Watch my Back? [Christian/Harry]

[palacechristian]

Christian said goodnight to Marcus and Lucius and closed the office door. He'd already started downsizing and his jacket was slung over his shoulder, tie gone, sleeves rolled up and he was unbuttoning his collar as he walked, almost bumping into Harry as he came around the corner, his mind occupied with thoughts of the upcoming dinner and Callan's possible arrival. "Oh sorry." he apologized before looking. "Oh, Harry. Hi! Had a good day?"

"Sorry, your Highness," Harry apologized, his eyes flashing wickedly. "Oh, wait- sorry... mistook you for your birth mate. Watch where you're walking!" he said, sniffing arrogantly.

"Oh niiice." Christian grinned. "Can see I'm gonna have to work on my 'intimidating demeanour'." He leaned against the wall, stopping Harry from getting past. "Lucky for you, she's gone, eh? Else I could tell her what you just said to her poor, wee, un-intimidating little brother."

Harry waved it off, unconcerned. "Mate, I got a lecture from that one this morning when I was barely awake and at least a little hung-over and lived to tell the tale. The intimidation factor is going steadily way down, I assure you."

"You what!?" Jeez, thought Christian, after everything I said . . . He gave Harry an apologetic look. "Got a minute?" Without waiting for a response, he steered Harry into the family living area, the closest available private space. Fortunately, it was empty. "What'd she say?" he asked, releasing Harry's arm.

Harry looked around warily. "You sure? Last time I was in here, all of a sudden she was in here."

"Harry! She's gone, trust me. I waved her bye-bye this morning. Pretty damned early too. Where'd she find you?"

"In my office, pretty damned fucking early, probably right before the bye bye waving. As it turns out, when you get drunk in the afternoon, you crash earlier, which involves waking up earlier. I am not, as it so happens, a fan of this."

"No, me neither." Christian crossed to the couch and sat down, discarding his jacket over the arm. "I'm sorry, Harry. I did talk to her and I thought it worked! She was as nice as pie to Johnny." he wiped a hand across his face. "I hate to say it but, thank goodness she's gone. My sister is another complication I just don't need right now."

"Well, she did say that even though I was completely unsuitable for Orlando, she'd been made to understand that his mistakes were his own to make, and that she only hoped he wouldn't regret it too terribly. So who knows? Maybe you did manage to work a little magic there," Harry snorted. "'Course, she still doesn't like me, and should I damage your family name or hurt any of you, she's gonna hunt me down. Did I mention how much the fingernails kind of freak me out?"

"Hmmm." Christian was once again lost in thought and it took a bit of effort to rouse himself and pay attention to Harry's words. "Maybe I did."

Harry cocked his head to the side, noticing Christian's distraction. "And we don't want to forget the life sized donkey I ordered, to be delivered and left in her room upon arrival back home," he said casually.

"No. No. Not at all." Christian bit a fingernail and then looked up. "Harry? You doing anything Friday night?"

Harry frowned. "Nope. And if I was, with that look, I'd cancel. You need me for something?"

"Nah . . . it's just . . . yeah. I could use a hand, is all. Sit down and I'll explain."

Harry frowned deeper, taking a seat across from Christian. "You've got my undivided. What's up?"

Christian explained what had happened, about overhearing the plot to discredit his family and the implications thereof and then went on to tell Harry what he'd done about it and how Callan had proposed catching them in the act. "I just want someone with me, you know?" he finished. "Someone I know and trust. Like a second set of eyes." He didn't say that his mistrust of Callan was personal and not professional, he just implied that he couldn't be everywhere at once himself and therefore wanted back up if something went wrong.

Harry let Christian speak without interruption, his fists clenching unconsciously at the idea of them using Jake's sickness as an excuse to destabilize everything that had been worked for, nodding along as Christian explained why he wanted him there. "You know I'm in for it, Christian. Whatever you need," he agreed. He leaned back in his chair, thinking over what Christian had said. "What's he like?"

"What's who like?" Now that he had Harry's complicity, he felt much better although he couldn't have said why. Christian relaxed into the seat and sat tapping his fingers on the chair arm and fiddling with his jacket.

"His Highness. King of Erador. Can't say I know all that much about him- I don't pay much attention to politics, you see," Harry said cheekily. "Tends to bore me."

"Yeah, I wish." Christian huffed out a laugh at that last. "He's okay I guess." he shrugged. "Dad likes him if that helps. Smart man, it seems. Catching them out was his idea, not mine."

"Well, as was pointed out to me this morning by a delightful blonde woman, your father has 'quirky' taste in friends. Guess I'll just form my own opinion when I meet him then," Harry said.

Christian laughed outright. "Yeah. And he's as opinionated as Gwyn." He looked at Harry and his face flushed. "You'll probably like him. Everyone does."

"You like him?" Harry asked bluntly, cocking his head to the side at Christian's blush.

"What? Umm, yeah, I guess." His tie needed to be shoved further into his pocket in case it fell out. "He's good-looking and charming, politically, he's sound. Not that you're interested in that." he added. "Nothing to not like."

"Huh."

"Well, I best be getting home." Christian hurried to get to his feet, rushing to finish now. "I'll let you know what's happening, okay? I'm not even sure he's going to come. I mean, he might have been kidding, send someone, yeah? Alright. Good. And thanks, Harry." he added hastily, remembering his manners.

"Christian? The overly proper, very 'prince like' response was better. Now I just think you're a babbling loon," Harry advised.

"Oh shut up, Harry!" Christian scratched the side of his head. "He's a perfectly nice person, even for a king, right? I just . . . there's something. I dunno. Not something bad just . . ."

"Right. And since you're not the intuitive one, that's as good as you've got." Harry sighed, then perked up. "Why don't you ask Caeline about him? Get to know him a bit better through her? I quizzed Orlando on all of you before I met you."

"Because I'd rather not know." It was stupid, maybe even reckless, but Christian couldn't help the way he felt, something about Callan of Erador was very disconcerting and set his teeth on edge. He'd like to go a bit longer just pretending the man didn't exist! If, if, he married his sister, then he'd think again. "I really do have to go." he said, smiling. "Need to see my lover."

"Can't believe he got nice Gwyn- can't believe there IS a nice Gwyn," Harry grumbled, getting up. "Tell him I said hi. And ask him how his extra few pounds are swinging," he added with a smirk.

Christian raised an eyebrow but deferred on commenting. "Okaaay." he said, heading for the door. "I'll see you later. Tell the Rabbit I said hello."

"Will do. And if Gwyn calls screaming anything about pigs? Plausible deniability, mate. Only way to go," Harry added with a wink, sidling past Christian and heading down the hall.

Sometimes, Christian thought as he watched him walk away, Harry is downright inscrutable.