Sunlight and Storms

As Good As You

(Hamlet x Horatio fanfic. Written as extra credit for English class)

Horatio watched as Hamlet returned from speaking with the ghost, the prince's face pale and grim, so different from the Hamlet Horatio had known back in Wittenberg.

"My lord!" Horatio exclaimed, rushing towards Hamlet worriedly.

"Lord Hamlet!" Marcellus called, following not far behind Horatio.

Reaching him, Horatio asked hurriedly, "Are you alright, my lord?" He nearly reached for the prince, wanting to look him over and make sure he was alright before he remembered Marcellus' presence and restrained himself.

"I am fine, my dear Horatio." Hamlet replied, giving the man a tight smile.

"How did it go, my lord?" Marcellus inquired

"It was incredible!" Hamlet breathed, almost in awe as he thought of the experience.

"Please, tell us, my lord." Horatio requested.

"No." Hamlet replied, shaking his head slightly, "I think not, you'll talk."

"I swear I won't, my lord." Horatio responded earnestly.

"Neither shall I, my lord." Marcellus added.

"Fine." Hamlet agreed with a sigh, "But you promise you can keep a secret."

"Yes, I swear." Horatio and Marcellus responded in unison, the former sending an annoyed look to the latter.

"Any villain in Denmark is going to be, well, a villain." Hamlet told them vaguely.

"You don't need a ghost returning from the grave to tell you that, my lord." Horatio half-jested.

"Yes, you're absolutely right." Hamlet agreed before clapping his hands together in a grateful gesture, "So, without further ado, the best thing to do now is probably just shake hands and go our separate ways. You go and take care of your business and I'll go pray."

"You're talking in such an odd way, my lord." Horatio told him, concerned.

Hamlet's eyes widened slightly, "I apologize if I offended you, dear Horatio."

"Oh, don't worry about it, my lord Hamlet, no offense taken."

"Ah, but there is, Horatio, there's a lot of offense. As for this ghost we just saw, he's the real one, I can tell you that much. But regarding what happened between us, don't ask— I can't tell you." Hamlet finally looked away from Horatio and took to addressing both of the men before him rather than just one, "And now, my friends, do me a small favor."

"What is it, my lord? Of course we will." Horatio swore.

"Don't ever tell anyone of what you've seen tonight."

"We won't, my lord." Horatio and Marcellus promised in unison.

"No, you have to swear it."

"I swear to God I won't." Horatio swore, hand pressed to his heart and head ducked before he looked up at the prince, a familiar spark passing between them as sapphire met silver. Horatio had always loved Hamlet's eyes.

"Swear by my sword." Hamlet told Horatio, their eyes still locked and stuck in their own little world, making it so Marcellus' swear fell on deaf ears.

"But I already swore, my lord." Horatio argued.

"Yes, but swear by my sword this time." Hamlet instructed, an almost desperate look in his eyes.

Horatio had never seen him like this before, it was somewhat concerning. For this reason, Horatio swore genuinely, "I swear on your sword that I shall not speak of what has occurred on this very night."