PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

lix. frozen

The weather is nipping so as soon as they landed, the pair is hastily ushered to the car that was expecting for their arrival. Their luggages are carried by the porters and are loaded in the trunk. Charlie smiles nervously as she watches the scenery passes by outside the window. It's a different world out there. She feels as though the plane ride was a time machine and she was brought back to earlier years. Most buildings' original structures are preserved through time, never touched by modification and she marvels at them.

Harry briefed her about what to expect once they arrive at London – he never let go of her hand the whole ride just like he promised her, though Charlie's fear had quickly subsided soon as the plane flew steady over the clouds beneath them, but it's not like she's going to complain about it. Nothing could have prepared her, though, of what the city really looks like once you're scoping it with your own two eyes. It's beautiful, to say the least.

"I see why you didn't want to leave London in the first place." Charlie glances back at Harry who is sitting next to her in the back seat. He gives her a thrift smile and she turns away to marvel at the sight again.

Harry told her a day or so ago about how he didn't really want to go to Chicago, was only forced by his big brother and that he was itching to leave soon as he finished all task assigned to him. But that was before he met Charlie. All those times, his big brother thought that he was giving Harry a hard time for being away from his family against his will and that he thought he'd take it as a punishment; but as it turned out, he liked it in the end...for Charlie made it all worth it.

"Yeah." Harry's voice is gruff – maybe because of the cold. "But for the most part, I didn't really want to be away from my mom."

Charlie abandons the sight outside. There'd be more time ogling at them in the future. He stares at Harry, smiling with adoration. He reaches for her hand and entwines his fingers with hers.

"You're shivering." Harry notes as he feels Charlie's jittery fingers inside her gloves.

"I'm okay." She convinces him, but Harry isn't having any of that. He removes his own gloves, and then Charlie's.

"Give me your hands." She doesn't obey but Harry takes them anyway. He covered her hands around his large ones and puts them against his lips, blowing some steam through her cold dainty fingers with his hot breath. "Is that alright?" He asks her and she nods with a grateful smile.

He takes it upon himself to quickly slip back her gloves on in the attempt to preserve the heat in her fingers. He doesn't mind wearing his own gloves on anymore and just entwines his fingers with Charlie's before hiding their hands inside the pocket of his coat, their free hands hidden on either side of them.

"Thank you."

Harry kisses the side of her head and she leans on to his shoulder.

A ring of the phone breaks the bittersweet atmosphere and Harry quickly fishes out the device from his pocket, answering the call but not before frowning upon reading the name of the caller.

Whoever is talking in the other line, Harry doesn't like what he is saying for his expression instantly changes. His posture stiffens on the seat. He looks tense and agitated.

"Fine." He sighs, aggravated. He begrudgingly returns the gadget in his pocket and directs the next words to his driver. "Change route. We're going to Dad's place."

"Harry, what's wrong? I thought we're heading straight to your Mom's house."

His face softens and his lips stretch onto a small smile. There's just something about Charlie's voice whenever she's upset that makes her seem more endearing and lovable.