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.

Comments

[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. "

[lepidopterologist]

"It seems like... things are changing very quickly," Harry said.

[provocateur_king]

"Time is a luxury we don't have," he said. "We've caught wind. There's no such thing as slow anymore."

[lepidopterologist]

"No, I know you're right," said Harry. "But I didn't just mean that, but also... well, there's a lot changing." Okay, now he felt rather silly. It wasn't as if their romantic entanglements were at all important compared to everything else happening, but it still couldn't help but feel big. To him.

[provocateur_king]

"You'll have lenty of time to reflect...once we've won," Bond said, resting his hand on Harry's shoulder.

[lepidopterologist]

"Will there?" said Harry. "You don't think it will be rather time consuming to run a realm? Make the people trust you?"

[provocateur_king]

"I'll have you by my side, chief advisor," Bond said, flashing a devilish smile.

[lepidopterologist]

"It's where I always hoped I would be," Harry said quietly. "When we were children, I mean. When you were going to be king."

[provocateur_king]

"Roundabout way to wind up where you always wanted to be," he noted, his smile kind.

[lepidopterologist]

"Well it's not exactly my fault," Harry pointed out.

[provocateur_king]

"It's no one's fault, Harry," he said quietly. "But this is destiny. We were always bound to wind up here."

[lepidopterologist]

"And..." He hesitated, and then brought a hand to Bond's face. "This too?"

[provocateur_king]

"Perhaps it's destiny, too," he replied warmly.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry stroked his thumb over his cheek. He realized he had no idea of James even remembered kissing him. And he still felt a little uneasy about the dynamic between the three of them... it seemed impossible that he could be so lucky. After so many years of not allowing himself to feel anything at all.

"Sorry, I know we have more important things to focus on...

[provocateur_king]

"That we do," he agreed.

Then Bond smiled and closed the distance to kiss him, this time perfectly lucid.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry's eyes fluttered shut, and he kissed him back, keeping his hand on his face and placing the other at his waist.

They really did have more important things to focus on. But given everything that had happened the night before he at least needed to know that it was real.

[provocateur_king]

Bond lingered there, savouring the kiss. And when he broke away, he smiled.

"Do you trust my kiss now, with a clear head?"

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked a touch sheepish. "Yes. I do."

[provocateur_king]

"Hold to that trust, Harry," he said.

"I need you in more ways than one."