LOVING IS SIN

CHAPTER 3

TAKING ORDERS

"Jesus its fuckin' hot out here."

"Not shit Tex. Thanks for weather update."

"Both of you just shut up."

It was mid summer. One of the hottest days on record as a squad of Marines were walking down one of the many dirt roads that made the living hell hole that was Vietnam operate. The Marines walked in two lines. One line on the far right of the road. The other mirroring them accordingly. The heat was making everyone just miserable. More than they already were. The year was 1970. The Vietcong where on the rise and intel said they were going to plan an all-out attack on an ally base. That was why these Marines were walking the next few miles to the base from their camp to the south of them.

"I'm just sayin' it's hot." Tex would say as he was a blond haired young kid. Got drafted four months ago and hadn't seen any action yet in his time.

"The more you think about it the harder it will hit you." Another Marine said as he was walking in front of Tex.

"Yeah, maybe if I get so hot and bothered you will cool me off huh Alphy?" Alphy would roll his eyes as he couldn't help but smirk at the bad joke. He was another draftee. Coming from The Bronx in New York City. Having been in for 5 months.

"Just shut up you two." The two would look to their right as Husk was there. Walking with his M60 hung over one shoulder. Two belts of ammo hung over his neck. A lit cigarette would hang from his lips as he walked. Husk had been in the fight for almost six months now. His helmet having some decorations on it. An Ace of Spades playing card. Along written in black paint along the helm, "Gambling Man."

"Hey Husk why did you get that name? I know that isn't your real name." Tex would say as he had his M16 slung over his chest. One hand on the grip as the other would rest on top of the barrel. Husk wouldn't say anything as he would just keep looking forward.

"He got the name because he is a dry hard ass. No humor in that guy. He will just tell you to fuck off. And then take your money if you bet anything with him." Alphy would say and Tex would laugh a little.

"Like the hard dry covering on some plants?" Alphy would go wide eyed and began to mock Tex.

"Good job there buddy. Need a sticker?" Tex would nod in excitement.

"Yeah get me a smiley face. So when I kill my first target he will see it on my helmet." The squad would keep moving forward as Husk would keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

"Village ahead!" The two lines would hear their Corporal up front yell. Indeed there was a village coming up. Husk always hated going through villages. Way too many points of contact for his liking. The small talk would quickly come to a close as everyone was on high alert. This was a prime place for an ambush. They could hide behind kids or women. Hell, even the women would be a target at times.

Tex would pull his M16 up as he would grip the under barrel. His index finger near the trigger. Ready for a fight if it came to it. Alphy would already be ready as he looked around when the squad would enter the village. Husk pulled the loaded M60 into his arms. Holding it close to his chest as he would watch as the civilians would stop and watch as they made their way through the village. Getting deeper into the homes they would hear a loud yell and gun fire started. A few Marines up front would get hit and go down. Tex, Alphy, and Husk would all dash off the main road and hit the dirt under one of the lifted houses.

"Contact left! Contact left!" Husk would hear as he set up his M60. Firing where the gunfire was called out. Alphy as well fired back. Tex would be looking as he tried to spot anything. The M60 would fire rounds into the homes. Tearing them to pieces. People running out of the homes holding guns as they got gun downed by the others.

"Ra khỏi đất của chúng tôi!" Someone yelled out and the whole village would seem to charge into the Marines. Some wearing uniforms. Most wearing civilian clothes.

"Fuck! Shoot everything!" Husk would begin firing once again. The bullets ripping through a few of them. Making the rest of them take cover. The Marines would run to find cover and fight back. Some throwing grenades into homes as they would be blown to pieces. Screams of pain echoed out in the gunfire.

Husk would run out of ammo as Tex came over and tugged off one of the belts that hung over Husk. Husk tossing the empty belt and reloading the M60. Smacking the cover back down and racking the charging handle. Looking into the smoke filled area as he was having a hard time seeing. The smoke from the firearms and all the dust that was tossed up made visibility a struggle. Tex would spot a few Vietcong moving to cover. Unloading onto their position. One of them falling as the other two would dart away and into the tall bushes and tree line. Which Husk would follow them up as he made sure they would run away.

"Reloading Tex cover!" Alphy would yell and duck some as the house they were under was providing them with decent concealment. Tex would aim his rifle down range. The gun fire would soon come to a stop. The three looking out to see if the fighting was over or not.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" They heard and would crawl out from under the house. Rifles still up at the ready. Husk having his M60 down at his hip. One arm holding it as the other held the belt.

"Come here. On the ground you fuck!" The three would see a few prisoners be pushed and shoved to the ground in the middle of the village. A few dead bodies lying around. Some were their fellow members. Others the enemy. The lined five of them up side by side. The Corporal was the one who kicked the knees out of the last one so he was on his knees.

"Thought you could mess with the Marines huh?" He said and pistol whipped one of them. Grabbing him and putting him back up to his knees. His nose broken as blood spilled from his nostrils. Looking around as he saw the three, he would motion for Husk to come over. Husk doing so and standing beside the Sargent.

"End these fucks Husk." He said as Husk would look to the prisoners. They were young. As young as Tex it seemed. A few of them even starting to cry as they started praying.

"HUSK! I told you to end these fucking creeps!" Husk would look back to the rage filled Corporal. Eyes a little wide as he didn't know if that was a good call.

"S-sir they are unarmed. We can't just kill them." The Corporal grabbed Husk by the shoulder and pointed to three dead Marines. The three lifeless Americans were filled with holes as their eyes stared an empty stare.

"These now unarmed creeps just did that. Now I want you to take this god damn gun." He would say and point to it. "And shoot them with it. That is a fucking order Husk!" Husk would look to the five. Shaking his head some he would change demeanor. He was given an order. Good soldiers followed orders. Looking into the eyes of the young men in front of him. He would see their eyes are full of fear. But orders are orders.

"Do it Husk!"

"Shoot those fuckers right fucking now!"

"Husk!...Husk!...HUSK!

Husk would wake up as he breathed in hard. Looking around to see Angel was standing over him. Husk was laying on one of the couches in the lobby. Angel backing up some as Husk sat up quickly. Looking around quickly before he realized where he was.

"Woh its ok Husk. Bad dream huh?" Angel asked as Husk slowly calmed done. Getting up off the couch as he nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine what do you want?" He would rub his eyes with his palms. Not wanting to deal with Angel's flirting right now. Last thing he needed was to be pushed right now.

"I have to go to work. And you usually walk me there. I can go by myself if you need me too." Angel would say. Husk looking back to Angel as he saw he was all dressed up. Getting up he stretched his wings and limps.

"Alright let's go." Angel would follow him out the front door of the hotel. The two walking down the sidewalk.

"Hey Husk. Did you carry me to bed last night?" Angel asked. Husker would move simply nod in response. Looking to see if they could catch the next bus that would be coming this way.

"Yeah I carried you to bed. You downed that drink way to quick." Husk would fold his wings as he didn't want to take up the whole side walk.

"Thanks for talking with me you know. Might be a ragin' asshole. But you do listen well." Arriving at the bus stop they would be just in time for the bus to come up and open its doors. The driver pointing to the change box. Angel would roll his eyes and pull his colt on the guy. Who would quickly let them on. Angel and Husk getting on the bus as it was rather empty. Finding a seat Angel would put his gun back into his chest fur.

"Did you really have to do that?" Husk asked in annoyance. The bus doors shutting and the air brakes disengaging as the bus rolled forward.

"Got us on the bus didn't it?" Angel would look to the window to make sure he looked good for the night.

"You know Charlie would kick is out if she caught me taking you to work." Angel would keep looking at himself in the window. Checking that his eyeliner was done right.

"Yes, so keep it down. We can just say you and me went out for dinner." Angel looked back to Husk. Giving him a wink to tease. Choosing to ignore the spider's flirt he just looked ahead at the seat in front of him. The rest of the ride was quite. The bus having to do a few stops to get some more passengers, or to drop them off. When it was their turn they got up and walked off the bus. Being in front of "VStudios." The porn studio that Valentino ran.

"Well thanks for taking me Husky. See you in a few hours." Angel would say and walk into the building. Leaving Husk to his own thoughts. Seeing he had a few hours to kill he figured he would go and walk the strip.

Walking down the brightly lit streets he looked around to see if anything seemed interesting to him. He soon found himself at one of the many casinos. Might as well indulge in one of the two things he enjoyed. Finding himself a poker table he took a seat. Taking his hat off as he pulled out some cash. The dealer would take it and give him $300 in chips. The hands got dealt out as he looked around the table. Seeing that the table was almost full with seven players. The dealer would toss out the players cards. Husk leaned back in his seat. Flagging down a server. Asking for the cheapest booze they had. They would head off as he looked to his cards. Pulling them up by the top enough to see what he had. Ace and a 2. Not the best hand. But he could work it. After all he was a gambler by trait.

Some bets would be placed as he called. So far 200 was in the pot. The flop would come out. 5,9, and a 2. Pairs with an ace. Wasn't too bad. A few checked and then another would bet. Husk calling it. Here was the turn. He would flutter his wings some. Using his abilities as the next card that got flipped was an Ace. He didn't even crack a smirk. Looking at the others stone cold. The server coming back and handing him his bottle of booze. He nodded his thanks and began to down a good bit of it. Setting the bottle down near his chips. After another round of betting the total was 1200 in the pot. The river would come as he would see another ace fly out. Full house. With aces and twos. Bingo. He watched as a few would fold until his eyes landed on a snake demon. Who would push 150 worth of chips into the center. It was him and Husk left in the hand. Husk only having 150 left. Would nod and toss the rest of his chips in. The dealer would check to make sure everyone was ready. Motioning for them to show as the snake would toss out a full house of nines and twos.

"What you got alley cat?" He says in a cocky tone. Husk would flip his cards over to show his full house. A few players at the table would chuckle as Husk would give the snake a smirk. Mocking him right in front of everyone. The dealer would push the pile of chips to Husk who would watch the snake get up with his chips that he had left and leave. Grumbling how Husk cheated somehow. He wasn't wrong.

"Cash in." Husk said and the dealer would count the chips and then pull them back. Reaching under the table as he gave Husk the money he was owed. 1,350 wasn't a bad hall. He would put it in his hat and get up. "Nice playing with you boys." He said and headed off to find another table. Gambling away as he waited for Angel to give him a call to take him back home.

A few hours into his little campaign he would get a text from Angel. Saying he was ready to get walked home. He had won at a few tables and lost at a few tables. But those losses were on purpose. Couldn't be having a perfect record. He would cash out and walk out with about 2,000 in his hat now. Moving out the doors he would head back to the porn studio. Seeing Angel there waiting for him.

"Ah there you are Husky. Thought you fuckin' bailed on me." Angel moved to join Husk on the walk home. The two headed for the bus stop that would lead them back closer to the hotel.

"Yeah and get yelled at by the princess. No thank you. I don't want to deal with that." Husk said as he was in a little bit of a happier mood. He got some good drinks in him. Won at a few tables. Now having some extra cash to play with.

"You sound a little chipper. Get your dicked sucked or something?" Husk would frown as Angel always seemed to find a way to put a damper on his mood.

"No. I got a few drinks in me. Took some suckers money at some cards. You seem to be walking funny. Take someone to big this time?" Angel would glare down at the cat demon.

"To big pfft whatever. Since you are curious it was a spanking scene. So, my ass is a little sore from that." Husk would wince some as he didn't want to know any more details.

"Yeah that's enough. We can stop talkin about it." Angel giggled to himself as the two kept walking.

Arriving at the hotel the two would enter the lobby. Vaggie was there waiting on them as she looked pissed.

"Where have you two been?" She asked as Husk went to speak but Angel beat him to it."

"On a date sugar. Isn't that right Husky?" Angel asked as Husk just looked between Angel and Vaggie before nodding. Having to play along so they didn't get in trouble.

"Yeah we went out and went gambling some. Angel lost his ass out." Husk would turn it back onto Angel. Angel giving him a fake shit eating grin.

"Y-yeah I didn't do that good. Anyways is it against the rules for us to hang with each other?" He asked and poked Vaggie on the chest. Making her step to him. Ready to throw down with Angel.

"No it's not. But I am watching you two." She would sternly say and storm off to go find Charlie. Leaving the two in the lobby. Husk and Angel would share a glance to one another they were glad she took it.

"I hate you. You know that." Husk says and Angel would just let out a soft laugh.

"Should of saw your face when I said we went on a date. Ha!" Angel turned and would head towards the bar. Husk following as he got behind the counter. Angel sitting down at the bar. Leaning forward on the bar he would watch Husk motion to the drinks behind him.

"Hmm how about some whiskey on rocks huh? I don't plan on getting hammered tonight again." Angel says. Husk moving to get the kind he licked. Getting some Gentlemen's Jack off the shelf. Along with a glass of ice and poured him till it was half way. "Thanks, kitten." He would wink as Husk would just sigh.

"Ok for fucks sake. Why? I have never taken you up on your many offers. You flirt with me every time you get. Why are you even trying? I would of given up weeks ago." Husk would say as Angel would blink a few times as he was too stunned.

"Well...I do it because I like watching you get all flustered. You tense up when I say it. Your ears go flat and your wings do this little wiggle thing that is so cute. And hey you aren't too bad looking. Might as well try." He would take a few heavy sips from his drink. "I am a gay mobster spider who is a well known porn star. And you are a drunk gambling cold asshole. But again. You aren't bad lookin'." It was Husk's turn to do the stunned blinking. He didn't think that he would be forward with him.

"O-oh. I guess that makes sense." Angel nodded and down the rest of his drink. Sliding the glass away some.

"Why don't you take my offer huh? I mean I have very clearly showed my hand kitten." Husk would look away as he grabbed the empty glass. Turning away from Angel as he began to clean it up.

"Because I lost the feeling to love anything long ago. And you aren't going to bring that back. And stop calling me fucking kitten. Fucking hate being a cat." He says and Angel would wave him off. Laughing some aloud.

"You think its love? Not at all Husk. I just want a good fuck. You are a male right? You got what I want. Besides that, I could give two shits less about you." Angel says as he would look to Husk. Husk not moving as he was worried he might have gone too far.

"Yeah. I figured as much." Husk would say and grab a bottle of booze. Moving out from the bar. Flipping off Angel. "Go fuck yourself whore." He said and headed for his room. Angel would glare daggers at his back. Husk leaving Angel at the bar. Standing there upset that Husk would say that. But also thinking on how stupid he was for saying that.

"Good job Angel. Yeah way to make a move on him." Angel says as he would get up with a heavy sigh. Heading back to his bedroom. Once back at his own bedroom he would flop down on his bed face first. Letting out a frustrated yell into it. Fat Nuggets would come over quickly and nuzzle his side. Angle pulled his head up and gave his pet pig a soft smile.

"I'm ok Nuggy. Just did a stupid move. A really really stupid move." Angle rolled over onto his back. Why did he say that? Angel wasn't use to having this feeling in his stomach every time he saw Husk. He knew what it was. But for Husk! Everything he said at the bar was true. Husk was a cold hearted asshole. Cared more about cards and booze than his own pathetic after life it seemed. But he still seemed to care somewhat about the others and Angel himself. If he truly didn't care. He would have never agreed to take him to work. Which he has been for a few weeks now. If he didn't care he would have left Angel a drunken mess yesterday. Now he had fucked it all up. Trying to make it seem he wasn't interested that way.

"Good job. Fucking amazing." Angel softly said and curled up in the bed. Pulling the covers up over him.

That fucking asshole. Husk would think as he kicked open his door. It swinging opening and closing when he walked in. How could angel say that shit? Hus would set the bottle down on a night stand near the door. Moving to the bed as he slumped down on the end of it. He wasn't sure what he was more pissed at. That Angel was right about who he was. Or that he couldn't accept even a little bit of affection sent his way. Getting up he would go to his punching bag in the corner and began to throw haymakers at it.

God you lonely fuck. You old drunken bastard. You can't love! That's an order! Husk would punch faster as he was losing breath quickly.

You are a drunk and will forever be a drunk. You can't love that's an order! The voice in his head getting louder until he would yell and give the bag one last punch. Sending it falling over and crashing into empty beer bottles. Heaving like he just ran a marathon he would slump back down on the bed.

You are a good solider. You are a killing machine. You take orders. The voice inside his head would say sternly.

What is your malfunction! Your job as a Marine is Taking Orders!

Author Notes:

Hey everyone! Hope you are enjoying the story so far! Again I know its a little slow. But it should be picking up a little bit here in a few! Also it's been a moment since I have written. Would love to hear what you have to say about the story so far! Until then I will see you in the next chapter!