To the states

Chapter 3

Eggsy comes to you a week before you leave with a new black eye.

"Oh, Eggsy." You sigh and walk over, resting your hand on his cheek. "Can I get you anything?"

He shakes his head. He knows where the ice packs are. "I thought things were different now."

"What made you think he changed?" You move to sit on your bed, knowing he'll follow.

Eggsy snorts. "Come on, I'm not that stupid. I know he'll never change. I just thought— maybe he started respectin' me. Saw me as a man, an equal. I've been trainin' 'ard. He knows I'm going to be a marine. He backed off for a while."

"What happened tonight?"

He shrugs. "He was goin' for my mum." He murmurs. "That's nothin' new and honestly, I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore. I've tried talking to 'er but he's got 'er so fucking scared and reliant that she can't even leave 'im. And it's not like I got any money to get us out. But now she's pregnant."

"What?" You ask, in shock.

"Yeah. She told me a couple days ago. Says she wants to keep it. Dean knows too and he still fuckin' went after her."

You lean in and hug him because you don't know what to say. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help."

He lets out a wet breath into your neck and squeezes you tighter. "I don't know what to fuckin' do." His voice is choked as he speaks. "I don't care if it's his kid, I'm not lettin' anyone else go through what I did. She's off the drugs now, but the minute she pops that baby out, she'll be right back on 'em. He'll make sure of it. I need to go so I can do somethin' to 'elp em but I can't fuckin' trust Dean not to hurt em either."

"I'm sure my mom would be willing to check in on your mom if it would make you feel better."

He sits back. "I don't want to put your mum in danger."

"Eggs, most of the time someone like that isn't going to do anything to a stranger or a neighbor. And frankly, if he did, he needs to be reported to the authorities even more than he does already. Let us help you."

"You've both already done so much and it ain't your job."

"Fuck that. You've been my closest friend for years now. My mom loves you too. You know we'd do anything for you and that's not changing any time soon. It's no less our job to help you than it is your job to help your mom."

He sighs. "That's not true, but it's very sweet. It's a good idea, I'll talk to 'er in the morning."

"Good. You want to sleep in here tonight?"

After so many years of this, he figured he'd be sleeping next to you tonight, but he always waits for you to offer anyway. "Yeah, thanks."

You're so used to it, your only response is to wait for him to lie down before you follow. It's a bit of a challenge, two adults getting comfortable in a twin bed but you make it work. It's a good excuse to hold him through the night.

As you lie there facing him, he thinks of all the nights he's spent like this, with you. The couple of— what he thinks were— almost-kisses. Those late nights you got up just to comfort him and you'd fall asleep first. He'd watch your serene face as you slept and let your sense of calm wash over him. Tonight though, your eyes are wide awake and searching his.

—0—

Sometimes, when you're like this, Eggsy gets this look. It's something like longing. There have been a couple of almost-kisses over the years, but you always stopped before you found out what exactly it was going to be. You knew back then that your first priority was keeping this a safe place for Eggsy. You weren't about to let a kiss and the potential fallout of it ruin that for him. But now he's giving you that look again and you're about to go your separate ways for the foreseeable future.