Harboured and Encompassed, Chapter 4 part 1
The saga continues with chapter 4!! Also, Live Journal won't let me post the whole thing here because apparently it's too large a post (this will be especially annoying for later chapters), so I guess I'll split it across 2 posts.
Title: Harboured and Encompassed
Author: BBCPhile
Chapter: 4/25 (to read chapter 1, click here)
Word Count: 3463
Pairing: Horatio Hornblower/Archie Kennedy
AO3 link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/9135700/chapters/21302393
Summary: All Horatio wanted from his internship at the National Maritime Museum’s special collections was some time alone with the Nelson-era naval manuscripts. He didn’t expect to fall in love with one of the library patrons, an exuberant, confident actor about to make his film debut in a Napoleonic naval period piece.
All Archie wanted was to leave the nightmare of RADA and Simpson far behind, and to start preparing for the role that would change his life. The last thing he expected was to fall for an adorably gangly, socially awkward naval history nerd who worked the special collections desk.
But how do you navigate a new relationship when the past won’t stay in the past?
By the time they finally entered the flat, both Horatio and Archie were out of breath, and Archie’s vision was starting to swim.
“Right. Archie, where to now?”
Archie pictured his comfortable bed. Then he pictured the distance between himself and the bedroom. His stomach churned. “Sofa. Living room. Through the kitchen, on the right.”
“Aye aye. Plotting a course for two points starboard.”
Archie glared at him. Horatio looked appropriately chastened.
Maybe that hadn’t been entirely fair. Horatio had just carried him up two flights of stairs. Being compared to a boat was a small price to pay.
“Mind the corner!” he yelped, as Horatio narrowly avoided catching his funny bone against the kitchen counter.
After two other close calls, they reached the living room. Horatio bent his knees and slid Archie down onto the sofa.
“Thank God for whoever invented the sofa,” Archie moaned, closing his eyes and relishing being horizontal again. “Probably the first Earl of Sofa, or some such nonsense.”
“The 4th Earl of Chesterfield for the most iconic design, actually.”
Archie opened his eyes and shot him an incredulous look, but his expression softened immediately. Judging by Horatio’s wide eyes and slightly parted lips, Horatio was equally surprised by that quip. Archie settled for an amused smirk. “Good to know.”
But Horatio continued to stand awkwardly in the living room, his hands clasped behind his back, looking as if he were awaiting orders. Archie decided to put him out of his misery. “You must be exhausted after dragging me all that way: take a seat.”
Horatio hesitated, then shook his head. “You need sleep.”
Archie opened his mouth to agree, but found he didn’t relish the thought of being alone. “It can wait,” he said instead. “Would you like some . . . I don’t know, tea or something? I probably have some in the kitchen.” He struggled to sit up.
Horatio lunged forward, put his hand on Archie’s shoulder, and gently urged him back down on the sofa. “Archie! Lie still! I can get it myself.”
Archie chuckled halfheartedly. “My mother would disown me if she ever found out that I was disgracing the Kennedy name like this. Very well. Kettle should be next to the toaster. Mugs are . . . bugger, where did I put them . . . third cabinet on the right? Tea’s in the canister . . . I think,” he called after Horatio’s retreating form.
Once the silence settled, the sheer absurdity of the situation crashed over Archie. Here he was totally helpless, and yet he’d invited a stranger into his flat for tea. Had his self-preservation instinct finally given up and died after the last two years of overtime? Self-preservation. Hilarious. As if anything had been preserved. What did he have left? Certainly not his pride or sanity. Or his body, so hopelessly broken that it had seizures in response to a phone call--
Archie cut himself off. He’d never stop if he started down that path, and then what sort of company would he be when Horatio returned? He listened to the clinking sounds coming from the kitchen and put his hand in his pocket. He clasped the familiar metal pocket charm tightly and ran his fingers over its surface. He focused on breathing and emptying his mind.
At the sound of footsteps, he pulled his hand out of his pocket and looked up. Horatio returned to the room, glanced around, then sat on the edge of the armchair, his fingers tapping repeatedly against Archie’s Shakespearean insults mug.
Was Horatio nervous? The knots in Archie’s stomach started to unclench at the sight.
The silence stretched on.
Archie took a deep breath and tried to suck up his pride. He knew what he had to say. He only hoped Horatio wouldn’t mind if he did it while staring at the arm of the sofa near his feet. “Thanks. For staying with me, making sure I didn’t crack my skull open, drown in my own sick, or collapse on the streets of Greenwich like some tragic heroine from a Victorian novel. You didn’t have to do any of that, and I appreciate your going out of your way to make sure I survived intact.” He swallowed, then forced his head back up to look at Horatio.
Horatio sat up straighter. “Of course I would help! What kind of monster would abandon someone in that condition?”
Archie’s mind threw up some vivid pictures.
Better to not disabuse Horatio of his belief in the inherent goodness of mankind.
“Anyway,” Archie said with a wry smile, “at least I made your day more memorable. You’re not likely to forget the mouthy fuckwit whose hand you had to hold while he drooled on the library’s floor.”
Horatio blinked. “I didn’t mind. But, Archie, you shouldn’t talk about yourself like that, it’s--”
Archie rolled his eyes. “I’m allowed to insult myself!”
Horatio gave him The Look of Earnestness. “Having epilepsy isn’t something to be ashamed of, Archie. It doesn’t make you--”
“For fuck’s sake, Horatio. I’ve heard it all before. Give it a rest,” Archie interrupted him, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“But--”
Archie groaned. “Very well. Won’t happen again, sir. Better?”
Horatio frowned. “Archie, I didn’t mean to--”
Archie waved his hand and cut him off again. “I know, I know.”
What the hell was he doing? He’d invited Horatio in to chat, not to grouch at him. Maybe he could still salvage this interaction, if not the friendship.
“Didn’t mean to take your head off,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Seizures make me cranky sometimes. Let’s just talk about something else.”
Horatio opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and nodded. “Alright,” he said instead, “tell me about the film you’re going to appear in! Who’s your character? What’s the plot? Or is that top secret?”
Archie’s stomach plummeted. Ah yes, the production. That damn phone call had ruined everything. How could he possibly explain to the director why he wanted to quit? Excuse me, but I’d rather not be on the set with my rapist. I’d prefer to avoid having a panic attack or a seizure on camera. Keene was right: he’d be tainted. Acting was all he had. He’d rather die than let that Simpson take his career, too.
“Archie? Archie, are you alright?”
Archie blinked and looked up. Horatio was half out of his seat and looked ready to vault the coffee table to rush to his side. So much for convincing Horatio he was on the mend. Or good friend material.
“At ease, lieutenant. Just felt rather unwell there for a moment.” That should buy him at least a few moments to pull himself together.
Horatio was still frowning. “What can I do?”
Archie tried to smile. “Quite the man of action, aren’t you? Nothing, unfortunately. It’ll pass. Now, where were we? Ah, right. The movie.” He took a deep breath. “Well, I play Second Lieutenant James Griffiths, a--”
“You’re in the WORTHING CHRONICLES!!!?”
Archie winced at the volume. But at least distracting Horatio had proved easier than he’d anticipated. “Know them, do you?” He attempted his cocky grin.
Horatio was practically vibrating with excitement. “Archie, that’s wonderful! James Griffiths is a fascinating character! His courage, his humanity, his unwavering devotion to Algy! And Algernon Worthing is such an inspiring captain: so decisive and inventive! The way he puts out the fire in the hold? And then spins the ship around to fire on the Spanish fleet? Absolutely brilliant!”
Archie chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it. I’ve only read the script, not the books.”
Horatio hesitated, then began fidgeting with his hands. “I . . . erm, I have the first few volumes in my flat: would you like to borrow them? I could bring them to the library tomorrow.”
Archie nodded. “I’d like that,” he said with a smile.
Horatio’s grin came back full force, and Archie fought hard to keep from blushing. For goodness sake, Archie. Pull yourself together. They’re books, not roses!
Suddenly, Horatio snapped to attention. “Archie, what are you going to do about dinner?”
Archie shrugged. “Sleep until morning and get some breakfast then?”
Horatio frowned. “Don’t you need food for your seizure medication to work?”
Archie rolled his eyes. “Yes, because it’s working so beautifully now.”
Horatio’s frown deepened. Archie felt a sudden, surprising urge to make the frown disappear.
“Alright, Horatio,” Archie sighed. “What do you suggest?”
Horatio tapped his index finger against his lower lip as he pondered the question. “Japanese food?”
It didn't sound absolutely revolting. “We could try?”
“Excellent!” Horatio said as he pulled out his phone and tapped at it. “Yama Momo is the closest option. I’ll go pick it up.” He paused. “Oh. The front door. Should I leave it unlocked?”
Archie reached into his back pocket for his keys. This day was becoming more and more surreal. “Lock it behind you. Let yourself in. It’s the bronze-coloured key.” He dropped the entire keyring in Horatio’s hand. Might as well go all in .
Horatio stared at the keys in his palm as though they held the mysteries of the universe. “Right,” he said after a stunned pause. “Er, right! I’ll . . . be right back. With food. For us.” With that, he turned, almost tripped over the coffee table, and disappeared around the corner into the kitchen. The front door closed with a click, and Archie was alone again.
Archie stared at the spot where Horatio had been. Why was Horatio helping? Why did he care? Had he really just made a friend despite having a seizure? None of this made any sense. Maybe it would all be clearer after a nap? He closed his eyes and let himself drift off.