Neil arched an eyebrow and straightened his blazer in an effort to remain calm and collected but internally he could feel the nerves beginning to rise. There was only one man who could bring this amount of insecurity and fear out in him and this man was watching him with cold blue eyes. Neil swallowed as his father took a sip from his glass. Whiskey, most likely. He knew the man. "Father. I was not expecting you here". He was glad that his voice remained unruffled as he took a seat in a blue velvet armchair just far enough from the couch that it was out of arm's reach. 

Richard Draven mimicked the arch on an eyebrow. "Nor should you have", he stated, voice cutting. He waved a hand at the low coffee table between them where a glass bottle of amber liquid sat on a gold tray along with two more glasses. "Have a glass son while we wait for Mr Valentine to be finished with his dinner guest". 

"No thank you", Neil declined. "I prefer gin". 

Richard's smile was more of a smirk at an unpleasant joke. "You may look like me, but you never had my tastes. Unfortunately you took after your mother in that regard. So uncouth". 

Neil's fingers tightened their grip where they were intertwined in his lap. He forced a benign smile. "Mother has no part in the business, so I don't see the need for her to be made a topic of conversation. You have made your attitude on her and me quite clear over the years". 

"Yet you still insist on siding with the Bitch", Richard sighed in disappointment. 

Neil's smile twitched but he forced it to remain steady. "Enough with the family talk. Why are you here?"

The glass clinked on the wood as Richard set it down on the table. He sat back and arched his fingers on his knee. The dark grey checkered suit unrubpled by the movement. "The more interesting question, Son. Is why are you here?"

Neil projected a offhand shrug. "I heard that there was a gala. I was mistaken". 

"I have been trying to reach you for a week and yet as soon as there is a gala, you reappear in society? Do you care for the business at all?" Richard's voice rose in to a shout and Neil was forced to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from flinching. If they were at his father's manor, something would have already been thrown. Neil wanted to retort with the truth. That he didn't give a shit about their family or the company at all and would rather die on a mission for Kingsman then deal with it. But his mother was only alive because of the money from his father and that company, so he had to stay quiet. 

Richard collected himself. He pinched the bridge of his nose (it was a habit Neil knew he had himself and hated), and sighed before going back to his steely calm. "Your brother is dead". The words were a statement. 

Neil jerked in surprise. His older half brother, the legitimate heir, was locked in an expensive prison for his involvement with human trafficking. (Neil had been part of the kingsmen effort to unmask the whole thing. Not that his brother knew this). It was only Richard who had managed to save the company from the backlash at the cost of his firstborn. The last Neil heard, the man was living it up in some white-collar facility. "When?" He swallowed. 

"Last week. Guards found him in his cell. Overdose. Apparently Charles had gotten into a nasty cocaine habit during his time". Richard didn't seem all that bothered by the news, more annoyed rather than grieving. 

Neil nodded slowly, unsure what to feel. He and Charles had never had a close relationship, or any sort of relationship at all for that matter. Charles had spent their childhood treating Neil like a unfortunate stain on the wallpaper. The man had also been over ten years older than him. It was safe to say that they had never really talked. (The fact that Neil helped arrest him was evidence of just how close they had been). "And? You decide to ambush me here just to tell me that Charles is dead?" He leaned on the arm of his chair. "Or is there something more father?" 

Richard grimaced as if he had just swallowed something bitter. "Since your sister has not been heard from for eight years, to my great displeasure I am left with you. Some pansy boy who'd rather party than deal with any responsibility. You are not my first choice, or my twentieth for that matter. You are nothing more than an unfortunate accident. If it wasn't for your mother's stubbornness then you wouldn't have been born. Instead you're here and now the heir to my company". 

Neil blinked. He had been the acting heir ever since his brother had been incarcerated. Abigail had run off years ago with some girl she had been secretly dating and the last he had heard from her was that she was living in Asia somewhere with her wife. He knew that while he was the acting heir, he knew it was just while his father searched for someone to replace him with. But now it seemed that wasn't going to be the case. "I am now the official heir?" He repeated in surprise. 

Richard sighed deeply. "Unfortunately. You are going to have to step up and stop playing around. You prance around the world in your stupid suits, kissing boys and girls. It's all got to stop now. I've been looking into arranging your marriage and you have to start projecting a proper image". 

"Marriage? Excuse me?" Neil burst in shock. "I don't want a single sliver of your company. You can give it to cousin Fred. Give it to anyone! I want nothing of this family or the company. Give it to Margret! She can do it". 

"I cannot have some man who thinks he is a woman as the head of my company. And Fred is a fucking queer. I will not have it! You shall run my company or I will cut off your mother". Richard pointed one finger sharply at him. Face suddenly pink and sharp with rage. He took a deep breath. "Valentine has a business proposal for me. If it comes to fruition then only you can lead the company". 

Neil could feel sudden warning signals blaring in his head. "What business proposal?" 

"That"- A voice interrupted them. The door had opened and the recognisable figure of Valentine stood in the frame. The man grinned at them cheerfully as he crossed over to take the second armchair opposite Neil. -"Mr Draven, is what I invited you here to discuss". Behind him, the same woman who had greeted Neil at the door stood patiently.  

Valentine adjusted himself until he was conformable. Then he clicked his fingers and a man in a suit set down a tray covered in macdonalds burgers and fries. "Help yourself. You must be hungry". 

If this was any other situation, Neil wold have laughed at the look on his father's face. But he controlled it and picked up a wrapped cheeseburger from the pile."Don't mind if I do. Family talk always makes me hungry".  Richard's face worsened as Neil bit into the burger. Valentine laughed. As he chewed, his thoughts whirled. If Valentine was now with them, then Harry must have left. A quick glance at the glasses in his pocket told him that they were still not working. He was alone and with minimal tech. It seemed like his best option was to play along. 

"So", Neil said one ehe had swallowed. "Mr Valentine, glad to make your acquaintance". He held out a hand and Valentine shook it. "What proposal are you wanting to discuss". 

"That is what I am just about to begin Mr Draven, and Mr Draven". He nodded at them and began to talk. Neil listened with some sort of horrified fascination as Valentine laid out his complete plan. Halfway through he had to put down his burger, unable to stomach anymore. 

"This is excellent", Richard was smiling. "Truly remarkable solution. I am fully onboard. When do we start?" Valentine beamed and clapped his hands together in glee.

"This is genocide!" Neil burst. He desperately wished that his glasses were working right now. He wanted Merlin to hear this. This was far bigger than any of them had guessed. Far bigger than the missions he usually took. He felt with corruption and mafias, not saving the world type stuff. "You can't be serious". 

Valentine's smile faded. "Mr Draven. I am very serious. You father had assured me that you would cooperate but it seems he was wrong". 

"Don't kill him", Richard sighed in disappointment. He shot a glare at Neil. "I really can't be bothered to raise another heir from birth. Such a hassle". 

"Gazelle", Valentine raised a hand. 

Neil went to stand up but the secretary stopped him. She had walked forwards and flicked her leg up in a kick. Instantly her prosthetic moved and a sharp blade extended from the metal. It brushed against Neil's throat and a trickle of blood began to drip from the small cut. He knew without needing to be told, that this was the thing that had killed Lancelot. He swallowed and the glare in his eyes was poison. Valentine stood up and walked over towards him. Neil remained still, blade a threat, as the man pulled the black glasses from his breast pocket. 

"Nice specs you have here Mr Draven", Valentine remarked with a grin. "The fellow I had dinner with downstairs had a pair exactly the same. Are they in fashion?" 

"I am short sighted", Neil muttered. "Just liked the design". 

"They're not bad", Valentine held them up to his eyes and peered through the glass. 

"May I?" Richard held up a hand. 

"Of course", Valentine handed the glasses over. Richard sneered at them then dropped them to the floor and stamped on them. The frames broke and Neil wince. 

"Ugly things", Richard dusted off his suit. "You can take him. I'm sure he will come around by the time this is all over". 

"Take me where?" Neil demanded as the secretary pulled him from his seat. He made sure to put up just enough of a struggle not to be suspicious. But he also didn't snuggle too much. It would be bad if they knew who he was.

"Don't worry Mr Draven", Valentine waved as he was pulled out of the door. "You will be comfortable". Neil didn't find that very reassuring. 

unedited