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Maybe he isn’t meant to be as upset as he is.
Archie isn’t sure, because he thought he and Horatio had had something particularly special, but the other young man had still gone and romances (in a sense) the young woman that had died on the bridge. And Horatio hadn’t been particularly paying attention to him even once they’d landed in France, and he’d not been acting as upset as Archie thought he might by the way Edrington had started (rather brazenly, if in the quiet way all men of their ilk knew how) flirting. So it’s easy for his mind to assume that this is Horatio’s way of telling him it was over and time to move on.
It’s just he thought Horatio would be clearer about that sort of thing, and so much of the problem could just be characteristic of Horatio’s preoccupation with the rest of what he needs to work.
So Archie’s being careful about his approach, if entirely uncertain. He’s approaching Horatio one night while he’s brooding and settling next to him in companionable silence.
Breaking it is a hesitant yet somewhat abrupt thing.
”Major Edrington was— wondering if I’d any plans for our shore leave.” A long, uncertain pause, “I wasn’t— certain what to tell him.”
Archie isn’t sure, because he thought he and Horatio had had something particularly special, but the other young man had still gone and romances (in a sense) the young woman that had died on the bridge. And Horatio hadn’t been particularly paying attention to him even once they’d landed in France, and he’d not been acting as upset as Archie thought he might by the way Edrington had started (rather brazenly, if in the quiet way all men of their ilk knew how) flirting. So it’s easy for his mind to assume that this is Horatio’s way of telling him it was over and time to move on.
It’s just he thought Horatio would be clearer about that sort of thing, and so much of the problem could just be characteristic of Horatio’s preoccupation with the rest of what he needs to work.
So Archie’s being careful about his approach, if entirely uncertain. He’s approaching Horatio one night while he’s brooding and settling next to him in companionable silence.
Breaking it is a hesitant yet somewhat abrupt thing.
”Major Edrington was— wondering if I’d any plans for our shore leave.” A long, uncertain pause, “I wasn’t— certain what to tell him.”
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And he's never quite said it. He's never quite believed it wouldn't throw them out of balance.
he just really needs to hear an “ilu” and it makes me sad
He almost asks Horatio to tell him how he feels. He almost makes the man confess what he’s clearly uncomfortable with saying.
Archie’s mouth snaps abruptly shut, his cheeks reddening slightly in embarrassment.
“...Never mind. Thank you.”
they came so close and yet
"What's-- to thank me for, Archie?"
when will they use their words
And for letting him lean his cheek into his hand quietly.
in 2018??
And here, now, hopefully the near-constant impulse to press their foreheads together can be indulged in as a truth as well.
"It doesn't change or go away. It just-- is."
perhaps????
"'m-- glad to hear it."
/shrugs into the night
It brings the shadow of a smile back to the edges of Horatio's lips, one hand shifting to catch a light grip on the front of the other man's shirt.
"That's how this... is for me, Archie."