Feelings
A/N: This is set around a year after Skandia in Will's fourth year but before Erak's Ransom, so just somewhere in between. I'm not rlly sure how I feel about this one, I liked the idea and acc saw it a while ago but I don't think I executed it very well. Enjoy!
Horace despite his sunny demeanour and outward personality, had trouble conveying things through words. It's not that he didn't know how to phase something or he didn't know the right vocabulary for the situation. In that respect, he was very good, knowing exactly what to say to get his point across and it helped that he was never one to beat around the bush, always clear and concise. Some arrogant men said that he was very forward, too forward and tended to be deadpan and slightly cruel with his comments but again, those men were arrogant and jealous of how easily and naturally he could hold a crowd. No the trouble didn't lie there. Horace just felt like whatever he whispered, shouted or simply said, was not as strong as actions. What he did and how he reacted physically to situations or other people was what made him such an easy going person to be around, but he wasn't to know that. In his mind, he only did it because it was what felt right and over time, it became a habit. Those who knew him eventually recognised that instead of calling out 'hello' he preferred to wave or hug in greeting, it's just how he worked.
On the other hand Will's mind worked like a butterfly which is what earned him the name chocho-san in Nijon-Ja. The flitting of his thoughts led to a tendency to use words more than actions, his mind simply couldn't keep up with himself, sort of like tripping over his own feet. He found it hard to coordinate his actions to his brain, not because of any illness or disease but because his thoughts and ideas were so complex and fast paced even he sometimes found it hard to understand what he was thinking. Which is why he tended to call out to someone rather than grab them by the shoulder or chase after them. This of corse didn't include being a ranger and every that went along with it, during battle, he had the most clear and straightforward thinking most had never seen. It's what made him such a good ranger. However because of his job, where he wasn't usually around people, other than Halt, being affectionate to those he didn't know as well was slightly awkward, for him at least, and the actions became stilted and lost their meaning. And since Skandia any approach of physical contact made him slightly wary, bringing up bad memories and feelings he had tried so desperately to bury. But there were people in his life who were lucky enough not to fall into this category of people who didn't ever get a hug or a wave from Will Treaty. Granted they were the ones he loved the most: Halt, Alyss, Gilan, Pauline, Crowley, Jenny, George and Horace.
Horace knew since Skandia physical contact could be one of his best friend's triggers so he made an effort to tone down his habit to naturally be affectionate, to brush against someone's shoulder or hug them good morning. Will didn't notice at first, he was just too relieved to be home and too preoccupied with his training. So when he did notice, it went like this.
It was a warm spring day, a gentle breeze blew leisurely through the air and the flowers danced in its wake. A small shaggy horse rode through the bustling village of Redmont with its rider shielding his eyes with the hood of his green and grey mottled cloak. Will was taking a shortcut through the town to get to castle Redmont. Halt had sent him on a day trip there to perform the monthly census to see if the battle school was up to par or not. His mentor had said it would be a good practice of analysis and evaluation, which were two skills he didn't think he needed to improve but practice makes perfect, and arguing with Halt could end up with spending the night in a tree. The day was going to be tedious enough, he didn't need twigs prodding in his back all night. The only good part of the day he was looking forward to was seeing his best friend Horace. The two had agreed to meet for lunch at a popular tavern in town, which was of course, visited most often by a particular knight in training.
"Hey stranger," Horace chided as he rode up the familiar dirt road towards his friend, the sun was at its peak in the sky and the he had noticed Will riding towards the tavern where they were going to meet for lunch and had urged Kicker forwards to catch up with him.
"Hey yourself," the Ranger smiled warmly. As they reached their destination, both riders dismounted and went to greet each other properly and Will mentally frowned as he saw his friend hesitate and then move to clasp his hand, all trace of conflict long gone and only a happy smile remained. As they brushed the horses and gave them some oats to keep them occupied he noticed that the usually sure knight seemed a tad, put off, or out of his element. He shifted restlessly from time to time and he took to fiddling with the edge of his cloak when he was waiting for Will to finish brushing down Tug.
Horace lent against the stable wall, the corse fabric of the cloak intertwined within his grasp. It startled him when Will turned around suddenly.
"Horace what's wrong?" It came out slightly exasperated but the concerned tone was evident in his voice. He looked down at his shoes, avoiding his friends gaze. The smaller boy marvelled at how small his friend looked, blue eyes fixed on the dirt ground beneath him.
"Can I hug you?" He felt silly and blushed when he realised how stupid he sounded. He looked up and met the confused brown eyes, still shrinking in front of his friend. The expression of his friend reflected that of shock and uncertainty but softened after an agonising minute of silence.
"Horace," he smiled and chuckled slightly, still dazed by the unusual situation. "You're my best friend, you don't have to ask." He opened his arms and Horace pushed himself off the wall moving to wrap his friend in a hug. Will laughed again and he released him.
"Hey are you okay?" His expression turned serious, brows furrowed under his brown locks. Horace debated leaving it at that but he knew that if he did, he would see right through it. They had known each other for most of their lives after all.
"I just," he took a deep breath. "You know how I'm always hugging people and like slapping people on the backs and stuff right?" He watched his friend nod slowly and suddenly everything he was thinking just rushed out. "I wanted to do that with you because your my best friend and stuff, buteversinceSkandiaIwasafraidthatthecontactmighttriggerpainfulmemoriesanditwouldhurtyoubymistakeandthatIwouldhurtyoubymistakebutwehavntseeneachotherinagesandI-" he was cut off by the smaller boy wrapping his arms around his neck, pulling him in close. Horace hugged back.
"Horace look at me." He did. "You, Halt, Alyss, Jenny, Gilan, you are all the lights of my life and I appreciate what you've been doing but I want you to understand, I need you to understand, that nothing you could ever say or do could hurt me ok? Nothing." He put his hands on his shoulders for emphasis.
"Ok." Horace smiled widely at his friend and gestured to the tavern behind them. "Can we get lunch now I'm starving!" They both laughed.
"Yes, we can get some lunch." The two boys ate well and when they had to part ways, one going back to the castle and the other to a small cabin in the woods, Horace wasn't afraid to hug Will goodbye and waved as the shaggy horse disappeared from sight.