Archie leaned against the railing with a placid smile on his face and looked out into
the setting sun. The sky seemed on fire with a bright orange glow. Behind him, pinks
purples shaped the clouds with such soft strokes that it seemed as if God were painting
them right then and there. The falling blue lay far behind.
He had never felt so free. He no longer had to dread the terrors of night. No longer had
to tiptoe about the day noting doorways he could duck into or fellow officers he could
blend in with should he suddenly appear...the nightmare himself. Even now he could hardly
think of the name Jack Simpson without shuddering but he no longer had to put his head
down in shame. It had been forever since his last fit and though he knew he still had to
be careful, his confidence was gaining with every mission and he was advancing right along
with Horatio. His heart squeezed at the very thought of the name and he laughed at his own
giddiness. Above all else, the best thing to happen to him this lover of the body, mind,
and spirit. Granted they were in the middle of a war and death lay at every corner but
Archie chose not to think about that lest it might come true. Instead, he reveled at the
beauty that was Horatio Hornblower in battle, in command, in his arms. "In action how
like an angel / In apprehension how like a God..." he sighed.
"Are you okay?" The break of silence made Archie jump and he turned to find his
beloved.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"A while..." Archie turned back at the glorious waves of fire overhead.
"It is a beautiful sunset isn't it?" Horatio followed Archie's eyes to
take in their surroundings.
"Mmm...yes...but I was staring at you." Archie's heart squeezed again and he
became speechless. Horatio's warm words could still overwhelm and as quick-witted as
Archie was, he could never compose himself enough to respond and so he would just remain
silent.
"Are you okay?" Horatio repeated a bit worried.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just contemplating the sunset..." Horatio joined him leaning
against the railing. Their shoulders touched and his hand rested on Kennedy's arm.
"Horatio...do you remember Eccleston and Chadd?"
"Yes, of course I do."
"I envied them so much." The words were said so matter-of-factly that Horatio
knew Archie was about to reveal a hidden memory and so he stayed quiet and just let Archie
talk.
"At first I was repulsed by how closely they stood together" he continued.
" I even detested Eccleston for a while because I was so sure Chadd was just playing
along...perhaps trying to make it easier..."
Horatio let silence reign as Archie came to grips with these memories. Finally, he asked:
"What changed your view of them?"
"One day I was sent to a storage room for...something or other and I heard footsteps
outside. I thought it was Simpson and I panicked sure he had followed me down. I quickly
hid behind a large box and held my breath. Instead of Simpson, two people entered and
bolted the door behind them...it was Eccleston and Chadd.
"They didn't say a word to each other...merely held their arms about each other and
stared into each others eyes. I thought...'okay, here it comes' and froze even more at the
indecision between trying to help Chadd or not should Eccleston try to do anything. Then
all of a sudden, Chadd said ' Robert, I love you." Just like that and my heart
broke...it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Better than any play I had ever
seen. I felt so guilty for being there...unworthy for such words to ever cross my path.
Then I despised them both. How was it that they found each other and I ended up with
Simpson?"
Horatio winced at the bitter tone. How long would Simpson keep hold of his Archie?
"When I found out they had died together...I was grateful. That was how it should
have been..." Horatio put his arms around Kennedy and they both stared at the graying
sky. Suddenly, Archie turned to look at him:
"I love you, Horatio." It was Horatio's turn to become speechless for it was the
first time Archie had said it. His voice caught in his throat and in the silence between
that word and the next, time stood still for both of them.