Meet the Percys [Modern AU]

[adivasheadvoices]

 

 

What it comes down to is that the current tax structure is untenable. We throw good money after bad in the Middle East in the hopes o

Kate Percy pauses, frowning at the blog post she's drafting. Nobody has come to her office to ask for a snack or a Band-Aid or any of the other interruptions a stay-at-home mother is accustomed to.

Which means someone, somewhere, is probably getting in trouble.

She clicks "Save draft" -- it's not going anywhere interesting, anyway; she needs more coffee -- pushes back from her desk, and pokes her head into the hallway to listen for things breaking.

Comments

[newredmuses]

The kitchen has gone quite quiet again. If Kate listens, she may hear a brief, enthusiastic conversation, perhaps a phone call.

Quiet.

Then, the jangling of car keys, and the slamming of the garage door.

More quiet.

Total quiet, in fact.

[adivasheadvoices]

Kate pauses in her typing, listens for a moment, then shakes her head.

Her boys have the shortest attention spans of anyone she knows. Well, no, that's not entirely fair. Give them a task that appeals to their honour and ingenuity and there's no one more single-minded.

In any case, peace and quiet is probably what she needs to get this done. Even if she was looking forward to Harry's idea of negotiations.

[newredmuses]

It may be an hour has passed before noise troubles the Percy household again. The car pulling up in the driveway, stuttering to a halt too quickly to be prudent. The front door opening, then clamorously falling shut. Heavy footfalls, only a single set, right past Kate's study.

Harry is still wearing his jacket as he strolls through the house, unconcerned.

[adivasheadvoices]

She's in the final editing stage, sufficiently absorbed that it takes her a few minutes to notice that there's no pitter-patter of smaller feet.

Raising her eyebrows, she gets up and pokes her head out into the hallway again.

[newredmuses]

"My mother's been complaining," Harry remarks, not turning around as he heads toward the kitchen. "She was very glad to take Henry overnight. The thought just came to her out of the blue, and she called me."

[adivasheadvoices]

Kate comes out to the kitchen and leans in the doorway, folding her arms.

"Completely of her own volition, was it."

[newredmuses]

"The woman loves her grandson. She's very intuitive." He opens the fridge and peers in. After a moment: "I came here looking for something."

[adivasheadvoices]

"I'm sure you'll remember it in a minute," Kate says, almost sing-song.

[newredmuses]

"A plague upon it! It's sure to come to me." After a moment, he twists at the waist and winks. "Ah, I have it now." And he holds up a tin of buttercream frosting, leftover from some birthday party or other.

[adivasheadvoices]

Bright: "Ah, you found where I keep my sweetener."

[newredmuses]

"I should have known you'd hide it in a cold, dark can." He peels the lid off and peeks inside, before his face brightens, and a moment later he's dipping a finger in. Delicious!

[adivasheadvoices]

"Oh, Harry," she says sweetly.

"You want to get in trouble, don't you?"

[newredmuses]

"A fine thing for the likes of you to say." He strolls toward her, tin still in hand. "I don't have to court trouble, do I."

[adivasheadvoices]

"And yet you do."

[newredmuses]

A little shrug.

He doesn't break eye contact.

Not even for a second taste of the icing.

[adivasheadvoices]

Kate grins and crooks a finger at him: come hither.

[newredmuses]

So he shall, and swiftly too.

Very close, in fact, one arm braced against the wall, and leaning closer.

(The tin he has yet to put down.)

[adivasheadvoices]

Still smiling, she cups his cheek in one hand and pulls him close for a kiss.

[newredmuses]

"Now now," he says, just before their lips meet. "These weren't the terms, my love. I both made the chocolate milk and disposed of our child, not just for some hours but for a day. Maybe even longer." He sets the tin of icing on the counter and hooks a finger beneath her waistband. "I think that's worth noting, don't you?"

[adivasheadvoices]

"Tease," she sighs, her breath warm on his lips. "My tease. Consider your selflessness and wonderfulness noted and kiss me."

[newredmuses]

An ostentatious groan. "Against my will and my better judgment both, you vexing creature."

By the way he kisses, that is a lie, perhaps.

[adivasheadvoices]

Kate is, for the moment, more interested in kissing him -- kissing him the way he deserves to be kissed, thoroughly and heatedly -- than calling him out.

We'll see if it lasts.

[newredmuses]

Harry is not much celebrated for his self-control, which is a shame, perhaps, because when exercised, it can be mighty.

For instance, even now, his hand splayed over the small of her back, he pulls away and furrows his brow. "Did you finish your blog post?"

The very picture of an innocent question.

[adivasheadvoices]

Kate groans and thumps him in the shoulder.

"I know what you're doing, you cad."

[newredmuses]

His mouth twitches, but he focuses instead on Kate's clavicle, pulling down her collar with a light touch born of practice. "And what is that? Tell me what I'm doing, gentle Kate."