#bet he died and went to the after life expecting to see Davi

[existential-crisis24]

I genuinely will never understand why I torture myself by looking for comics and fanfics of how luffy and Sabo are impacted by Aces death.

Like I remember being in my room when the episode came out crying my goddamn eyes out to the point of my brother asking me if I’m alright, and every year like clockwork I decide to relive that pain.

Atleast it usually starts with me looking for fanfics of the brothers living happily and being able to meet eachother again but damn I a slut for pain I guess.

[marvelbbyx]

Can I Be Him? (Carol Danvers x Fem! Reader)

Summary: You and Carol have been the bestest of friends for years and years, to you it’s simply platonic. Whereas for Carol, she tortures herself constantly pining after you. The situation only gets worse when you get engaged to your boyfriend of three years and Carol has to leave for a mission (that could more or less take her six years to get back from).

The day before Carol has to leave, she admits her feelings for you, giving you two choices: to leave him and go with her or stay with him and get married.

Who will you choose and what will be your outcome?

Author’s Note: Yeah, I’m gonna make this a two parter lol since I wanna be dramatic. But stay tuned for tomorrow’s add on! 😁

Fic inspired by James Arthur’s song Can I Be Him? Which was 1000% the reason I wrote this.

Warnings! ANGST

Part Two Here!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen.

You took me back in time to when I was unbroken.

Now you're all I want.

And I knew it from the very first moment,

'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Carol, stop! You’re cheating!” You shriek as her Mortal Kombat character starts to pummel yours into a bloody pulp.

“How is it that you’re the one that taught me this game, yet—I’m kicking your ass.” The blonde says with a cocky smirk. “Guess you just suck.”

“Or my controller’s stuck.” You shot back.

“Yeah, okay,” She rolled her eyes playfully.

You two were at your apartment, it was your day off and you wanted nothing more than to relax at home, Carol just happened to sweeten the deal with a case of beer and some pizza.

The Captain and the Avenger, or as the others like to call you—Bert and Ernie. You and Carol were about as thick as thieves and you were never really seen without each other hardly ANYWHERE around the compound. It all started when Carol had been assigned a partner to accompany her on a mission to The Garden back in 2018. Everyone swore that you two wouldn’t get along, with your ability to plan ahead and Carol’s ability to...not plan ahead it was bound to be a recipe for disaster. But after a few jokes here and there and a battle later on you two became inseparable.

Nothing could shake or disrupt the bond that you two had, all except for one thing...him.

Carol had beaten you three times in the past five minutes, she offered a final round after noticing your frustration only to win again within seconds.

“Well, well, well,” Carol throws her arms behind her head. “What’s my score again, four? And what’s yours, zip?”

The playful challenge in her gaze stirred your competitive edge, the one that hated to lose and absolutely hated being out of control. Especially in the game of your choosing.

You cross your arms over your chest and pouted like a child, “It’s only because you cheated.” You huffed.

“Yeah, keep on telling yourself that, babe. Don’t be mad because you’re a sore loser.” She teased.

“Re-Match then.” You challenged with a grin. “If I win, you’ll do whatever I say. Same thing goes if you win.”

Carol’s brows lift up in intrigue, “Oh yeah? Like what?”

“That’s something we’ll have to figure out on our own time.” You say. You extend your hand out for Carol to shake. “So, do we have a deal, Danvers?”

She takes your hand, shaking it firmly. “We do.”

Her grip on your hand lingers longer than she meant to, yours were baby soft compared to hers, each callus and dry patch were a layout of her life, each held a story and meaning.

You slid your hand out from her grasp when you heard the door open and shut. You turned your head in the direction of the approaching footsteps, a smile forms on your lips when you hear, “Sweetheart? I’m home!”

“Hi, honey!” You call out.

Kevin Davis, your boyfriend of three years. A man as sweet as they came, someone that would move Heaven and Earth for you. He was a doctor helping out at the compound and you just so happened to come back from a mission with some severe battle damage. Long story short, you two fell in love and moved in together.

Carol forces her best smile before her eyes met with your boyfriend’s. “Hey, Kevin.”

“Hey, Car.” He greets with a small smile.

Carol hated that nickname. Much more than she hated him.

Not that he was a bad guy. Kevin was actually a great guy, always able to help out and very friendly. She didn’t hate him for that though, she hated how you would look at him when he told a joke or how your eyes would light up when you talked about him. But what Carol had hated most of all...was that it wasn’t her.

A portion of her heart dies as she sees you stand up to kiss him, you two talked and acted as if she wasn’t there, which made her want to scream and cry until her throat went raw. These feelings began the first time she met you. After the Snap, everyone was expected to mourn and remember the loved ones who vanished. Carol was dealing with losing a loved one as well. Her best friend, her rock, and the only family she had, Maria Rambeau, who had passed away from cancer.

You were there when she went and comforted her immediately after. Your bond strengthened since that day, as well as Carol’s feelings for you.

“I should be heading out,” Carol drew herself to her feet. “I gotta get up early for a meeting.”

“No, Carol you don’t have to leave, we can continue our game.” You tried to convince her.

‘I’d rather chew on barbed wire than to be in the same room with him.’

But instead of saying that, she bites her tongue and simply shakes her head. “It’s okay, Y/N, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

You gave a soft smile. “Okay.”

“Bye, Kevin.” The words produced the taste of bile to spread on her tongue.

“Bye, Carol.” Kevin says with his unrelenting smile.

Carol manages to make it to the car before she bursts into violent tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me.

Like it was a private show, I know you never saw me.

When the lights come on and I'm on my own,

Will you be there to sing it again?

Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories?

Can I be him?

I heard there was someone but I know he don't deserve you.

If you were mine I'd never let anyone hurt you, no, no.

I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips.

It's all that I've been thinking about.

'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six years.

Six years on recon for a planet held hostage by some alien heretics, a distress call was sent and Carol was the only one who had answered. Six years and a million light years away from Earth, and a million light years away from you.

Carol had to leave early the next morning and wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye to you before she left. So she decided to head over to your apartment for the re-match, once there; she found saying goodbye to be much more difficult than anticipated. Especially when you would greet her with such a smile that was now burned into her memory.

She tried not to think about it at all while you were playing the game, she tried not think of anything while playing.

“How are you beating me again?” You cried in disbelief watching Carol’s character slice yours in three parts.

“I told you I was good, you just didn’t believe me.” She smiles smugly. “Looks like I’m gonna win the bet.”

“You can try,” You challenged as you poked your tongue out at her.

Carol regained her focus back to the video game, having you on the ropes and your character’s life bar hanging on by a thread. It wasn’t until you lifted your left hand to tuck a piece of hair behind your ear that she caught glimpse of the gold engagement ring practically beaming up at her.

That was when she paused the game.

You gave a puzzled look. “What’d you do that for?”

Instead of answering you she stood up quickly, turning her back to you as she tried to fight the tears that threatened to slip down her cheeks. Engaged, how could you be engaged? And why with him?

“Carol?” You called softly.

“You weren’t gonna tell me...about the ring?” She asks, doing her best to hold off on crying.

Your eyes dart down to the gold band on your finger, fiddling with it gently. You yourself were quite shocked about it, the second that Carol left was when Kevin had proposed to you.

“I didn’t know how to say it,” You murmur. “I wanted to tell you first before I told everyone else.”

“So you decided to wear it and hope that I’d notice?” She chuckles.

“I was gonna talk to you after the game, ya know...if you hadn’t paused it.” You say as you awaited some form of a retort from your best friend, only to get no response. “Are you okay?”

Carol remained quiet for a few minutes, allowing the warm streams of water to fall down her cheeks. Burning as they did. Before you had the chance to ask again, Carol’s lips part to speak, the tears evident in her voice, “Why’d you say yes?”

“What?” You blinked up at her. “What do you mean?”

“I’m asking why him?” Her lip trembles.

“And I’m asking what brought this up?” You retort. “Because you’ve never said anything about this before and...and I don’t understand why now?”

She sighs before turning to you, her eyes pink and swollen. “Why now?”

You nod.

“Because I loved you since the beginning but I didn’t know it yet, and I especially didn’t know that it would hurt to love you this much.” Carol tells you, crying harder. “Especially when you talk about him.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Your throat constricted as unshed tears stung your eyes. “Waiting until now to say something doesn’t change anything, Carol. You can’t just—“

“I’m leaving for a mission tomorrow,” She says abruptly. “...for six years.”

The words that formed on your tongue evaporated instantly, gazing up at her with quiet intensity. “When we’re you going to tell me?”

“Today.” She replies.

“And that was supposed to soften the blow?”

“I thought—“

“No,” It was your turn to cut her off. “You can’t just drop a bomb on me like this.”

“You’re one to talk, when were you going to tell me that you were engaged?” She shot back, your silence being the response that she needed. “I thought so.”

You fiddled with your ring again, the band was heavy now feeling as if it would constrict your finger. “I loved you too...from the start, and I still do. I waited for you—to step in at any moment. I pushed Kevin away multiple times because you’re the one that I wanted. And...I still want you. Only you, Carol. If you would’ve said something then I wouldn’t be engaged. But now it’s too late.”

“Come with me,” She cried. “Please...”

You shake your head slowly, your tears flowing down your cheeks with haste. “I can’t—“

“Yes, you can. Leave him. Leave him and...and come with me. Please, Y/N.” Carol begged. “You say it’s too late but you still have time. We still have time. Come with me...please.”

“Carol, I—“

And before you were able to finish your answer, the door opened and Kevin walked in, “Hi, baby! I’m home!”

“Hi, honey.” You reply quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To be continued....👀

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag list: @captains-simp

If anyone else would like to be tagged just let me know! ☺️

[theuntamednarrator]

Shenanigans on the High Seas

from @trensu​, the blog that brought you WangXiantics, and from that other blog that just, like, screams a lot in the tags, comes the AU that we all desperately need because, frankly, we’re a little dehydrated from crying over the Nie Bros (drumroll please)

PIRATE AU!!!

You know you want it

the Zidian is Jiang Cheng’s ship. he inherited it from his mother, who was known as the Violet Spider, Scourge of the Seven Seas

before she retired, Captain Yu had two first mates she’d trained since childhood, Wen Qing and Luo Qingyang

after Captain Yu retired they got married and are now Pirate Wives with an-all female crew aboard the Yiling Matriarch

her bright red sails are just as feared as the purple sails of Zidian or the sable sails of Ghost General

any man who sets foot on the Matriarch best be prepared to lose it, and the leg it’s attached to

rumour has it that every carpenter from beijing to budapest pays the Matriarch a commission, for keeping them in work making peg legs, but that’s just a rumour

JC captains the Zidian alongside his first mate Jiang Yanli

the rumours about her say that she’s the reason there’s so little murdering done by those aboard the Zidian

but the crew know she once ordered a captive tied to a chunk of bait and thrown overboard near Shark Reef Bay

granted, she let the crew fish him back out after the first bite, and Jin Zixun never said another word about Captain Wei Wuxian until he was ransomed

but still

speaking of WWX, he captains the Ghost General, though far from doing any actual captaining he’s usually to be found up in the crow’s nest with a bottle of rum and his flute

luckily, his trusted first mate Wen Ning is more than capable of handling the General

his very favourite targets are the Jin Company’s slave traders, and most of his crew are former captives who chose to stay with him after their rescue

regardless of how drunk he might be, no one can fight like Captain WWX, except perhaps JC and JYL, they did grow up together after all!

because WWX was a foundling fished from the wreckage of a vanquished merchant ship by the Violet Spider at age 6 and taken to the island hideaway where her lover, former merchant sailor turned stay-at-home-dad Jiang Fengmian, is raising their two children

because this is a HAPPY AU DANGIT, and we deserve ONE AU where these two don’t traumatise their children

Captain Yu and JFM are in fact very, very happy together and raise little WWX together alongside JYL and JC

Captain Yu and JFM met when she raided his ship

he offered himself and all the gold aboard in return for his crew’s lives

she thought him rather striking and went about setting him up on a little island she knew, very out of the way, where she can visit as often as she likes

JFM is DELIGHTED by this turn of events, which he loudly denies has anything to do with Captain Yu’s famed skill with a whip

while JFM was settling into his sugar baby life, his crew were returning back to their home port to report to JFM’s business partner, Lan Qiren, that the Violet Spider had killed JFM and taken all their gold

LQR, who had secretly been in love with his best friend and business partner for years, declares the Violet Spider his ARCH NEMESIS and sets about trying to destroy her

when his brother and sister-in-law die and leave his two nephews in his care he ropes them into the feud

the Lan Brothers both join the merchant navy and are the very most eligible bachelors polite society has to offer

they hate all pirates of course but especially the unholy trio of Zidian, Ghost General, and the Yiling Matriarch

this makes it VERY awkward when Lan Wangji finds himself THROWN OVERBOARD during a terrible storm, rescued by WWX, and dragged aboard the General

at first, recognising the uniform, WWX keeps LWJ under his eye by tying their wrists together with a length of rope for absolutely no other reason definitely not cause he’s cute, nope, no sir

later, LWJ manages to snatch a sword and an EPIC DUEL ENSUES *cue he’s a pirate (main theme) from PotC here*

they’re in the rigging, they're sliding down the sails, they’re fighting up and down the deck

LWJ is HORRIFIED to realise at one point that WWX is laughing

even worse, he, LWJ, is having fun??? wtf he’s never had fun in his life how dare

after the fight ends in a draw LWJ and WWX come to an Understanding and have many deep and meaningful conversations as they sail back towards port

both of them fall madly in love of course, but Pirate!WWX and Midshipman!LWJ are just as emotionally dense as the OG varieties so there’s A LOT of pining

Seriously- so. much. pining

they probably battle a sea monster at some point because that’d be sick

finally, they arrive back at the port and WWX asks (sadly, because pining) where he should leave him and LWJ says (sadly, because pining) that any of the Gusu Cloud piers is fine

and WWX laughs because how funny! my dad used to be a merchant sailor for the Gusu Cloud Company

which is how LWJ discovers that the ‘dad’ WWX has been telling stories about for literal WEEKS is actually his uncle's now not-so-long-lost-love!because they are both Disaster Drama Gays™ they decide they simply MUST do this Right. After all, it’s an Epic Reunion™!!!

LWJ convinces his uncle to come out sailing with him (even though LQR has not boarded a ship since JFM was lost, cue sweeping nostalgic music and distant stare into montage of the two of them in their Youth)

they row him blindfolded out to the island where JFM and Captain Yu live and the moment LQR sees JFM it’s jaws to the floor.

there are tears

JFM puts his hands on LQR’s shoulders and says ‘my old friend. you never said’

they hug

it’s adorable

don’t roll your eyes it’s adorable and you know it

Captain Yu and LQR still Do Not Get Along

their Epic Rivalry™ continues but now it’s just morphed into them trying to outdo each other in displays of affection

JFM’s little island house soon holds more jewels, gold, fine silk, and artwork than half the royal coffers of europe

family dinners are a DELIGHT

JC freaking runs whenever his father hosts Captain Yu and LQR for dinner

because 1) god dad, you're so embarrassing, and 2) HE DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING THEY GET UP TO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THANKS

JYL thinks it's sweet and loves seeing her dad so happy

WWX does the pirate-time equivalent of a bro fistbump with JFM, like, NICE.

LWJ is very quiet but secretly loves it because he, as we all know, is That Bitch

‘A wedding! I love it! drinks all round!’ – WWX, probably, when the three finally announce they’re getting married

the wedding is WILD

there’s a whole lot of dancing, WWX is in the thick of it of course

LWJ wants so badly to ask him to dance but he still hasn’t told him how he feels (because emotionally dense disaster gays, remember?)

he finally has to go outside after WWX somehow convinces LQR to dance a jig with him which means WWX has officially asked everyone to dance except him

he goes and sits in the tidal rockpool, and his billowy white shirt is all wet and see through when WWX comes stumbling out of the party calling for him

WWX sees LWJ silhouetted by an endless horizon of ocean and stars and dies. he's quiet for the first time in his whole life

then LWJ turns and sees him so of course WWX has to go down and talk to him. he may be a pirate but he’s not a barbarian (unlike some certain nies we could name but won’t he’s definitely not still salty about the arm wrestle incident with Captain Nie’s ‘little brother’ eh he’s not much of a fighter but he’s great with languages yeah right his wrist still hurts sometimes bloody barbarians)

‘ah lan zhan lan zhan! you aren’t allowed to run away; we haven’t had a dance yet. even your uncle danced with me surely you can’t say no!’ *pouts*

lwj.exe has stopped working

but of course he can’t deny WWX anything so he makes to head back inside

now wwx.exe has stopped working

because to HELL if he’s sharing wet LWJ in a see though white shirt with the rest of those imbeciles

‘ah, um lan zhan lan zhan we can hear the music from here just fine can’t we? let’s just dance right here?’

and of course LWJ says yes

so the two of them just dance together on the edge of the ocean, waves lapping over their bare feet

until a particularly big one knocks them flat (listen, it’s a trope for a REASON dagnabbit)

WWX ends up sprawled over LWJ’s chest and he’s laughing and apologizing

but LWJ is just looking at him, wreathed in stars, eyelashes so wet and glittering, the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen

WWX notices how still he is and they just pause for a moment and stare at each other

doesn’t really matter who kisses who but they are kissing and it’s wet and salty, there is sand in their teeth, and they absolutely do not give a flying dutchman

they don’t even register the cheers and catcalling until JC runs up and dumps a bucket of water over their heads

because dammit he hasn’t spent months running out of every room his parents and LQR are in just to watch his big brother pop his cherry get it on on the beach

the rest of the gang are all watching from the porch

WN and LXC look very awkward and embarrassed

JYL looks fond and is shaking her head

JC meanwhile is having a heated argument with WQ because there were bets on you see

WQ ‘pouring a bucket of water over them is cheating I’m not paying you one penny JC’

JC ‘I’m a pirate why on earth would you expect me to play by the rules pay up Captain’

WWX and LWJ sneak away while they’re all arguing

The General has one new crew member when she next sails out

ANYWAY married gay pirates wangxian having adventures AU is what we’re saying

Also for your consideration other delightful Pirate!AU options include:

naval officer!lwj chasing down pirate!wwx (think norrington/sparrow if Disney weren’t COWARDS);

high society!lwj in love with blacksmith-turned-pirate!wwx (the Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner dynamic, except with Swann in the forge fight because we said so);

davy jones!lwj pining for calypso!wwx (carving your heart out = chest brand anyone? seriously, just imagine LWJ setting foot on dry land for the first time in 13, 16, 10 YEARS, playing the song he’s composed for his love and WWX IS NOT THERE!!!!) 

[raybyanothername]

Sonny's Itch - SEAL Team

In which Sonny finds out that Clay and Brian were a thing and helps the young SEAL deal with his grief as only Sonny can. Mostly with whiskey.

Set in a non-specific time period.

Prompt from allyhope over on Ao3: "I've imagined stories where Clay and Brian had been together and Brian dies, and the Bravo team find out Clay is gay when he joins the team, but I'm never going to get that story!"

-.-.-

He had an itch. The sort one couldn't physically scratch. It niggled at the back of his mind. Just. Itching.

"Sonny," Davis waved a hand in front of his face, beers in her other hand and eyebrow raised high, "You okay?" Sonny shrugged. He took the beer. Davis laughed, shoved his shoulder, "Come on, what's wrong?"

"I do not know," Sonny narrowed his eyes, "And that! Is the problem." Davis plopped onto the couch beside him, feet curled up beneath her. Sonny sank backwards.

The itch persisted.

Davis paused the movie that Sonny was officially not watching, "Alright, let's figure it out. Who?" Sonny scrunched his face up as he glanced at Davis, "Who on the team are you worried about?" Davis enunciated every word.

"You're a genius." Sonny stood up, chuckled. He pointed at Davis, "Little buddy. He was all fidgety during the mission."

Davis nodded, "He did seem off. You think something's up?"

Sonny grinned, snapped his fingers, "I'mma find out!" His beer was forgotten on the coffee table as he ran out the door. Davis chuckled to herself as she watched him go.

"Crazy cowboy." She took a gulp from her beer and hit play.

-.-.-

When Sonny stood outside Spenser's apartment he wasted no time with pleasantries and knocked obnoxiously, "Spenser!" He used both hands to drum on the wood, "Open says-a-Sonny!"

"What the hell, man?" Spenser opened the door with a quick yank. Sonny took in the ruffled hair and red eyes, glossed over the sweats, and then shoved his way into Spenser's apartment.

"I got myself an niggling itch in the back of my head," Sonny looked over the apartment as he walked across the wood flooring.

Clay chuckled behind him. "I think they make cream for that." Sonny heard the door swing shut.

Take out on the counter, on the coffee table, a box of photos, some splayed out on the floor beside a pile of blankets that indicated Clay hadn't been sleeping in his bed. "It was pointing me directly at you."

"I'm good." Clay wasn't a particularly good liar. Sonny raised an eyebrow, indicated the nest by the couch. "Just, uh, been thinking about the past."

"Oh, yeah?" Sonny stepped towards the pictures, Clay appeared in front of him quicker than a bullet. "What part of the past?" He raised an eyebrow, watched Clay fidget in front of him.

"My, uh, my friend Brian's birthday was this week." Clay looked just about everywhere but Sonny's face, "The big 3-0, ya know, we'd, uh, been planning to do something."

Sonny clasped Clay's shoulder, "That calls for alcohol." He detoured to the kitchen, was happy to see that Clay was well stocked in the way of beer and whiskey. He grabbed both.

"Isn't drinking when you're upset a bad thing?" Clay had settled back into his nest, was fumbling to pick up photos from the ground before Sonny could see them.

Sonny plopped onto the couch, tried hard (and failed) not to look at the scattered mess. He handed Clay the whiskey. "Thought you said you were good?"

Clay took the alcohol, took a long drag from the bottle. Ray'd probably not approve. Sonny clinked his beer with the bottle when Clay took a breath.

"So?" Sonny waited, Clay glanced up, "Tell me about your buddy." A bright red blush bloomed on the kid's face - not alcohol induced. Sonny squinted at Clay."He wasn't just your buddy, was he?"

"Well," Clay cleared his throat, "We were close."

Sonny snickered, "I bet." He took a drink, "Suppose that explains some things." Sonny thought back to Spenser sitting in the cafeteria after Armstrong's death. He'd looked pretty pathetic, even lost. "How long you two together?"

"Since BUD/S." Clay reached out for a particular photo. Sonny watched a ghost of a smile grace the kid's face.

The photo was obviously older. Clay didn't even look old enough to grow a beard for one. If Sonny didn't recognize the crest in the background the two men might have passed for college students.

"That's a long while." Sonny gestured to the photo, "You look happy." The kid did too. So did Armstrong. All smiles. "Couldn't have been easy, keeping a relationship like that under wraps so long."

Clay chuckled, threw the photo onto the coffee table. "Yeah." The kid sniffed and then took another chug from the whiskey bottle.

Sonny watched him a while longer. Watched him pick up photos. Afghanistan. Vegas. Iraq. Liberia. Spenser grew a beard, Armstrong gained freckles. They never stopped smiling.

"Come on." Sonny lowered himself from the couch to the ground to sit beside Clay. He wrapped an arm around the kid. "Tell me something."

"He thought he was a lot funnier than he actually was." Clay's laugh was a little watery, but Sonny pretended not to notice. "Use to joke that his real job for the Navy was keeping me from doing something stupid."

Sonny considered all the trouble that seemed to just find Spenser, "Might be something to that one."

"Probably." Clay tucked his chin against his chest. "We were thinking of going diving in Hawaii after we made the teams, for his birthday. First time we had the time, ya know, check out the Molokai Express."

"There are far easier, and less stupid, ways to visit Tahiti," Sonny shook his head. Brian wasn't that good at keeping Clay out of trouble, if they were going to try to swim in that sucker.

Clay shrugged, "That's what Brian said too, actually."

"A voice of reason," Sonny smiled, "My mama always said you needed at least one of those in your life." Clay nodded, settled into the half-hug a little more. "She also said a thing or two about people looking after us from heaven."

"Wasn't that also a George Strait song?"

Sonny tapped him on the back of the head, "Steve Wariner."

"If you say so," Clay smirked, pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped himself up tight in a ball.

Sonny picked up one of the photos on the ground. The two were sun-burnt as hell and wearing Mickey Mouse ears on their heads. "Alright, now tell me about this one here?"

-.-.-

"Spenser's hungover." Jason scowled at the blond sleeping in the hammock. Ray shook his head.

"Leave him be," Sonny walked up beside the two, "He earned that hangover." Jason scoffed.

Ray crossed his arms, "You get him drunk?" Sonny shrugged.

"Technically, it was the whiskey." Sonny pushed his cap up a little to properly emphasize his point. With eyebrows specifically.

"You ever figure out what the itch was about?" Davis called from the other side of the plane. Her question stopped what was surely a mighty fine lecture from Ray.

"What itch?" Jason sighed, dragged a hand down his face, "And please tell me it doesn't involve a stripper."

"Better not, he didn't invite me," Trent knocked Sonny's shoulder as he walked past.

Sonny pursed his lips, rocked back on his heels, "Not that sorta itch. Kid was off, couldn't shake the feelin' he was in need, so I went to check on him."

"Big Brother Sonny to the rescue huh?" Ray smiled, arms uncrossed. Hands went to his hip, "It have to include whiskey?"

"Whiskey was his." Sonny shrugged again.

Jason's gaze flicked over to the kid, "What was up with him?"

"Remember Armstrong?" Sonny raised an eyebrow.

"The guy who bought it in Green Team?" Trent asked. Sonny nodded. Cerberus walked past them all to curl up beneath Clay.

"He and Spenser were friends right," Brock leaned against the wall of the plane, coming over from his own hammock.

Sonny pursed his lips, waggled his eyebrows. The significance dawned on Ray first, "O-h!"

This realization was followed by several slack jawed expressions from various members of Bravo and a communal turn to stare at Clay's hammock. Sonny nodded.

"You know, that makes sense," Ray puckered his lips as he nodded to himself, "The kid was way more shaken by his death then I would have expected."

Jason groaned, "Feel kinda like a jerk now, ragging on him."

"I have so many questions," Trent grinned to himself. "Mostly, did Seaver figure it out?" He chuckled, "That'd be talent, slipping something like that past him, during Green Team no less."

Brock shook his head, "Who cares about Green Team, they went through BUD/S together." Yet another communal turn to stare at Spenser, who fidgeted in his sleep this time.

Good instincts. Because even Ray had a mischievous twinkle to his eyes now. Cerberus growled, low and quiet, and they dispersed.

"Traitor," Brock whispered at his dog as he passed by.

[bee-kathony]

Casualties of War

#QLPromptExchange - @thelallybrochlibrary

PROMPT #13: Claire has a relationship with another female nurse during the war.

Thank you @jules-fraser for making this beautiful moodboard!

CHAPTER 1 | BEDSIDE MANNERS

When the war broke out across Europe, there was no questioning mine or Frank’s involvement. My husband, Frank of only two short years became an officer with MI6 while I began training as a nurse at Pembroke Hospital in England. The hours were long and exhausting, days spent on my feet with little sleep. But the reward was being able to help heal in any way possible the brave men that were fighting for our country.

During my combat nurse training I became close friends with a few girls who were assigned the same shifts as me.

Cecelia Davies, a girl about my age, came from Brighton and had volunteered because her two eldest brothers had been enlisted. A girl named Nancy Thomas who was two years older than me, outspoken and mischievous, had volunteered because her parents told her she couldn’t. Then there was Emily, my closest friend. Emily Hampton was one year younger than me, she was sweet, quiet and loved to read just like me. We had bonded quickly, discussing our favourite authors and novels, never failing to find a conversation topic.

It was quite hard to be away from Frank, having only been married a short time, I missed him dearly but it was Emily who comforted me on those cold dark nights when I found myself missing him the most, wondering if he was even still alive.

We were all so pleased when we learned that we had all been stationed at the same field hospital in Amiens, France. We had been here for roughly one year already and there seemed to be no end in sight to the war.

Today was slow, unlike yesterday when a bomb went off in a nearby village and swarms of civilians and soldiers were brought in. I hadn’t bothered to eat, simply forgetting my own needs as I cared for the wounded; amputating two arms, one leg and bandaging as many heads as I could.

There wasn’t much for us to do besides make our rounds, checking on the patients, emptying bedpans and reapplying soiled bandages. I found I had a pretty strong stomach, having spent most of my youth with my Uncle Lamb who was an archeologist, out in deserts and in foreign countries, eating their delicacies and being exposed to all elements of the world. Emily on the other hand, did not have a strong stomach.

I watched as she re-wrapped a man’s bandage, he had a brain injury and part of his skull was missing. She nearly gagged three times but managed to finish the bandage and gave the man a glass of water.

I laughed to myself as she put her hand over her mouth, walking over to me and then grabbed the closest bin, throwing up whatever food was still in her system.

“I really should have volunteered to be a clerical worker instead of this.” She groaned, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. “Imagine me sitting at a desk, the window open blowing my hair gently around my face and not a bloody bandage in sight!” She laughed and sat down next to me on the spare bed I was now occupying.

I took the hand she had not wiped across her mouth in mine, giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze. “But then you wouldn’t be here with me and that would be quite dreadful I think.” She rested her head on my shoulder, “Besides… I don’t think I could put up with Nancy’s flirting with all the patients if I didn’t have you to talk about it with afterwards.” That made her laugh which in turn cheered me up. I had had another rough and sleepless night worrying about Frank, I always did after treating wounded soldiers, which was practically everyday.

“When do you think Cecelia will be back from her brother’s funeral?” Emily asked me. Cece’s brother, George, had died in battle. He was stationed here in France and was caught in crossfire, her family had received the telegram a week ago.

“I expect by the end of the week and if not then, definitely the next. I was surprised Sister Lamarche let her go back to England for the funeral. What’s even more surprising is that she managed to find transportation there. I still wonder how they recovered George’s body and got him to his family.” People died all the time, it wasn’t often one of us was allowed to leave and grieve back home with our families.

Emily lifted her head off my shoulder and looked up at me, “You didn’t hear?” She asked.

“Hear what?” I replied.

“They didn’t bring George’s body back to his family. They only knew he died because they found his army badge out in the rubble… amongst limbs.” She forced herself not to gag at the thought.

“I thought it was only crossfire? A bomb?” There would be no body to return to his family, the funeral was for the family to grieve and mourn the loss of their son as a casualty of this bloody war.

“Poor Cece. She must be so heartbroken.” I sighed, squeezing Emily’s hand in mine. Often, I found myself squeezing my own hands into fists whenever I became emotional or on the verge of tears. Emily had picked up on this weird habit of mine and so when I squeezed her hand she looked at me, the unspoken question in her eyes.

“I’ll be alright Em. Promise.” I reassured her and she squeezed my hand back.

“Tell me something happy Emily, something to take my mind off of Frank and whether or not I still have a Husband.” I half laughed but my heart wasn’t in it. War took its toll on the human spirit.

She crossed her legs at the ankles and leaned her head back against the pillow. “Hmmm, something happy, something happy to cheer up Mrs. Claire Randall…” she said, her voice thick with amusement. “I can tell you about my first kiss and how awkward it was? Shall I?” She asked and with a slight nod from me she began talking.

“I was thirteen and he was fourteen, a year ahead of me in school. I barely even had breasts for crying out loud but there I was, kissing a boy.” She laughed, “His name was Billy, cute for a fourteen year old I guess but the thing was… he was shorter than me.” I fake gasped like it was the most horrendous bit of news she could tell me and she swatted my hand playfully, “Yes! He asked me to go to the cinema, with my parents sitting three rows ahead of us, don’t even get me started on that.”

“He held my hand throughout the film which was sweet but nothing happened past that. You see, I had a bet with my friends that he would kiss me during the movie but he didn’t so I assumed I was out two pounds.” Emily rubbed her thumb and pointer finger together as if she had the two pounds in her fingers now.

“But after the movie my parents drove us to his house and I told them to drive around the block. My Dad wasn’t too thrilled by that idea but my Mother coerced him into it.” She exclaimed. Emily was quiet and typically shy but with me she could talk for ages, she was also a natural story teller once you got to know her.

“So there I am walking next to Billy Smith and we’re standing on the steps before his house. I though ‘oh here we go, this guy’s not gonna kiss me, even after I sent my parents away’, but all of sudden he found his balls and kissed me.”

“That doesn’t seem so awkward, it seems sweet actually.” I said.

“Claire, don’t forget, he was shorter than me, to kiss me, he had to stand on the tips of his toes. So he kissed me, it wasn’t hot and heavy, he just put his lips on mine and didn’t move them. I had seen the movies Claire, I knew what kissing was supposed to look like and this wasn’t it.”

“I wanted to heat things up a bit so I grabbed his hands and put them on my waist but he had other ideas, that little bastard moved his hands and squeezed my arse! And here’s where it gets really awkward… my parents… my God, my parents drove up just as Billy’s hands touched my arse.” This had me laughing, I now had forgotten my worries about Frank.

“My Father put the car in park and jumped out so quick! Billy jumped so high and barely said ‘goodnight’ and he opened his front door and ran in before my Father could kick his little arse.”

We were both laughing now and I heard a loud “Shhh!” From across the room and we put our hands over the other’s mouth. That only made us start laughing even harder and soon tears were streaming down both our faces. What was it about trying to hold in your laughter that only made you want to laugh more?

I took a few deep breaths and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“What was your first kiss like Claire? Juicy I’ll bet.” Emily said, reaching to grab a tissue from the side table and handing me one.

“No. Not really. The first time I ever kissed a boy was in grade school, he almost missed my mouth in fact. Nothing juicy or special.” I had actually only ever kissed three people in my life. That boy from school, a young archaeologist that was traveling with my Uncle Lamb and then Frank.

“Aw drat. I was hoping to get an enthralling tale about the beginnings of Claire Randall’s sexual encounters.” Emily poked her finger into my side just under my left breast.

“Nothing enthralling, I’m afraid. Just plain vanilla sex.” I blushed and then realised that Emily’s hand had not moved from my side but had actually slid just under my breast.

“Have you ever kissed a girl Emily?” I asker her, she was staring down at her hand, her fingers moving slowly against my stomach.

“No.” She said quietly, “Have you?” The touch of her fingers was sending little tingles throughout my body. I hadn’t been touched this intimately in months.

“No.” I repeated her answer. Emily looked up from her hand and into my eyes. I noticed for the first time how green her eyes were, so unlike my muddy brown ones.

Before I knew it, Emily’s mouth was pressed against mine. Her eyes were closed but I hadn’t even a chance to close mine before she had pulled away. “I’m so sorry, Claire. I don’t know what came over me.” She blushed a deep crimson and made to move off the bed. “Please forgive me.”

I grabbed her wrist so she couldn’t leave and forced her to look at me. “There’s nothing to forgive Em, it was an innocent kiss.” I smiled, “A bit short but enjoyable nonetheless.” Now I was blushing.

She sighed and moved back to her spot on the bed next to me. “I suppose I just got caught up in the moment, it’s hard you know… being so far from our loved ones… not being touched unless it’s your own hands.” Her statement made me blush even deeper, I had heard soft moans coming from her bed a few times in the time we had known each other but I only assumed she was having a bad dream, never did I think she was touching herself.

I guess I was feeling that same ache of wanting to be touched because I placed my hand behind her neck and turned her head to kiss me.

Emily’s lips were stiff against mine but then she relaxed once she realised what was happening. She moaned gently against my lips when I pressed my hand against her breast, cupping its full weight.

The kiss lasted a few more moments but ended too soon as I heard footsteps coming down the hall and remembered that we were sitting on a spare bed in the infirmary, the privacy sheet barely shielding us from the rest of the patients.

I pulled away and moved a stray piece of hair behind her cheek. “I guess I got caught up in the moment then too.” I smiled and then stood from the bed just as Sister Lamarche walked through the doors and spotted us.

“Ms. Hampton, get out of that bed and come with me. Ms. Randall, come with me as well.” She ordered and Emily stood from the bed, bending quickly to straighten the crumpled sheets.

We followed Sister Lamarche out the door and I dared a glance at Emily who reached out and took my hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.