Horatio has been held before, in theory. He's been tugged roughly against another body. He's had an arm slung absently over him in a small space. He's been dragged back from a fray with arms clenching his own tight. He's let someone he trusted settle in snug under his chin and cling in utter exhaustion.
The fabric of William's coat is rough against his cheek but comfortingly familiar. What's new is the sensation of being held tight, strong arms taut with an emotion he can't quite place. What's fascinating is the unfamiliar cocktail of emotions bubbling through his entire being at the soft kiss pressed to his hair and the awareness that Archie is sweeping in close.
He should say something. He should have some awareness, at all, of what needs to be said in a moment like this.
"--a-all right."
It's not that. It's definitely not that.
But it's what Horatio has, other than a painfully tight grip on the back of William's coat and a hand scrambling to find similar purchase on Archie.
no subject
Horatio has been held before, in theory. He's been tugged roughly against another body. He's had an arm slung absently over him in a small space. He's been dragged back from a fray with arms clenching his own tight. He's let someone he trusted settle in snug under his chin and cling in utter exhaustion.
The fabric of William's coat is rough against his cheek but comfortingly familiar. What's new is the sensation of being held tight, strong arms taut with an emotion he can't quite place. What's fascinating is the unfamiliar cocktail of emotions bubbling through his entire being at the soft kiss pressed to his hair and the awareness that Archie is sweeping in close.
He should say something. He should have some awareness, at all, of what needs to be said in a moment like this.
"--a-all right."
It's not that. It's definitely not that.
But it's what Horatio has, other than a painfully tight grip on the back of William's coat and a hand scrambling to find similar purchase on Archie.