Don't let Bible's youth fool you. Don may have been through four gruesome wars, but Bible had been by his side for at least three of them. He had been with Wardaddy and Fury longer than an y of their current company. And upon knowing what it was like now, it went unquestioned that those two had been through some unspeakable things together. So, the other crew men had come to a quiet understanding that there were just some things the senior members shared that none of them could ever be a part of. Gordo ignored the forlorn look that seeped into Wardaddy's hard expression whenever Bible offered prayers to his fellow men. Grady never commented on the tense lingering touches exchanged in attempt at comfort. And even Reddings simply hadn't acknowledged the terse body language each got when the other was outside observation range for too long.

But not Norman.

It was risky in their occupation to really allow this behavior; Grady had to accept it as a biblical miracle when Norman hadn't taken the risk to bring this up in front of the two men in question.

"Hey...uh, Coon-ass?" Norman called from his position in front. He and the loader were the tank's only occupants at the moment. The others were milling about base while they had stayed behind to do some much needed wipe downs of their respective stations.

"Hm." Grady grunted.

Norman figured this was the best he was going to receive and continued in his tentative inquiry, "A-about Boyd...and, uh, Don?" He heard a soft clunk from above, "Isn't that, er, are they..."

Norman tried to force the rest out, but that was all he could manage. It was enough for Grady to get the hint though.

The older man maneuvered himself to be better heard, this was something the kid needed to keep in mind, "Best keep it to yerself, boy. That kinda life ain't too accepted 'round here, despite how common, especially with that man's devotion."

Norman took a moment to consider which of the men he was speaking of and to who they were devoted, but it seemed obvious he was referencing the reason behind Bible's namesake.

"Well, that's the thing. It's not fair—" at that Grady snorted, "—they shouldn't have to hide it. At least not with us, not in here, if they have to everywhere else." Norman had stopped scrubbing the grease from wall and blushed in realization, "I-I mean not like—I don't know what I'm saying—if you're against that sort of—"

"Christ, will you shut up!" Grady's boot connected unmercifully with Norman's head, "Wouldn't do no good. They conflicted 'bout it themselves."

"Oh."

And the tank was blessedly silent.

For thirty seconds.

"Don't you think we should let 'em know we think it's okay? Maybe it'll make it more okay for themselves? I've never thought it was sinful or anything—" Grady raised his boot to reinforce its wrath until Norman gave a small chuckle, "I had this dog that was always being chased by the neighbors' terrier, Bud. Heh, took us two months wondering where the pups were at to realize that our Missy was a Mister."

There was silence then it was filled with Grady's howl of laughter, "Oh man, your dog was a—!"

He was cut short by the main hatch swinging open and Wardaddy sliding down inside. He shot Grady a weird look and reached his arms back up through the open port. Norman had thought he was going to lower the lid when another body began to lower itself inside with the aid of Wardaddy. Once he (Norman had now recognized Bible) had righted himself in his place next to Norman's head, Bible smiled at his companion and picked up his book of choice. Norman glanced expectantly between the two newly arrived men; their legs messily crossed over one another's in the cramped space, Wardaddy's fond eyes subtly watching Bible read and Bible blushing into his psalms as though he had noticed, Wardaddy's hand casually resting next to Bible's as though he were going to move to hold it but had thought better of it. Norman opened his mouth to practice what he preached when someone beat him to it.

"Oh, get a room!"

Norman hadn't even noticed Gordo getting in next to him, but when he looked over, Gordo was smiling teasingly.

"Shut it." Wardaddy barked back, but Norman happily noted his hand had somehow found itself laced with Bible's.