PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

xxxiv.i charlie happened (2)

It's been ages since Harry is able to just sit around the whole day, relaxing and entertaining his self with whatever show is on the TV. His legs are stretched out over the coffee table at the center of his mother's living room. His back is cushioned against the soft recliner, one hand behind his head and the other holding the remote control while rested on the arm rest. His brows are knitted together, focusing on the screen – smiling whenever a funny part comes on and face dropping when it's upsetting.

"I never pegged you to be the type to watch this kind of stuff." An astonished Liam observes as he enters the room, drawing Harry's attention from the TV to gaze at him.

Harry only smiles, shrugs, and bring his attention back to the show.

"Beer?" Liam offers before sitting on the couch adjacent to his cousin's seat. Harry takes one of the two beer cans that are on Liam's grip.

"Thanks." He says genuinely and opens the can. "I've never had one in ages." A stretch of 'ah' comes from his mouth after taking a sip of the cold beverage.

"Seriously? Not even in Chicago?" Liam says disbelievingly.

Harry shakes his head a little bit slowly, snickering at himself. "No. I'm afraid I didn't have the time."

"You mean to say you spend all of your time in your office – sleep and eat there?"

There's mockery in his cousin's voice, though Harry takes no offense to that. He'd been immune to Liam's indifference and cold treatment that he no longer cares what he thinks of him.

"No. Just took a different liking on my drink." Harry answers him anyway, nonchalantly.

"Look, Harry," Liam's voice has toned down, sounding more diplomatic this time. He lets go of a breath he's been holding before meeting Harry in the eyes. Harry pulls his brows together, anticipating for his cousin's next words. "I'm sorry. Whatever misunderstanding we had in the past, I want to apologize about it. It was childish. I mistook you as someone who just left us in the dust after your other family took you in, but it was never the case. You—" He's shaking his head as he speaks and only stops once Harry cuts in.

"It's okay." Harry pulls his legs from the coffee table to the floor below him, sitting straighter now. "I apologize too...for allowing you to think that all along. I blame myself as well. I was always busy with my job, never had enough time for mom. You, on the other hand, are always there for her. You seem like her son more than I do." He chuckles, speaking his thoughts out loud.

"If it's any consolation, I've always wanted to be her son. You know how my own mother abandoned me and my dying father. But that's another story." Liam tells Harry, shrugging as if there's no weight in his statement.

Harry remembers when they were merely five years old. It was a Sunday evening and Anne arranged a dinner for them and Liam's family. Liam's mom advised them to play in Harry's room while the adults were talking. They were just halfway through the flight of stairs when the woman dropped the bomb – Liam's dad was suffering a terminal illness and only discovered late. They didn't know what Cancer meant, but it didn't sound friendly. They heard Anne sobbed at that instance, though she didn't need to nor was able to say anything to let them know she's incredibly upset with the news about her big brother. Liam wanted to run back down the steps and confront them at the dining room, but was stopped by Harry's firm grip around his clammy arm. He coaxed him out of it and just continued the trek up the stairs to Harry's room.

Two or three agonizing trips to the hospital later, Liam's mom took off without even bothering with a pity letter, not even a note. Liam didn't cry. He didn't seem happy about it either. Four years later, his father succumbed to the deadly cancer cells that spread throughout his body. Again, Liam didn't cry. Harry was so impressed by his cousin's strength for not showing any ill feeling after such horrible turn of events. But he knows, somewhere in there, inside Liam's heart, he was hurting, wounded. He was so young to face such a tough obstacle...alone.