Here is my next chapter... a million years later... I'm sorry for the delay, but Senior year is kicking my butt. I'll try to update more frequently, but unfortunately the majority of my energy needs to be focused elsewhere.
Hope ya'll enjoy this one!
Elaine woke with a start. She jolted straight up in bed, her racing pulse beating against the sheets and the sheen of sweat over her growing cold. The remnants of the nightmare clung to her skin beneath the tangle of sheets and ebbed up her spine, cracking the nerves as it went. The gun was still pressed against her temple, Evie's unforgiving eyes still uncaring, and Elaine still trying to remember the words Evie spoke to her in the nightmare.
Elaine took a shaking breath and attempted to ground herself in the here and now, which was a hotel room in Paris, Eggsy sleeping beside her.
"Hey," A sleepy voice said.
Elaine relaxed as Eggsy ran a hand down her back. Where once there were cracklings of fear running up and down her spine, there was now a warm, soft hand tracing her. She turned and studied him. There was sleep lingering in his eyes, which was soon replaced by worry.
"You alright?" Eggsy rasped, sleep in his voice.
Elaine looked around at the room. The hotel was in a quieter part of Paris and the hour was early, so there was a blue hue to the room, silence surrounding them save for the occasional car on the street below. A chill crept over the uneven and scratched wooden hotel floor and crawled up into the bed.
Elaine shivered. The bed shifted as Eggsy sat up.
"Elaine,"
She leaned into him and he pulled her back down to the bed. Elaine buried herself in Eggsy's arms and closed her eyes.
"Bad dream?" He asked.
Elaine took another shaky breath and clutched Eggsy closer as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
She could still feel the terror at Evie's rage drowning her and dragging her down. The image of her sister murdering her would disappear.
"Terrible dream."
There was silence between them, save for the stable beating of Eggsy's heart beneath her ear. Elaine focused on the drum hidden in Eggsy chest and tried her best to relax into him and forget everything outside of their rented room.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No. I just want to forget. It was just a dream." Elaine said, drowsiness slipping into her voice.
Laying against him was reassurance enough to keep her safe and relaxed. Eggsy said something else about being open to talk, but Elaine promptly fell asleep against him.
The second time Elaine woke up, the room was much brighter and the air had warmed. Eggsy brought breakfast from the bakery across the street and had gotten the tea she liked. They ate together, Elaine lounged in Eggsy's lap and laughing as he threw a fifth grape in his mouth. They went on and on laughing at each other. It was nice; Elaine's legs draped over the arm of the chair and leaning against Eggsy.
"Let's stay here forever," Elaine said.
"I think you would get bored of me."
"Never." Elaine moved closer and kiss him lightly.
"What now?" Eggsy asked.
"Well, I need a shower," Elaine said, moving past him and throwing her shirt at him before disappearing into the bathroom.
Eggsy ran his hand through his hair once Elaine was in the shower. He let his head fall back against the chair and stared up at the ceiling.
"What the bloody hell have I gotten myself into?" He asked himself.
They were going home today. The resources he needed to keep Elaine alive were in London; even if he wouldn't be the one protecting her. There was no way Eggsy was staying on the mission. He might not even stay in the Kingsmen for this type of indiscretion and insubordination.
Eggsy closed his eyes and all he saw where Elaine's emerald eyes above him; her strawberry locks falling over her shoulders and her freckles peppered beneath her emerald eyes, dancing as she laughed.
Standing up the stretch, Eggsy walked over to the window and looked out across the street. The cafe was empty save for one man.
He had coffee in front of him and an umbrella by his side. He wore a crisp tweed Savile Row suit and a stoic expression.
"You've got to be takin' a piss." Eggsy mumbled. He should have expected him sooner rather than later, though.
Putting on his own wrinkled suit, Eggsy quickly made himself look somewhat presentable and left the apartment. Hesitating, he walked up to the table Bedivere sat at and pulled out the opposite chair.
They were silent. Bedivere took a sip of his coffee. Eggsy wondered if Bedivere was thinking about throwing it in his face.
"Bedivere,"
"Don't." Bedivere quipped. His stoic eyes continued to stare past Eggsy. He looked tired; there were bags beneath his eyes. "I stuck my neck out for you, you know. I trusted you, we made a deal."
"It's not what you think."
Bedivere pounded the table.
"Of course it fuckin' is." He snapped. His coffee mug shook. "They're gonna get rid of you. Soon, I hope."
Eggsy decided not to argue. Instead, he just sat there.
"Just do us all a favor and resign from the Kingsmen while you still have a shred of your dignity."
"Ya know, mate, you're not exactly sounding like a Kingsmen now, either. If you'd just fuckin' listen to me, you'd know th-"
Bedivere flipped the table and planted a right-hook into Eggsy's jaw.
Knocked to the ground, Eggsy let it soak in that his own idiocy had once again gotten him into trouble. Taking a glance at Bedivere, Eggsy guessed the beating wasn't done.
"Get away from him!"
Bedivere forgot Eggsy and his gaze softened as Elaine came running up, but there was still a fire of anger in his eyes. Elaine quickly kneeled next to the Eggsy once she was close enough.
"Go back to the flat." Eggsy said, standing up and rubbing his jaw.
"Like hell," Elaine said. She stood and contemplated the man in front of her in anger before yelling at him. "Who the hell do you think you are? Just attacking someone?"
Bedivere floundered. He didn't say anything, he just stood there speechless; confused, lost, and hurt.
"Ev-"
"Leave." Elaine snapped.
She tried to put as much force behind her words as she could and to her surprise, the man turned away with an empty look, grabbed his umbrella and walked off.
"Oh my god! What the hell was that? Are you okay?" Elaine reached up, wrapped her hands around his bruising jaw, and pulled him closer to inspect the damage. "Who was that psycho?"
"Just someone I've managed to royally piss off." Eggsy said, rubbing his jaw again.
They walked together back to the flat.
"Well, did you deserve that punch?" Elaine asked carefully, not wanting to have yelled at a stranger for nothing.
"No… yes… I let him think something. I should have just…" Eggsy couldn't manage to figure things out.
"Okay. What did you let him think?"
"I'm pretty sure he's in love with this woman. He's never said straight out that he does but it' obvious. An' he thinks I slept with her. Stole her."
"First of all; this woman isn't a damn object or prize. If he never said he loved her and they never had an exclusive relationship then what's his claim on her?" Elaine asked angrily.
"I don't got an answer for you, love." Eggsy said.
"God, men are so possessive."
"For good reason." Eggsy said with a wink, pulling her closer.
Elaine rolled her eyes and bumped his shoulder.
The bruising side of his jaw caught her attention and once more she lapsed into gushing about how unfair and hurt he must be. For some reason, her worry was funny to Eggsy. He said he had been hurt far worse before and that she shouldn't worry.
But Elaine didn't listen.
"Let's go ice that. It going to be a nasty bruise."
Elaine was at the airport. She was sitting in a lonely gate of the terminal with Eggsy by her side. She looked over at him; he was reclining against the back of the uncomfortable chairs resting his eyes. A smile touched Elaine's lips.
The memories of late nights, and kisses, and Paris had her questioning how a trip could feel like forever and yet had you wanting to stay for another forever. Elaine went back to their first kiss in the very first hours of their adventure.
Elaine leaned over and gave Eggsy a kiss.
He opened his eyes and looked at her with a smile.
"Wha' was that for?"
"For our spontaneous trip. I loved it." Elaine said, leaning into him and closing her eyes. "It was unexpected, but I loved it."
Eggsy relaxed beneath her.
"I think we both needed it."
Elaine was silent.
"I'm sorry you're walking away with a bruise, though."
"Yeah, well, I probably deserved that, love."
"You started the trip with bruises, too," Elaine said carefully, she opened her eyes to look at him.
They hadn't talked about why they ran, not really.
"Is the man from this morning why you were running?"
Eggsy ran a hand over his face, sitting up straighter in his chair.
"Yeah, part of the reason. There are more people who, I'm sure, would like to give me a shiner. All that's waiting for me in London is attacks I won't be able to stop.
"My twin sister is a terrorist and the London police think I'm her."
They were silent. The only sound between them was the echoes of the airport PA system at another gate and the rush of travelers.
"Why are we going back?" Elaine whispered.
"Because responsibility is a bitch, but punishment is a bigger, uglier bitch."
Elaine slid back in her chair until her head rested on the back. She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Amen to that." Elaine kept her eyes closed.
Suspicion washed over her.
"You don't seem too surprised by the fact that my sister is a terrorist and the government is after me."
Eggsy froze, Inhaling through his teeth and turning to her with a guilty look.
"Eggsy," Elaine warned, sitting up.
Eggsy put his elbows on his knees, covering his face with his hands.
"How do you know my sister is a terrorist? Shit, are you actually a spy!?"
"No! No. My uncle. He told me something was up and that you knew about a bombing and I talked to the man who interrogated you and he warned me to stay clear of you."
Elaine relaxed. Well, she relaxed as much as one could in her predicament.
"And how do you know about Evie? My twin?"
"I guess I just made the connection that the Bobbie called you Evie and you've told me about problems with your sister. I just figured you didn't want to talk about it."
Elaine fell against the back of the chair and pulled her knees up and tucked her legs beneath her.
"So, you're not a spy?" Elaine asked, her cheek pressing against her shoulder.
"I… that remains to be inconclusive."
"You jerk," Elaine laughed, punching his shoulder.
She resumed her cuddling next to him too quickly to catch the guilty look flashed across Eggsy's face.
"I don't want to go back," Elaine whispered. "I heard Spain is beautiful this time of the year. Maybe even Norway."
"We'll protect you. Me and my uncle will protect you. I'll be damned if you get thrown in jail for your sister's mistakes." He shifted in order to put his arm around her.
"Yeah, well, I led a horse to water," Elaine mumbled to herself.
When Eggsy dropped Elaine off at her apartment, it was past midnight. Like the gentlemen he was, he insisted on carrying her bag, which made Elaine roll her eyes endearingly at him. They were both tired, so they kept a comfortable silence between them. Elaine reluctantly got out her keys and opened her door. Hershel mewled loudly from somewhere in her dark apartment.
"So that concludes our trip." Elaine mourned, lingering in the entrance of her apartment as Eggsy made to leave.
He didn't leave though, he just stood there lingering as she did. Elaine looked down at her hands and tugged unsurely at her sleeves; biting her lip as Eggsy stepped closer. He took another step so their toes were touching and the electric tension between them coursed through her. Maybe this was their chance.
Eggsy kissed her, his hand pulling her in by the small of her back and her own hands ran up his chest. It was the kind of kiss that took breaths away, though that seemed to be every kiss she had with him. Elaine was just about to pull him into her apartment when he suddenly pulled away.
"Goodnight, Elaine." Eggsy whispered.
He lingered a moment longer before shaking his head with a smile and stepping away; breaking their gaze.
"Night," Elaine whispered as he walked away.
Eggsy sat at the end of the conference table. He clicked his pen anxiously against the mahogany table as he waited for his fellow agents. Unfortunately, Bedivere arrived first. He sat down at the other end of the table and ignored Eggsy politely; polite in the sense that he didn't stare daggers.
"Bedivere," Eggsy said.
The other agent showed no sign of hearing him.
"It's not what you think." Eggsy said hopelessly.
"Yes, you've said," Bedivere said coldly.
Eggsy huffed and sat back. He heard the others out in the hall and soon Roxy was storming in and heading straight towards Eggsy.
"What the hell, Eggsy?" She fumed. "I tell you to clean up your act and you decide to take Evie to Paris?"
"Elaine," Eggsy corrected.
"No, Galahad. Her name is Evie. Gwenivere Daniella. And if you can't discern those two, then you are more messed up in the head than I had thought."
Merlin walked in, looking more stoic and severe than usual.
"You are on a very thin wire, Galahad. I'll let you explain, but you should know you are a mistake away from termination."
Eggsy nodded, leaning over and grabbing the file that lay in his bag, he faced the other agents and stood up.
"Evie is still missing. Elaine is the one in London."
He gave the file to Merlin for him to go over and sat back down.
Merlin spent a long time looking through everything included in the file. Bedivere and Roxy remained silent. After a time, Merlin stood up and began pacing the length of the conference room.
"How could we have missed this?" Merlin asked himself. "That was a good move, running to Paris. I just wish you would have included your team on the information."
Merlin set his palms on the table and looked through the file again.
"In light of this new information and your apparent affection for her, this mission is out of your hands, Galahad. Elaine will be moved to a safe house as soon as it can be arranged."
"That isn't necessary, Merlin," Eggsy spoke up.
"Which is it, Galahad? You love her or you want her to die in the street?" Merlin snapped.
After that, Eggsy kept his mouth shut.
Bedivere was about to speak up, looking completely lost. Merlin handed him the file.
"See as how there is no information to be had from Elaine, we need to pool our forces into finding her sister. There's no use keeping our distance from Elaine. Lancelot, secure a safe house."
Roxy nodded, pulling up information on her tablet.
"What is the status of the team stationed across the street from Ms. Daniella?"
"Active," Bedivere answered.
"Have them pulled, I want them on the search for Gwenivere."
Bedivere nodded.
"Lancelot?"
"I'll get right on organizing the safe house." Roxy stood and left, but not before giving Eggsy a sad look.
"Bedivere, gather a team and start the search for Gwenivere immediately."
Bedivere nodded and left as well.
Then it was only Merlin and Eggsy left.
"The fact remains, Galahad, you are on a very thin wire. Since your current mission has become irrelevant, you will be posted in Milan for surveillance until further notice. I expect you to depart in two days."
Eggsy nodded.
The next morning, when Theodora Wyndham got to London, the first thing she did was scope out her target. Elaine was walking out of her flat, too focused on her jacket button to notice anything around her. Theodora would have to memorize her schedule, her habits. But that wasn't much of an obstacle.
Looking away from her target, Theodora was distracted by a small group who were moving out of the apartment across from Elaine.
Theodora knew Kingsmen when she saw them.
Biting back the anger, she took a breath and observed that they appeared to be leaving. An observation that would have her life in the next few day considerably easier.
