making healthy choices (like fucking your coworker on the DL)
cw: injury, aurors!drarry
Harry collapses onto the couch, tossing his wand onto the coffee table and kicking off his Auror-grade combat boots.
"That was brutal," he groans, pressing his hand against a blooming bruise on his thigh. "But Merlin, you were so fast with that Stunner." He snags the decanter of whiskey off the table, pouring two glasses.
This is their routine: high on the adrenaline of a successful case, they end up together at Harry's. They drink, talk about the case, and then they end up on the bed, on the couch, on the floor, and at least once on the open balcony. They don't have to talk about it -- some things are better left unstated.
Harry tries to pass him a glass, leaning over the back of the sofa, but Draco’s clutching his side and he hasn’t taken off his shoes or coat. Draco nods at it, blinking fast, but he doesn't reach to take it. And then he sways, and suddenly, Harry would swear he's turned even paler.
Harry stares for a second too long, tired brain slow to process. "Malfoy?"
"I'm fine," Draco says too quickly. He makes a half-hearted attempt to turn away. "Really.”
Harry moves fast, off the couch and around, and then he's sliding an arm under Draco's to keep him steady. "Easy now.” Harry walks him to the couch, stomach sinking at the clammy, cold press of Draco’s skin against Harry’s. "You didn't say you were hurt.”
"I can handle it,” Draco breathes, eyes screwed tight.
"You're an idiot," Harry mutters, tugging at the bottom of Draco’s shirt. Harry tries to keep back a gasp when he sees the rough curse wound, but he can’t keep it all in. "Merlin, Draco. You're an idiot. We should’ve had the Healer look at this."
“It’s not that bad,” Draco tries, but stops speaking when Harry catches his eye with a sharp glare.
Harry curses under his breath as he Summons a med kit and kneels down. "You’re a stubborn, stupid bastard," he grumbles as he disinfects the wound and wraps it in a charmed gauze. "Can’t believe you wouldn’t tell your own partner you were hurt.”
"I know," Draco murmurs. "I didn't want to give them any reason to—"
"If they dare take you off our cases I'll fucking quit," Harry snaps as casts a quick wandless, wordless healing charm. "We earned these cases fair and square, and they don't get to retaliate against you out of some stupid idea of who you are."
"Some of it is earned," he winces as the charm shimmers across the bandage.
"I don't care," Harry adds, quieter, running gentle fingers over Draco's unblemished hip. It's almost possessive, if it weren't so tender. "I wouldn't want a different partner."
"See?” Draco says weakly. "You’re the idiot if you’d throw away a guaranteed Head Auror position for this.” Draco presses two fingertips to Harry's lips. “Don’t say something sappy.”
Harry rolls his eyes. “I make my own choices. And you need to slow down and take care of yourself when you’re hurt.”
“Look at me! I’m resting, I’m tending to my wounds, being good and all that. I am taking care.”
“No, I am." Harry says it sharply first, then softens. “Taking care of you, I mean."
"You could." Harry presses the last piece of tape down over the edge of the gauze. "Would you rather that? Deal with all of it alone?"
"No," Draco says. He takes Harry's hand and runs a single finger over Harry's bruised knuckles, tracing the familiar lines of Harry's hands. "I think together is preferable."
tangentwithtanner
titsay
jbbartram-illu
yousharknotpass
baratheonpilled
