PSL: For Charles

[fucking_gentleman]

It was a week before they were willing to let Harry be moved.

He had another emergency surgery where they had to concede to losing his left eye to keep the nerve intact. Once they managed to get him stable again, they made him get through five days of no crashing, no unpredicted dips or spikes, just quiet healing and level drug intake.

Then and only then was it agreed that Harry could be transported back to England. It would be with transport staff, a doctor and two nurses and he was kept in light sedation to keep his pain manageable while they moved him.

They were met in the Kingsman hangar by Merlin. He didn't offer any words, just stood by Harry's sleeping form for a while and then left with an instruction to settle him in medical called back over one shoulder.

When Harry did regain consciousness, it was in the blessedly familiar surrounds of Kingsman medical. He actually sighed with the relief, staring at the ceiling and willing his emotions back under control.

Comments

[grailknight]

Over the twelve day period that Charles was at hospital, he never strayed too far from Harry's side for more than a few hours. He always returned and gave Harry the reassurance the older knight needed. Charles never lost the feeling that Harry was going to pull through. Harry's eye was an unfortunate loss, but they both knew it was a likely one well before the surgery took place.

Once Harry had been returned home, Charles gave him some space. It was a day later when he quietly walked into the medical bay, intending to check on Harry without waking him.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry was already awake, sitting up in bed. The bed was upright to support him, a large tablet on his lap with a newspaper loaded up on it. He was very determinedly trying to use his right hand to turn the pages on the tablet.

There was a suspicious lack of medical staff in there with him.

He looked up as the door opened, the frustrated concentration melting away to a smile. "Charles, do come in."

[grailknight]

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he saw what was before him. The colour in Harry's face was brighter and Harry looked more like his former self, despite the new scars.

"Good morning. You are looking remarkable, Harry. How do you feel?"

[fucking_gentleman]

The bandaging was still heavy around the missing eye, but his remaining one was brighter, clearer. The lack of sedation and getting some decent rest out of the hospital was helping him no end.

"Like I've been shot in the face and then given very heavy drugs to deal with the pain. This bloody hand refuses to cooperate though." He lifted his right hand with some difficult.

[grailknight]

"Yes, that does sum it up." He licked his lips thoughtfully. "Have they let you start walking again?"

[fucking_gentleman]

"No. Bed rest and light physiotherapy to start regaining movement in my arm and leg. Don't overwork yourself, Galahad." He snorted, giving a clear opinion on that idea.

"You? Are you looking after yourself?"

[grailknight]

"You shouldn't. You can cause the damage to become worse if you do."

Charles nodded. "Of course."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Charles, I'm hardly going to get better lying in bed doing nothing. My brain is not a young, adaptable thing anymore, the neuro-elasticity is shot and if I want to get myself working again, it will take pushing it and making it rebuild those pathways."

He nodded to the side of his bed, shuffling over to give Charles room to sit. The larger bed was one of the blessings of Kingsman medical. "Really?"

[grailknight]

"Your body still needs more time to recover. But your desire to leave the bed is progress."

Charles smiled at the invitation and sat down on the bed. "Yes, Harry."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry dropped his right hand onto Charles' knee, managing an awkward squeeze. "Bugger my body. It didn't get that badly damaged in all. Bruising and a knife wound, barely anything. Have you been staying here or have you gone home yet?"

[grailknight]

"Your body went through two traumatic experiences in a short period of time. You need to rest." He touched Harry's hand. "I have continued staying in quarters here."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry's hand didn't really move under Charles'. "It was a little coma, not even a serious one." He set the tablet aside. "Could you face my house? Only I could do with some belongings, clothes, books, the like..."

He didn't trust most people into his house. He could trust Charles, with his house and his privacy.

[grailknight]

"Not serious? Your heart stopped a few times."

He smiled. "Of course I can. Would you like to make a list, or should I surprise you?"

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry made a dismissive noise about that.

A list would make sense. "I'll write something up. Merlin will undoubtedly veto half of it. See what you can manage past him." He rubbed his finger tips softly. "Charles... you can't keep avoiding your place forever."

[grailknight]

"Give yourself a week and see how you are feeling then."

Charles arched a brow and removed his phone from his pocket. "You can dictate to me right now." He wasn't acknowledging the topic of his home.

[fucking_gentleman]

Fine. He would drop the topic for now. When he was well enough to get free, he would escort Charles back to the house, help him start sorting things out.

"Clothes. Books, I have a half finished on the bedside table and there's a couple more in the drawer I had planned on getting to. Toiletries, though I doubt Merlin will let you give me my razor. I'd appreciate if you could give Mr Pickles a quick once over. His fur picks up dust like crazy."

[grailknight]

He let voice to text record what Harry asked for, including the razor. "Yes, I will tend to Mr. Pickle." Charles smiled softly.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Thank you. He gets terrible dusty and I didn't clean before I left. Was meant to be a short mission, pop out and back again." Not pop out, get shot, come back a fortnight later under medical care.

He was thoroughly sick of not being allowed a proper razor. "Do you think I could convince a barber down here?"

[grailknight]

He nodded. That had likely been James's logic as well. Pop out, rescue the professor, and return home. Damn them both for their short-sightedness.

"Yes, I believe you could."

[fucking_gentleman]

In fairness, James was on an entirely different mission and assigned the rescue to himself.

"I can't take the electric razor. Not compared to a decent straight razor shave." He would need to try and find someone vetted by Kingsman to come down here. "This would be easier if I were home, not in medical..."

[grailknight]

Which of course was true, but it was still a one-person mission, which Charles had never been very fond of whatsoever. One-person missions meant more things were likely to go wrong should things not go to plan.

"I am sure we can get you someone who can give you a shave and a trim, Harry." They had people vetted in everything--maybe not to the same extent as before, but they still could find someone.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry made a slightly disgruntled noise. Then got thoughtful. "Well, I could take the chance to teach Eggsy how to give a proper shave... The poor boy has almost certainly never bothered with it."

Because of course that was what he thought of. A chance to expand Eggsy's education.

[grailknight]

"That is an excellent idea." If would give Harry and Eggsy a chance to reconcile and for Eggsy to become more accustomed to Harry. "Has he come to see you?"

[fucking_gentleman]

"If he has, I wasn't conscious for it. I suspect he may be on mission, helping with clean up." Trying not to dwell on everything.

[grailknight]

Charles nodded. "Roxy is currently in Berlin and getting our European grid back online." Though he hadn't heard about Eggsy.