Harry

[0_0_7]

Things had settled into a rhythm once they'd returned. Bond had increased patrols, scouting farther and farther out from the stadium. People would join him, or they'd be sorry. His teams had no problems raiding. And they gladly killed when need be. Bond had, in fact, ordered no mercy.

He'd only barely spoken to Q of what they'd gone through, and had solidly not spoken about it to Harry. In fact, it had become a bit suspicious how he always seemed to be unavailable to the man.

But when there was a knock on his door and he opened it to see Harry, his stomach dropped as he realized it was a conversation he could no longer avoid.

"Come in," he said, stepping out of the way for Harry to enter.

Comments

[lepidopterologist]

"Of course I did," Harry said, frowning. "Not only did the two of you have each other first, but you hated me."

[0_0_7]

"That was before, old man. Things have changed," he replied.

[lepidopterologist]

"They have," Harry said. He hesitated, and then said, "When it was the three of us in that bed together, that felt... right."

[0_0_7]

"It did," he nodded.

Paused.

"We should do it more often. Under better circumstances."

[lepidopterologist]

"I confess, I've thought about... what it might be like, the three of us," Harry said.

[0_0_7]

"My bed is certainly big enough," he noted.

[lepidopterologist]

"Do you want that?" Harry asked. "Do you think Q would want that?"

And by "that" he meant both things the three of them might do in a bed together besides sleeping, and also just... the three of them, together. A unit. In bed and out.

[0_0_7]

"I do. We'll have ask Q," he answered.

"I think it makes sense."

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm honestly not sure if it would make things more of less complicated," Harry said. "But does just sort of feel... inevitable."

[0_0_7]

"Don't sound so resigned, Harry. You're hardly doomed," Bond teased dryly.

[lepidopterologist]

"Sorry, default affect lately," Harry said dryly.

"But I have to confess, I feel almost... guilty, when I'm happy."

[0_0_7]

"The entire point of bringing everyone together is for us all to have another chance at happiness in this world, old man. Guilt." He snorted. "You know we have a new therapist."

[lepidopterologist]

"You mean the one who looks like he's a 22 year old runway model?" Harry said with a snort. "I talk to Hannibal sometimes. Are you in therapy?"

[0_0_7]

Bond looked at him without expression for a long, uncomfortable moment.

They both knew the answer.

[lepidopterologist]

"Perhaps you should see the new one then," Harry said. "At least he's pretty to look at. Since heavens knows you won't talk to Q or I."

[0_0_7]

"Talk? Talk about what, Harry?" Bond snapped, not about to admit he spoke to Nyx about things he'd burden no one else with.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry regarded him calmly. "James, I walked in here and you immediately had a breakdown over your feelings of responsibility. You also clearly didn't want to talk to me about it, so I'm just suggesting you may want to talk to someone else."

[0_0_7]

"Fine. I'll talk to someone," he said tightly. "Do you feel better now?"

[lepidopterologist]

Harry only nodded, and then moved closer to him, putting a hand on his waist. "Now tell me," he said softly, "how can I make you feel better?"

[0_0_7]

Bond looked at him a moment.

"You're so full of ideas. What do you think?" Bond evaded.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry honestly didn't know. He had a hard enough time understanding Bond's psyche as it was.

"Perhaps I could remind you how much I... trust you?" Harry offered, fingers slipping underneath the back of Bond's shirt. "How much I want you?"

[0_0_7]

"Do you trust me, Harry?" Bond asked, hand sliding up to the man's neck.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry didn't want to play armchair psychologist, but he could imagine how Bond's particular flavor of anxiety earlier might be helped by feeling in control.

"Yes," he said, meeting his eyes unwaveringly. "Without question." Which was... at least 90% true.

[0_0_7]

Harry could not have said a more correct thing. Bond looked at him for only a moment, then pulled him close to kiss him deeply.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry wrapped his arms around him and kissed him back, moaning softly into his mouth.