You guys are amazing! I want to thank everyone who is following me and whoever has left me a comment and just for everyone reading my story! It's kind of weird it's been a year since I first posted, so Happy anniversary! I hope you guys like this chapter
"Have you found a safe house for Elaine yet?"
"Not yet," Roxy said. "It would appear that all of our safe houses are either occupied or compromised. Only a few have been compromised, but it's still enough to cause a problem."
They hadn't addressed everything yet, so there was an awkward tension in the air that Eggsy didn't feel particularly excited to bring up.
"Do you know the details of the Milan mission?" Eggsy asked.
"Sit, watch, and don't get in trouble." Roxy quipped.
"Right," Eggsy sighed. He walked into that one.
Silence passed between the two of them.
"Eggsy, are we ever going to talk about what happened?"
"Nope."
"Eggsy," Roxy prodded. "Bedivere."
"There's nothin' to talk about. I've gotta cut all ties. Me and Elaine were nothin' at all."
"You can't stuff it down and pretend you don't love her."
"Because there's nothin' to stuff. I don't love her."
"That's rubbish," Roxy said. She knocked his shoe with her umbrella.
"It's a bit strange that it hasn't snowed yet, isn't it?" Eggsy said, standing up and started pacing away from Roxy. "I mean it's December first. Tha's weird. It should be snowing, right?"
"Fine. I'm going to go figure out housing issue and you can call me when you inevitably come crashing down because your pining love for Elaine has driven you down into a spiral. Good day." Roxy promptly left.
The door closed with a resounding thump and Eggsy reprimanded himself for the situation.
"Alright." Eggsy said to an empty room. "I'm not in love."
At the other side of London,
"What are your plans for tonight?" Maisy asked.
"I'm trying to decide between Project Runway or conspiracy videos."
Hershel cowled and padded over to the kitchen where Elaine was dipping apple slices into peanut butter. Chomping on one, she opened her crappy laptop.
"Is that even a question?"
"For you it is. You know Project Runway beats everything."
"That's bullshit and you know it. Sure watching a bunch of pretentious asshole designers knit shreds of tulle together is entertaining, but those conspiracies feed that curious monster deep in your gut. Is Hillary Clinton a lizard? Is there a subterranean civilization in the Earth? Is Beyonce a clone? Do the Kingsmen exist?"
"Wait, the Kingsmen? I've never heard about that conspiracy."
"It's not as interesting as lizard people or planet X, but I thought it would intrigue you. Not many people talk about them, but I found this obscure YouTuber who has a video on it started snowing over there, yet?"
"No, but who are the Kingsmen?"
"Just these guys that kill people with umbrellas. We have snow in Duluth, it's weird it isn't snowing in London."
"Yeah, well, when is it not snowing in Duluth? I'm intrigued by these Knightsmen."
"Kingsmen."
"Whatever, I'm curious and bored so tell me a scary story."
The phone crackled as Elaine guessed Maisy was holding it against her chest. Elaine heard her muffled voice say hi to her fiance.
"Me and Daniel are going to see a movie, but I'll talk to you later."
"Send me the link to that Kingsmen video, I'm curious."
"Aha! Gotcha! Looks like the conspiracy videos have won over Project Run-Away."
"Hope the movie is boring." Elaine quipped.
"Later, bitch."
Elaine laughed and popped another apple into her mouth. Her laptop binged as the link to the video popped up in her inbox. Looking at her TV and computer, her curiosity for conspiracy won out and Elaine clicked the link.
The Kingsmen: The Organization the Government doesn't want you to know about…
Intrigued, Elaine opened the video and as it was gearing up, a photo of a gentleman in a suit and glasses was holding an umbrella like a gun with blood splattered over him.
"What the heck?" Elaine asked herself.
The video barely got through the first few words of the conspiracy youtuber before Elaine's laptop glitched, lagged, and finally shut down.
Elaine grumbled, hitting her computer before slamming it shut and pushing it to the side.
"I guess Project Runway wins."
Eggsy was given the file on his mission. There was a memo from the Kingsmen pilot about new safety regulations and speculations on where potential Callisto hideouts were. It was all standard stuff.
Unable to concentrate on anything, he started ambily walking around, unsure of where he was going. Merlin was pulling the team from Elaine's street, Evie was missing, Elaine could be in danger, Milan was pretentious, and his ribs still stung from his fight with Bedivere who, by the way, hated him. Add the fact that Roxy was just about done with him.
And Elaine was slipping away.
There were enemies with and around him. What would he do?
Since Eggsy was too caught up in his spiraling thoughts, he didn't take notice of where his feet were leading him until he looked up and there Elaine's apartment stood.
He always seemed to come back to Elaine. She was his safe place.
She was his safe place even before the mission. Back when he would go out of his way after work just to flirt with the pretty flower girl on Columbia Street who knew trivial facts about flowers.
He missed her already.
Deciding it wasn't worth the fight, Eggsy climbed her steps and stood in front of the door that would lead to her.
Elaine just sat down with a bowl of popcorn and Hershel on her lap when there was a knock. Suspicious, Elaine walked towards the door and looked through the peephole to see Eggsy standing on the other side. He seemed to know she was looking through because he made a funny face. Elaine smiled and unlocked the door.
"Hey, stranger." Elaine greeted.
"Mind if I come in?" Eggsy asked.
"Depends." Elaine feigned seriousness.
"On…" Eggsy asked.
Elaine waited dramatically before laughing at herself.
"I don't know. I was trying to think up something witty to say, but I've got nothing."
Elaine opened the door for him and walked into her apartment. He closed the door behind him and followed her inside with a laugh.
"Do you want to watch Project Runway with me?"
"Project what?"
"Runway. Its an American show about fashion designers competing for fashion lines and stuff" Elaine explained as she split the popcorn with him. "It's very dramatic."
"I'd love to." Eggsy said, taking his jacket off and giving Hershel a scratch behind the ear.
Eggsy settled into the couch and Elaine leaned into him. Herschel climbed all over them as Eggsy pulled her into him in what now felt like a natural embrace.
It wasn't long before they had both finished the popcorn that Project Runway was forgotten and they began talking about anything and everything.
"I'm sorry, how long have I known you?" Eggsy asked.
"Oh, months. Since the beginning of summer."
Elaine was now reclining against the arm of the couch with her feet resting on Eggsy's legs.
"And I'm just finding out now you have a flip phone?" He said incredulously.
Elaine just shrugged. She leaned over the arm of the couch and grabbed her phone out of her bag from the floor. Smiling, she handed it to Eggsy.
"Wow. That is… wow. I truly can say I've met a Luddite."
"I'm not a Luddite!" Elaine gasped with a laugh. "I just think technology is scary and the Illuminati is slowing taking over the world with each new iPhone."
"So, a Luddite." Eggsy said. "In Paris, you didn't have one."
"Just a temporary, My phone was cracked so it was sent in."
Elaine bumped his shoulder.
"And I'll have you know the iPhone X has facial recognition that is probably being archived by some creepy, hidden-meta-government organization."
"Alright. Sure." Eggsy said, giving her a teasing roll of the eyes.
"You sound suspiciously like you are a part of one."
"Part of what?"
"One of those creepy meta-government things… Because you're a spy." Elaine teased back. "More wine?"
Elaine once again turned away before she could see the guilt lying heavily in Eggsy's eyes. He was wondering what the hate in her eyes would feel like when she found out. But he pulled out an easy smile when Elaine came around the couch and gave him his glass.
"Okay, this is the good part." Elaine said, her attention turned to the tv.
Failing to stay focused for long, Eggsy and Elaine were laughing again, asking each other ridiculous questions.
"What's your celebrity crush?" Elaine asked.
"No, no, it's your turn, love? The one thing you've always wanted to do, but are too scared to do."
Elaine wiggled in her seat as she sat up and crossed her legs. She wanted to give him a good answer.
"Hmm. In the US, there are these country roads that branch out from freeways that you just know lead you somewhere beautiful. Meandering miles and miles leading to who knows where. I've always wanted to turn down one and just drive until I saw the ocean."
"Why haven't you?"
"Have you seen the gas prices? And I've always been too busy with life."
Eggsy contemplated her with serious eyes.
"Okay, now time for the real questions. Do you think you can handle this?" Elaine wiggled her brow.
"Try me." Eggsy challenged.
"So, I'm curious," Elaine paused for dramatic effect. "When did you first know you liked me."
"From the first moment I saw you."
"No! I'm serious!" Elaine pushed him.
"Alright, alright. I ain't gonna change to a different memory, though."
Elaine agreed.
"So, it was probably a few weeks after we met. It was at Columbia street and you were wearing this dorky cat jumper."
"I will have you know, that 'dorky' cat jumper is my favorite one," Elaine laughed. "And that isn't the reason, dufus."
"I also love that jumper! Anyways, you were buried in your sketchbook. It was the last days of summer, so your hair was tied up and there were flowers weaved into your bun. I walked up and you were so entranced in your work you didn't see me."
"Hmm. I'm okay with this memory. I'll let you keep it."
"You obviously don't remember that day."
"Why not?"
"Because when you finally realized I was there, you yelped and fell off your stool. You were so embarrassed your cheeks turned the color of the roses in your hair."
"No! I remember! I demand you pick another time."
"Nope." Eggsy said, satisfied.
"Ugh. I guess you were a gentleman about it. I remember you trying not to laugh. I can't believe you." Elaine poked Eggsy's chest.
"Sorry, luv. But I'm just being honest." Eggsy said. "How about me?"
"I don't remember." Elaine said sheepishly.
"That's rubbish and you know it. Come on, I don't mind if it's embarrassing."
Elaine wrapped her arms around her knees and gave Eggsy a challenging smile.
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
Eggsy tried to challenge that, but he graciously let it slide.
"I haven't seen you in a while." Elaine said.
The tv was off. It was late and Herschel slept on the darkened window with his paws draped over the edge of the sill.
Elaine was lying on the couch, her head in Eggsy's lap while Eggsy's arms sprawled over the back of the couch.
"It's only been three days, love." He said, his eyes closed and head relaxed against the couch back. His jacket and shoes were tossed in the corner and Elaine yawned
"Well, it felt like forever." Elaine complained.
"It did."
"I want to stay here forever." Elaine whispered, her eyelids were growing heavy and Eggsy was too comfortable.
"Mmkay." Eggsy mumbled. "Sounds like a plan."
His fingers weaved through her hair, she wasn't expecting it, but she hummed contently as he almost unconsciously wound her strawberry strands around his fingers. Elaine shifted to look up at him in a way that let him still stroke her hair and saw his eyes were closed and he was still reclined against the couch. He looked younger, free. Elaine wanted to reach up and run her own fingers along his jaw, through his hair, down his chest, but she was too tired.
"Eggsy," Elaine whispered.
"Hmm." Eggsy mumbled after a moment.
"I love you." Elaine mouthed.
He hadn't heard her, just stayed relaxed beneath her. He was asleep. But she needed to say it, even if he couldn't hear it. She shifted to lay on her side, her face smushed against his leg. Herschel jumped down from his perch with a cowl and trotted over to Eggsy's jacket and promptly fell asleep on it.
"I love you, too." Eggsy whispered.
Elaine's heart stopped for a moment, but it mellowed as his fingers continued weaving through her locks. It was natural, the two of them. It was simple as that.
Elaine smiled, and pressed her lips against his leg.
"Elaine… Elaine…"
Someone was shaking Elaine as she slept. She grumbled and turned into her pillow. A hand fell on her shoulder and turned her over.
"Hey, wake up." Eggsy said.
He was kneeling by her bed. When she grumbled again, he smiled and brushed some hair out of her half-slumbering eyes. Still drowsy, Elaine smiled back and turned towards him.
"I have to go," He said.
"You could stay," Elaine countered.
He smirked. It was dark and she couldn't make out everything, but his warm energy wrapped around her like a blanket. He was a safe place in her chaotic life; all she wanted was to be wrapped up in his arms beneath her warm blankets and fall back asleep.
The bed dipped as he laid next to her. Elaine snuggled next to him and wrapped her leg around his.
"I'm going away for a while." Eggsy said just as Elaine was about to slip into sleep.
"Mmkay. As long as you come back to me."
Eggsy remained silent after that, staying with her as she fell asleep.
There was dust on the window sills and chairs wrapped up in sheets; the Kingsmen obviously hadn't been overly invested in their stay. Yet there was nothing of use except the window with a view towards the apartment across the street.
Gun set on the counter and boots left by the door, the abandoned apartment's new occupant was settled in.
"This guy. Again," she mumbled.
The recurring Kingsmen was becoming annoying.
She had planned to grab Elaine today, but the blond nuisance had to come in to see her. She wasn't capable of taking on a Kingsmen, not with the weapons she had. She couldn't show her face, either. They would recognize her immediately.
So, she would wait. He couldn't stay in London forever.