PSL: For Charles

[fucking_gentleman]

It had taken a week to stabilise Harry to the point that he could under go more surgery, to build in the frame work and connections for his new eye. He was fairly out of it for another week after that, between painkillers and recovery.

It was a few days after that that, by the time Charles came down, Harry was sitting on the edge of the bed, a wheelchair sitting nearby and Harry rather insistently trying to get his nurse to let him wear the suit he wanted, rather than the far more relaxed clothing she was insisting on.

"Charles! Help me, Eggsy's on mission or I'd requisition him. I'm not being unreasonable, I'm not even asking for a three piece suit, just being allowed to dress in a manner that I find more comfortable."

Comments

[fucking_gentleman]

"I don't know." The longest relationship in his life was a dog that he, in many ways, never wanted to begin with. "I don't have an answer for how. I imagine time is involved." He beckoned Charles closer, to help him get into the wheelchair.

"I just know you are far from having actually done it. And until you have moved on... I will be your friend, as I always have been. And friends make sure friends don't make terrible relationship decisions. All right?"

[grailknight]

"The odds were never in our favour," he admitted softly. "I just had hoped we would have gotten more time together." He was still relatively a young man. He began to add Harry to the wheelchair.

"Yes, I understand. Right now, I would be showing you a diservice."

[fucking_gentleman]

It would be a disservice to both of them, but if he'd do for Harry–if not himself–then that would be enough. He didn't speak until he was safely seated, getting settled and then looking up.

"I wish you'd had more time. But if wishes were horses, we'd have solved world hunger."

[grailknight]

He chuckled. "I don't see how that would even work. So off to the bakery?"

[fucking_gentleman]

"Yes, thank you." He snagged his glasses from the dressing table, tucking them in his pocket. He couldn't wear them, not really, not until the bandages were all gone, but he felt better with them.

[grailknight]

"You are a good friend, Harry. I am grateful that you stuck with me throughout the years."

[fucking_gentleman]

"You're welcome. Now, help me escape from this place before I go mad from staring at the same four walls every day." He reached to pat Charles' hand. "Mush, mush, there's a good fellow?"

[grailknight]

Charles laughed. "Yes. I would like you to keep your record of not injuring anyone on staff for three days." He brought Harry outside.

[fucking_gentleman]

"It's a rather good record, I think." Okay, most agents didn't have a 'days without injuring medical staff' tally, but Harry was far from most agents. He took a deep breath in the hallway, like it was really any different from his room.

[grailknight]

"Indeed it is. You are growing as a person." He gave Harry a moment in the hallway before progressing outside.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Old age must be getting to me." He leaned back into the chair, enjoying movement, breezes against his face, generally not being in bed, in pyjamas.

[grailknight]

"You do make a terrible old person. Though I think you enjoy harassing the staff too."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I could make a new career out of being a dirty old man." Or maybe not. He couldn't imagine harassing most of the staff and the remaining members might take it the wrong way. "Or take up being grumpy. Sit in the store front with a shotgun and yell at young people to stop loitering."

[grailknight]

Charles chuckled. "I can't imagine that actually going very well."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Which? My flirting with the pretty young staff or sitting in the store front with a shotgun?" As if either was a good idea. Though he did tend to flirt regardless.

"At least Chester's godson was knocked out of the running. I don't think I could muster the interest to flirt with him and then I'd have to deal with his indignation at not being harassed."

[grailknight]

"Sitting in the store front with a shotgun. The clientele wouldn't be much impressed either."

Charles curled his lip. "I really hated that boy."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Well, no, probably not. So you think I have a future as a dirty old man, then?" He twisted to look back at Charles.

"I met him a few times, before his candidacy. He developed an unfortunate stomach bug at one of the events, had to make himself scarce for most of the night."

[grailknight]

"You have some of the necessary qualities for that already," he said dryly.

"That really is most unfortunate." The dryness withstood.

[fucking_gentleman]

"Do you mean 'old' or 'dirty'? Think carefully before you answer that."

Harry hummed, clearly content with himself. "Yes, it was. And he had such interesting opinions on the 'faggots' and 'gutter trash liberals'."

[grailknight]

"I mean dirty, of course. You are pretty filthy, Harry."

Charles nodded. "Poor boy. He must have absolutely loathed himself."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Yes, I am. Years of practice."

Harry closed his eye, remembering the night fondly. He did enjoy a chance to make little oiks suffer.

[grailknight]

"Oh yes. A whole life's endeavour." Charles chuckled and then went sober. "I was quite sure that one fancied Eggsy, though was oblivious to that fact."

[fucking_gentleman]

"I never saw enough of them to give an opinion on that." But he didn't approve at even the thought of it. Charlie was not good enough for Eggsy. Or for your average pond slime. "He may have. What did happen to him after he failed?"

[grailknight]

"He was 'saved' by his godfather. Eggsy fought him at Valentine's compound. I daresay his head exploded like everyone else there."

[fucking_gentleman]

"Oh dear, what a loss, I suppose there won't be a grave to stand on and laugh, treacherous little prick."