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]

"Of course you did." Harry got him to focus on the mission of finding a successor. His mind wasn't able to focus at first. He could put up a stoic exterior to some degree. He had nearly made a rude comment during the toast. He also nearly lost everything before it was over. "What did you think I was bullshitting?"

[fucking_gentleman]

"About how useful and supportive I was. Given most of the time I was unconscious and I spent a good month of that on actual life support to keep me stable."

Yes, he had hacked his medical files when he was well enough. What of it?

[grailknight]

Charles raised an eyebrow. "The twenty years that I've known you and a few near death experiences and you can't handle a bloody compliment."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I don't like false compliments." And the mood he was in, a lot of things were going to be labelled as false.

[grailknight]

"It is not false, Harry! You are very well aware that I do not let many people get close, even in the organisation." Charles was private. He prefferred the company of his friends who were his second family.

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry kept watching Charles with that one sharp, alert eye. "Fine. You believe you it, even if I do not." That was a concession. Right?

[grailknight]

Charles signed. "What does any of it matter? At least I have you now."

[fucking_gentleman]

That finally shut Harry up. He knew Charles wasn't close to many people, but surely there had to be someone better to sit with than him.

But he knew there wasn't. Charles wanted to be here and Harry wasn't going to be able to make him leave without really, really hurting him. And life had done that enough, recently.

"Have you been sleeping?"

[grailknight]

It seemed that he had finally gotten his way and Harry changed the subject.

"No. This past week has been terrible."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Would you sleep better in here with me?" He knew some widows and widowers found it incredibly difficult to adjust to sleeping alone again. And frankly, it wouldn't both him if Charles crawled into his bed to sleep. At least he'd know he was sleeping.

[grailknight]

"Yes, perhaps." He nodded. "I did not foresee that I couldn't sleep here." In less extreme ways than Harry, it seemed his body was beteaying him. He furrowed his brows. "I mean in the normal quarters."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I have no sense of time or day down here, but when it's something like a bed time for you, come back here and you stay with me." He didn't leave any space for argument.

[grailknight]

It would be breaking decorum but when was he ever stopped by that? "That is very kind of you." And something more. Why was he even looking for something more? Especially from Harry who was in recovery. But that didn't change how Harry could read him like nobody else.

[fucking_gentleman]

Fuck decorum.

"No, it's not. You might stop me from tearing apart the staff and I'll know you're sleeping. And you'll know I'm not trying to go anywhere."

[grailknight]

"Mmmph." He hadn't actually achieved any sleeping since returning to the manor. Plagued by images and thoughts that did not allow for sleep. Sleep only came when he was exhausted and couldn't function any longer.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Charles, this isn't a suggestion. You're only acting as Arthur, I can pull rank if I have to to make you sleep down here. So I know you are sleeping."

[grailknight]

Charles laughed. "Really, Harry. That isn't necessary."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I hope it isn't. So you will be coming back tonight to sleep, then?"

[grailknight]

"Yes. I will be coming back tonight to sleep." He sighed. "Is there anything else you need before I go?"

[fucking_gentleman]

"You have my list," Harry pointed out, giving a small smile.

[grailknight]

He nodded. "All right. I will return in a few hours." Charles stood up and pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead. "This is terrible but I enjoy the idea of you pulling rank on me."

[fucking_gentleman]

Harry hummed and gave a small chuckle. "That's because it proves I care."

[grailknight]

"Of course you care. I never once doubted that."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Good." He was relaxing again, thumb clicking for more pain relief.