PSL: For Charles

[fucking_gentleman]

It took two days for things to be sorted enough for Harry Devere to ping on the Kingsman's systems.

Everyone had been handling somewhat more important things for those two days. A lot of people were dead. A lot more were injured. Even more than that were deeply traumatised by the maiming, murdering and mayhem which had ensued while the signal was broadcast.

And even when they weren't, no one had been expecting the ping. Harry's final footage had been graphic, staring at the barrel of the gun, the sound of firing and then the cut transmission. There were plans, of course, to eventually recover his body for burial but they were far from a priority.

Until Harry Devere pinged the system.

Harry Devere, admitted to the ICU of the Livingston Hospital in Kentucky seven hours before V-Day went live. He survived that by the luck of being in a sealed ward, away from people who viewed him as an actual person worth attacking.

Merlin was busy holding down the fort and being Merlin. Therefore, he told Charles to take whatever damn plane he wanted and get to Kentucky and get Harry into the safety of the Kingsman medical facility as fast as he could. He was given a passport which said he was Charles Devere, Harry's younger brother and paperwork which claimed the legal right to make decisions for his unmarried brother in the absence of parents.

All of these things were delivered with the instruction that no one was to know Harry Hart was alive. Not until they knew he would stay that way and not until he was back with them, awake and some reasonable semblance of the man they knew.

Comments

[fucking_gentleman]

"Bugger Merlin," Harry spat. "Merlin can take that clipboard of his and insert is sideways-"

The door opened to the nurse. "Harry, are you overexciting yourself? Your heart rate just went up again."

"Did it? Fancy that. It must be because Charles is is being difficult and frustrating me."

"I'm sure," the nurse replied, sharing a look with Charles that said she was quite aware that Harry was being difficult.

[grailknight]

He shared a smile with the nurse. "This just means that he is acting his normal self, and I will take that as a positive sign."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Try and stay calm, Harry and be nice to your brother."

"He's not my brother, he's actually my subordinate in a secret assassination guild operating out of London," Harry stated.

"Of course he is," she humoured him. "Still be nice to him and try and keep calm."

[grailknight]

Charles just smirked from behind the nurse. "He is also quite creative when he gets bored. I will warn you now: the stronger he gets, the more difficult he will become. It is his nature."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I have no doubt." She closed the door again.

Harry sighed, steaming up his cannula. "I would have declared you my illicit lover but it felt disrespectful to your loss."

[grailknight]

"Harry Hart showing me some respect? Perish the thought." But Charles was still touched.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Well, you are recently widowed. I can dig up something like respect for that." Of course that was the only reason. Naturally.

[grailknight]

His brows knitted. "Yes, and I try to forget that. Sometimes I've been successful."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I'm sorry." And it was genuine this time. He didn't want to hurt Charles, not with James' death.

[grailknight]

"With everyone in crisis mode, I haven't returned to my house in some time. When I was there last, I have been sleeping on the couch. I cannot bear being in my bedroom any longer than I must." He hadn't even changed the sheets since James's death.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Charles." Harry tried to catch his hand again, gave up when he couldn't manage it. "I was perfectly serious about you staying in my place. Until you're ready to face yours."

[grailknight]

Charles weakly smiled and reached for Harry's hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I know. And I might take you up on that generous offer. I need to be around people right now. Friends." Though he had wanted to seek isolation, it wasn't the best for him.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry was quiet for a moment. He was fairly sure he was being manipulated, Charles was framing it as he needed to be here, needed Harry. It might have been true even, but raising it like this was giving ammunition to make Harry stop trying to send him away.

Harry had always needed to be admired, be needed. And if Charles was willing to put on the pretence of needing the company...

"Hence, Marlin sent you here."

[grailknight]

"Perhaps that was his reasoning. He didn't explain himself. But he knows my skills and found me the one most qualified to be of assistance to you." It didn't hurt him to be vulnerable with Harry. It was some recompence to Harry for him seeing Harry vulnerable.

[fucking_gentleman]

He squeezed Charles' hand. "Well, as much as I'd rather not waste you here, in Merlin we must trust until we're on the same land mass and I can kick his backside into gear."

His eye drifted shut again. "I feel rather unwell..."

[grailknight]

"Yes." Charles cracked a smile but then a frown at Harry's next response. He reached for the nurse's button and pressed it.

[fucking_gentleman]

The nurse came back in. "Problem?"

"Nausea. Headache." Harry kept hold of Charles' hand. "Stay."

The nurse adjusted some medications and drips. "That should help. If he's not feeling better in the next ten minutes, just call again."

[grailknight]

He sighed gently. Something easily corrected, it seemed. "I am not going anywhere." Charles nodded to the nurse. "Thank you."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry settled down again, hand slowly going limp in Charles' grip as he passed out, or feel asleep, again.

He stayed out for a few hours, coming awake with a soft mutter and jerk, looking about dazed and lost.

[grailknight]

Charles nodded off as well, not letting go of Harry's hand. He didn't immediately wake when Harry did.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry stared at Charles for a long moment, moving their joined hands into his lap. He managed to get his right hand there as well, stroking Charles' fingers and knuckles softly.

[grailknight]

He remained asleep for the moment, while his hand started to relax. Sleep hardly happened exactly as it should for him.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry was content for the time being, letting Charles get some obviously much needed sleep. He kept up his soft petting for a while, gave himself another does of morphine with his much enjoyed pain relief button and dozed off again holding Charles' hand in both of his.

A nurse slipped in some time later to check on Harry and tried to lay a blanket over Charles' lap without disturbing him.

[grailknight]

He was relaxed and dead to the world. Charles didn't wake up for a few hours. At which point his back and shoulders were sore.

He yawned. "Too bad there isn't enough space for both of us in bed."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry barely opened his eye then closed it again. "Ask them for a cot. It's a private ward, I don't see what difference it makes to them if you sleep in here."

He closed his hands tighter on Charles'.