After Lara's Return

[wizard_p_i]

Harry hadn't seen or heard from John for several days--since Lara had returned to the village, in fact. Feeling more than a little worried, he veiled himself and slipped down to the first floor to see if John was all right.

A few minutes later, he was knocking at John's door.

Comments

[wizard_p_i]

Continued from here.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I sent out a message to everyone from both Chicagos...except for Lara. But I don't suppose Hendricks read it.

"I'm really sorry that he's not talking to you. I never wanted--it's not right. He's your friend."

[wizard_p_i]

Harry chuckled deep in his throat. "I refuse to get mad at people who give me presents. Especially good ones. Did you explain to Hendricks about my father, or did Ms. Gard?"

[gentleman_tiger]

"I did. He listened. He understood. However ...he will be happier when things go back to normal in Chicago. Your enmity with him is comfortable. And it will be easier for him when he can dislike you and blame my stupidity on The Fucking Wizard."

[wizard_p_i]

"I've explained that to him already," Harry said with some exasperation. "I am sworn and bound. I can't treat him like an enemy. Not won't. Can't."

[gentleman_tiger]

"...obviously you can, and obviously you will, and Harry, if it was a promise to me that is making you discomfort my bodyguard I release you from it. Consider it politics and take my advice." John's hand stilled in his hair.

[wizard_p_i]

Harry relaxed as he felt the light binding vanish. "Thanks. Yeah, it was a promise. I promised to treat him with respect and not to mock him or call him Cujo--that first time we talked at the garage, remember? It didn't kick in until he arrived."

He looked up at John. "Between not wanting to hurt your feelings by dissing him and not wanting to lose any of my magic to a broken promise--given the dire events in my future--I couldn't be as difficult as I normally am.

"I really don't hate him, you know. Mostly he just scares the hell out of me. The guy is BIG."

[gentleman_tiger]

"Well, yes; that would be part of his qualification for the job. And he fears you in much the same way that I do. Your abilities. And he will never trust you, I think. " John resumed stroking his hair, fingers finding and soothing tension at the base of the skull. "...I will be more careful of promises I extract from you in the future, and I ask-- do not promise me this, idiot wizard-- that you inform me if one has been made that is impairing you."

[wizard_p_i]

"I don't think he'll trust me, either. And the thing is, I don't blame him. I'm a trouble magnet with a billion enemies. And as far as Hendricks is concerned the sane thing to do is to avoid the crazy wizard. Avoid all magic. It's dangerous. Like sweaty nitroglycerin.

"But you can't and won't. You want a place at the table. You earned it, and you're going to keep it.

"And I promise nothing." He grinned at John. "But I'll try." No promise attached to that.

[gentleman_tiger]

"And he will blame you for my own insanity for the rest of his life. ...it's an arrangement that works." John settled back to watch the surprisingly efficacious turd-polishing on television, his hand still and cupped under Harry's head, fingertips just under the base of the skull. "Thanks for coming over, hot stuff. It's good to be with you."

[wizard_p_i]

"I can live with that arrangement." Harry drank his beer and smiled, feeling very content. "And thanks. I'm glad I came over, too."