(no subject)

[captain_fucking_magic]

It's been a weird few days for Harry. But weird in a good way, which is sort of what makes it weird. He's not really used to so many good things happening at once like that. He and Harmony are going out on Saturday (which, ok, that's going to be awkward since he's down to like, his last $40), he's got a job that doesn't involve moving heavy boxes across some nasty warehouse, and no-one's tried to shoot at him in several weeks.

He's celebrating by taking over Perry's sofa with a book he found in the office. He's half-way through The Sign of Four and wondering why no-one ever told him that the Victorians were into more than just melodramatic romance. He might have actually read these earlier if someone had bothered to tell him that there was actually a decent plot to them.

Comments

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"Hey fuckhead, what are you doing?" Perry's holding two mugs (Mama van Shrike raised him to be polite). He's on downtime, and he slept on his shoulder funny last night.

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Are you blind now, too?" asks Harry. "I hear too much jerking off'll do that to a guy."

As in, isn't it fucking obvious what he's doing?

He takes one of the mugs and sets it aside for now. If only because he'll need to sit up if he actually wants to take a drink without drowning.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know you could read. There aren't even any pictures in that one." Perry sits down anyway. "Anyway, the only reason I have to jerk off so much is because having a fucking bum on your couch puts guys off."

That's not true. Well, not all the way true.

[captain_fucking_magic]

Harry picks up his ballcap from under the table and throws it at Perry's face.

"Fuck off, I can so read, dickhead." He sits up so his feet aren't so close to Perry's ass.

"Besides, you're the one with a spare room you won't let anyone sleep in. I could be out of your way if you'd just lighten up some."

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"Only people who pay rent get their own room. And what do you mean, lighten up some? Fuck you. I took you in, didn't I? I should have left you to get picked up for drifting and make friends with a large man called Bubba."

Yeah, look, he's been thinking about cleaning out that room for a bit, and he knows someone who owes him a favour, so furniture isn't a problem, but fuck off, it's complicated.

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Maybe if I had more than forty bucks to my name, I would," Harry mumbles as he turns a page.

"And besides, they don't actually do that. They only arrest you for pan-handling and fountain-diving."

He sounds like he'd know, too.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

Perry resists the urge to facepalm. Harry can make him feel bad in a way which just... No one else can manage.

"What are you doing here, Harry?"

[captain_fucking_magic]

"What's it fucking look like? I'm reading. Most of the books you got in there look like they've never even been opened, so at least someone's going through them."

It briefly occurs to him that this was not what Perry was asking, but so what?

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"No, numbnuts. Why haven't you gone back to New York? Or found your own place? LA has warehouses too, you know. Hell, it's got crappy security systems galore."

[captain_fucking_magic]

Harry looks up at him, not quite able to hide how much that just hurt.

"Is that what you want?" he asks. "Christ, I thought you were my friend. Why'd you hire me then, if you don't want me working for you? Or is this your chickenshit way of telling me that I'm fired?"

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

There it is, the f-word. "If I was going to fire you, I'd just shoot you."

That's... Probably a joke. And okay, the rest of it. Perry shifts in his seat.

"I don't get that. You think I'm your friend. I'm not a nice guy, Harry. You don't want me as your friend. Can't you get that into your thick fuckin' skull?"

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Uh-huh," Harry says, now paying more attention to his book than Perry. Then, after a few moments, he says, "If you want me out, just say it. I'll find a shelter or something. Maybe beg Harmony to let me stay with her."

That's right, Perry. You've been nicer to Harry than his own girlfriend, lately.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"I don't want you out-- Christ, why are you so stupid? Did you even listen to what I said?" Perry taps Harry on the leg. Not very hard. Just so he'll get his head out of that damn book.

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Yeah. You asked why I don't go back to New York and then said that you're not my friend." He finally looks up at Perry. "Or did I miss anything, because I'm too fucking stupid to follow a conversation?"

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

Okay, Perry definitely feels guilty now. And annoyed, because nothing is going the way he wants it to.

"I'm not saying that. I..." And he rolls his eyes because jeez doesn't he sound like a sap right now. "I am your friend."

Be happy Harry, even if it does sound like a root canal.

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Would you make up your fucking mind already?" Harry asks, his attention once again mostly on his book. "Maybe I have no idea what the fuck is going on because you keep changing your story. If you don't want me gone, why do you keep asking me why I'm here?"

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"Because it doesn't make sense. When have I ever given the impression that I want you around? But here you are. On my couch. Reading my book." How can he not see that's weird?

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Fine. Fine. I get it." Harry says as he tosses the book onto the table. "Fine. I'm out of here, then. I can take a fucking hint."

One of the best things about being able to fit all of one's possessions into a single backpack is that it's easy to gather up all of your things and leave. Harry quickly gets to his feet and snatches up his bag from beside the sofa, and on his way toward the door, grabs his hat from Perry.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"The hell are you doing?" Perry sticks out a leg, and when Harry trips, hooks his backpack and throws him back down on the couch. "Don't be so fucking stupid." Augh, what will this take? "You'd only get mugged or sold into white slavery or something."

[captain_fucking_magic]

"Get off me, you sissy bitch," Harry growls as he rights himself. "What the hell do you want from me? Tell me, because I don't fucking know and I'm sick of trying to figure it out."

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

"Don't call me a fucking sissy. I'm not the one flouncing off in a huff like I just lost the lead in Xanadu. Look, you're welcome to stay for as long as you need to, idiot." If Harry's watching, he'll notice that Perry looks like his seat is suddenly sharper than it was before. (Note for the observant: He always looks like that if he thinks he's gonna have to be nice to someone. Well, Harry, anway.)

[captain_fucking_magic]

Harry levels his gaze on Perry. "Are you saying that because you want me here, or because you're worried that if I fuck up, it'll just come back to your precious image?"

Harry really will walk out that door if Perry even hints at the second one.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

To be fair, Perry could probably tackle him before he got anywhere near the door.

"For fuck's sake, just stay, willya?"

Also Perry could probably disown Harry pretty easily, not gonna lie.

[captain_fucking_magic]

Harry just settles in to have a sulk on his end of the sofa.

[thereal-lapi.livejournal.com]

That face. Good lord. Perry rubs his face and comes to a decision. Another one to lose sleep over. Mainly because he's so okay with it, but fuck off, who asked you?

"I gotta clean out the spare room. No, wait. You gotta clean out the spare room."