he?
Surely not. Daisy loved living with him. And-
"Shall we begin, then?" Chloe asked, interrupting Harry's less than pleasant thoughts. "Harry, you'll need to stand in that circle as it's the magical pattern he's left inside you that we'll be using to trace him."
Doing as asked Harry took his place inside the circle in question while Chloe walked over to dip each foot into the now uncovered pool before walking over to step carefully into the other circle. Then in a neat little half pirouette she spun around so that she was face the pool once more, ready to begin.
A roll of her shoulders, and then up came her hands, the water in front of her rising with them.
Now before them was a rectangular box of water, images soon beginning to flash as the patterns on the floor began to glow in tandem. The spell Chloe was using to locate the house elf's magical signature was limited in its range, which was why the spell was hardly ever used. If the one they sought was even outside of London the spell wouldn't do them any good. Even Chloe didn't have the power to 'look' further than that.
There was a sense of buildings and houses, the sights and sounds of busy streets and people in blurs of motion and color.
Then there was one color for the most part, a skin tone, and then the blurriness of the image came into focus with a snap, becoming crystal clear.
A tanned male chest. A well-muscled, slightly sweaty bare chest with a very familiar medal on a chain resting around the neck of its owner.
And then slowly the image widened and took on the appearance of a mini hologram of sorts, three dimensional and with all of Eggsy showing now.
Which just made it that much better. And worse.
)
Eggsy was shirtless, wearing trackies that just barely hung off his hips while he did one arm pull ups on a bridge shaped set of monkey bars. He'd bent his legs in so that all his weight was on his one arm, the other crossed behind his back to help him with his balance. His chest heaved with exertion while his skin rippled as his muscles strained and flexed with every move he made. Skin that glistened, that was the only word for it, thanks to the sweat he'd worked up. Eggsy's habitual cap rested on his head, eyes hidden behind sunglasses and earbuds in his ears to block out the background noises they themselves could hear. The sound of children playing, Harry surmised, though there was only a green park and the monkey bars Eggsy was on in the water projection.
"That's Harry's house elf?" Percival stared a little slack jawed before giving Harry a knowing leer. "You lucky bast-I mean, Sir."
Jealousy and protectiveness where Eggsy was concerned compelled Harry to give the other man a death glare worthy of Addison before doing a quick sweep of the room to see who else was now on his shit list for ogling Eggsy. And dammit, Merlin was pretty much the only one in the room not giving Eggsy appreciative looks. Even Kay had a hint of admiration in his eyes. This was not fucking good. Particularly since both Percival and Kay would be meeting Eggsy in person shortly.
Turning his attention back to Eggsy before he did something he'd regret, Harry had a few more moments to appreciate watching Eggsy work out and then the boy was frowning and dropping back to his feet.
As he walked forward the images blurred again and then they were looking at Eggsy walking over towards a sandbox while absently wiping the sweat off his face with the undershirt he must have had tucked into the back of his trackies. A sandbox that answered the question of just where was Daisy.
Harry's ward was sitting in the sand with a wide brimmed straw hat on her head that Harry approved of given how harsh the sun's rays were currently. She appeared to be making some sort of structure out of wet sand, Mr. Fox supervising from his propped up position in a corner of the box.
"Daisy." Eggsy's ear buds were out and his hands were on his beautiful, very much on display hips as he rather loomed over his sister. "What did I say about that water?"
The girl obviously knew what he was talking about. Guilt was written all over her little face.
"I said that water was for drinkin, not for ya ta play with. Remember?"
A sideway glance as if Mr. Fox could spring to life and take the blame, and then Daisy looked back at her brother with her big brown eyes all shimmering with innocent remorse and adorableness. Harry would have forgiven her any trespass on the spot.
Eggsy, it seemed, was made of sterner stuff.
Crouching down Eggsy waggled a finger in her direction. "Nice try, Flower. But I ain't falling for it. I invented that look, don't cha forget."
Daisy's bottom lip quivered.
"All right, I didn't do the lip thing, and well played there, but ya can't keep using your drinking water ta play with. Specially as hot as it is. We gotta stay hydrated and all that shite so we don't get sick and make Uncle Harry worry. Ya don't want Uncle Harry ta be sad and worry, now do ya?"
Daisy shook her head immediately, looking even guiltier now.
"Right. So no more, deal?" Eggsy waited for Daisy's second nod before giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Fine then. Grab Mr. Fox and we'll both get some more water, yeah? Probably should refresh our sunscreen as well. Though seriously, fuck global warming. They screw the planet up before we're even around and we're the ones who have ta slather that crap all over so we don't get skin cancer and die."
A mumbled curse. "Shite. Forgot ta watch my fu-fudgin language again."
"What's global warmin, Eggsy?"
Obviously relieved that she wasn't asking what another word he'd spoken meant Eggsy took the hand not holding Mr. Fox and tried to explain the complicated nature of global warming to a toddler while leading Daisy over to her large wagon, which was sitting under the shade of an oak tree. As he talked Eggsy finished wiping down his chest with the shirt and then balling it up tossed it like a basketball into Daisy's favorite mode of transportation. Inside the wagon was also a small cooler, which he opened to reveal some plastic containers as well as two reusable water bottles.
Flipping up the top piece Eggsy handed it to Daisy, who obediently began to suck up the water inside.
Eggsy, meanwhile, decided to give them a show by first removing his cap and dousing his top half with the water inside of it, shivering as the cool water splashed and then beaded down his chest.
Fuck. Was Eggsy trying to kill him here?
"The wadies are starin at ya again." Daisy pointed off into the distance.
"Just ignore the ladies." Was Eggsy smirking advice.
"I don't wike it when they stare at ya." Even Daisy's scowl was adorable.
Before Eggsy could respond to that the main theme song to the 1971 version of 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' began to play.
"Mr. Merwin!"
Reaching down to a side pocket Eggsy pulled out his phone and offered it to his sister, who dropped her water bottle to the ground without a thought. Mr. Fox was handed over to her brother with more care before Daisy very carefully, her teeth biting into her bottom lip in concentration, swiped a finger over the screen before she brought the phone up to her ear.
"Hi, Mr. Merwin!"
"Hello, Lass. Are you having a good day at the park, then?"
Harry turned like the others to see that Merlin had his cell to his own ear while behind him Daisy's watery image assured him that yes, she was having fun at the park. And was he calling because he needed more biccies?
"One can never have too many. But actually I need to speak to Eggsy, please."
"Ogay." When Harry turned back around it was to watch Daisy offer the phone to her brother, who handed her back her stuffed animal before bringing the cellphone up to greet Merlin.
"Hello, Eggsy. I was wondering if you and the lass are busy at the moment?"
"Nah, not really. Why? Is he all right?"
"Harry's fine. The thing is he mentioned his friend Chloe to you? The healer?"
"Yeah. She find something? Harry said the other healer that came by gave him a clean bill of health." There was definite worry in Eggsy's voice and face.
"No, he's fine, really. She just wants to meet the two of you, and I thought it would be a good idea if you could chat with her a bit about Harry's health. To make sure he's getting the vitamins and such that he needs. I figure between the two of us we can keep him going a few more decades at least."
"Sure. Though it would take us almost an hour ta get ta the shop. I'm a bit rank at the moment from working out and need a shower and a change of clothes. Daisy as well, as she's got sand all over her clothes from the sandbox."
Merlin sent Chloe a questioning look, the woman nodding her head in answer.
"That would be fine, Lad. We're not even at the shop at the moment so by the time we get there and Chloe and Harry finish catching up it will be the perfect time to introduce you."
"All right. We'll head out right now."
"See ya then."
In the water Eggsy ended the call and then shoved his phone into his pocket and turned his attention back to Daisy, who looked up at him questioningly. "Grab your water off the ground, and the other bottle as well, and then get in ta the wagon, Flower. We're goin home ta go get cleaned up and changed, then we're gonna go see Uncle Harry and Mr. Merlin at the shop, all right?"
"Yay!" Throwing her hands up in glee, Daisy grabbed her water bottle off the ground, tossed it into the wagon, then went and retrieved the one she'd emptied earlier into the sandbox. She tossed that in too when she returned and then climbed in after it.
Eggsy meanwhile went to work removing the thick chain and lock he'd wrapped around the wagon to keep it from being stolen. Probably unnecessary given the neighborhood, but Harry appreciated that the boy took care of their things.
Tossing the chain and lock into the front of the wagon Eggsy picked up the wagon's handle, got a good grip, and then told his sister to hang on as he took off at a run towards the nearest park path.
)
It was in Harry's power to send Percival and Kay on their way now that they knew for sure who his elf was, so he did. The look Percival and Merlin gave him suggested that they were well aware of why the two weren't being invited to stick around to meet the house elves now, but it was good to be boss sometimes. And Chloe dismissed her assistant and Redwall for the day as well, the latter looking very disappointed about that. And who could blame him? Especially since Harry planned to make sure the handsome young healer never had cause to meet Eggsy in the future.
Not surprisingly the trip back to the shop was spent answering questions about his new family, Harry answering what he could while trying to find out more about house elves from Chloe and Merlin, the latter occupying himself by looking up information about them. Not that there was much information to be found as house elves had never really been considered worth studying as they weren't a threat or in possession of particularly interesting magic.
Back at the shop Harry and Chloe went to wait in his office while Merlin wandered off, assuring them that he'd see to it that Eggsy and Daisy came straight to him once they arrived.
Once the door closed behind the Scotsman Harry sighed and then turned his attention to his friend, who was sitting back in one of his visitors chairs with a cat that got the canary smile on her smug face. "All right, let me have it. I suppose I should be grateful that you waited until we were alone before making your comments."
"Whatever do you mean, Harry?"
"How long have we known each other, Chloe?"
"A lady doesn't like to be reminded of her age, Harry. I would have thought your mother would have drilled that into your head by now." An affectionate wink. "And if you think that I intend to rake you over the coals because you're living with a fit, handsome young man who cooks like a dream and thinks the world of you…well I'm afraid you're doomed to disappointment."
"You've never had his cooking. And how would you know what he thinks of me? You haven't met him yet."
"There's no such thing as a house elf that can't cook, Harry. Aside from Merlin's ravings about the boy's abilities in that regard. And as for thinking the world of you, well how could he not? From the sounds of it you've been not just his knight in shining armor, but his sister's as well."
"I just did what was right."
Chloe's snort was somehow elegant. "Because mankind is so good at that."
"Point taken." Though he remained suspicious as hell of her motives. She should be teasing him mercilessly right now. The fact that she wasn't suggested she had something even more entertaining in mind. Which most likely would not bode well for him in the long run. Dammit.
Her cheerful laughter had Harry raising questioning eyebrows.
"I'm sorry but really, you look as though I'm trying to trick you into stepping into some horrible trap." Chloe shook her head at him in amusement. "Why don't you tell me about how you're settling into your new position here and we'll not say another word about your boy until he gets here, all right?"
Definitely plotting something.
