Fic: Archie Kennedy: The Equivalent Chance 1/1 Horatio Hornblower
Title: Archie Kennedy: The Equivalent Chance By: Lopaka Tanu Fandom: Horatio Hornblower Characters: Horatio, Archie. Disclaimer: I do not claim any ownership of Horatio Hornblower. Prompt: 93 Limited Wordcount: 681 Rating: Adult Summary: In comparison to the new Midshipman, Archie Kennedy feels woefully inadequate. Author's Note: Missing Scene from Duel/Even Chance - AU. ___________________________________________________
"Very good, Mr. Hornblower. Intellectual Giants!" Scrunching his nose, Archie quickly scribbled a chalk outline of one Horatio Hornblower on his slate. Giving it devil horns and a pitch fork, he bisected the cartoon with a slash. There was something quite satisfying about killing a little Horatio Hornblower at the moment.
The thumping of shoes upon the deck startled Archie in to dropping his slate. Quickly checking over his shoulder, he searched out the one who had come to his hiding spot. Shiny black shoes on the stairs alerted him to the fact it wasn't who he had thought and relief ran through him. With the likes of Jack Simpson about, one could never be too secure.
Stopping on the fifth step from the bottom, Horatio turned around and knelt on them. He put a hand up to shield his eyes from the light coming through the hatch. When his eyes had adapted to the lack of sunlight, he blinked in confusion at the boy. "Archie?"
"What is it, Horatio? Am I needed on deck?" Silently, he prayed that Simpson hadn't sent the boy to look for him. After Horatio showing them up earlier during mathematics, things would all fall upon Archie's shoulders, among other places.
Instead of responding, Horatio frowned then slid down the rest of the steps. Coming around them, he bent down and picked up Archie's slate. Examining it, he turned it from side to side. "This isn't a very flattering portrait."
"Of course, you are quite correct. I should have given you ass ears!" Taking back the slate, Archie glared at his bunkmate. Having his caricature found by its subject caused him embarrassment and he sought to hide it with anger.
"I have done something to offend you." Taking back the slate, Horatio set it aside, out of Archie's reach. He wasn't about to let his friend keep this bottled up. If they were to settle it, he would have Archie's full attention. When he had it in the form of another glare, he continued. "What is it that bothers you that I may rectify this matter between us?"
Archie thought on it a minute, considering many replies, but none seemed worth the effort or strife it would cause. To be honest, it was but a slight on his pride, and nothing direct on Horatio's part. He was to blame for his lack of mathematical skill, plain and simple. Besides, that wasn't even the half of what upset him. Heaving a tired sigh, Archie looked down at his feet.
Horatio reached without thinking, cupping Archie's cheek. When the other boy looked upon him in confusion, he let his hand drop. "Please, Archie, you are my friend. Let us talk this out, I know we can settle whatever it is that disturbs your thoughts."
He wanted to warn Horatio, he really wanted to. Despite the futile effort, he longed to just tell him go. There would never come a time when he would get the chance again. If his friend was to get out of this with his soul intact, now was the time.
Horatio was stunned when he was suddenly enveloped in Archie's embrace. The hot breath upon his skin and a gentle press of lips to his fuzzy cheek further served to distract. "Archie..."
"Forgive me." Pulling back from his Judas Kiss, Archie stepped around the confused teenager and climbed the steps. He was a damned coward. Certainly, he should warn the boy about Jack Simpson, but it was futile. Warning or not, Horatio would get what the older man thought he had coming to him. Then, when he had finished taking his misplaced rage out on Horatio, the sick bastard would get his jollies from Archie.
Truly, this was hell.
Horatio pressed a hand to his still warm cheek as he watched Archie trod up the stairs with a dead man's airs. Nothing good could come of this. Despite everything he knew, he could find nothing to warrant the other boy's reactions. With the feeling of having swallowed an eight pounder, Horatio climbed the stairs.