Title: Foreign Soil
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 7: the elements

He watched the spark burning its way across the ground and then he was moving, racing against the fire, his heels kicking up dust as they pounded against stone and hard packed earth. He slid to Horatio's side where he knelt in the dirt, tears staining his cheeks and the ground before him.

"C'mon," he urged. A word, a touch.

And then they were moving, racing against the fire and heat that exploded at their backs, showering them with dust and stones and clumps of hard packed earth.

Perhaps they would not die on foreign soil. At least not yet.

Title: Old Wounds
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Rating: PG-13 (for implication)
Notes: Response to challenge #8: scars

Archie traced the old wound, his touch curious but infinitely gentle. The skin was rough beneath his fingers, puckered and ragged where the flesh had knitted itself together. At its center was a small patch of skin, pink and smooth, that marked the passage of the pistol ball.

"This is where he shot you," Archie whispered against his shoulder.

"Yes."

"It healed well," he said as fingertips gave way to the warm press of lips.

Horatio did not speak of the other scars, the ones that Archie could not see. There was no need; those too, had healed at last.

Title: A Man in Uniform
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/surprise
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 9: "Clothing makes the man"

Horatio felt hands tracing the line of his shoulders, the length of his arm. The touch was gentle yet firm, with an assurance that bespoke considerable experience. Fingers tugged almost playfully at his cuffs, before they slid upwards and trailed along his collar and ghosted against his nape.

Horatio shivered at the unexpected touch.

"Very nice," a smug voice announced from behind his shoulder. Horatio turned.

"That'll be eleven pounds, four shillings," the tailor announced then paused. "Hmm...we could replace the silver buckles with pinchbeck. That'll make it...eleven pounds even."

Horatio smiled and admired his new uniform in the glass.

Title: Helping Hands
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge # 9: "Clothing makes the man"

"Ow! Dammit, Horatio! Be careful! You're pulling too hard on it! You're cutting off my circulation!"

"Sorry, Archie!"

"I have need of that you know! It's not like I can just magically acquire another one!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"Well, there's no need to yank on it. Just tug, gently. It requires a slow, patient touch."

"Like this?"

"Oh yes, that's much better!"

"I think I've got it now, Archie!"

"Just a bit more..."

"There!"

"Finally! Horatio?"

"Hm?"

"Remind me to ask for Mr. Bracegirdle's assistance the next time I get a knot stuck in my stock, will you?"

Title: Traditions
Characters/Pairing: Horatio and Archie
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 9: "Clothing makes the man"

"Hold still," Horatio said as he carefully tied the stock around Archie's throat. "You wouldn't want me to strangle you, now would you?"

"It might be a blessing."

"Archie," he chastised.

"I'm sorry, Horatio. I'm just nervous."

Horatio smiled softly. "You've no reason to be nervous, Archie. You'll do fine."

Archie looked unconvinced.

"You know," Horatio said, tucking the ends of the stock inside Archie's waistcoat. "Lieutenant Bracegirdle did this for me before my examination. I believe it brought me luck."

"Well, let's hope the tradition holds."

"It will, soon to be Lieutenant Kennedy."

Archie smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant Hornblower."

Title: The Toll of the Bell
Characters/Pairing: Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge #10: Significant event

The sound of the bells startled Archie from his reverie and for one moment he stood dumbly, wondering how they´d known about Henry´s death. A man rushed past, colliding with Archie in his haste.

“What is it? What´s going on?’

The man gave him a fierce grin. “The Frenchies went an´ killed their king! It´s war, certain sure!’

The man ran off leaving Archie to stare after him in bemusement. It couldn´t be. How could they kill their king? Then his final words sunk in: war.

And in that moment Archie´s grief abated and was replaced by desperate, impossible hope.

Title: Expectations
Characters/Pairing: Horatio, Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge #10: Significant event

He hadn´t expected there to be so much blood.

Rationally he knew he should have expected it. They were fighting a war. It was inevitable that men would be killed and wounded in due course.

But he hadn´t expected it to be like this.

He hadn´t expected Williams´ leg to be blown off by cannon fire, hadn´t expected to see his life blood seeping from his body, slicking the deck and turning the planks crimson.

And then Archie was there, eyes alight, his face spattered with gore as he recounted the victory. Horatio, however, merely felt numb.

So much blood.

Title: Sweetness
Characters/Pairing: Horatio, Archie
Rating: R (for implication)
Notes: Response to challenge #11: Drunken confessions

Horatio stumbled across the threshold, almost losing his precarious grip on Archie who was a drunken, dead weight draped against his side. He maneuvered them over to the bed and tried to lower Archie down gently, but Archie´s hand tightened in his jacket and Horatio tumbled to the bed as well.

“´Ratio,’ Archie slurred, his breath heavy with the scent of ale. “You´re so good t´me.’

“Yes, Archie,’ Horatio replied, placing a soft kiss upon Archie´s brow.

Archie smiled sweetly. “So gentle, ‘Ratio. Not like Jack.’

Archie drifted off then but it was a long time before Horatio joined him.

Title: Never
Characters/Pairing: Horatio, Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge #11: Drunken confessions

“Never?’

Horatio mumbled his response into his tankard hoping to avoid any further discussion, but when he looked up again Archie was gazing at him in astonishment, eyes wide, cheeks flushed from drink.

“Horatio?’

“Never,’ Horatio admitted.

“You´ve never been kissed?’

Horatio´s cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “No. Never.’

With a suddenness that took Horatio completely by surprise, Archie leaned across the table and pressed his lips against Horatio´s. The movement was clumsy but Archie´s mouth was unbearably sweet and Horatio simply melted.

When they pulled apart it was Horatio´s turn to look astonished. “Now you have,’ Archie said, smiling fondly.

Title: Aeoleus
Characters/Pairing: Archie
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge #16: music

As a boy, he´d had an Irish nurse who had told him of Aeolian harps she´d heard as a girl in Killarney.

‘Tis the prettiest sound ye´ll ever hear. Like the sound of angels callin´ ye home.’

She had promised to show him one someday, but then childhood ended abruptly, replaced by a manhood that left no room for childish fancies.

He´d not thought of her in years, but now as he stood on the deck of the Indy and heard the wind in the rigging, he recognized it as the sound of the angels calling him home, and smiled.

Title: Tutorial
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge # 19: Life lessons

“No, Archie, that isn´t quite right.’

Horatio reached over and rubbed out the figure Archie had just written on the slate. No surprise there. Try as he might, Archie could not concentrate, not with Horatio seated next to him on the sea chest, their bodies pressed close one against the other.

Horatio picked up the chalk and ran the numbers again. He gave Archie an encouraging smile as he returned the chalk. His fingers were warm where they lingered unexpectedly against Archie´s own. Their eyes met. Archie smiled back shyly.

Archie hated mathematics, but instruction apparently brought its own rewards.

Title: Longing
Characters/Pairing: Archie
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 26: purchase

The volume was small and slim and fit neatly in the palm of his hand. Its binding was supple beneath his fingertips and it carried a faint, musty smell that reminded him of happier times.

He´d had a volume of Donne´s sonnets once, when he´d first boarded Justinian, but it was long since gone. He tried not to dwell upon its loss.

He cradled the book reverently a few moments longer then sighed wistfully as he returned it to the shelf. He exited the book seller´s shop without a backward glance. After all, he thought, what was one more regret?

Title: An Officer in Uniform
Characters/Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Rating: R (for implied naughtiness)
Notes: Response to challenge # 30: reflections

Archie admired his reflection in the glass once more.

"Such vanity is most unbecoming in an officer."

Archie snorted, eyeing Horatio´s reflection at his shoulder. "You can pretend that you did not strut like a fighting cock when you got your new uniform, Horatio, but I know better."

Horatio flushed at the barb. His embarrassment was fleeting, however. He caught Archie´s gaze in the glass.

"There is only one thing more appealing than an officer in his new uniform, Mr. Kennedy."

"And that is?"

"An officer out of his new uniform, of course."

Archie smiled his agreement at Horatio´s reflection.

Title: Artifice
Characters/Pairing: Kitty Cobham
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 30: reflections

Kitty regarded her reflection and sighed. Powder could not entirely mask the fine creases around her eyes nor could candlelight truly emulate the blush of youth.

Her days of playing the ingénue were over, she knew. No more for her the willful Hermia, nor the guileless Miranda. It was of no consequence. She could no longer play the gentle maid, true enough, but the shrew was not beyond her skill.

Straightening her shoulders, she adopted her most engaging smile and went forth to charm her audience of a night.

"Sir Hew, Lady Dalrymple, it's kind of you to invite me."

Title: Flint
Characters/Pairing: Horatio and Styles
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge # 36: The Bible. Spoilers for "Loyalty"

Hornblower stood on the quarterdeck and watched as Styles was lashed to the gratings. He disliked flogging and it pained him to inflict such punishment on Styles of all men. Styles, who'd stood faithfully by him for years...

He had no choice. Tending the galley fire was Styles' responsibility. If the fire had spread, the Hotspur would have gone up in flames. There was no choice. Duty demanded it; the Articles required it.

Therefore have I set my face like a flint, he reminded himself.

Hornblower stood on the quarterdeck and did not flinch as the cat began its work.

Isaiah 50:7 "For the Lord God shall help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

Title: Indecent Proposal
Characters/Pairing: Archie/Edrington
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Response to challenge # 40: repent,struggle,hastily,key

"What is this?" Archie asked, staring at the item that Edrington pressed into his hand.

"I would have thought it obvious. It´s the key to my bedroom."

"My Lord, I..."

Edrington placed a finger against his lips. "Do not refuse so hastily. My earlier overtures were...impulsive. I see that now and fully repent my rash acts.

"Forgive me?" Edrington´s voice was as gentle as the brush of his fingers against Archie´s cheek.

A struggle raged briefly within him before a calm certainty took hold. Holding Edrington´s gaze, Archie raised the key to his lips in benediction. And invitation.

"You´re forgiven."

Title: Commemoration I
Characters/Pairing: Pellew
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge # 46: anniversary. Pendant to "Commemoration II"

Captain Sir Edward Pellew did not consider himself a sentimental man, nor was he one given to displays of hubris. He was, he believed, a serious man, punctilious in matters of duty and naval protocol. Temperance, humility and above all a deep devotion to king and country, were cardinal virtues in Pellew´s eyes and he did his best to foster these traits among his officers and men, as much as was possible.

He was, however, also a pragmatic man who recognized the need to celebrate one´s victories on occasion. Such commemorations were good for ship´s moral in general; moreover, they served as handsome models for future endeavors. A man who had tasted victory would wish to drink of that heady brew again. It was therefore advantageous to remind them of their triumphs from time to time.

And so it was that on the evening of January 14, 1798, in commemoration of the victory against the French 74, Les Droits de l´Homme, Captain Sir Edward Pellew hosted a dinner in the great cabin for his officers of uncommon quality. The men had been accorded an extra ration of rum and the cook had been instructed to prepare figgy-dowdy, though it was not Sunday. Had their provisions been fresher, something more elaborate might have been contrived; still, the men were fond of pudding—and even fonder of rum--and a palpable sense of well being had pervaded the ship throughout the day as the men looked forward to their own celebrations below decks.

It was a fine evening. His steward had outdone himself and had arranged a handsome repast in spite of dwindling stores. The wine had been plentiful, the port excellent and as he gazed around the table at the shining faces of his officers, Pellew was well pleased. Well pleased indeed.

Title: Commemoration II
Characters/Pairing: Archie
Rating: PG
Notes: Response to challenge # 46: anniversary. Pendant to "Commemoration I"

The port was passed around the table again and a new round of toasts, more boisterous than those that preceded, followed in its wake. The evening had been a agreeable one. The meal had been better than any Archie had eaten in weeks and the wine, of which he had taken his fair share, of an excellent vintage. A pleasant languor suffused his body as Archie sat back to enjoy the company of his fellow officers.

The sense of well being began to fade when the toasts began and talk inevitably turned to the battle they had come to commemorate. As the port flowed, they spoke of the chase, of the heat and smoke of the guns, of the steadfastness of the Amazon, of the skill of the Indefatigables. Their words painted a vibrant picture of danger, of desperation and above all, of dedication to duty. Archie almost felt as if he had been there himself. Almost.

Horatio rose and swayed where he stood like rigging in a stiff breeze. His cheeks were flushed as he raised his glass and offered up another toast that was received with a great roar of approval. Archie did not hear the words, but he drunk dutifully, wanting to be a part of this company, but knowing this victory was not his and never would be. There had been no hunt by moonlight, no blazing guns for Archie that fateful night, only cold damp stone closing in around him, suffocating him. There was no victory, only the longing for sweet oblivion that remained as unattainable as the moon glimpsed through metal bars overhead.

As the next toast was called, Archie raised his glass and smiled his brittle smile and let himself pretend, if only for a time, that this triumph was his as well.

Title: Childish Enthusiasms
Characters/Pairing: Archie
Rating: G
Notes: Response to challenge # 54: pirates

Lady Kennedy watched with indulgent eyes as her two youngest raced squealing and giggling about the nursery.

“And what have we here?’ she asked, bringing their game to an abrupt halt. Caroline´s eyes went wide, but she could not see Archie´s eyes, hidden by the kerchief tied crookedly about his head.

“I´m a pirate!’ Archie declared.

“Pirates are very bad people, Archie.’

He frowned then brightened. “Then I shall be a captain in the Navy! Just like Uncle Henry!’

Lady Kennedy´s smile wavered momentarily then steadied. Just a childish enthusiasm, she reminded herself. He´ll outgrow it like all the others.

Title: Sightlines
Characters/Pairing: Archie, Horatio, Edrington
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Response to challenge #66: temptation

Archie stood, hand poised above the doorknob and hesitated.

He´d felt the other man´s eyes upon him all evening. More than once Archie had turned to encounter that gaze, coolly assessing, a hint of challenge just beneath. He was no naïf; Archie knew well what those looks portended.

He hesitated.

Archie´s gaze had sought strength in another´s eyes, but they only skittered away, refusing to meet his.

Still he hesitated.

Squaring his shoulders, Archie turned the knob and stepped inside. Brown eyes met his.

“Mr. Kennedy. I was hoping you´d join me.’

“My Lord.’

Archie closed the door behind him

Title: Butter
Characters/Pairing: Archie/Edrington
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Response to the butter challenge at one_hot_lobster

Kennedy is a wanton creature.

I watch as he slathers his scone with butter before raising it to his lips. His eyes snare mine as he bites heartily into the pastry, leaving crumbs and a trail of melted butter around that pretty mouth in its wake. Then, with deliberate slowness, his tongue slithers out to slide along his lips, shamelessly licking them clean.

Challenge or invitation?

"More butter, Milord?" There is a glint of mischief in his eyes as he holds my gaze and his smile is wicked enough to make another man blush.

I believe I have my answer.