Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Thanks so much for reading, I always love hearing from you! Have a great weekend.
It Started Then
It was so brief that calling it a kiss was probably giving it far too much credit. It would be far more accurate to say that Eggsy pressed his lips against Harry's hard enough to be felt, but it was over in a heartbeat and then the boy broke away with a crow of delight and turned to run over to the car's side to get a look at the interior of the vehicle. Which was what he was really excited about, not Harry himself. Obviously.
So that would have been that. Harry would have just chalked it up to something that would haunt him for a few days. Possibly longer, though hopefully not. And yes there would have been a little awkwardness and embarrassment on both sides later on when Eggsy remembered what he'd done, if he even remembered, but Harry would have been able to brush it off as no big deal. Hopefully.
Or at least Harry thought that that would be what would have happened had it not been for the fact that at the same time Eggsy realized what he'd done and whirled around to face him, Harry was in the process of swiping his tongue over his lips to catch what taste of Eggsy he could. Betraying himself in the process.
Which would have meant extreme, mortifying embarrassment for Harry, not to mention some fast talking on his part to excuse his reaction, if not for Eggsy's reaction to his reaction. Which was to morph from a look of embarrassed apology to one of sexual awareness, Eggsy's gaze centering on Harry's retreating tongue for several telling moments before slowly coming up to hold his gaze.
Fuck.
It was a punch to the gut. No, scratch that. To the throat. Much more debilitating and prone to making normal breathing impossible. As impossible as what was now undeniable as they stared at each other like a couple of lovestruck idiots in a rom com.
Harry had thought he was alone. That the sexual desire had been completely one sided as it should have logically been given that this was in fact not a romantic comedy where the impossible became possible. He was too old. And not nearly as attractive as Eggsy was. Not nearly as...alive and unburdened as Eggsy was, for that matter. And there were so many other reasons. Too many reasons to count why it wouldn't even occur to Eggsy to even think of him that way, much less want to...but he did.
Eggsy wanted him.
It was there in the other man's eyes as Eggsy very slowly came closer, so halting in his stride that he reminded Harry of a colt finding his legs. So unlike the athleticism and grace of Eggsy's usual stride. There was trepidation in Eggsy's eyes too. But also heat and want. Harry was NOT imagining that either.
And more than that Harry felt it in his gut. His bones. Hell in his fucking magic as it sang through his blood and demanded that he acknowledge his bond with Eggsy ASAP. Their bond. Which was humming in the air and wrapping around them like when he'd used Eggsy's magic Thursday night to carry him upstairs. And he'd be willing to bet a sizable sum that Eggsy was feeling the same thing.
Then Eggsy was standing in front of him, close enough to wrap him up in his arms if he wanted to, and Harry's brain pretty much imploded on him all over again as they stared at each other. And stared at each other. And stared some more which would have been romantic if not for the fact that Harry was pretty sure Eggsy was just as paralyzed by indecision and fear as he was.
But when he manned up enough to really think and see the nerves and fear that were starting to overwhelm the much more appealing emotions he'd been seeing in Eggsy's beautiful eyes...well Harry did what he had to do. He lowered his head and brushed his own lips against Eggsy's, deliberately keeping it as quick as Eggsy's early kiss. Just in case. His self-preservation instincts were still somewhat working after all. And that could be brushed off if-
"That...that the best ya can do, Harry?"
Lifting his head enough to meet Eggsy's gaze Harry had a moment to marvel at the audacity and sheer ballsiness of youth before letting his lips curved into the sort of cocky smile he had once given in his own twenties when he'd have been all over Eggsy like white on rice from the moment he'd laid eyes on him.
A very similar smile was sliding into place on Eggsy's face too as he placed his palms on Harry's chest, sliding them up to brace them on Harry's shoulders as Eggsy went up on tip toes. And Harry lowered his head again.
Now this was a kiss.
This was heat and wet, delicious-
"EGGSY!"
Jumping apart like Addison had set off an explosive between them, Harry and Eggsy both whirled in the direction of the house just as a visibly upset Daisy came through the doorway and out onto the stairs.
"I can't find my purse!"
Oh.
Shit. Dammit. Fuck. Bloody Fucking Hell.
"Wot? I mean...where...where did ya see it last, Luv?"
"I don't know." Daisy whined out, her lower lip wobbling dangerously.
Eggsy turned his head to look at him, looking as visibly torn as he no doubt did. But alas...their duties must come first. Dammit.
"Right. Well then...Daisy, no crying now. You're British, that means you must keep a stiff upper lip whenever possible. Particularly when you had the purse in your room last night, so it's obviously still in the house. Eggsy, since you know what we're taking you concentrate on loading the car and I'll help Daisy find her purse. We'll...we'll finish our discussion later. If that's amendable to you."
"Yeah. Yeah, that's...okay." Eggsy ducked his head and shuffled his feet, which wasn't good for his oxfords, but was quite endearing.
"Here are the keys." Harry retrieved them from his pocket, popped the truck for Eggsy, then held them out for Eggsy to take them.
"Thanks."
Giving Eggsy's shoulder a squeeze with his other hand, and all right, wanting that last bit of contact, Harry reminded himself of the importance of keeping his own stiff upper lip as he walked over to where Daisy waited. And was hopefully oblivious to the serious erection he was sporting-though thinking about her noticing was doing bloody wonders for killing that. Sigh.
Offering her his hand once he'd reached her Harry worked up a smile and then suggested they start looking in Daisy's room.
And seeming none the wiser his and Eggsy's personal cockblocker beamed up at him and nodded in agreement.
Sigh.
Double sigh when they quickly found the purse in Daisy's room, the item in question having fallen from her dresser where they'd left it the night before. Something Daisy in her search had failed to consider, it seemed.
Though then again it was probably for the best that she'd been too distracted to pick up on things between him and Eggsy. And did he really want her to have seen them kissing?
Well...but if Eggsy were willing, that is to say interested in more than just a brief physical encounter or two, wouldn't she-wouldn't she see them eventually? And didn't he-
"Unca Harry. We gots ta go!"
Oh. Right. Yes.
"Yes. Let's go then. Eggsy is waiting." He hoped.
Eggsy wasn't exactly waiting when they got back downstairs, he'd been working hard from the looks of it in their absence. And he waved away Harry's offer to help him finish loading up the car and asked him instead to get Daisy settled into the car seat in the back. Though how Harry had managed that Eggsy hadn't been able to figure out.
"Magic." Which was true. The car hadn't exactly been designed with children in mind so he'd instructed the Kingsman mechanics to add the chair AND make sure that it wasn't going anywhere regardless of the car's original design. And given that his, Merlin and Addison's fondness for the little girl had made the rounds in Kingsman...Harry was fairly confident that said mechanics knew their lives would be forfeit in unspeakably violent ways should they fail to properly insure Daisy's safety.
So he got Daisy and Mr. Fox settled, after having to run back up the stairs to retrieve the stuffed animal that they'd left behind when they went looking for the purse. And that done Harry helped Eggsy maneuver the second picnic basket into place beside Daisy and then it was time to go.
"Ya sure I can drive this?" Eggsy asked as he double checked that the boot was secure.
"You don't think you can handle it?" Harry asked, not speaking entirely about the car.
Eggsy seemed to know it too as he smiled over at Harry sexily. Fuck.
"Oh I can handle it, Harry. Just checkin."
Squirming a moment in his seat before he realized what he was doing, Harry cleared his throat and refused to respond to Eggsy smirk. "Then let's go."
"Right. Uhm...we gotta stop at the shop first."
"Why would we need to...you can't be serious." Merlin.
"He offered me a hundred fu-fudgin pounds for more of that fried chicken. And some of the potato salad."
"For God sakes. I know he's as bald as a baby but really..."
Eggsy laughed.
"Now, now. None of that, Harry. Sides...the sooner we get Merlin his stuff the sooner we get ta your aunt's. And the sooner we do that the sooner we can politely come home and finish our earlier...conversation."
Oh. And oh again, Eggsy was eye fucking him. He was being eye fucked by-
"Start the bloody car."
Eggsy winked. "Anything for you."
And started the car.
Harry's personal motor was already running just fine. Dammit.
)
Given the cost of the car and the fact that this was the first time Eggsy was driving it Harry didn't comment on how unusually law abiding and overly cautious Eggsy was behind the wheel. Not that Eggsy wasn't normally a good driver, he was, but as they wound their way through the London streets to Kingsman it was obvious Eggsy wasn't taking any chances with it. Of course once they'd dropped off the glutton's share at the shop and got out of the city where they didn't have to worry as much about the idiots on the road who might damage the very expensive car they were in...well it didn't take long for Eggsy's true driving style to come into play. And with open roads available to him...well who could blame him for wanting to see what it could do. And for becoming as giddy as a school boy on Christmas morning when he found out.
And Harry only had to tell Eggsy to slow down a little four times over the course of the drive to their destination, which was very impressive.
Harry also couldn't remember the last time he'd been out on a leisurely for the most part drive, the scenery around them truly lovely when they were going slowly enough to enjoy it. As was his company, with Eggsy looking handsome as sin beside him and Daisy happily singing along to ABBA songs from the back.
The closer they got to his aunt's the more cars they encountered as well, Harry recognizing a few of the vehicles or their occupants. He nodded in acknowledgement when appropriate and wasn't at all surprised that the majority of his acquaintances seemed far more interested in the other two occupants of the car. Who were both very much aware that they were already being looked over.
Eggsy's driving noticeably toned down.
As ordered Harry took out his phone and messaged his aunt's personal assistant when they were five minutes away, trading a few messages back and forth before he pocketed his phone once more.
"Holy shit! Is that it?"
They'd passed a number of sprawling estates at this point and Harry sincerely pitied anyone saddled with one of them given the costs of maintaining that sort of property. Eggsy's head would no doubt explode if he knew how much money Harry's uncle spent on the grounds alone. The grounds that currently featured several large white tents that had no doubt tipped Eggsy off that they were almost there.
"Yes, that's it. It's been in Uncle Rupert's family since the reign of the Tudors. Something he or my aunt will bring up at least a couple of times before we leave."
"It looks like a house outta Downton fucking Abbey."
Harry gave Eggsy a look meant to remind him not to use the f word around Daisy. Unfortunately, Harry was pretty sure the boy was too stunned by the house at the end of the lane they were now on to notice.
As someone who'd grown up in places like this while visiting countless others, Harry was used to estates with over a hundred rooms and more staff than family members. And while he could appreciate the architecture and the history of the estate both inside and out, he was quite happy in their much smaller home. A place like this, in Harry's experience, was very rarely a home.
"Did ya grow up in a joint like this?"
"I lived on a few estates over the course of my life, yes, but rarely for very long. My mother prefers modern architecture and furnishings. She also goes through living spaces faster than she does men, which is saying something."
Eggsy snorted. "I look forward ta meetin her."
"You say that now." Harry smiled as he said it. "Now eyes on the road. We're to park with the rest of the family vehicles it seems. I'll direct you."
As promised Agnes, his aunt's assistant, was waiting to point out their parking spot by the time they arrived, a servant with a cart standing by to take their baskets from them and see to the food until it was time to bring them out for the auction.
Once they were parked and he and Eggsy were out of the car Agnes came over to welcome them all to the estate. Eggsy thanked her somewhat shyly, while Harry gave her his usual greeting while getting Daisy out of her car seat and back on solid ground once more. Daisy, once back on her own two feet, waved a little before burying her face against Harry's trousers.
"If you'd pop the boot, Sir, I'll take your baskets in for you."
"Thank you. Much appreciated. Eggsy?"
"Oh. Right. Ah...are ya-you the one who will be looking after the food? Because I have some instructions for whoever that is and some of the stuff I have is in a cooler."
"I'd be happy to pass along your instructions to those in charge."
"Good. I wrote all the stuff down this morning. Just in case."
Leaving the instruction giving to Eggsy Harry asked Daisy to remain patiently by the car while he saw about helping unnamed staff member unload the car's edible contents onto the cart while Eggsy supervised and fussed over things.
Agnes waited until that was taken care of and the food was on the way to the kitchens before speaking up again, this time to inform him that his aunt was out on the grounds with her other guests and couldn't wait to see them.
"Thank you, Agnes. We'll head there straight away."
Inclining her head Agnes stated that she'd see them there and then turned around on her sensible heels and headed back in the direction of the main building.
"Woman of few words?"
"That's Agnes, yes. Shall we go?"
"Lead the way."
Eggsy locked up the car, Harry retrieved Daisy's little purse for her, and Mr. Fox was handed over to Harry for safe keeping so that both Daisy's hands were free. Then situating herself between them Daisy took their hands, Harry giving the little hand he held a reassuring squeeze. Then off they went across the gravel driveway towards the closest path that would wind its way around the house to the other side of the estate where the other guests would be.
The gardens were spectacular this year, and Harry pointed out the butterflies and named them for Eggsy and Daisy, who probably didn't care but were too polite to say so.
"Does a princess live here?" Daisy asked once they'd gotten a closer look at the house.
"No. Though princesses have visited here before."
Daisy's eyes went huge. "Wow."
"We won't run in ta Will and Kate here, right?" Eggsy looked terrified at the idea.
"Doubtful."
"Thank God."
As they walked Harry threw out some names of famous individuals who had stayed in his aunt's home since Daisy had brought that up and told a couple antidotes about trouble he and his cousins had gotten into while on the estate together back when they were boys together. Eggsy listened with interest while Daisy...Daisy seemed to be on the lookout for something.
Curious, Harry caught Eggsy's gaze and then gave him a questioning look before wiggling the hand holding hers. Which had her giggling and shaking his back.
Eggsy grinned and then mouthed back a word. Squirrels.
Oh.
Scanning the area around them Harry saw that yes, there were at least four of the furry little beasts milling around on the lawn.
"Daisy. Would you like me to carry you?"
Daisy shook her head. Then considered the squirrels in their vicinity again as two of them moved a little closer.
"Yes, Peas."
