More Than Kin, Less Than Kind {Harry/Claudius} FIN

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius frowned as he looked over the day's 'to-do' list he had drawn up for himself. It wasn't that he minded being busy, on the contrary his work was one of the many things he took great pleasure in.

No, the reason for his current ill humor was a certain item on that list. That item being: Talk to Harry.

Claudius could talk to people just fine; he was an expert at it, particularly when he had to get them on his side. But his nephew, Harry...

Ever since his father's death, Harry had become a shell of his former self. And then he'd started acting strangely, so strangely that his antics made headline news in the New York Times, making a laughing stock of Hamlet Enterprises and the Chandler name (at least in Claudius' opinion).

Talking to Harry wasn't just difficult because of that, though. There was the fact that Harry clearly despised what his uncle had done with the company. It was a painfully obvious subject, and one that, as a consequence, was hard to avoid.

But Claudius' dear nephew (the term 'dear' was used very loosely) had been slacking off lately when it came to his part of the company. And if his company went down, how would it look for the rest of Hamlet Enterprises?

The intercom suddenly buzzed, jerking Claudius from his brooding.

[blue]"Mr. Chandler? Your nephew's here to see you."[/blue]

Claudius suppressed a sigh before jabbing the button to reply.

"Send him in."

[hamlet]

Harry was in his office, a hand to his forehead as he started to nod off. He caught himself before his head hit the desk and he sat up fully, looking at the documents laid out in front of him. Working was never a good combination with grief, exhaustion, and lack of motivation. His ability to stay asleep at night was suffering considerably as of late. And now, half asleep within his own silence, he thought he saw someone in the corner of his eye...a split second of a shadow, a ghost. Standing there. For that split second, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. But when he blinked, the figure was gone.

Harry, remember me. A distant voice seemed say, so faint, he really could have been hearing things.

Harry swallowed hard, sitting up fully in his chair, eyes wide for a moment. Finally, he leaned his head back and buried his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes. "Ugggghhhh...." he let out a frustrated sigh as he tried to wake himself up. He was seeing things - side effects of not getting enough sleep and drinking a bit too much.

But his gut told him otherwise. Something told him otherwise.

"Mr. Chandler," the intercom of his phone said. Harry dropped his hands and listened. The voice was familiar, one he hadn't heard in a while. Claudius' secretary. "Your uncle would like to speak with you."

Seriously? Was his immediate thought. Harry rolled his eyes. What could he possibly have to say to him? It was even a shock that Claudius acknowledged his existence in this office building. For someone who was family, seemingly in more ways than one as of late when it came to Harry's mother...Harry hardly saw him. He tried to keep it that way, especially given Harry's immense hatred for him and what he's done to Hamlet Sr.'s company. Best to keep his distance. Claudius was no family of Harry's.

But apparently the man wouldn't leave well enough alone.

Harry told the secretary that he'd be at his office in a bit. Unfortunately, Claudius was not only his uncle, not only a man that his mother seemed to favor immensely, but a man who was his boss. He couldn't ignore him. So to his office he went, and when permission was given to enter, Harry gave a really snarky and sarcastic grin.

"What is this? A very feeble attempt at family bonding at work? Very unprofessional of you." He said, closing Claudius' office door.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius looked up from his papers as Harry entered the room; the look on his face was enough to increase Claudius bad mood tenfold even without his words.

Harry's grief had been understandable after his father's passing...but the fact this had now developed into obvious hatred for him, Claudius, was not helping anything, nor was it particularly becoming to Harry himself. Where did he think it would get him?

Claudius told himself to stay calm and not chide him; he would never accomplish anything if this meeting developed into nothing but an argument.

"What is this? A very feeble attempt at family bonding at work? Very unprofessional of you."

Claudius chuckled, hollowly.

"Harry, you know I'm not one to be unprofessional. I've called you in to discuss work, funnilly enough."

He took a moment to move some of the documents on Harry's theatre company to the front of the pile on his desk, before looking up to address his nephew again.

"Take a seat."

[hamlet]

Why was he getting this nagging feeling, like he got a bad grade on his report card and was about to catch hell from some father figure? This was absolutely ridiculous. Even Claudius' voice seemed to rattle Harry's nerves. There was a constant condescending tone to it, as if he really was trying to be some sort of fatherly authoritative figure. A tone that was ludicrous in and of itself , considering that the very fact that he was trying (and very much succeeding) in taking Hamlet Sr.'s place, made Harry's blood boil.

But Harry's gaze was piercing as he sat down in front of Claudius, not masking his disdain. "Yes. Funny." He said with a smirk, which harbored no actual humor. He glanced down at the papers on his desk and knew then that this conversation was going to turn out to be a barrel of laughs.

"Mmm, I see you're keeping tabs on my work. Good to know you take time out in between paying homage to my father." He said sarcastically, finally looking up at him, waiting to see what he would possibly want to say to him.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Yes. Funny."

Harry's lack of mirth and open hostility did not go un-noticed by Claudius, but this was the norm. However, he hadn't seen much of his nephew as late and was having to get used to it all over again. It was difficult, being so used to flattery from his peers and employees.

"Mmm, I see you're keeping tabs on my work. Good to know you take time out in between paying homage to my father."

To say Claudius was surprised at Hary's mention of his late brother in this context would be an understatement. However, rather than say anything biting back, as he dearly wanted to, he simply raised an eyebrow and continued as though nothing was amiss.

"I'm keeping tabs on your work for good reason, Harry," Claudius replied, meeting his nephew's piercing gaze with one of his own. "Your company hasn't been doing so well recently, and this raises concerns. Why hasn't it been doing so well? That's what I wish to know."

[hamlet]

He couldn't believe Claudius was being serious right now. Yet, another moment where he felt that he was the only one mourning his father's death. He also felt that he was being looked upon abnormally, as if it were strange that he hasn't 'gotten over it' yet. And Claudius' lack of response toward Harry's comment about his father didn't help matters.

Harry sighed heavily and sat back casually in the chair. "Excuse my performance, Claudius. One might have an off night now and then, right? I guess some can lose a close family member and go on normally. Maybe even pick up the deceased's assets and perhaps even his woman," He gave a pointed look. "I, unfortunately, am not so talented."

As he looked at Claudius, Harry kept hearing his father's voice in the back of his head. Was it really true - those messages in his dreams?Those visions he kept having in his often exhausted and drunken states? Was he sitting in front of a man who would resort to murder? Harry couldn't be sure. Not based on irrationalities. He saw no guilt in Claudius' eyes when he spoke of his father. Yet he remembered Claudius when he was a child, and couldn't imagine that the same Claudius would be that heartless.

But it wasn't that far fetched, was it? The company was his, and the power too. He did not wait. He did not mourn. He did not blink an eye before taking Hamlet Sr.'s life figuratively, so was he really capable of doing so literally?

Harry's thoughts churned as he said, "In any rate, the company is fine. Taxing was a hard hit but as you know, that has lessened as of late. So not to worry, uncle. Your mission to completely degrade everything this company stood for is solid. Untouchable, even. My grief and mourning will not stand in your way, trust me."

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Excuse my performance, Claudius. One might have an off night now and then, right? I guess some can lose a close family member and go on normally. Maybe even pick up the deceased's assets and perhaps even his woman,"

Claudius rolled his eyes at this.

"Just because your mother is in agreement with me on how this company should be run does not mean-"

"I, unfortunately, am not so talented."

Evidently not, Claudius thought. He didn't say anything however, simply staring hard at Harry as he did.

"In any rate, the company is fine. Taxing was a hard hit but as you know, that has lessened as of late. So not to worry, uncle. Your mission to completely degrade everything this company stood for is solid. Untouchable, even. My grief and mourning will not stand in your way, trust me."

"I'm not degrading evrything this company stood for, as you so eloquently put it," Claudius snapped. "I'm simply doing things a bit differently so you might as well get used to the fact."

He paused, thinking over whether or not what he planned to say next was a good idea. He couldn't just ignore Harry's every mention of his father and his mourning; doubtless that wouldn't win him any favours.

"You think I don't still mourn my brother's death, Harry?" he asked, his tone somewhere between incredulity and an accusation.

[hamlet]

"Just because your mother is in agreement with me on how this company should be run does not mean-"

Yes, Harry heard this and had a very hard time believing it. Claudius knew that, clearly, so Harry said nothing to this.

"I'm not degrading evrything this company stood for, as you so eloquently put it. I'm simply doing things a bit differently so you might as well get used to the fact."

Harry was not surprised in the slightest by Claudius' stern response. This was a man who got what he wanted when he wanted. Who cares if Hamlet Sr.'s son wasn't happy with the way things were run in his late father's company? If Harry was in the least bit shocked by Claudius' forwardness, he might have cared enough to be offended.

"Going completely against your brother's wishes," Harry cracked a grin and chuckled a bit. "Yeah, I'd say that's different. Couldn't agree more. And as far as you mourning," Harry shook his head and leaned forward. "If you even know the meaning of the word, then I'd say you do that differently too."

Harry had become something other than himself when his father died, the company's take over only adding to his sadness. Turning to alcohol seemed a natural solution. Waking up from his nightmares in tears. Long days and sleepless nights carried his disposition. These were the trappings of his melancholy.

Harry diverted his gaze and sighed heavily, pausing before he looked up at him again. "But do you, Claudius?" Harry couldn't help but ask. "Do you really still mourn him while you sit as his desk?" Harry studied his eyes to try and find any hint of guilt or remorse in his upcoming answer.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Going completely against your brother's wishes...Yeah, I'd say that's different. Couldn't agree more. And as far as you mourning if you even know the meaning of the word, then I'd say you do that differently too."

Harry's grinning and laughing as he said this wasn't helping matters for Claudius in the slightest. How exactly was he meant to respond to this? Harry hadn't always acted like this, not around him. It wasn't as though they'd always been pleasant towards each other but this...

It was ever since Hamlet's death. As though Harry...suspected something.

Claudius mentally shook himself. Harry...suspect something? Why would he? What reason would he have to suspect him? True Harry seemed to hate him now, but that hatred was because of the company takeover, nothing more...surely...

"You didn't know him as I did, Harry," he said at last. Though he guessed it to be foolish he wasn't about to let his nephew have the last word.

"But do you, Claudius? Do you really still mourn him while you sit as his desk?"

"It's not a question of where one mourns," he replied, somewhat icily, meeting Harry's alarmingly studious gaze rigidly as ever. "The fact is that I do and you have no right to accuse me of not doing so."

[hamlet]

Harry twisted his face in disgust at his next comment. Harry didn't know him like he did? No way. That was a joke right? Had to be. Sure the guy might have been his brother but Hamlet was Harry's best friend. Harry idolized his father. And one thing he apparently understood better than Claudius was how to run the company in a way that Hamlet would want. Wasn't that why Hamlet wanted Harry to run it in the first place? Of course it was. But that did not matter now.

"It's not a question of where one mourns. The fact is that I do and you have no right to accuse me of not doing so."

Harry's look of disgust and disdain did not change. A short second of silence passed and Harry could feel an emotion of outrage that he didn't even know he had in him. He knew that Claudius was lying. He had to be. This was not mourning. He didn't know what grief, true grief, really meant. Normally he wouldn't question another's method's of mourning - it wasn't in him to do so. But this, this was something that he couldn't ignore. This was not mourning, Claudius was more like gloating inside. Harry could tell.

And yet with all this outrage bubbling up, Harry felt that he could do nothing about it in this situation. What could he say right now? Nothing. He had figure Claudius out. Was he hiding anything more than what he's already done to piss all over Hamlet's legacy? Harry had to play this smart. As much as he wanted to act, he couldn't just go off of nightmares and dreams he's had. That would be irrational.

"Right. Well," His tone was bitting, and clearly showed that this wasn't him agreeing. Not by a long shot. "If that's all you have to say to me, I'm wasting precious time here while I could be working, or drinking. Or both. Now, if you'd excuse me." He started to get up.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

The look of disgust Harry was shooting him told Claudius everything he needed to know. His nephew didn't believe a word he was saying..and clearly the coment of knowing Hamlet better than he did hadn't helped matters in the slightest.

"Right. Well,"

Harry's tone only served to confirm his expression. Somehow Claudius managed to retain his composure; he couldn't let it show that Harry was on to something when he chose to believe him. But how was he to make him think he was telling the truth when he so clearly suspected something...but what? And how?

This alarmed Claudius more than the current thread of conversation, this notion that Harry suspected him. The continued references to his late brother and his disgust and disbelief at the notion of him mourning...

"If that's all you have to say to me, I'm wasting precious time here while I could be working, or drinking. Or both. Now, if you'd excuse me."

Claudius was almost resigned to letting Hary leave, seeming to realize any attempt to return the discussion to business when it had strayed so quickly to family matters (and deigned to stsay there) would be futile. But then something the younger man said seemed to click into place in his mind.

...while I could be working, or drinking. Or both.

As Harry made to stand up Claudius had half a mind to force him back into his chair. Somehow managing to restrain himself from doing so he got to his feet instead, as though hoping to intimidate him that way instead.

"Drinking, Harry?" he said, tone soft yet clearly furious.

[hamlet]

Harry paused, half way standing, hands still on the arms of the chair, and looked up at Claudius who stood suddenly as well. The younger Chandler's brow was angular in bemusement and he opened his mouth to say something, but instead let the tense pause linger a bit as he finally stood up right. He was taken aback, and it showed. After all, it was pretty startling to have someone snap like that, with a tone that was soft, yet still piercing.

Hearing the furiousness in his tone though, Harry's expression eased into smugness. "Yes. Care to join me?" he asked sarcastically. Perhaps Harry's antics of drunken craziness worried Claudius - worried him about the company's and his own reputation. That could only be a good thing for Harry at least in the long run. Either he would not suspect him when Harry decides to take action, or just the satisfaction of embarrassing Claudius was good enough for him.

Then again, Harry could only guess what Claudius would say to this though. Everything about his demeanor was so hard to crack, and it was very frustrating to Harry. It was like a wall he couldn't get through. Even if there were signs of guilt somewhere, he would have to figure out a way to reveal it plainly. As of now, all he saw was a selfish asshole. Now he had to figure out exactly how selfish he really was.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

At first Harry seemed taken aback at Claudius' actions, and no wonder when he'd somehow kept his cool all through their meeting, only to snap at what must have felt like the last minute.

Claudius inwardly smirked at the look on Harry's face but gave no outward sign of being amused; quite the opposite. Harry's recent drunkne antics, in Claudius' view, were bringing shame to the name of his company (not to mention his own)...this, combined with Harry's slacking off at work was sufficient to make Claudius all the less inclined towards his nephew.

"Yes. Care to join me?"

Claudius raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think, Harry?" he replied, coldly.

[hamlet]

No, it didn't look as if he was too pleased. Good. Since Harry's own reputation at this point meant little to him, the more grief he could bring to Claudius the better. In someway, it was freeing - to not care so much about the things he used to care about. It amazed him how empty he's become recently, if he were to look at it as if he were on the outside looking in. Reputation, honor, even life itself sometimes, lost its meaning. He was no longer burdened by these things yet at the same time, he desperately wanted to be.

Harry sighed exasperated, miffed by Claudius' tone again. "Well in case you haven't noticed, Claudius, I'm way over 21. Underaged drinking doesn't apply to me anymore." Harry said evenly, his expression challenging.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Well in case you haven't noticed, Claudius, I'm way over 21. Underaged drinking doesn't apply to me anymore."

"I am well aware of that, Harry," Claudius replied, staring back at his nephew unwilling to be the first to look away. "However I'm afraid drinking too much does apply to you, if the stories I've been hearing are anything to go by."

Claudius was being rather hypocritical due to his own appreciation of drink, but Harry was taking it a step too far. If this was all some plot to disgrace himself and the company it was going very well.