Almost there! Haddock's turn to realize some important facts…
…
"What do you want, laddie?" Haddock had asked, but still had not received an answer. He wasn't sure he was going to get one. He doubted the lad knew exactly what he wanted.
The Captain had chuckled at Tintin's description of himself, but it was true. The lad was extremely youthful looking. There were times when the boy's boyishly good looks gave the Captain a turn. And since the two of them had been living and sleeping in such close proximity, he'd been aware of the lad's other attributes as well.
Haddock lay there and could feel the boy's frustration. He had a suspicion that all this talk was skirting around the real issue. But he just wasn't sure how to approach the lad. The kid may seem a youth; but he was actually a young man and really should be out and about sowing some wild oats. But he was well aware that Tintin was too upstanding, too much the gentleman, and just plain too naïve and inexperienced to go out and just throw himself at anyone.
And he wasn't sure he actually liked the idea of Tintin throwing himself at just anyone. Frowning a bit as he tried to envision the boy with someone and feeling an odd sense of anger. And disappointment.
Suddenly realizing that there had not been a word from the lad the whole time Haddock had been musing, he turned and looked at the boy.
Tintin was still lying on his back, hands behind his head. He could just make out the gleam of an eyeball and knew the youth was still awake. Even though it was dark, he could see the sadness in the boy's face and without thinking, laid a hand on the slim yet hard chest.
"Tintin my boy, is there anything your ol' sea captain can do for you?"
"I…don't know. I wish I knew, because I'd tell you. And I know you'd do anything for me Captain."
Haddock frowned. He left his hand there, his thumb rubbing lightly back and forth. It wasn't until he felt a small nub harden that he realized he'd been over the lad's nipple. At the same time he heard the lad give a small gasp. But what surprised him the most was the small upward movement that Tintin made, pressing his chest ever so slightly into Haddock's hand. He could feel the boy's heartbeat quicken.
"Lad…?"
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