Chapter 4:
"London! London!" Avery chanted. She peered out of the tiny window, face smeared against it. She could only see hazy gray clouds for now, but Eggsy assured her that she'd get a good view once they descended low enough.
Avery was draped in a blanket (after complaining that she was cold) with JB in her lap. JB had quickly learned that Avery gave excellent belly rubs, and much to Eggsy's indignation, spent almost the entire flight curled up in her lap. So much for loyal friend.
They had spent the majority of the flight chatting. Avery asked Eggsy to talk about himself, and so he did. Eggsy told her about his job as a tailor, about his mum and his little sister, who had just ridden her two-wheel bicycle for the first time (without crashing) the previous week. He talked about his favourite foods, his favourite pastimes, and his favourite places in London- which he promised to take her to. He didn't mention Kingsman just yet. That would come soon enough.
When they began to descend, Eggsy felt like Avery was going to fall out of the plane, from the way she was pressing herself against the window. She had to wipe the condensation from her breath away every so often. The coldness of the glass was making her cheeks and nose turn pink, but she didn't seem to care. Eggsy watched her in amusement, failing to hide a smile.
Avery squealed suddenly. Eggsy felt the uncomfortable pressure of his ears popping, and leaned forward to look out his own window.
London. He sighed happily. Home.
"It's so greeeeeen," Avery moaned joyously. "So many cars," she added. "I mean, just in that parking lot. Look! Woaaaaah…" Eggsy snorted.
"You sound ridiculous," he couldn't help but mention. She ignored his comment, instead choosing to give him a gleeful expression. He shook his head, the corner of his lips tilting up. "Welcome to London, Avery."
Eggsy slung Avery's bag over his shoulder for her, and together they walked out of the jet and into the warm London afternoon, JB following their heels. Avery practically pranced into the airport. Eggsy didn't bother lecturing her.
As they stepped through the automatic doors, a welcome gust of air conditioning ruffled Eggsy's hair. The organized hustle and bustle of London Heathrow Airport was a comforting sight.
On the other hand, the strange group of men in black trenchcoats, eyeing the pair like vultures through dark sunglasses, was not. At first, Eggsy took no notice of them- after all, he was certainly one to know not the judge others by their looks. However, when Eggsy and Avery encountered them several times throughout the airport, constantly watching them, Eggsy grew increasingly concerned.
"Avery, I'm just going to buy a cookie," he said, gently leading her towards a small cafe in the terminal. He didn't want to mention the strange men stalking them through the airport. He didn't want her to panic. Although Eggsy doubted it, they still might've been innocent passersby, despite their… questionable appearances.
"Oh, alright," she replied, following him.
After Eggsy bought his cookie, he suggested they sit down for a while at one of the tables.
"Sure," she said, a slight hesitation in her voice. Eggsy decided to inform her of the trenchcoats.
"Don't look now," he began, whispering. "But I think somebody's following us, and I don't know who or why," he said. She bit her lip, eyes widening slightly. He felt their penetrating stares on his back. "Now laugh as if I've said something hilarious."
Avery gave him a good-natured shove, grinning wildly and giggling.
Eggsy played along, smiling brilliantly.
"Anyways, I don't know what they want, but my guess is either you or me, or maybe even both." He leaned in closer, so close, in fact, that his lips brushed Avery's ear. She shivered slightly, blushing. "But I'm going to call for backup, just in case. The only reason I think the trenchcoats haven't approached us yet is due to the airport security and all the other people in the terminal," he explained, waving vaguely at the crowds beside them. "But the second we step out of this airport, they might make their move."
"That's bad," she murmured. Eggsy nodded.
"Now kiss me on the cheek and smile a lot," he whispered.
She complied, and smiled for real when Eggsy winked.
Eggsy fiddled with the watch on his wrist for a moment. Seconds later, he ran his hand through his hair, but kept it near his mouth.
"Galahad to HQ, code beta," he muttered. "Backup requested." He let his hand fall back to the table casually, taking a piece of cookie and putting it into his mouth.
"Can I have some cookie?" Avery asked suddenly, her voice slightly higher than before. Eggsy glanced up at her, and saw something very concerning in the reflection of the salt shaker.
It was a trenchcoat, heading towards them.
"Stay where you are, pretend not to notice him," Eggsy hissed through his teeth, ripping off a bit of cookie and handing it to Avery. She immediately busied herself with playing a game on her cellphone. Eggsy pretended to drop his napkin on the ground just as the trenchcoat swept past them, pausing briefly- in which Avery felt her breath hitch- before continuing on.
"Arthur to Galahad, backup on its way. Been monitoring your status, Galahad. No need for debriefing," Harry said into his ear. Eggsy tipped his head briefly. The mic in his glasses had malfunctioned a few days prior- which was why he had to use the emergency one in his wristwatch. Luckily, his earpiece was still completely functional.
"Sending in agents Lancelot, Percival, and Arthur," Harry added.
The first thought that zipped through Eggsy's mind was why the fuck are you coming? You got shot in the face on your last field mission. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. The cookie was long-gone, and only crumbs remained. They had to keep moving.
"Hey Ruby," Eggsy stated. Avery glanced up, without the slightest trace of confusion on her face. Eggsy was impressed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the trenchcoat's head snap up, his expression turning exceedingly puzzled.
"What is it, Liam?" she asked in a posh British accent. Eggsy fought to contain his amusement. It was surprisingly authentic. He'd have to remember to ask where she learned it from later.
"I'm done my cookie. Let's go." They got up, and Eggsy noticed with unease that the trenchcoats followed their every movement- though with the slightest hesitation now- but when the two headed towards the east of the terminal, the trenchcoats trailed them, lurking just out of sight.
But Kingsman had taught Eggsy well, and he could see them easily.
"Agents have arrived. Waiting at Terminal Five, drop off zone," Harry stated quietly.
By now their slow, strolling pace had quickened to a brisk stride. Eggsy noted with a sense of dread that the trenchcoats pursued the same pace.
Eggsy guided Avery to Terminal Five's exit, and with a sudden, overwhelming sense of relief he saw two Kingsman taxis waiting. He was more used to upfront, flashy, violent encounters with the enemy- but this slow, tension-building, climactic thing was seriously stressing him out.
But he didn't really have to worry about that.
The second they stepped out of the airport, twenty trenchcoats rushed towards them.
Eggsy didn't bother with subtlety. He grabbed Avery's arm and shoved her roughly into one of the taxis. Harry sat in the driver's seat.
"Fucking floor it, bruv!" he yelled. Shots rang out and Avery screamed. Bullets peppered the glass, but the bullet-proof windows deflected them easily enough.
"Isn't that the understatement of the century," Harry responded dryly, peeling out onto the street.
"They're following us!" Avery cried.
"Well, of course the others are following us, I asked fo-"
"No!" she exclaimed, cutting Eggsy off. "The trenchcoats!"
And then Eggsy glanced back. Behind Roxy and Percival's car, a line of ten jet black sedans were hot
on their tail.
"Floor it, Harry!" Roxy shouted in his ear through the joined com.
"My thoughts exactly," Harry muttered, slamming his foot down on the pedal.
-agent galahad
