Chapter Text
“Don’t forget, Sophie gets that extra feeding in the afternoon,” Eggsy says to Richard. “And Wiley and Foster have been at each other’s throats lately.”
“Ye do realize, Eggsy, that I was at this job long before you were?” Richard asks as he raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, but I know you got a lot going on and don’t always pay attention,” Eggsy replies. Richard clears his throat. “Not that you don’t do your job!”
“You’ll be in the shop for a week. I think I can manage the babies for a week. Besides, it’s not like we have many left.” Richard and Eggsy both sigh as they look at the four puppies gamboling about the play yard. A new class of trainees has just picked their puppies and these are the unwanted remnants. Not that they’re truly unwanted; if Eggsy didn’t think Harry and Merlin would kick him out he’d bring each and every one of them home to live with him.
“They go to good homes, right, Richard?” Eggsy asks quietly.
“They do. There’s also a home for orphans out in the country that Kingsman helps support…they usually send a puppy or two out there.”
“Aces,” Eggsy says, cheering up a bit at the thought of the puppies surrounded by a house full of children. “If you need anything you can text me, you know.”
“Christ, Eggsy…it’s nae like you’re going away forever!”
“You’d miss me if I did,” Eggsy says with a grin.
“Are you flirting with me again? I’ve told you and told you, Unwin, you’re not my type.”
“And what is your type?”
“Someone who doesn’t have a miniscule dick.”
“So you’re saying if I have a bigger than miniscule dick, I have a chance with you?” Eggsy asks with a wink.
“Oh, fuck off,” Richard growls. “You need a boyfriend, if you’re resorting to flirting with me. You know it’s a hopeless endeavor.”
“I do,” Eggsy says quietly. More than once he’s wanted to tell Richard the truth about his relationship with Harry and Merlin. Richard is one of his best friends and he’s fairly certain the man would never judge him. But he can’t do anything like that without talking with his lovers first. “So, yeah, gonna be in the shop on Monday.” Eggsy fingers the gold chain at his throat.
“I think you’ll enjoy the peace and quiet. Nothing ever happens there.”
“Dunno about that,” Eggsy says evasively, thinking about the interaction with Dean and his idiots. “But yeah, it will be a change. I’ll miss you.”
“Maybe I’LL enjoy the peace and quiet,” Richard says with a wink, clapping Eggsy on the back.
“Kinda nervous, to be honest,” Eggsy says as he ladles out stew for Merlin and Harry later that evening. “Ain’t been on my own in the shop for ages. And he’s trusting me to do measurements.”
“Andrew has excellent judgment, my boy. If he thinks you’re good enough to man the shop in his absence, it must be true. And it’s not like you haven’t filled in for him regularly.”
“And if ye dinnae feel ye are up to a certain task, ye tell the customer politely that the main tailor is out of the shop, and ye will have Andrew call them upon his return. And if they dinnae like it, they can fuck off.” Merlin smiles grimly.
“I don’t think I can get away with telling a customer to fuck off, Merlin.”
“Not in those exact words, no,” Merlin agrees. “I’m starving. This smells good.”
“Sorry it’s so late…took longer with Richard than I thought it would,” Eggsy says before sliding into his own chair.
“Ye do realize he has been working in that kennel for years,” Merlin points out.
“Yeah, I know. He said the same thing. I just…those dogs are my babies, ya know?” As if on cue JB walks over to collapse onto Eggsy’s feet. “Don’t worry, JB. You are my number one baby.”
“He’s definitely the biggest baby,” Merlin mutters. Eggsy frowns.
“Don’t worry, darling. Merlin is just mad because we were sitting in the living room and when we both called JB, he came to me first.” Harry smiles proudly.
“That’s because ye probably smell like food.”
“I do not,” Harry snaps, looking absolutely scandalized. “I take great care when I ate and do not drop one morsel. There are never food stains on my clothing, unlike YOU. I distinctly recall a large mustard-colored…”
“Fine, Harry. Ye are perfectly perfect in every way,” Merlin says dryly.
“But speaking of stains, Eggsy…” Harry turns to Eggsy, who immediately glances down at his own shirt. “I was looking at your clothes for the shop. Your oxfords are downright embarrassing.”
“Oi, what’s wrong with my shoes?” Eggsy asks, not at all offended that Harry felt the need to look through his wardrobe. He knows Harry has a special kinship with clothing, even if it’s not his own.
“They are horrible scuffed, Eggsy…even the best of shines won’t clean them up. You need to get a new pair this weekend.”
“Wot? Harry, I’m gonna be behind the…”
“Not all the time, you won’t. You will be walking through the showroom area, you will be with a customer in a fitting room. Your shoes are just as much a reflection of Kingsman as anything else.”
“I’m afraid he’s right, lad,” Merlin says around bites of stew.
“Like you care. You can wear whatever you want. He leaves you alone,” Eggsy mutters.
“I’m sorry, lad. Did ye have something ye wished to say to me?” Merlin slowly points to his ear.
“N-no, Master,” Eggsy whispers. “I’m sorry.” Merlin nods and continues eating.
“We will go shopping tomorrow,” Harry says eagerly.
“Great,” Eggsy says sarcastically. Shopping with Harry is one of Eggsy’s least favorite things to do, because it’s always a day-long process.
“Pet,” Merlin says warningly. Eggsy bites his bottom lip. “If ye are a good boy with Harry, I might have a treat for ye when ye get home.”
“Yes, Merlin,” Eggsy says with a grin. There’s a bit of a thrill that runs through his body, starting in his ears and resting somewhere in his groin. “You know, Harry, since I gotta be in to open the shop and all, you should come in with me! We could bring coffee and pastries, chat a bit.”
Merlin bursts out laughing. “I would love to see that. Harry Hart, at the shop before it opens! Ye are many amazing things, lad, but ye are nae a miracle worker.”
“I arrive early,” Harry says defensively. “Have I EVER been late when it counts? Such as for a mission?”
“Agreed,” Merlin says. “It’s not that I actually CARE whether ye arrive on time or not, but it does get quite tiresome when we make arrangements to meet somewhere for dinner and ye are twenty to thirty minutes late.”
“When is the last time you and I made arrangements to meet somewhere for dinner?” Harry points out.
“Fine. We’ll make arrangements to meet somewhere for dinner next week,” Merlin says. “To celebrate Eggsy being on his own at the shop. I dinnae think ye need to go out on a mission until Thursday at the earliest.”
“I’m assuming I get to come along to this celebration, right?” Eggsy asks.
“Nae, lad, we will go paint the town red while ye sit here and eat soup from a can,” Merlin says wryly. Harry snorts. “How about...” Merlin thinks for a moment. “Tuesday. Arthur and I have meetings at MI-6, I can meet ye after.”
“Sounds good to me,” Eggsy says.
“Tuesday. Lovely. I will make reservations at The Rose Garden,” Harry says. Then he frowns. “Oh, bugger it all. I have my yearly psychiatric evaluation on Tuesday at Dr. Graham’s office here in town. It’s at four, so just to be safe I’ll make the reservation for half-five?”
“Fine.” Merlin taps his glasses and uses his eyes to make a note on his calendar.
“Are you pleased with our purchases?” Harry asks Eggsy as the cab drops them off in front of the house.
“Yes, Harry, thank you,” Eggsy says politely. The driver pops the boot and Eggsy jumps out to unload the bags while Harry pays.
“Let me carry something.”
“No, I’m fine,” Eggsy snaps. Harry looks hurt. “I got it, Harry. It’s a bit of a juggling act. Can you just get the door?”
“Of course.” Harry starts up the pavement. “Hamish said he’d order in for dinner, so there’s no need for you to cook.”
“Great,” Eggsy says wearily.
He was correct in assuming this would be a typical shopping day with Harry. The plan was to get Eggsy new shoes, and they did. But then Harry decided Eggsy needed new trousers, shirts and ties to go along with the new shoes. And that meant new underclothes, so that was an entirely different store. Eggsy ended up spending most of the morning and into the afternoon trying on clothes and parading around in posh shops while Harry sat and drank tea and gave a running commentary.
“No, not that. The color is all wrong.”
“Turn around, my boy, let me see it from the back. Maybe I’ll like it better…no, I do not.”
“Excellent, just excellent. It frames your waist quite nicely.”
The worst part wasn’t the fact that he felt like a performing monkey as he strutted to and fro in the shops. He’d done that with Harry before. It was the fact that everyone at these shops more than likely thought that Eggsy was Harry’s son. He couldn’t hold Harry’s hand, or stand too close, or say anything that could be misconstrued. Harry was a frequent customer in these shops, and most of the sales clerks knew he was married to someone other than Eggsy.
Eggsy doesn’t want to do anything crazy, doesn’t want to get a tattoo that says, “I’m the filling in a fit older gent sandwich” or anything like that. He just wishes he could find a place where it absolutely didn’t matter, whether it be Percival’s flat or Roxy’s flat or Richard’s flat or even his mother’s flat. He wants a place where he can tell the truth: he is in love with the greatest men in the world.
This pressure, this wistful dreaming, weighs on him just as heavily as the fatigue of the day. He doesn’t normally allow himself to wallow in it, but today has just been one of those days. “I see we had a successful outing,” Merlin says as he greets them at the door. “Can I help ye?”
“No, I got it,” Eggsy grumbles, turning sideways to make it through the entryway.
“Did something happen?”
“No, just like always. Harry threw money around, people kissed our arses, and someone asked him if it was his son’s birthday. I’ll take these up after we eat.” Eggsy starts lining the bags up at the bottom of the steps. “Harry said something about takeaway? I’m fucking starving…we didn’t stop for lunch.” He glares at Harry accusingly. “Only had these tiny cakes at the one shop.”
“They were good cakes,” Harry says.
“Nae, lad, ye will not be leaving all this here for us to fall over,” Merlin says sternly. “Take it up and put it away.”
“I said I’ll take it up later.”
“And I said take it up now.” Merlin’s face is unreadable.
“Yes, Merlin.” Eggsy does his best not to stomp up the stairs.
Maybe he should just stay in his room. He’s really not in a place to socialize. He has his gold chain, he has his tattoo, that should be enough. He starts to drop the bags on the bed but stops as he realizes there’s already something on it. A small box. He carefully sets the bags on the floor. Eggsy undoes the ribbon around the box and slowly opens it. He gasps as he sees a slender black leather collar, beautifully tooled with butterflies and the occasional diamond. And they’re real diamonds, he can tell. At the front of the collar is a silver tag, also shaped like a butterfly, which simply says ‘Pet’ in elegant script.
It’s not the first time that Eggsy has wondered if Merlin can actually read his mind…because right now dropping everything and becoming a puppy sounds like exactly what he needs.
“How was your day?” Merlin asks.
“Quite successful,” Harry says cheerfully, mixing himself a drink. “We got some good bargains on excellent clothing, and Eggsy will look gorgeous as usual.”
“Did ye ever think, Harry, that perhaps the boy doesn’t enjoy shopping as much as you do?”
“Who doesn’t like new clothes, especially when someone else is buying them?”
“Harry,” Merlin says quietly. “Do ye remember the last time ye tried to take me shopping all day?”
“Yes. It was the ONLY time. You set off a tiny explosive device in one of the fitting rooms, if memory serves,” Harry replies with a scowl.
“Aye. Ye were trying to be nice, ye wanted me to enjoy nice things as much as you do, and it didn’t work out.” Merlin waits for Harry to catch up. While Merlin likes the fact that Eggsy is now taking his place and making Harry happy with his shopping excursions, he is unwilling to put up with the strop at the front door.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve gone shopping. He’s always enjoyed it.” Harry swirls his glass and sips at it.
“Has he? Or has he put up with it because YOU enjoy it? Eggsy is no fashion plate. I realize that handsome young men from his neck of the woods would probably enjoy having someone else fill their wardrobes…but he’s not one of them.”
“This household is much better about communication…if he was so upset he could have said something,” Harry retorts.
“And ruin your plans for today, plans you were so excited about?” Merlin snorts.
Harry opens his mouth, shuts it, and turns away from Merlin as he sips at his drink. Merlin looks up as Eggsy crawls into the room wearing his puppy ears, his tail, and the new collar. He makes his way across the floor and gently butts his head against Merlin’s legs. Merlin’s a bit surprised; he’d expected Eggsy to be pleased with the gift but not wear it now. He glances at his husband, who looks slightly uncomfortable. They both are fully aware that Eggsy only decides to be a puppy when he needs the release.
“Well, aren’t ye a beautiful pup?” Merlin says softly, reaching down to scratch Eggsy’s head. “Do ye like your new collar, then?” Eggsy licks Merlin’s fingers. “Such a good boy.”
“He is,” Harry says softly. Eggsy tilts his head, looks at him, and crawls over to nudge at his hand. Harry gently pets him.
“Why don’t ye play with the puppy, Harry, while I go call for dinner?” Merlin suggests. He knows Eggsy needs attention, and it will probably feel best coming from Harry.
“I can think of nothing I’d like to do more,” Harry says, going to Eggsy’s toy basket and finding his ball. “Our puppy has definitely earned some play time.” Eggsy yips and wags his tail.
“I figured Chinese,” Merlin says. “I’ll order the usual.”
“Sounds good.” Harry sits on the sofa and Eggsy eagerly waits at his feet. Merlin chuckles and shakes his head as he goes into the kitchen for the takeaway menu. He can hear Eggsy scampering about in the living room and sighs. Merlin calls in their order before bending down to unlock the crate of their actual dog. He’d been working in his office until just before their return from the shopping excursion, leaving JB to chew on a new toy in his crate. “Come along, Mr. Bauer. Time to water the garden.” He opens the back door and JB scurries outside. Once he’s done his business Merlin fills his water dish and puts out food for him, which he destroys in record time. Belly full and face covered in water, JB trots back into his crate and Merlin closes it once more. The little dog gets overexcited when Eggsy is playing as a puppy, and they’ve found it best to keep him out of the room.
Merlin strides down the hall to the living room, realizing along the way that there are no more sounds of puppy play. His eyebrows go up when he enters the room and sees Eggsy between Harry’s legs, the front of Harry’s trousers open and splayed to each side. “Well well.”
“He asked ever so nicely,” Harry says, groaning and running a hand through Eggsy’s hair. “Such a…Christ, good puppy.” Eggsy lets Harry’s cock out of his mouth with a happy slurp. He tilts his head and looks at Merlin.
“Don’t let me stop ye, pet,” Merlin tells him, and Eggsy happily goes back to work. The diamonds twinkle against the black leather, and Eggsy’s delectable arse wiggles back and forth a bit. “Ye are a temptation, pup.” Merlin’s cock starts to show a great deal of interest in the proceedings.
“You don’t have to just watch,” Harry says, moaning and letting his head fall back. He hisses and arches off the sofa a bit.
Merlin ponders this for a moment. While they’ve had a bit of fun with Eggsy while he’s a puppy, they’ve never used him together in quite this manner. Merlin squats down and pulls Eggsy back by the hair. “Tell me, pup, would ye be interested in that?” Eggsy whimpers and wriggles. “Nae, lad, in something like this we need your words.”
“Can do anything you want,” Eggsy says, panting for breath. “Trust you two with my life.”
“All right, then. Back to work.” Merlin guides Eggsy’s mouth back onto Harry’s cock before getting back on his feet and heading for the tiny cabinet in the corner. He gets out lube and wipes before returning to his men. Harry’s forehead is wet with sweat, and Merlin can see Eggsy’s rock hard cock hanging between his legs. “Gorgeous. I dinnae deserve such a thing.”
“No, you don’t,” Harry agrees as Merlin kneels behind Eggsy. Eggsy growls around Harry’s cock and Merlin gives his arse a smack.
“Nae, pup, ye are not involved in this conversation.” Merlin nudges Eggsy’s legs apart with his knees and undoes his own trousers. He shoves the trousers and his pants down as far as he can before taking hold of Eggsy’s tail at the base of the plug. He takes his time working it out, occasionally pushing it back in and twisting it a bit before sliding it out. Eggsy is whining by the time Merlin finally works the plug free and carefully sets it aside. Only then does he add additional lube to his cock and line himself up. “Absolutely perfect,” Merlin whispers. “Such a good boy for us. Don’t we have a good boy, Harry?” Merlin inches his cock into Eggsy’s welcoming body. Eggsy pulls away from Harry and gasps for breath.
“We do. The best boy ever,” Harry murmurs, running a thumb along Eggsy’s swollen lips. Eggsy nibbles at the tip of Harry’s fingers before moving back to Harry’s cock.
“We will nae be making you come, pup,” Merlin says, grabbing Eggsy’s hips so he can thrust harder. “I dinnae appreciate the attitude ye brought with ye when ye walked in the door. But if ye wish to take care of yourself upstairs when we’re through, we will nae stop ye.” Merlin barely gets the sentence out. Eggsy is so tight, and Merlin loves watching Harry’s face as he gets closer to orgasm. “In fact, I like imagining ye doing it…perhaps in the shower, water all over this beautiful body of yours.”
“Hamish…fuck…” Harry arches up and holds Eggsy’s body in place as he shudders. Eggsy chokes a bit but doesn’t pull away, and the sight of Harry’s cock cutting off Eggsy’s oxygen is enough to make Merlin collapse onto Eggsy’s back, cock spurting inside of him.
Harry releases his hold on Eggsy and the boy lays his cheek on Harry’s thigh. “Fuck,” he whispers weakly.
“Aye,” Merlin pants. He removes the dog ears from Eggsy’s head, and slowly pulls out of his body. He quickly cleans Eggsy as best he can, and then hands Harry a wipe as well.
Eggsy slowly rolls onto his back on the floor. “I’m sorry about the attitude,” he mumbles with an arm thrown over his face. “Deserve this little bit of punishment for sure. I was “just tired, and irritated that people keep thinking Harry’s my dad. Not because you won’t be an amazing dad, Harry, it’s just…” Eggsy sighs.
Merlin tucks himself back into his pants and trousers and sits on the floor next to Eggsy. “Ye wish ye didn’t have to pretend,” he says softly. Eggsy shrugs and nods.
“I know that around here, where people know you’re husbands, we can’t say nothing. Just wish we could go somewhere we COULD say something. Or at least tell…people.”
“I’m sorry, Eggsy,” Harry says quietly. “This is why we’ve always said that when you were ready for a more monogamous relationship, we would understand.”
“I’m in a monogamous relationship,” Eggsy says stubbornly. “It’s just with two people.”
Harry and Merlin look at each other and grin. “I’m sorry I ran you ragged today, my boy. I love spoiling you, and I suppose I got carried away.”
Eggsy slowly sits up. “it’s all right. Wasn’t THAT bad. I mean, I know you like doing it, and I trust your judgment. I just was hungry and then let myself get into a bad place.” He stands and kisses the top of Harry’s head. “Thanks for everything today, Harry.”
“You are quite welcome, darling.” As if on cue the doorbell rings. “That would be our dinner.”
“Would ye like to answer the door, pet?” Merlin asks with a wink.
“Nah…not quite ready to be THAT open about our relationship.” Eggsy picks up the tail plug and hurries up the stairs.