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"This event is for decorated military personnel only, I'm sorry sir, if you're not on the list, I can't let you in," the soldier at the gates explained.
"Ah," the Captain responded, "that's alright, I'll wait nearby in the mean time then."
He walked down the lane a bit, and found a mossy tree stump to sit on to pass the time. He still had a good view of the gate and house. Occasionally he noticed the soldier at the gates glancing his way, but he didn't care what the man thought of him. They'd likely not see each other again anyway.
It was a temperate afternoon, a slight breeze in the air, and the birds were making a fuss. The Captain looked towards one of the fields surrounding the estate, and saw a young pair of foxes jumping at each other. He allowed himself a slight smile at the sight, and watched them run off together into the woods. As he watched them, he became all too aware that the moss he was sat on was incredibly damp. Briefly closing his eyes and sighing, he stood up, a patch of dark green on the back of his trousers.
"That's embarrassing," he muttered to himself. He tried to wipe it away, but to little avail - he just had to hope it would dry by itself.
Wringing his hands, he started wondering if maybe he should try and find an alternate way into Button House. He was starting to get skittish and really needed something to do. Maybe he could sneak in through one of the back windows, into a storage room that he knew no-one ever used. What were the chances of anyone finding out? All he needed was to find medals to blend in...
He shook his head. What was he thinking? Surely someone would find out he wasn't meant to be there. No, it was best that he wait out of the way.
The Captain wasn't fully sure if being here at all was a good idea, but it was his only shot at seeing his Lieutenant again.
Several hours passed, and a gentle orange started to seep into the sky. Many of the rowdy birds from earlier had gone to roost in the trees, and the breeze had picked up, making a mess of the Captain's styled hair. He was losing hope at anyone ever leaving and was considering leaving himself when he heard several engines start up. He looked towards the sound, and saw cars slowly pulling out of the gates and drive down the lane.
He got a few questioning looks as some of the cars passed him by but he paid them no heed. Once the last car had passed through the gates, which slammed shut in the wind, the Captain was starting to lose hope. His heart stopped in its place as the final car came to an abrupt stop 50 yards from where he stood. The driver side door flung open, and a man in uniform hurried out.
The Captain's breath caught in his throat. There he was. After all those years.
Wide-eyed, mouth slightly open, his second in command, Anthony Havers, stared back at him.
The Captain tried to compose himself as they half-walked, half-jogged towards each other.
"Sir?" Havers said, a smile playing on his lips.
"Havers! Gosh it's good to see you," the Captain exclaimed. He had been ready to throw himself at him, and hold him tight, however he caught himself just in time.
"What ever are you doing here?" Havers asked.
"Oh, well, uhm," the Captain started, and cleared his throat. "I just, it's been so long, Havers. I wanted to reconnect after so many years."
Havers smiled. "Well thankyou, Sir. I would very much like that."
"Ah well," said the Captain, "jolly good." The sight of Havers' smile after so long made the Captain's chest tighten, and he was struggling to think clearly.
There was an awkward moment, where neither of them said much of anything and they were just looking at each other. The Captain felt the heat rise in his cheeks, but chalked it up to the wind whipping at his face. He couldn't draw his eyes from the look in Havers' eyes, there was just something about them that he could never put his finger on. To an outsider, it was a look of complete and utter adoration. To the Captain, it was just how Havers looked at him.
"Could I offer you a lift anywhere, Sir?" Havers asked, as he glanced towards his motor vehicle.
"That would be bally kind of you Havers, thankyou."
Havers nodded, and started walking towards his car. The Captain followed suit and got in the passenger side.
"So, where to, Sir?" Havers asked, as he put the car into gear.
The engine roared in the Captain's ears as he struggled to come up with an answer.
Havers started driving anyway, and suggested that the Captain trust him.
An hour later, the car pulled up outside what the Captain assumed to be Havers' house. They had decided that the Captain would stay with him overnight as it would have taken too long to drive to the former's house so late at night.
"Wait a second, Havers. Are you sure I'm not imposing? Don't you have family who won't want me around?" the Captain asked.
"No, Sir, not at all - I live alone."
The Captain considered this, and tried not to look too surprised as he shook his head slightly. They both got out the car, and headed towards the house. The front garden was small, but quaint from what the Captain could see. There were some young trees lining the edge of the land, along with a simple cobbled path leading to the front door.
Havers led the way up the path and let them both in. Once Havers had locked the door behind them, the Captain lingered awkwardly in the hallway, not quite sure what to do with himself.
"You can take off your shoes, you know..." Havers looked amused.
"Right, yes, I - of course," mumbled the Captain. His shaking hands fumbled at his boot laces and once he'd managed to undo them he set them neatly by the door. Havers had wandered into the living room, so the Captain followed him in.
It was relatively bare, and clearly hadn't been lived in much. There was a fine layer of dust on the window sill, and the only photos on the hearth were of an older couple, presumably Havers' parents and one of a small dog.
Havers noticed the Captain admiring these photos, and joined him at the Hearth.
"Some nice photos you have here, Havers," the Captain commented.
Havers had his hands behind his back and nodded. "My parents, and my childhood dog, Clarence," he confirmed.
"Ah I bally love dogs, I had one of my own back in my youth," the Captain responded. He turned to Havers, changing the subject. "Wh-where shall I be sleeping tonight?"
"Oh, you can take the spare bedroom. Don't worry, it's fully furnished."
Havers led the Captain upstairs and pointed out the bathroom, and his own bedroom if he needed anything during the night. The Captain thanked him and they said goodnight as they headed to their respective rooms.
The Captain lingered by his open door for a moment, glancing back at Havers, who the Captain caught watching him back. He gave him a warm smile and nodded, and the Captain nodded back. He closed his door, and lit a lamp on the desk so he could get a better look at the room. It was, as Havers had promised, fully furnished. Despite his claim that it was a spare room, it seemed awfully as if someone was meant to live there. The Captain made a note to ask about it in the morning.
Once he'd stripped to his undergarments, he lay on the bed for a while staring at the ceiling, trying to process the events of the day. He chuckled to himself. He almost couldn't believe that he'd even considered breaking into Button house. That would never have ended well, he was sure.
Eventually he dozed off, dreaming of dogs and foxes and the wind and Havers.
It was at around 2am, according to the Captain's pocket watch, when he was awoken by a quiet creaking coming from the hallway, and footsteps going downstairs.
He sat up in bed, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He considered going back to bed, but he wanted to investigate. So, he pulled on a jacket that was in the wardrobe (which to his surprise fit him perfectly), and quietly stepped out of his room. He put his ear to Havers' room, and gently knocked, but didn't hear anything from inside. Deciding that he must be downstairs and that there was no intruder, the Captain made his way across the landing and descended the stairs.
There was a faint light emanating from the kitchen, which was just down the hall from the living room, and a silhouette was hunched over the table at its centre, facing away from the Captain.
"I say, Havers, is everything alright?" the Captain asked as his bare feet made contact with the cold kitchen tiles. He should have put on the slippers that he had noticed by the foot of the bed.
Havers jumped slightly, having clearly not heard him approach, and expelled a heavy breath.
"Yes, Sir, I just had trouble sleeping. You really should go back to bed, you need to rest," he reassured him.
The Captain took a seat opposite Havers, and noticed his eyes were rimmed with red, and he was holding a crumpled bit of paper, dogeared at the edges and yellowing.
"Nonsense, Havers. You need the rest more than I, anyway."
Havers sighed and looked up, and the Captain noticed a single streak down his left cheek, over the scar that he had acquired whilst in Africa. He hadn't really paid it any attention when he first laid eyes on Havers earlier that day, but the more he looked at it, the more worried he started feeling. What had he endured whilst on the front lines?
Havers hesitated before responding, fighting to steady his racing heart and tried to find the best place to begin.
"When I was in Africa, Sir, I saw all manner of horrors. Men fell all around me - some were shot, others were captured, and some stepped on mines... There was so much blood - I still get nightmares and I'm not sure they will ever go away. I settled in well during the first few weeks with the other men, but as time went on, I realised I had made a massive mistake in leaving you - I mean, leaving Button house. All I could think was 'what about the Captain?', 'is he alright?'. I didn't know if I would ever see you again," his voice cracked. "I really did miss you, Sir."
The Captain's cheeks had gone a bright shade of pink, not that Havers would have noticed. Had he really missed him?
"What if I came back, to find out you had died?" Havers continued. "What if you had moved away and I could never find you?"
Havers smiled faintly, another tear falling down his cheek. He passed the crumpled piece of paper over to the Captain.
"I carried this on my person during my time on the fronts. It helped me get through some truly awful things. What I saw, Sir, I wouldn't wish it upon my greatest enemy."
The Captain reached out and took the piece of paper. Only it wasn't just a piece of paper, it was a photo. A photo of the Captain. The words 'My Captain' were hurriedly scrawled across the back of it, and he sobbed.
"Oh, Hav- Anthony..." he started. The use of his first name seemed to momentarily stun Havers, and in that moment he looked so fragile. The Captain searched Havers' face for a sign, for anything that would help him decide what the right thing to say would be. They locked eyes for a long moment, many words going unsaid, and the Captain got out of his seat, moving it around the table and sat directly next to him.
"I -" Havers tried to speak, but his voice caught again.
"I know," the Captain whispered. "I am so, so sorry. I will never know what you went through, but I promise you I will be here for as long as you need me to be." And he wasn't talking about staying in the kitchen.
Tentatively, he reached out his hand and lay it ever so gently on top of Havers'. Havers closed his eyes for a moment, and when he re-opened them, the Captain had tears spilling down his face. He lay his free hand on top of the Captains and slowly caressed it with his thumb.
"There's so much I want to say to you, Anthony," the Captain whispered, "I really don't know where to begin."
"Sir - "
"I think you we dispense with the formalities now," the Captain breathed.
"But, Sir -"
"Anthony-"
Havers' fingers tightened around the Captains and they locked eyes. "James..."
The Captain smiled weakly. A moment passed between them. A moment that stretched into eternity as they let themselves get lost in each others eyes.
"I think perhaps we both need some fresh air, Sir, sorry, James. Not to brag, but I have a rather nice garden. Shall we?"
The Captain nodded. Havers led him through the back door into the garden. It was hard to see in the dark, but it was clearly filled with life. The wind was the only noise to be heard, the rest of the world was sound asleep. They headed towards what the Captain assumed was the end of the garden, where there was an ornate metal bench. He vowed to have a proper look at it in the light of day. Both of them sat down, Havers was looking up towards the clear night sky and the Captain was looking at Havers.
"When I first met you, James, you immediately stuck out to me," Havers said as he glanced over to him. "I admit you had your quirks, but that's what I found so charming about you. You always wanted the best for everyone, and leaving you was truly difficult.
"When I saw you earlier today, well I suppose yesterday now, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't believe that you'd go all that way just to see me. I apologise for the state you found me in tonight, I was completely overwhelmed."
The Captain took a moment to let everything sink in before responding.
"I admit I haven't always been the most subtle, Anthony, regarding how much I enjoy your company. I never considered you might have missed me as much as I have missed you. It's a bally miracle I found you. If you hadn't been at the house, I would have assumed the worse and I truly do not know how I would have coped."
Havers reached for the Captain's hand, and they shuffled ever so slightly closer together, knees touching.
"I'm so proud of you, Anthony. Seeing all of your medals yesterday, and you made Major! An incredible achievement," he was practically beaming with pride.
"Thankyou, James," Havers responded, though he looked slightly worried.
"What's wrong?" the Captain asked.
"Does it bother you?" Havers gestured to the scar covering half of his face.
The Captain looked genuinely confused. "Why would it? If anything, I think it makes you look all the more dashing."
Havers laughed, and squeezed the Captain's hand a bit tighter.
Suddenly they both shivered, as the wind started to pick up. The Captain took off his jacket and lay it over Havers' shoulders.
"You think I look dashing?" Havers teased.
"I, well I uhm, that is to say that I uhm - yes I, I suppose I do, yes," the Captain stuttered. He'd gone even redder, and couldn't meet Havers' twinkling eyes.
Havers grinned. "Have you always thought that? Or is that just because of the scar?"
The Captain looked at his feet. "Anthony... I think you know the answer to that."
"I'm not sure I do, James."
They faced each other again, and the Captain saw so much Joy on Havers' face that he struggled to form a coherent thought. Again. He let out a feign sigh of frustration, and couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, Anthony. I have always thought that. The moment we first met, I could hardly take my eyes off you. You were, well still are, striking in a way that I could never explain. I wish I had told you the day you left me, I..." he trailed off.
"Yes?" Havers whispered.
The Captain lifted his free hand and traced the edges of Havers' face, feeling the ridges of the scar on his cheek. He noticed Havers leaning into his hand, eyes half closed.
"I... oh, Anthony," he pressed their foreheads together and squeezed his eyes shut. "I love you. I love you so much, I have loved you for years and I never dared admit it to myself for fear of what it could mean for me."
The moments before Havers responded seemed to stretch out forever. What if he had made a mistake in confessing that? What if Havers didn't feel the same? What if --
Havers lifted his head slightly, and placed a very gently kiss to the Captain's forehead. "I love you too, James."
The Captain noticed he was crying again, and cursed himself quietly. Before he had the chance to wipe his tears away, Havers hand already brushed them away with his soft hands. They were both grinning, and started to laugh.
"Gosh, look at us. A pair of lovesick teenagers, eh?"
Havers' eyes crinkled in delight, and he moved in towards the Captain. His hand found its way around the back of the Captain's neck, and he entwined his fingers through his hair. Both of their breathing had become very shallow, and the Captain steadied his now trembling hand on Havers' waist. He noticed Havers' eyes flicker down to his lips and back up to his eyes.
And all of a sudden, they both leaned in at the same time.
It was like the Earth stopped spinning, but had exploded at the same time. There was nothing but the two of them, and a fire that had been long subdued was finally being fanned. It burned hotter than the brightest of stars.
They laughed between kisses, and didn't stop even when the rain started falling.
"I never thought-"
"I know."
The Captain lay his head on Havers' shoulder, and they sat in a tight embrace until the chill started to get to them
"Shall we go in?" Havers enquired, looking at the Captain with so much love in his eyes that the Captain worried he might burst.
"I think that would be wise."
They both hurried back into the house, brushing against each other the entire time. Stealing glances, smiles and each others hearts.
"Perhaps we could spend the night in my room?" Havers asked, sounding apprehensive.
The Captain moved so that they were facing each other. He lay his arms around Havers' waist, and kissed him fondly. "I would very much like that, Anthony."
The Captain thought for a moment. "I should warn you though, I have been told I snore."
Havers let out the most wonderful snort the Captain had ever heard. "Oh, I know, James. Me and the other men at Button House could hear you down the hallway every night."
He was mortified, and tried his very best to look the part. Whilst pretending to be shocked and appalled, Havers had taken his hand and started leading him back up the stairs to his bedroom. The Captain followed dutifully, holding tightly onto Havers' hand.
Surely, surely this all had to be a dream. How was it even possible?
As the Captain continued to question his very reality, Havers had let go of his hand and was sat on the bed, looking up at him.
"James?" he asked, brow creased.
The Captain snapped back to reality. "Ah, yes, sorry. I let my thoughts get carried away there for a moment..."
Havers patted the empty space next to him on the bed, and the Captain sat down next to him. "And what thoughts might those be?" he pondered.
"I just, what if I'm dreaming? What if none of this is real and I've finally well and truly lost my bally mind?"
"You tell me, James - does this feel real?" Havers mumbled, as he lay his hands on the Captain's chest and kissed him softly.
"Hmm," was the only noise the Captain made for some time. At some point they had both taken to lying down, still kissing.
"Believe this is real now?" Havers smiled.
"Mmm, yes I believe so, Anthony..." the Captain breathed, kissing him again.
At some point over the next hour, they both nodded off in each others arms, faces almost touching. The Captain was snoring, as promised, and Havers had fallen asleep smiling.
The world had never seen a more contented pair.