thewordofweb | (no subject)

The crucible of a group of men putting you through the fire to earn their belonging is one of the hardest battles that Webster has had to fight, this war. It seems strange, given the lack of bloodshed and fired bullets, but it's also been the hardest to come back in and fight to earn back respect once thought settled away after Toccoa. Still, when Joe Liebgott offers a hand out to Webster, he knows that the battle is won and this private war has been put away.

He throws his bag onto the truck, reaching out for Joe's hand when it all fades away suddenly, leaving Webster to struggle and reach for something that isn't there. The truck is gone, the men are gone, and most of Webster's things are gone, save for what he's carrying on him.

Alarm grips him tight as he tries to remember basic training, but the commanders never spent their time shouting to prepare them for this. Tropical forest behind him, and the open ocean before him, including several boats docked at harbor. Looking out, it's like he's on the coast again, but looking back makes him think he's landed somewhere in the Pacific, into a whole new theatre of warfare.

Webster turns cautiously, as if anticipating an ambush at any moment now.

His voice is stuck in his throat, not sure he wants to call attention to himself. His hand drifts to his gun to make sure it's still loaded, just in case, because he's been thrust away from one war and pushed into a seeming other, but this time, he's without Easy Company.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

soldier_singled

"I drank a lot. Baked. Made friends." He shrugs. "Luz has got the right idea - him getting laid helps."

From:

thewordofweb

He recoils slightly, not meaning to, but unable to help himself. "Right," he says, nodding. "Helen," he clarifies, because she's only been mentioned recently and the safe assumption. "What happens to the war, then? Does it just get stuck in place? Does it ever end?"

From:

soldier_singled

That makes Joe laugh and he shakes his head, pouring water that's cool from the ice-box for both of them. "Never Helen, nawh." He shrugs, hopes he's not blushing. "War goes on. Last time I made it to Landsberg, this time it was all the way to Austria before I came back. I think it was almost done."

From:

thewordofweb

Some of Joe's comments stop making sense, then. Who's he been sleeping with, this or last time, to help while away the stress of it all? He doesn't know that he wants to ask because he'd rather not want to rip someone's head off in jealousy. Not that he has any right to thinking of Joe like that, and Joe would probably take his head off if he brought it up.

"We made it to the end? Both of us?"

From:

soldier_singled

"Yeah," says Joe, nodding, grateful for something safer to talk about. "You, me, Luz, Lip, Babe. Bill and Toye had it rough but they made it out. Winters. Speirs."

From:

thewordofweb

It's a huge relief, one that he hadn't realized he'd been so worried about until it happened. "That's...that's good news," he says, the relief in his voice. He peers over the counter, watching Joe's movements. "What are you making for me?" he asks, voice infused with warmth as he's begun to relax.

From:

soldier_singled

"Just reheating soup I made yesterday and sandwiches," he says, flashing Web a little smile. "Nothin' fancy."

From:

thewordofweb

"It's fancier than the MREs we've been getting lately," he says, stomach rumbling as if proof as to how hungry he is, when the going is tough. "Seriously, Liebgott, that smells incredible," he raves.

From:

soldier_singled

"Shit, yeah," says Liebgott, still grinning as he brings things to the table. "You don't know I can actually cook yet."

From:

thewordofweb

"No, you're full of surprises," Webster replies, with a smile that's tinged with genuine wonderment over the fact that Joe can cook and he's already settled into this position on this strange island. "What else are you keeping from me?"

From:

soldier_singled

He almost chokes on the corner of bread that he's chewing.

"Why would I be hiding things?"

From:

thewordofweb

It's a strange reaction, but Webster doesn't pay it much mind. "I only mean that I had no idea you could cook," he says cautiously, hoping he hasn't caused this delicate balance to crumble because he's stepped out of line and said the wrong thing.

From:

soldier_singled

"I can bake, too," says Joe, dragging a seat out from under the table for Web before he takes his own. "And cut hair and about a million other things."

From:

thewordofweb

Webster blinks at the gesture, feeling a little like Alice having gone down the rabbit hole. Still, he sits down into the chair that's been pulled out from him, breathing out to try and settle his head. "I'll have to try something, sometime. Any specialties you're extra proud of?"

From:

soldier_singled

"I'm great at cookies. And bread." Jesus, he really does miss Shari. "You'll see. There's a helluva lot you don't know about me, Webster."

From:

thewordofweb

He knows that. He knows because as much as he's tried slightly to understand that world, it's always come back as nebulous and strange and confusing to him. "Maybe I'll take my time and get around to finding out," he says, as if a dare that he's about to take.

From:

soldier_singled

That makes him blush. He can't help it. The corner of his mouth lifts in a smile and he glances up, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Maybe you oughta."

From:

thewordofweb

He looks good with a hint of colour in his cheeks, he thinks, though he doesn't know if he wants to pursue that thought, seeing as he doesn't want to be punched in the face, not today. "I might," he replies, taken aback by how brazen this conversation seems.

He starts to eat the food, taking small pleasures in how good it tastes and how different it is than the usual slop.

From:

soldier_singled

Wouldn't be the first time. Joe concentrates on his food for a moment, anything other than looking at Web, thinking what he's inevitably thinking. Because he can't get it out of his head.

"I'll show you the basics later, if you want."

From:

thewordofweb

Caught in the middle of a slurp of soup, he glances up over his soup, cheeks red from the heat of it (and not anything else, it wouldn't be anything else), not sure what Joe means until he tracks back his words. "With ... your secrets?" he asks, brows knit together.

From:

soldier_singled

That makes him laugh, defusing a little bit of the tension that he's feeling, the tightness through his shoulders and his guts.

"My secrets? Nawh, Web. The Compound. The Winchester. Maybe the waterfall."

From:

thewordofweb

That makes a lot more sense and he nods, feeling the relief of clarification pour through, like a waterfall of its own washing him free of any doubts. "That'd be good. Thanks," he says fondly.

From:

soldier_singled

It feels good, sitting here like this - feels familiar, like a shadow of the life he had before. He's lost count of how many times they've sat at this table like this.

"I'm glad you're here, Web."