Hello hello! So, this is my first time publishing on Fanfiction, meaning I'm still a bit clumsy with it. I've been writing on Ao3 for a couple of years and thought I could finally use this account to post my stories here! I will be transferring them all here soon, as I've seen there is still a little fandom for Fury on this website. This specific fic has 7 chapters so far that I'm currently adapting for this website. The first three chapters were written in 2018, year where I was learning English as a second language, so I apologize for the quality of the writing that is still quite flawed. Of course I'll edit these when I have the time so it flows better. I post on Ao3 first, then here. I hope you will enjoy reading my stories as much as I love writing them, and before I go I want to say that I update really slowly (those who already follow me know), but that doesn't mean the works are abandoned. I just work as a really slow pace, and I am sorry about that. Alright, I'll stop annoying you and let you start reading. Have a nice day!

*This story was part of a series and came after my piece ''Hey, Little Fighter'', hence the few information that can seem to be coming from nowhere. I am currently re-working this one, so that's why I didn't post it before ''Timeless''. There shouldn't be too much things to be confused about, but basically the first part explained how Norman lost his parents. If you want to read it before beginning this one, the name of my Ao3 account is the description of my profile.*

The moment had come.

After three years of defending his country alongside the same men, after five months of being around this kid with those impossibly blue eyes, Sergeant Don Collier was forced to let go of his responsability. He was leaving his family, the one he'd protected and guided throughout this journey with an uncertain outcome. No one of his men was worth less than another in his eyes, whether he was a long-time friend or a fraternity that had just been forged.

Gathered on the embarkation platform of the station, the crew exchanged a few last words before being dispersed in this vast country that were the United States. It was a difficult time for everyone. Maybe they would never see each other again, after all. Some, like Boyd and Gordo (to everyone's surprise), had already been joined by their wives. Bible finally introduced his children, Lizz and Noah. Grady was greeted by his two sisters and his younger brother.

Norman wasn't saying anything. Nobody had come to greet him. Learning his father's death during the war had been horrible. That said, the stress and the rough work had been enough to anesthetize the pain. But now that he was back home, on his own this time, the feeling of abandonment tightened his throat. For the first time, he truly felt alone in the world.

A hand rested on his shoulder. The young man barely turned his attention away as Don's voice made his eardrums tickle.

"Anybody?"

Norman shook his head slowly. He'd confessed the hope of seeing an aunt or a family member whom he could still count on, but after half an hour, no familiar face had appeared.

"It doesn't matter," he said in a weak voice. "I know how to get by on my own."

To his surprise, Wardaddy sat by his side on the wooden bench, putting his package on the floor between his knees.

"Where's your family?" Machine asked. Don sighed. His gaze wandered over the luminous faces of his men. Boyd embracing his children, Gordo kissing his girlfriend, Grady laughing with a bearded man who was to be his father. They looked changed, transformed; they looked happy. "No need to lose parents to be an orphan, I guess," he finally said. "I didn't plan on survivin' this thing, so there's nothing really waiting for me here."

The sergeant threw his bag on his shoulder and got up. Now he just had to go home and hope that everyone would or had already forgot him.

Norman got up in his turn, alert. The elder put a hand on his arm and smiled tenderly, despite the sadness that gripped his heart. "You're a good boy, Norman. I promise... we'll see each other again. We will write to you. I don't want you to think we abandon you, okay? "The younger nodded, his cheek swelled as he bit his tongue.

''Go make yourself a nice life, Machine. '' Without adding anything, Wardaddy turned on his heels, waved to his brothers of heart one last time, and walked away into the crowd. Norman's silence had shocked him. Was he angry? Or maybe he didn't care about him as much as he thought...

The sergeant hadn't made twenty meters before a familiar voice sounded behind his back.

'' WAIT! '' Norman suddenly jumped at his neck. The man felt his heart melt and he hugged the young man hard against his chest. Machine was clinging to his neck if he was his only support in this world full of cruelty. Don bit his lip as his eyes filled with tears. He simply couldn't. It was too hard. Norman was too endearing, too vulnerable to be let alone among all those people.
'' I don't wanna leave, I don't wanna be alone ... I can't do that without you... '' The younger pleaded in his shoulder. Wardaddy gently brushed his hair with a slightly shaky hand.

"I know, Norman. I know ...but we'll meet again. I promise. "

Yes, he would. Don might not be perfect, but at least he was loyal. Life hadn't spared him, but he was ready to repair his past mistakes for his men. For his family.

They remained entwined for a long time, attracting a few glances from intrigued passers-by. Machine finally pushed his face away from his superior's shoulder and pulled away reluctantly. A thin smile curled his lips as he looked up at the older man.

"Are you crying?"