Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges Listed at the Bottom
Word Count: 1607
AN: I have no idea what this is. But, uh. Enjoy?
Very Little I Wouldn't Do
"I come bearing gifts!" Harry announced, as he pushed the door to Kingsley's office open with his hip. He only made it through the door before he stopped, blinking, when he realised that Kingsley wasn't alone. "Um. Oops?"
Kingsley snorted, clearly amused, and then stood up. The man opposite him stood as well, and they shook hands briefly.
"Uh. There's enough food for you to stay for lunch?" Harry offered awkwardly, as he stepped closer to the desk. The bags in his arms were letting off a wonderful scent, but the man wrinkled his nose slightly.
"I'm a vegetarian," he offered softly. "And since I can smell bacon…"
"What do you mean you're a vegetarian?" Harry asked, frowning. He thought that was a Muggle thing. "Have you ever had a steak?"
The man stared at him, and Harry realised that to someone who didn't know him, that was probably rude. Double oops.
Kingsley snorted, and shook his head. "Don't mind Harry, Mr Beufort. His brain doesn't kick in until after he's eaten."
Harry felt his cheeks flush, and he knew if he looked on a reflective surface, he'd be crimson with embarrassment. Thankfully, Mr Beufort just chuckled.
"Enjoy your lunch, Gentlemen."
He skirted around Harry and left, closing the door behind him with a soft snick. Harry looked at Kingsley, who was looking back with an affectionate look in his eyes. "You're an idiot."
"I know," Harry lamented. He placed the bags down on the desk and opened them, to reveal bacon buns, gingerbread biscuits and chocolate covered cherries. All Kingsley's favourite foods. "I didn't realise you were still in a meeting or I'd have waited outside."
Kingsley just shook his head. "We were practically done. Though, next time, probably don't ask vegetarians if they've had steak."
Harry tilted his head and then nodded. "Fair."
…
"Did you get lost?"
Harry rolled his eyes at his best friend. Ron was sitting at his desk, his fingers wrapped around a giant coffee cup, the steam still rising. He couldn't have been back long himself.
"Bite me," Harry replied, sitting down at his own desk, directly facing Ron. "Anything come in while we were out for lunch?"
Ron shook his head. "Don't think so."
"Ugh. Paperwork," Harry muttered, glancing at the stack on his desk. He was hoping for a call-out to avoid doing it. "You know, if they'd told us how much paperwork we'd have to do to be Auror's, I might have chosen another profession."
"That's why we don't advertise it," Robards said from behind Harry, as he slapped a hand onto his shoulder. "But I have a job for you, so you can do your paperwork later."
Harry grinned. "You're a magnificent human."
…
"You're in trouble, mate."
Harry blinked his eyes open to an unfortunately familiar white room. He sighed, tugging at the cream sheets that were folded at his waist. "What did I do this time?"
"Nasty curse from the old books. Even took the healers a minute to figure out what it was that they'd hit you with. I swear, Harry, only you can go to a basic domestic call-out and have them try to abduct you."
Harry nodded. The red of Ron's robes were hurting his eyes, so he looked away from his friend. "How long are they holding me hostage?"
"You can leave as soon as the head healer has seen you, Mr Potter," Healer Ellis said, as she stalked into the room, shaking her head at him. "You really need to stop coming to visit as much as you do. You're going to have a personal, private room before long."
"Does that mean I can add a bit of colour?" Harry asked. "Maybe some bed sheets that haven't been drowned in starch?"
She snorted at him. "Nice try. The Minister has arrived, he'll be here shortly. The receptionist is just updating him on your case."
Harry groaned. Kingsley was overprotective on a good day. With the amount of times Harry had been injured in the last year, he was going to lock him in a cage somewhere so he couldn't keep getting hurt.
…
"You're coming home with me," Kingsley said, when the head healer on shift signed Harry out. "Don't argue with me, you'll need the bandages changed in the morning."
Harry wrinkled his nose. He hadn't actually been planning to argue. Shrugging, he gave Kingsley what he hoped was a dazzling smile—it probably wasn't, he was exhausted—and tried to conceal exactly how much pain he was in had to rise up off the bed.
Kingsley shook his head, clearly seeing through him, and helped him into the waiting wheelchair.
"I can walk, you know?" Harry pointed out, though he made no real effort to get out of the wheelchair.
"Hush, Harry. I'm trying to convince myself not to put a bubble charm on you and call it a day."
Harry pushed his glasses up and sat back, so his head was leaning against Kingsley's stomach.
"I'm a whole ass calamity, aren't I?"
"You really are."
…
"I swear if you steal my jumper one more time…"
"You'll let me have it?" Harry asked, snuggling down in the large black jumper. It made him feel a bit like a kid with how big it was on him, but it was comfy and warm and it smelled like Kingsley, so he was quite happy dealing with Kingsley's threats if it meant he could keep wearing it.
Kingsley put two mugs of hot chocolate down on the table beside the armchair and sat down, raising his arms. "Come here."
Harry stood in the too-big jumper and stepped around the table, tripping over air as he did so. He fell straight into Kingsley's arms. The older man tried to hold his laughter for a moment, but he couldn't and as he helped Harry up and onto his lap properly, Harry could feel him shaking.
"You can laugh, I know I'm a disaster," Harry pointed out, grinning. They laughed together for a moment, the joy on Kingsley's face nice to see after Harry had worried him—again.
Eventually they calmed, and Harry tucked himself against Kingsley's chest, warm arms surrounding him. It was better than any pain relief in Harry's opinion. There was something so intoxicating about being so close to Kingsley, and it had never failed to make him feel safe.
He was just so warm—both personality and body heat—and Harry loved… well. He just loved Kingsley.
A broad hand stroked up and down Harry's back, and if Harry could, he knew he'd be purring.
"We need to do something about you being an Auror."
Harry blinked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"You can't keep on the way you are, Harry. You've been hospitalised because of attacks at work seven times this year already, and it's only October. That's not good odds. How long is it going to be before you're permanently damaged—or worse."
"I can't just give up my job, Kingsley," Harry pointed out. "I like being an Auror. And Ron's been hospitalised four times this year."
"Three of those were because he's a walking disaster who falls over his own feet," Kingsley replied. "Is it really such a bad thing that I want you to be safe and here. I can't imagine what life would be like if I lost you, Harry, and I'm not particularly eager to find out."
Harry bit his lip. "What would you have me do?"
"Do I look like a guy with a plan?" Kingsley asked, shaking his head.
"You always have a plan. You're literally the man with the plan."
"Okay, so maybe I have a little bit of a plan," Kingsley agreed. "I want you to work security for me."
"Kingsley—"
"I know you always said that bureaucracy would kill your brain, but if you were my personal security, I'd be able to keep an eye on you."
"Wouldn't I be the one that's supposed to keep an eye on you?" Harry pointed out.
"So we can keep each other safe," Kingsley shrugged. "I'm okay with that. I know the hours would be a little longer, but there would be less paperwork, and you'd be working with me most of your days."
"You just want me to be on hand to fetch you food," Harry accused, but he was smiling. "But if it makes you feel better, then okay. If you can get Robards to give me the assignment, I'll accept it."
Kingsley picked up a scroll of parchment that Harry hadn't noticed from the table, and grinned. "Already done while you were in the hospital."
"Scandalous, Minister, using your position like that!"
Kingsley gave him an angelic look. "Would I ever?"
"For me you would," Harry pointed out, as he accepted the scroll.
Snorting, Kingsley wrapped his arm back around Harry's waist. "There's very little I wouldn't do for you, Mr Potter. Very, very little."
…
"I don't like being your security," Harry said, at the end of the first week of his assignment.
Kingsley arched an eyebrow at him. "Why not?"
"Because I realised that if I'm your security guard, I can't also be your… whatever we are. Because professionality."
Kingsley stared at him, and then said, "Bold of you to think I'm going to follow that particular rule, isn't it?"
Emerald met dark Hazel, and Harry grinned. "You'll break the rules for me too?"
Tugging him closer, Kingsley pressed a soft kiss against Harry's lips. "What did I tell you?"
"There's very little you won't do for me," Harry parrotted, leaning close to steal another kiss.
"Very, very little."
Written for:
Written In The Stars: 8. Cream
Showtime: 1. Intoxicating
Film Festival: 15. Overprotective
Elizabeth's Empire: 22. Black
Sophie's Smut Bucket: 14. "Come here."
Amber's Anime: 7. Calamity
Throwback: 17. Dazzling
Hobby Hole: 1. Conceal
Artist Appreciation: 4. Scandalous
Buttons: O4. Glasses
TV Spree: 7. Rise
Halloween Bingo: 16. Emerald
Costume Party: The Joker: "Do I look like a guy with a plan?"
Trick or Treat: Lupin House: amused / Treat Prompt: (Dialogue) "I swear if you steal my jumper one more time…"
Drive In Horror Movies: 1. A Quiet Place Part II - (word) Hush
Hogwarts Cafe: 6. Snickerdoodle Latte - (food) cookies/biscuits
Monster Mash Up: 1. Vampire: "Bite me." / 3. Alien: Abduct / 8. Demon: Angelic / 11. Godzilla: Giant / 15. Dragon: Magnificent
Apple Bobbing: 12. Kingsley Shacklebolt
Haunted House: Entry Prompt: "What do you mean you're a vegetarian? Have you ever had a steak?"
Potion Making: 1. Alihotsy Potion - Laughter / Joy / Falling over
Pumpkin Carving: Step 1: "Did you get lost?"
Hot Air Balloon: 16. KingsleyHarry
The Spooky Express: Step 1: Pitchfork Point: Crimson
365: 174: Kingsley Shacklebolt
Scavenger Hunt: 33. Write a story about an auror