WHO: Jack Sloper and Michael Corner. WHEN: May 3, early afternoon. WHERE: St. Mungo's. SUMMARY: Michael visits Jack. WARNINGS: Spoilers for the BoH.
Michael had rapidly gotten annoyed with the healers that had kept him in bed, kept him from leaving his hospital room. The risk of infection, he needed to lie back and let the spells and salves do their work. Sleep, and he'd be better in the morning.
And he was. Not completely, but enough that he could move without pain. Enough that they were releasing him today, with healing potions and salves to heal the rest of the damage. He was supposed to go straight home, but he made a detour.
He hovered in the doorway of the room where he'd been told Jack was, before taking the few steps to his bed. He wasn't really sure what to say now that he was here, he'd just wanted to see Jack, make sure he was okay. That he was going to be okay.
“You look like shit,” was the first thing he thought to say, even though it wasn't exactly true. It was good, really good, to see Jack again.
"You look worse," came the grumbled reply back, as Jack tried to turn over to his right - the side that wasn't injured by necrosis. He winced as he did so, the pain jolting through his body rapidly, but he quickly controlled it.
It had been a rarity that Augustus Sloper and Lexi Sloper weren't around; Jack figured they must've gone to get breakfast when he slipped into his potion-aided sleep, while Ruby had been poking her head around when she had a moment between patients.
Still, he was quite thrilled to see this idiot waltzing in here. And that he was able to waltz in here, at all. Jack forced a smile and nodded towards one of the seats. "Going home?"
“Yeah.” Michael bit back his own wince watching Jack move, seeing that it pained him. He wanted to tell Jack not to move, not to put himself in pain on his account, but for once he was lost for words. Instead he took the seat that Jack had motioned to, carefully lowering himself into it.
“I'm okay enough to convalescence at home, apparently.” Michael wasn't sure how, his skin still felt like it was burning, even with most of the damage healed. “How're you…” He trailed off, feeling guilty he hadn't done more to protect Jack.
"Fine," Jack insisted, trying his damned hardest not to let it seem like he was any worse than he was. His ribs had been bandaged heavily and his Healer had insisted a thousand times to not move too much or it wouldn't heal properly, but he was fine!
He gulped a little before he spoke again. "Hannah? Prof— Mulciber?"
Michael narrowed his eyes at Jack's ‘fine’, but didn't push it. A part of him really didn't want to hear about the extent of Jack's injuries.
“Hannah’s okay. Mulciber got arrested with the rest of the surviving Death Eaters.” Michael smirked at the thought. They'd won, against all the odds. Finally.
"Oh, thank fuck," Jack mumbled quietly, a sigh of relief escaping from him. He knew they had won, but to hear confirmation about the Death Eater they had actually fought was a welcoming thought. He forced a smile and then nodded, as he held out his hand in Michael's direction. "Don't tell me we lost too many of our own, though."
“Some,” Michael admitted reluctantly, reaching out and lacing his fingers through Jack’s. Something in him shifted and settled when he did, and everything felt a little less overwhelming.
“Ernie’s been putting together a list. There hasn't been anything officially announced yet.”
Despite being on numerous potions for his pain and nerves and other injuries, there was still an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of Jack's stomach as Michael spoke. He unknowingly frowned, thinking back to the battle and everyone that he'd seen in his vicinity. "Andrew," he whispered, choking back something. "Charlotte?"
He closed his eyes, but gave Michael's hand a squeeze anyway, hoping it would be enough to not think about that. Finally, he opened his eyes and coughed quietly. "I'm so sorry, Michael."
“They're okay,” Michael hurriedly assured Jack. “Andrew got injured, but he's going to be fine. I think all of the Gryffindor sixths survived, I didn't see their names on Ernie’s list. Colin’s in here somewhere, I can see if I can find out more about his condition, if you want.” Jack responded with a firm nod, wanting to know full well how Colin was doing.
Michael looked at their intertwined hands, frowning at the apology. “Sorry for what?”
"For being an asshole the past few months," Jack replied, without missing a beat, "about Dumbledore's Army and — I don't know, I don't even have a proper reason for why I was how I was, I guess. I was scared, and I didn't want people getting hurt, but it didn't matter, did it? All of you got hurt, and you all ended up — somewhere, Andrew wouldn't tell me where, and — fuck, I was such a selfish git."
He raised his free hand to his head, rubbing at his temple, as though somehow that would relieve the headache that was slowly beginning to build up. "I'm sorry for hurting your feelings, too."
“Oh.” Michael started tracing his fingers over the back of Jack’s hand, leaning in a little. He hadn't expected Jack to apologise, but then he also hadn't expected Jack to stay and fight either. There was a lot, he realised, he didn't know about Jack. A lot he wanted to discover.
“You came through in the end,” Michael continued with a lopsided smile. “Which is what is important, really.”
"I can't believe we kissed in the middle of all that," Jack mumbled back, after a few seconds. Despite everything, Jack smiled too, his hand out of the way as he met Michael's gaze this time.
“It was a high stress situation. People do crazy things when they think they might die.” Michael smiled at Jack again. “You also punched me. Let’s not forget that.”
Jack grinned stupidly before he shrugged. "Of course I punched you. You're an insufferable twat," he replied, his tone full of affection, as he squeezed Michael's hand again. "Besides, you'd been gone for a few days. Couldn't glare at anyone else."
“And you’re an arrogant jackass,” Michael replied with a smirk. “So you missed me while I was gone, huh?” He tried to keep back his grin at the thought, an odd feeling in his chest as he bantered with Jack. Despite everything, the tragedy that had just happened, he was starting to feel happy again.
"Didn't say that," Jack stated, as he wrinkled his nose. Still, it was quite evident that he did, in fact, miss the older boy very much. They'd been arguing and they'd had their fair share of fights, but it didn't mean he didn't care for nor miss Michael any less. Suddenly, he repositioned himself so that he was on his back once again, and he exhaled loudly. "What do you think happens now?"
“I think everything will be a mess for awhile. But it'll be okay in the end.” Michael leaned in, dragging his chair in so he could prop his elbows on the edge of Jack's bed. “There's probably going to be a lot of work to do, clearing the Death Eaters and their cronies from everywhere.”
Jack responded with a nod, and pondered Michael's words for a few seconds before speaking. "Oh, hey, I heard your dad is the Head of Hitwizards now." Jack turned to him and raised both of his brows. "That must be wicked, though I expect he's got a shit ton of work now."
“Yeah, I've barely seen him,” Michael replied with a grin. He was pretty proud of his dad, all things considered. “My mum's coming home too. My sister's running around working out the details but she’ll be home soon.”
Jack nodded, but remained quiet for a few seconds, before he finally nudged Michael's arm. "Go, then. Go home and be with your mum. Or get ready for her, at any rate."
“Trying to get rid of me already?” Michael countered with a grin. He stood up, not to leave but because he wanted to lean over and briefly kiss Jack. “Don't do anything too dumb while I'm not around,” he murmured.
Jack leaned up to kiss him back, even if only for a moment longer, before he fell back on his pillow again. "And what, go completely against my Gryffindor instinct? I think not." He smiled, though a wince quickly followed, when his leg twitched with pain again. He glanced at the clock and knew that it was nearly time for his potions, but he turned back to Michael once again. "I'll write to you when I feel better."
“You may see me again before that.” Michael didn't miss the wince, gut clenching at the sight. He should have done a better job of protecting Jack. Instead he just very quickly kissed Jack again, a small thrill going through him at the fact that he could.
“Rest up, Sloper.” He winked at Jack before he started moving away, knowing if he didn't go now he might never leave, and Jack needed his rest. And there were other people he wanted to try and track down before he went home.