The Dresden Files / Bob / #32. Return
Title: Knight's Return
Author: Cyloran
Fandom: The Dresden Files (tv-verse)
Character: Bob, Harry
Prompt: 32. Return
Word Count: 495
Rating: G
Summary: Harry has had a rough day at the 'office.'
Disclaimer: The Dresden Files do not belong to me; just passing through.
Table: Here There be Ghosts
Harry hobbled through the apartment door. From head to battered toe, every inch of him felt like one giant bruise. The only reason he was still standing relatively upright was because he was leaning heavily on his staff.
"Don't say it," he growled as he made his slow, laborious way across the mile-long room toward the sanctuary of the couch.
The ghost in the corner watched Harry's progress with an unreadable expression, the only outward indication of concern the slight tightening of the fingers he clasped behind his back.
"You look like hell."
"I feel like hell." Harry gingerly lowered himself onto the couch. "But still in one piece."
"So I see." Bob's hands, unseen, relaxed just the slightest bit. "Frankly, I am amazed that you survived the experience."
"Disappointed?"
Hardly, thought the ghost, but replied, "That depends. Did you get paid?"
"Yeah, I got paid."
"In coin, Harry, not favors."
"Mind out of the gutter, Bob. Yeah, in money. Enough for the rent and utilities with a little left over."
"Excellent," said Bob approvingly as he closed the distance between them with measured steps. His manner remained aloof but his eyes belied the truth of his concern, should anyone care to look. "And how was it? Your will-o-the-wisp?"
Harry frowned up at the tall, pale form towering over him. "You're enjoying this."
"I am doing no such thing, I assure you." In truth, he would not be satisfied until he was absolutely certain that the younger wizard was none the worse for wear. "But I am curious as to how you managed to defeat your anticipated foe without losing an appendage or suffering irreparable damage."
"Yeah, about that…" Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Turns out it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be."
"No?"
"No."
"Your pardon but I find that somewhat difficult to believe. Unless, of course, it was not the creature you anticipated."
"You're just dying to rub this in, aren't you?"
"In case you had not noticed, I am already dead."
Harry rolled his eyes in dramatic exasperation. "You are enjoying this!"
"Well, perhaps a little." The ghost allowed himself the tiniest hint of a smile. "Was it a will-o-the-wisp?"
Harry muttered an expletive under his breath then said, "You know it wasn't."
"Yes, but I would rather hear you say it."
"No," Harry sighed. "It wasn't a willow the wisp. There, okay? Satisfied?"
"Not entirely," he admitted, "But since you directed me not to say anything when you entered, it will have to suffice."
"Is it really that important to you?"
"Your being reasonably unscathed is important to me," Bob confessed at last. "But I hope you not begrudge me my small victories. It is a luxury I rarely enjoy."
Harry threw up his hands in surrender. "Alright, already. So say it."
"Truly?"
"Go ahead."
"Very well," said Bob with a little bow of gratitude then, with great relish, concluded, "I told you so."
Author: Cyloran
Fandom: The Dresden Files (tv-verse)
Character: Bob, Harry
Prompt: 32. Return
Word Count: 495
Rating: G
Summary: Harry has had a rough day at the 'office.'
Disclaimer: The Dresden Files do not belong to me; just passing through.
Table: Here There be Ghosts
Harry hobbled through the apartment door. From head to battered toe, every inch of him felt like one giant bruise. The only reason he was still standing relatively upright was because he was leaning heavily on his staff.
"Don't say it," he growled as he made his slow, laborious way across the mile-long room toward the sanctuary of the couch.
The ghost in the corner watched Harry's progress with an unreadable expression, the only outward indication of concern the slight tightening of the fingers he clasped behind his back.
"You look like hell."
"I feel like hell." Harry gingerly lowered himself onto the couch. "But still in one piece."
"So I see." Bob's hands, unseen, relaxed just the slightest bit. "Frankly, I am amazed that you survived the experience."
"Disappointed?"
Hardly, thought the ghost, but replied, "That depends. Did you get paid?"
"Yeah, I got paid."
"In coin, Harry, not favors."
"Mind out of the gutter, Bob. Yeah, in money. Enough for the rent and utilities with a little left over."
"Excellent," said Bob approvingly as he closed the distance between them with measured steps. His manner remained aloof but his eyes belied the truth of his concern, should anyone care to look. "And how was it? Your will-o-the-wisp?"
Harry frowned up at the tall, pale form towering over him. "You're enjoying this."
"I am doing no such thing, I assure you." In truth, he would not be satisfied until he was absolutely certain that the younger wizard was none the worse for wear. "But I am curious as to how you managed to defeat your anticipated foe without losing an appendage or suffering irreparable damage."
"Yeah, about that…" Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Turns out it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be."
"No?"
"No."
"Your pardon but I find that somewhat difficult to believe. Unless, of course, it was not the creature you anticipated."
"You're just dying to rub this in, aren't you?"
"In case you had not noticed, I am already dead."
Harry rolled his eyes in dramatic exasperation. "You are enjoying this!"
"Well, perhaps a little." The ghost allowed himself the tiniest hint of a smile. "Was it a will-o-the-wisp?"
Harry muttered an expletive under his breath then said, "You know it wasn't."
"Yes, but I would rather hear you say it."
"No," Harry sighed. "It wasn't a willow the wisp. There, okay? Satisfied?"
"Not entirely," he admitted, "But since you directed me not to say anything when you entered, it will have to suffice."
"Is it really that important to you?"
"Your being reasonably unscathed is important to me," Bob confessed at last. "But I hope you not begrudge me my small victories. It is a luxury I rarely enjoy."
Harry threw up his hands in surrender. "Alright, already. So say it."
"Truly?"
"Go ahead."
"Very well," said Bob with a little bow of gratitude then, with great relish, concluded, "I told you so."