As usual i own nothing, happy holidays here's something different enjoy
Oscar leaned against the hard wood of the trench wall clutching his standard issue wool blanket tighter around his form. He could see his hot breath in the cold air with every exhale while the temperature continued to show no mercy. It seamed that both trenches had ceased any and all aggression towards each other for the night. An eerie Silence loomed over them all adding to the fear of those who have lost faith in seeing tomorrow or going back home. The world around Oscar suddenly came to a stop, like hands of time decided that they were done turning for the night. The low howling winds had fallen dead silent, and the almost powder like snow went along with it. Chilled to the bone and filled with discomfort Oscar looked at his watch to try an distract himself.
It was midnight, a small grin crept along Oscar's face as it occurred to him how significant this day was. He looked to the men and women next to him and said with a contagious smile "Merry Christmas". Conversation began to spread all along the trench line at the realization of what day it was. Soon laughter and joy begin to spread as tails of family traditions and stories begin to spread like trading cards. It amazed Oscar how years of stress, anxiety and the ghastly fear of death seemed to just melt away in an instant. He wasn't entirely sure how the singing started or even when he'd joined along. If Oscar was being truly honest with himself, he didn't much care as long as it lasted for just a little while longer.
Nearing the end of the song it seamed as though the reality of where they were had returned until something unexpected happened. Before the momentary joy in their hearts could be extinguished, beautiful caroling could be heard from across no mans land. For the first time In nine long years of constant fighting some humanity was finally starting to break through. Oscar cautiously peaked his head over the trench wall to see light off in the distance originating from lamps in the enemy trench.
For only a brief second he could have sworn he saw young woman staring back at him with the same look in her eyes. The singing eventually fell silent and was over taken by howling of the wind blowing through the land with such ease. As if whatever sign of humanity left in the open fields had never existed at all. Oscar had a gut feeling that his new white medical garments wouldn't stay white for vary long. Heave eyelids signaled that he should try and get what little sleep he can before someone else needed his help. An undisturbed slumber would soon follow him as he returned to his spot along the wall.
several hours later Oscar awoke to feel the sun peek just over the horizon painting the clouds and illuminating the sky in a vast array of purple and orange light. Much to his disappointment the sight before him in no way changed or affected the stagnant temperature, however the sunrise did instill hope in his heart that the day would somehow show compassion on their souls. With still no injured or wounded to treat Oscar found himself observing the strange and unusual war zone around him. No gun fire or artillery, no screams of pain and agony or boisterous war cry's could be heard in any direction. No movement or sound roamed the land until his instincts told him to peak over the wall to check the enemy line for movement. To his surprise and fright he found himself gazing at yet another adrift individual seeking to end their life by walking into no mans land.
"Enemy movement take aim!" shouted a man who also took notice of an Atlas soldier with hands in the air slowly making her way towards our trench in the hopes of being gun down. Oscar watched helplessly as the men and women beside him took aim shouting and warning the lost soul to retreat or be killed. "CRACK!" sounded a load gun in the dead silent field serving as a warning shot. Oscar's blood began to boil with how conflicted he was knowing full well that she was the enemy yet a victim of this war. how he absolutely hated seeing people die for this pointless war let alone commit suicide.
"CRACK!" another warning shot this time kicking up the snow and dirt beside her foot causing her to hesitate for only a short moment. Oscar was drafted into this war just like most the people there yet he chose to throw down his weapon and don the title of medic to help keep himself and this world together no matter the cost. Without even realizing it he had unconsciously gravitated towards the ladder as if his body was forcibly pleading with him to act on his heart.
"Ah FUCK!" Oscar shouted as he climbed the ladder ignoring the protest and objection of his fellow comrades and superiors alike. His eyes were focused and his ears had shut out everything except the scared soldier in front of him. All his senses had been dialed up to eleven with each crunching step he took in the snow. He could hear his heart pounding rapidly in absolute terror in not knowing if each step would be his last. She wasn't that far now as Oscar could distinctly see her bright Orange hair and light jade iris's under the winter hood. Now only ten feet away it was clear to Oscar that it wasn't fear in the woman's eyes, it was a inspired hopefulness.
"Please...no...fight...want truce?" the woman struggled to say with a heavy Atlas accent obviously not fluent in the Vale language. "Yes a truce" Oscar said nodding his head in attempt to help the foreign soldier understand. Now only standing three feet apart from one another It was clear to Oscar that this woman wasn't a soldier at all "your a medic?". The woman smiled nodding her head also offering her hand to him of which he gladly took. "My...na...name Penny Polendina. You?" Penny said with her features displaying what Oscar could only describe as nerves or anxious. "Oscar, Oscar Pine" he replied while catching sight of the Atlas soldiers cautiously creeping up behind her ready to open fire. Oscar turned around at the sudden change in Penny's face to see the same parallel as his comrades were doing the same.
"Boy you better have a damn good reason why i'm risking the whole front line for you" captain Adel called out with authority. "A armistice ma'ma. They want a ceasefire, I imagine because of what day it is" Oscar nervously replied to his superior. "Everyone can relax, I take it your the commanding officer" a tall stern looking woman said walking out in front of the protection of her own troops. "Yes Captain Coco Adel and you are?" Coco stated with spewing venom in her voice with each word as if she had a personal grudge against the other woman. "Major Winter Schnee, while I do not agree in anyway how my subordinate provoked this situation. I do agree with offering a Truce, I may not be able to speak for the entire war front but maybe at least for today right here and now we don't have to be enemy's. What say you captain Adel?" The tension in the air could be felt by every one with how easily this situation could go south as it all depended on the other woman's choice.
"One day I will be the one to slit your throat for what you took away from me, but not today. If I can grant my men at least one day of peace I will. Go on have your truce" Coco finished storming off back to her command post along the trench wall. Slowly but surely soldiers from opposing sides began to introduce them self's and converse with one another. Soon after laughter and story's spread throughout the lake of mixing white and light green uniforms. "Come Oscar. we set up" Penny said grabbing his hand and pulling him along to a flat open part of no man's land giggling and laughing along the way. Letting go of his hand Penny began drawing a line in the snow using her helmet. "Put things in corner" she said as she was half way done with what appeared to be a large square. After placing a few items to serve as landmarks it finally hit him on what they were making "Penny is this a baseball field?".
Nodding her head yes she then pulled out some duck tape and cut a large piece of cloth from the bottom of her coat to use the two to make a ball. The two of them had gotten the attention of those around them and before long several games had been played using a broken shovel as a baseball bat. Hours latter Oscar found himself spectating a new game with Penny sitting beside him. "Thank you" Penny spoke while placing her hand over his seemingly out of nowhere. Waffling their fingers together Oscar still remand confused as to what she was referring to "for risking your life and talking to me earlier". "Yeah I'm glad I did too" he said turning to look at her only to discover how close she actually was to him.
Realizing this little fact as well Penny went along with it and closed the distance between them pressing her soft lips against his in a brave tender kiss. breaking away to look at Oscar while blushing heavily and smiling genuinely at him. Snuggling closer to him so she could lay her head on his broad shoulders leaned into him and whispered "Merry Christmas Oscar". The feeling he felt in his chest reminded him of a slow burning fire that would heat up the house back home growing up. A feeling of deep love and fondness that could only be provided by a loved one, relative or close friend. "Merry Christmas Penny" Oscar softly replied content in knowing that when impossible things happen we call them miracles. However death was waiting around the corner and would not allow neither of the two to live to see tomorrow.
I'm not sure if I said somewhere that this story would have a lot of character death or not but yeah it does sorry, this one was inspired by an actual event that happened in World War 1 called the Christmas Truce it's a pretty cool story anyway thanks for reading please leave a review and tell me where I fucked up or if it was bad or good it all helps.
