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

[fucking_gentleman]

"I don't think I'd make a good Arthur." He expected to have the decency to die on the job, not be left crippled and desk bound. "And if you want it, you should put yourself forward."

[grailknight]

"You would take us into the 21st century, something that King never would have done." Charles nodded. "I just might."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Well... yes. But you can do that as well as I can." He sighed softly. "Frankly, I need to make vast improvements before they'll consider letting me near paperwork, let alone deciding on whether I can return in any useful capacity."

[grailknight]

He snorted. "While I had to become sn expert at it. We both have a certain loathing for bureauracy." Then Charles glared at him, visably angered. "You never stopped being useful."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Oh yes, I can tell how useful I am to Kingsman right now, being trapped in a bed by my own body with no promise of actually being able to walk or use a knife and fork again!"

[grailknight]

"There are never any promises. Not for anything. But there is adaptation. You find yourself set back, but you won't always be in this position. You worked bloody hard on staying alive. Don't you give up on that."

[fucking_gentleman]

"But what sort of position will be able to do here? Paperwork? Handling? Human guinea pig?" One of the unfortunate side effects of brain injuries. If not outright personality changes, volatile moods and a lack of ability to moderate their outbursts.

[grailknight]

His husband had ADHD and was bipolar. He had vast experience with handling someone who had emotions that could shift erratically, offering no sense.

"I am not sure. We will address that when you have recovered further."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry was just suffering brain damage. It was out of character for him, but not outside of being handled. He was being difficult, but at least he wasn't trying to make a bid for freedom. Or trying to shut Merlin out of the system.

"In what? Two months? Two years?"

[grailknight]

"Two months, if not sooner."

[fucking_gentleman]

It startled a short laugh from Harry. "Your confidence is flattering, at least."

[grailknight]

Charles smiled. "You must realise by now that I have complete faith in you, Harry." And Harry was a fighter. He would be able to regain much of what had been lost.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Lord only knows why." He tightened his fingers in Charles' pants.

[grailknight]

He placed his hand over Harry's. "Because i know what you are capable of, even now."

[fucking_gentleman]

If Charles had been anyone else, Harry might have teasingly twisted his arm and threatened to break it to make a point.

Instead, he flexed his fingers up to lace their hands together. "I don't like the fact I am feeling rather clingy. Tactile."

[grailknight]

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That is not uncommon after nearly dying." Or a brain injury. "You need reassurance and are lookig for stability. I am happy to oblige."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I don't like needing anything outside myself." His grip stayed firm, in no way inviting Charles to try and leave.

"My head is starting to hurt."

[grailknight]

"Harry, you have always needed something outside of yourself. Your friends, your students, your dog." Charles frowned. "I'll call for the nurse."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I don't want a bloody nurse," he grumbled. "Turn down the lights, it might help."

[grailknight]

He chuckled. "I am going to need my hand back to do that."

[fucking_gentleman]

He sighed and let go. "Hurry up, then. You can read me my newspaper. I was starting on The Sun." His great delight, terrible, trashy tabloid journalism.

[grailknight]

He gave Harry a cheeky smile as he went to the lightswitch and turned down the intensity. "And now I am going to play reader? I don't believe that I agreed to that." Charles returned to the bed and sat back down next to Harry.

[fucking_gentleman]

"I believe you did when you agreed to take my recovery on as a mission." He lowered his bed back more, relaxing into his pillows.

[grailknight]

Charles wrinkled his nose. "I detest the Sun."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry looks smug, his eye closed. "Yes, I know. But I get a good laugh out of it."