Chapter Text
He was sure that JB was missing again which was becoming ridiculous because it was going to top its previous record back when they haven’t moved in yet. It had been problematic when the pug was still young, but Eggsy eventually trained it out of the habit. It seemed to have come back though giving Eggsy a massive headache.
“JB, I swear if you aren’t in here this moment, I swear,” he said, huffing and out of breath. He’d been looking for the pup for about half an hour, and it was starting to get terribly worrisome already. Eggsy ran a hand over his face.
A sudden thought made him jerk his hand away. What if his pup’s been out on the street this time of night? Get hit by some drunk taxi and-
The bell suddenly rang making him shake off the anxiousness in him. He answered the door but had not removed the chain latch--just in case--and peered out. A sudden lick to his nose made him jump back.
“Good evening. I think your dog has wandered into my bedroom.”
Eggsy looked up and took note of how high he needed to crane his neck before he met a pair of brown eyes. It carried the warmth of the light posts outside.
Eggsy squinted at the man then unlatched the lock. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve locked the house. JB wouldn’t be able to get out.”
“I may suggest you try being more careful next time. I do think he may have gone through your balcony,” the man said. He settled the dog onto the floor, giving it a pat to its head. “Now, you be a good boy to your owner. I know it’s hard to adjust.”
Eggsy wanted to comment about how the man cooed at his dog, but he talked to JB all the time as well. He didn’t have the heart in him to stop the man from what he was doing.
“Ah, how rude of me,” the man suddenly spoke up. He stood to his full height again and held out his hand. “Harry Hart. I live just next door.”
Eggsy made sure to keep his thoughts in check (He did not just check out how big those hands were.) and took the man’s hand, “Gary Unwin, call me Eggsy though. Most of my students call me that.” He felt satisfied with getting to know that it was Harry who owned the white two-storey house just beside his near the end of the street.
“Ah, a teacher then. I may have heard you from the others around here. I just didn’t quite catch your name back then,” he said. Letting go of his hand, Eggsy noted that Harry hid it behind him. Maybe it was getting too cold outside.
“Would you like to come in?”
Harry smiled at him. “Another time, I think. I have paperwork to finish before midnight. I’ll keep your word that I’ll be welcome in here when I’m free. Good night, Eggsy.” The man padded down the stairs and headed towards his house.
Eggsy felt himself move without thinking. He closed the door, latched it, and slid down as JB nuzzled close to his thighs and made himself lay down as if mimicking his owner. “Just one week in here and you’re causing trouble, aren’t you, JB?” He stroked the pug’s ears and settled to scratch its belly.
The idea of living on his own enticed him after he’d finished with his course. He was fed up with the silence inside his mum’s home when it’s daylight and screaming and arguing once it’s dark. He made sure he was all licensed and professional to get him a loan for a house unit far from where he grew up. He wanted an out. And he wanted to be free from what he was in the past to become a better educator to his students.
He ended up waiting for a few more years though. It was because Daisy hadn’t finished with high school and Eggsy wanted her out into the college dorms before he moved out. He didn’t want his little Daisy getting left behind to fend for herself in the midst of all the yelling between Dean and his mum Michelle.
But what if he was making the wrong decision? What would the next weeks bring him around here? He hoped he wouldn’t have to eat the words he told Dean the night he left their house. He hoped he was the man he pictured himself to be. Brave and strong to keep moving forward.
Eggsy decided that all the thinking he was making was starting to get ridiculous. Standing up, he led JB towards the kitchen for some snacks. After some bites, Eggsy gathered the papers he needed graded for tomorrow and entered a small study he cleaned and furnished himself. The space was a small storage room when he arrived, but now, it was comfy enough to work in.
Eggsy settled on his chair and tutted to JB. “Come on, you’re not gonna leave me here alone and lonely, are you?”
The pug trotted and squeezed himself under the desk and settled into a bunch between Eggsy’s slippers.