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]

"Of course you do. It doesn't change the fact that we're far too late to save your sanity, if not your peace of mind."

It wouldn't be any time soon. Even a motorised wheelchair wouldn't be made available until they were convinced he was stable and staying that way.

"I want to go to the bakery around the corner. I had the counter boy very well trained. Anthony. I wonder if he survived..."

[grailknight]

Charles gave Harry an annoyed look, but said nothing. He couldn't argue with the logic.

"Oh the bakery itself didn't survive."

[fucking_gentleman]

"... I hope you are shitting me, Charles. I will be deeply upset if my bakery is gone."

[grailknight]

"I am afraid that I am not, Harry."

[fucking_gentleman]

"..."

Harry's expression wasn't thunderous. It was cold, deeply unhappy in the way Harry did best.

"I see."

[grailknight]

"When you are well enough, I will take you out and show you the neighbourhood as it is now."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Well... I still hope that young Anthony has survived this mess." Which was about all he could hope for, since apparently his favourite bakery has been destroyed.

"How bad is it out there?"

[grailknight]

"I can see what I can find about him." He frowned. "Oh absolutely terrible. The more densely populated, the greater the casuality rate. The destruction to property varied.'

[fucking_gentleman]

"I imagine we still fared much better than somewhere like America." Or even Canada, where gun ownership was high. Beating someone to death took much longer than shooting.

Unless you were a Kingsman, of course.

He hadn't asked Charles what he had done. It felt tactless. Charles would talk when he was ready to. If he needed to.

[grailknight]

"Yes. That isn't very difficult." He knitted his brows. "There is something that I need to tell you, Harry. About Eggsy."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry went very quiet, mind racing. He had been told Eggsy was fine, had in fact been instrumental to stopping Valentine and had killed the man. Charles asked if he had visited, meaning he was in London.

That covered the worst cases. "So tell me."

[grailknight]

He wished he had alcohol right now. "Chester King betrayed us. He gave in to Valentine. Eggsy found out and killed him with the poison King had intended to use on Eggsy."

[fucking_gentleman]

Why hadn't- But no, Charles had told him. Chester betrayed them. Sold him out.

And Eggsy had killed him. Probably with the sleight of hand he was so good at. "... they gave him the name Mordred, didn't they?"

[grailknight]

Charles nodded. "As is our tradition, but I can see that changing. We have open seats and are dealing anything but usual circumstances."

[fucking_gentleman]

"It's completely inappropriate. Table a motion for me, he deserves a better designation. Gawain, perhaps." Or, if he couldn't get back into the field, he wanted to hand his own title to his protege.

[grailknight]

"Not completely. That is also the only way a non-knight can receive a designation." He shook his head. "There aren't enough active knights who can come to vote."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Then make an executive call as the effective Arthur. He's proved his place among us." Yes, Harry was getting upset again. He knew he was, but he couldn't stop it from happening.

[grailknight]

"I already have him as an auxiliary knight, but you and I both know that is the best I can do at the time being."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry glowered, the effect somewhat lost by the fact he was stuck in a bed and unable to move himself around at this stage.

"He deserves better."

[grailknight]

"Yes, and he will receive better, but I cannot simply make something that is outside my power to do so."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry's glare suggested if it really wasn't, it should be, and why hadn't that been changed already?

"Fine."

[grailknight]

Charles glared right back at him. "I am taking the needed steps for a stronger foundation."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I know." It didn't really soften the glare. "Go away. I want to be irrationally angry and petty and I don't want to take it out on you."

[grailknight]

"I would rather you didn't either." He set the tablet down by Harry. "It is just as well. I should attend to other work too." The glare was gone and his normal calm demeanour back in place. "Have a good afternoon, Harry." Charles made his way out.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry watched Charles go and then settled in being into a really bad mood for a while.

Which he was. Spectacularly so. Until he finally wore himself out between that and pushing himself too hard and fast and fell asleep again.

Merlin sent Charles a message around two in the afternoon, suggesting Harry could do with feeding.