(Untitled)

[stoicsidekick]

If Bush had thought he needed a drink right after arriving on the thrice-damned Renown, he definitely needed one after his conversation with Hornblower. He would have preferred something stronger than the weak claret they had aboard ship, too. But Bush had always been good at settling for what was available. Alone once again in the wardroom, he

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[usethecompany]

Unsurprisingly perhaps, Archie had been doing his best to make good of a terrible situation. Sawyer had to be avoided, and for all intents and purposes Buckland as well, but he could not idle away his hours. He was, after all, a lieutenant in His Britannic Majesty's navy. At least once again he was, and for the time being. And, though the Dawn Treader was a bright and stalwart little ship, nothing could compare to cutting through open water, full sail, on the desk of a 74 gun ship of the line, not after more than a year of being landed and curtailed by currents and winds.

Often times Archie thought people mistook his optimistic demeanor as a sign of stupidity. In fact, he suspected Bush thought less of him for every smile when they had first run into each other. But he was no fool. The situation they found themselves in was most certainly dangerous, but it was the glances shared between William and Horatio that nagged at him. They were nowhere near Denmark, and yet something still smelled rotten.

But perhaps that's just

[stoicsidekick]

For all his dark mood, Bush relaxed slightly as Archie came into the wardroom, something of the tension going out of his shoulders. His fears might center on what could very well happen to this man, but that did not change the effect that Archie's smile had on him. "Quiet as a tomb," he said. "All's well on deck?"

[usethecompany]

"Miraculously, we remain afloat," Archie answered. He did not trouble himself with expanding beyond that response. Instead he strode purposefully and quickly to William's side. Cupping his cheek, Archie tilted William's face towards him and up so he might kiss him. Just a quick thing, but after spending half the day knowing he shouldn't kiss William, it made Archie want to do so all the more.

[stoicsidekick]

"Remarkable. Mmm..." Though Archie had always had a spontaneous nature, the kiss surprised him. Even though they were alone, such behavior was dangerous. All the same, he caught Archie's wrist and smiled. "You've shown great restraint today, Mr. Kennedy."

[usethecompany]

It was, truly, very dangerous. Brief dream though this was, Archie doubted that Buckland would accept its imminent end as a reason not to execute them for sodomy. Sawyer or Hobbs would certainly jump at the chance. Still, he couldn't resist taking the chance, and being rewarded with William's smile made the risk well worth it.

"Not nearly so much as you, Mr. Bush," Archie replied. In all fondness and teasing spirit, he continued, "I'd wager you haven't thought of me once since this morning."

[stoicsidekick]

"Not so fast. You've got an awful habit of underestimating me, have I mentioned that recently?" In reality, Bush had thought about little else during the day. And while some of those thoughts had been in fear, they hadn't been all bad. Somewhat ironically, keeping Archie at an arm's length had only caused him to stay at the forefront of his mind.

He glanced towards their cabins. "We're alone now."

[usethecompany]

"Perhaps I'm just trying to force a compliment or five out of you," Archie teased, grinning brightly. This was really the dangerous thing: with William, he forgot the rest of the ship and all else going on around them. He only had eyes for him.

And, just then, he had eyes for a glance at the cabins. "You want to risk it?" Archie asked, a shade incredulous, but the gleam in his eye said he was all for it.

[stoicsidekick]

Bush snorted softly. "Perhaps you should try harder." He then hesitated, consider the risk now before them. Even with circumstances such as they were, there was no small danger in what they were both now thinking. On top of the numerous dangers already in front of it, it was madness.

Nevertheless, a small grin grew on Bush's face. In this regard, danger had a certain appeal. "I'm willing to chance it if you are."

[usethecompany]

Archie considered him quietly for moment, his surprise that William Bush would agree to such a thing so easily lingering. Ducking away into a corner was one thing, but their situation was precarious at best. Archie had thought he was in for a bit more cajoling before William would capitulate. Perhaps he had had more wine than Archie assumed.

He leaned in for another kiss, then pulled at William by means of the hand he had on Archie's wrist. "Well hop to, sir. We must be quick about it."

[stoicsidekick]

Perhaps it was the circumstances. The world had turned upside-down overnight and very real danger lurked around the corner. Could William really be blamed for wanting one good thing to happen that day? And taking Archie into his cabin would be unquestionably a good thing.

"Aye aye, Mr. Kennedy." He stood and kissed Archie lingeringly - more lingeringly than was safe - then, with a smirk, turned and went to his cabin without another word.

[usethecompany]

Far more than safe, but some kind of thrill did exist at the prospect of being caught. Not actually caught, as the consequences would be much too dire, but, if one did not dwell too deeply on it, there was a sense of adventure and rebellion to engaging in illicit acts that had, unfortunately, long appealed to Archie.

He cast a parting glance over his shoulder, just to see that no one entered the room as they left it, and followed after William, shutting the door behind them. "This really is mad," he remarked, but the grin on his face and the fact that he was shrugging out of his jacket quickly as he said it proved that Archie did not think 'mad' in this case to be antonymous with 'good'.

[stoicsidekick]

"That doesn't seem to be troubling you very much," William observed with a smirk. He tugged Archie's neckcloth loose as he stood in front of him. Mad it might be, but the circumstances gave him a certain thrill. He had imagined circumstances like this once, secretly, though at the time he had assumed he would never see the inside of a real ship again, let alone with Archie. "Haven't seen you in uniform in quite some time, you know..."

[usethecompany]

His eyebrows lifted, forming a playful expression, as deft fingers slipped between layers of fabric to push back, unbutton, untie and generally go about the business of divesting William of his clothing as efficiently as possible. "You'd prefer to see me in one than out of it?" he queried innocently.

[stoicsidekick]

"Mm, if I have to answer that question, I am doing something very wrong," William deadpanned with a smirk. He tugged Archie's shirt untucked and ran his hands under it. "I was only pointing out the novelty..."

[usethecompany]

"Oh, the novelty," Archie echoed, amused even as he pressed into William's touch. "So you've grown tired of me?" He pushed his hands through William's hair, thoroughly upsetting his queue and drawing him in for another kiss. "Same old, humdrum Archie," he murmured against his mouth. "However do you manage?"

[stoicsidekick]

William's chuckle disappeared against Archie's lips. "I manage, one way or another," he murmured in return. He took the few steps necessary to press Archie back against the small desk in the cabin's corner. "Remarkable, really, the things I put up with..."