Chapter 4:

Merlin was seething. Roxy could practically see the steam billowing out of his ears.

"What did I tell him?" he snapped, striding into his private office. She followed nimbly behind him, quickening her pace to match his angry gait. He turned on her, eyes blazing. It was at these times that she felt sorry for whatever poor sods were in Merlin's bad books, Eggsy apparently now being one of them. "What did I tell him?"

"To stay in bed for a week," she drawled, looking up towards the heavens for aid.

"And what did he do?" he asked, voice deathly quiet as he tapped away at his tablet.

"Not stay in bed for a week," she answered with a sigh. "He's probably at Harry's house."

"When I get my hands on that little…" Merlin grumbled. He opened the tracker app on the tablet. "Well, fuck me. He is at Harry's house. Probably just got there, judging by the look on Harry's face from earlier. Stricken, pining bastard." Merlin pursed his lips. "I will flay Eggsy alive and deep-fry his skin," he muttered. Roxy's eyes widened and she let out a snort of laughter. Merlin spun around, expression livid. "What's so funny?" he exclaimed.

"Don't be pissy to me," she retorted, tsking. "I've seen you at your worst moments, Teddy, so I've got files and files of blackmail material. Accidents happen all the time. Just a silly little slip of my finger on a keyboard… I wonder what the others will think of your Iron Man lunchbox."

"You wouldn't dare…" he hissed, eyes narrowing. She gave him a wicked grin, leaning in close. Merlin's throat bobbed as he swallowed, lips parting.

"As I said… accidents happen, darling."

"No, no, no, no…" Harry muttered, pacing. He flung open his liquor cabinet, only to shut it moments later. He needed to keep his mind sharp. Where would Eggsy go? Home? No, he had just come from home. A pub, then? Where, where, where?

His com buzzed from its sad corner in the unlit fireplace.

To say that Harry nearly tripped over himself in getting to it was a slight understatement.

In the back of his mind, a nasty little voice whispered to him. This is a weakness.

He shoved it away as he regained his composure and slid the frames onto the bridge of his nose.

"Galahad."

"Yes, yes, cut the bullshit. Just wanted to let you know that we know where he is now. No thanks to you," Merlin added snarkily. He gave Harry a very knowing look. "Nice to know he's safe." Merlin hung up before Harry could further question the man.

Eggsy was safe. Safe. Fine.

Harry's knees nearly buckled with relief.

The sound of nails clicking on the floor approached. He hadn't even noticed Eggy's disappearance.

Eggy peered up at him, head tilted, ears twitching and tail thumping. In his mouth, he carried a long length of rope, scavenged from god knew where while Harry was distracted.

"Clever boy," Harry murmured, eyes softening. He buried his palm between the puppy's ears, rubbing softly. Eggy grinned toothily, tongue hanging out. "You want to go for a walk?" Harry held out a hand for the makeshift leash and tossed it into the corner when Eggsy dropped it into his hand. "You're smart enough not to walk in front of traffic, yes?" Eggsy's eyes lit up, and his tail thumped even harder against the dark, oakwood flooring. Harry took his answer as a yes.

Eggsy was safe. And that was what was important.

Mud. There was mud. Everywhere. On his face, on his paws, coating his fur. Yet he still kept rolling in the stuff, so happy that he felt like he was going to explode from joy.

But then Harry came around the corner. He slowly- too slowly- took in the sight of the now dark brown dog, whistled sharply and turned on his heel, back the way he came.

Eggy was definitely fucked.

"Why," Harry began, rubbing his temple, "must have you rolled around in the muck, darling?" Harry asked, sighing through his nose as he rolled up his sleeves and carried Eggsy an arm's length away up the stairs to his masterbedroom, nudging the door to the adjoining bathroom open with his foot.

Harry had called Eggsy… darling. Eggsy beamed inwardly.

Harry set to work filling the tub, fiddling with the taps. At the last moment, he added in a few drops of scented oil, filling the room with a lovely smell. Eggsy sniffed daintily, nose in the air.

"Cedarwood," Harry provided, kneeling at the foot of the bath. "In you get," Harry added, sliding his hands around Eggsy's middle and lifting him up and over the edge of the tub.

It suddenly hit Eggsy that he most definitely did not want to go anywhere near the water.

Harry ended up manhandling him. Eggsy struggled, and soon they were both soaking wet. Harry cursed loudly, glaring at the state of his wet clothing.

Eventually, Eggsy calmed, and Harry started to wash him with some special shampoo with a puppy label on it, gently scrubbing his fur with large, warm hands. Eggsy sighed. This wasn't bad. At all.

He must've died somewhere along the way to Harry's house, because this was pure heaven.

And then Harry started humming.

It was a quiet, soft sort of thing, thoughtless. A little smile played on Harry's lips as he bathed Eggsy in the sudsy water. And then he started singing.

It was the fucking most fucking beautiful fucking sound he had ever heard in his fucking life. Eggsy recognized the song at once. He sang along in his head.

"L is for the way you look at me… O is for the only one I see… V is very, very extraordinary… E is even more than anyone that you adore…" Eggsy could have listened all day. Too soon, he finished the song. Harry huffed, dunking his hands in the water and wiping them on a towel. He sat back on his haunches, expression dreamy.

Dreamy.

Harry… Harry Hart. Dreamy.

"Oh, Eggy," he murmured. "I don't know how much longer I can hold out." Harry sighed again.

Eggy cocked his head to the side, eyes inquiring, as if to say, what do you mean?

"I'm being ridiculous. It's just that… that look on his face when I came back."

Look on whom's face?

"Those green eyes. He's terrible. So terrible. I can't stand it. But I can never stay mad at him for long, especially when he does that stupid smirk. Oh, he's even more ridiculous than I am. That damn swagger." Harry cursed.

Who was he talking about?

"You know, the main reason I took you in," Harry mused, stroking Eggy's ears, "is because you remind me so much of him."

Eggsy's heart started to pound.

"I even named you after him."

Eggsy's heart stopped.

"Eggsy Unwin," Harry finally sighed. "The boy who stole my heart."

Eggsy passed out in the bathtub.

I swear I haven't forgotten all of you or my stories. I've been so busy, but nonetheless, it's a terrible excuse, and I apologize for the outrageously late and short update. Until next time.

-agentgalahad