AN: Back with this story, yus! :D
During a training jump in Mackall, Bob got seriously injured. He bailed out of the plane at three hundred and fifty feet and landed in a tree. The day after Bob got shipped off to the hospital, the 506th was preparing to go on maneuvers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Before boarding the train, they were given hot coffee and doughnuts from Red Cross Girls; their last sweet treat for over two months. Hoobler wasn't overly hungry, so, Robin helped herself to his jelly-filled doughnut. Finishing off her coffee, she placed the cup into a bag. For the first two hours, the three friends played blackjack and talked nonsense. But soon, the conversation dropped.
Sighing, Robin mumbled;
"hope Bob's alright".
"He'll be fine". Dukeman shrugged.
"Oh, I ain't so sure". Hoobler said, "he really messed himself up. He might not make another jump".
Robin frowned;
"so…he's out of the Airborne?"
Sharing her frown, Hoobler said;
"maybe…I ain't a doctor. Couldn't say for sure".
"Then don't fucking say anything". Robin sounded annoyed, "fuck sake, Hoob. You're a right Debbie downer, eh?"
Dukeman simpered;
"come on…no fighting, huh? Bob ain't here to help me out".
"Are you being a sensitive Sally again?" Hoobler teased.
He was sitting next to her.
Facing Hoobler, Robin punched his arm;
"knock it off, or I'll knock you out".
"Guys, come on…". Dukeman said calmly, "let's play more blackjack. Hell, we'll even bet".
"You couldn't knock me out". Hoobler said, ignoring Dukeman.
"Aye, I could". She said, "you've got chicken arms and goat legs".
Hoobler barked out a laugh;
"you're kidding, right? You'd get out of breath real quick into the fight".
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well…how many doughnuts did you eat?"
"You're fucked". Robin muttered, "get up".
Hoobler didn't move, so, Robin shoved him off the seat. He stumbled onto his feet and Robin was soon standing in front of them. Both were now facing each other on the narrow strip. She curled her hands up into fists but Hoobler only laughed. A few curious eyes headed their way. And those eyes soon widened with amusement. Someone started to chant;
"fight…fight…fight…".
And seconds after, others joined in with the chanting.
"You really 'wanna do this?" Hoobler asked her above the chanting.
"If it stops you being a prick, aye". She mumbled.
Dukeman ran a hand down his face;
"you guys are pathetic".
Robin turned to face Dukeman, opening her mouth to defend herself. But she soon came crashing on the floor, when Hoobler tackled her to the ground. Landing on her back with a harsh thud, Robin lost her breath. On top of her, Hoobler grinned;
"I ain't 'gonna fight you-"
"get the fuck 'aff me!" She said while pushing his chest, "get off!"
Before Hoobler could move himself off Robin, Lipton dragged him away;
"idiots, both of you". He muttered, "get up, Bowie!"
She pointed at Hoobler;
"he tackled me!"
"I don't care". Lipton said, "get up and sit down".
"Calling me fat…". Robin muttered under her breath, "fucking prick…".
Hoobler huffed out a laugh;
"I never called you fat".
"Aye, you says I eat loads of doughnuts".
"How is that calling you fat?"
Shaking her head, Robin got onto her feet and sat down by the window;
"you're just being a smartarse". She said, "fucking sick of it, eh?"
When Hoobler sat back down next to her, Dukeman removed his hand from his face. Looking between the pair of them, he asked;
"you two 'gonna quit it now?"
Robin didn't answer.
But Hoobler did;
"yeah, we're done". He grinned, "did you see it, Buddy? I sent her flying".
"No, I didn't see it". He said, "it was embarrassing…I couldn't watch".
When Hoobler looked at Robin, she was rubbing the back of her head and facing the window. He felt himself frown a little. With a sigh, he asked;
"didn't hurt your head, did I?"
"Nah". Robin mumbled. "It's alright".
He started to feel guilty. Looking at Dukeman, Hoobler sent him a helpless look.
The older man only smirked in return and shrugged.
Facing the back of her head again, Hoobler told her;
"I'm sorry, pal".
She sniffed.
Her shoulders jerked.
Hoobler's eyes widened. And when he looked at Dukeman, he shared the same expression. Alarmed now, Hoobler ran a panicked hand down his face. And he could feel a dagger cut right into his heart when Robin let out a choked noise before covering her eyes with her hand. Dukeman sent a sharp kick into Hoobler's shin. The younger man winced before he asked Robin very quietly;
"are you…are you crying?"
She only sniffed in return.
Shoulders dropping, Hoobler's frown deepened;
"pal…I – shit, I'm an asshole".
He then quickly looked around, hoping no one was watching.
Rubbing his lips together, he faced the back of her head;
"come on…don't cry, pal. I'm so fucking sorry".
Uncovering her eyes, Robin sharply turned around.
Her eyes were dry, and she was grinning;
"got 'ye, you silly cunt".
Dukeman laughed.
Hoobler looked slightly annoyed;
"you're an ass, Robin!"
With a chuckle, she shoved his shoulder;
"oi, you're my best pal, eh?"
Shaking his head, Hoobler snorted and soon smiled;
"yeah, you are…you fucker".
…
It was hotter than hot in Kentucky. After marching for over twenty-five miles, they set up camp in the middle of an uncharted forest. From just wearing nothing but her vest for most of the day, Robin's shoulders and arms were burnt. They were red and beginning to blister from hot sun. The paratroopers weren't given any forms of protection from the heat. They could only keep themselves hydrated with warm canteen water. After helping dig a slit-trench, Robin sat outside of her tent and took a sip of water. Welsh soon dumped a small can of meat and a packet of crackers on her lap. Moving on from her, he did the same to her neighbour, Talbert.
Noticing her stare, Talbert grinned;
"we're eating good tonight, Bowie".
She picked up the can;
"what's this? Pork?"
"Yeah". Talbert replied, "it'll go down easy. Don't taste so bad".
She didn't believe him. Putting the can down, Robin opened her crackers and decided to play it safe for the time being. With the sun slowly setting in the background, it was almost like a camping trip in the woods with her friends. All that was missing, was a fire. On cue, Hoobler dropped an armful of sticks and twigs in front of her boots.
Rubbing his hands together, he looked as giddy as a kid on Christmas;
"time to start a fire".
"You can't start one here". Talbert told him, "too many trees about".
Hoobler waved him off;
"no, it's fine…I was in the National Guard, I know what I'm talking about".
Talbert looked amused;
"you're talking out your ass again, Hoob".
Robin smiled at Talbert;
"what's new, eh?"
"At least he ain't a dull boy".
"Nah…he's just a silly one".
Hoobler created the perfect nest for his fire, lightly a match, he told them;
"prepare to have your minds blown".
But before he could drop the match in, Bull blew the small flame out and smacked Hoobler on the back of his head;
"what're you doing, boy? Don't start a fire here".
Talbert and Robin cracked up.
Hoobler rubbed the back of his head;
"what the fuck, Bull?"
Bull placed his cigar back between his lips;
"damn city boy…".
"I ain't a city boy".
"You had me fooled". He remarked while walking back to his tent.
Robin grinned up at Hoobler;
"come on, mate…have your tea, eh?"
Grumbling under his breath, Hoobler sat down next to Robin and brought out his canned meat and crackers. Noticing she hadn't touched her can, he asked her;
"you ain't 'gonna eat that?"
"Nah…I'll save it". She said, "looks like shite".
"It's fine". Talbert reminded her, "just eat it. You're 'gonna need the energy tomorrow".
Bringing out her can opener, Robin took off the lid and smelt the meat inside.
Pulling a disgusted face, she soon laughed;
"fuck…that's fucked".
Hoobler grinned;
"odds on you taking a bite?"
"Slim".
"No, you've 'gotta". He said, "I'll give you two dollars".
Reaching into her front pocket, Robin took out a metal spoon;
"three?"
Hoobler nodded and watched eagerly;
"alright, three bucks. But it's 'gotta fill the whole spoon".
Sticking her spoon into the meat, she dug around and brought up a tablespoon of pork meat, with bits of vegetables and potato poking out. Robin took another smell and her stomach rolled from disgust.
"Can I hold my nose?" She asked Hoobler.
He shook his head;
"nope".
"Bastard".
Shoving the spoon in her mouth, Robin made sure all the food was inside before bringing the spoon back out. Showing Hoobler, she soon started to chew quickly and hoped she could swallow it without actually tasting it. But the texture alone was enough to make her gag. Hoobler laughed;
"hey, if you puke, you don't get any money".
Slapping a hand across her mouth, Robin willed herself to swallow. And when she did, she was left breathless and nauseous. Opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue, Hoobler gave her three dollars. She grabbed her canteen after and took a large drink, praying the meat stayed down.
"Odds on you doing the same?"
Hoobler nodded;
"alright".
"Wait!" Talbert said, "Hoobs has already had this one before".
With a sigh, Robin looked around.
Her eyes soon spotted something wriggling around in the mud. With a grin, she reached for the small creature and picked it up. Looking at Hoobler, she asked;
"odds on you eating this worm?"
He laughed;
"that's disgusting".
"I'll double it".
"Nope. I ain't eating a worm, Robin".
Holding the worm up, she licked her bottom lip in thought before telling him;
"twenty bucks".
After only thinking things through for a few seconds, Hoobler snatched the worm out of Robin's fingers and shoved it into his mouth. Repulsed, Robin scooted away from her friend and shook her head;
"what the fuck, Hoob?!"
Talbert rose to his feet;
"he's putting me off my damn supper!"
"Why're you eating a fucking worm for twenty bucks?" She asked, "you're sick. There's something wrong with you".
Hoobler must have had a stomach of steel. Because after a few moments, the worm was gone. He opened his mouth and held out his hand;
"pay up, Robin".
Shaking her head, she slapped twenty dollars into his hand;
"you'll do anything for money, you whore".
With a laugh, Hoobler showed Robin his other hand.
He unclenched his fist.
The worm was wriggling around.
Frowning, she looked at him.
"I wasn't 'gonna eat a fucking worm". He grinned, "consider this payback, huh?"
Grin splitting across her face, Robin laughed;
"you wee fanny, Hoob. Give me my money back, 'ye prick".