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Isn't The Best Place

With his younger uncle guarding the car for them Eggsy led Harry and his other uncle up the flights of stairs necessary to get to his mum's flat. The entire way up Eggsy was very much aware of the recent tags made by the areas graffitists and those who wanted to advertise their lack of spelling and grammar skills. The building wasn't all that bad, considering, but he was still very much aware that this was a whole different hemisphere from the world the other two men with him usually occupied. And it was hard not to feel ashamed or defensive as they got closer and closer to their ultimate destination.

God he hoped his mum was just pissed.

His mum had been a functioning alcoholic pretty much as long as Eggsy could remember. He couldn't remember her ever staying sober for long, though on her good days she'd give it a good try. Dry out for a few days or even weeks depending on the man in her life and when the social workers had visited last. No man was his dad, and his mum had shit taste in men on top of that, but she'd put her best face forward, so to speak, in the early days of her latest relationship. Unless the bloke in question was as bad or worse as she was when it came to liquor or the occasional soft drugs. She'd only used the soft stuff before Dean.

There was a lot of things she hadn't done before him.

For the billionth time Eggsy cursed the fact that he hadn't been around when Dean had moved into the neighborhood and set his sights on Eggsy's mum. He'd been in the army at that point, his absence making his mum ripe for the picking. Especially since she'd been all torn up about him joining in the first place. So yeah, she'd been ripe for a new man and Dean had quickly charmed his way into her life and bed. And, like any good drug dealer, Dean had known that the best way to keep someone under your thumb was to hook them early on so that they were too addicted and needy for what you could give them that they didn't care if you treated like shit while beating the shite out of them.

In other words, get her hooked on the hard stuff, which Dean would supply for free. But only in the sense of money. She paid plenty. They'd all paid plenty.

Feeling pessimistic Eggsy mentally prepared himself to deal with the expected reactions from his uncle and worse, from Harry. Who already didn't like his mum and had done a crap job at hiding it. And what was worse was...he couldn't really blame him. Or his uncles. For what they were going to think and hopefully not say or show.

He was no angel, and he sure as fuck had done shit he shouldn't have and wasn't proud ta admit to. But he'd never done the hard stuff. Never developed an addiction for anything, really. He'd always had the sense to know that his life was fucked up enough without letting something inanimate and poisonous to his body run his life. And his wolf nature had only driven that point home.

There were a lot of reasons his mum had made the choices she had...but now that he knew Harry would have been there, would have helped them if only his mum had let him...it was hard ta forgive. Or excuse her.

Arriving at his door Eggsy pulled his keys out from his pocket and asked them quietly to wait out here for him. He'd get their stuff and his mum and be out in a jiff.

"We'll buy you and your family whatever they need, Eggsy." Taron said softly. "Just bring what matters to you all."

Inclining his head to show that he heard and understood, and Eggsy did get where his uncle was coming from, Eggsy turned his attention to unlocking the front door and letting himself in, opening it just enough that he could slid in before closing it behind him.

Inhaling carefully just to double check his friends' intel Eggsy confirmed that his mum was the only one home. And thanks to the smallness of the flat he didn't really need his nose to help locate her.

She was passed out on the sagging couch that should have been replaced a couple years ago, curled up with her back to him. The table situated in front of said couch was heaped with day old takeaway containers, junk mail, and other odds and ends. Nothing drug related on a passing glance.

He could smell the alcohol though. Both on her and coming front under the table, where he spotted a very familiar bottle. Their neighbor's 'home brew'. Fuck.

The smell made his nose scrunch up, it smelled more like something to clean with than drink, Eggsy reminded himself to be grateful for small favors. Better she smelt like a bar than of cocaine. Especially since on top of everything else he hated smelling that on her since the chemicalness of the scent advertised that it wasn't even quality shit Dean was feeding her. Oh no, that was for the paying customers. Not that Dean's shit was that great to begin with. He'd sold better back in the day.

Following time honored tradition Eggsy came over to check his mum's pulse and breathing, both of which were within the usual parameters. No cause for alarm this time around. At least not yet.

Leaving her there Eggsy headed into his room and pulling out a duffel started filling it with his military uniform, favorite clothes, and the treasures he was able to leave out because they weren't worth anything to anyone else. Then he sought out his various hidey holes, some of which he kept solely so that Dean wouldn't find his actual valuables and money. Plant some stuff in some more obvious places, let Dean and the rest think they knew where to look, and they ended up missing the good stuff. Not that he had much in that regard either.

He didn't have much in general.

After he had filled the bag he went looking for his sister's nappie bag, using that to load up on the stuff he thought Daisy would want to keep or might need until he could buy her better. His mum...well he put some of her stuff in a third bag, grabbed a few things he knew she'd want, and then called it quits. If there was something else she wanted...well he'd come back and get it later. Or buy it from the pawn shop after Dean sold it once he got back and found her gone.

His duffel had a long strap which made it easy to wear lengthwise across his body, while the other two bags he brought to the door to hand off to his uncle after opening it. He'd need it open anyway.

Heading back in Eggsy scooped up his mum into his arms and then straightening his shoulders headed back to the door and hoped he never had to set foot in this place ever again.

)

By silent agreement Harry and Taron had decided that they would not comment regardless of what condition Michelle Unwin was in when Eggsy brought his mother out. Harry didn't doubt that Taron already knew about the woman's substance abuse problems, and he himself had been thoroughly briefed by Merlin. New as Eggsy was to both of them it was important that they not alienate the boy by allowing their opinions of the woman to show. However enticing the idea might be. Harry certainly had numerous things he wanted to say and tell her. And while most of them weren't things a gentleman was supposed to say to a lady...well Michelle Unwin was no lady and Harry was-well Eggsy-ugh.

He was ridiculously grateful when Eggsy appeared with his mother then, interrupting Harry's thoughts before they became troublesome.

The mother had passed out drunk, Harry noted as Eggsy passed his keys over to Taron so that the other man could lock up behind them. Harry had taken the bags from the older man moments before to free up Taron's hands. Just in case.

Looking at her while the other's attentions were elsewhere Harry saw that all the quiet prettiness she'd possessed when last they'd met was gone. Which wasn't to say she was no longer attractive, she was, but still...the image she projected now was a far cry from what she'd been before. And the difference, Harry didn't doubt, were only going to become that much more apparent once she was awake and sober.

Silence probably speaking louder than words they all didn't say anything as they headed back the way they'd come. And they didn't speak again until they were in the stairwell leading into the second level when Eggsy's head jerked and he visibly drew in a deep breath, eyes closing as he read the air.

Doing the same Harry sorted through the scents to find cheap cigarettes and...dear God was that supposed to be cologne? Ugh. And-

"Fuck. Rotti."

Ah. Yes. Exactly.

Moving as one they hurried down the last few steps, bursting out of it as their sharp werewolf ears picked up a conversation starting in front of the building.

"Oi, you lost old man?"

"No. Though it would be in your best interests to get lost, Boys. You'll live longer."

Eggsy's cellphone beeped an incoming text, no doubt from one of his friends alerting him to the presence of Dean's thugs. But they all ignored it as they hurried over to the low wall to stare over the edge and get a look at what was going on below them.

Well at least Addison hadn't killed them yet.

The two punks were a study in opposites, one thin and tall while the other was short and stout. Ergo, based on Eggsy's earlier description Harry noted that the one called Rotti was doing all the talking as the foolish boy demanded to know who the fuck he thought he was talking to.

"Someone stupid enough to go by Rotti."

Eggsy groaned loudly from Harry's side.

"Well he'll be a better mood to meet your mother after dealing with those two." Taron offered up, apparently trying to look on the bright side while they watched Rotti lift hands as if to shove Addison back against his car. Only for Addison to swat said hands away from him like they were flies.

While telling Rotti that he wasn't fit to lick his boots, much less touch him.

The other one pulled out a switchblade, pointing it at Addison as he told him that, 'You's is makin a big mistake, Grandpa."

"Please." Was Addison's dry response. "If we were related I'd have drowned you years ago."

The Rotten Rotti threw a punch at Addison's head...Addison catching the punch and, Harry was fairly sure, promptly squeezing said fist within his much larger hand, crushing the bones and making Rotti scream like a cheerleader in a horror picture.

And at the same time the other hooligan ran at Addison with the blade held high-completely holding it wrong, Harry might add-only for Addison's leg to lash out and kick the twit in the privates.

More screaming.

"We should probably get down there. I don't think he'll kill them...but he does have sensitive ears and they are screaming VERY loudly."

Harry joined Eggsy in looking in Taron's direction, considering his words for a moment before immediately agreeing that they should head down. Now.

The screaming from both men stopped while they were in the stairwell again, the four of them exiting the building and hurrying over to the car to find Addison leaning against the car like he was bored out of his mind and completely unaware of the two bodies sprawled out on the concrete a meter or so away.

Shit.

If they had to dispose of two bodies on top of everything else Addison was going to owe him.

But once they got closer Harry could hear both men's heartbeats, as well as see them drawing breath. There was a fair amount of blood around their heads though.

"Jesus fucking Christ." Eggsy just stared and shook his head like he was in a daze.

"Feel better now?" Taron wanted to know.

Addison lifted a hand and almost pinched his thumb and pointer finger together, leaving just enough space to slide a piece of paper between. In other words...not really.

Eggsy's friends, apparently reassured by Eggsy's return presence, came running over then to give him their account of the fight. Which basically was what they'd seen, followed by another punch to shut Rotti up and then another punch to Poodle's-the fuckup's name is Poodle, seriously?-throat, which effectively ended his screaming too.

"How'd he end up unconscious though?" Eggsy wanted to know.

"Your uncle told im what he'd do ta im if he came at im again." Jamal informed him with a fearful sideways glance in Addison's direction. "He fuckin fainted dead away."

"I got it ALL on my phone." Ryan added, brandishing the device proudly.

"It wasn't worth recording." Was Addison's opinion. "Can we go now?"

"I'm sorry. He needs a nap."

A death glare in his brother's direction and then Addison spun around to open the car door and slide behind the wheel.

"Gotta go, Guys." With his mother in his arms Eggsy gave his friends a look Harry couldn't see, but had the other two boys nodding and repeating their earlier goodbyes while Harry went to put the bags in the car's boot.

Somehow Eggsy managed to give Taron the last duffel as the other man brought it over while Eggsy got himself and his mother settled in the back of the car.

Sharing a look with Taron Harry sighed in tandem with the other man before he returned to his former seat in the back of the car while Taron took the front passenger. Eggsy's mother was in his lap, still unconscious, and as limp as a puppet whose strings had been cut.

Maybe hers had.

Addison started the car. "Are we going home or to Hart's?"

"Home, at least for now. It will make retrieving Miss. Daisy easier. Hart?"

Inclining his head in understanding, Harry stated he'd come with them if that was all right.

"The more the merrier." Taron assured him, looking over his shoulder to grin at him.

Addison's snort begged to differ.

)

The family estate was...Eggsy didn't have the words. It was so alien to everything he'd ever known. He'd never so much as stepped foot in a family home so posh and old and...and that belonged to his family, holy fuck. The idea that this was going to be his home, that he was going to get to live here...well fuck. It just didn't compute. Things like this just didn't happen. I mean sure Kate Middleton was married to Prince William and would be queen someday, but that one a once in a lifetime sort of thing. And she'd never been dirt poor or possessed a sizable juvie record. People like him didn't even work in places like this, much less live in one.

But he had a room. Or at least his uncle had said it could be his room in the future if he wanted it.

A room with a massive fucking bed, furniture that was so old he got shivers just thinking about how much they were worth, AND his own bathroom. The bathroom was big. He'd never had his own before.

Don't even get him started on how problematic that had made things when he'd been a teenager.

Jesus. How was this his fucking life?

Shelving that thought for the hundredth time Eggsy looked at the bed his mother was currently sleeping in. The one next door to his own.

She hadn't so much as stirred since they'd arrived, and he'd delayed his tour of the estate to stay here with her until she woke up. He didn't want her to wake up not knowing where she was.

The sound of a knock on the door had Eggsy looking in that direction as he told whoever it was to enter, eyebrows rising when Harry walked in with Daisy in his arms. It wasn't the sight of his sister that surprised him, but the very flouncy and beribboned yellow dress she was wearing. Complete with a yellow ribbon tied around her head and featuring a little sunflower on the left side of her head that was beyond adorable. He'd have to get a picture.

"Rachel hunted up some of her daughter's old clothes. She sent along a bag's worth for Daisy's use."

"Ah." Taking the happily burbling baby from Harry Eggsy cuddled her against his chest as he told her how very pretty she was looking. Especially as she wasn't currently drooling all over herself.

"They do tend to do that." Harry agreed with a smile. "Your uncles are downstairs planning your future training sessions by the way. I strongly suggest you get a good night's sleep tonight as it seems they intend for said lessons to begin in the morning. Early."

"And you're gonna help too?" It was stupid, but Eggsy wanted to ask Harry to stay here with him. Not to leave him with these people he didn't know even if they were family. Which was ridiculous. He knew that. He hardly knew Harry either but...but the idea of the other man leaving him and potentially not coming back made both man and wolf howl in protest.

The hand Harry placed on his shoulder, and the squeeze he gave it, made the knot in Eggsy's stomach unravel just a little.

"Taron is the best teacher you could ask for...but I'm happy to teach you a thing of two as well."

Eggsy could think of any number of much more fun things he wouldn't mind the other man teaching him, thoughts that must have been written all over his face, judging from the look he got in return.

But who could blame him?