Harry was still and limp on the hospital bed. A tube was hanging out of his mouth, air forcing him to breath. A brace was strapped round his neck and varsities wires and iv lines littered his arms. Neil stood facing the foot of the hospital bed. The underground medical wing bleak and white and no less welcoming than usual. He was in a new suit. The wine red from yesterday was now stained with blood. Both his and Harry's. He had found the other man collapsed on the street and had torn a few of his stitches getting him moved and stable. Merlin'd had to redress his wounds and he was in strict orders to not rip them again.

"His MRI shows no signs of concussion", Merlin was saying. Arthur and Neil listening intently. "No direct brain trauma at all". The old head of their orders was in his usual black suit and was listening to Merlin with a sense of slight boredom. Neil stood silently next to him, dressed down in a lavender polo shirt and grey jeans. Arthur hadn't approved of his outfit and Neil wanted to tell him to fuck off. At lest he wasn't in his pyjamas.

"How much longer can he be out?" Arthur asked. Neil hit his tongue and tried not to glare at the man. Harry was in a medical coma and all their boss was concerned was how long he would be down. Typical.

"That's the million dollar question. We don't know what he was exposed to in there". Merlin glanced at the unconscious man.

"What about Harry's footage?" Neil voiced. "It didn't stream through his home terminal".

"Encrypted", Merlin sighed. Behind him the door opened. "And uncrackable. When he wakes up you might want to have a word with him about sharing his password". Neil sighed tiredly.

"Is he going to be alright?" They turned to face Eggsy. The man was looking at Harry in concern.

"We need to have patience Eggsy", Merlin sighed. "But there's hope. Okay? If I were you I'd concentrate on your training. Make it through the tests. Make him proud".

Eggsy nodded, eyes flickering over the room. He met Neil's for a second. Neither of them showing any expression before their eye contact broke. Merlin looked over at Neil. There was mischief in his eyes. "Agent Tristan. Why don't you show Eggsy to the kennels? He chose his puppy this morning and could use some advice". Neil glanced back at Harry, then at Merlin. Arthur was watching, gaze a heavy weight. Neil sighed and strode to the door. Eggsy following behind him.

"What happened?" Eggsy asked as soon as the door was shut behind them. His tone was annoyed and sharp.

Neil huffed. "Can't tell you". He turned and began leading the way up through the underground complex to the manor above.

"Why?" Eggsy demanded, keeping pace at his side. "Because it's classified?"

"Because I don't know", Neil shot back. He wanted to walk faster to be spiteful but his new stitches on his leg tugged sharply and he was forced to slow down again. "He was interrogating Professor Arnold then some sort of explosion went off and the video cut out. Without Harry's password we can't get the footage to analyse it. So until he wakes up, we don't know".

Eggsy fell silent for a moment until they came to a lift. Neil scanned his thumb and the metal doors opened smoothly. He stepped in and the doors shut behind them. The small room was quiet as it began to rise. Neil rubbed at one of the wound on his chest. Thumb tracing it through the bandages thoughtfully. Eggsy spotted the action. "So why are you here training us? Shouldn't you be off getting the person who did this?" His tone was grumpy.

Neil gritted his teeth. "I'm not training you, merely observing. And if you must know, it's because I'm currently on medical probation".

"Oh? Did you piss off the higher ups?" Eggsy's tone was mocking.

Neil huffed. "No. I almost died and according to Arthur, it means that my mission was sloppy. So instead of moving me to tech or to info for a few weeks, he and Merlin have decided to have me watch you lot. When I could be doing something else much more gratifying than training a bunch of idiotic boys".

"You're an arsehole".

"I know". Neil sent Eggsy and proud smirk.

Eggsy huffed and rolled his eyes. "So how'd you almost die?"

"Stabbed three times during a knife fight. Almost bled out". Neil chuckled at the memory. "Though you should of seen the other guy".

Eggsy snorted and Neil saw a slight smile tug at his lips. "I just have over estimated you abilities. Thought it would be something cool like an explosion or something. Knife fight? Really? Or are you just the honeypot before the real agents come in and do their work?" Neil's smile soured. He raised and eyebrow and Eggsy flicked the expression back. They stared at each other for a minute. Neither backing down as the tension rose. Neil narrowed his eyes at the younger man, trying not to snap childishly. The dislike between them made him want to lash out with insults like children on the playground. He was above all that and he wouldn't let Eggsy draw him back down.

He took a slow breath, the smile tugging at his lips sharp and savage. "Nice to know that you think I'm handsome enough to be the honey", he replied calmly. "But I'll let you know Eggsy Unwin that I am one of the top agents of this agency. So keep your comments to yourself. It would be unwise to cross me".

"Is that a threat?" Eggsy snarled. The lift dinged and the doors opened

"No", Neil's smile widened. "It's a fact. Now come on. Let's see if your dog is just as much as a bitch as you". Then he strode out of the lift and down the corridors. Eggsy following behind him with a angry expression.

"Look the trained dog is calling me a bitch", he muttered, just loud enough for Neil to hear. "What irony".

"Better a trained dog with manners and poise than some street thug like you", Neil retorted. He was just turning the corner when a hand grabbed his neck and forced him heavily into the wall. Eggy was in his face. Grip firm but not strangling. Neil could get out of the hold easily but that was not the point. The hold was just a warning. Neil ground his teeth at the feeling of fingers on his skin. His injuries and concern about Harry was marking him slow.

"What have you got against me?" Eggsy snapped. "Well we aren't all born with silver spoons like you. I have fought to get here and I will keep on fighting. You have no right to judge me for what I am or what I do".

"People like you often end up dead in my world", Neil said calmly. Expression more bored than threatened. He leaned easily against the wall and crossed his arms. "Don't ask me to think that you're different because nothing I've seen so far has supported that. All I see is a blind boy who is in over his head".

Eggsy frowned then his eyes widened. "What is this? So all of this hostility is a test? You're trying to get me to prove that I can handle this? Well"- he let go but didn't step back.-"fucking watch me. I dare you". The last sentence was spoken lowly. The sound soft but the words a challenge.

Neil rolled his eyes and stepped smoothly around him to continue walking. "Big words for a little man".

"Fucking dick!"

"Thank you. I'm very proud of it just like the rest of our genital led sex". Neil grinned and glanced back. Pointedly eyeing Eggsy's crotch, not that he could see anything in the cadet overalls. "But you seem to be compensating. Afraid that a, what did you call me when we first me? Ah! 'Twink' like me is more endowed?" Satisfaction bubbled in his chest at the spluttering behind him.

"I'm willing to measure if you have a ruler", Eggsy grinned as he caught up. Neil blinked, caught by surprise at how fast the other man recovered. "I'm sure a twink like you will be jealous".

"Please", Neil rolled his eyes. "I have killed men with bigger dicks than you. I have killed women with bigger dicks than you. Your talk does not scare me". He wasn't sure when their insults had turned sexual but he wasn't going to be the first to back down. The rising tension made excitement prick at his spine. He hadn't had a good argument with someone in ages. He had forgotten how fun it was.

"Oh. Let my actions prove it then", Eggsy's smirk was proud. "At lest I know how to use it".

Neil laughed. "Honey. Men and women have begged to be in my bed. Don't think that you can impress me". His smile was sharp and his body language dismissive.

"We shall see". Eggsy's gaze was firm.

Unedited