Man, oh, man so I have dramatic plans for this story! Bear with me because the beginning isn't going to be filled with espionage and sudden death, but I promise you there will be espionage and death. I PROMISE YOU! Please review, I would love to hear what you are thinking! Even the reviews that aren't too sugary will help me. So, without further ado… here is chapter 2.
"A storm is coming," Louise said, helping Elaine carry the remaining potted plants into the rusted pickup.
Elaine stooped down to set down a particularly heavy pot and looked up at the grey sky. There was the moist smell of rain settling around them and Elaine brushed off her dirty hands before checking her watch.
She'd be lucky to make it home before the rain started. And knowing the current temperature forecast, it would be a freezing rain, too.
Elaine sighed and picked up the full pot at her feet and heaved it up into the rusty pickup truck.
"You know," Elaine said. "I've always preferred snow, though rain is amazing. But snow doesn't soak through my clothes immediately."
Louise laughed and made a defense of rain that Elaine shrugged off. Elaine's boss was at the older end of middle-aged with unruly black hair and a warm voice that crackled like embers and a warm disposition to match her ember voice. Her hands were cracked from work and she wore those green muddy galoshes she never left the house without.
The metal bed of the pickup clanged as Louise dropped a large pot in.
"Why don't you head out?" Louise said.
Before Elaine could refuse, she started again.
"I've got my Donnie here, so go on."
"If you say so," Elaine said, stepping away from the truck and pulling her sweaty hands out of the gardening gloves.
They had been working in the greenhouses outside of London and the way home was a bit of a hike for Elaine. So she accepted Louise's early release and said goodbye to both her and her son. Donnie shot her a funny face and an order not to get caught in the storm.
The greenhouse wasn't exactly in the countryside, but it was still at the borders of London so the transportation was sparse and far away. But Elaine didn't mind. It was nice to get away from the bulk of the city and enjoy a leisurely stroll to the train.
As the train sped into the heart of the city, Elaine took the time to rest her head back on the hazy window and watch the buildings slip past her. The later lull of the day settled in, so there were only a handful of passengers.
Elaine sketched a new dress in her mind; it was vintage and blue, perhaps velvet and tight with a lilac pin on the front panel. Elaine memorized her new, imagined pattern and waited for the ride to end.
Walking the same route she always took that perpetually led her to Vafara Tulle- Couture Wedding Gown.
It was cold and the sky looked ready to spill its weight, but nonetheless, Elaine stopped to sigh in admiration. Each gown in the window was a work of meticulous craftsmanship. Aspiring to be the creator of such a piece, Elaine studied each displayed dress with absolute intent- each stitch was vital and each layer of tulle in the skirts wisped Elaine's memories to a place of the past where her mother would sew in the early mornings of her childhood. The beading and the lace and the snowy veils created a future in front of her of gowns upon gowns with soft silk and creme kitten-heel shoes.
There was nothing as close to perfection as a well-constructed dress. Nothing.
"The door opens, you know."
Elaine jumped.
Turning, she faced a pretty woman in a tailored blouse and pencil skirt sipping a latte. She appeared to be amused and Elaine blushed as she realized she had been noticed the mornings she stopped to drool over their merchandise.
"Come on," She said, walking in and holding the door open for Elaine.
After a moment of hesitation, Elaine followed and walked into the shop like it was a dream. There was pastel tulle hung throughout the shop and vases with roses and dresses more beautiful than Elaine could fathom draped over elegant mannequins.
"I'm Stacia," the woman said.
"Elaine."
Stacia brushed back her long brunette hair as she took the final sip of her latte. Elaine noticed she wore heels despite already being tall.
"Are you engaged?" She asked, a warm smile inviting Elaine to step further into the shop.
"No, no. Definitely not."
"Well, you're here for something. It's a rare day when I don't see you admiring the gowns out front."
"Oh, well… I actually want to go into couture wedding gowns." Elaine confessed as she studied a mermaid silhouette dress. "I discovered Vafara Tulle's work sophomore year of college and I've been in love ever since."
"Really?" Stacia said, leaning against the front counter. A crystal lamp spun slowly, casting sparkling glimmers across the counter Stacia was standing behind.
Elaine shook herself and stepped closer.
"Mmh. I studied textiles and worked in costume design for a bit. And…" Elaine held back a laugh, "I actually made my own high school prom dress senior year."
Stacia leaned over the counter towards her.
"Impressive. Where are you working now?"
"Muffy's flower shop. On Columbia street."
"What are you doing over there?" Stacia reprimanded with a laugh. "You should pop over here and work for us. We have an opening, you know. And even if the boss won't admit it, we are a bit desperate for an extra hand."
"Really!?" Elaine blushed as she realized she'd nearly shouted.
"Sure," Stacia laughed. "Mrs. Tulle is actually in today."
Elaine stepped back an inch.
"The Mrs. Tulle? Vafara Tulle is here?" Elaine gawked.
"Where else would she be?" Stacia mused. "Give me a moment and I'll get her."
With that, the sleek attendant turned on her Louis Vuitton heel and disappeared behind the silk curtain. For a moment, Elaine's heart soared until she realized she had nothing to show except an old, smeared sketchbook that was only for the minimalist of designs. To add to that, she was covered in dirt.
Vafara Tulle's wedding gowns was Elaine's dream job. It was a fantasy to even stand in her shop and the prospect of actually working for her was too much; especially in the unprepared state she was in.
Before Stacia could bring back the lead designer, Elaine turned on her heel and left. Hesitating, Elaine looked back once she was a block away.
"No, I'm not prepared." She said to herself. "I'll come back tomorrow, though."
So she kept walking and of course, it started to pour as soon as she rounded the corner. Rushing down a block, she managed to make it to a cafe as the shower had turned to pellets of freezing rain. Deciding that there were worse places to wait out a storm, Elaine sat down, shed her jacket, shook her hair, and ordered tea. Slowly, her hair dried and her clothes lost their uncomfortable dampness as she hoped her recent action didn't cost her the job of her dreams.
Fortunately, she had brought her sketchbook and good pens to work that morning so as she waited out the tempest, her pen traveled across the page. A long winter dress came alive on the page; pink to remind her of spring. The dress was simple, but elegant and potentially something to show to a designer like Tulle.
"At least I have somewhat of a portfolio," Elaine mumbled.
It was now 7:45 in the evening and Elaine was on her 3rd cup of peppermint tea. Sitting by the scratched and hazy window, she watched the dimming city light coil around the ankles of soggy pedestrians as she sketched; their shoulders misted by little crystal droplets. She didn't mind the time to herself. Shading the contours of her sketch, Elaine burrowed deeper into her knit sweater and contemplated a fourth cup of tea.
Her pen pausing on the page, Elaine watched the pavement of the damp streets reflect the light of cars whizzing past. It reminded her of Minneapolis. Suddenly, the memories of days before the catastrophe swirled in her mind, before that one evening that had nearly knocked Elaine permanently off balance and severed ties with her sister.
One mistake. It had been months since that day and Elaine could still see the betrayal burning in her sister's eyes.
"Mind if I join you?"
Elaine was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone else enter from the storm. Breaking away from her inner turmoil, Elaine looked up to see the nameless man that so often stopped by the flower stall. He carried a dripping black umbrella while wearing a soggy, yet somehow crisp tweed suit and Elaine couldn't help but notice how rain-soaked hair suited him. And as usual, he wore what Elaine now considered his signature glasses.
"Only if you tell me your name." She said once the surprise faded.
"Alright." He promptly sat down.
The barista brought him coffee as he shrugged off his soaked jacket.
"Alright? That's all?" Elaine scoffed, "I was expecting a fight. We've known each other for months and you've fought tooth and nail to give up your name. I was beginning to think you were a spy."
He smirked into his coffee before taking a sip.
"Ooh, I'm learning Mr. Gentlemen man's name." Elaine sang. "How exciting!"
He took another sip before speaking.
"Eggsy."
Elaine stared at him for a moment. Truthfully, she was waiting for the punchline.
"No, seriously, what's your name?" She chided.
"Gary's my real name but friends call me Eggsy." He said with a smile as the steam from his coffee curled up and dissipated.
"Really? I was expecting Richard or Robert." Elaine tsked. "You spent months and months building the suspense." She said with a teasing smile as she contemplated the man sitting across from her. "Eggsy. It has charm."
"As does Elaine." Eggsy offered.
"If you say so."
They sat sipping their drinks for a moment. The other couple sitting in the far corner left, leaving Eggsy and Elaine alone. The Barista wiped down tables behind them.
"How do you like London so far?" He asked. "You've had, what, since June to form an opinion?"
"Yeah, since June. Well, I love cold weather and rain is about as good as it gets, so overall, London is pretty much perfect. But it's strange to be so… uprooted from Minneapolis."
"Why d'ya leave?" Eggsy asked.
When she scoffed, crossing her arms, he continued.
"Come on, I answered a question, you answer a question. Fair is fair." Eggsy said, straightening and extended a hand towards her.
Elaine gave him a trying look.
"Things." She hoped he would get the hint. Eggsy was about to rebut the snip response but Elaine interjected before he could start. "Fair is fair, but the things I left overseas are… things I'd rather not revisit. So, I suggest you think of another question."
Eggsy studied her for a moment, watching her sip her tea and wondered why she smiled the way she did. Even after escaping such a past.
"Why a flower shop?"
Elaine laughed.
"From clandestine to clear, I see." She looked out the window, a smile still pulling her lips. "I guess I needed something sweet, something nice. And I need to get away from… certain… people." She felt the crack in her mask widen. Shaking herself out of what felt like the beginning of a spiral, she looked down at her drink. "Plus I've always had a knack for remembering symbolism and nothing say symbolism like a flower."
If Eggsy was suspicious of her hesitation, he didn't show it.
"So there's Gladiolus. Got that down pat. On to the next flower!"
"Sure you won't get bored and leave?" Elaine asked.
"Excuse me?" Eggsy scoffed, leaning back in his chair and feigning insult. "Am I or am I not Mr. Gentleman Man?"
"Okay," Elaine laughed, thankful for his light tone. She stirred her tea as she scoured her brain for a moment. "Sunflowers. They're the international symbol for nuclear peace 'cause they soak up radiation and they're kinda freaky since they turn towards the sun. Um… They're one of the tallest flowers with stalks that are thick and difficult to cut. One of my favorites; next to gladiolus."
"Of course."
Eggsy was still leaning back in his chair, giving her that odd smirk that always seemed to make her heart jump. He hadn't touched his coffee in a while and it seemed this extended gaze between them lasted the whole night.
"My turn." Elaine leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table. It seemed to do the trick, as Eggsy broke the gaze and took a sip of coffee. "What is it with you and suits? I don't think I've ever seen you wearing anything else. Not that I'm complaining."
"Comes with the job." He said, straightening his tie. "I'm a tailor."
Elaine's interested peaked and she wondered how else Eggsy was going to surprise her.
"Really? Well, you certainly look the part." She brought her mug up to her lips before remembering their last encounter and she nearly spat out her tea. "Your jacket! I completely forgot about it! I have it in my apartment and-"
"And it's fine," Eggsy laughed. "Trust me, as a tailor, I have too many jackets."
Elaine scoffed and leaned back in her wobbly chair.
"My turn." Eggsy said. "What are you working on?"
Elaine sent him a confused look, and he gestured to the notepad beneath her palms.
"Oh, this." Elaine blushed. "It's nothing, really. I like to draw. Dresses, specifically."
"Mind if I look?" Eggsy asked, hesitating.
Elaine shrugged, passing her pad across the table and nervously pulled at the hem of her sleeve as Eggsy flipped through the pages. Even more nerve-wracking was the fact that he lingered on each sketch, studying them all.
"These are amazing'. You got some talent." He said, still admiring her work. He didn't look up, just slowly flipped the pages and studying her work.
"You really think so?" Elaine fidgeted. "They're just early sketches and not that polished."
"Well, they look pretty spiffy to me." He said, turning back to previous sketches.
Eggsy closed the pad and pushed it over to her. The way he said it made Elaine blush an even deeper shade. The barista leaned over the counter behind them.
"Oi! We're closin' in a bit."
Eggsy nodded at her.
"I guess I'll see you later," Elaine said, polishing off her tea and reluctantly stuffing her sketchbook in her bag. She looked past Eggsy to see it was still a torrential downpour; the storm hadn't let up an inch. "Though, I was hoping to outwait the storm."
The pitter-patter of heavy pellets of rain thrummed against the pavement outside. Eggsy stood and shrugged on his overcoat.
"I'll get you a cab." He said.
Before she could protest, Eggsy stepped out into the rain and hailed a ride, but not before getting completely drenched. Running back into the cafe, he opened his black umbrella and gestured to her.
"Your suit, though." She protested, but it was obviously a lost cause.
"Has seen worse days." He raised an eyebrow with that annoyingly charming crooked smile, waiting.
Once again, Elaine questioned what type of worse days a man in a suit could have, but she gave up and let him accompany her outside, umbrella raised and tried to shelter her somewhat from the storm. Eggsy's hand rested on the small of her back as he opened the door.
"I'd share the ride with you, but I have business just around the block. I'll stop by Muffy's soon."
The harsh pellets of rain hit the side of the cab and were dripping onto the edge of the seat Elaine sat in, but she couldn't bring herself to close the door.
"I'll be waiting," Elaine joked.
Eggsy held his umbrella over to stop the rain from dripping in.
"How do I know you won't be gone to New York as the next Coco Chanel by the time I go back to Muffy's?" He teased, rain dripping into his eyes.
Elaine laughed at the ridiculousness of everything.
"I wouldn't do that to you, I promise," she teased.
As he was standing in the storm, pellets of rain showering him as he was saying his goodbye, he was getting even more drenched in the frigid rain. Elaine couldn't fathom why he would stand their gabbing at her when he was obviously freezing. And drenched.
Elaine shook her head.
"Mr. Gentlemen Man, you are crazy."
"I've been told that, love." He winked at her, threw some bills at the driver, and shut the door.
Elaine just laughed beneath her blushing cheeks and settled into her seat as the cab rolled forward into the storm.
It was 11:30 when Eggsy walked into the Kingsmen loft in Westminster. Greeted by a doorman, he shrugged off his soaked coat and proceeded into the loft adorned with the same dark green floral wallpaper as headquarters.
"Galahad." Bedivere acknowledged, nodding his way.
"Bedivere, Lancelot." Eggsy returned, setting his black umbrella in a stand. "Merlin." He added after noticing the leader of the Secret Knights looking out the windows overlooking Westminster.
"Kind of you to join us, Galahad," Merlin said, still overlooking the illuminated city marred by rain. "Now that all necessary parties are present, let us commence. Shall we?" He gave Eggsy a pointed glare.
Eggsy cleared his throat and seated himself.
"We believe Callisto has been hiding an operation base at Duomo di Milano cathedral." Roxy began. "Intel has also lead us to a string of evidence regarding another planned bombing in Milan. As well as other high impact points in Italy. It is fashion week, after all."
"Duomo di Milano? How can tha' be secret, though. The bloody thing is the landmark of the city," Eggsy said.
"At times, Galahad, the open is the most strategic place to disappear," Merlin said. He stood at the head of the table pinning the three agents with his ever-present glare. "Though I will admit, the cathedral is unexpected. Callisto always had an affair with delusions of grandeur. That being so, Lancelot will depart at 0500 tomorrow to travel to Italy and gather intelligence and I am departing to Stalingrad in an hour. I'll conclude my part and let Lancelot conduct the remaining time." Merlin said, stoic. He buttoned his suit, pulled an umbrella from the steel stand, and bowed his chin to the three agents. "Godspeed, Kingsmen. And woman."
Once Merlin had gone, Eggsy and Roxy loosened their ties and unbuttoned their jackets. Bedivere stayed stoic.
"Apologies for my tardiness." Eggsy said.
"Only two hours late, Eggsy. But nice try." Roxy chided.
She settled into her seat on the couch and stacked the tablets next to her.
"I'll have you know, I was doin' official Kingsmen business. Had coffee with Elai-Evie." Eggsy said with a tied-tongue. He flopped down into a plush chair with his legs hanging over the left arm. His suit was still thoroughly soaked.
"At this hour?" Bedivere asked, his back towards Eggsy. Swiveling to look at his fellow Kingsman, Galahad saw Bedivere standing where Merlin had stood prior to the meeting. He gazed out into the tempest just as Merlin had. Which seemed a wee bit pretentious to Eggsy.
"I had coffee, she had about four mugs of peppermint tea." Eggsy dug his glasses out of his pocket and straightened in the chair when Roxy handed him a tablet.
"Evie doesn't drink peppermint tea," Bedivere said, turning towards Eggsy, hands resting in his pockets. "Only coffee. Very adamant about it, too."
Hesitating for a moment, Eggsy tried to detect if the threatening and cynical tone to Bedivere's words were real or imagined. Staring straight into his colleague's eyes, Eggsy saw the look he knew too well; that of a posh ass demeaning him for assumptions about him or the scrappy neighborhood he came from. Remembering Harry's lessons, Eggsy attempted to turn the other cheek.
"Well, clearly you're bloody well uninformed 'cause Elaine hates coffee." Eggsy said, his voice more challenging than he meant it to be… he needed to work on the cheek-turning.
"Evie was adamant about her morning coffee. Tea, particularly peppermint, was wholly out of the question."
"Elaine isn't the person you thought she was. Look, mate, no need to be daft about it. She pulled a fast one on ya." He chuckled. This argument was ridiculous. "I mean, who's to say Elaine is her real name and Evie was the fake?"
Eggsy saw a flash of what looked to be contempt spark in the normally over-composed Kingsmen. He would have pushed the subject further, but it wouldn't have gotten anyone anywhere.
"We've pulled together a file on Ms. Daniella," Roxy said, standing between them and keeping a close eye on the two men in front of her. "This is information gathered on her life before Callisto. Friends, family, generally anything relevant. And Guinevere; Evie, is her given name."
Roxy gestured to the blank board behind her and gave Eggsy a sharp look. Eggsy put on his glasses and saw the board fill with information.
"She was raised in a suburb of the cities, attended public school, and worked for MPR while living in Minneapolis. From what I found she never lived anywhere else." Roxy said.
"Family?" Eggsy asked.
"Both parents live north of the Twin Cities," Bedivere said after a pause. "She was engaged to Gregory Robinson before the engagement fell through. They broke it off right before Evie traveled to France."
"Where she met Devron." Eggsy finished.
Bedivere nodded.
Catching Roxy's eye, she gave him a questioning look. Eggsy ignored her and made himself a drink.
The following week, Bedivere and Galahad flew to Singapore to intercept a network of leeks a budding anarchist group hacked from MI6. It was a fairly easy mission and once they finished, Eggsy was content to lounge in the plane and await take off.
"How is Evie?"
Bedivere sat across from him, reading a paper with a cognac in his hand.
"As well as can be, I guess." Eggsy said, unbuttoning his jacket and folding his glasses to tuck away.
Bedivere shifted, his eyes glued to the paper as he swirled his drink. Eggsy thought about just letting the issue go, but it was like a nasty thorn in his side.
"Look mate. If we've got a problem, you bloody well say it." Eggsy demanded, leaning forward.
Both Roxy and Merlin warned him that he needed to work on his composure, but Eggsy wasn't going to let some unspoken bad blood ruin a professional partnership. Even if this did lead to a write-up, he needed to clear the air with Bedivere.
"I assure you, Galahad, there's no-"
"I get that I took this mission away from you."
Bedivere gave Eggsy a skeptical look.
"You get assigned the Callisto mission, you make contact with Evie, and you do a lotta good. I get that. Then I barge in an' take it from you. I swear if there was a way of givin' you back your mission, I would." That wasn't necessarily true and Eggsy knew it, but if there was anything he didn't want, it was bad blood.
Bedivere stayed silent, staring out the window before looking back at Eggsy.
"My brother joined a hacktivist group when I was seventeen," Bedivere said, hesitating. His eyes shifted from the newspaper to Eggsy, then back to the newspaper.
And understandably, Eggsy was momentarily caught on the abrupt change in topic. But he let Bedivere continue.
"The group wasn't particularly powerful, but insistent enough to be trouble and my brother was a genius when it came to code. He was an asset to them." Bedivere paused, contemplating the sleek edge of his glass. "I think he fancied himself a virtual vigilante, breaking down the firewalls of the corrupt, stealing money to give to the poor, and so on. But, once it was too late, he realized the things they did. The day before he died, he came to me. Told me everything. Told me he couldn't get out. And I couldn't do a damned thing. I told him to report everything to the police and the next day… well." Bedivere gestured with the hand not holding the glass. He took a long sip of his drink, tipping it back and finishing the alcohol in one swig. "I saw that same look in Evie's eyes."
"And you got invested." Eggsy finished.
"And I got invested." Bedivere sighed. The Kingsmen sitting across from him looked desolate and alone, holding the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The pilot announced preparations for take-off and Bedivere folded his paper and tossed it to the adjacent seat.
"I apologize, Galahad if I've acted out of jealousy and insulted you. Which I highly suspect I have."
Eggsy studied the kingsmen across from him.
"I'll keep you posted. Tell you how she is." Eggsy said.
Bedivere hesitated before consenting.
"You have my appreciation, Galahad."
Eggsy nodded and picked up his own newspaper. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.
After three flights and four countries, he found her.
Night had fallen and it was cold as he watched her lock the door of a shop from across the street. There were wooden stands and empty pots peppered with soil outside the door.
She had always loved flowers.
Watching her bundle herself tighter into her coat and scarf, she took off into the darkened streets of London. Even in the low light, he could see the blush on her cheeks from the cold night air and the soft hue of her strawberry locks tucked beneath her scarf. She always had a low tolerance for the cold but loved it anyhow.
Making sure to follow at a distance, boots stalking quietly, he held his breath and prayed she wouldn't look behind. She came to an apartment and as she climbed the steps, she dug through her bag.
"... always forget gloves…" She mumbled to herself, shivering.
He climbed the steps after her, holding his breath. Two more and he would be touching her, one more. Inches away from the woman who ran from him, he raised his hand to run through her hair. He had always loved her hair.
The tips of his fingers grazed her locks. He stopped.
She had frozen, her key hovering over the lock.
Elaine turned around and scanned the street.
"Hello?"
Holding her key between her knuckles, Elaine looked up and down the street again.
"You are not getting enough sleep." She mumbled to herself.
Opening her apartment, she threw down her coat and scarf, fully intending on baking cookies at 11 pm, watching Princess Bride, and chastising herself for being so paranoid.
But outside, the man still hid in the shadows of her apartment.
To Harleyquinn87: Thanks! Reviews like yours make posting worth it!