Manners || Eggsy Unwin

Eight

"Todays training", Neil stated aloud to the group assembled in front of him. The trainee agents were already down two more members since the water test. They had mostly been doing basic army training. Weights, running, shooting, and in classroom lessons. None of which Neil had been apart off. He mostly just watched them run their laps in the morning with his tea and the newspaper of the day in his spot in the drawing room. After their hallway conversation, Eggsy always looked through the window to see Neil flick him what had now become their customary salute.

He took a breath and sighed, whole attitude not wishing to be there. "Todays training will be a simple sniper mission". Around them, the sky was greying as the sun set. All the trainees were dressed in their uniform of boiler suits with suit like patterns. Neil hated them and found the one Eggsy was wearing, some weird tweed thing in shades of brown, particularly hideous. His own suit that day was a deep midnight blue with the pattern of black flowers just visible in the gloom. His shirt underneath was a light grey and the top two buttons were undone.

Noticing the gaze on him, Eggsy smirked slightly as his brown eyes flickered up to meet Neil's blue. Then his eyes dragged pointedly up and down Neil's frame, lingering on the exposed skin around his neck as his smirk widened. Neil tore his gaze away with a choked down scowl. "One of you will have the job of being our target. While the rest of you will be paired up into teams. The target's wonderful job is to guard their ballon. They can move anywhere on the grounds but not in or on the building. Merlin doesn't want any of you to scratch up the paint work". There was a chuckle amongst the cadets and Neil allowed his lips to twitch. At his feet, Lady Jane wagged her tail.

"Now Roxy here will be our lovely target", Neil waved his hand and Roxy instantly scowled at him. "Grab a ballon and everyone gear up. The pairs will be Charley and Eggsy. Rufus and Digby. And finally Thomas and Haynes. You have until twenty one hundred hours".

The cadets all started moving towards the bags of army gear on the ground. Neil picked up the pink helium ballon from it's weight and held it out to Roxy with a grin. "Here's your target".

"Shut up", she muttered at him as she reluctantly took the ballon. She gave him a huff and a scowl before moving over to the bags with the others. Neil walked away back to the steps of the building then crouched down to scratch Lady Jane's ears.

"Is pairing me with Charley revenge for the talk we had?" Eggsy's voice was the next to interrupt him. The man had a sniper rifle in one hand and the backpack full of the rest of his gear slung over his shoulder. He was frowning down at him but his anger melted at the sight of Lady Jane's happy wagging tail and grin. "Hello", he was bending down and holding out a hand for Lady Jane to sniff. "You're a pretty dog".

Neil blinked at the sudden change, watching as Eggsy began patting Lady Jane's head. "This is Lady Jane".

"Lady Jane? Like the nine day queen?"

"No. Like the Rolling Stones song", Neil replied robotically. Eggsy nodded and continued showing the dog with pets and scratches. "And if you think I paired you with Charley because of our conversation, then I'm not that petty".

Eggsy gave him a look that told him that he didn't believe it. "Huh so you didn't want to see me fight the urge to strangle him all night".

"I don't need to pair you two up to watch that. You all share a dorm".

"Fuck you".

"Honey, you wish".

"Actually, I could probably score better". Eggsy shrugged with a smirk and leaned back. The two of then staring at each other over the twitching ears of Lady Jane. The dog flicking it's head between the two of them.

"There ain't anyone better than me", Neil flicked his hair and gave Eggsy a knife edge smile.

"Your bark must be bigger than your bite because from what I'm getting, you're all talk".

"Talk. I could prove it, but you have yet to prove yourself worth my time". Neil batted his eye lashes and Eggy snorted. The man scratching behind Lady Jane's ears. 

"I get it. You're a vain twat". 

"What's up Eggy?" Charley's annoyingly pompous voice announced his presence as he walked over. Neil tried not to snigger at the immediate distaste filling Eggsy's face. Then Charley turned to him and he suddenly understood the distaste. "Hello, I'm Charley". The smile was slimy. 

Neil stood and kept his face blank as he nodded. "I know. I have been observing your training for almost three weeks now". 

Charley's face twitched. "Ah. Yes of course. I just thought I'd introduce myself in person. The agent who recommended me told me about you. You were on that Italian ferry incident right?"

One of Neil's eyebrows raised. The only other people who knew of the missions each agent went on were Arthur and Merlin. Charley must be Arthur's candidate then. "Ah, yes. That was me. Can't tell you any details though, confidential I'm afraid".  

"Of course", Charley nodded, still smiling. He was taller than both Eggsy and Neil, much to their visible displeasure. "Thought you'd be older. But never judge a boy by it's cover right?" he laughed, an annoying braying thing that reminded Neil of a horse. 

"Youngest agent in twenty five years", Neil ran a hand through his hair. It had been a particularly bad hair day that morning and he was still feeling self conscious about it.

 Charley whistled and let his eyes flicker along Neil's figure. It reminded him of the gazes he got when working a mission. Stares were always something he used but in this moment, he didn't particularly want this stare on him. It was an annoyance just like the man in front of him. "Wow. That's pretty impressive. So care to share any tips with me? Seems like you were doing so with Eggy here". His eyes darted between them as Eggsy stood up. 

"Shut up Charley". 

"Why would I share tips?" Neil chuckled dryly. "Wouldn't that be cheating?" He took a step closer towards the taller boy, voice lowering. "Now take your eyes off of me and get on with the training or I will fail both your flat butts". He looked over the group with narrowed eyes. "I mean all of you!" 

The boys, and Roxy, all scooped up their gear and jogged away. Neil stuck his hands in his pockets and watched them go. Lady Jane sitting by his feet, her tail still wagging. Just before the group split and the figures all disappeared over the grounds, Eggsy turned. Despite the distance Neil could still make out the scowl and flipped middle finger. He smiled and flicked back his two finger salute just as Eggy disappeared into the rapidly falling gloom.  Neil chuckled and began walking inside. With a click of his fingers, Lady Jane followed. 

unedited