Fanfiction: Horatio Hornblower (PG)

Title: Greek Myths
Pairing/Characters: Archie Kennedy, Horatio Hornblower
Rating: PG
Fandom: Horatio Hornblower
Word Count: 886
Spoilers: Set between The Wrong War [The Frogs and Lobsters] and Mutiny
Summary: Horatio likes Greek mythology?
Notes/Warnings: Inspired by the fact that Archie has been compared to Ganymede on many occasions and the fact that Horatio was likened to Jove in Reunited


Greek Myths
"What are you reading, Horatio?" Archie Kennedy asked, blowing on his cold fingers to warm them as he entered the lieutenants' berth, having already abandoned his cloak and hat.

The lieutenant addressed by Mr. Kennedy jumped and, his cheeks and neck flushing guiltily, tried to stuff the book that had absorbed his attention so completely under his blanket. "Ah, it's nothing, Archie, simply some light reading."

"Light reading my arse," Archie retorted lightly, pressing his freezing cold fingers to Mr. Hornblower's very warm neck. Horatio yelped, surprised, and swatted Archie's hand away. This was sufficient distraction to allow Archie to snatch up the half-hidden book. "Let's see what Mr. Hornblower found so intriguing."

"Archie, you shouldn't be reading other people's books." Horatio tried to snatch the book back, but Archie danced back out of reach, his blue eyes sparkling merrily.

As Horatio attempted to disentangle himself from his hammock without ending up in an undignified heap on the deck, Archie managed to read the title stamped on the spine. "Greek Mythology. I didn't know you like their mythology."

"My tutor thought it would help me learn the language better if I read their myths in Greek, as well as Euclid." Horatio didn't quite meet Archie's eyes as he brushed himself off.

Archie raised an eyebrow, dodging Horatio as he attempted to retrieve his book again. "You don't need the help anymore, though, so what's the point in keeping them?"

"I happen to like the myths," retorted the taller of the two, using his longer reach to finally snatch back his book. "Is that such a surprise?"

Archie raised a gold-russet eyebrow, grinning puckishly. "Actually, it is. I thought the only Greeks you cared about were Euclid, Thucydides, and the other scholars?"

"Well, you were wrong, weren't you?" Horatio's reply was laden with annoyance as he turned to carefully tuck the book into his sea chest.

Archie watched him for several moments before sighing and kneeling beside him on the deck. "I'm sorry if I've upset you, 'Ratio. I didn't mean to."

Horatio didn't answer for several moments, fussing unnecessarily with the contents of his sea chest before closing it and looking at his friend, the corners of his lovely mouth just barely curving upwards. "I really should learn not to be so sensitive to teasing."

"Especially since you somehow managed to find yourself in love with me." The puckish grin reappeared as Archie leaned forward to kiss the tip of Horatio's long nose.

Horatio's warning, when it came, lacked any real authority. "You shouldn't do that here, Archie."

"There's no one else around, 'Ratio," murmured Archie reassuringly. "Mr. Bracegirdle is on watch right now and everyone else is bundled up out of this godforsaken cold."

Nevertheless, Horatio rose swiftly to his feet and moved away from the acting lieutenant. "We still shouldn't, Archie. We're on the ship."

"All right." Archie huffed a sigh and sat down on his own sea chest to remove his boots. They proved to be recalcitrant and refused to be removed, causing their owner to curse under his breath. Another pair of hands, slender with long fingers, batted away Archie's strong, square ones with their dusting of russet-gold hair on the backs, and tugged at first one boot, and then the other until they came off. Archie wriggled his toes in their stockings with a sigh of relief; only to jump when those same slender hands proceeded to remove them, too. "You're not helping me restrain myself, 'Ratio."

Big brown eyes framed by long, dark lashes rose to meet Archie's bright blue ones framed by their spiky russet-gold lashes. Horatio's voice, when he finally answered, was low and thoughtful as he rubbed Archie's lower legs, stimulating the blood flow. "When you came bouncing up to me after our first battle, waving your sword and spattered with blood, I realized why Zeus would have been tempted by Ganymede."

"I beg your pardon?" Archie stared down at Horatio; warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with being in out of the elements at last.

Horatio's cheeks turned a most fetching shade of pink and he ducked his head. "Ever since I first read the story of Zeus and Ganymede, I wondered why he would want a boy to be his cupbearer, why he would be tempted in the first place. Then you came bouncing up to me like a puppy after our first action and I understood."

"Are you trying to pay me a compliment, 'Ratio?" his voice was bemused, but he asked in all seriousness, touched by the sentiment in Horatio's words.

A nod and a shy smile accompanied the answer, "Yes, I am, actually. Every time I read about Ganymede now, I picture you."

"Oh, 'Ratio." Touched beyond measure, Archie leaned forward to kiss the love of his life with lips full of love. For once, Horatio didn't resist. He simply accepted the kiss and returned it in kind. They stayed that way for several moments, giving and receiving kisses until the need for air broke them apart. While catching his breath, Archie couldn't resist asking, "If I'm Ganymede, does that make you Zeus?"

Another blush suffused Horatio's cheeks and he seemed to decide that kissing Archie was a better answer than anything he could have said.

End