For prettyballsy

[fucking_gentleman]

The alarm was sounded at eleven in the morning, the day after Eggsy visited.

The alarms should have gone off before then, but Harry had hacked the machines, pulling and stripping wires and looping the feedback back into itself so there was no sign that he was no longer connected.

He had borrowed clothes by picking his way through the hospital, acquiring one item after another, cards and pass codes and by the time he left, he was dressed and had loose cash, a pilfered phone from a wanker who refused to turn it off and said wanker's credit card, which he used to withdraw the maximum he could and then tossed.

With more CCTV than any other city in the world, he then vanished off the grid.

By the time Eggsy was brought in by Merlin at quarter past midday, Merlin was waiting for another ping from a new internet cafe, the various footage of Harry's escape running behind him, being analysed by technicians for any hints.

"He realised he'd been made and vanished from the last internet cafe in under two minutes. He was off the cameras again within five. You're being authorised to locate and bring in Galahad, before he becomes a target or, worse, gives himself a stroke."

Comments

[fucking_gentleman]

"I slept through a couple of my scans." His fingers came up his spine, along his neck and then back down again. Never dipping too low to be indecent, but still a bit suggestive at the small of his back. "You're fine. Relax, let yourself wake up slowly. I think it's been a while since you had a good rest and lay in feeling safe."

[prettyballsy]

He shifted then, arching slightly, catlike and content with that touch as his eyes nearly closed, lashes nearly brushing against his cheeks. "Good. You need your rest," he said, meaning it. Not worrying about his own. Not with all he's been through and just kept going. He would rather worry about Harry.

"Don't got time for that normally. Training, missions, JB, making Roxy think two steps ahead. No time for lay ins and rest," he murmured, blinking, looking up at Harry. "And don't need rest. You ain't dead."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Shh." The only way he was going to stay was if Harry encouraged him to. "Just stay. Relax. You don't have any assignments, all you need to do is stay here for a while with me."

Clearly, helping Harry recover his memory and rehabilitate should be Eggsy's main job right now. And in this moment, that meant laying in bed while Harry sat with him.

[prettyballsy]

"Mm, yessir," he murmured softly, smiling sleepily even as he slid his arm more firmly over his lap, snuggling in against his hip. "Right here then. Mmm, I can do that," he said, letting himself try and relax and not think about who could walk in... or was watching.

"You sure you're okay me laying here? I can sleep in the chair," he offered, trying at least to be the Kingsman he was and not the smitten boy he could be.

[fucking_gentleman]

"You're fine there." His hand drifted to Eggsy's hair again, stroking it back gently, calloused fingers smooth through it.

"I've been alone for some time now. I find I'm rather enjoying having some company with me, even if one of us is asleep. It's pleasant, knowing someone else is there." And then his finger traced Eggsy's jaw and down his throat. "You look younger asleep."

[prettyballsy]

"I like being here." It was being honest, too sleepy to lie. Then that caress and his eyes closed again, smiling. He could do this all damn day, and nothing was going to make him move unless Harry kicked him out or Merlin came in barking orders. And the second may not do it.

"I wish I hadn't left you alone," he murmured, closing his eyes tighter. "I'm sorry, but I'm here Harry and only work will drag me outta here, and then I'll be right back. Promise."

He was so caught up in the sweetness of it, he couldn't help a soft gasp at that touch, mewling without a thought. Then he winced. "That is probably not a good thing, huh?" Maybe he was misreading that touch, imagining things in his needy state.

[fucking_gentleman]

"It wasn't your fault, dear boy." He cupped his jaw, stroking his cheek with his thumb. "And the work needs to come first, I understand that. I have the feeling it was usually me saying that. The world is still in turmoil, agents will be needed on the field, but while you're not needed, I'm planning on keeping you here with me."

Another small shrug. "It is what it is. You're young, but you're definitely a man, not a boy, whatever I keep calling you."

[prettyballsy]

Oh. Oh God. He was fawning. He knew he was. Staring up at Harry, wide eyed and stunned and desperate for more. Not even trying to hide it, not after the way the day had gone. "You were. Where I learned it from. I told you, I would make you proud, Harry. Always."

Leaning his cheek into Harry's touch, still staring at him. "I like when you call me Dear Boy. Why... why it bothered me before." Definitely a man. Okay. He was acutely aware of how not dressed he was, and how good Harry's legs felt against his arms.

[fucking_gentleman]

Eggsy's wide eyed attention and devotion could very easily become addictive. And being able to elicit those reactions with very simple touches and words was a powerful feeling.

He watched him closely, regretting not being able to see more at once with one eye blind. "And you have. That is one thing I am most assuredly certain of. I am proud of you and the man I was before would be proud of you."

Some niggling thought told him that Merlin would yell at him when they next saw each other. Harry suspected he hadn't cared much before and certainly wasn't going to now.

[prettyballsy]

Another time and place and he might watch himself, but right now he was too caught up in these moments and those touches and he just couldn't help himself.

"I'm going to take your word for it," he said. He couldn't believe that. Even now. Even with having saved the world. He hadn't done enough to feel he had done enough after what he did to upset Harry, and then Harry died after it. "But I'll try and remember that," he said. It was the most he could offer.

[fucking_gentleman]

"So you should. A gentleman's word is his oath." He drew his hand back slightly to see if Eggsy would turn his face to follow it and press in again.

"Apparently I won't be returned home for at least a few days, but I will be staying here during that time."

[prettyballsy]

"I will then," he said, and he would do his best to remember that when he was nervous as Harry's memories returned.

His head did turn, arching a brow and looking a little nervous when he realized what he was doing.

"Gonna say good to that. I'm bunked here so means I can see you."

He hadn't thought about that. Eventually Harry would be well enough to go home, and Eggsy would be there at headquarters, since he didn't feel right stay with his mum and sister. Not with what he did for a living.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry rewarded the turning into it by pressing his hand to his cheek again.

"Apparently, even when I go back I'm required to either have a full time nurse or someone living with me and a nurse coming in during the day to check on me." He'd let that sit there for a while and have Eggsy mull it over. Maybe suggest on his own that he could do that. "Since I refuse to let Merlin plant cameras and monitors in my home."

[prettyballsy]

Eggsy sighed, smiling at that.

Even if he fell silent for a long time, considering that. "That's why I didn't move in with my mum, for the cameras. Figured it was better for her and Daisy." He fell quiet then, considering how to ask without risking being turned down. Even if he wasn't sure he could be. Not with the touches, right?

"You know, a dog is good security." Not JB but still. "And if, you know, JB was assigned to guard your place, I would have to go with him."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Eggsy, I don't remember JB, but I do have the odd urge to laugh at that suggestion. I know JB is your dog, but not why I want to laugh."

He traced a fingertip around Eggsy's ear, wondering what it said about him that he was finding the curve so enthralling. "I have no cameras. I can't imagine I ever would have tolerated my personal life being recorded for the tech department."

[prettyballsy]

Eggsy smiled then, because he did remember something, and that was always going to be a start. "He's a pug," he said, rolling his eyes. "I didn't know he wouldn't get bigger," he admitted, making another face.

Oh. Oh that was different! He made a soft whimpering sound, wincing and ducking his head back down against Harry's hip. "Sorry," he murmured. "Yeah well, my life is under his eye," he said, shrugging. It was a freedom he had given up to be a Kingsman. How he figured it. "And it's okay if the suggestion was laughable. I'm sure they can find someone to help you," he said, taking it wrong. Not because he wasn't entirely fully awake because he was sure he was misreading everything and making a fool of himself.

[fucking_gentleman]

"A pug." Of course. That was a fairly funny idea, a pug being successful at guarding anything.

"JB guardian anything is quite laughable. And if you want me to stop, you have but to say and I will." Otherwise he was going to keep doing what he was doing. "I do have a spare room, however. If you can live with my strange collection of butterflies."

[prettyballsy]

"He's a good dog," he said, meaning it. One of the best friends he had these days, outside of Roxy.

"What?" He frowned, deep, furrowing his brow. "Why would I want you to stop? Why'd you ask that?"

Still frowning, head canting slightly. "I thought you said it was laugha... Right. JB." He hoped. Damn but he was so nervous and he figured he was taking things wrong.

[fucking_gentleman]

"I'm sure he is. But a guard dog, pugs are not."

He kept up the touch. "You apologised. And since you did nothing wrong, I could only presume it was a discomfort statement." His thumb teased Eggsy's earlobe softly.

[prettyballsy]

He nodded just barely, knowing that was true. "Still, can tell it to Merlin and watch him scoff. It's a fun hobby I have." Knowing he could hear it now and might be listening.

"For the sound. I don't... I shouldn't..." He made a frustrated sound. "I shouldn't be takin' advantage of you."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Oh? You're taking advantage of me, are you?" It wasn't mocking, just said in a curious tone as he kept up his touching. "You terribly naughty boy."

[prettyballsy]

"Harry."

He groaned his name, closing his eyes. Dammit, did he have to say it like that?

"You don't know me. You know nothin' about me. When you remember yourself and me and all of it, you're not gonna be happy with me and..."

And he was already waiting for that shoe to drop as it was, without wanting to practically crawl into Harry's lap in that moment.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Let me tell you what I know about you."

He stroked a finger over Eggsy's eyebrow while he sorted his thoughts.

"You're young, in years but not in experience. You haven't had much luck with adults in your life or with guidance, probably until me. You work hard to be accepted and make me proud, but you never feel that you've done enough, that no one really believes you should be here because you don't believe you deserve to be here.

"You're loyal beyond sensibility and beyond the grave. You have tremendous respect for Merlin and Roxy, which is why you work so hard to not show any dint in your armour, but you're stung so hard by perceived rejection from them. And from me. You've had a candle in your heart for me for a long time, but I never gave any indication of interest in return. Or at least, not in a manner you recognised. You watched me die and you hurt like you'd been shot instead of me and now that I'm here, you're torn between begging forgiveness, shaking me for everything you went through and my leaving things unresolved between us and," he leaned in close to whisper in his ear. "Begging me for something else entirely."

He leaned back. "How did I do?"

[prettyballsy]

Eggsy went silent, shifting only enough to easily look up at Harry. For maybe one of the few times in his life, he stayed so silent, so still. Listening, knowing that Harry had him pegged. Had him on things he never admitted, even to himself.

Those last words, whispered in his ear, Harry so close and talking about Eggsy's feelings, and desires and he was two seconds from bolting because he didn't know how to handle this. He had no fucking idea. All he had going for him was honesty.

"Not bad," he whispered. "Let..." He swallowed hard. "Let me fill in the gaps. My dad died when I was four. You broke the news to me and my mum. The bastard she fancies is an abusive fucker and I've handled everything I had to," he said, his voice still such a soft whisper. Not by choice but his throat was so tight he couldn't raise his voice.

"I don't do enough. I failed, Harry. I flunked out as your choice, proving them all right that a kid like me didn't belong here, and I still fight every day to prove I do." Even if to himself. "So I failed and I nicked your boss' car. You didn't live to learn he was working with the fucker that shot you," he said, staring up at Harry, his eyes bright.

"I'm not one of them and I figure they think about that all the time, even though they're the best people in my life. As for you? You never ever gave any interest. Not like that and the last things you said to me..." He shook his head. There had been so much but all he held to was disappointment in him.

"And I do want forgiveness, and I want you to remember so I don't set myself up because..."

He stopped then, shaking his head, knowing he was going to start fucking crying if he didn't shut up.

"So yeah, I'm takin' advantage of you because you don't remember all the bad stuff, just seein' the good."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Merlin failed too," Harry whispered.

He shouldn't tell him, but fuck it, the boy needed reassurance. He didn't remember the details, but Merlin was not a knight but had done training. He had, technically, failed.

He cupped Eggsy's face and kissed his brow very softly. His lips felt dry against the smoothness of his skin.

"Then I will respect that and not keep attempting to seduce you. Not until such time as I remember much more about myself and about us. But when I do, I am going to resume my seduction until you either tell me to stop or give in. All right?"