Fic post: Hornblower: Run No Longer
Jul. 5th, 2010 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gayalondiel_bakFandom: Hornblower (movieverse)
Title: Run No Longer
Character/Pairing: Hornblower/Kennedy
Episode: n/a
Length: 1600 words
Rating: G
Spoilers: Retribution, in the previous chapters really.
Disclaimer: All Hornblower characters and situations are the property of the CS Forester estate and of Meridian television. No ownership is implied or inferred. This is done for love only.
AN: Back in the dark AU, this is a follow-on to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
esmerelda_t's To Sail the Seven Seas and anteros_lmc's All the Seven Seas. These are both wonderful, I am just riding on their coat-tails. It's not as dark as their chapters, but it carries on the story. I was charged with finding a happy ending, and... well, it's not exactly happy. :s
They had done everything right, Bush had seen to it. The crew were assembled, the yard-arm sharp and cold and cruel in the pale morning sun. The prisoners were drummed out, the clinking of chains marking their passage from cell to noose. Guttural murmurs issued from them, and one voice raised in defiant protest, cursing Bush for his loyalty, calling him weak and pathetic and any number of foul insults. It was to Bush's credit that he withstood the taunts in silence – a lesser man would have struck out in anger, allowing his emotion to show. Bush did not. The voice laughed, high and clear and if Hornblower closed his eyes he could be back in the midshipmens' berth on the Indy, teasing and joking with his friends, and with one friend in particular. Then the drums sounded again and he was reminded why they were there, what this man was doing here and what he was about to become.
He had hidden in his cabin for too long. Ashamed of himself, for letting it get to him and for not acting as a true officer would, brushing it off the way Bush did, Hornblower rose to his feet and dusted off his uniform. It was time.
He marched out, his eyes fixed ahead of him. The owner of the one voice saw him and raised a shout of derision, calling him a coward, asking why he did not have the stomach to face them himself. There were mutters among the crew at the word 'coward' but they silenced themselves suddenly, presumably due to a sharp gesture from Bush or the bosun. He took his place on the quarterdeck, glanced at the papers detailing the charges, and looked up – straight into the eyes of Archie Kennedy.
Kennedy's words died on his lips as their gazes locked. He looked nothing like himself – hard, ragged and battle-scarred, but his eyes were as bright as ever. Hornblower had once been a scholar of Kennedy's eyes and read them now, for what he knew must be the final time. He read anger, scorn and too much sharpness that he had never seen in those eyes before this encounter. He looked further, wondering if Kennedy was afraid, if this was just bluster in the face of every man's great fear, or if he truly was lost to him. Unblinking, he gazed, and then it happened. In a split second, Kennedy's face relaxed into the slightest of smiles, and his eyes seemed to twinkle the way only Hornblower had made them twinkle before. Then Bush began to read the charges, Kennedy's attention shifted and the moment was lost.
Hornblower felt his hands beginning to shake. Bush continued to read, summing up the Kennedy's crimes for the whole crew to hear. Thrown completely by that second, he wanted to rush forward, to snatch the papers from Bush's hand and tear them asunder. He wanted to run to Archie, throw his arms around him and give him everything he wanted, if only to see that twinkle that had been missing from his life for so long. For a second he was consumed, and then he recovered himself. He was not a young fool in love any more, and the Archie he had known was gone.
Bush finished speaking and turned to him expectantly. Hornblower knew what he had to say and schooled his voice hard, glancing down at his papers in preparation. Kennedy could not, must not know of his moment of doubt. He must not stammer now. He drew a deep breath, expecting to hear his own voice but a shout interrupted him before he could form words.
“Ship to starboard!”
Another privateer. This was the worst possible timing. Bush roared the men to quarters and the prisoners taken below. There was organised chaos on deck as men ran to their stations. The prisoners were hustled hastily below decks and Hornblower gave his full attention to the battle that came into play long before his men were ready, so distracted had they been. The enemy gave little attention to broadsides and made to board the ship, clearly trying to take her with as little damage as possible. Cannons pounded from the gun deck as Hornblower's men warded off the attempt. Hornblower and Bush stood firm, side by side, barking orders even as the men drew swords to ward off the encroaching hordes.
In the madness, no-one knew how it happened. Suddenly a roar from below joined the battle cries and the four prisoners charged up the stairs, swords and pistols in their hands. Somehow, they had overcome their guard and freed themselves. Three of them wasted no time and rushed to the side of the ship, trying to hurl themselves across to join the privateer and seek their fortunes there. One stopped, turning instead to look at Hornblower. In the chaos of war, Archie Kennedy and Horatio Hornblower looked at one another and time stopped before their eyes. Archie's eyes spoke volumes now, betrayal and pain and loss that could not be measured. Horatio's gaze replied with grief and confusion, remembering a life half lived. Then, without warning, Kennedy charged, directly at Hornblower. He was paralysed, could do nothing but watch him come, until Kennedy was right there and barrelled into him with full force. Hornblower hit the deck hard and struck his head on an iron ring. The world span once, twice, and through the haze he saw Kennedy standing over him, crossing blades with an indistinct blur of a man. Then came darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was hours later that Hornblower found himself outside the cell, ordering the Marines away again and hesitating. He had heard the whole story from Bush – three escaped, several severely wounded, three dead, the Captain unconscious, the privateer eventually fought off but neither destroyed nor captured. And one prisoner, who had thrown the Captain from a fatal blow, stood over him and defended him to the hilt, and then given himself up meekly to the guards, not even a shadow of his former self.
It made no sense.
Hornblower pushed open the grill and entered to find Kennedy slumped against the wall, as he had been before. He stood, and this time there was more straightness about him than mockery of the deference he had once given. He focused on a spot somewhere above the Captain's left shoulder. Hornblower took a deep breath and asked the same question he had asked once before, in a different world, a different time.
“Why?”
Archie shook his head. “You still don't understand,” he said, in a voice all defeat and bitterness. “All these years I have run... It is time to stop. I will not run from you.”
“You saved my life,” Hornblower said. “It won't dispel your crimes, but it is enough to negotiate your sentence some way. I can arrange...”
“No.”
Hornblower frowned. “What do you mean, no?” he demanded. “It will save your life.”
Kennedy snorted. “That is no life,” he said. “I would rather die, I have died. All these years I have lived as a dead man, and all for you. I have had enough. I can do this no longer.”
Hornblower felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest and realised that some wild panic was beginning to coalesce. If only Kennedy would comply, he could bring him back. He knew he could. He had brought his friend back once from the edge of darkness before, with time and effort and sheer bloodymindedness on both their parts. If Kennedy would only consent, he was certain that his friend would return, one day. He would serve out his time and then... and then... Wild hopes sprang into his mind, thoughts he had not allowed himself to have since the day Archie had died and left him. If only he could explain... Desperate, he could think of only one action. He pulled Kennedy into his arms again and kissed him, hard and passionate and full of longing that had gone unnoticed through the many years. When he drew back, Archie was in his arms, not the battle-scarred man who had been there, but a dear friend whose eyes sparkled and whose lips smiled easily. They smiled now.
“Horatio,” he whispered softly. “If only you had allowed yourself to feel this way then...” his arms wrapped around him but did not seek the knife that Hornblower had not brought this time. Instead they drew one another close and held each other for a long moment, as if by so doing they could become one and never, ever be parted again. Horatio felt Archie's pulse and heard his blood rushing beneath his veins and knew he was where he belonged. But all too soon, it was over and Archie drew back.
“If only,” he whispered, and smiled, and the spark in his eyes danced bright once more.
Hornblower never saw the right hook coming. He dropped to the floor, dazed again, and Kennedy knelt beside him for the briefest of seconds. “I can run no longer,” he whispered, and then he was away. Hornblower heard him leave, heard his footsteps pounding the deck and realised belatedly that Kennedy knew it was a fool's errand to try. He pulled himself to his feet, desperate to stop him, to fix it somehow, some way...
There was a loud crack of pistol shot, and a thud as something hit the deck, and then there was silence.
Title: Run No Longer
Character/Pairing: Hornblower/Kennedy
Episode: n/a
Length: 1600 words
Rating: G
Spoilers: Retribution, in the previous chapters really.
Disclaimer: All Hornblower characters and situations are the property of the CS Forester estate and of Meridian television. No ownership is implied or inferred. This is done for love only.
AN: Back in the dark AU, this is a follow-on to
esmerelda_t's To Sail the Seven Seas and anteros_lmc's All the Seven Seas. These are both wonderful, I am just riding on their coat-tails. It's not as dark as their chapters, but it carries on the story. I was charged with finding a happy ending, and... well, it's not exactly happy. :sThey had done everything right, Bush had seen to it. The crew were assembled, the yard-arm sharp and cold and cruel in the pale morning sun. The prisoners were drummed out, the clinking of chains marking their passage from cell to noose. Guttural murmurs issued from them, and one voice raised in defiant protest, cursing Bush for his loyalty, calling him weak and pathetic and any number of foul insults. It was to Bush's credit that he withstood the taunts in silence – a lesser man would have struck out in anger, allowing his emotion to show. Bush did not. The voice laughed, high and clear and if Hornblower closed his eyes he could be back in the midshipmens' berth on the Indy, teasing and joking with his friends, and with one friend in particular. Then the drums sounded again and he was reminded why they were there, what this man was doing here and what he was about to become.
He had hidden in his cabin for too long. Ashamed of himself, for letting it get to him and for not acting as a true officer would, brushing it off the way Bush did, Hornblower rose to his feet and dusted off his uniform. It was time.
He marched out, his eyes fixed ahead of him. The owner of the one voice saw him and raised a shout of derision, calling him a coward, asking why he did not have the stomach to face them himself. There were mutters among the crew at the word 'coward' but they silenced themselves suddenly, presumably due to a sharp gesture from Bush or the bosun. He took his place on the quarterdeck, glanced at the papers detailing the charges, and looked up – straight into the eyes of Archie Kennedy.
Kennedy's words died on his lips as their gazes locked. He looked nothing like himself – hard, ragged and battle-scarred, but his eyes were as bright as ever. Hornblower had once been a scholar of Kennedy's eyes and read them now, for what he knew must be the final time. He read anger, scorn and too much sharpness that he had never seen in those eyes before this encounter. He looked further, wondering if Kennedy was afraid, if this was just bluster in the face of every man's great fear, or if he truly was lost to him. Unblinking, he gazed, and then it happened. In a split second, Kennedy's face relaxed into the slightest of smiles, and his eyes seemed to twinkle the way only Hornblower had made them twinkle before. Then Bush began to read the charges, Kennedy's attention shifted and the moment was lost.
Hornblower felt his hands beginning to shake. Bush continued to read, summing up the Kennedy's crimes for the whole crew to hear. Thrown completely by that second, he wanted to rush forward, to snatch the papers from Bush's hand and tear them asunder. He wanted to run to Archie, throw his arms around him and give him everything he wanted, if only to see that twinkle that had been missing from his life for so long. For a second he was consumed, and then he recovered himself. He was not a young fool in love any more, and the Archie he had known was gone.
Bush finished speaking and turned to him expectantly. Hornblower knew what he had to say and schooled his voice hard, glancing down at his papers in preparation. Kennedy could not, must not know of his moment of doubt. He must not stammer now. He drew a deep breath, expecting to hear his own voice but a shout interrupted him before he could form words.
“Ship to starboard!”
Another privateer. This was the worst possible timing. Bush roared the men to quarters and the prisoners taken below. There was organised chaos on deck as men ran to their stations. The prisoners were hustled hastily below decks and Hornblower gave his full attention to the battle that came into play long before his men were ready, so distracted had they been. The enemy gave little attention to broadsides and made to board the ship, clearly trying to take her with as little damage as possible. Cannons pounded from the gun deck as Hornblower's men warded off the attempt. Hornblower and Bush stood firm, side by side, barking orders even as the men drew swords to ward off the encroaching hordes.
In the madness, no-one knew how it happened. Suddenly a roar from below joined the battle cries and the four prisoners charged up the stairs, swords and pistols in their hands. Somehow, they had overcome their guard and freed themselves. Three of them wasted no time and rushed to the side of the ship, trying to hurl themselves across to join the privateer and seek their fortunes there. One stopped, turning instead to look at Hornblower. In the chaos of war, Archie Kennedy and Horatio Hornblower looked at one another and time stopped before their eyes. Archie's eyes spoke volumes now, betrayal and pain and loss that could not be measured. Horatio's gaze replied with grief and confusion, remembering a life half lived. Then, without warning, Kennedy charged, directly at Hornblower. He was paralysed, could do nothing but watch him come, until Kennedy was right there and barrelled into him with full force. Hornblower hit the deck hard and struck his head on an iron ring. The world span once, twice, and through the haze he saw Kennedy standing over him, crossing blades with an indistinct blur of a man. Then came darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was hours later that Hornblower found himself outside the cell, ordering the Marines away again and hesitating. He had heard the whole story from Bush – three escaped, several severely wounded, three dead, the Captain unconscious, the privateer eventually fought off but neither destroyed nor captured. And one prisoner, who had thrown the Captain from a fatal blow, stood over him and defended him to the hilt, and then given himself up meekly to the guards, not even a shadow of his former self.
It made no sense.
Hornblower pushed open the grill and entered to find Kennedy slumped against the wall, as he had been before. He stood, and this time there was more straightness about him than mockery of the deference he had once given. He focused on a spot somewhere above the Captain's left shoulder. Hornblower took a deep breath and asked the same question he had asked once before, in a different world, a different time.
“Why?”
Archie shook his head. “You still don't understand,” he said, in a voice all defeat and bitterness. “All these years I have run... It is time to stop. I will not run from you.”
“You saved my life,” Hornblower said. “It won't dispel your crimes, but it is enough to negotiate your sentence some way. I can arrange...”
“No.”
Hornblower frowned. “What do you mean, no?” he demanded. “It will save your life.”
Kennedy snorted. “That is no life,” he said. “I would rather die, I have died. All these years I have lived as a dead man, and all for you. I have had enough. I can do this no longer.”
Hornblower felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest and realised that some wild panic was beginning to coalesce. If only Kennedy would comply, he could bring him back. He knew he could. He had brought his friend back once from the edge of darkness before, with time and effort and sheer bloodymindedness on both their parts. If Kennedy would only consent, he was certain that his friend would return, one day. He would serve out his time and then... and then... Wild hopes sprang into his mind, thoughts he had not allowed himself to have since the day Archie had died and left him. If only he could explain... Desperate, he could think of only one action. He pulled Kennedy into his arms again and kissed him, hard and passionate and full of longing that had gone unnoticed through the many years. When he drew back, Archie was in his arms, not the battle-scarred man who had been there, but a dear friend whose eyes sparkled and whose lips smiled easily. They smiled now.
“Horatio,” he whispered softly. “If only you had allowed yourself to feel this way then...” his arms wrapped around him but did not seek the knife that Hornblower had not brought this time. Instead they drew one another close and held each other for a long moment, as if by so doing they could become one and never, ever be parted again. Horatio felt Archie's pulse and heard his blood rushing beneath his veins and knew he was where he belonged. But all too soon, it was over and Archie drew back.
“If only,” he whispered, and smiled, and the spark in his eyes danced bright once more.
Hornblower never saw the right hook coming. He dropped to the floor, dazed again, and Kennedy knelt beside him for the briefest of seconds. “I can run no longer,” he whispered, and then he was away. Hornblower heard him leave, heard his footsteps pounding the deck and realised belatedly that Kennedy knew it was a fool's errand to try. He pulled himself to his feet, desperate to stop him, to fix it somehow, some way...
There was a loud crack of pistol shot, and a thud as something hit the deck, and then there was silence.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 06:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 10:24 pm (UTC)Hornblower closed his eyes he could be back in the midshipmens' berth on the Indy
I love that shift from the awful reality of the present to the fond reminiscence of the past.
Hornblower had once been a scholar of Kennedy's eyes
Beautiful.
Archie's eyes spoke volumes now, betrayal and pain and loss that could not be measured. Horatio's gaze replied with grief and confusion, remembering a life half lived.
*sniffle* and that "Why?" is really just too, too tragic.
What I love most about this though is the energy an the pacing, it's really tense, edge of the seat stuff! Brilliantly done m'dear.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 09:43 pm (UTC)But I am impressed too since I know that you were also working on at least one other very good piece simultaneously.
And any fic that ends " and then there was silence" is of course sure of one thing - that silence is not what will remain for all that long!
Glad that you got in on this one Gaya.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 09:53 pm (UTC)I was glad to pick this up - for all that it was dark, it's very satisfying to see Archie get some resolution. Although he was very deliberately killed offscreen, so anything could had happened if someone felt like picking it up... *whistles innocently*
no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 10:12 pm (UTC)This icon is for you!!
Although he was very deliberately killed offscreen
Killed? KILLED? I think not! I already have a couple of possibilities of what happened on deck, however I and going to confine these little bunnies to their burrows for the time being to see if anyone else picks this up :)
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 11:27 pm (UTC)LMAO! Oh god...its....its...its a Hornblower / Wallace & Gromit cross over!! *dies*
no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 10:18 pm (UTC)Now we just have to find out what happened on deck and Horatio can get another chance to *persuade* him that life is worth living. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 09:20 pm (UTC)This is a wonderfully romantic line. *dreamy sigh*
Thanks for sharing this, as I said before I love how this fic has become something of a round robin. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 10:43 pm (UTC)I'm chuffed to bits that this fic has taken off too! Yay for pirate!Archie :D
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 11:28 pm (UTC)See above ;)