Chapter 10:
"Right, then," Harry said, standing next to Eggsy's hospital bed once everyone else had disappeared. "May I sit?" he asked.
"Of course," he replied, slightly nervous as to what Harry wanted to say to him. He was going to get lectured real good probably.
"Thank you."
"Why do I have to stay in this fucking bed, again? I got shot in the wrist, not my chest," Eggsy complained.
"Too bad. Your abilities have been compromised. Upon my direct orders, you are to stay in bed until further notice," Harry said with a smirk.
"Hmph," Eggsy muttered, but he cracked a smile.
They sat in tense silence.
"What did you want to-"
"I just wanted to say-" they started at the same time. Eggsy bit his lip, trying to hold back a grin at the befuddled expression on Harry's face. It was admittedly adorable, with his warm chocolate eyes big and docile looking.
"It's fine, you go-"
"No, you go first-"
Eggsy facepalmed, shoulders shaking with laughter. A moment later, Harry's expression broke into a wide smile, eyes sparkling.
"I can never stay mad at you for long, Eggsy," he sighed.
"Sorry, bruv." Eggsy smiled and met Harry's gaze. "So, what was it you wanted to ask?"
"Erm…" Harry trailed off, dropping Eggsy's stare. "It's not important. Quite childish, actually."
"C'mon bruv, you have to say it now. Can't leave me hangin', 'n all that, yeah?" Eggsy coaxed, observing Harry's suddenly pink complexion.
Oh my god. Was Harry Hart blushing?
"You're blushing!" Eggsy exclaimed.
"I most certainly am not," Harry retorted, turning his face away as his face flushed even darker.
"You are! Holy shit! Camera! Who has a camera?" he cried desperately. Harry shook his head, unbelieving. "Oh, c'mon, Harry, you know I'm just teasin'."
"Right," he responded, eyebrow raised.
"So… tell me what's on your mind," Eggsy began again softly, taking Harry's hand. Harry nearly fell off the bed from the way he jumped when Eggsy touched him, as if electrocuted. "Woah, woah, sorry."
"No, it's fine. Sorry," Harry replied, avoiding Eggsy's gaze. "I'm making a big deal out of something small. Just… be honest with me, alright, Eggsy?"
"Always am, Harry."
"Are you and Avery…" Harry trailed off, making vague hand motions. "What is it you young people say… a thing?"
Eggsy blinked, completely astonished.
"W-what?" he stammered, turning beet red.
"Be honest, Eggsy," Harry pleaded.
"I… I… what?" Eggsy exclaimed, completely bewildered. "Where the heck did that come from?"
"It's just…" Harry stumbled over his words. Eggsy couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I noticed you two are… awfully close and such, but nevermind, forget I asked." Harry stood up to leave, dropping Eggsy's hand, which had been enfolded in his.
"Harry, wait-"
"No, Eggsy. I apologize for making you uncomfortable with my silly questions. Get some rest, and feel better soon." Harry strode away, a bit faster than normal, glancing at Eggsy once more before closing the infirmary door behind him.
"What, in the name of all that is good and great," Eggsy muttered to himself, "was that all about?"
"Ohhh…" Avery waltzed in, sighing romantically. She had her hands clasped to her chest, over her heart. She placed a hand on her forehead, fainting dramatically beside Eggsy with a large whump as she collapsed onto the mattress. "That was so lovely…"
"For the love of… for fuck's sake, will you please tell me what you're going on about?" Eggsy exclaimed.
"And he was blushing, and then you were holding hands, and you were staring into each other's eyes and oohhhhh…" she cried, a pained expression on her face. "It was beautiful."
"Avery! Get to the point!" Eggsy yelled, blushing furiously.
"Right, sorry. You two are perfect for each other, the end."
Eggsy just stared at her.
"What?" she asked defensively.
"What in the world are you on about?"
"Oops, I'm supposed to meet Merlin…" she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Five minutes ago. Ta," she called over her shoulder, already adopting the British slang.
"Avery!" Eggsy yelled. "Get back here this instant!"
But she was already gone.
Eggsy sighed, slumping into the pillows and closed his eyes.
He could still feel Harry's hand enveloped over his.
"Excuse me, is they done in there?" the man standing in the far corner of the room asked, accent seemingly unfitting for his demeanor. He wore an ill-fitted suit, albeit stylish.
"Pardon me, sir?" Alfred asked, glancing up from the measurements laid out on the counter in front of him. The shop was otherwise empty.
"I said, is they done in there? Those three people," he repeated, stroking one of the many bolts of fabric on the shelf.
"They left a while ago, sir," Alfred answered, refusing to give anything away.
"No, they didn't," the man replied. "I've been watching 'em."
"I'm sorry sir, but they left quite a while ago. If you're done examining the fabrics, we can begin with your fitting, if that's what you wish."
"No, no fitting…" the man muttered, walking towards Alfred. Alfred's right hand found his left wrist, discreetly calibrating his wristwatch setting to AMNESIA.
"Sorry, sir?" he asked again innocently?
"Tell me where they went," the man suddenly hissed, launching himself at the ex-Kingsman.
Alfred wrestled him off a moment later, firing the dart into the man's neck. He slumped over Alfred's shoulder and he let him down carefully, carrying him easily over to one of the benches in the shop.
As he was doing so, he heard the door open. Four men in dark shades and trenchcoats walked in.
"Ah, welcome in, gentlemen. This poor chap needs some more sleep, I thi-"
Alfred cut off mid-sentence when one of the men pointed a gun at him. He backed away, pretending to stumble. He put on a terrified expression, which wasn't overly difficult. He was outnumbered, after all. And it had been years since he had resigned, taking over the shop instead.
"What in the world… gentlemen, please, I'm just a tailor," he exclaimed, hands in the air.
"Where's the girl?" one man asked, voice deep.
"What…" It took Alfred a moment to remember the girl who had walked in with Eggsy earlier that day. "Girl?" Alfred shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then get out of the way," another man said, stomping forward and shoving the tailor to the side. The four of them walked towards the first dressing room, the one that would take them to Kingsman mansion.
"Search the room," the man with the deep voice said, opening the door. Just as they had their backs turned, Alfred pulled out the pistol he usually kept in the cash register out, firing five times in rapid succession. He had pocketed the gun after seeing the first man simply loiter in the shop for an entire afternoon, examining every inch of it.
Two men hit the floor, instantly dead. The other two leaped at Alfred, disarming him after a violent scuffle. Alfred managed to knock out one of them, when suddenly the remaining trenchcoat pulled out a strange silver object and threw it at Alfred. He tried to catch it but immediately regretted it.
An uncomfortable tingling sensation worked its way up from his right palm and fingers to his elbows, where it continued quickly to his shoulders. He found, with a considerable amount of panic, that he was completely paralyzed where he felt the tingling. Less than a minute later, he was almost completely frozen stiff, standing like a statue in the middle of the room. He couldn't even blink, much less reach one of the emergency switches that would alert the Kingsman agents that the service had been jeopardized, the secrecy compromised. But he had to try. He actually got extremely close... until the trenchcoat shot his left arm.
"Have fun, old man," the trenchcoat called from his position inside Dressing Room One. There was a bang and the squeal of skin against the mirror as the man tried to figure out how to operate the elevator.
If Alfred had the capabilities, he would have sighed in relief. The man wouldn't be able to get through the biometric system.
But then terror seized Alfred as there was a high pitched beeping and the man came bolting out of the room, shooting Alfred a good-natured grin.
The grenade exploded a moment later, creating a massive hole, and revealing the seemingly endless pit into the darkness. The man disappeared into the hole. Alfred hoped he had jumped and would snap his neck upon impact. Unlikely.
Well, at least they hadn't gotten into Dressing Room Three, he couldn't help but think grimly.
Realized an entire 100-word chunk went MIA thanks to otakuzen, from when Eggsy and Harry were having a certain chat. Previously, Avery just bam appeared out of nowhere, but that was a mistake on my part that had been deleted and was recovered. Thank you.
-agent galahad