SIXTH OF JUNE


Hi! Welcome to my first Fury story! As a big fan of Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan this film really took me by surprise and I loved every second of it. I just wanted to give a head's up with some of the things that feature in this story as I understand not all people will want to read about it. As a woman in the army in 1945 I would be lying if my OC wasn't met with constant misogynism and catcalls among other stuff. Don't say I didn't give a warning!

Anyway, the rest of the story will mostly focus on individual relationships and I eventually do want to set up for a romance but I'm not sure about that yet. I have some stuff in my head I want to write about but I'd first like to read all of your reactions.


DAY BY DAY

The mud made it hard for her to walk. It felt as if her heavy boots kept sucked into the mud, dragging her down. The fact that the boots were a few sizes too big did not help either. When joining the army in the place of her brother, they had issued her with clothing meant for him. Her brother Daniel was about a half a feet bigger than she was, resulting in all of her clothing being way to big for her frame.

June's eyes darted around the camp, trying to find Sgt. Collier. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Everyone wore the same green army uniform, had the same convenient haircut, and everyone was male. Except for a few nurses, June had not come across any female soldier apart from herself. Maybe it was because she had broken a lot of rules by joining the army in someone else's name. Even her dog tag which she always wore around her neck didn't not feature her own name.

It took her a few minutes before she found her new platoon sergeant. While dragging herself through the mud, she was met with comments all around her. The soldiers weren't used to seeing a girl around, especially a female soldier. June learned to ignore their comments. She focused her gaze on the man she had been desperately trying to find for the past fifteen minutes.

"Sgt. Collier?" June began carefully, holding the strap of her M1 tightly so it wouldn't slide of her shoulder. With her other hand she wiped the sweat of her forehand. She always laughed about how she was named after her least favorite season. She'd have a cold winter any day.

Sgt. Collier turned around and faced June. He cocked his eyebrow as his eyes scanned her body. June figured he was probably wondering why the fuck she was standing in front of him right now, wearing an army uniform.

"I'm your replacement?" she continued when she failed to get a response from him.

"You're a woman," Sgt. Collier simply stated.

From the corner of her eyes June saw the rest of his men climbing off their Sherman tank, quietly shuffling closer to see what was going on.

"You got a problem with that?" June shot back.

A soft smile appeared on his lips. He shook his head. "As long as you do what I say then no."

He started to move closer to the tank. His men quickly went back to their posts, pretending to be working on cleaning their guns but June knew they were trying their best to hear everything from their conversation. June followed him closely.

"Where is your stuff?" Collier asked, looking down at her feet, noting the absence of a bag.

"Still at the relocation post," June replied. "They told me not to bother bringing it. They doubted you'd take me."

Collier cocked his eyebrow, resting his right hand on his beloved tank.

"You wouldn't be the first to turn me down, sir," she explained.

"Have you ever been in combat?" Collier asked. June didn't blame them for asking her questions. She had answered so many of them since she had arrived here in Europe.

June nodded. "Many times, sir."
"Killed someone?"

She nodded again. "Twenty-three that I know of. Maybe more."

Collier looked at her quite astonished, making June a little uncomfortable. She was no different from any other soldier. She was just as prepared to fight for her country as they were. Women could be fighters as well.

"What's your name, soldier."

"Nichols. June Nichols."

His eyes scanned her entire body again. I must be an odd sight, June thought. Her clothes were too big, her hair full of tangles even though she tried to braid her auburn hair it as carefully and tightly as possible, her face hadn't been washed in a week. She couldn't even remember the last time she shaved her legs.

"Let me introduce you to the rest of the men," Collier said.

"You're serious about taking her in?" a solider lying on top of the tank spoke. He turned his head to look at June.

"Yes," Collier said. "We can still reassign her to other unit if necessary. Everyone deserves a chance."

June's eyes shifted between the soldier and her Sergeant. She had already expected this hostility, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. One thing that women were amazing at was wrapping men all around her little finger.

"Anyway," he continued while he began pointing to each of individual man. "That dickhead is Grady but you can call him Coon-Ass if you want. Then we have Gordo and Bible. Anyone of them gives you any trouble, come talk to me."

June nodded, desperately trying to remember their names. Goddamn why did everyone have the same haircut?

"Sgt. Collier?" a runner spoke up. "Cpt. Waggoner is looking for you."

Collier nodded and off he was, leaving June alone in the company of her new platoon. Quietly she awaited their reactions, already preparing herself for the worst.

"We'd better get your bag back then," the one she remembered as Bible spoke.

June's lips curled into a soft smile. "Thanks," she spoke as she watched Bible slide off the tank.

She waited for him to catch up with her before she started walking. Across the field she spotted Collier talking to a superior. They were laughing with each other, playfully pushing each other around. It was clear to see these guys all had been together for a long time.

"I don't know what is more dangerous," Bible began, chuckling. "Operation Overlord or a woman walking across this camp full of horny soldiers."

June snickered. "I'm carrying a weapon, you know."

There was a sense of truth in Bible's words. Many times did she had to fight the men off her back. Women were scarce during a war, and when one was walking across your camp they simply couldn't help themselves. June already liked Bible for recognizing that danger. Maybe he was not like all the other men throwing themselves at her.

"So, where did you get your nickname?" June asked, after she figured his real name could not possibly be Bible.

His hand reached inside of his jacket and he pulled out a small book. He held up the cover for her to read. Bible, it said.

"Speaks for itself," he said, sliding the book back in his jacket.

"I bet you're all wondering what the hell I'm doing here?" June said, cutting straight to the chase.

"Yes, ma'am."

They went around the corner. Her boots got stuck in the mud in the exact same spot as before. June made a mental note to steal another pair of socks somewhere even though she was already wearing two pairs.

When a tent full of soldiers playing cards spotted her they began shouting. June simply ignored their catcalls, as she always did, but Bible seemed to be stunned by the phenomenon.

"Best thing to do is to ignore it," she explained when they were past the tent. "I can't take on twenty guys by myself, even though I'd liked to"

"I would have gladly taken them on with you," he replied.

"Thanks," June smiled. "That's the first time someone has said something like that since I've came to Europe."

She was met with some more stunned expressions when she told her old commander she had come to fetch her bag. They were initially reluctant to give it back to her, not completely believing someone had taken her in, but luckily Bible was there to back her up.

"What happened to your old platoon?" Bible asked when they where heading back. He decided to head back another way so they didn't have to pass the infamous tent again, but it was of no use. She was met with the same reactions in another tent.

"They all died."

"Oh," Bible replied awkwardly.

"It's fine," June shrugged. "Didn't like any of them anyway. Gave me nothing but slack during the months I've been with them."

She spotted the tank that would be her new home in the distance. It had the word 'Fury' painted across the barrel of the 75 mm gun. She liked that. She liked that they had so much pride in their job.

Collier had also returned when they arrived back. He announced they would be heading out soon so it would be best to pack up everything so they could leave quickly.

Bible helped June get her bag safely strapped on the tank. She smiled thankfully before turning around. Grady was standing right behind her, uncomfortably close.

"I'll help you get up there," he spoke.
June narrowed her eyes, not quite sure what his intentions were. But she didn't want to make a bad name for herself on her first day. She needed everyone to like her. This was not going to be like it was with her old platoon.

Grady put his hands together so she could place her foot in them. June was still very suspicious of him. From the moment she had lay her eyes on him she knew he wasn't like Bible or even Collier. He was exactly like all the other soldiers.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she felt his hands on her ass to boost her up. When she was standing on the tank she shot around. Her eyes spitting fire. So much for trusting in him to be different.

"If you ever lay your hands on me again I'll cut off your balls with my bayonet while you're sleeping and serve them to our prisoners of war as dessert."

Bible and Gordo who had been chatting away grew silent. Coon-Ass looked at her as if he had seen a ghost. She even managed to grab Collier's attention.

"You understand me?" June demanded when he seemed at a loss for words.

"Yes, ma'am," Grady replied, still in a state of shock.

"Glad this is settled," she said before sliding inside of the tank where she laid her eyes on what would be her new home for the first time.


A/N: Please leave a review and hopefully until next time!