Pre-Play Harry + Bond

[0_0_7]

"Harry?" Bond called as he came into the, looking for the man in the kitchen first, then out in the garden.

"Harry? There you are. I have amazing news," he smiled.

Comments

[lepidopterologist]

Harry had actually been laying on the floor of the patio, pulling up a broken board. He looked up at Bond. "... oh?"

[0_0_7]

"Registered post came to the office. I've been invited to test for a position at Six," he declared proudly.

[lepidopterologist]

"... oh, wow," said Harry, not sounding as excited as Bond. "Hand me the hammer, would you?"

[0_0_7]

"Harry," Bond said, reaching for the hammer and passing while adding, "You know I've been waiting for this opportunity. Be happy for me."

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm happy that you're happy," Harry said with a sigh. "Sorry, I just - you know I left the military for a reason."

He took the hammer and banged the floorboard back into place.

[0_0_7]

"Then it's a good thing they didn't invite you," Bond snapped, heading back into the kitchen to celebrate on his own.

He'd been working toward this for years. That Harry couldn't even congratulate him had him livid.

[lepidopterologist]

Sitting on the kitchen table was a registered letter with Harry's name on it that he had not yet opened.

He continued to ignore it after coming in from the porch, and walked past Bond towards the bar. "I'll pour you a drink," he offered.

[0_0_7]

"Don't bother, if you can't bring yourself to join me," he replied. "Don't let me interrupt your hammering."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry glanced at the envelope on the table, and grabbed a bottle of scotch. "I will drink to you," he said, and pulled out two glasses.

[0_0_7]

Bond's gaze followed Harry's and he noted the familiar envelope.

"Harry?" he asked...almost accused.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry poured. And without looking at him said, "I hadn't opened it yet." Though he supposed now he knew what it was.

[0_0_7]

"Harry! You didn't open it? My god, old man!" Bond huffed.

He snatched it from the table to open it himself.

[lepidopterologist]

The silly endearment didn't seem particularly endearing at the moment.

"Open it if you like," said Harry, and poured the other glass.

[0_0_7]

It was torn open before Harry finished speaking.

"It's the same," he said. "We moved forward."

He smiled.

"Together."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry handed him one of the glasses. "James," he said quietly, "you know how close I am to securing the rest of the seed funding I need for the company to launch."

[0_0_7]

"You're risking everything. MI6 wants you. For certain. The seed money is a fantasy," he said.

[lepidopterologist]

"No," Harry said calmly, as he handed him a glass. "The seed money is very close at hand. But it is my dream, just as MI6 is yours. And a dream that doesn't involve working for the military."

[0_0_7]

Bond took the glass Harry had poured, his own letter still in hand.

"Are you going to resent me for this?" he asked directly.

[lepidopterologist]

"For receiving a letter?" said Harry. "Certainly not, but I could ask you the same question."

[0_0_7]

"You know what I mean, Harry," Bond said flatly. "You know I'm not going to pass this up."

[lepidopterologist]

"That letter probably has an NDA in it," Harry said dryly. "Now that I know are you going to have to kill me?"

[0_0_7]

Bond looked down at the letter, then up to Harry.

"I could choke you. Just a little," he offered with a boyish, flirtatious grin.

[lepidopterologist]

"Don't threaten me with a good time," Harry said, though a bit half-heartedly. He picked up the second glass and knocked back a good bit of it.

[0_0_7]

Bond swallowed his scotch, then laid the glass and the letter aside.

"Be happy for me, Harry," he coaxed softly as he moved in to pull the man iino his arms.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry honestly wasn't sure that he could be. He had a bad feeling about all of this. "And I'll say the same to you," he said quietly as he pressed against him.