Bond

[lepidopterologist]

Harry might have spent the next day after spending the night in bed (just sleeping, just sleeping!) with both Q and James, over thinking it all. Wondering what it meant, what he should do next. What would happen next, regardless.

But somehow, that wasn't how he spent the day. Instead, he felt rather at peace with it all. So he spent his time overthinking something else.

He knocked lightly on the door of Bond's study, balancing a tray on one hand.

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[provocateur_king]

Bond was sitting in his chair, boots on the footrest. From his hand dangled a letter a raven had delivered just this morning.

"Come in," he said, unmoving.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry opened the door and kicked it closed behind him once he walked in with the tray.

"I just assumed you hadn't eaten today," he said.

[provocateur_king]

"I had a sausage when I woke up," he said.

He sat up and laid the letter aside.

"I think I'm due a break."

[lepidopterologist]

"Very good," said Harry, and set down the tray. "You need to take care of yourself."

[provocateur_king]

"Don't fuss, Harry. I'm fine," Bond assured him.

Still, he got up.

"What did you bring?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Tea, sausage, and biscuits," said Harry. "Shall I join you? I thought we could talk."

[provocateur_king]

"I think perhaps we should," Bond agreed, joining Harry to sit and eat.

"I realize it is important to you and Q both that this does not come to war, but I am at an impasse at a bloodless coup. Arthur will fight to the death."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry's lips quirked slightly. Bond was right. This was what he'd spent the day thinking about, rather than their romantic entanglements.

He looked at Bond for a moment and then said, "Arthur is a coward."

[provocateur_king]

"And in that case, it's simply murder," he said. "And you make a valid point about the validity of a king taking the throne through murder."

[lepidopterologist]

"No, I meant you don't have to kill him," Harry said hastily. "He's too much of a coward to let it get that far - he'll cave. He wants to live."

[provocateur_king]

"And then what do I do with him, Harry? Lock him away? Banish him?" he asked. "Where?"

[lepidopterologist]

"He's a coward and he's proud, James," Harry sighed. "Prove to him that you would win, and he'll save face. Announce you as the prodigal king returned. And retire into wealthy obscurity."

[provocateur_king]

"You have faith that will work?" Bond asked. "You do know him best."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry hesitated. "Well, I am... reasonably confident based on what I know about him."

He paused. Looked down. "But recent events suggest that perhaps I don't know him as well as I thought."

[provocateur_king]

"Which is why I'm wary. If you have doubts, I have doubts," he said.

[lepidopterologist]

"I also don't have another plan," Harry sighed. "I spent all day running scenarios in my head... the vast majority of them end in unacceptable bloodshed."

[provocateur_king]

"I simply don't think we can make a plan without bloodshed as a contingency, Harry," he said.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry sighed. "Yes... yes, I know. But I also think that bloodshed is simple. We could do that right now, no planning required."

He paused. "I still think I should go talk to him. Alone."

[provocateur_king]

Bond paused to think, then ultimately nodded.

"I think that's the best course of action," he agreed. "See if you can get him to see reason."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked a bit relieved. “Q will want to come too. But I don’t want to put him in danger unnecessarily.”

[provocateur_king]

"Take him," Bond said. "He's clever and...powerful."

More powerful, lately, since he'd discovered Old Constantine's lair.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry sighed. “That is not what I had in mind when I said alone. Also he nearly just died. Both of you did.”

[provocateur_king]

"Take him, Harry," Bond repeated, more gently. "He can help you."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "It's really not fair for the two of you to gang up on me."

[provocateur_king]

Bond chuckled softly.

"Get used to it, Harry. I have," he said. "The pair of you are formidable. "