Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way of it.
Note: So to recap again what Disney movies have been used, there was Hercules and Pocahontas, then Tangled and Atlantis. After that it was Up and Wreck it Ralph…and today's, well good luck figuring that out cause the first is hard!
Missions and Meetings
Harry was in a foul mood as he went about his latest mission, which would have been bad enough without adding Eggsy to the mix. That he should have to appear before the boy disguised as a much older man just made the wretched infatuation he seemed to be developing for the younger man, who could be his son, that much worse. Yet here he was, dressed in a ridiculous and impractical white suit, with white hair, eyes turned blue by a potion, and a cane to lean on as he pretended to be a prissy old architect who was insisting on monitoring the rebuilding of the recently destroyed bridge in the old sector of the city.
Personally Harry found this area of the city incredibly depressing, seeing what had once been a beautiful part of the city in the dilapidated old buildings and the junk lying around discarded and unused now. A lot of the main city's garbage was dumped over here, and Harry had often thought that such a pity, when there were part of this sector that could have been saved if effort were made. Of course he also didn't agree with the fact that this part of the city had been abandoned because the current king's grandfather had just decided this area wasn't good enough anymore, and had blown far too much money building a 'better' city beside it, leaving the old sections for the poorest of people and the cockroaches.
But he hadn't been alive to be consulted about that, Harry mused, and currently he had a mission to carry out.
The debris from the old bridge was mostly removed at this point, but on his first day at the site Harry had spotted Eggsy hard at work, the sight of the youth without a shirt on one that had nearly made him lose his footing. Now that would have been embarrassing. As it was he'd immediately felt torn between wanting Eggsy to recognize him behind the fairly simple disguise be was wearing and rather desperately hoping that the boy wouldn't and therefore would never think of him this way.
It spoke well of the boy's observation skills and his Kingsman material that Harry saw just a hint of recognition in the Eggsy's eyes the first time he actually walked by him, or at least an interest in him when most of the other workers ignored him after rolling their eyes or smirking at the stupidity of wearing white to a construction site.
Though he had impressed the hell out of them by managing to leave the site ever da without a smudge of dirt on his suit.
And every day since his first Harry got the sense of Eggsy being around at various times during the day, Harry having become very apt at sensing when the boy was near him somehow. He'd catch glimpses of him out of the corner of his eye, or hear dirt or rubble being displaced near him without seeing anyone around to have caused it. Having seen Eggsy's sneaking abilities in action Harry was fairly sure that it was him, which meant that odds were the the boy had recognised him, but was keeping that fact to himself.
It wasn't until his fourth day that Harry was sure of it though, coming to his favorite vantage point to find a little surprise waiting for him. The figure was made out of broken pieces of white rock for the most part, with stick arms and a scowling face drawn onto the white face of the figure. That Eggsy had left a small bouquet of forget-me-nots at the base of his sculpture…well Harry told himself not to read anything into that even as he immediately stooped down to retrieve the flowers and put them in a cup he'd brought along for his lunch, pouring water in to keep them fresh.
And it was at twilight that day, as the fading blue sky above them became streaked with reds, oranges and yellows like it was on fire, that Harry saw Eggsy edging towards him while whistling cheerfully to make his presence known, obviously waiting for some signal as to whether he could come closer and actually talk to him.
Giving the boy a nod to let him know it was okay to approach, Harry waited until Eggsy had sidled up to him before speaking again.
"And what is your directive here?" Harry asked him, continuing to alter his voice so that it sounded distressingly girlish and prissy even to his own ears. But one never knew who could be watching and listening, despite his own faith in his observation skills.
Looking a little amused Eggsy moved in a little closer as he stated that it was his job to cart around heavy rocks and work on his muscle tone. The 'Ta da' the boy added as he flexed his right arm to demonstrate had Harry fighting back a smirk.
"And you? What's your directive, Bruv?"
As the boy had slid in close so that their shoulders were almost touching, Harry whispered the words 'Classified' before stating outloud that he was one of the architects in charge of the bridge being rebuilt. And don't call him 'Bruv', Mr…?
Looking amused Eggsy gestured to himself. "I'm Eggsy."
"Eggsy."
Smiling, the boy looked oddly pleased to hear Harry say his name, Harry had to fight the urge to squirm a little at their close proximity as he gave his alias for the moment, the boy repeating his name back to him too with an amused smirk.
Chuckling a little, he couldn't help it, Harry asked the boy if he was having a good day, honestly wanting to know. And it would be something anyone would ask, wasn't it?
"Actually, it's been an excellent couple of days, thanks for asking."
"Oh. And why is that?"
A very wide, pleased grin was Eggsy's response. "Well you see, I've been wanting to join Kingsman since I was a boy, my dad tried out for it, but I never thought I'd get the chance since one, someone in the nobility has to sponsor you for the position, and two, my mum's always been against the idea, worried that I'd get myself killed or permanently injured."
Seeing where this was going Harry couldn't prevent a delighted smile from lighting up his face. "But you've found a way to get in?"
"I have indeed. See this very handsome and posh bloke I know is willing to sponsor me for the position." A definite twinkle of mischief in those green eyes as they met Harry's brown. "And because of that very same bloke I have someone who can watch over my family while I'm away at training."
"Oh? How so?" He hadn't been able to come up with a way to help Eggsy convince his mother, and he most definitely hadn't arranged for someone to stay with the boy's family.
"Well this guy I work with got himself into a bit of a jam recently, and my friend was able to get him off the hook provided he does some community service and shit. Ralph, he was so grateful for my help in getting my friend to help him that he told me he'd do anything to repay me. That being the case we've been modifying the shed in my backyard these past couple nights, and he's gonna stay there and look after my mum and sis for me. Daisy really likes him, and mum's taken to him like he's a stray puppy that needs her motherin. So I think it will work out okay, and mum's basically resigned herself to the fact that I'm going whether she likes it or not. At least now she'll have a man to lean on again even when I ain't there."
Delighted with the news, especially since he had admittedly been a bit worried about what would become of Eggsy's sister and mother without the boy around to look after them, Harry had to agree that this was good news. Well, he would have felt a little better if the boy had been able to find someone a bit more…gentlemanly to look after his family, the man in question had seemed kind and terribly lonely under his large, tough guy exterior when they'd met. Having a family who needed him would do Ralph good as well.
"Congratulations are in order then. I wish you the best of luck, Eggsy, and very much look forward to seeing you enter the Kingsman ranks. They will be lucky to have you."
"Thanks. So will I be seeing you around here tomorrow, then?"
"You will."
"I'll look forward to that then as well. Good night, Sir."
"Good night, Eggsy."
)
Eggsy had never been more nervous in his life. Not even the nerves he'd felt upon trying to join the castle guard could compete with this. At least with the guards there'd been other guys trying out who came from middleclass backgrounds. They hadn't been thrilled to rub elbows with someone from the lowest class, but they'd been nice enough for the most part. Kingsman however…all the other candidates would be from the noble class, posh blokes who'd grown up with the best of everything and had been taught to look down at people like Eggsy from birth. There'd be little chance of making friends, especially since only one of them would be chosen, and that on top of the uphill battle he'd be facing made Eggsy question whether this really was a good idea.
"I don't think I can do this."
"It's all about attitude. Just go in there and strut your stuff, Bruv."
Giving Ryan a look that said he was pretty sure that wasn't going to be good enough, Eggsy worked up a smile for his friend as he thanked him for coming all this way to see him off. Appreciating the thumbs up his mate gave him return, Eggsy took a deep breath and then did his best to stroll up to the castle gate like he belonged there.
The fact that the guards studied his scroll for several minutes, consulting amongst themselves as to whether or not this street trash could possibly have been nominated for a tryout with Kingsman, meant Eggsy was damn close to punching them out and just walking in when a passing guard recognized Eggsy, having met him the night Ralph had broken in. He could confirm that Galahad, which was apparently Harry's Kingsman codename, knew the kid, and that in all likelihood the scroll was legit. And even if it wasn't, Merlin would kick him out quick enough.
Agreeing that that was the case the guards agreed to let him through, directing him to a courtyard Eggsy had been to before when he was training for the guards. He even saw some of the men he'd trained with there, currently lining up for the stew being passed out for their midday meal. Thankfully he was too nervous to be hungry, as he'd spent the majority of the money he had made recently making sure his family was well stocked provisions wise before he left, and he'd been too nervous to eat breakfast or buy something along the way.
It wasn't hard to pick out the other candidates when Eggsy started looking for them, they were all about his age but looked much more sophisticated and mature than he probably did even in the decent clothes he was sporting along with his father's old sword. The expensive looking swords strapped to their sides, fancy clothes, and superior smirks the men were all sporting made it clear that they were all sure of their superiority and place in Kingsman. It did surprise Eggsy to see two women also sporting swords and trousers, that was unusual to say the least, but he didn't have an problems with working with girls so long as they pulled their weight and didn't cry. He couldn't stand to see girls cry. It screwed with his head.
As he got the lay of the land Eggsy watched one of the men, who had a tummy that indicated he liked his meals a little too much, opened up his shirt to reveal a red dragon tattoo that was apparently supposed to keep him from harm. Oh yeah, that one wasn't going to be an competition at all, Eggsy thought with a smirk, though his amusement quickly fled as one of the other men sucker punched the man in question in the gut, sending him crumbling to the floor.
The tallest of the men started laughing in reaction, stating that he hoped the man could get his money back, while the one who'd done the punching smirked before turning to look in Eggsy's direction, having apparently sensed him watching.
"And what are you looking at, Peasant?"
"A pathetic prat who throws weak sucker punches at people." Logically Eggsy knew how important it was to start on the right foot with these people, he could practically hear Harry in his head telling him that he was being stupid, but he'd just never been able to stand these sorts of bastards, who got off making others look bad or foolish. Yeah the guy was obviously an idiot, but the punch out of nowhere had been out of line.
"Weak…you think you can do better?"
"I know I can." Eggsy resorted, shoving the other man back when he got into his space. He wanted to punch him, it was damn tempting, but he wasn't about to go there unless he had to. He was not getting kicked out of Kingsman on his first day. He'd never get over that, much less be able to face Harry ever again.
The bloke he'd pushed falling back against the biggest, strongest looking of the three, the puncher made a move to lunge towards him, only to be halted by the other man placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Digby, you made a friend."
Digby? The guy's name was seriously Digby? And here he thought he'd been saddled with a bad first name. He'd probably go around punching people randomly too, if his parents had named him Digby.
"Yeah, or he's just trying to feel you up for your wallet." The man who spoke sneered at Eggsy. "It's in his back pocket, street rat."
"Please, I wouldn't touch his arse even to give it the paddlin it needs." Eggsy sneered right back, well aware that the other blokes were moving around to surround him. He could hear the girls as well, telling the boys to lay off him, but none of them did because yeah…girls just did not get how this sort of thing worked.
When Digby threw the punch in his direction Eggsy was ready, easily moving out of the way so that the punch actually ended up hitting one of the guy's friends, who was apparently named Rufus of all things. Or at least that's what Digby called him when he apologized for hitting him, before once again turning on Eggsy, who again dodged out of the way and had the pleasure of seeing the three men end up in a dog pile in front of him, having all tried to get him at the same time.
Watching them realize that he wasn't where the wanted him to be, Eggsy watched them scramble to their feet and go charging at him, easily moving out of their way again even as he realized what was about to happen with a wince of horror. But maybe the idiots would be able to stop themselves in time?
No, none of them were that lucky.
Digby and then Rufus just managed to stop themselves from crashing into the guards waiting for their lunch, but the as yet unnamed guy didn't put the brakes on in time and down they all went, like a set of dominos, until the last one crashed into the stew pot and tipped it right over.
Shit.
The fist fight that broke off was just as inevitable, Eggsy thought, doing his best to stay out of it as he cautiously moved away until he was standing on the outskirts of the fight with the girls. Together the three watched the shit show erupt as the guards fought with those who'd knocked them over, and a few even took on the rich blokes, being too riled up to care that they would get in deep trouble for busting up their so called betters.
"What is with you men and fighting, honestly?"
Looking over to meet the blonde's gaze Eggsy shrugged a little, knowing there was no point in trying to explain it to her. Instead he asked what her name was, thinking he should show that he wasn't completely without manners. Plus the girls had tried to help him out by telling the other idiots to lay off him.
"I'm Roxanne, but call me Roxy. This is Amelia."
Taking the hand she offered him, Eggsy found that the girl had a good handshake. "Nice to meet you. I'm Eggsy."
"Eggy?"
"Eggsy." He hated to be called Eggy. It was almost as bad as Gary.
Giving him a look that said she didn't get why he'd go by that name, which was a little ridiculous given what her people named their children, all of them jumped when a loud, booming voice Eggsy recognized as Merlin's demanded to know what was going on.
Coming to attention like everyone else, the man just had that kind of voice, Eggsy winced when, in response to the large man's demand to know who was responsible for this mess, a number of fingers were pointed in his direction.
And of course Harry had to be standing beside Merlin, looking like his normal sexy self instead of that horrible old man costume he'd been sporting at the bridge site.
"I won't tolerate this sort of shite." Was all Merlin said, which was a relief, and then they were ordered to get in line which they quickly did, knowing that Merlin was the sort to be obeyed.
Still, Eggsy couldn't help but glance over in Harry's direction, his gaze immediately met, and a look of encouragement being sent his way. It made Eggsy smile, and suddenly he felt that much better about the uphill battle ahead of him.
Harry believed in him. He wouldn't let him down.
