salute [h.s]

chapter 24 - macabre mediations & indulgent instruction

Piper wouldn't say everything had gone back to normal because it hadn't but that was a good thing because, as it turned out, normal for Harry and her was keeping secrets and presenting only their good side and that was no way to have a successful relationship. Instead, they had shifted into an entirely new dynamic that was taking some getting used to but was ultimately a breath of fresh air.

It had been torture seeing as she'd spent so much time away from Harry but Piper managed to drag herself out of bed that next morning instead of just burrowing against a slumbering Harry and wasting away the day. She managed to convince Liam to give her a ride to her flat so she could change for work. She only took the time to bring up some dry toast for Harry who was just coming awake and then gave him a sweet kiss as he grumbled for her to stay.

She was noticeably more buoyant as she got herself ready, like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. As she walked to the tube in her smart coat and her cute boots, she was standing tall and she noticed the eyes that followed her. It was amazing what a little confidence could do for an image.

That confidence worked in her favour because she walked into H branch with her head high and she spoke clearly and concisely with the agent who took her complaint about Samson. By the time she left, she had a good feeling that things were going to turn around for the better and she was glad for it. She'd had enough shit in her life these last couple of months. It was about time things started working in her favour.

Despite her excellent day, she was glad when it came to an end and she could get back to Harry. Zayn had been working at Vauxhall and had come for a chat over afternoon tea to catch up on all the drama of the day before that he'd missed, so she was able to ask him for a ride back to HQ which he gladly agreed to. Even he had noticed her positive upturn when he'd come to pick her up at the end of the day. "You're looking a lot better, babe," he'd told her as they walked through the halls to the garage. "You were a wreck this last week."

"Thanks for that," she snapped back.

"Hey, I'm just being honest," he countered defensively, holding his hands up in front of him innocently. "By the way," he added as he opened the car door a moment later, waiting for her to clamber in, "I don't think you're looking better because of Harry. Something's different with you."

"Good different?"

Zayn had smiled a proper smile as he nodded. "Very good different."

When they'd gotten back to HQ, it was to a full house with everyone home. Louis was cooking a big dinner for everyone as a sort of celebration for everything working out and, while Piper was sort of embarrassed that they were celebrating her relationship not being fucked up anymore, she appreciated free food even more so she went along with it.

There was only one person missing and when Piper went up to check on him before dinner, she wasn't surprised to find Harry sleeping again. He'd been through so much, not only with their fight but with his last mission. She'd gotten some of the details from Niall and apparently Harry'd been blindsided by his target and had ended up in a vicious fight in which he was unarmed and facing down two men with knives. He was lucky he'd come out as well as he had. After all that, Piper agreed that he deserved his rest.

Still, he was on her mind through their dinner even though the meal was absolute chaos (Niall and Louis at one table was just a recipe for disaster, especially since Louis kept tossing forkfuls of mashed potato at Liam when he wasn't looking). She was happy to escape by the end of it and bring Harry up a plate on the off chance he was up to eating. She found him lying in bed with his eyes open, trained on the ceiling above him.

"Thinking hard?" she asked as she stepped into the room. Harry turned his head lazily, his eyes glassy from the pain medication, and his lips spread into an easy grin.