Feeding the Ducks

[tgarnsl]

I feel like I'm throwing breadcrumbs here.

--

Bush woke with a start to the sound of two bells, long habit convincing him he had overslept. But no, that was an impossibility; yesterday Hornblower had given orders for a three-watch system to be instated, the reason — so he claimed — being that with the long days spent beating back towards England every man deserved as much sleep as he could get. The men were delighted by this sudden largesse, and Bush had been generous enough at the time to believe Hornblower’s motivations were selfless. He was less certain now; Hornblower lay pressed against Bush’s back, one arm around Bush’s waist, as though he could not bear to let Bush go. The thought of it made Bush chuckle, and he reached beneath the blankets to touch Hornblower’s hand. Hornblower stirred with a sleepy grumble and withdrew, rolling over to face the bulkhead, reluctant with his affection even in sleep. But Bush followed him, unwilling to be robbed of comfort just yet, and curled around Hornblower, one hand slipping beneath Hornblower’s nightshirt to touch the warm skin of his stomach.

It was an easy thing to fall asleep again.

Comments

[sanguinity]

Oh, good lord, but I love that.

[tgarnsl]

Yay!

[sanguinity]

Bush gets to sleep in with his boyfriend! Such decadence! Cuddling is so nice, and this passage is thick with how nice it is. And I simply adore the dynamic: the push-pull of Hornblower being a grumpy little cuddlebunny, but cuddling wins out over grumps.

And yes, I think you're right, Bush. If he didn't want the extra time in bed with you, he would have kept you on watch-and-watch. Another four hours a night of sharing a small bed with someone -- that's visceral enough that if he's arranged for it to happen, he actively wants it to happen, never mind what other motivations were in play, too. (Good job, Hornblower, making the most of your passage back to England!)

[tgarnsl]

It is SUCH decadence. And Bush will enjoy it, if not for himself than for the fact that it means Hornblower is sleeping. Bush will definitely pay for it later, but he'll take what he can get while the getting is good. He's never had much opportunity for cuddling before -- with four sisters and a mother to support he can't afford to keep a sweetheart, so any affection is usually paid for and fairly perfunctory -- and this is a novelty, and for once he's content to let a nice thing happen. And yes, Hornblower is a grump over being cuddled. He wants cuddles but he'll be damned if he has to admit to it. Fortunately for him, once Bush makes up his mind about something he won't listen to any further arguments (there's a line in Lieutenant that says exactly that) so Hornblower's reactive grumping won't work. I'm glad the dynamic worked for you.

Bush isn't an idiot but I think he does try to give Hornblower the benefit of the doubt. He won't believe at first that more time to cuddle is a major factor in restructuring everyone's schedule (something I assume would be his job), but later on he realises that cuddling might have been a BIT more of a factor than he anticipated. (And this is your fault, for telling me that the weather back to England is going to be horrific, therefore they're going to be stuck at sea for AGES. Fortunately they have supplies from the shipwreck and won't be too uncomfortable.)

[sanguinity]

A thing I am very happy to be blamed for! *settles in with popcorn for WEEKS of contrary-weather cuddling* Please let me know if there are any other ways I can be of service!

with four sisters and a mother to support he can't afford to keep a sweetheart, so any affection is usually paid for and fairly perfunctory A thing that keeps coming up in the Any Service universe! Maria lavishes affection on him, and he is so damn hungry for it.

It was as natural for Bush to argue down opposition once he had committed himself as it might be for a fish to snap at a lure. That line? Or another?