"Everything's fine here, Merlin. I just took care of the last one—the warehouse is secure."

"Tristan?" 

"I'm done too, mates. I've turned the security back on and reinforced it according to protocol, so no one can have a go at it again."

"Galahad?" Merlin asked.

"Everything's in order. I'm already on my way to HQ."

"All right, that was the last one, mission complete! Tristan and Lancelot, head back to base."

It had been a routine mission for Harry, Eggsy, and Roxy.

A small group of amateur burglars had broken into one of the Kingsman’s backup warehouses to steal weapons and technological equipment.

They were just amateurs who knew nothing about their target, so they had been easily disarmed and rendered amnesiac. However, to be on the safe side, Merlin sent all three of them to check the other warehouses in London and the surrounding area to reinforce security protocols.

Half an hour later, Roxy and Eggsy walked into Merlin’s office. Harry was already there, finishing up his report.

Harry walked out of the office, and Eggsy followed him with his gaze until Roxy nudged him. 

The two of them briefed Merlin, and a little while later, Eggsy headed toward the high-speed shuttle to return with Harry. As he approached the familiar figure, he heard Roxy’s voice in his earpiece. 

"Eggsy, could you be a little less obvious, please?"

Eggsy raised a puzzled eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"The way you're looking at Harry. No, I should say, the way you’re checking him out."

Eggsy protested, whispering so Harry wouldn't hear, "Wot?! Nah! I was just 'avin' a looksie at the fruit of me labour, the suit I measured an' tailored for him myself."

Roxy snickered. 

"Really? You little liar! Not to me. Even Merlin noticed it."

"Roxy, don't lay it on me for bitin' the view. Give these legs a know, yeah? They'd make a saint drop his fai's. I'm tellin' you, there ain't a single blush-full thought in my head when I look at 'em, especially when I take my eyes a little higher down the line!"

Roxy snorted.

"Watch your language, Eggsy!" Harry’s deep voice echoed in the younger man’s ear.

"Shit! You was still online?"

"Language!"

"Sorry, Roxy. I’m logging off."

Roxy replied with a fake pouting tone, "Oh, no! Just when it was getting interesting!"

"Oi, you fancy me filling ya in on how you get lovin' eyes on Merl..."

Only a beep answered him.

Chuckling slightly, Eggsy walked over to Harry. However, his chuckle quickly died down when he saw how his lover was looking at him, leaning on his umbrella.

The doors to the shuttle train car opened and they stepped inside.

As the doors closed, Eggsy leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "You mad, Harry?" he asked.

Harry leaned forward, bringing their faces within a few centimeters of each other.

"I should punish you. Two profanities, and furthermore, you are uttering such unseemly remarks concerning my anatomy."

Leaning in even closer, Harry whispered, his gaze intense, "So, does my new suit flatter me?" 

Eggsy swallowed. 

Harry continued, "Or, to quote you, does it show off my legs that could make a saint sin?"

Eggsy bit his lip before replying, "You've got no idea, Harry."

"So, how do you plan to make up for your blatant lack of manners, my dear boy?"

Eggsy gasped slightly and asked, "Would a birthday dinner cooked by me, just the two of us at home, be enough to make you forgive me?"

Harry pretended to think it over, then said, "That ought to suffice, provided I am permitted to bestow a kiss upon the chef."

"Just the one kiss ?" Eggsy replied in a feigned pout.

"That'll depend on the dinner, my dear."  

"Cheeky bastard," 

"Manners."

"Harry, stop that."

Harry brought his face even closer to Eggsy’s. So close, in fact, that Eggsy could feel Harry's breath on his skin. In a teasing tone, Harry said, "Don't worry, my dear boy. After dinner, I'm going to take such good care of you that, instead of swearing, you'll be begging me."

Eggsy was so flabbergasted that he didn’t notice the cabin doors had opened.

"Shall we head home, my dear?"

The two of them walked out as Eggsy protested, "Harry, you can't just go saying stuff like that to me."

Harry chuckled softly and whispered, "That'll teach you to stare at my legs instead of focusing on your report."

They took a London cab with a driver instead of a Kingsman taxi, so the ride back was uneventful. The two men simply held hands while Eggsy replied to messages from his friends and mother and showed Harry the latest photos of Daisy.

A little later, they walked through the door of Harry’s residence. Eggsy kicked off his shoes and murmured,

"It's good to finally be home."

Eggsy would never tire of saying this, as being home was, until recently, something he had never truly experienced while living with his mother.

A home, that was what Harry had given him, and for that alone, he would have Eggsy’s devotion for the rest of his life. The fact that he loved his legs was just a bonus.

"What are you thinking about, my dear?"

"Nothing," Eggsy replied, blushing slightly.

Harry’s chuckle made it clear that his lover wasn’t fooled in the slightest by the nature of his thoughts, so Eggsy protested, "I was just thinkin' that sayin' the word ‘home’… made me…fuck" He swallowed before continuing. "Made me happy. That’s it. That’s all."

He headed toward the dressing room to end the awkward situation, but Harry held him back by the sleeve and made him turn toward him. Then, he cupped Eggsy's cheek with his hand and caressed his cheekbone with his thumb. "My dear Eggsy, you cannot fathom the delight it brings me to hear such words from you. There is no cause for embarrassment, I assure you."

Harry leaned toward Eggsy and pressed his lips to his in a tender kiss. Then he whispered, "Welcome home."

He captured Eggsy’s lips again in a kiss just as tender as the first until Eggsy stopped him and gently pushed him away. "C'mon, Harry. I know you don't want nothin' fancy for your birthday, but I still wanna do this little somethin' for ya."

"Oh, so dinner was already planned? That means you're going to have to come up with something special to make up for your earlier lack of manners."

Eggsy chuckled softly, then wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck and pulled his face close to his own. After nibbling on Harry's ear, he whispered, "What if later I worship those legs that could make a saint sin?"

Harry playfully pinched Eggsy's buttocks, making him yelp and step back.

Harry chuckled as his younger lover walked away, feigning offense, toward the dressing room.

A little later, while Harry was relaxing on the couch with a book—on Eggsy’s orders—Eggsy was preparing dinner in the kitchen, having barred Harry from entering.

The kitchen was quiet as Eggsy stood at the stove with a clean linen apron tied around his waist, watching the butter melt and foam around the thick, beautifully marbled steak.

Eggsy didn’t want anything extravagant. There would be no theatrical haute cuisine, no dishes simmered for hours on end, and certainly no endless tasting menus designed to impress. He just wanted to cook something that Harry would enjoy.

Something authentic.

He opted for a steak, quickly pan-seared in butter and garlic and served with crispy roasted baby potatoes. It was the same meal he’d made the first time he cooked for Harry, at the start of their relationship.

He remembered the happy look on Harry’s face that evening, when Harry confided with rare vulnerability that it was the first time a lover had cooked for him.

That detail had been etched into Eggsy’s mind forever.

He had bought everything the day before, slipping away while Harry reviewed intelligence reports in his study. He knew he could prepare everything in about an hour. He seasoned the baby potatoes with sea salt, coarsely ground black pepper, and a generous drizzle of olive oil before putting them in the oven. While they were browning, he heated the skillet until it was sizzling hot. This allowed the meat to develop a beautiful caramelized crust before he flipped it over to cook for a few minutes on the other side.

Finally, he added butter, crushed garlic cloves, and fresh rosemary, basting the meat continuously with a large spoon. 

Once the meat was cooked to perfection, he placed it on a wooden cutting board to rest.

Eggsy wanted to take care of Harry today, to spoil him. Pamper him. Because that’s what Harry had done for him since the beginning of their relationship, while introducing him to his world without ever making him feel inadequate, at least not around the people who mattered.

They were very different. 

Their respective insecurities stemmed from very distinct sources: Harry’s rigid perfectionism and fear of becoming obsolete versus Eggsy’s persistent feeling of being an imposter stuck in a tailor-made suit. Yet, in the peaceful sanctuary of Harry’s home, those differences faded away. Eggsy wanted Harry to be able to count on him as much as he counted on Harry himself. 

He wanted them to be equals in every way possible.

He reached for the lemon on the wooden cutting board and began slicing its peel into a thin spiral for their martinis when he heard Harry’s soft, familiar footsteps behind him.

"Nope, that's off-limits," Eggsy said without turning around, a tender smile on his lips.

"Come on, Eggsy. It is my birthday, and I am quite alone. I promise I won’t touch the kitchen utensils. I shall merely adorn the room with my presence and observe your culinary artistry."

Eggsy let out a soft chuckle and tilted his head forward.

"Alright..." 

Harry moved closer and wrapped his arms around Eggsy’s waist from behind, burying his face in the crook of his neck. Eggsy set down the lemon and knife he was holding, turned completely around, and faced Harry, who was still holding him tightly.

"You call that ‘not touching’?" Eggsy teased, placing his palms on Harry’s chest.

"Well, I did declare I would not lay a finger upon the kitchen utensils" Harry murmured, a mischievous glint in his eyes. " made no such pledge regarding the chef. You cannot expect me to let the most tempting dish in front of me go untouched, my dear.."

He didn’t give Eggsy a chance to protest. His hands slid from the younger man’s back to the nape of his neck. He lingered in his blond hair for a moment before lifting his face upward. Harry captured Eggsy’s lips in a kiss marked by quiet yet intense hunger. It remained gentle, though, as neither of them wanted to give in to the heat. It was as if they knew it was a foretaste of what was to come later that night. 

Eggsy simply closed his eyes and surrendered to the moment, his arms sliding up to encircle Harry’s neck. He snuggled into the warmth, perfectly content to stay there until he suddenly remembered the potatoes were still in the oven.

He told himself that Harry’s lips were far too distracting and seductive.

Reluctantly, Eggsy pulled away. A breathless laugh escaped him as he enjoyed the way Harry’s lips tried to follow his own, before the older man realized, a moment too late, that the kiss was over.

"Hands off, Mr. Hart," Eggsy murmured, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, gently pushing Harry away by the shoulders. "Do what ya said. Don't touch nothing, just look pretty." 

Harry chuckled and obeyed, stepping back just enough to lean against the countertop and watch Eggsy bustle about the room.

He wouldn't say it out loud to the younger man, but this was the best birthday gift he'd ever received. Just seeing Eggsy move through his house with such natural ease and treat the place like a home they shared, not a museum, was enough.

Eggsy had turned his back to him again to slice the lemon, and Harry thought that if his younger lover felt free to "check him out," as he'd put it, then he could certainly take the same liberty and enjoy the sight of his magnificent figure.

After taking a long, lingering look at Eggsy’s broad shoulders, slender waist, and muscular legs, his eyes drifted to the cutting board where the steaks lay, loosely covered with aluminum foil. A sense of gratitude washed over him, followed by a surge of deep tenderness.

Eggsy had remembered.

He had taken the time to prepare something he knew would please Harry.

Before Eggsy could turn around, Harry stepped closer and wrapped his arms around him from behind. After pressing a lingering kiss to the top of Eggsy’s head, he rested his chin on his shoulder and whispered, "Thank you, my dear boy."

Eggsy froze, the knife still in his hand. A look of genuine surprise crossed his face. "For what?"

"You know exactly how to make me feel cared for," Harry replied, his voice deeper and tinged with an emotion he showed only to Eggsy.

Eggsy wasn’t sure what had prompted this sudden display of affection. However, since his goal for the evening had been to make Harry feel this way, he simply let out a quiet purr of satisfaction and rested his head against Harry’s shoulder for a moment. Then, he turned back to finish preparing the martinis.

Once the cocktails were mixed, chilled, and garnished with lemon zest, they clinked their glasses to toast Harry.

"I have to admit, my boy," said Harry, taking a slow sip and closing his eyes in pleasure. "Ever since you learned how to make a real martini, this is the best one yet." 

Eggsy smiled slyly, leaned over the counter, and planted a brief, light kiss on Harry’s lips. "Mmm, yeah, you're right. It tastes way better, innit."

Before Harry could respond with one of his dry quips, the oven beeped, making Eggsy snort.  He immediately shooed Harry out of the kitchen with a wave of his hand and directed him toward the dining table. Then, he dressed the plates with swift and confident skill.

A few moments later, he returned carrying two steaming plates. The presentation was simple and unpretentious, but the aromas of garlic, rosemary, and perfectly browned beef filled the room with a sweet scent." 

Harry took his first bite, his eyelids closing gently. The moan of pure pleasure that escaped him was so deliciously indecent that it almost made Eggsy want to abandon the meal, pull Harry out of his chair, and take him straight upstairs for a very different kind of feast. 

But it was Harry’s birthday, and Eggsy wanted him to enjoy every bite of the dinner he’d prepared with such care. They took their time, exchanging a few quiet words about work, Daisy, and all sorts of things. They were relaxed by the sheer luxury of spending an evening free from any outside obligations. 

After dinner, they made their way to the living room. Since it was his birthday, Eggsy let Harry choose the activity. 

However, Harry didn’t ask for a movie, music, or any other form of entertainment. He simply settled into his favorite spot on the couch and pulled Eggsy down with him. Harry sat up straight against the armrest while Eggsy stretched out fully and rested his head comfortably on his lover’s lap. 

The room was lit only by the amber glow of a floor lamp, which added to the moment's intimacy.

"You sure you don't want nothing else, love?" Eggsy asked softly, watching the light dance across Harry’s face as his slender fingers gently ran through his blond hair. "No film? No spa day, massage, or summat more elaborate? I can sort most things out if I have to." 

Harry slowly shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm at home with the person I hold most dear in all the world, xactly where I want him to be. I require nothing more, Eggsy."

Eggsy hummed, the sound almost like a purr, as Harry’s fingers continued their gentle, soothing dance through his hair.

At that moment, the silence felt heavy with serenity, and Eggsy was overwhelmed by a sudden wave of emotion. Even now, after everything they’d been through, he sometimes found himself staring at Harry, wondering how he’d ended up here: safe, cherished, and infinitely loved.

"Harry…" Eggsy whispered.

"Hmm?" Harry’s fingers paused for a split second, sensing the slight shift in Eggsy’s posture.

"You gotta listen to me, right, without interrupting," Eggsy said, his voice growing hoarse and thick with emotion.

Harry tensed slightly as his protective instinct kicked in and he sensed the tension in his younger lover. He asked with concern, "Eggsy, my dear, what’s wrong?" 

Harry instinctively tried to turn Eggsy’s head so he could look him in the eyes.

Eggsy shook his head firmly, keeping his face pressed against Harry’s thigh. "Don't worry. Everyfing's fine. I'm alright. But I'd rather you didn't look at me right now. Just let me talk." 

Harry nodded and let his hand drop to rest gently on Eggsy’s shoulder. He resumed his slow, rhythmic stroking of Eggsy’s hair and forced himself to stay still so he could listen.

Eggsy took a slow, deep breath, his gaze fixed ahead as he searched for the words to best describe how he was feeling.

"Harry, before I met ya, I really thought that happiness wasn't for me," Eggsy began. His voice was barely above a murmur, but he managed to steady it with each word he forced past his lips. "You know me, yeah? You know where I'm from. For ages, the only real light in my life was my little flower, my Daisy. Everything I did was just tryin' to get by and make a better life for her. I was tryin' to stack the odds in my favour against the hand life dealt me as a kid from the estate."

He paused, swallowing hard.

"Then you come along. Not only did you show me I was worth it and could aim for summin' better, bigger, and brighter, but you gave me all of that." 

He made a vague gesture toward the room, encompassing everything that made up their home. "Even though our beginnings were chaotic, you were first my mentor, then my friend, and finally...somethin' you'd never dream for someone like me: someone that loved me."

Eggsy closed his eyes, and a single tear escaped. It slid silently down, leaving a small wet spot on Harry’s pants.

"I'm no poet," Eggsy continued, his voice tinged with self-deprecation. "An' even if I was, all the words in the dictionary wouldn't be enough to say how much I love you. That's the full extent of what I feel, Harry. I don't need money, status, or any of that stuff the world tries to sell us, as long as I've got you. You're the most precious thing in my life, no doubt. I bless the day you was born, the day the brightest, most stubborn, and most beautiful person I know came into the world. Thanks for bein' my superhero. You're the love of my life. I love you, Harry Hart. Happy birthday."

The silence that followed was complete.

Harry stopped caressing him. His hand remained flat on Eggsy’s chest, feeling the heavy, rapid beats of his heart. As the seconds ticked by without Harry saying a word, a sudden feeling of insecurity washed over Eggsy.

Did I look pathetic? Did I go over the top?

Needing to see his face, needing to know that he hadn’t crossed the line into saccharine sentimentality, Eggsy sat up abruptly and spun around to straddle Harry’s lap.

He studied Harry’s face and found him completely overwhelmed.

His eyes shone with unusual brilliance, his lips were slightly parted, and his usual impassivity had crumbled completely, revealing a raw, unvarnished devotion that took Eggsy’s breath away.

Seeing the slight uncertainty and vulnerability in his young lover’s eyes, Harry snapped out of his momentary daze.

"Did I go on a bit, or what?" Eggsy asked softly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Never," Harry murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.

Before Eggsy could respond, Harry placed his hands on the younger man's face and cradled it reverently. He pulled Eggsy close and whispered against his lips, "This is the most splendid birthday of my existence, for I am graced to spend it in your company. Thank you, Eggsy, my dearest love. You’re the greatest gift life has ever given me. I know I’m old and difficult and have a thousand exasperating flaws, but despite all that, you’re here. And you love me."

Harry gently brushed his thumb across Eggsy’s cheek, wiping away the last trace of moisture.

"Words will never be enough to express the depth of my love for you, my dear, dear boy. Never." 

Harry didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, he pulled Eggsy closer and thanked him with a kiss, pouring all the intensity of his ardent and unwavering love for the extraordinary man into it.

This time, there was no restraint. The gentle, intimate tenderness of the evening gave way to a sudden, electric heat. The kiss deepened rapidly, becoming urgent and breathless until they were forced to pull apart to catch their breath. Their foreheads were pressed against each other and their chests were heaving. 

Harry didn’t let Eggsy pull away. With a strength that belied his distinguished demeanor, he slid his hands under Eggsy’s thighs, gripping them firmly. Eggsy instinctively wrapped his legs around Harry’s waist.

With a low growl, Harry rose from the couch and carried Eggsy effortlessly toward the bedroom. Eggsy laughed softly against Harry’s neck. He covered Harry’s jaw and throat with languid, eager kisses and ran his fingers through Harry’s hair as Harry gently laid him down on the wide mattress.

Eggsy rolled onto his back and looked up at Harry, who climbed onto the bed and positioned himself above Eggsy. Harry leaned down to brush a stray strand of blond hair from Eggsy’s forehead, his gaze burning with an incandescent passion.

"It's your birthday, my love," Eggsy murmured. A mischievous, knowing smile played on his lips as he grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and slowly pulled it up. "Do whatever you want with me." 

Harry swallowed hard, his eyes tracing the firm, sculpted lines of Eggsy’s flat stomach and chest in the dim light. "Oh, my dear boy...what a delightful gift." He leaned in, pausing barely a millimeter from Eggsy’s lips. His voice dropped to a deep, husky whisper. "Is this offer only good for today?"

Eggsy shook his head, his gaze dark and his eyelids heavy.

"Today," Eggsy whispered. He reached out and pulled Harry toward him by the lapels of his shirt. "And for as long as you want."

"Forever, then?" Harry asked.

Eggsy nodded, too overwhelmed by emotion to speak, his throat tight.

From that moment on, words became completely unnecessary. Harry pressed his lips against Eggsy’s once more, and in the hushed, shadowed warmth of the bedroom, they surrendered themselves entirely to the night, devoting themselves to one another with all the time in the world to savor the moment.

_________

Still not beta'd (per choice)

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰