Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and all the situations said characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.
Okay…I did not expect you guys to be so stumped by the previous one, and no, no one's guessed it correctly so far. Will reveal next chapter which one it is!
Dogs and Dancing
Without question Harry was a dog person, but it had been a rather long time since he'd owned one of his own. And not being a fool, Harry was also aware that Merlin had asked him to walk the basset hound in the hopes that Harry would take the dog off his hands as the dog's former owner had opted not to take his puppy home as a reminder that he'd failed to join Kingsman. The dog was cute, as far as bassets went, but Harry was far from sold on the idea as he was yanked around the park area they were touring, the dog apparently on a mission to get somewhere as fast as its stubby legs would take it.
Here he was, a Kingsman, stuck acting as a dog walker. It was humiliating.
Doing his best to steer the dog towards the pond with eventual success, Harry took a seat on the bank and then unbuckled the dog's leash, content to let the animal run around like a crazy thing if it wanted for a bit. According to Merlin the dog didn't like water, so odds were it wouldn't do something stupid like try to go for a swim.
Taking off the hat he was wearing to wipe at his brow, Harry cursed when the hound immediately picked it up by its brim, the dog wagging its tail like mad as it danced away in a definite request for Harry to play. It either wanted him to chase after him, or play tug of war, Harry surmised, neither of which appealed to him. It wasn't the puppy's fault he wasn't in the mood to play at the moment though, so he didn't scold the dog as he ordered it to return the hat to him.
Which the pup wasn't inclined to do, apparently.
Hearing the sound of a snort Harry turned his head, his mood brightening immediately at the sight of Eggsy sitting on a nearby bench, the boy's dog sitting obediently at Eggsy's feet. It was obvious from the looks the pug was giving the hound that the dog was aware of what was going on, though Eggsy's face was buried in a book he was reading.
Or pretending to read, Harry speculated with a small smile, since odds were the snort had come from him and not the little pug.
And it was his steady gaze that had Eggsy eventually giving himself away, the boy glancing at him over the top of the book before immediately turning his gaze back to the pages, a hint of a flush on the boy's cheeks. But he didn't acknowledge him at all otherwise, which Harry wasn't sure what to make of. Had he upset or offended the boy somehow? Or perhaps the boy was being disciplined for something and under orders not to speak to anyone? That could be it, Merlin tended to do that with the overly talkative recruits, and Eggsy did love to talk.
Seemingly aware that he didn't have Harry's attention, and knowing who did, the hound carried the hat over in the direction of Eggsy, trying and failing to throw it up and onto the bench beside the boy. But not getting discouraged, which impressed Harry, the hound picked it up a second time and showing its intelligence braced his front paws against the bench for balance before making his toss, this time succeeding.
Tempted to applaud Harry decided that was as good an opening as any, slowly getting to his feet and brushing off the grass clinging to his trousers before heading in Eggsy's direction to see if he couldn't deduce why the boy had yet to so much as raise a hand in greeting.
But even as he approached J.B. suddenly bolted from Eggsy's side, the pug's leash flying out behind him as the small dog went after a duck that he'd happened to spot further down the path.
And cursing Eggsy snapped the book he'd been reading shut and went after his pug, calling him back in a tone that Harry was glad to hear was a mixture of affection and exasperation. Eggsy had mentioned that he and the pug were getting along pretty well now, but he hadn't ruled out the boy trying to snow him in that regard since bonding with one's dog was a part of his training.
Catching up to his own dog, who seemed to want to join in the fun, Harry quickly snapped the leash back onto the dog's collar, surprised at the hard jerk he got in response. But since he wanted to go in the direction the dog wanted to go in…what the hell.
Turning the hound loose Harry followed after the dog as it made a beeline to where Eggsy was standing with his pug, the boy lecturing J.B. about chasing the duck that had safely made its way into the water and was currently watching the pug disdainfully.
Running over, and pulling Harry with him, the hound moved to sniff around Eggsy's shoes and then J.B., the pug barking a greeting before running around Harry's legs in a way that had both Harry and Eggsy realizing that their mutual dogs were tangling them up in their leashes as they chased each other. And then both dogs spotted another duck on its way into the pond and both jerked hard on their leashes to get at it, Eggsy and Harry all but slamming into each other as they automatically grabbed onto each other for support, struggling to remain upright while ordering the dogs to stay still and-
Having lifted a leg in the hopes of getting it out of the equation, Harry found his bad knee give out a little, sending him teetering backward with Eggsy's reaching out to try and grab him again. But he was too off balance, and with a moment's clarity Harry knew that he was going to take the boy down with him as he fell in the direction of the pond behind him.
Splash!
Hitting the water hard, though it thankfully only came up to about mid-calf on both of them, the two sat sprawled out in the water in surprise, staring at each other in stunned silence before Eggsy's head turned in the direction of the basset hound who'd been pulled in with them. The dog was struggling to swim but wasn't having a lot of luck.
Cursing the stupid thing in between apologizing to Eggsy for dragging him into this mess, Harry scooped the hound up to cradle against his chest as he got up and held out a hand to Eggsy, helping the boy to his feet as well.
"Well there goes my new clothes and hat." Shaking his head, and sending water flying as he did so, Eggsy reached into his pocket and pulled out a very wet handkerchief. "I'd offer ya this, but it wouldn't do ya much good."
"Quite." Returning Eggsy's smirk, Harry pulled his own dripping wet handkerchief from his jacket pocket, joining in the boy's laughter as they grinned at each other as they headed to shore where J.B. was waiting, a bit of material in his teeth.
"What's he got in his mouth?"
"He tried to clamp down on my trousers." Eggsy explained, lifting a leg to show where a piece of his trousers had been ripped out during their tumble into the water.
"Well hell, I'll replace those." Wringing out his handkerchief, Harry belatedly recalled the book Eggsy had been holding, spying it on the grass. Apparently the boy had had just enough time to toss the book and let go of J.B.'s leash before they'd fallen in. Impressive.
"No worries. And sorry for ignoring you before, Merlin said I had to keep me mouth shut for two hours and just sit and contemplate the importance of thinking before I talk. I got into another fight with Charlie, though it didn't come to blows or nothing." Eggsy scowled in memory of the fight.
Glad to hear he'd been correct, and that the boy wasn't angry at him, Harry assured him that he wouldn't rat him out to Merlin about him speaking, especially since these were extenuating circumstances.
"Nah, I'll tell him. He'll know if I'm lying. Rox and I are half convinced he's got to have spies everywhere, the way he always seems to know what's going on even if he isn't even nearby. It's creepy is what it is."
"I've often thought the same."
Rubbing his head to dry it a little more quickly, Eggsy asked what he was doing with the dog, obviously recognizing it as Harry set the dog back down on the ground so that he and J.B. could once again get reacquainted.
"Merlin's trying to convince me I need a dog."
"He's alright." Eggsy informed him, jerking his head in the direction of the hound. "Better than that prat of an owner he had before."
"Well that goes without saying. You and J.B. are doing well, I hope."
A grin splitting Eggsy's features, the boy immediately launched into a retelling of his pug's latest exploits, Harry and the two dogs happy to fall in step with the boy as they all headed back towards Kingsman headquarters together.
)
All but moaning in pleasure as he slipped off his spiffy Kingsman boots so that he could finally stand in the grass barefoot, Eggsy grinned as he appreciated being free of the fancy getup he was expected to wear as a Kingsman recruit. Not that he didn't like looking so sharp, he actually did, sorta, but there was nothing like being in his regular clothes and out in the forest, far away from everyone else and the responsibilities of his training. It was just him, J.B., and the owl he'd been assigned to practice with for his falconry lessons. He'd have preferred an actual falcon or a hawk, but Merlin had asked him to at least try with the owl, and Eggsy had figured what the hell.
It was okay really, it was cool how it could move its head and was so tame it would let him stroke its feathers. He'd never been so close to a bird of prey before, and it was amusing, how intimidated J.B. was by it. The poor little guy had actually overturned one of his boots and had crawled inside of it to hide.
Shaking his head at the sight, the pug looked ridiculously adorable, Eggsy turned his attention back to the owl, who looked like he was sleep on the low hanging branch it was currently perched on. Eggsy had hung his cloak over the branch the owl had decided to land on, and it almost looked like the bird was wearing it.
It was that thought that had a gleam appearing in his eyes, Eggsy walking over to where he'd set his hat. Picking it up Eggsy carefully walked back over to the owl and very gently set the hat on its head, slapping a hand over his mouth to muffle his reaction as he took in the owl's stylish Kingsman look. God but he wished Roxy was around to see.
Keeping his hand where it was until he had his merriment under control, Eggsy kept a slight distance away and figured that since the owl was asleep anyway he might as well practice his dancing skills as there was a stupid ball he needed to prepare for.
The big party was part of a plan to find a princess for the kingdom's prince, and boy but he pitied whatever poor girl ended up with that bastard, and pretty much everyone was invited to the ball. Of course he normally wouldn't be given that he was in the poorest of the poor category, but as a Kingsman recruit he was stuck going and it had been made clear to him that he'd be watched closely. A Kingsman had to be able to conduct himself properly in such settings, and since he hadn't been born to it he'd be watched like a hawk.
Harry and Roxy had been helping him out there, teaching him the sort of stuff he'd need to know to present himself as a gentleman, but one of the things he needed to work on the most was the dancing. Or more specifically learning the posh dances AND how to both lead and follow for both. Apparently a Kingsman was expected to be that versatile.
At this point Eggsy was fairly confident that he had the leading mastered, but he was still a little unsure when it came to the following. None of the other male candidates were willing to dance with him properly, deliberately trying to trip him up or give him bad advice, and while he and Roxy had practiced together…she was having a hard time with it too. She was a decent dancer, but he was an exceptional one and being led by someone who was still unsure how to lead annoyed him on a basic level, and he kept trying to take over, which irked her too.
In truth he wanted Harry to teach him, Eggsy having dreamed about it plenty the last few nights after lights out. He'd even gotten up the courage to seek the man out during his free time to ask about it, only to be informed by one of the other Kingsman knights that Harry had gotten stuck acting as a diplomat's escort around the kingdom. Not about to add more work to Harry's schedule, the man already worked too much already, Eggsy had dropped the idea without trying to approach him mentor about it again.
So he'd just have to practice on his own and try his best to pick dance partners who would let him lead whenever possible. Hopefully he could reserve the being led to the easier dances, lessening the chance of him making a complete ass out of himself.
To amuse himself Eggsy turned to face the still fast asleep owl, giving it a mock curtsy before spinning over, informing him that he really wasn't supposed to speak or dance with strangers, but that they'd met before. Once upon a dream.
And singing the song in question, it was one of the few posh ones he liked and knew all the words to, Eggsy raised his hands in the air and pretended that he was dancing with someone. Not an easy thing to do either, but it didn't frustrate him too much either since every time he caught sight of the owl he had to grin like an idiot. Plus J.B. had finally clued into the fact that the owl wasn't paying him any attention, and the pug had come out to dance around him in his own way.
When a hand took his from behind, a male body sliding in behind him, Eggsy didn't even startle at first, his own body recognizing the man in question and welcoming his touch. But after a few more steps Eggsy's brain clued into the fact that someone was with him, when moments ago he'd been alone, and that he wasn't the only one quietly singing the words to the song.
Startling, Eggsy broke free and whirled around to see Harry smiling at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"No, it's not that. It's just that you're…" Eggsy trailed off, not about to admit that he'd been pretending he'd been dancing with Harry, and now here the man was like he'd wished him into being.
"Strangers?" Harry inquired, the gleam in his eyes making it clear that yes, yes Harry had been around to see his little conversation with the owl earlier.
Mortified and trying to hide that fact, Eggsy adopted a bravado attitude as he stated that no, they'd met before. Once upon a dream. Didn't Harry remember?
"How could I forget?"
Fluttering his lashes, just to be a smart ass, Eggsy felt butterflies erupt in his stomach when Harry held out a hand to him again, obviously implying that they could continue the dancing if he so desired. And since he did need the practice and…who was he kidding? He wasn't about to throw away a chance to be in Harry's arms.
Accepting the hand and letting Harry pull him in, Eggsy placed his free hand on the man's shoulder and smiled somewhat shyly up at Harry as the man began to expertly move him across the grass, the man's lethal grace very much present as they danced. The hand Harry had placed on the small of his back guided him expertly, and Eggsy didn't even bother to think about steps or that he was being led, period. He was in good hands.
How long they danced together Eggsy had no idea, having lost all sense of time and place early on. Both had stopped singing or even humming a while ago, simply moving to music Harry must have playing in his head as he moved them to an unknown beat.
But finally they broke away, both blushing a little as they looked around and realized that they were far away from where they'd started, having really danced throughout the glen Eggsy had chosen for his dance practice.
And realizing that he couldn't see the dressed up owl Eggsy's blush left his cheeks in a snap. "Oh crap! If that owl flies away with my stuff Merlin's going to kill me!"
"Quite possible, but luckily Archimedes is one of the laziest birds I've ever encountered. He'll probably still be there when we get back. But we should head back."
Walking in the direction Harry gestured towards, he had no idea where he was, Eggsy couldn't help but be pleased when Harry fell into step with him like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
And doing his best to sound casual, Eggsy asked if Harry was looking forward to the big ball coming up. If he was going to be there, that was.
"At present, to the best of my knowledge, I'll be there."
"You'll have to save me a dance then."
A brief look of surprise, and then Harry smiled and nodded at him in agreement. He'd be pleased to dance with him again.
