Chapter 8
As the sun began to set, the three men sat in a small clearing, the glow of the nearby campfire providing a cozy ambiance. The other soldiers around them carried on with their conversations, the usual banter of home and the war creating a familiar hum.
Scott and Lightning both seemed at ease, comfortable in each other's company and Brick's presence. But Brick, in the middle of their makeshift circle, was lost in thought.
Brick sat quietly, his demeanor a stark contrast to the lighthearted chatter around him. The word "friends" echoed in his mind, bringing forth a wave of memories he had tried to suppress. His father's voice echoed in his thoughts - "friends are a distraction," he'd been told. But now, staring into the fire, Brick couldn't deny the comfort he felt in the presence of Scott and Lightning.
He glanced discreetly at the two men, his gaze flickering momentarily between them. Scott and Lightning were laughing at a joke one of the soldiers had made a few feet away. Their easy camaraderie was both foreign and familiar to Brick. He'd seen it countless times in the army, but he'd never been part of it, not truly.
But as the evening wore on, Brick found himself drawn into their conversation. Scott and Lightning included him effortlessly, asking his opinions on trivial matters and laughing at his dry responses. The more they talked, the more Brick felt a strange sense of belonging settling over him.
But deep down, a part of him resisted. Could he truly let himself believe in these unlikely friendships? He wasn't used to lowering his guard, to allowing others into his thoughts and feelings. The fear of being seen as weak, of being vulnerable, was ingrained in him.
As the night grew darker, the camp quieted down. Many soldiers retreated to their tents for the night, leaving Brick, Scott, and Lightning sitting around the dying embers of the fire. The silence was comfortable, the only sound the soft crackle of the fire and the distant hoot of an owl.
Brick's voice cut through the quiet night air, the words spoken in a rough whisper. Both Scott and Lightning turned to him, surprised by his sudden declaration.
Scott raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Is that so?" he teased. "Kind eyes, huh? That's all she needs for you to tie the knot?"
Lightning chuckled, joining in the banter. He elbowed Brick softly on the shoulder. "Yeah, Brick. You're not the kind of guy who expects a supermodel for a wife, are you?"
Brick chuckled, the tension draining from his shoulders. "Nah, I don't care about that," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "Looks fade. What matters is she's got a good heart, you know? Someone kind, loyal, someone who can put up my bullshit without losing her mind."
Scott nodded understandingly, his expression turning sincere. "He's got a point. Beauty is nice, but it's what's inside that counts in the long run."
Lightning chuckled again, shaking his head. "Well, color me surprised. Brick McArthur, secretly a hopeless romantic."
Scott and Lightning exchanged glances, both grinning at Brick's unexpected blush. Scott chuckled and leaned back, propping himself up on one arm.
"Me? I'm the king of romance," he joked, his voice dripping with mock arrogance. "Any girl would be lucky to have me."
Lightning rolled his eyes, clearly not buying into Scott's exaggerated claim. "Sure, you are, Scott," he teased. "I bet girls are just lining up at your tent every night."
Scott shot Lightning a mock-offended look. "What's that supposed to mean? You don't think I could have a line of admirers?"
"Oh, I'm sure you have plenty of admirers," Lightning retorted, grin widening. "Mostly in their imagination, I'd guess."
Scott laughed, enjoying the banter. "Oh, ha ha. Very funny, Lightning."
Lightning chuckled, then turned to Brick. "And what about you, Brick? Any girl back home stealing your heart?"
Brick's smile faded as the question turned to him. He looked down at the flickering fire, his expression clouding over momentarily. When he spoke, his voice was low and quiet.
"Nah. Ain't got time for that," he murmured, his answer short and closed off.
Scott and Lightning exchanged a glance, catching the change in Brick's tone. The lighthearted mood shifted as they sensed his withdrawn nature.
Scott cleared his throat softly. "You've never thought about it?" he asked gently.
Brick shrugged, still avoiding their gazes. "Thought about it, sure," he admitted. "But I ain't the kinda guy girls go for. Too serious, too stiff, ya know."
Scott and Lightning both noticed the tinge of self-deprecation in Brick's words. They could tell that, beneath his tough exterior, he harbored a sense of inadequacy.
Scott, sensing that Brick might be too hard on himself, chimed in quickly. "Hey, you're not giving yourself enough credit, Brick. Women go for different things, you know."
Lightning nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. Some gals dig the serious, no-nonsense type. And you're not just that. You're a good guy, Brick. You just need to let that inner softie out a bit more."
Brick looked up at them, surprised by their quick defense of his character. Their words, as unexpected as they were, caused a flicker of a smile to play at the corners of his lips.
Scott continued, his tone earnest. "You've got qualities that a lot of women would find attractive. You're loyal, dependable, and strong. Hell, you're even a little bit funny, when you let yourself be."
Lightning chuckled, adding to Scott's point. "Yeah, and let's not forget you're a good-looking guy. I bet there's plenty of women who wouldn't mind being with you."
Brick's smile widened ever so slightly, the compliments and reassurances from his new friends slowly thawing his guarded demeanor. He felt a strange sense of warmth spreading through him, the support from Scott and Lightning like a balm to his wounded ego.
Scott and Lightning both chuckled at Brick's playful comment. Their friendly banter had a way of lightening the mood, even in the most unexpected moments.
Scott grinned widely, nudging Brick back. "You got it, man. I'll even give a damn fine best man speech at the reception."
Lightning snickered, joining in the banter. "I call dibs on the funniest toast. And I'm bringing the good booze as my gift."
Brick's smile broadened, the tension from a moment ago fading completely. The idea of having Scott and Lightning as groomsmen at his future wedding was both laughable and oddly comforting.
"Okay, okay," he conceded, a hint of affectionate irritation in his tone. "You two can be my groomsmen. But if either one of you embarrass me, I'll kick your ass."
Scott put a hand to his heart, feigning an innocent expression. "Who, me? Embarrass you? Never. I'll be on my best behavior."
Lightning snorted, clearly less inclined to promise the same. "No promises from me, buddy. I might just wing it and see what happens."
As the night settled, Brick's voice cut through the quiet, his words laced with a hint of future plans. "And after this war's over, we'll have our holidays together."
Scott and Lightning glanced at each other, both sensing a deeper meaning behind Brick's words.
"In Canada, you can crash at my place," Scott offered, a warm smile on his face.
Lightning chimed in, a touch of mischief in his eyes. "And when you meet your bride, we'll help you plan the wedding. I know a thing or two about planning parties, I'm sure it can't be too different."
Brick's gaze shifted between his two friends, a mixture of gratitude and anticipation in his gaze. This war was tough and uncertain, but the thought of a future after it, shared with his friends, filled him with a surprising sense of hope.
"Then it's settled," he said, his voice quieter now. "Canada, New York, and then a wedding. I'll hold you both to it."
Scott chuckled at his own observation, a glimmer of humor in his eyes. "That's a good point, actually. You've got to meet your future bride first, Brick. Any lucky woman in mind?"
Lightning, ever the expressive one, used broad hand gestures to illustrate his point, emphasizing the beauty of the unknown woman. "Oh, man, she's gotta be gorgeous, Brick. I'm talking a ten outta ten. The type that makes heads turn everywhere she goes."
At this, Brick smirked, shaking his head slightly at Lightning's colorful description. "No, I don't have anyone specific in mind. But she'd better be smart too, ya know."
Scott snorted at Brick's addition, a grin on his face. "Smart, gorgeous, and easy on the eyes. That's quite the wishlist, buddy. You sure you're gonna find someone who checks all those boxes?"
As they continued their walk back to the campsite, Lightning added his own preference. "Yeah, she's gotta love my winning personality too."
Brick's words cut through the banter, his voice quieter as he mentioned his own need. "Besides all that...she has to love me, just...for me. No bullshit, no pretense."
Scott nodded understandingly at Brick's words, his expression growing serious. "Yeah, Brick. Real love is about accepting each other for who you are, quirks and all. The right gal will appreciate you for you, man. Trust me on that."
As they reached their campsite, Scott surprised both Lightning and Brick with a sudden hug. He spoke in a soft, almost romantic tone, his voice filled with emotion.
"Women worth fighting for, and women to come home to after this war," he murmured quietly. "That's what we're all fighting for, guys. Remembering that will keep us going through it all."
Lightning patted Scott on the back, a slight smile on his face. "You're a sap, you know that?" he teased, though it was clear that Scott's words had struck a chord with him.
Brick nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "He's right," he stated firmly. "We each have our own reasons for fighting, our own dreams to keep us going. Let's get through this goddamn war and make those dreams come true."
Scott released them from the embrace, a fierce determination in his gaze. "Damn right, we will. We've got a future to fight for, a better life waiting for us when this is all over. We're getting through this, and we're coming out of it stronger, wiser, and hopefully, with the right women by our sides."
As they made their way to the captain's tent, the shadows of night enveloped them. Their footsteps were silent against the soft ground, their approach stealthy and careful. The only sounds that broke the silence were the occasional whispers and the soft rustle of leaves.
Scott glanced around briefly, noticing there was no one else around. "Coast is clear," he whispered, his voice low and hushed.
Brick nodded; his expression focused. "Let's just hope this Russian lady is who we think she is."
Lightning's eyes gleamed with anticipation as they neared the entrance to the captain's tent. "Man, imagine if it is your cousin, Scott. That'd be quite the surprise."
Scott's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. He hoped it was his cousin, but the possibility that it might not be also lingered in his mind.
The three men huddled together behind a nearby tree, their bodies concealed by the shadows. They whispered lowly, their voices barely audible in the night air.
Lightning, his mind wandering, mentioned his dream girl. "You guys ever think about the kind of woman you'd want to marry one day?" he asked.
Scott chuckled softly, the thought of a future wife crossing his mind. "Oh, yeah. I've got a few ideas."
Brick, ever the romantic, responded with a slight smile. "I want someone who's loyal, reliable, and can put up with my stubborn nature. Someone who understands me."
Lightning nodded, adding to their descriptions. "Me too. She's gotta be strong, smart, and not afraid to put me in my place when I'm being an idiot. And she's gotta be smokin' hot, of course."
Scott rolled his eyes at Lightning's comment but couldn't help but grin at his friend's honesty. "Yeah, I think it's going to take a special kind of woman to keep you in check, Lightning," he retorted teasingly.
Lightning chuckled, not denying it. "Hey, I'm worth the effort, man. Any gal would be lucky to have me," he said, a hint of smugness in his tone.
Brick snorted at this, amused by Lightning's confidence. "Oh, please. With your ego, it'll be a miracle if any woman can stand you for more than five minutes."
Lightning feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Hey, man, that hurts. I've got Charm oozing out of every pore in my body. Women love me, trust me on that."
Scott snickered, unable to resist teasing him further. "That's just the cologne you wear. I'm pretty sure it's the cologne they're swooning over, not you."
Scott let out a yelp as Lightning delivered a swift smack to his knee, his attempt to suppress a laugh failing miserably.
"Damn it, Lightning! That's gonna leave a mark," Scott protested, rubbing his knee and shooting a mock glare at his friend.
Lightning chuckled, completely unfazed. "You're lucky it was just my hand, man. Could've been my foot."
Brick couldn't help but join in on the banter, a smirk playing at his lips. "Oh, yeah, that would've really hurt. Your little kicks have the power of a mosquito bite."
Lightning shot a faux-offended look at Brick. "Hey, don't underestimate me, man. I've got some serious leg power."
Scott rubbed his knee one last time before chiming in again. "Yeah, right. I think a strong breeze has more punching power than those limbs of yours."
Even though they teased each other relentlessly, the guys knew deep down that each of them had their own unique strengths.
Brick nodded in agreement, a note of admiration in his voice. "Yeah, Lightning's got his own skillset. He's fast, he's a natural athlete, and he's got one hell of an ego."
Scott chuckled, grinning at Lightning. "You got that right. He might be annoying as hell, but he's got talent."
Lightning smirked; his confidence not even slightly dented by their banter. "You guys are just jealous because I'm the total package, and you know it."
The banter between the guys immediately halted as they heard the sound of a feminine sneeze in the distance. Glancing at each other in surprise, they listened intently to the crunching of leaves and the sound of several people moving around.
"What was that?" Scott whispered in a hushed tone, his eyes darting in the direction the sounds had come from.
Brick tensed, his senses on high alert as he scanned the area. "It sounded like a group of people, maybe ten of them," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lightning's eyes widened as he strained to listen. "And that sneeze...it sounded like a woman."
The group exchanged glances, silently contemplating who or what could be out there in the darkness.
The guys shared a brief moment of agreement, their minds racing with possibilities. The sex worker, Alice, had mentioned that the captain might be meeting with resistance fighters of France, and the fact that one of them had a feminine sneeze made them wonder if Scott's cousin could be leading them.
"You think it could be your cousin?" Brick whispered, breaking the silence.
Scott's breath hitched, hope and anxiety warring within him. "I don't know," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "It could be... but we need to be careful. We can't just assume it is her without any evidence."
Lightning gestured in the darkness, silently signaling that he would sneak closer to the source of the sounds to investigate. He gripped his weapon tightly, using the shadows to his advantage as he prepared to approach the unknown group of people.
The others nodded, their expressions tense with worry. "Be careful, Lightning," Scott murmured, his voice filled with concern.
Lightning gave them a confident nod, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "Don't worry, I got this," he whispered, his voice tinged with determination.
Without another word, he vanished into the shadows, leaving his companions behind as he silently made his way towards the source of the sounds.