#hars and fao have the best relationship

[faofinn]

30. Patient 0

They’d booked an Airbnb, the whole family. Fao, Finn, Hars, Ely, Jess and Tai, as well as all the kids. They’d found this place in the Cotswolds, away from the hustle and bustle of London, and it was perfect. Loads of room, a cosy fireplace, all the essentials. They’d not been a able to get their Christmas work patterns sorted to spend it together, so they’d agreed on a week off together now the kids had broken up to enjoy being with the family. 

But Christmas time meant coughs and colds were rife, especially with young kids, and they’d quickly spread through the group, decimating their plans and soon reducing them to the Sick and the Well. Luckily the house they’d booked was big enough, and they were able to claim a part of it as a spot for those who had gotten sick to stay and be miserable whilst the others stayed busy trying to enjoy themselves. 

Of course Harrison was the first to succumb to it, far from surprising as a grizzly Levi had refused to be anywhere but his hip. With his immunosuppressants, any illness was so much worse, but it was also Harrison - a cold would be the end of the world, but pneumonia was just another day to work. 

Keeping a close eye on everything (and in contact with his consultant), he was happy enough to curl on the sofa with snacks and Disney films. 

Fao was next to join him, bringing Kieran along, just proof that Levi definitely was not sneaking into his brothers' room. Harrison felt beyond miserable, and couldn't help but grin as Fao joined him. The two curled up on the sofa together, the kids squished up with them. Harrison had his head in Fao's lap, pestering the other man to play with his hair - Fao couldn't lie down with his chest, so Harrison was simply making the best of a bad situation, was his excuse. He also drew the short straw with Harrison being the first one to fall and now in charge of the remote. 

Aristocats was the first film, of course it was, every song earning a rendition from Harrison, much to the kids' delight. It wasn't that unusual to hear Hars sing now, happy and content and stable for the first in a long while. It had been his favourite film as a child, the VHS one of his only possessions, and one he still had. Things were easily lost and stolen during all the moves and upheaval, but by sheer determination, he managed to keep it safe. 

Once he'd moved in with Steve, its place on the top of the list had only become more solidified, Steve coincidentally buying him a small stuffed cat. Of course with Harrison's history, Steve quickly joked he was O'Malley the Alley Cat, scrappy and street smart, willing to do whatever he needed to get what he wanted. And Fao ran with it, taking Hars to get his O'Malley tattoo on his 18th birthday. Somehow it had survived all the injuries and operations and scars, and he absently rubbed his hand across the ink. 

It was easy to forget where he'd come from, especially when he was feeling so rough and miserable, but he wouldn't change it for the world. Kieran had dozed off on top of him, and Harrison carefully stretched out for his phone and swiped his arm. 8.7. He knew he didn't need to check, not really, but since he'd been so unwell, he just couldn't help himself; he needed to make sure they were okay. 

Levi was curled into Fao, his hand curled around the loose fabric of his hoodie and snoring through a snotty nose. He sighed, settling back into Fao, happy both his kids were fine. 

"I'm sorry you got sick." He murmured to Fao. 

Fao hummed, his hand returning to Harrison’s hair. “Mm, it’s okay. Was bound to happen.” He said softly. “Doubt we’ll be the last, either.”

"We definitely won't be." He said softly, making a content noise at Fao's fingers in his hair. "God, that's nice."

Fao laughed, though it threatened to turn into a cough. “Careful, you’re married now.” He teased. “Kieran’s sugars okay?”

"Tai can have Ely." He brushed it off. "Yeah, he's doing well with them."

“Mm, good.”

"I feel fucking rotten." He admitted, voice a whisper. 

“I bet.” He murmured. “Can I get you anything?”

"You're meant to be sick too, not looking after me."

“I’m sick but I’m not dead, and I’m not immunocompromised either.”

He hummed. "I'm happy enough here, you’re helping."

“Mm, okay.” Fao murmured. “Who do you think is gonna be next? Finn?”

"Alfie. The three keep swapping beds. Finns been kicked out of yours so he should be safe." He joked. "Or maybe Jess, just for five minutes peace from him."

Fao laughed, setting off a cough. When he recovered, he sniffed. “So the germs came from your house, eh? I think it’ll be Finn or one of my kids, and if it’s Arthur then Ely won’t be long behind.”

"Levi was fine when we left." He protested weakly, though there was a flicker of mischief. "And I'm immunocompromised. I'm always gonna get ill. How can you be so mean to me?"

“I was gonna say it’s not my fault you’re immunocompromised, but it actually is.” Fao said lightly. 

Harrison stretched out. "Oh, yeah. All your fault."

“So rude of me.”

"How dare you save my life."

“Shocking behaviour. You’re just as much to blame for my chest sounding as shit as it does, though.”

"Sure, sure -" Harrison broke off coughing, finally stopping with a groan. He took a few moments to breath, his chest heaving. "Fuck's sake. I can't do this."

Fao frowned, reaching out for Hars. “Hey. You alright?”

Harrison nodded slowly, pushing himself more upright. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just need to not be ill."

Fao rested a hand on his shoulder. “Careful.”

"I love the kids, I do, but they can keep their germs." He tried to joke.

“I know, as if it wasn’t bad enough working in a hospital.”

"Yeah, that's true." His frown faded as Levi stirred, his heart melting at his sleepy yawn. "Hey, Leaf. You okay?"

He rubbed his eyes with a closed fist and then his face on Fao's hoodie. "'m tired."

"I bet. Did daddy wake you up?"

He nodded, shuffling about again. "All the coughing."

"Oh, I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to."

Fao stroked a hand over his godson’s hair. “Go on, back to sleep, kid. We’ll try not to wake you up again, hmm?”

"Is daddy okay?" He stretched out, worry on his face.

“Your Daddy’s fine. He just had a bit of a cough.”

"We've all got coughs. And snotty noses." He nodded. "And sleepy."

“Cos we’re all poorly.” Fao said. “You have a snooze again.”

He settled back down. "Okay. Love you." 

Harrison grinned. "Love you too, Leaf."

“Sweet dreams, little one.”

"Oh, bless him." Harrison murmured. "I hate when they're ill, but he's so cute when he's snuggly."

“I know, until they won’t leave me alone. Beth would live in my pocket when she’s ill.”

"She might end up joining us by the end of the week."

“She probably will.”

"It does make me laugh."

“What does?”

"We come away on holiday, finally all have the time off together, and now we've been split up with patient zero over here." He shook his head. "So much for a big family gathering."

“God, I know. It’s sod’s law.”

"Not to sound like a stroppy kid, but it's not fair."

“You always sound like a stroppy kid, and then complain when yours are.” Fao teased. 

"Don't be rude to me, I'm sick."

“So am I.”

Harrison moved to settle against Fao again. "So be nice to me."

“Mm, no.”

"Ouch!"

“You love it really.”

He grinned up at him. "Yeah."

“Can’t complain.”

"Watch me."

Fao snorted. “Makes a change, not.”

"Don't laugh at me!" He protested with a laugh.

“Nope.”

There was a knock on the door, drawing both men's attention. Finn stood in the doorway, wrapped in an oversized hoodie and a blanket, and looking particularly miserable. 

"Shove over, let me join yous."

Fao grinned. “Welcome to quarantine.” He joked. “It’s got you too. Must be man flu, the girls are immune. Come join, Hars put Disney on, just don’t wake Levi or he’ll get mad.”

"It's not man flu, I'm dying." Finn said dramatically. "There's no room for me on the sofa." 

"Snooze you lose." Harrison laughed. "It's definitely man flu. Even the kids are boys."

[faofinn]

No. 16 - ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS

recovery | scars | aftermath

@whumptober2021

@whumptober-archive

It was strange, living with Fao. No longer living at, or sofa surfing from house to house, but with. He got to spend the early mornings in someone's arms. Loved. Late nights were spent under the covers and added the fire to their relationship. He wasn't knocking it, it was the best he'd had, if he was being honest, but there were different ways to be intimate.

Laying with Fao was the best part of being off shift, but it was rare they both had the same days off. It just made it more special, and Harrison was determined not to waste it.

He rolled over, gently shifting Fao's hand from his waist. His boyfriend was still asleep, his hair over his face slightly. He watched him for a little while, until he decided he was being far too creepy, and tucked himself in Fao’s arms. His hand rested across Fao’s chest, his fingers hovering over the scars there. The scars he'd made. He swallowed thickly. Of course, not all of them were his, he knew that, but knew the other scars had an even worse story behind them.

Fao stirred after a few moments, stretching out and humming at the sight of his boyfriend curled up next to him.

“Mornin’.” He said, voice rough with sleep.

“Sorry.” He pulled back. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Mm, it's ‘kay.”

“Did you want breakfast? I can go make something?” He offered.

“You mean burn something? Jus’ stay?” He murmured. “I like laying here wit’ you.”

He relaxed back down, easily persuaded by Fao. "Alright."

“What’re you doin’ up?” Fao murmured. “Thought you wanted to sleep in.”

"Just needed to move. Had been in the same position too long."

“Mmm. You're warm.”

"So are you."

Fao stretched out, getting comfortable beside his boyfriend.

"It's nice." Hars said softly. "Not having to get up."

“Yeah.” Fao breathed. “Really is.”

Harrison traced patterns across Fao’s chest. "I wish we could stay like this all the time."

Harrison's fingers left goosebumps on Fao's skin. “You'd miss work too much.”

"Nah. It would be worth it."

“Mm? I dunno.”

"You prefer work to me?"

“You're at work, to be fair.”

He hummed. "Good save."

“‘m smart.”

"Sure you are." He stretched to kiss Fao, balancing himself on his elbow.

Fao smiled into the kiss, tilting his head up to his boyfriend.

"It's a good job you're cute." He breathed.

“Yeah?”

"You could get away with murder and I'd still be here."

“Am not planning on murder.”

“Glad to hear it.” He laughed quietly.

“Not today, anyway.”

“I’m sorry.” Harrison said softly, almost to himself.

“What for?”

“All of these.” He murmured, his fingers finally tracing the scars.

“Why?”

“I made these.”

“Saved my life, Tomcat.”

He shook his head, swallowing against the lump in his throat. It was easier for Fao; he’d not had to hold his best friend’s heart in his hands.

“I know it's hard.” He said gently. “But you went above and beyond for me, and I really appreciate it. The scar just reminds me of all that you did.”

“You don’t get it.”

“I can't even imagine what you went through…”

He cleared his throat, sitting up and turning away. Fao didn’t need his emotions tied to his scars, he’d been through enough without Harrison adding to it.

Fao whined. “Hey, come back.” He reached out for his boyfriend, pushing the duvet back.

“I’m just going to get up, get dressed.” He said, his voice wavering.

Fao sat up, wrapping his arms around Harrison. “I'm sorry.”

He shrugged his way out of Fao’s grip. “It’s fine.”

“No, come on.”

“It’s fine.” He said firmly.

“If it's fine, come back to bed.” He said. “I'm sorry about my scars.”

“They’re not your fault.”

“And they’re not yours either.”

He scoffed. “I made them.”

“You did what you had to do.” He murmured carefully. “The same way the ortho who fixed my hip did. The scar is a means to an end. Hell, it’s decently neat, too.”

He managed a tiny laugh. “Neat wasn’t exactly on my to-do list.”

“Managed it. Though you didn’t close, so you can’t take all the credit.”

“Guess they did all the hard work.”

“No, you did. I owe you my life, Hars. I know what you did was impossible, felt impossible, but that scar jus’ reminds me I have people who care.”

He shifted to face Fao. “It would have been impossible losing you.”

“And you didn’t.”

“I couldn’t.”

“And I’m still here.”

"I'm glad."

“Please don’t beat yourself up about my scars, Tomcat.”

"I'm always going to."

Fao put his arm around Harrison again, shifting to move closer to him. His fingers brushed over his scars and he made a noise. “I know. And I hate that I wasn't there to help you, but…” His voice caught. “But we're both still here.”

He swallowed thickly, leaning into Fao. "I couldn't lose you. I can't."