Dancer Chapter Five
We had a whirlwind of a last chapter, but we can’t breathe easy just yet! Hold on tight folks, nothing is ever as easily solved as we (or Eggsy) might hope lol. And there’s still a lot of work ahead for Eggsy and crew.
My love to all who read/like/reblog!
“Freddie Mercury used to own this apartment,” Boniface said as they stepped inside. “At least, that’s what the realtor claimed. Not the only reason I got it, but a nice thought, isn’t it? To be staying somewhere he might have, when he vacationed out here?”
Eggsy nodded. “I’d like to think it’s true. Pretty cool, all around.”
It was legitimately cool, still velvet on the drapes and furniture, but all yellow and light blues and greens rather than the harsher gold and black of Boniface’s office and home near the club. A warm, airy sort of place to come home to.
Boniface’s eyes were still red, but he had stopped crying, and he smiled as he showed Eggsy around the apartment.
“Go on and set your things in the room, then maybe we can sit and have a drink? Try and relax a bit after all that nonsense,” Boniface said, then scoffed. “Fucking Barrett.”
“Yeah,” Eggsy replied. “Can I use the restroom first, just quick?”
“Oh goodness, of course,” Boniface said. “I don’t blame you, that...situation has left me feeling a bit unsettled too. Luckily, we have two bathrooms here. There’s one just down this hall, you take that one, and we’ll meet back in the living room here, yes?”
Eggsy nodded, and moved as quickly as he dared to the bathroom, keeping his bag with him, only rooting the earpiece out of it until he’d shoved hand towels under the doorway to hopefully keep Boniface from hearing anything.
Even so, he made sure to whisper. “Merlin. He isn’t at all what we think, there’s so much I have to tell you. I’m going to type up a report when I get back to my apartment, okay, but for now...I think I can get him to work with us.”
“Why are you whispering?” Merlin asked. “Are you...at his?”
Eggsy sighed softly, and nodded out his frustration. “Yes, I am. He...look, it’s too much to tell you now. Just trust me on this. And I’m almost one hundred percent certain I can convince him to let us help him get rid of the formula, rather than selling it. And in the process, Kingsman can help fund some charitable work Boniface has been desperate to do! It’s a win all the way around!”
Merlin was silent, then sighed. “Okay. But you have to tell me more of what’s going on as soon as you’re able, do you hear me?”
“I will, I promise,” Eggsy replied. “I’ve got to go now, he’ll be waiting for me.”
“Are you safe? There, I mean,” Merlin asked. “If you need back-up, I’m always nearby.”
“I’m safe,” Eggsy said, and he knew it was true. Boniface might be many things, but he wasn’t a villain. He was just a hurting man, trying to find a way out of where he was stuck.
Eggsy knew how that felt. Even if he wasn’t falling hard and fast for the man, he’d still have to help him, because he knew how it was to be in that spot.
“Talk to you later, Merlin.”
“Very well.”
He replaced his earpiece into its hiding place in the bag, used the restroom quickly, then washed his hands and moved the hand towels back to their appropriate shelf. He stopped for a moment and studied his stomach, still stained with his and Boniface’s cum. He grabbed a hand towel back, and cleaned his stomach off, then dropped the hand towel into the labeled hamper near the sink.
He dropped his bag into Boniface’s bedroom, then went back out to the living room.
Boniface was sat there, a glass of wine in his hand, and another sitting empty on the coffee table by the bottle of white wine, waiting for Eggsy. A pair of light yellow sweats and a sweatshirt were on the couch as well, with a pair of lavender boxer briefs set on top of them.
“For you, to keep if you’d like. I figured you might want to be in something more comfortable than your club clothes. I always try to have things on hand for employees, just in case.”
Eggsy picked the clothing up, and smiled. “Thank you. Not that I hate the shorts or anything, I just get cold.”
Boniface laughed, and his eyes absolutely sparkled. “Understandable. Kick off your shoes and change, get comfortable. You’ve got the next few days off, per me, for helping me out like that tonight.”
“Wasn’t anything big,” Eggsy said as he took off the platforms, a different pair than the ones that were still in the bedroom of Boniface’s house near the club. He’d have to get those later, he figured. “Finally got a chance to use those skills, you know? Might have made my dad proud.”
“He’s dead, isn’t he?”
Eggsy’s heart dropped, but he hid it as best he could. “He is. Is it that obvious?”
Boniface shrugged. “Maybe it’s a thing among those of us who’ve lost parents. I could just tell. How, if you’re comfortable saying...”
“Military operation gone wrong,” Eggsy replied. “My mum fell apart once he was gone. I was a mess for the longest time, you wouldn’t have believed it. Stealing cars and shit. Was fun though, that. At least until you get caught.”
That wasn’t the exact truth, but it was close enough, and if this went well, he could tell Boniface the full truth later.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Boniface said softly. “Of your father, and of who your mother was. That can’t have been easy to deal with, growing up.”
“Been easier if my step-dad wasn’t a right abusive prick,” Eggsy scowled as he continued to undress. “But it’s in the past now. And I’m much better off than I was then. A better person, too.”
Boniface studied him with gentle eyes. “I’m sure you were always a good person. Just takes time and growing up to reveal it.”
“How old are you anyway, if you don’t mind my asking?” Eggsy asked as he finished changing and settled on the couch by Boniface.
“29,” Boniface replied. “But I feel a lot older, sometimes, silly as that might sound.”
“Doesn’t sound silly at all,” Eggsy said. “I’m 28, but...”
“Life ages us faster than we deserve sometimes,” Boniface murmured.
Eggsy nodded. “It does. Speaking of life...you said, if there was another way out, other than selling the formula, you’d take it.”
Boniface finished his wine, and nodded. “In a heartbeat. Especially if it meant finding a way to get rid of the lab too. But how else will I fund the home?”
He took a deep breath. He was about to purposefully blow his cover, and he had to hope like hell he was right about this.
Or he might not survive it.
“I know of a way.”
Boniface frowned, but his eyes were bright. “How?”
“This is hard for me to say,” Eggsy started, and he twisted the edge of the sweatshirt in his hands out of nerves. “I’m. Not who you think I am. But it isn’t bad, I promise!”
Boniface looked shocked, but nodded. “Okay. Who are you then, Wyn?”
“My name is Gary Unwin, but I go by Eggsy,” Eggsy answered. “I’m an agent with a spy organization called Kingsman. I was sent here to either steal the formula, or otherwise ensure it wasn’t sold to anyone who could use it. I didn’t intend...”
‘on falling in love with you’, Eggsy finished in his head before continuing.
“...This mission has turned into something entirely different than I thought it would be, but I’m glad for it. Because at Kingsman, we can help you. We can get more agents out here, help dismantle the lab, destroy the formula and all research for it, and fund your home for at risk boys.”
Boniface had tears in his eyes again. “You aren’t lying, are you?”
Eggsy shook his head. “This is real, I promise I wouldn’t lie to you; unless it’s for the job, I try not to lie to people I love.”
The last bit came out before he could stop it, and he bit his tongue.
“That...I’m sorry. We’re just getting to know each other, and here I am, and god I’m babbling now and-”
Boniface’s hand on his stopped him. “I love you too. I know, it feels too early to say, but...I can’t explain it. But I do love you. And I know you love me too and that feels so good I can’t fully tell you how wonderful it is. But I need proof, of the rest. Do you have anything you can show me, to prove this is as real as I want it to be?”
“Do I ever!” Eggsy smiled, and pressed a kiss to Boniface’s cheek before dashing back to the bedroom for his bag.
He ran back to the living room, and yanked the earpiece from its hiding place. “Merlin, can you hear us? I’ve got Boniface on with me, told him everything!”
“Hello, Mr. Gagneux,” Merlin replied. “I take it my agent has just blown his cover to see if you would like to accept our help in getting rid of that pesky world-destroying formula?”
“He has,” Boniface said. “But I’m so glad he did. Sir, this is-it’s everything I could have ever dreamed of. I can end this madness without anyone getting hurt.”
“Long as Barrett doesn’t come back,” Eggsy remarked. “But I think we scared him away.”
“Barrett?” Merlin asked. “Not Barrett Palmer, you don’t mean?”
“One and the same,” Boniface said. “You know of him?”
“Do I know of him? The bastard has nearly killed some of our best agents!” Merlin thundered.
“Merlin, hold on,” Eggsy said. “What is this about? I mean, yeah, he held the club hostage today to try and get the formula, but we scared him off. I’ve never heard of him until today.”
“Because I hoped you never would,” Merlin said brusquely. “He’s a bogeyman, a nightmare on two legs. A pedophile, murderer, trafficker of drugs and sex and anything else he can pay off the local PD and every other agency under the sun to ignore. He’s got webs all over Europe and into the Americas, he’s is scum, but he is some of the richest and most influential of the scum. It means he’s nearly impossible to catch, and to beat.”
“Okay, but like I said,” Eggsy scoffed. “He got told not to come back unless he was prepared to pay for the formula, and he made it clear he wasn’t interested in that, so we made it clear it wasn’t up for grabs.”
“Eggsy,” Merlin scolded. “When has something like that ever stopped a man like Barrett? People like that...he doesn’t care, and you’re in danger, all of you. We need to move, fast. Mr. Gagneux, the club will need to be shut down. Construction, water leak, whatever story you have to manufacture, do it, but close the club. That’s your patrons and the people in town as safe as we can manage for right now.”
“Fine enough,” Boniface said. “Then what?”
“Then I, and whatever other agents I can scrounge up, probably just Galahad and Tequila for now, Roxy is still looking after Tilde for you, Eggsy, and-”
“Tilde?” Boniface asked, and frowned.
There was a pause, then Merlin sighed.
“Eggsy...have you not explained things?”
“Hadn’t really had a chance,” Eggsy murmured. “Was going to.”
“Do it now,” Merlin said softly. “Or I will. There’s no room for secrets, especially in times like these.”
“You’re married,” Boniface whispered. “I might have guessed.”
“Yes, but we-it-it’s not been working out and we were probably-I mean I don’t know, but-” Eggsy fought for a word to get grounding on, but everything was sand in his mouth.
“Can I assist?” Merlin asked. “Roxy had meant to call you anyway, on Tilde’s behalf, because Tilde is quite upset with herself when she doesn’t need to be. It’ll all work out, frankly, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
“What on earth are you on about?” Eggsy asked.
“Ah. Yes, well, Roxy and Tilde revealed, or rather, came to me as if I’m some Agony Aunt, and told me that they’ve been sleeping together since before you left. All those ‘girls’ weekends?’ Yeah. They’re both absolutely ashamed and upset with themselves, thinking you’ll be upset beyond belief-”
“And you’re here fucking me,” Boniface interrupted. “...did you both know you were each gay when you got married? Or bi, or pan, or however you identify?”
“No,” Eggsy said slowly. “We did not. But maybe we should have waited on that, as it happens, and then we might have found out and not bothered with the wedding at all.”
“I did think they were rushing into it,” Merlin muttered. “Didn’t want to say anything, or be rude, but young love forgets to take its time sometimes, you know? And now look where it’s landed us.”
“So, all we really have to do is come out to each other?” Eggsy asked. “And figure out the divorce proceedings, I guess. I presume that’s her plan?”
Merlin sighed so deeply it sounded his lungs might deflate. “She’s been debating it over ice cream and movies with me for five weekends in a row now. I’ve put on at least a good few inches as a result, I’m sure.”
“Merlin.”
“Yes, sorry, sorry. Just been a lot, you know. Both of you, going through it, and here I am just...I love you both, but I’ll need a mini-break after this, let’s just say that, hm? But first, to saving relationships and the world,” Merlin said. “I’ll arrange for a phone call between you and Tilde, on this earpiece, so the line can’t be hacked. In an hour, maybe?”
“That’d be fine,” Eggsy replied. “I think I can prepare by then.”
“We have wine,” Boniface whispered, but Merlin apparently heard him crystal clear.
“Oh good. That’ll help. I mean, once it’s done, you both can get on with it, you know? Still be good friends, hell, go on double dates once all this is over, you just have to do this one final difficult thing.”
“And save the world,” Eggsy reminded him.
“...and that, yes. Now, speaking of, here’s the game plan: Mr. Gagneux, tomorrow, you announce the closing of the club. That should bring Mr. Palmer out of hiding, to try and find you or just show some muscle by breaking into the club, if he thinks that’s where the formula is. Where is it, by the way?”
“At the lab in Switzerland,” Boniface replied. “I didn’t want it to be able to be found out if it was sent via email or whatever, so whoever bought it would have to pick up a copy of the research paperwork and everything like that at the lab.”
“Switzerland?” Merlin groaned. “I don’t have enough agents for this. But that’s fine, it’s fine, we can pull this off. I’ll send Agent Tequila to you, to keep an eye on the club. Galahad and uh...Galahad, Jr., aka Eggsy here will need to go to Switzerland and be protection until we can shut down the lab, and ensure that no one working there has copies of the formula they might try and sell.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Eggsy said. “Which means it really isn’t, right?”
“Right,” Merlin muttered, and he sounded exhausted. “I mean...some of it depends on Palmer. If he doesn’t come out of hiding like we expect to flaunt about and try and steal the formula outright, then it might be easier. Tequila keeps an eye on the club, you and Galahad go to Switzerland and shut down the lab, once that’s done-”
“Evan,” Boniface interrupted. “I’d want him to have the club, once this is all over. I trust him and Tony to run it well, to keep the dancers safe.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Merlin said. “Get all of this done first, and after if we can assure Barrett and no one else will be coming after the club in revenge once they learn the formula is gone, then we can talk about who keeps it and if it reopens. And Eggsy, I still want that write-up you mentioned earlier, any details you haven’t told me now, get them in it. We need all the information you have if we’re to even try and do this right.”
“Right,” Eggsy nodded. “Tomorrow then?”
“Tomorrow,” Merlin said. “And you’ll have Tilde on the line in an hour exactly, so be ready.”
“I will be,” Eggsy said, and disconnected the call, then rubbed at his face with his hands.
Boniface handed Eggsy the empty wine glass. “Here. Not to get drunk on, mind, we certainly can’t do that now. But a bit of liquid courage.”
“I shouldn’t even need it,” Eggsy muttered as he poured himself some of the wine, sweet in scent and taste. “I mean, it should be easy. Should be. Should take a weight off of both of us, in fact.”
“Maybe it will be,” Boniface said. “You can’t know until you do it, and you both owe that to each other. Especially since I’d imagine you both want each other to be happy, yes?”
“Of course,” Eggsy replied. “All I want is for her to be safe and happy and healthy. She’s a wonderful person...deserves the world, and everything she wants. I just can’t give that too her. Maybe Roxy can, I suppose. If she’s willing to maybe give up the field, just work behind the scenes like Merlin.”
He reached for the bottle again as he drained his glass, but Boniface’s hand stopped him.
“I need to tell you something,” he said softly. “Since we’re sharing secrets, getting everything out in the open.”
“Okay,” Eggsy said slowly, and moved his hand from the bottle. “What is it?”
“Boniface Gagneux isn’t my real name,” Boniface muttered. “I made it up to protect myself in case anyone should ever come looking for me, not that they would, but...insurance. Just in case. No one knows that, not even Evan or Tony.”
“I mean this with all the respect in the world,” Eggsy said. “But no shit, that isn’t your real name.”
Boniface raised a brow at him.
“You’re Scottish, with maybe just a slighter accent now, but very definitely Scottish, yet you have the Frenchest name I’ve ever heard. If you were looking to keep people off of your trail, that’s the way to do it, but I sort of figured it had to be a chosen name for whatever reason, not your actual name.”
Boniface broke down into giggles. “God, it really is a bit much, isn’t it?”
Eggsy shrugged. “I’m sure there’s worse in the world. It seems like a fancy club owner’s name though, I’ve got to give you that.”
He joined in the laughter then as Boniface nearly cackled.
“It feels so good to finally tell someone. To finally have a way out of all this,” Boniface said. “I figured I’d be stuck with all of this forever. I wouldn’t mind being stuck in Ibiza forever, of course. Not sure anyone could say no to that.”
“We could come back and visit,” Eggsy said. “So long as it’s safe for you, of course. But you still haven’t told me your actual name yet.”
“Ainsley. Ainsley Dunn. Which isn’t much better, maybe. Always been told I look like a Thomas,” Boniface, or rather, Ainsley, said, rubbing at the sides of his face. “What do you think?”
If he had to describe how he felt it in the moment, the closest he could get to it was how he had felt at first with Tilde. Before the marriage, before the incompatibilities had started to show up, when they were still having fun and not worrying about anything else. The difference here, was he was learning everything about the man at once, and he’d have to tell him the same. More importantly, he wanted to, was eager to. He’d had that only once or twice with Tilde, even as he introduced her to his friends and met with them. But it never had gone beyond that, to talking about his past, only ever looking forward to his future and ‘princely duties’ that he couldn’t, and admittedly wouldn’t, complete. His heart swelled in his chest and it took a moment to find his voice again.
“I think Ainsley fits you well. A gorgeous name for a gorgeous man.”
Ainsley blushed, and the color reminded him of a particular sort of rose the palace gardeners planted. He ought to find some and buy them for Ainsley, was the mental note he made.
“You’re much too sweet,” Ainsley giggled.
“I’ll give you a cavity.”
“And I welcome it,” Ainsley replied, gesturing for Eggsy to move closer to him.
“Even if that means some pain?” Eggsy asked as he snuggled close to him.
“All relationships have pain, even if it’s just the occasional stupid conversation over things that don’t matter,” Ainsley said. “I’ve not gotten to experience that much, but I’ve seen it with others, and the sweetness always outweighs those little pains. So long as it’s never anything bigger, anything deal-breaking...root canal-causing, shall we say.”
Eggsy nodded. “How did I let it get that way with Tilde?”
“You still love her as a friend, yes?”
Eggsy nodded again. “Always.”
“Maybe you just needed more time to determine the sort of relationship you actually both wanted and needed. Sometimes, we don’t know we need that until it’s too late. Not a big deal, but still something to be dealt with or, to keep with the metaphor...root canal time.”
Time passed faster than he wanted as he stayed at Ainsley’s side, resting and watching the gorgeous view from the living room window, their conversation dropped, simply sitting in the comfort of being close.
Then, the ear piece buzzed.
“Take the bedroom,” Ainsley murmured, and hugged him gently. “Remember, you’re both doing this for each other, hard as it feels, so you can be your happiest, like you both want. I’ll be waiting here for you.”
Eggsy picked up the ear piece, and headed for the bedroom. Maybe it would be like a band-aid, quick and easy.
He could only hope.
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