Eddie/Andy

It is dark outside when Andrew decides his cabin is far too cramped and he makes his way up the narrow stairs to the deck above.
There's no one outside because of the late hour and the only light is that of the bright moon hanging low in the velvety black sky. The rumbling of the engines are not as loud up here as it is downstairs and the crashing of the waves against the ship is suddenly so much clearer. He takes a minute to appreciate the silence up here when downstairs, the only you could hear was the engines, the laughter of the men and cheers erupting when someone did something particularly nasty towards somebody else. He takes a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the fresh salty air and he slowly feels himself relax. Shoulders who, before had been hunched was now being dropped.

Except for the moon there is no lamp or candle at all to illuminate the place now that they are so close to enemy territory and it's not hard to pick out the weak glow of a cigarette, hiding in the shadows near the railing. There's a silhouette of a man accompanying it, curly hair and green dungarees with the legs neatly tucked into his boots. Andy would recognise that silhouette anywhere. He slowly walks across the empty space between them to lean against the railing, looking up at the stars and the moon, feeling something settle on the side of his head: the curious gaze of,

"Eddie." He mumbles quietly but loud enough to reach Eddie's ears. "I thought you would be asleep by now." Eddie snorts loudly but his lips are curled up into smile, a plume of smoke rising into the sky.

"You heard the baboons downstairs. Ain't nobody sleeping with that much noise in the background." He shrugs and lazily throws the remains of the cigarette into the water. Andy watches it fall, a dot of bright orange before the water closes around it and kills the flame.

"What 'bout you? The men too loud for you as well or are you just too excited about tomorrow?" His accent is Southern and Andy has always been kind of fascinated with how lilting it is compared to those up north.
Eddie leans against the railing next to Andy with his back turned to the ocean. This makes it easier for both to look at each other when they speak and they don't really have to crane their necks.

"Not excited perhaps but nervous. That's not it though. I just needed some fresh air." Eddie nods in agreement.

"You went for fresh air and ended up here beside a smoker who was looking for some solitude." He grins. "But 'm glad you came. This gives me an excuse to stay here for a little while longer."

"Glad to be of some use."

They fall into an easy silence after that. Andy can't help but think that Eddie's only like this when he's around and it's oddly warming in a way.

Eddie sends Andy fond smiles when he thinks he's not looking and it hits him that Eddie is probably the best friend he'll ever have. They naturally seem to gravitate towards each other. If you saw one of them there was a possibility that the other hovered somewhere nearby like a guardian angel.

They get through Guadalcanal with not so much of a scrap on their bodies and while they are happy, they do not celebrate. They lounge tiredly in each other's rooms and takes comfort in the other one's presence because now they know the real fears of battle. They know the horrors and the dangers.

Andy is afraid, not of dying but of losing his friends and men. Eddie is afraid as well though he masks it far too well for Andy to really tell.

But it doesn't matter right now. Right now, they have each other.