Before Alastair could take two steps into HQ, he was being rushed off to their med bay. There he saw Merlin as he had a bullet wound stitched up with Harry standing next to him.

"I thought your part in the mission was fairly simple," Alastair said, directing the statement to Merlin.

"It was. Things just got a little more complicated when about forty people started shooting at us."

Sighing and shaking his head, Alastair then asked, "Where's Lancelot?"

Harry looked over curiously and asked, "Do you want to know because you're hoping he's not here or because you hope he is?"

"Just tell me where he is," hissed out Alastair as Merlin chastised Harry.

"I'm just curious which it is. I would have assumed this place would be rubble by the time we got back," Harry simply responded.

"If you want an honest answer, I thought about killing him several times but ultimately decided the paperwork would be to much," Alastair replied curtly.

Harry couldn't help but reveal a small smile at that. "Hmm, is it common to have ice cream with potential murder victims as well?"

"He told you!"

"Only that you did. Why? Something interesting happen?" asked Harry suggestively.

"No!"

Harry grinned as Merlin snorted and muttered, "I think you better quit while you're ahead if you don't want to be a victim."

"Oh I know you'll stop him before he could."

"I'm getting a bullet wound stitched up. You're on your own," Merlin replied pointedly as Harry let out a small sigh in response.

"Is there any reason why you wanted me here other than to be annoyed and watch you two bicker?"growled Alastair.

"You just needed to be informed that you'll be staying here for a while and that James did in fact leave earlier this morning for a covert mission. You should thank me Percival, Harry wanted to send the both of you but I was just barely able to convince him that two agents was just one to many on this particular assignment."

Alastair sent a glare at Harry before turning back to Merlin. Though he didn't thank him vocally, he was grateful. "Anything else?"

"No, unless Arthur's sent something to you but I don't believe he has."

"Then if there isn't anything else I shall take my leave of you," Alastair replied as he turned and left.

When he arrived at his office, the first thing he noticed was the mini cooler on his desk. A small note was taped to it that read, Sorry for skipping out on you but duty calls. Lunch is in there to.

The fact that it also ended with a small drawing of a smiley face had Alastair rolling his eyes but it honestly didn't surprise him either. He ended up eating it all and for the first time in a while, felt actually full. He didn't starve himself but it was rare that he ate a complete meal.

The next time he and James had a chance to meet up, James convinced him to have ice cream again though instead of off time they were actually monitoring someone. The third time they met up it was at the HQ in Italy and instead of ice cream, James sat him down and forced him to try gelato instead.

By the fourth time, eight months had passed and it was now November. Despite the cool temperatures, James somehow convinced Alastair out again, this time both in London once more. They went to the same parlor as their first outing together and upon meeting Lily again, Alastair was finally reminded of his curiosity over what James' living arrangements were.

"You mentioned she was your neighbor?" asked Alastair. This time they had decided to remain seated in the parlor instead of walking around. Lily had gone into the back to finish cleaning up something, hence why Alastair had decided to ask it.

"Yep. She's been my neighbor for the past five years. She nearly got kicked out at one point but that was around the time I joined Kingsman so I was able to help her out a bit, financially that is," James replied easily.

"She doesn't look like she can afford a Kingsman's flat."

"Oh, I declined the flat."

The way James said it showed that he didn't mind talking about the subject but it was still surprising. Furrowing his brow, Alastair asked, "Why would you decline the flat?"

"I simply liked where I lived. I mean, the area isn't the best but the people are great and once again, I'm simply use to it. That place has been home for…six years now. Yeah, six years next month."

"But what about your family's money? It sounds like you don't exactly live in a rather refined apartment." And charming or not, Arthur would not have been so approving of a Kingsman that didn't come from money. It was a topic of debate that he and Harry often argued over.

"I cut myself off when I was eighteen."

"You did or your parents did?"

"My parents died in a car accident when I was three."

"Oh." The suddenness of the response left Alastair in shock. He wasn't exactly sure why but he had always assumed James had a perfect family life. He clearly had been wrong yet the statement still didn't explain his choice of living. "So you cut yourself off but from whom?"

"You know, most people would give their condolences."

James was right, of course, and though such an action wasn't something Alastair would normally do, he did earnestly ask, "Would you like me to?"

"No, it honestly doesn't matter and I heard it enough as a kid," James responded honestly. "I barely remember them. If I had been older when the accident happened it might hurt more but it didn't happen that way. My older brother raised me."

"And he's the one you cut yourself off from," Alastair replied.

"Yep. From the get go we never saw eye to eye. A pretty bad argument happened at Christmas when I was eighteen so I simply left. I made my own way and got use to living without a lot of connivances."

"I'm still surprised Arthur was so approving of you."

"I think it helped that my name hadn't been ruined and that my brother makes an ass of himself in public as much as he does in private," James replied with a chuckle. "I think everyone silently wishes I had inherited everything. So, want to see my apartment?"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I'm just pretty sure the look on your face would be pretty damn amusing."

Alastair continued to look at him cautiously.

"Oh come on. It's not like I'm going to jump you the moment I close the door," James replied with a playful smile.

As an appalled look came over Alastair's face, he hurriedly whispered, "It's not safe to say things like that in public."

Raising an eyebrow, James replied in a perfectly level voice, "Why are you whispering? We're the only ones here."

"Lily's in the back!"

"So? She knows of my preferences."

"You go for….for blokes then?" asked Alastair in an uncertain voice, looking down.

"Yeah, is that a problem?" For the first time Alastair had met him, James sounded accusing. It actually hurt Alastair a bit, which was surprising in and of itself.

"No!" he replied hurriedly. "It's just not always…a good idea to mention something like that. Especially in public."

"Anyone has a problem with it I can easily take care of myself," replied James with a smirk, quickly becoming at ease again. "Besides, I don't hide who I am to people. Learned a long time ago that it only creates more problems."

Alastair mused on that as James added, "And I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. About the innuendos that is, not the being gay."

"You're actually apologizing for putting me on edge?" asked Alastair incredulously.

"Well you didn't seem annoyed like you usually do when I poke fun at you or mess with you like this," James replied as he tapped his ice cream on Alastair's nose. Immediately the other's face twisted up in irritation as James added, "Like that. See, you're probably thinking of strangling me right now."

"Don't sound so happy," Alastair replied as he wiped it off. "I still haven't decided on if I'll do that or not."

James snorted and said, "Funny, and that is exactly what I'm talking about. But when I mentioned trapping you between a wall and my body—"

Here, Alastair made a pained expression as he wrapped his arms around himself and leaned back.

"—that happened there. Sorry again, I will stop, just was making a point," James replied with an easy and extremely kind smile. "But would you like to come over?"

"I don't know…."

"Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"Well no—"

"Then come over and have dinner with me. I can invite Lily as well if you think you'll be uncomfortable."

"I wouldn't be uncomfortable," retorted Alastair.

"Your words may say that but your eyes are telling me a different story," James sang, resulting in Alastair kicking him under the table.

"I wouldn't be! Though I…wouldn't mind if you invited Lily as well."

James rolled his eyes at that but didn't argue the point, instead calling out, "Lily! Want to have dinner at my place tonight!?"

Her head popping out from the back, she asked, "Is any one attractive going to be there?"

"Alastair will."

"Then I'm sold! Just give me ten minutes," she replied with a smile as Alastair once again kicked James under the table.

"You know I hate you, right?" muttered Alastair.

"Yes yes and you're probably going to strangle me with my own insides," James responded. "Just wait until I've made you dinner. You might just change your mind."