Chapter Text
Douglas still wasn't convinced that Martin hadn't cheated in that day's word game, the victor of which didn't have to share a room with Arthur this trip. Overall, it wasn't an entirely unpleasant experience, rooming with the steward for a night. The first officer was more upset that he had lost at all, and not so much actually upset about what the punishment was.
The lights were off, the room was quiet, and Douglas was almost asleep when he heard his name.
"Douglas, are you awake still?" Arthur whispered.
Douglas resisted the temptation to pretend and replied with a small put-out sigh. "Yes, Arthur?"
"I have a sort of hypocritical question for you."
"Okay, let's hear it."
The silence that followed lasted long enough for Douglas to wonder if Arthur had finally fallen asleep afterall.
"Arthur?"
"Hmmm."
"Are you going to ask your question or not?"
"Oh. Right. Yes. Sure. Sorry, Douglas. My mind sort of went all fuzzy trying to figure out where to start."
"And did you?"
"I think so. Can you promise not to tell mum though?"
That was what truly grabbed the pilot's attention: Arthur, the boy who was perpetually cheery about everything and anything, sounded nervous. He also wanted to keep a secret. From his mother. That was the closest thing to lying that the steward was capable of, and it was a huge red flag.
Douglas chose his next words very carefully. "If keeping a secret puts you in danger in any way, then I will tell Carolyn," Douglas informed Arthur. "That being said, as long as what you tell me isn't a threat to your safety, then you have my word."
"Thanks, Douglas." Arthur was quiet again for a few moments. "It's possible for the bible to be wrong about things, right?"
Douglas wasn't sure where he was expecting this conversation to go, but this definitely wasn't it. The airdot pilot was uncharacteristically caught off guard. "What?"
"The bible can be wrong about some things, can't it? Like how people aren't supposed to get divorced but they do, and that doesn't make them bad people. You and mum and Herc are all still brilliant. And...and mum and me are better off without dad, and happier without him living with us. So sometimes it can be a good thing even though it's supposed to be bad. And so that can be true about other things, can't it?"
Douglas sat up and did his best to make out the shape of Arthur in the dark, lying in the bed next to him.
"What do you think you've done wrong?" Douglas asked.
"I haven't done anything yet. It's something that I want to do."
"And what might that be?"
"Kiss Skip," Arthur admitted. "Would it be a sin? Because I can't help falling on love with him. Like that Elvis song. Do you know it?"
"Like the river flows, surely to the sea," Douglas sang, "darling so it goes, some things"
Arthur sang along quietly as Douglas finished the line.
"Were meant to be."
"Were made by bees."
There was silence for a few more moments.
"I thought you were more inclined toward the fairer sex," Douglas finally commented.
"Huh?"
"I thought you liked women," he tried again.
"I do. My girlfriends have always been lovely, brilliant even. Not as brilliant as Skip though, with his warm eyes, and his pretty smile, and his bright hair. Plus, I never sang Elvis songs in my head every time anyone else walked through the door, but I do with him." Arthur let out an odd noise that sounded like a combination of a hiccup, a sob, and a giggle.
"Arthur, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you liking men."
"It's just Martin."
"Or just Martin."
"I know."
"So then what's the problem?"
"What if I'm wrong?" Arthur sniffled, clearly struggling to hold back tears. "I'm wrong a lot Douglas, and I don't want Martin to go to hell just because I love him." Arthur was crying freely by the end of the sentence.
Douglas wasted no time in moving to sit on the steward's bed, and pulling the younger man up and into a hug.
"Oh Arthur, neither you or Martin are going to hell. I promise. And how often am I wrong?"
"Hardly ever," Arthur replied once he was finally able to catch his breath.
"Well there you are then. Now gallant steward, do you have a plan to tell our illustrious captain of your affections?"
"Not yet," Arthur admitted shyly.
"Well I do believe that I can help with that."
"Brilliant."
"And with a plan inspired by your dear mother no less."
"But Douglas, where are we going to get a piano?"