Blood Files

Harry woke late, his muscles still feeling stiff and well-used.  The slight ache made him smile as he stretched, even more so when he had to push Eric's arm off of him to be able to start to wriggle off the bed.  He showered and dressed quickly, then went into the kitchen to pour himself some orange juice and eat a bagel.  After he'd eaten, he went back into the bedroom and picked up his pendant from his nightstand.  "It's a shame you're asleep," he said quietly to Eric.  "You'd probably enjoy this part." 

Harry sat on the edge of his bed and held the pendant flat in the palm of his hand.  After just a few moments, the pendant started to glow.  Harry held it up to his mouth and whispered Thomas's name into it, using just enough power to make the compulsion very hard to ignore without forcing it onto his brother.  Certainly, it was a way to get Thomas to meet him without the Raith's knowing.  It was also a way to put him and Thomas back on even ground after his brother had used his White Court power on him.  The compulsion would act as a reminder that Harry was no soft touch for his vampire half-brother to push around.  Then he turned around and gave Eric a lingering kiss.  "Love you," he murmured, and then put his pendant over his neck and pulled on his boots.

He wasn't very surprised when, after about a half hour of aimless driving, Harry followed the pull to Mac's.  He parked the Road Runner and went inside, waving to Mac before walking over to a table in the corner and sitting down across from Thomas.

"You know, they have this new invention.  They're called telephones."  Thomas raised his beer to Harry in greeting.  "They're usually less rude than pushing a magical compulsion on someone before they're even fully awake."

"The way I see it, that just makes us even."  Harry sat quietly until Mac brought him a lemonade.  After Mac was gone, Harry sat back and looked at Thomas.  "Are you okay?"

"Do you really want to know?"  Thomas's eyes were hooded, hiding any emotions from Harry.

"Yeah.  I do."  Harry shrugged, and just like that, their argument was behind them.  Thomas sat up and smiled in that way that you couldn't help but react to, even without any power behind it.  They talked for a little while, Thomas telling Harry about Justine and carefully avoiding any topic of the Court.  Finally, he asked why Harry had wanted to talk to him.

"Actually, Eric has a favor to ask you."  Harry sat back and looked at Eric.  "You know the Sheriff is dead.  Eric is interviewing the courts to find a replacement."  Thomas nodded.  "He wants you to actually find one for him."

"He wants... what?"  Thomas blinked and looked at Harry blankly.

"Someone that's not there just to promote their Court.  Someone who'll keep the truce.  Someone who's good for Chicago."  Harry looked evenly at Thomas.

"Don't even go there," Thomas shook his head at Harry.  "You know me.  I don't do responsibility."

"Yeah, I know," Harry grinned.  "But I bet you can find someone."

After a little longer, Harry and Thomas left, both going seperate ways.  Harry drove home after stopping to pick up some more orange juice and vitamins.  He let himself in and dropped his coat and pendant on the couch before kicking off his shoes and crawling up onto the bed.  He nuzzled his way up Eric's chest to kiss and nibble at his neck.  He moved up a little further and kissed his mouth, sucking his lower lip into his mouth and rubbing his tongue across it.