Time To Go | Hollie
Date: 13 August 2022
Warnings: None
Featuring: @oliversaluki
A quiet morning at Henry and Ollie’s house is interrupted.
HENRY
Henry woke up early that morning, like he had always done on Christmas as a child, but it was a different kind of anticipation that gripped him and didn’t let him sleep. He knew any moment now, they would be here.
And maybe it would be better to surrender himself. But Henry remembered how that had gone the first time with Clayton. It was a disaster. For once, he thought, maybe he could simply let this happen to him rather than desperately clamoring for the controls.
He started making tea, and soon enough, there was Ollie in the kitchen, like every morning. Henry felt a pang with the knowledge that this might be the last one.
“Morning,” Henry said quietly.
OLLIE
Ollie didn’t know what was up with Henry, of course they had lost a friend but it was more than that. He wasn’t fully focused, he was sadder. But Ollie didn’t know what to do, they were connected by their late friend and now roommates. Connected by Ollie’s girlfriend.
That’s what their connection was.
Still that didn’t mean that Ollie wanted him to struggle or to be sad.
“What were you thinking of for breakfast?”
HENRY
“Probably just some beans and toast,” Henry replied with a shrug, adding the cream and sugar to his tea and turning around to lean against the counter while he stirred it. “I’m not all that hungry, though.”
He looked around the kitchen, taking it in. It didn’t feel like his. It still felt like Eric’s. It was, perhaps, more Ollie’s than anyone else’s. And Henry thought that was a good thing. One less thing to say goodbye to.
“Do you have any plans today?” he asked hopefully. It was probably for the best if Ollie were out of the house.
OLLIE
“Probably going to visit Mason and Vivi. Ros and Rita have some plans so I’ll be looking after them.” Ollie stated as he got Tilly’s food ready as she padded around both boys waiting for her breakfast eagerly.
“Did you have plans with the girls?” Ollie questioned, considering how quiet he was, Henry probably needed a good day with his friends.
HENRY
Henry nodded. That was good. The sooner Ollie left, and the longer he stayed gone, the better. Of course, he lived here, so he couldn’t expect him to leave for long. But maybe he could try.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” Rose was still in the hospital (Henry had not told Ollie about this) and Candy was still in California and Henry had already talked to Pacifica. “You should enjoy your day, though. Maybe just go home for a little bit, eh? I think they’ll really appreciate that.”
OLLIE
“At some point this place might just end up with Baby stuff in case they need to stay over or anything.” For the most part Ollie went there and distance usually wasn’t a problem. But every once in awhile he wanted to be home. And Mason was old enough to visit. Ollie just needed things for him to do.
With Tilly set up and eating, Ollie headed to the fridge to grab some eggs and start a breakfast. He never could get behind beans and toast after all.
HENRY
Henry chuckled. “I think that’s a good idea. Always better to be prepared.”
He took a sip of his tea, and for a moment, everything was quiet save for the sounds of pans on countertops and kettles boiling and eggs being cracked. The kind of peaceful morning Henry had grown used to living with Ollie, nothing out of the ordinary.
And then the sound of pounding on the front door cut through the silence. “Open up!” a harsh voice announced. “Police!!”
Henry froze. It was happening. He had thought he’d have more time, at least enough time to get Ollie out of the house. He didn’t want this to happen in front of him.
“Oliver, I think you should leave,” he said, trying to remain calm, though his voice was shaking.
OLLIE
At the sound of police, Ollie was tempted to run. He had run from the police multiple times in New York. It wouldn’t be hard, he knew how to get out through the window too and get down. Running wouldn’t be hard.
But Ollie had to also consider the fact if he was caught running from the police, he could ruin his job. He could get a record.
He hadn’t done anything illegal. But Henry, well Ollie wasn’t too sure right now.
“What the fuck did you do? You think I can run when they definitely have people around the building!?”
HENRY
Henry hadn’t thought about that. There was always a way out, for his family, at least. A legal loophole, a back door, a boat that they could hop on and sail off to the Balkans to avoid consequences. But now there was no way out. And Henry had done that on purpose, trapped himself here, because he didn’t trust himself not to run just like the rest of his family would have.
“Ollie, I’m really sorry…” Henry said, grasping for the words desperately. But there was nothing to say. Ollie would find out soon enough anyway.
There was more pounding on the door, and then another loud sound, and now Henry could hear footsteps in the house. They were coming. Henry put down his tea slowly, carefully, his hands shaking, and stepped to the front of the kitchen.
“Henry Fitzwilliam Charming, you are under arrest for the crimes of illegal poaching and criminal conspiracy. Anything you say can be used as evidence against you–”
“Okay! Okay.” Henry put his hands up in a “surrender” gesture. “Let’s just… get this over with.”
OLLIE
Ollie could tell Henry how to run, if he knew more if he was willing to try. There was always a way. It would require using another apartment but there was always a way out.
But Henry hadn’t let Ollie know. He hadn’t had a chance to help him. Though if Ollie knew why he couldn’t say that he would have. But he didn’t know yet.
Turning the stove off, Ollie lifted his hands to prove he wasn’t a threat either.
Poaching and Criminal Conspiracy. What the fuck. Ollie couldn’t even help muttering that out loud as one of the officers gestured for Ollie to walk away from Henry.
“Is this how you knew Eric?” Ollie questioned everything starting to click, they were friends before this after all. What had Eric been into? No Eric loved taking care of people. He would never have been part of this. Whatever it was.
HENRY
“No! Eric did nothing wrong!” Henry said impulsively, and then realized he probably shouldn’t have said anything right here, surrounded by cops.
But he couldn’t have people thinking Eric was at fault here in any way. Maybe the truth about what happened to him would come out. That would be for the best. Henry didn’t want anyone casting aspersions on him, though.
“Mr. Charming, you’re going to have to come with us. You are being suspected on the grounds of the events of this past week and your involvement in the attack on Thornwood Hall. You don’t have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention something that will be later brought up in court. This arrest is necessary for a prompt and effective investigation and to prevent disappearance…” The officer ran through the rest of the spiel, and Henry nodded.
“I understand,” he said, glancing at Ollie. “Ollie, I’m sorry. You should go.” He turned to the officer again. “He doesn’t have anything to do with this. Can he go?”
She nodded. “We’ll be in touch. Mr. Charming, let’s go.”
As he was handcuffed and led outside, Henry glanced over his shoulder apologetically at Ollie, wondering if he should have warned him. He had seen the look on his housemate’s face, shock and confusion and fear. But it was better that way. Less reason for him to be implicated. Henry didn’t want anyone else drawn into this swirling cyclone that had enveloped his life. Least of all Ollie, who had only ever tried to help him.
OLLIE
The attacks? Just what the fuck had Henry gotten into? This wasn’t apparently something you could run from. Not like pick pocketing the wrong person in New York.
Sitting down in one of the kitchen chairs, Tilly walked up to twist her way through his legs as an Officer stayed back for a moment. Did Pacifica know? Did Ollie have to be the one to tell her?
Did Henry have a lawyer, should Ollie help?
He didn’t know and he just couldn’t know.
But he was starting to think this apartment was cursed.
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