Five times in which Horatio knows that he is loved (and one time he doesn't)

1. (Catboys AU)

"Hamlet, Laertes, please. This just isn't a good time for this."

Horatio lets out a defeated sigh as Hamlet nuzzles into his nape, mewing soft pleas and shamelessly rutting his erection against the older man's clothed back. He knows that he would give in eventually, but his modest upbringing would not allow him to do so without at least trying to instill some sense of decency into all this. One of his hands swats away at Laertes, who had already long given up on verbal persuasion and instead was not-so-discretely sliding skilled fingers into Horatio's dark slacks, wet sandpaper tongue gliding trails up his neck, nipping and leaving dark bruises along the way.

Now, this is just impossible. How on earth is he supposed to finish that English report he had due the next morning and study for the philosophy exam on the following day? Forgetting how his fellow "housemates" got once spring rolls around was most likely his biggest mistake of the year. Horatio silently cursed at his lack of foresight for not choosing the winter semester, which would have had exams in the summer when all this sex-crazed madness is over, over the autumn semester, which unfortunately had exams this week. Sparing a side glance at his laptop, pushed vehemently off his lap by Laertes just moments ago when the two cats decided to invade his space and all but force him into their seasonal games, Horatio stared hopelessly at his half-written report, pointer flashing mockingly at his internal turmoil, and with the little clock at the bottom right corner flashing 4:35 PM, he fears he'll end up pulling yet another all-nighter.

'Might as well get it over with' is his last coherent thought for the next few hours before he smashed his lips against Laertes' and inversely get ticked off as he feels the other's lips curl into a triumphant smirk.

2. (Catboys AU)

As an afterthought, Horatio wonders why the other two didn't just take care of their problem themselves. But then he notices cum stains on various pieces of his furniture and has to resist the urge to slide his palm over his face in a makeshift display of exasperation as he rings up the cleaning lady before slinking off to find some surface not yet tainted to continue his report.

3. (Still Catboys AU)

*tap*tap*tap*

Laertes groggily opens one eye to the soft glow of artificial light and that irritating clacking. His body was sated but well worn-out after the whole day of release and he sure as hell ain't having anything interrupt his rest time. He really wished he could be nearly as much of a heavy sleeper as Hamlet. The other didn't seem at all fazed by the insistent noise as he had his arms wound tightly around Horatio's midsection.

"Goddammit 'Ratio, stop that right now or get the hell out."

The tapping abruptly stops and Laertes marvels at the brief period of silence. Horatio turns down to look at him, a teasing smile on his lips. One of his hands reach down to tug and caress at Laertes' feline ears as the other resumes its ministration on the laptop's keyboard. Laertes scowls at the way his ears instantly flatten in pleasure and his body eagerly leaning into the touch, 'Traitor' he mumbles at his own reflexes.

Horatio's fingers stops again when he presses the 'period' key to end a sentence. He closes the cover to the laptop, carrying it with him as he unwound himself from Hamlet's embrace and pushed off of the plush bed. Laertes' ears flicked in disappointment at the lost contact, but he happily rolls over to lavish in the warm expanse of clean sheets Horatio left behind. He notices though, when the retreating footsteps stop and Horatio speaks with humor in his voice:

"You know, I wouldn't be doing this right now if you two didn't insist on bothering me earlier."

Laertes couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes at the comment, there were probably a dozen comebacks stewing in his mind but he just didn't bother to spare the effort of voicing them. Instead, he grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it straight at the other male's smiling face. The bastard manages to catch it with unnerving grace though, and chuckles as he takes it with him to the living room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

4. (Catboys AU)

Hamlet wakes up the next morning to find himself faced with not his beloved Horatio, but with Laertes' ugly mug. The other was sporting a lopsided grin with drool running down from the corner of his lips, he looked so positively happy that the young prince had to reign in the urge to punch him in the face.

Pushing aside the soft cotton comforter and touching his bare foot upon the cold mahogany hardwood floor, Hamlet looks around in confusion at his missing aide. He finds Horatio in the living room napping on the couch, dark bags rimming his closed eyes clearly visible underneath the flutter of the other male's raven bangs. Hamlet settles on kneeling in front of his aide's sleeping form, ears flattened in guilt and tail swishing lazily as he gently swipes the older male's hair away from his face.

Catching sight of the half-empty cup of cold coffee on the table, Hamlet thought up of an idea. Maybe he should make breakfast, it is rare that he's the first one awake and lately Laertes has been doing all the cooking, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to show off his own culinary skills once in a while. After all, just what could happen anyways?

The shrill ring of the smoke alarm rudely jolts awake the remaining two sleeping residents of the estate just minutes later. Hamlet could hear a heavy thump of something falling from the bedroom and Laertes cursing loudly, he should probably go check out if the other is okay but just can't bring himself to lift up his gaze from the charred remains of what should have been mouth-watering strips of bacon to meet the weary, inquisitive look of he's sure Horatio is directing his way.

5. (Might be Catboys AU)

"I thought we agreed that you weren't to step foot into the kitchen?"

Horatio questioned as he looks down on the small stature of his prince in front of him. Despite repeated attempts on his part to establish eye-contact, the other seemed to be particularly bashful this fine morning and refuses to meet his gaze. Laertes is fuming behind him, words sharp at his tongue ready to lash out at the younger male for ruining his pristine kitchen, but Horatio raises his hand and gives him a look that says 'Calm down, let me take care of this'.

Horatio gently cups Hamlet's face with his palms, guiding it up to look at him. He could see the prominent blush on the younger's normally pale skin, eyes guilty and apologetic, and still finding the wall behind him more interesting than anything at this moment.

"We're not angry okay?" Laertes snorts in disgruntlement but remained otherwise silent, thankfully for Horatio, "Just confused as to why you would do such a thing, especially with what happened last time…"

Hamlet looked terribly flustered, but there really wasn't any way out of it with his pride still intact. He blurts out his apologies all in one breath, still refusing to meet the eyes of his two housemates.

"I'm sorry, I just thought… that I would make breakfast this morning because you looked so tired and I figured it was probably my fault and I wanted to make it up to you… I wasn't planning to make anything complicated so I thought that it would be fine, but it's not and now I've caused you more trouble and… I'm just so sorry. I'll remember not to do it again…"

Horatio smiles, pleased at the he's given apology and a touched by Hamlet's motive. He plants a kiss on the other's forehead to show the other that everything's alright now. Laertes on the other hand, still had things to say, and he damn well will say it.

"You better, thank god the smoke alarm was working well this time, a repeat of the last would have been a nightmare! I don't understand why is it that you overthink every other thing but for the one thing that you really should think over carefully, you don't!"

He could have lashed out more, if only Horatio hadn't chopped him over the head with his hand then he probably would have. Before either party could speak up and undoubtedly engage in another harsh verbal exchange, Horatio spoke in his clear, commanding tone, for peace in the house.

"Alright, case over. I'll call in the cleaning lady and have her fix up this mess, in the meantime, let's all get dressed and go grab breakfast at that nice little cafe down the street. I heard they have excellent breakfast menus." He glanced back at the grandfather clock ticking away in the corner of the living room "I have to at school in 30 minutes so let's make this fast."

The looks he received were ones of sulkiness, but they both listened. A wave of relief washed over Horatio as he assures himself that he wouldn't have to deal with another domestic dispute anytime soon, but it is just as he's ringing up the cleaning lady for the second time in less than 24 hours that he hears angry shouting from both parties from the bedroom and lets out a defeated sigh before forcing himself to be willingly thrown into the midst of a raging battleground.

(And the one time he doesn't) (Not really Catboys AU)

Whenever the end of October rolls around, their schedules are thrown into complete chaos. Aside from midterms that never fail to work all three of them to the bone, there are the endless costume parties that comes as a result of Halloween. From the first few years of college, both Hamlet and Laertes had come to a consensus that Horatio, in all his wise and intelligent glory, has no sense whatsoever of what constitutes as a good and college-appropriate costume. For goodness sakes, the poor sod wanted to dress up as a wind chime for their first Halloween party. Thankfully, Laertes had managed to convince him out of that atrocious idea, and chose something that was much more complementing of his features. However, they soon realized with the ever increasing piles of invitations that Horatio really is serious whenever he tells them his costume plans for the parties. It is because of this unexpected, and admittedly quite adorable, flaw in their lover's otherwise impeccably logical mind that Laertes and Hamlet had taken up the task of dressing Horatio every year.

"So what is he planning this time?" Hamlet whispers sharply to Laertes as they both hunker down in the bedroom closet, taking extra measures to make sure that Horatio doesn't overhear their conversation.

"Oh my god Hammy, he's planning to be a cellphone!" Laertes has his face buried in his hands, sporting a strange mix of restrained laughter and silent despair. "He said something about how mobile devices are so prominent these days and he wants to go with the trend."

Hamlet couldn't stop the look of disgust that flashed across his face at how completely and utterly foolish the idea was. "Doesn't he understand the damage his image and reputation will take if he dare put on such a thing?! Thank heavens above we're here to stop him from ruining his social life forever."

"No worries, as always, I've already got a costume for him! Everything will go without a hitch!" Laertes proudly proclaims, winking an assurance at the other and getting punched in return. Horatio later found them scuffling in the closet trying to claw at each other's faces and mutilate them beyond recognition.

When Horatio plops down on the hardwood flooring in the living room one afternoon, with the materials to make his ingenious costume all laid out before him, Laertes and Hamlet make sure to approach him with an unsuspicious smile. When they present their choice of costume to the literacy student, the look that Horatio unknowingly pulls tug at both of their heartstrings. For just a moment, he looks sad and confused, as if to ask why, but regardless he smiles as accept the costume without question, having gone through the process so many times, and for that little bit, both Hamlet and Laertes falls victim to this nagging feeling of guilt, but only for that little bit. Because when the dark haired male dons their much-tolled-over costume and look absolutely stunning, all they feel is a warm sense of satisfaction and self-congratulatory pats on the back.

When Laertes finds Hamlet leaning against the wall in the corner, watchful eye trailing after the form of their beloved is being crowded by others on the party's dance floor, he slides in comfortably beside him.

"We really did well this time."

Hamlet chuckles because this is the one issue they ever shared similar opinions on.

"He just doesn't know how much we love him."

All credits goes to PigeonWife!~ XD

Wanting to spread the love for the play Hamlet.