The suddenness of his lieutenant’s embrace took him by surprise enough that for a moment, Horatio simply stood stock still and stunned. Upon recovery, his arms rose and wrapped around the other man reassuringly. In retrospect, he supposed he had rather pushed the limits of probability with his latest venture – the price of loss had been too great to calculate against at the time, and while his success now meant triumph for all aboard the Hotspur, he was not so ignorant as to be blind to the dangers he had undertaken in order to ascertain said victory.Â
Nor that the cost of failure would surely have meant his life.
Sighing, he patted the older man’s back after a moment, before fearing growing too accustomed to the hold and stepping back, establishing a proper arms length between them as he offered a grim and understanding smile. “Forgive me, William,” He offered quietly, knowing he would doubtless get an earful once they were out of earshot of the men, “We’ll talk it over in my cabin.” An indication that he would hear the man out – but a reminder that all frustration aside, dressing him down before the crew would not, and could not, be tolerated.Â
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