A fidgety hand stroked a tiny mustache. Worry clouded the brown eyes. "Landa, I do not like this. It is your job to find out things like this and tell me as soon as they happen!"

"Mein Furher, when it comes to the Basterds, we only know what they tell the survivors. I have been interrogating each and every one of them, but they are just now mentioning the Negro girl. They are calling her the Raven." Colonel Hans Landa had his jaw firmly set; his frustration was rising but he would never tell anyone that.

Hitler spoke again, this time less calmly, "I don't care what they call her! She is a degenerate! She is no better than the Jewish scum we burn everyday. I want her dead, Landa."


Josie leaned against a tree on the side of the small road that twisted through the forest. She wore a light summer dress that clung to her in all the most noticeable places; her shoes were kicked off and hidden away from the path. On a garter that was just barely concealed beneath the dress, she could feel the cool steel of the two pistols that waited.

In the distance, she heard the car on the small pebbles. Josie couldn't help but tense. When it came into view, she rested her head against the tree as if to appear tired.

The car rolled to a stop. Inside were four soldiers. Two were privates, one was slightly higher ranking and the other was an officer, but Josie hadn't learned many differences in ranks yet.

In bad French, one asked Josie is a pleasant voice, "Miss, why are you all alone in this forest?"

Josie turned to look at the soldiers with a smirk. "Because I have something for you."

They turned to one another in confusion, and in the seconds they took their eyes off of Josie, she had grabbed her guns and opened fire. There was no more confusion, no hesitation.

In the three months since her induction into the Basterds, Josie had become a deadly force that the Nazis were steadily learning to fear. A few had called her "Le Corbeau," which she loved because Le Corbeau (The Raven) was the name of the club where this all started.

Josie put bullet after bullet into the bodies of the men in the car. There was very little time for them to react. A few drops of stray blood landed on Josie's dress and neck. She paid it no attention as she re-holstered her guns and then searched the car. She shuffled through the uniforms of the dead men and collected their weapons, and then got the bigger pieces of artillery from the back.

Her trek back to the Basterds' camp was fairly short, less than a mile away. When she arrived, she placed the guns on the ground next to Aldo. "Darlin', you know just how to please me," He said with a grin. He had come to accept and even care for Josie.

Josie smiled and walked toward her small tent. Donny intercepted her. "Here," He said, rather tenderly. "You've got Nazi blood on you." He used a cloth to wipe it off for her.

"Thanks," Josie murmured. Donny let his hand linger against the mocha skin of her neck before brushing a curl of black hair behind her ear.

Utivich and Hirshburg began whooping and jeering, and Donny hastily removed his hand, "Shut the fuck up, will ya!" He didn't blush, but his face looked like he wanted to. The men converted their catcalls into quiet chuckles.

Josie smiled to herself. It was widely known around camp that she was basically Donny's girl. Even in her barely-there dresses (which made her uncomfortable most of the time, but they were great Nazi bait) the other Basterds made sure not to get caught looking, should the Bear Jew decide to deliver his wrath.

Josie continued to her tent, followed closely by Donny. Aldo had ordered him to stay out at night, so as not to distract him from his duties in this time of war.

She sat down inside inside the small space and found a ribbon to put her hair in. Donny sat next to her, "How was it?" His expression was equal parts of pride and concern.

"It was fine. They didn't have a clue." Josie smirked, "I'm certainly not as popular as you, yet."

Donny frowned, "Yet. Pretty soon you won't be able to go out on your own. I mean, the gimmick is good and you're amazing, but soon it's going to become obvious."

Josie slumped forward as she realized this. Aldo had always let her participate in other things, but she enjoyed when she could go out on her own. She liked proving that she was just as capable as the men, even though she didn't need to prove anything anymore. Everyone respected her.

Donny pulled the dejected looking girl over to his side, "Don't worry. It's not like you're going to be able to get out of this line of work for awhile."

Josie grinned up at him and brought her lips to his. Donny was always surprised when Josie kissed him; he would never initiate things with her. But he never rejected Josie. He deepened the kiss and lowered them onto the sleeping bag. After a few minutes, the man and the girl could feel themselves becoming heated. It was an itch that they weren't allowed to scratch. Donny stopped himself.

"I can't have Aldo being disappointed in me…" He grumbled.


What do you think? Do you like how I have Donny show his soft side to Josie? I think most other fics always feature Donny in a lust/hate relationship from the start, or as a constant asshole. I wanted something different. I like it, but the real question is: do you, as a reader, like it?