Kingsman Material

[Chapter One]

This wasn't the first time Eggsy had ended up staring at his reflection through a two-way mirror and it probably wasn't going to be the last. This time he had been busted for shoplifting at the local grocery. It wasn't a glamorous crime to be nabbed for, but Eggsy had to eat.

He had been kicked out of the flat by Dean three days ago and didn't have any money or any place to go. Eggsy knew that Dean hadn't meant for him to be gone for so long, but Eggsy wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of coming back with his tail between his legs; though now it looked like he wasn't going to have a choice.

The door opened and a detective walked in, folder in hand. Eggsy eyed him from his slouched position in his chair, arms crossed over his chest.

The detective gave Eggsy a once over as he sat down, slapping the folder on the table between them. Neither one of them said anything, both daring the other to speak first.

After a few moments, the detective sighed and flipped open the file. Eggsy smirked slightly. "Gary Unwin—,"

"It's Eggsy."

The detective didn't bother to look up, "I don't care what it is, the name on your record says Gary, so you're Gary."

Eggsy glowered a bit, but didn't respond.

"So, Gary," The detective put emphasis on the name. "My name is Detective Anders." He paused, seemingly waiting for Eggsy to say something. But when he didn't, Anders continued, "This isn't your first time in here, but it is the first time you've been picked up for stealing food. The last few times have been drug possession, automobile theft, and the like."

Eggsy shrugged.

Anders leaned forward, his elbows pressed against the table. "What changed? Got tired of the harsh stuff and decided to try something new?"

Eggsy shrugged again, but didn't say anything; let the detective make his own assumptions.

"Your step-dad is Dean, isn't he?"

Eggsy's eyes narrowed. "So?"

Anders' voice lowered, in what he probably hoped was a persuasive sound. "So, we were wondering if there was anything you can tell us about his activities. Obviously, there'll be something in this for you. Your previous charges will be dropped and you'll have a fresh slate."

Eggsy's eyebrows rose at the detective's clumsy attempt to flip him on Dean. "Activities?" He said, feigning confusion. "I dunno what you're talking about. Yeah, Dean lives with my mum, but that don't mean I know what he's up to."

Anders frowned. "Think about it, Gary, before you turn down this one and only opportunity I'm handing your way."

Eggsy hardly let him finish before saying. "Like I told ya, I don't know anything. And it's fucking Eggsy, man."

Anders rose, frustration oozing from him. "You're just like the rest of them; going nowhere fast. Think about that next time you're arrested, Eggsy." He said nastily before striding out of the room, leaving Eggsy staring at the two-way mirror.

Eggsy breathed slowly out of his nose, the only sign of his agitation. He reached over to where the phone was laying on the table, took a breath and punched in his mum's number.

He bit his lip, waiting for her to pick up.

She did after a lengthy amount of time. "Yeah?"

"Mum?"

"Eggsy? Where have you been? I've been so worried—,"

"Sorry, mum," Eggsy cut her off. "I should have come home sooner, but I'm…" He paused, pressing a hand against his forehead. "I'm in a bit of trouble."

Silence met his statement. "What did you do?" Michelle asked resignation in her voice.

"I stole a sandwich." Eggsy didn't see the point in lying about what it was that got him picked up this time.

"Eggsy…"

"It's fine, mum. The grocer isn't…he only wants what he's owed for the sandwich."

He could hear the unspoken question in his mum's silence. "The cops wanted to talk to me 'fore they cut me loose."

Neither of them had to say Dean's name to know what the cops had wanted with Eggsy. "Alright. I'm on my way. Wait for me outside the station."

"Yeah."

"Don't go anywhere, Eggsy, I mean it. Stay put."

"Yeah." Eggsy repeated.

He put the phone back on the table and, as if on cue, the door opened and a young cop gestured for Eggsy to stand.

"Free to go, am I?" Eggsy snarked.

The cop didn't say anything, merely watching as Eggsy swaggered past.

Outside, the sun was beginning to dip into the horizon and a chill quivered in the air. Eggsy pulled his jacket together, crossing his arms protectively against his chest. He eased himself down on the cold cement steps and waited.

And waited.

Eggsy hadn't even realized that he had dozed off, till someone was tapping at his shoulder. "Kid, kid."

"Gitoff." Eggsy jerked away from the hand before he was fully awake.

The cop raised his hands. "Listen, you can't stay here. You need to leave."

Eggsy squinted at the cop, registering the lack of sunlight and stiffness in his limbs. "Yeah, alright." He stood up, glaring at the cop as he left.

A soft beep alerted Harry "Galahad" Hart to the fact that he had just received an email. He glanced over to his second, smaller computer screen eyeing the email. It was an alert email on a name that he had been watching; he did this for many people. Families of Kingsman, or potential Kingsman, anyone he wanted to keep an eye on. He would receive an email if their name had come up in school reports, police arrests, and the like.

Deftly, Harry clicked on the message, noting that the name was Gary Unwin, or has he liked to be called (or at least had told him as a child) Eggsy. For a moment, he hoped that Eggsy was finally doing something with his life. That maybe this email was simply Eggsy registering for university or even signing up for a library card.

Those hopes were dashed quickly as he glanced over the email. Eggsy had been arrested. Again. There was a grainy black and white video that was attached to the email, which Harry clicked on. The video came to life. It showed an aisle in a grocery store, empty except for Eggsy, who was staring at the array of sandwiches on display.

Harry frowned slightly; the lad looked gaunt and too thin. It was hard to tell in the black and white film, but it also looked like a purple bruise was poking out of his collar, splayed on his neck.

Eggsy glanced around, checking to make sure that he was alone, before he shot his hand out, snatching a wrapped sandwich and shoving it into his garish jacket (Harry could tell it was garish even in the horrible film quality). He then dug his hands into his pockets before sauntering away.

The camera angle switched, focusing on Eggsy again as he attempted to leave. Obviously, he had been seen nabbing the food because someone, perhaps the owner, came around the corner, yelling at Eggsy, who promptly took off in a practiced manner.

Harry clicked out of the video; he had seen enough. With a sigh, Harry pulled his glasses from his nose and rubbed his palms into his eyes. He had had high hopes for the boy, but he was being proved again and again that those hopes were ill-founded. Perhaps it was time to move on from Lee Unwin's child.

Eggsy's hand hesitated against the door; he didn't want to face whatever waited for him inside. Whatever reason his mum had for not picking him up probably involved Dean and whatever involved Dean was never good.

Bracing himself, Eggsy shoved his key into the lock and eased open the door.

He slide inside quietly and at first Eggsy thought that maybe Dean wasn't home or that he was passed out on the couch.

But the hammer fell as Dean's hand came out of nowhere smacking the side of Eggsy's face. With one cheek burning, Eggsy felt Dean's hands make fists in the fabric of his jacket. His back slammed against the door, Dean holding him in place.

"What the hell do ya think you were doing?" Dean hissed his breath hot against Eggsy's face. He winced, turning his head away.

"What?"

"You got picked up for shoplifting food?" Dean's voice was incredulous.

Eggsy frowned. "I was hungry."

The excuse fell flat. Another slap.

"What did you tell the cops?"

"I didn't say nothing." Eggsy insisted hotly; he knew, from a very young age, that if you opened your mouth to anyone you were likely to lose your teeth. As a kid he had taken this to heart and never caved, even for simple things that weren't a matter of jail time or freedom.

Dean slowly released him, glaring.

Eggsy didn't move, holding Dean's gaze steadily.

"Alright." Dean said. He jerked his chin. "Get out of my sight."

Eggsy took off, his eyes flickering to the mangy couch. He wondered what had happened to his mum. His gut twisted and he hoped Dean hadn't done anything to her. That thought stopped him in his tracks, freezing him in place at his bedroom door.

"What?" Dean snapped.

Eggsy turned. "Where's my mum?"

"Where's my mum." Dean mocked in a high voice that didn't sound at all like Eggsy.

Eggsy didn't move.

"She's sleeping." Dean finally said grudgingly.

Relief flooded Eggsy and he accepted that answer, going into his dark room.

He shut the door firmly behind him, ruefully touching the locks that he had put in, but had been broken by Dean weeks ago.

Eggsy flopped face first onto his unmade bed, burying his head into his lumpy pillow. He briefly thought about rolling himself a cigarette from his stash under his bed, but decided that was too much of an effort.

Eggsy slowly drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Merlin placed the file in front of Harry. "Your next mission."

Harry pulled it towards him, nodding his thanks at the other man.

Merlin hovered, shifting slightly, a question seemingly on his lips.

Harry looked up. "Was there something else, Merlin?"

Merlin hesitated. "I don't mean to pry, but something has been on your mind?"

Harry smiled slightly, but didn't answer.

"Is it Unwin's boy?" Merlin persisted.

Harry sighed and sat back, realizing that Merlin wasn't going to leave him alone. He gave a slight nod, "He's been arrested."

"Again?"

"Yes, again."

"And?"

"And I'm wondering if I should move on."

Merlin was silent for a moment, "I think, perhaps, you need to think about something else for a while." He gave a nod to the file, and turned on his heel, taking his leave.

Harry flipped open the file, thinking Merlin was probably right.

A/N: I'm completely in love with Eggsy and Kingsman so I obviously I had to write something. Let me know what you all thought.

Cheers.