Chapter Text
Merlin slipped through the shop doors met with a song by soothing sounds of an angelic voice, singing what he recognized as ‘A Whole New World’, instead of the stuffy classical music Harry usually played through Kingsman. It always made him laugh, the man wasn’t as posh and uptight as the façade he put on at work. Especially since the bastard loved Lynyrd Skynyrd, Free Bird among his favorites.
He stopped at the front, surveyed the empty space, no one was around - Andrew must have been on break - and Harry was due for his monthly late showing to one of the appointments he insisted Merlin made. Though, this time, Merlin was the one who scheduled this. He had a special date planned for a rather special someone, even if he wasn't entirely sure WHEN this special date would take place. It may even be that special someone who’s voice slipped through, down the hall from the offices, and into Merlin’s ears.
Eggsy’s singing voice was magical, taking Merlin higher and higher to the heavens where he met this angelic creature. Merlin found Eggsy cutting fabric, still unbeknownst to Merlin’s presence, and watched as muscles flexed beneath a powder pink button down. A tweed grey jacket was draped over one of the chairs, cufflinks rolled up to reveal impressively toned arms; Merlin licked his lips. There was something so absolutely mouthwatering about him, and Merlin had the pleasure of getting the chance to call him ‘his’, at least he hoped.
“A whole new world.” Merlin crooned, joining in. Eggsy went stiff while he continued, “A whole new world.” He stopped, waiting to see if Eggsy would accompany his lesser singing skills.
“That's where we'll be.” Eggsy reluctantly followed, his voice just as breathtaking despite clear nervousness.
Merlin grinned, repeating in his baritone, “That's where we'll be.
Eggsy turned his head, Merlin could see the works of smile playing on his soft, kissable lips. “A thrilling chase.”
“A wondrous place.”
They completed the chorus, and song, in perfect symphony, “For you and me.”
Suddenly Merlin was glad Harry wasn’t there, otherwise he wouldn’t have had the pleasure of this.
“You need Harry?” Eggsy wondered, keeping his eyes locked with Merlin. “He stepped out, said he’d be a mo. Which usually translates a half day.” Eggsy shook his head, a fond air surrounding him in regard of the man he spoke of.
Merlin rocked back on his heels. “I did have an appointment, aye. I can wait for him, though, the girls are with their mum and I had planned office hours for the appointment.” He rather assumed Harry would have shoved off like this.
Eggsy pursed his lips, “You let me finish this, and I can fit you.”
“It’s a measurement,” Merlin gently corrected.
He shrugged, “Sure, yeah. Just take a seat.” He turned away, gathering his scissors up and murmured, “Didn’t think you’d know Aladdin,” as he returned to his work with slightly jittery hands. It was cute how Merlin could effect him that way. Merlin bit his lip when Eggsy realized what he’d said. Eggsy chuckled, it was a soft nervous sound. “I guess you would,” he corrected. “Having two daughters and all.”
Merlin hummed, “More than you think.” He came to sit beside the table, content to watch Eggsy make perfect cuts along the white dashes on fabric. “Daisy likes Aladdin?” He rather thought that was well before her time, it was admittedly before his girls but close enough Heather introduced them.
“Yeah.” Eggsy set aside a piece, that Merlin assumed would make a jacket someday, and took a section, sliced through more, that clearly indicated sleeves. “Mum found all my VHS tapes, a player and had Daisy one night.” Merlin adored the way Eggsy’s brow furrowed in concentration, his tongue even stuck out a corner. He laughed to himself, “She was hooked.”
“The girls love all the Classics.” Merlin crossed a leg over the other. “Cinderella is a favorite in our house.” Eggsy made a noise in agreement, Merlin hadn't met many who didn't care for the fairytale. “They are quite taken with the newest rendition, with this Scottish bloke. Richard Madden I think, aye?” Merlin said to himself, fishing his mobile out to double check; he nodded. “Richard Madden.” And held his mobile up so Eggsy could see.
Eggsy paused for a moment to gaze, it was quick, but Merlin could see the beginnings of a blush coat his peachy-pale skin.
“A good looking lad, eh?” He teased. “Young too.”
Eggsy snorted, “Like I ain’t got my own hot Scottish bloke, yeah?” His back went ramrod straight. Merlin grinned from ear to ear. “I mean…”
Merlin stood and cupped Eggsy’s cheek, encouraging their eyes to meet and held Eggsy's for a bracing moment before he closed the space, and gingerly shaped his lips against Eggsy’s. “You mean?” He prompted when he leaned away, keeping his palm firm around his cheek, stroking a thumb down freshly shaved skin.
“I mean…” Eggsy pressed into the affection, eyes slipped shut as Merlin continued his caress, and breathed with a practiced rhythm. It gave him a thrill, knowing he provoked this sort of reaction from Eggsy. Sea green eyes lazily opened, determination and lust swirled in the iris. “I meant what I said,” he finished, sounding a bit more confident than before. Eggsy tipped on toes to give him a peck. “But he is rather dishy.” Eggsy winked, cheek and mirth twinkled in his eyes.
Merlin scooped an arm around his waist, yanked him closer, and snogged the ever loving breath out of him, only mildly concerned this was Eggsy’s job. But he was best friends with the tightwad who ran the place, so it wasn't like Merlin couldn’t smooth talk his way out if anyone saw them. That and Andrew had long since gotten used to Harry shagging men in the dressing rooms, not to mention the indecent ogling he does when Percival is around, but Merlin would save that black mail for later.
“Woah,” Eggsy gasped once he was able to breathe. He giggled, that was an adorable sound, shifting away to make it seem as though he had work to do. Which he sort of did. “What is the occasion?”
Merlin raised a brow, “To kiss ye?” He was confused. “I rather thought it was an appropriate thing for us to do now, aye?”
Eggsy laughed, it was a full body sound that crinkled his face. “Don’t be daft, babe.” Merlin’s heart skipped a beat, yet Eggsy continued on as if he hadn’t just used a pet name. “I meant for the suit.”
Merlin returned to his seat with a thud. “Oh,” he exhaled. Come on, Merlin. Poker face. He was able to achieve such by the time Eggsy turned quizzical eyes on him. “It’s for work,” he lied. “I like to start the school year with a new suit.” It wasn’t a complete fib, truth enough he would be able to feed that lie to Harry.
Not that he’d need to. To be fair, he hadn’t told Harry WHY he wished to have a new suit made, it was just that he didn’t need Harry sticking his nose in Merlin’s business, or any further than he already had.
“That’s lovely,” Eggsy chirped. “Just about done.” He was a quick hand, Merlin would need to make sure Harry compensated him at the job for his work. No. Merlin wouldn’t let his personal involvement with Eggsy, tamper with his professional work. “There.” Eggsy stood back, a proud smile on his face, and turned to Merlin. “You have the fabric all picked out?”
Merlin stood to follow Eggsy onto the shop floor. “I have an idea what I want.” They headed into dressing room one where Merlin stripped to his boxer briefs, allowing Eggsy’s skillful fingers apply featherlight pressure against his skin.
A long moment of silence passed before Merlin suggested, “We should have a sleepover.” Eggsy’s hands paused along his shoulders, Merlin had to smile. “For the girls,” he finished. Eggsy resumed, quietly measuring. “Aubrey and Maeve adore Daisy and it seems she adores them.” He shrugged once Eggsy was finished with the top, working his way below the waist. “And they all like Disney,” he added, furthering his offer.
Eggsy completed one leg and moved onto the next. “I think that would be great,” he finally admitted.
When Merlin felt he was through, he lifted Eggsy’s chin with two fingers and guided him up into a stance.
“I know what that sounded like,” he whispered. “And I want that someday…”
“Me too,” Eggsy softly responded. “But,” he cautioned.
Merlin chuckled, “But, we are nae there yet.” Eggsy nodded. “And that’s okay.” Slow. That’s what they agreed on during their ‘surprise’ gathering, which turned out better than Merlin could have hoped. But that didn’t mean they would jump in, even if it was confirmed love swirled between them.
Children were involved and that made the situation all the more pressing.
“I know.” Eggsy’s lips curved up into a shy smile. “Just the thought…”
“Is nice,” Merlin completed his sentence.
Eggsy exhaled, “Yeah.”
He took Eggsy’s face, cradling it between his hands, indulging in a warm, slow tender kiss that filled him from the tips of his toes, to the top of his head. Before he could dip in for another, a loud bang on the door drew them apart.
It was followed by a rather appalled shout, muffled by the wooden door: “If you two are finished fornicating in my dressing room!”
Merlin rolled his eyes, Eggsy paled several shades. “Harry Hart, calling the kettle black are ye?”
Harry scoffed, “Hamish! I should have known!”
Merlin slowly began to dress. “If you were on time for my appointment…”
Harry was quiet for a moment. “I had other...pressing matters to address, Merlin.”
Merlin yanked the door open, nearly dropping Harry to the floor. “If a quick shag with you know who.” He squinted. “Is more pressing than an appointment YE did not have to make?”
Harry bristled, “What I do in my free time--”
“Is none of my business, aye.” Eggsy slithered around them, running up the stairs to get away. “I want him to cut the suit,” Merlin requested, nodding where Eggsy fled. Harry raised a brow. “Let’s just say I have a new tailor.” He smirked, walked around Harry, and left.
It was worth the string of frantic texts, begging Merlin not to get rid of him, from Harry.
---
“So about that date.” Merlin said, a few weeks later, handing out bowls of popcorn to otherwise occupied girls.
They had coordinated a time for Aubrey, Maeve and Daisy to watch a few Disney movies, with the option of a sleepover if Daisy, and Eggsy, was comfortable with Merlin for the night. The ladder was, of course, trustworthy of Merlin, and that left him feeling chuffed. Merlin settled beside Eggsy as the trio gathered together on a mound of blankets, pillows and stuffies to kill someone. It honestly looked appealing, and if Merlin wasn’t afraid to wake up crippled with pain in the morning, would offer to camp out with his girls if Daisy didn’t stay.
But who was he kidding? He’d do anything to make his girls happy, even risk his fifty plus something back.
Eggsy snuggled into his side with a content hum, while Merlin draped them in the worn afghan he kept on the back of his sofa. “What about it?” He inquired, digging a hand in the ultra butter popcorn Merlin saved for them. Eggsy munched on a handful, eyes glued to the screen as their first pick of the night played.
Merlin tried to pay attention, but Snow White wasn’t among one of his favorites. It might be the ‘real’ fairytale rendition that sort of ruined it for him. Something about dancing across hot coals until their death was unappealing, but it was Maeve’s favorite. And Merlin was not at all worried because she enjoyed it so much, just from the original fairytale alone. He tried very hard not to think about those things.
“Does next Saturday work for you?” The question sounded casual, but nothing about their relationship - or the one in development - was casual.
Aubrey and Maeve had keen ears, and as Merlin once learned, so did Daisy.
Eggsy shoved another mouthful of popcorn in, chomped it up and said, “I gotta ask mum, but otherwise yeah. Can’t think of anything I have planned.”
Merlin made an attempt to have some popcorn, but Eggsy was just as greedy as his kids, with his butter stained fingers in the bowl. He sagged into the cushion, giving up for the moment. Which turned into the entire film, the entire bowl depleted with only one successful handful eaten, until Cinderella was popped in, more popcorn made and fizzy - non-caffeinated, Merlin learned a time or two - was passed around. Eggsy was an eager man to be scooped up, nearly all in Merlin’s lap, as he sang along with the girls.
Even little Daisy had a verse right here and there.
It was a magical sound, listening to them all, and even he joined in during ‘bippity boppity boo’. The night grew closer, eyes drawing down and heavy with sleep, but little girls were insistent on Daisy’s pick. Merlin totally didn’t laugh when Eggsy rolled his eyes and was summoned to sing ‘A Whole New World’. And he couldn’t help but join in, and completely ignored the looks of both disgust and dreamy adoration from his daughters, as Merlin and Eggsy held one another’s gazes to finish the song.
There may have been a kiss shared too, and a few gags to follow, but that was disregarded as well.
Eggsy ended up carrying Daisy out, too reluctant to leave her daddy just yet, and left Merlin with a parting kiss.
Which of course meant Merlin risked his old back, getting cozy, and slept on the sitting room floor with his girls. And the next morning Merlin woke, with a rather stiff back but Aubrey had made coffee, to a text confirming their date. Both coffee and text made up for the crick in his back, ache in his joints. Once he could move again, Merlin sent a message out to Harry, requesting his presence that Saturday for an Uncle and niece supper with the girls - frozen pizza was on the menu, much to Harry’s displeasure - and started preparations for Saturday. He knew they had a proper date once, but this was the second real date, and Merlin wanted it to be extra special.
And he knew exactly how to make that happen.