In the Cabin

A short scene from the end of the last chapter of Roses on the Battlefield.

Lesley and David on the ship sailing into the new life.

Lesley put out his cigarette and went back into the cabin, stumbling slightly on his way. The sea in December wasn't as calm as it had been just a little over a month ago when they crossed it in the opposite direction. It wasn't storming, but the waves were noticeable. At least he didn't suffer from sea sickness.

And neither did David, who was sleeping peacefully in their cabin on the rather wide bunk bed. There was another one in the room, but it would remain undisturbed. 

Lesley stripped down to his underwear to go to bed, as in his frantic packing he'd forgotten his pyjamas. He didn't mind.

Carefully lifting the blanket that was half-covering David's body, he slid next to him trying not to wake him up. Of course, he was unsuccessful. Not so long ago they had still been soldiers, trained to stay alert even in their sleep. As soon as Lesley let the mattress take the weight of his body, David stirred, turning to face him and bringing him close. 

“Is it morning?” David muttered into Lesley's shoulder, his voice still sleepy. 

“Not at all,” Lesley said, kissing the top of the man's head lightly. “It's only been an hour. Please go back to sleep.” Lesley meant it. David had looked so tired when they had finally reconciled, so clearly affected by their separation, that Lesley would gladly let him sleep for a week to make up for his idiocy. 

But David was not convinced. “No. Not yet.” Though his words were still slurred, so Lesley hoped he would fall back to sleep, and remained silent. 

There was the rose bouquet on the bunkside table, in a metal vase that David asked a steward to procure. The roses were still miraculously fresh, despite the long day. Lesley reached out to touch a petal, remembering his earnest proposal to David. He'd never meant any words more in his life. 

Another hand joined his, David was clearly not as sleepy as Lesley thought him to be. Lesley took it in his hand and settled them on his chest, their fingers intertwined. He heard a contented sigh from David.

They lay in silence, their hands clutched together, tighter than the situation warranted, unspoken emotions passing through them.

After a while Lesley felt David relaxing, and after some more minutes his head rose up, David looking at him with familiar mirth.

“Lesley. Did you tell me you stole those flowers from your fiancee?”

Oh dear. Lesley nodded, ashamed, the memory of Minnie's angry face resurfacing. 

“You truly are something, Lesley Hart,” David spoke with a low chuckle, shaking his head. He clearly wasn't displeased, but Lesley felt embarrassed, nevertheless.

“I'm not the only one, you know,” he said defensively. “You were the one who kissed me, for the first time, I might add, while there was a dead body not five yards away.”

For some reason, the memory seemed funny, and to David as well, as they both burst out laughing. 

“I guess I am,” admitted David after quieting down. “But in my defence, at that moment I couldn't think of anything but you.”

Lesley sighed deeply and instinctively shuffled even closer to David, brushing his temple against his hair. “So did I.”

He recalled how strongly he felt the need to return to David when he saw those roses. How unbearable it had been to remain in Minnie’s presence to even break up with her. He was sure he had been awfully rude on top of everything else. 

“I'll need to write to Minnie, to explain it. Though I don't think she can ever forgive me.” He felt David tense. He knew the topic was unwelcome. Lesley kissed David's cheek placatingly. “She has been a good friend to me. But only that. I never even kissed her since returning.”

David was silent, and Lesley understood that it would take some time for David to stop thinking of Minnie as an enemy. But silence was, for now, acceptance enough. 

“David?” David lifted his head to look at him again, his eyes not sad, exactly, but serious. “I love you,” Lesley said.

“I…” David's throat worked, he closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. “I, too. You can't imagine how much, my darling.”

Lesley surged up to meet his lips, to kiss him, fiercely. Or he would start crying again. The strength with which David responded was telling. Lesley, again, promised himself to guard this man, to treasure this feeling that they had and could, finally, act on. They would have time now.

“We can be together now,” Lesley whispered, detaching himself from David's lips with reluctance,  his voice trembling and unsure. “I still can't believe it. Is it… real? Truly?”

David smiled at him, his dark eyes glittering in the semi-darkness that had fallen. “Real, my Lesley, absolutely.” His voice was reassuring, firm, and as always gentle. “We're safe. Free. We're real.”

Lesley sought out David's lips again, letting his words fill the scared, fearful part of himself he could never quiet. 

Rose scent in the air, David's weight on top of him, his passionate kisses - it was all true. 

He would keep it.