Hello there! Apologies for the wait - I moved around some chapters and found better parts for the story. I hope you enjoy! As always: thanks for reading, and leave a review if you can! I even accept anonymous if that's your style.
Painted
"I need at least an hour long shower when we get back," Ana sighed, rubbing at a kink in her neck as they stood near the baggage claim, drowsy and tired from both the mission and the flight that was extended for a few hours due to an emergency landing in the middle of Nevada for an engine check.
"Don't hog up the hot water, I want one too."
"I'm not a water hog!"
"Your thirty-minute shower back at the hotel was just a fluke, then?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
She shook her head, fighting a grin.
"It was a waterfall shower, how can I not?"
"Wouldn't know, didn't have time to take one."
"Oh, cry me a river," she said just as the suitcases started dropping down to the conveyor belt.
"You mean cry ya a waterfall," he quickly replied which made her laugh. He smiled at that and she turned away to get closer to the edge of the belt, keeping an eye out for their bags.
"I can get the bags, Miss, if you and Eggsy would like to wait in the car?"
"Don't call me Miss, Mr. Holtsman, and we can get the bags ourselves, thank you."
"I'd excuse her stubbornness but it seems you already know of it," she heard Eggsy introduce himself behind her.
"Indeed, sir."
"I'm surprised she doesn't end up driving herself."
"Oh, she has, sir, on occasion."
She turned her head over her shoulder to give them both a glare.
"Those were dire circumstances and you know it. Now hush, I see our bags."
Ana and Eggsy were finally home after a quick Marsha mission in Chicago that turned from a weekend mission into almost a week. One last minute Gala turned into two, which Marsha had also grabbed the two of them invitations for - and therefore they had to find their own outfits and play their cover while mingling with the enemy and unknowing citizens - twice. They'd brought even more mics and trackers to plant, had tech to take pictures inconspicuously, and Eggsy even had time alone in one of the town cars to check the locations the town car had been visiting regularly.
All in all, the mission was simple and boring. Neither of them had nightmares, she didn't cause bodily harm towards him, and he wasn't as invasive as usual. It seems that unspokenly, something had changed between them.
During dress shopping, Eggsy had said something along the lines of "I've always wanted to see the Windy City!" as a reason for tagging along, which Marsha had laughed at quite hard.
"Oh, that lovely accent does make everything better, doesn't it?" she'd said, sending a wink towards Ana, who had to fight not to roll her eyes.
After he'd left the shop, Marsha was more interested in the two of them as a pair than finding dresses.
"Something's different, isn't there?"
She'd shaken her head.
"He's looking at you differently, dear, something has changed. For the better, if I thought that possible from such a lovely couple."
Ana's insides had fluttered at that. Not only from the fact that they were different, however she didn't know how; but also from disgust that Marsha was invading in her personal life and relationship with Eggsy.
She looked over at him in the car now, looking at his profile.
His eyes moved and he turned his head but she looked out the window, frowning at their surroundings after they passed a shop she was unfamiliar with in the usual route towards Headquarters. She checked the traffic app on her phone to see if that was the reason for the detour, but didn't see any.
She frowned, looking to the driver and noticing his eyes continuously checking the rearview mirror… before he took a left turn. She watched him make two more unexpected turns, the last one on route away from headquarters.
"Mr. Holtsman, is there something you'd like to tell me, sir?"
"To not call me sir, Miss."
"Yes, and I tell colleagues to not presume I'm an idiot," she said and Eggsy chuckled, "so I'll say again, is there something you'd like to tell me?"
He let out a soft sigh, and checked the rearview mirror again.
"We're being followed," he said, voicing her internal concerns.
"What?" Eggsy said, and she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling.
"Don't look back! It'll give us away."
He nodded. She nodded back and pulled her hand away, feeling restraint from his own.
"What's the usual protocol?" he asked.
"Drive as much as we can towards a more suburban place, where we can deal with business neatly and quietly."
"Sounds like a plan," Eggsy started, but she shook her head.
"How daft are you? The both of you? We're coming back from a mission with Marsha. It's obviously her."
They both stayed silent. She looked at Eggsy, who was grinning.
"Daft?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Roxy is rubbing off on me, what can I say?"
"What is the plan of action, then?" Mr. Holstman said.
"Just… make a few random turns, find a gas station. You fill up the tank, we get goodies from the mart… maybe that'll throw them off."
Mr. Holstman cleared his throat.
"Miss… cab drivers are never to get gas with a customer. It could raise suspicion."
"Shit… what about 7-Eleven?"
"Miss?"
"We've just got off a plane, we need… refreshments."
"What refreshments?"
"For fucks sake! If we keep making random left and right turns, they'll know we're onto them. If we make a stop and I'm not in a fucking moving car, I can think of something!" she found herself yelling.
She caught her breath, surprised at her outburst.
"Will do, Miss," Mr. Holstman said.
"Sorry, sorry… I just…" she faded off and shook her head, looking out the window, her mind reeling.
She felt something touch her hand and jumped, turning to look at Eggsy.
He looked at her, just looked. No raised eyebrow. No look of teasing or indifference.
Just looking. Staring.
She loved and hated it.
She kept his gaze until they turned onto a curb and Mr. Holstman said "7-Eleven, miss."
She sighed, bending forward to rummage in her purse for cash.
"What do we do?" Galahad asked.
She pulled up, surprised. He was asking for her lead…
She cleared her throat, and tugged him forward by his tie, moving them under the line of sight. She loosened the tie and got rid of it, moving a hand to ruffle up his hair.
"We're gonna walk in hand in hand. We're gonna get some snacks, and definitely some Slurpee's. I'll let you know what we'll do next once I do. But we can't go to headquarters. Not yet."
They both entered the 7-Eleven, Eggsy looking around almost confused. She went to the drinks first, looking amongst the wine and beer and sodas… grabbing a six pack of Angry Orchard.
"Seriously?" she heard him say but she only grinned and continued down the next aisle mindlessly.
Her mind was racing.
They were being followed… which meant Marsha didn't trust them.
She turned her head to watch Eggsy pick up a pack of Ding Dongs and look at it with equal fascination and then disgust after looking at the back of the package.
However the context of the following was something she didn't know. It could be just an unconventional background check. The Kingsman had, of course, created a solid cover; an identity in state and federal databases, a website, and even social media presence. This could just be a type of background check. Ana had now grown close to Marsha, a public figure who has dealings in the black market. Maybe she was just being cautious.
She'd left the scene at New York in a rush to get away since she wasn't under the protection of the Kingsman during her rogue mission. What happened after she left the two of them unconscious in the hall? If Marsha had a security team, they had to have known something went down. If not that, then had Marsha's team found one of their bugs, and somehow traced it back to them?
She held in a sigh as she grabbed the Ding Dongs and threw them into her basket.
What the fuck was she supposed to do now?
The usual protocol for following was what Mr. Holtsman had said; find a nice suburb and deal with them accordingly… but this was a tail that they wanted to thwart. A tail meant to follow them to Headquarters to most likely find out about the agency – she needed to make them think that there wasn't such a thing as Headquarters. That her and Eggsy were just a simple couple leading a simple life.
Her old house came into mind, but she shook her head.
"What?" Galahad asked, throwing in a bar of Butterfingers.
"Huh?"
"You just shook your head."
She recovered quickly, throwing in a bag of Reese's Pieces, realizing there were too many sweets, and then putting some of them back.
"Just concerned of your choice is all," she said, turning at the end of the aisle and moving towards the end of the mart where the soda and Slurpee machines were.
"Right, right," he said as she grabbed two medium cups, giving one to him as she filled her own with a mix of the cherry and cola mix. She put the cap on and added more, licking off the excess flavor.
He was staring at her. He then stared at the machine.
"Trust me. Just, do it. It's a nice warm day, you wont regret it."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Don't give me that shit. Meet me in line," she muttered, leaving him alone with the machine.
She was at the register, the young man's smile falling when Galahad came up next to her. He scanned the other Slurpee and handed over the bag with a curt "thanks".
She didn't say anything as she grabbed Galahad's hand and moved them towards the exit. Unspoken, he detached from her grip and moved his arm around her shoulder as they pushed the doors open and walked towards the cab.
"You've taken a sip, right?"
He shook his head and when his lips sucked at the straw, she had to look away.
But then she heard him cough and shake his head.
"Brainfreeze."
"That's the induction to Slurpee's. Welcome to America," she said dryly as they entered the car.
"Miss?" Mr. Holstman asked as he started the car.
"Head west… stick on big streets, where traffic is. I need to make a call," she said, bringing out her cell.
She typed in a long number, securing the line before calling Adams.
"Mission went well, we've got a few more channels to listen in on, and our team is researching all of the location history from Marsha's car."
"It went well, but now it's gone haywire. I need protocol Safe House."
There was a pause on the other line, but then Adams cleared his throat.
"She's following you?"
"Holstman caught it. Single black SUV, since the airport."
"Are you sure about this?"
"There's no other option, Adams."
"How long do we have?"
"If Holstman drives like an old lady and yields to everything, I'd say half an hour."
"That's cutting it close, but we can cover the initial search if her goons are smart. Let's hope they're lazy as well."
"I'm hoping for a lot of things right now, Adams. Thanks."
"Tell Holtsman he's getting a raise for that catch."
"Will do, talk to you later."
"More than later, you know the protocol."
She sighed, but nodded, and then remembered she was on the phone and Adams couldn't see her, so said "Copy," and hung up.
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"What's the plan, miss?" Holtsman asked.
"What did I say about calling me-"
"And what did I say about calling me sir?"
"Touche', sir. Mountain Ave, please."
"Ana, are you sure?" the driver asked.
She drew in and then let out a deep breath.
"I'm sure. Adams is on it to protect the cover, but there's no other choice," she said, her heart falling. She closed her eyes again and took in an another deep breath.
It would work. Adams right now was working to change the deed of the house from her real name to her cover name, and would remove any notion of her real identity or that of Natalia's from ever owning it, as well as their foster parents – which could link back to her real identity.
She held her hands in tight fists the whole drive there, thankful that Eggsy was holding his questions as bay and stayed almost stoically silent the entire time.
As Mr. Holstman took the exit from the freeway, she remembered being in the red sports car, drifting the turn amongst still cars during V-Day.
When he turned onto the street and stopped in front the house, she looked at once what used to be her home, but was now just a reminder of who she used to be. When her twin sister was alive.
The car came to a stop, and she heard Mr. Holstman exit the car but she just sat there, staring not at what used to be her home, but at Jeremy next door, watering his roses.
Mr. Holstman opened her door and she stepped out.
"You're getting a raise, Adams wanted me to let you know," she said to him as he brought out their bags from the trunk, resting them on the sidewalk.
"Just my job, m'am."
"What did I tell you about m'am?!"
"Roosevelt gives me $200 a month to keep it up, tell him."
"Well that's stupid to tell me…"
"If you tell him, he'll raise the price," he said, winking at her over the car before he climbed in and drove away.
Ana turned to the house, making sure to avoid looking at the small front lawn, instead checking to make sure the house was still sound. And it was.
"Ana? Ana… is that you?"
She shivered at the voice and felt Eggsy reach up to touch her shoulder but she pulled away, taking a deep breath as she took a step forward, looking into the face of the man who killed his twin.
"Yup."
Jeremy was standing there, hose in hand over the roses he cared for, the water still going. He clenched the handle hard and the water spewed out with a harder force before he let it go and dropped the hose as though it was on fire.
"I meant it when I said goodbye. I never want to see your face again. I never want to hear your name again. I want you gone. Do you understand?" were her last words to him on that fateful day.
For a month, she'd kept her promise. He'd moved, but only a block away; she'd kept tabs on him. He still owned the house, had it up for rent, but never rented.
And after that first month, when everything came crashing down around her and she knew that she had also taken innocent lives to protect herself (and with the help of mandated therapy); she'd finally met him, under the guise of a renter.
He'd freaked when he saw her, but soon enough they were talking.
She didn't forgive him. She let him know she never would.
But forgiving and understanding are different.
So she let him go. Told him to live his life. Told him he was lucky he only had one kill. She then told him that for repentance he would watch over her childhood home, the only place that still held memories of Natalia.
"Ana," Jeremy said, walking towards them.
Galahad took a step in front of her.
Jeremy stopped, looking between the two of them.
She rolled her eyes and stepped around him, closer to her old neighbor.
"Hey, Jeremy."
He nodded, wringing his hands together, looking between her and Galahad.
"Jeremy?!" he heard Galahad say behind her, and she shook her head, looking at Jeremy.
"Oh god, he knows who I am?" Jeremy asked, looking downright terrified. Ana shook her head, and he continued, "Uhm, house is good," he stuttered, "All set… I just didn't know you would ever… come back…"
"Surprise visit. Is your phone the same number? I might call soon."
Jeremy's faltered, but then nodded.
"Do you need the key?" he asked as she pulled her suitcase along the stone pathway to the porch.
"I've got it, Jeremy. If anyone asks, I've been here this whole time, and you've seen this guy around, understood?"
His eyes bugged out but he nodded.
"Of course, Ana. Of course."
"Go back to your roses, Jeremy."
She brought out her keys and opened the front door, which led to a sun room/front porch, Eggsy closing it behind them.
"Wait here a sec."
"But-" he started but she ignored him as she opened the main front door to the house, dropping her keys on the coffee table in the foyer before rushing around to every picture of either of them she remembered that were displayed on the first floor of the house; together and alone, from their travels and trips and stupid fun, gathering all of the frames together and stuffing them in the coat closet.
Only then did she open the front door, Eggsy stepping inside, looking around with a quizzical look before turning to face her.
She rushed to the window, not moving the drapes as she peeked outside.
The black SUV was parked two or three houses back; watching.
"That's Jeremy," he said, his faced scrunched up in thought.
She took in a deep breath and then turned, catching Galahad's gaze.
"That's Jeremy. And this is a… safe house. However, you are to not talk, look, or even think of Jeremy, is that clear?"
"I'm not and idiot, Ana."
She stopped, the impact of him saying her name hitting her fully.
"I heard the phone call with Adams. This is… this is your old place, ain't it?"
She took a step forward, her hands clenched in fists at the name.
He raised his hands, fists clenched as well.
"I'm ready for a brawl, babe, but do you really want that right now?"
She took a step back, relaxing her hands.
"What I want right now is for you to stay here, and only here. Bathroom is that door to the left, kitchen is to the right. There's a study as well, but it's just storage now. You get me?"
She looked over at him, his gaze searching.
She shook her head.
"Got it?!"
He titled his head slightly but then nodded.
"Copy."
"Finally, some cooperation," she muttered, leaving him to go upstairs.
She wasn't sure how long she stayed in Natalia's old room, crying softly as she lay on top of the purple comforter, looking at the pictures and collages that covered the walls so much that it made its own wallpaper. Natalia was always the creative one. A perfect opposition to her own strategic and straight forward self.
This was her first time inside this house since before V-Day, which in retrospect she saw was a stupid mistake; she should have reminders of Natalia at her new studio loft. She should have pictures of them surrounding her. Maybe if she did she wouldn't harbor so much grief.
She almost wanted to call Mrs. Beltran, but decided for a later appointment when she finally got back to Headquarters.
Her stomach grumbled and she sat up, closing her eyes against the head rush as she stood up and descended the stairs, finding Eggsy lounging on the sofa, watching Jeopardy! of all things.
"Who is Genghis Kahn?" he said aloud, and once the contestant said the same thing and got the dollars, he clenched a fist in the air in success.
She couldn't help but smile at that as she took the final three steps, knowing they would creak and signal her arrival.
Eggsy jumped and sat up, reaching for the remote, but she shook her head and sat down on the other side of the sofa.
"This game is great, by the way. I've always heard about it, but never watched. Makes you feel stupid but smart at the same time, ya know?" he asked.
She only nodded, still feeling raw from being there. She listened to the next answer.
"What is synonym?" she asked aloud.
The contestant said the same, and got the dollars.
"Nice," Eggsy said softly.
She shrugged, and they watched the rest of the game in silence. They both guessed right for the Final Jeopardy, and the reigning champion won by only a single dollar.
The commercials came on, and Eggsy reached for the remote to mute it.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"Craving Chinese, you?"
"Sounds good."
She made the call on her cell under a secure line, and they continued watching Jeopardy! reruns until the bell rang.
She stood up to get it, recognizing a Kingsman tech dressed casually, holding their order.
"Wait another day, the tail is still here," was all he said, but he still grabbed the tip before he left.
She returned to the sofa, unpacking the food and utensils.
"Tail is still here."
"Classic spy move, infiltrating the delivery," Eggsy muttered, digging into the chow mein.
"We'll need to survive at least another day."
He took a moment before shrugging.
"Seems there's a marathon of this, shouldn't be terrible."
They ate dinner and eventually both fell asleep on the sofa during the marathon. Ana woke up first, making breakfast from stale Pop Tarts in the pantree. Eggsy was still asleep on the sofa so she went back upstairs, venturing into her own room, memories flooding back to her as soon as she stepped through the doorway.
It was as clean as she remembered it, a few basic artworks from the local Goodwill on the walls, her bed set, her clothes tucked in the dresser, her desk spotless.
She dug through her old clothes and grabbed an outfit to dress into after her shower. After that she went through Natalia's room, packing up some pictures and trinkets she'd take back with her.
She walked back downstairs, not really looking at Eggsy as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Might have some soup and stale crackers, sound good?"
"Sure thing, Anastasia."
Her whole body shut down; her body became still, her heartbeat slowed so fast she almost felt dizzy, and her anger... her anger intensified like a sports car going from zero to sixty in under two seconds.
Her brain reminded her body to take a breath when she noticed she wasn't breathing anymore. She slowly turned on her heels, taking one step into the living-room to witness the one thing she didn't want.
Eggsy, sitting on the sofa and staring down at the coffee table littered with the photos she had stuffed into the coat closet. He had one particular photo in hand that she even recognized from such a distance: a photo of two of them after a marathon, with shirts that read each-others names that they had made a contest of making to see which one was more ridiculous.
Natalia had made Anastasia's shirt almost like an ugly Christmas sweater, with bells (which were a bitch to run with), embroidered lights and wreaths, and an image of Santa riding a shark on the stomach.
Ana had just added as much glitter as she could to Natalia's shirt.
Eggsy rested the photo amongst the others before standing up slowly.
"Were you ever going to tell me?"
It was as though something snapped inside of her; deep down, she felt even her bones radiate with anger.
She let out a shriek and charged right at him, taking a short leap to tackle him to the sofa, landing a few good punches before he managed to block one and counter, grabbing her wrist and throwing her to the floor.
She lifted her leg to get in a kick to his face before rolling under the coffee table and quickly jumping upright, her hands in fists at the ready.
"You had no fucking right!" she yelled.
"And what!? Was I supposed to just keep working with you without knowing?! You knew about Harry, but I can't know about this?" he yelled back.
She felt as though she was in cardiac arrest, her heart was beating so fast.
She bent down and shoved the coffee table to the side, out of their way.
"That's fucking different and you fucking know it!"
She was there during Harry's death. Eggsy wasn't there when Ana took innocent lives, when she watched her mirror self die. There was no comparison whatsoever, and the fact he was trying to make one made her even angrier.
At the look on her face, Eggsy surprisingly faltered, but she kept up her guard.
"Oh, shit, it's happenin' again," he muttered to himself.
"Got that right," she said right before attacking again.
She honestly didn't know if their fight lasted minutes or hours. She didn't even feel like it lasted any form of time. She was just so angry, each counter punch or kick she felt just drove her more.
They moved around the room, breaking lamps, and even a chair.
She would never forget the ending.
The two of them on their hands and knees, both bloodied and out of breath.
Eggsy turned his head towards her and she looked back.
"Don't reckon this is an 'I take it back' situation?"
She tilted her head and threw a punch to his throat in response.
He choked as he fell onto his back, letting out coughs along with deep breaths, his body limp.
She nodded to herself as she stood up, stumbling once before she found her footing, still out of breath.
She spat out some blood as she wiped at her mouth, taking in the room.
A tornado came through, it seemed. But it didn't bother her.
It was worth it, for what he did; invading her privacy like that.
She took a few deep breaths and looked towards the nearest window, a stupid idea forming.
She stumbled to the window, obviously pulling the drapes back to see the black SUV still there.
"What'ya doin?" Eggsy asked, his breath scratchy.
"Got a stupid idea," she coughed as she walked towards the front door. She heard Eggsy call her name but ignored it as she entered the front sunroom, stopping by the mirror near the door and taking a step back.
She hadn't realized or felt it, but she also received a beating.
There was still blood on her lips, which she wiped away, and she had a small cut on her forehead. She felt one of her cheeks throbbing, which she knew would result in a bruise - but it hadn't formed yet. Her hair and clothes were in disarray, but left them alone, knowing it would add to the effect she wanted to give.
If she played dumb, it could help.
She took in a deep breath as she stared at herself in the mirror, licking away the last of the blood around her lips before opening the door with a force.
She closed it behind her, muffling the sounds of Eggsy calling out after her as she spotted the SUV and walked towards it, stomping the ground with purpose as she made her way over.
Immediately the car started, but she got to the front in time to stop the driver from getting away.
She slammed her hands on the hood.
"Are you happy now?! I just had a fight with the love of my life; my boyfriend thinks I'm fucking you, you sick bastard!" she screamed.
She noticed there were two men in the car - two men she (thankfully) didn't recognize to be part of Marsha's security detail. And she wanted to laugh at the looks on their faces.
"I mean I knew I had a stalker, but this?!" she screamed again, raising her arms to throw her fists on the hood yet again. "This is too far! Just let me be!"
The car reversed quickly.
In dramatic fashion - honestly, she was having fun by now - she took a step forward and shook her fist in the air.
"That's what I thought! It's all good at a distance," she shouted as the car switched gears and turned away from her and then echoed the sound of screeching tires as it tore away, "But up close you can't take it!" she screamed after the car.
She watched the tail lights turn on the next street and drive away.
She let out a huff and reached into her pocket, hopeful but not surprised to see it was a cracked and broken mess. She shook out the glass screen and put the phone back in her pocket, to be destroyed correctly by the Kingsman.
She walked back towards her old house and faltered in her step when she saw Eggsy and Jeremy a few feet away from each-other, having a kerfuffle of their own.
"What the fuck is going on, is what I want to know."
"Ya don't even have a right to know. She's got nightmares 'cause of you!"
At that Jeremy took a step back.
Eggsy looked just as bad as she did. A cut on his lip, a bruise forming on his cheek, and even his shirt was ripped, but he looked downright lethal as he took a step forward.
"I've got a feelin' as to why she has them, Jeremy."
"Enough!" she shouted, and both men startled while standing.
She pointed to Eggsy.
"You, inside, NOW."
"But-"
"Now!"
Like a child he put his hands on his hips, but then acquiesced and went back inside. Leaving her to Jeremy.
She walked up the pathway and stopped a few feet away.
"Who the hell is that guy? Who the hell are you? Are you okay?"
"You don't get to ask me that."
He nodded, looking down.
"Anyone come to you, asking about us?" she asked.
He shook his head, not meeting her gaze.
"Jeremy," she snapped and he met her eyes.
"No, no one."
"Good. If anyone does?"
"You've been living here this whole time."
She nodded, but he continued.
"What about him? I mean you look bad, but jesus, he looks-"
She raised an eyebrow at him. He took another step back.
"You could've done that, to me, even worse, on... on that day."
She tilted her head at him.
"Remember that, Jeremy."
He nodded profusely and she left, walking back towards her old house.
As soon as she entered the sun room, a wet washcloth was stuffed into her face.
She slapped Eggy's hands away as she walked through the destroyed living room to the kitchen, using the washcloth to wipe her face, neck, and arms before tossing it in the sink and opening the door to the fridge. She spotted an old unopened bottle of white wine, thankfully with a screw cap. She grabbed the bottle and opened it, taking a few gulps.
She exhaled and wiped her mouth, hesitated, and then took a few more gulps before putting the cap back on and slamming the bottle down on the counter.
Eggsy cleared his throat behind her.
She took a deep breath and turned around, meeting his gaze.
"I was there for Harry's death. I had an obligation to tell you, which I fucking did. Mind you, I didn't have to. And no," she said, raising her hand when she saw him open his mouth "this is not the time for your comments. I'm talking now, and you're gonna fucking listen."
He closed his mouth and leant against the counter, crossing his arms.
She took a deep breath.
"You weren't in the world that day. Only in the compound. You didn't see, or experience what it was like. That... day when I fucking happened to have on noise cancelling headphones which saved my fucking life. I took lives of my own that day just to protect myself against civilians. Faces I never stop seeing..."
She didn't look at him as she continued.
"There's only been mention of phantom feelings within twins: that one knows what the other is feeing despite the distance, etcetera... nothing ever studied or proven... but that day I felt it. I felt it enough that I stole a car and drove amongst the chaos to make sure my sister is okay, only to make it in time to have her die in my arms."
She felt tears stream down her face, but ignored them as she stared Eggsy down. His face scrunched up as he took a step forward.
"So don't you ever try to make me feel guilty for not telling you. I didn't just lose my sister, I lost my other half; I lost myself that day. And honestly, she hasn't come back. And I'm pretty sure she never will. This is who I am, Eggsy. A half, not a whole."
She turned and grabbed the bottle of wine and took a few more gulps, leaving the cap off as she put the bottle back down.
"Have you ever been in love?" she asked, staring out the window above the sink into the small backyard covered in grass.
Eggsy choked at that, letting out a cough or two, but then cleared his throat before croaking out "Yeah."
"I'm assuming that first love ended badly," she said, still not looking at him.
There was a long beat of silence.
"It did," he finally replied.
She nodded.
"You remember that pain?"
"I do."
"Take that pain... and triple it. Quadruple it. Quantuple it. Multiply it by infinity. And then take that feeling, and keep it inside of you forever, whilst feeling some kind of emptiness."
"Ana," he started, and she held up a hand, thankful that he fell silent.
She turned and walked past him to the living room, stopping to sit crosslegged in front of the coffee table, strewn with the photos that were miraculously untouched.
She felt more than saw or heard him sit on the other side of the table.
She picked up one of the photos of just Natalia, standing in front of a canvas of what to outsiders would seem like a self portrait, but to only Ana was in fact a portrait of her.
She waited for a beat of silence before continuing.
"Now, every morning you wake up - no matter if you had a good or bad day before, there's always that split second of hopelessness and emptiness when you remember that your other half, the one you grew up with and loved, and was, is gone."
She let out a shuddering breath, proud of herself for not crying.
More than a minute of silence passed.
She heard him take in a breath but it was interrupted by the doorbell.
"Answer it," she ordered. He stood up and disappeared for a moment. She heard muffled voices, and Eggsy came back in alone.
"They're here," she said softly.
Eggsy nodded.
"Told 'em to stay outside," he said softly.
She turned and raised an eyebrow at him.
He raised an eyebrow back and walked towards her, kneeling down next to her in a dangerous proximity.
They both sat in silence.
"Were you ever going to tell me?" he asked again, the first question that started it all.
She let out a laugh at that, but then shook her head.
"You know what? I knew I eventually would."
He looked almost skeptical, but she shook her head.
"The moment I took you to Harry's grave, I always knew I was going to tell you. Not just an 'eye for an eye' situation, but because a part of me wanted to let you know."
His gaze flickered as he searched her face, but thankfully he stayed silent.
"I just didn't know when," she continued, "Maybe during an important mission? Maybe if we were caught and Marsha had found out everything so we would have a one up on her instead of the other way around. Maybe after another nightmare you would've woken me up from. Or maybe even right before we ended it, to let you know why it was so important to me that if I didn't get to kill Valentine himself, at least I could exact my revenge on the woman that started it all."
She took a deep breath and met his gaze.
"But the thing is, it was my story to tell. It was my life to explain. And you took that away from me."
"You are... you are unbelievable," he whispered, though the words didn't hold the usual feeling behind the usual phrase, "Jeremy is why... but he's still here, taking care of the house. You don't want to kill him."
"It wasn't him that killed her," she whispered, fighting to keep her tears at bay but failing as she felt one escape her eye.
He nodded.
"It wasn't. And that's why we're gonna get Marsha. I swear to you, Ana. We'll get her."
She nodded and they stared at each-other for a beat, before she shook her head.
"I'm Lincoln to you. Nothing else. Not until I say, understood?" she asked as she stood up.
Eggsy, still kneeling on the floor, holding a hand to his bloodied cheek, nodded.
"Good," she said, walking to the main front door but stopping before she opened it, "And if you ever utter my full name to me again, I'll break every bone in your good arm," she said before opening the door to the few Kingsman Techs and Adams waiting on the lawn.
Without a word the techs stormed through and she walked back to the living room, falling onto a chair still intact.
"You both look like shit," Adams said as a greeting.
"Cat came out of the wrong bag," Ana muttered before Eggsy could say anything.
Adams raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Smart move, pulling the clueless card and calling them stalkers."
Ana shrugged.
"We can only hope it works. I packed two boxes, labeled with my serial number; would like them to be delivered to my apartment."
Adams nodded, and then hesitated.
"Are you-"
"Nothing. Right now, I'm nothing, Adams. Ask him if you want the gossip," Ana said, standing up again and walking out the door.
Painted by MSMR
Quite a heavy one, eh? I had two versions for this, but felt an angry and angsty version would fit these two better. That maybe this was the fight to end all fights between them.