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

[gentleman_tiger]

John was mildly startled by the knock-- he hadn't expected anyone. And when he saw nobody at the keyhole, he remained surprised.

He opened the door, though, waiting for the invisible figure to slip inside.

[wizard_p_i]

Once Harry was in and the door was closed, he unveiled.

"Hey, John," he said gently. "How are you? Haven't heard from you since Lara arrived. I was getting worried."

He opened his arms.

[gentleman_tiger]

John stepped into them, wrapping his arms loosely around Harry's narrow waist. "I've been tolerably well. Simply... circling the wagons, as it were, in the presence of a threat. I really was enjoying her absence."

[wizard_p_i]

"So was I," Harry said with a sigh. "I liked her being gone. It felt better. Safer. I'm sorry, John. That's not an apology. It's sympathy.

"Thomas negotiated for my safety and for Mom's. She won't harm us. Or involve us in her plots. Oh, she'll try to get around it, naturally, but that gives us a little leeway, and leaves two of us free to protect the rest. Four, if you count Bob and Winifred."

He gazed down at John. "'The rest' would include you, you know. I'm not letting anything happen to you."

[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."

[gentleman_tiger]

"He is dealing with some very understandable issues. What I have chosen is not even remotely fair to him. He has thrown in his lot to me, pledged sweat, blood, tears, and sleepless nights to keep me alive. And I have repaid him by doing something that will only make his job, and his life, exponentially more difficult. ...I cannot change my mind, but I can hardly deny that he has every reason and right to be angry."

[wizard_p_i]

"I agree," Harry said with a sigh. "It's hard on him. That wasn't what I meant. I meant that I never wanted to hurt your friend this way. And that it's not right that two friends should be separated and hurting because of me.

"I can't change my mind either. And I don't want to."

[gentleman_tiger]

John brought the beer back, decapitating it and setting it on the table before he sat down and made a polite gesture, as if he were inviting a business partner to join him at lunch rather than a lanky wizard to sprawl out and use him as a pillow.