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A Comforting Place To Be

Harry had originally hoped that he could pick Daisy up from daycare as well-give Eggsy longer to himself-but in the end that didn't happen. Not because he hadn't gotten his work done, he had thanks to starting earlier than normal, but because Percival needed him. And while he was new to the whole being a boss thing Harry had always made time for his fellow agents even when it hadn't been his job to do so. That being the case, he'd asked Merlin to call Eggsy for him and explain the situation. And pass along his apologies, of course. Merlin had promised to take care of it and go pick up Daisy himself if Eggsy couldn't for some reason, thus freeing Harry up to have a talk with Percival once his plane had brought him back to headquarters.

Their job came with a price. Anyone who donned the signet ring knew that. The price wasn't just physical either, but mental and emotional. They were called on to make the hard choices, to see horrors no one should have to see. Blood was often shed, and even when you knew the one dead deserved it, that the world was better off without them...there was a price to pay. Should always be a price to pay. If you stopped paying...then you'd paid already with your soul and that was priceless.

The man Percival had been sent to execute had committed far too many unforgivable crimes. Had trafficked in drugs, guns and human beings. Had gained access to magical potions that had been used in heinous, inhumane ways against his fellow human beings for his profit and entertainment. Percival's target had built an empire off the suffering of others, and all attempts by human law to stop him had gone nowhere thanks to corrupt officials and what was done to those who did stand against him. He made sure people knew that those who dared to try and take him down only ended up missing or in body bags. The ones who ended up in the latter category were usually luckier than the ones sold into human slavery.

Percival knew, in his heart and mind, that he'd made the right call. It was how things had gone down that was eating the man alive.

Because their target was a normal human whose crimes, for the most part, had not involved magic, it had been decided that sending Percival, their best sniper, was the most logical option. Quick, clean, and a very human way for a crime boss to die.

From Harry's point of view the man deserved to suffer a great deal more than a quick, painless shot to the head...but even though it was up to him, he wouldn't ask one of his men to commit acts such as what the bastard deserved.

Assignment given; Percival had set out to complete his task. A task that had required some planning as the bastard in question was not a foolish man. Arrogant, yes. Unaware of how many people wanted him dead-no. The target was rarely alone in private, and never in public. His security was superior, his men well trained and armed to the teeth. No match for a Kingsman of course, but few were.

After a few days of observation-paired with all the intel previously collected-Percival had decided to use the man's habit of swimming just before dinner to 'work up an appetite' as his window of opportunity. An excellent time and place to strike. The guards and security had been easy enough to get around when the time came, and Percival had found an excellent vantage from which to shoot from. Had set up, waited for his target, and then taken his shot.

Percival didn't miss.

What he had missed, what he couldn't have known, was that at the exact moment he'd taken the shot the target's seventy-six-year-old mother would choose that moment to come out to speak to her son.

She'd know what her son was. Everyone in that country had known his name and deeds. Intel suggested that he was a constant source of pain, shame, and despair for the mother who had loved her child regardless. Who'd prayed for him daily and who gave the money he gave her to the poor and needy rather than keep it for herself. A woman of morals, faith, and the ability to love a son who had become a monster.

It was her screams of anguish that haunted Percival now. Her grief that ate at him.

All Harry could do was listen and be there for his agent. Let Percival talk it out as much as the younger man was willing. Which wasn't a lot-they were British after all-but by the time they got up from their chairs and headed out for the evening Harry thought Percival seemed, at least a little, lighter than he had when he'd first entered Harry's office for the debriefing.

Exiting his office, Harry blinked in surprise to see Merlin waiting for them.

"Ah. Excellent timing."

"Problem?" Harry asked. He sincerely hoped not, but was resigned to having his evening plans further ruined. The curse of not getting enough sleep continued. And Merlin thought he was exaggerating...

"Not at all. Eggsy invited both myself and Percival to dinner tonight."

"He did?" Percival was as surprised as Harry by the news.

"He did." Merlin confirmed with a pleased grin. "He's making his Gran Gran's chips too. Which are not to be missed, Percival. Trust me."

"I wouldn't be the best of company, I'm afraid."

"They really aren't to be missed." Harry informed him, quick to seize the opportunity. It wasn't how he'd planned to spend the evening, but it would do Percival good and he'd sent the man on the bloody mission in question so really it was the least he could do. Though now that he thought about it...

"I'm surprised we're having the chips seeing as Daisy might see that as a reward for bad behavior. Unless they're to make up for denying her dessert." Which rather defeated the purpose in Harry's limited childrearing experience.

"Bad behavior?" Percival asked with a raised brow.

"She cut her hair this morning. With manicure scissors."

"Ah. That's unfortunate."

"I'll show you pictures."

Merlin cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Eggsy said he promised you he'd make them, actually."

"He did? I don't-oh. Yes. Right."

Harry really hoped that his thoughts and memories weren't playing across his face as he recalled under what circumstances that promise had been made.

To distract them from the possibility-and it was the truth regardless-Harry pointed out to Percival that they both knew he intended to drink quite a bit when he got home. He might as well go to Harry's first and have something in his stomach to make the hangover in the morning a touch more bearable. He didn't have to stick around after the meal.

"And it's food prepared by someone of house elf blood. Think of the food from Bors' party." Merlin added to entice him.

Generous of him, Harry thought to himself. If Percival didn't come that would mean more food for Merlin, after all. He must be worried about Percival too.

And it seemed to be working, Percival's face becoming more receptive.

"If you're sure it wouldn't be an inconvenience..."

"Please. Come. I insist. And I am your boss."

"That's true, Sir." A hint of a smile. "I'd be delighted to come."

"Then let's go, shall we?"

Rolling his eyes over Merlin's enthusiasm Harry could only hope Merlin didn't embarrass him further. Though Eggsy seemed to find Merlin's antics endlessly entertaining, as did Daisy.

Sigh

)

Being environmentally aware Harry caught a ride home in Merlin's car, Percival following after them in his own car as they wound their way through the streets of London. Thankfully traffic wasn't worse than was typical of the hour and they made it to his place without any major headaches aside from Harry receiving a text message from his mother thanking him for fixing her 'little problem'. And adding that she would start looking into making her way home to London immediately so that she could finally meet 'her little boy's paramour'. That was how she phrased it. Ugh.

He was still shaking his head over that when they had parked and he was in the process of collecting his things from the backseat, Merlin of course already at the door in anticipation of the meal to come.

"Mr. Merwin! I gots hair like you!"

Glancing over Harry saw Eggsy standing in the doorway, Daisy in Merlin's arms as she rubbed her head with one hand, Merlin's with the other.

The sound of Percival chuckling over that was a welcome sound.

Closing the car door Harry waved off Percival's offer to help carry something and instead motioned him to go on ahead.

"Unca Harry! We gets Gran Gran's CHIPS!" Daisy called over to him, twisting a little in Merlin's arms so that she could look over at him. "But no dessert cause I was bad and cuts me hair."

Her shoulders visibly drooped over that even in the dim lighting.

"That seems fair enough to me. Daisy, do you remember Percival? He was at Mr. Addison's birthday party."

"Boy Elsa!"

Another laugh from Percival as he stated that she was not the first one to call him that.

"She is very fond of Elsa." Harry informed him.

"Wet it go!" Daisy sang out, just to prove his point.

"Let, Luv. It's 'Let it go'." Amusement on his face, Eggsy winked at his sister and then smiled over at Percival. "Hey. Come on in. Dinner's ready."

"Yay! Though Eggsy says we gots ta eat salad first."

Merlin gave a dramatic sigh. "We must?"

"Yup."

"Ah, well. Gran Gran's chips are worth it."

Daisy nodded as she made a sound of absolute agreement.

The two really were peas in a pod. Which was rather disturbing on a number of levels to Harry. Not that there weren't far worse people for Daisy to want to emulate of course. And he truly did hold Merlin in high esteem. But it couldn't be good for a child to only have people old enough to be her parent around her this much. They'd have to arrange some playdates with children from the daycare for her in the near future. Have Danny over for a sleepover, perhaps.

Did three year olds have sleepovers? It did seem a tad young. Eggsy would know.

Something to think about later, Harry mused, as he was tasked with seeing everyone to the dinner table while Eggsy went to check on something in the kitchen before rejoining them.

The table was already set with their salads waiting for them, this one a mix of tomatoes, avocado and cucumber from the looks of it. No hardship even for those who were big salad fans like Daisy.

Especially with the promising smells coming from the covered dishes on the table that likely held the chips and whatever their main side was. Harry's nose detected seafood of some sort, but the chip smell was overpowering everything else as per usual. There was also sliced bread in a basket and a dish with two types of pickles and another section of pickled beets, which Harry knew Merlin had a fondness for.

Merlin was all but vibrating with eagerness by the time everyone was seated, including Eggsy.

The salad portion of the meal didn't take long, they were all eager to get to the main course after all, but it was still very good and Daisy didn't even have to be goaded into finishing hers.

Percival was lavish with his praise, which wasn't surprising since the man was obviously determined to put up a good front while in Daisy and Eggsy's company. Harry had expected that. But at least the other man was eating and interacting with people. That had to help a little.

Their main course turned out to be seafood sausage, which proved to be an excellent accompaniment to the chips. The real main course, let's be honest.

And of course there was Merlin and Percival's reactions to said chips to overcome and try to tune out, but thankfully his own enjoyment of his dinner helped with that most efficiently. As did the change in conversation when Daisy happen to mention that Eggsy had used his 'elfy' powers for dinner.

"Elfy powers?" Merlin repeated, giving Eggsy a questioning look.

"Not exactly. It somethin mentioned in this paper Ginge sent me."

"Ginge?" Harry asked. "Ginger?"

"Yeah. I was talkin ta her online bout the whole sending the Statesmen biccies thingie, and one thing led ta another and I mentioned how we was havin a hard time finding info bout house elves. She said she'd see what they had on it, went through their archives and such. She's sent me a few things already and said she'd keep an eye out for more. I was reading some of it this morning, which was why we ended up with the seafood sausage and extra food all ready when Merlin called."

They all gave Eggsy blank looks. Well, aside from Daisy who was focused solely on her food once more.

"I don't like wastin food and I had stuff ready for dinner tonight, cept I got this feelin this afternoon that I should make somethin else and do some more shoppin. Would have shrugged it off, but in the paper Ginge sent there was this notation bout how house elves can sense their masters' needs. Get feelins bout whether they're getting sick or want a certain kind of food or had a shite day. Like we somehow got this sixth sense when our master's gonna need somethin. So this afternoon when I felt like I needed to change dinner around and buy extra..." Eggsy shrugged. "Seems maybe it's true."

It was on the tip of Harry's tongue to remind Eggsy and the room at large that he was most certainly NOT Eggsy's master...but he wasn't about to make an issue of it given that he knew where all their minds save Daisy's would go. And there was a child present.

Ergo he opted to ask what they would have had for dinner instead.

"Giant meatballs!" Daisy piped up, surprising him.

"Giant meatballs?" Really?

"Yup. They're HUGE!" Daisy gestured with her arms, making it seem like the meatballs in question would be as big as she was.

"Not quite that big, Flower. The butcher shop we usually go to writes out recipes on their chalkboard, like as a gimmick thing. The last one was for 'spaghetti stuffed meatballs' and Dais really wanted to try them."

"Spaghetti stuffed...meatballs."

Oh no. The look on Merlin's face...

"No worries, Merlin. Ya get one. They're gonna be in your lunches instead tomorrow."

"Bless you."

"You're a brave man, Merlin. Looking at Harry's man like that." Percival observed with a smirk.

"It's not me. It's the food he's thinking of."

"Which is why he's allowed in the house." Harry added, raising a glass to toast in Merlin's direction. "Just as he knows not to abuse Eggsy's kind heart and overwork him with selfish food demands."

The 'or else' was unspoken...but heavily implied. Harry made sure of it.

"Oi. I pay him for my biscuit supply."

"Ya do." Eggsy agreed with a laugh. "Which reminds me, I need to stock up there."

Merlin's ears practically perked up.

"Not for you. Tequila's volunteered ta take the biscuits I'm sending to the Statesmen in thanks for the recipes back with him once he's done doin somethin in Malta."

"Sure you trust him to deliver?" Harry wouldn't.

"I said I'd confirm with Ginge that all the ones that ain't for Tequila go to who they're supposed to. And I wouldn't cook for him again if that weren't the case."

"That would do it." Merlin agreed, Percival nodding along too.

Another charming smile from Percival. "I'm certainly looking forward to my birthday more now, knowing I get to have more of your cooking."

"I'll even take requests." Eggsy promised. "And for the record there is d-e-s-s-e-r-t for after Daisy goes to bed. My gut said to make some r-a-s-p-b-e-r-r-y c-h-e-e-s-e-c-a-k-e."

"You made...I LOVE rasp-"

"Ah ah ah." Eggsy wagged a finger in Percival's direction.

"Right." Percival made a zipped motion.

They all look at Daisy, who was in the process of biting into a pickle. And looked back at them warily in reaction to them all looking at her.

"It's all good, Flower. Keep eatin. Then Merlin is gonna read you your bedtime story tonight."

Daisy's face lit up as Merlin's face fell for a moment. But to give the Scot credit he worked up a smile pretty quick.

"We'll save some, promise. It was your idea." Eggsy reminded him, Merlin nodding in agreement of that.

Merlin had probably thought there wouldn't be dessert to miss out on due to their conversation about Daisy that morning, Harry surmised with amusement. Oh well. Having to wait a little would probably be for the best considering how much the man had consumed over dinner. His poor stomach had to have a limit.

Right?