#theme: touch

 Anne Carson, Euripides

"Unknow" found here

Honestly, I think they'd cuddle a bit.

If they're drunk, like this is after a successful raid and the Hawks are throwing one of their parties and Guts and Griffith get wasted and stumble back to Griffith's tent together to talk and hang out somewhere quiet, they don't think twice or show any hesitation, they are lying on the bed together staring at each others' mouths and resting their hands on each others' waists when they pass out.

Like lol at the start of chapter 16 Miura draws like at least 3 different pairs of dudes sleeping on top of each other after the previous night's party, and Guts and Griffith would regularly be one of those pairs, I have no doubt in my mind.

If they're not drunk but circumstances have led to them being at an inn together or something (and also they have somewhat modernized sensibilities and amenities since I think historically men sharing a bed in this general era would've been pretty normal irl, even strangers at an inn) I think they'd still share the bed easily enough. Maybe Guts would suggest he sleep on the floor, more because of their respective stations than staying five feet apart because they're not gay, and Griffith would just be like, don't be silly, there's enough room, get in. Maybe they'd fall asleep shoulder to shoulder instead of spooning or facing each other, but I'd like to think they'd wake up cuddling anyway.

Like this is just how I see them personally lol. I think there's room to see more awkward, hesitant distance between them, due to internalized homophobia and/or trauma, but I don't think that's necessarily a given. The way Guts is fine with Griffith's touch after their first duel, the way physical touch between them tends to be highlighted in small ways and often quite casual, the way Guts doesn't hesitate before rushing to hold Griffith in the torture chamber and many times after, the way Owen's impression of Guts from the Golden Age is existing at Griffith's side, the way Guts is mad about Griffith's promotions distancing him after the time skip, the way Guts is familiar enough with Griffith's room that he notices when he gets more books and casually reads the Kama Sutra while hanging out with him... it all adds up to a sense of togetherness and casual physical intimacy between them I feel.

In my mind they have that homoerotic touchy feely classic pre 2000s slash ship vibe in those missing three years. Maybe not quite a code red Starsky and Hutch or Jim and Blair, but a solid Kirk and Spock or Two and Jamie. (Sorry for the live action tv references, it's more my fandom background than manga/anime lol)

Guts hasn't had a gay awakening and has managed to justify his electric chemistry with Griffith as platonic admiration, and while Griffith may know he's gay, I think he's completely in denial about being in love with Guts, so getting cuddly together doesn't freak either of them out without more of a catalyst to make them realize how they really feel.

Plus I just like it as a contrast to post-Eclipse griffguts lol. The more idyllically happy and close they were, the better the mass murder divorce, the separate planes of existence, and the fact that Guts has a breakdown because Griffith is so far beyond his reach now.