Okay, so this was a random idea that I don't think I wrote to the best of my ability, but I fucking enjoyed it. I'm a huge history nerd so I just randomly had this idea of Jim being a World War whichever soldier and Claire being a nurse at a soldier's ward that he ended up meeting by pure chance and sparks just lighting from then on.
Is it accurate? Probably not.
Is it short and kind rushed? Oh definitely.
Did I enjoy it though? You can bet your ASS I did! lol
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! Much love, mates!
When I first signed up to join the war efforts, I thought I would see some action and then head back home before I knew it. At least, that's what my teachers said. That's what the men in my hometown had said.
They couldn't have been more wrong in their lives.
It felt like I've spent more hours at this point in a trench than I had in school at this point. The men in my squadron were kind to me, despite me being the youngest in the platoon. Each of them went by nicknames though which was rather hard to get used to. For example, a man named Aaron went by the name AAARRRGGHH. Another named Francious went by the name Blinks. Another who was only a few years older than me was named Darius yet went by Draal instead.
What was weird about it though was no one in the squadron got to choose their name, you were given it.
Mine was Hunter and it wasn't for the normal household name either.
Why did I receive it?
I screamed out loud as I was somehow able to pull the German's gun out of his hand before slamming the butt of his rifle against his head as hard as I could. A loud smack rigging within the stairwell as the rest of my squadron went on to check the rest of the building.
Well. I was rather ruthless in their eyes. A true hunter. Always looking for the next enemy. Always wanting to protect my squad from whatever I could find.
"Watch yourself, Hunter!" I ducked as the sound of glass shattered beside me. The Molotov being chucked at me causing a small bit a fire to creep up around my feet.
But it did get me in rather sticky situations.
"MOVE YOUR ASS PRIVATE! GO GO GO!" I ran through the short pile of flames with ease as I caught up with the rest of my regent. But before I could move on ahead like I normally would, my commanding officer Vendel stopped me and gave me a quick glance over within his hiding spot behind a brick building. "You're bleeding, Hunter." I reached up and touched my forehead only to feel the thick liquid that he was talking about. "Once we get this attack dealt with and reach the camp, you're going to the ward." I nodded my head as I knew better than the fight the Lieutenant.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, let's get these Nazi bastards out of here! The faster we deal with them, the sooner we get to rest at the base!" A cheerful roar filled my squadron as we moved toward the next objective.
The last thing I remember from that mission was the congratulatory pat on the shoulder Vendel gave me as we marched on to where base was. The thing that was on my mind though was the fact that I had to waste space within a soldier's ward that could be used by a man that needed more than I.
But it was when I met I first met her and by God was she a sight for sore eyes.
I swallowed dryly as I looked up toward the tanned skinned nurse. Her hazel eyes were focused as her hands gently wiped the dried blood on my face. A soft smile appearing on her face as she spoke softly to me.
"Lucky for you, the glass only cut your eyebrow. Shouldn't be anything a few stitches and some alcohol can't fix." I swallowed dryly once more as I was able to choke out a reply.
"T-Thank you." She just gave me a soft giggle as she patted a small cotton ball onto my right eyebrow.
"You're welcome. My name's Claire by the way. What was it that your commanding officer called you? Hunter?"
"I-It's a nickname. My real name's James. I like being called Jim though." Her smile just widened as she leaned back from me to grab something off the table beside her.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Jim." She went back to work on my eyebrow as I just watched her. Her hands were gentle as she weaved the stitches into place. A small angelic hum coming from her as she worked. Out of nowhere though, I found myself speaking once more.
"It's pretty." She leaned back from me and gave me a curious look as I stuttered out a reply. "Y-Your name. It's pretty." She giggled at that as she snipped at whatever it as that she weaved into my wound.
"Why thank you, Jim. If you think that's nice though, you should hear my full name."
"Can I?" She just gave me a smirk as she laid her utensils onto the table beside her.
"Maybe the next time I see you. Hopefully for something better than this nasty wound on your brow." I gave her a large smile in reply.
"So whenever I see you outside the ward?"
"You can take it like that, sure."
"When do you get off then?" She gave me a smile before another curious look took over her face.
"Weren't you just stuttering mess before? Where's this confidence coming from?" I shrugged as my smile kept itself on my lips.
"Blame the adrenaline."
"It'll explain why you were able to handle stitches so well."
"It'll explain why I'm able to talk to a beauty like you so calmly."
"You weren't earlier."
"Trust me, give me a few minutes and I'll be stuttering again." She just gave me a gentle laugh as another nurse came over to where she was treating me.
"Nuñez, we need you in bay three." Claire just gave the obviously older lady a nod before turning her attention toward me.
"Five." I gave her a shocked look as I repeated the single word back to her.
"Five?"
"When I get off. It's six." I smiled at her as she before turning her attention toward where she was needed next. A simple glance being flung over her shoulder toward me before heading off toward her next patient.
"Five," I muttered the word to myself as a dopey smile took over my lips. I got to my feet as a sudden wave of joy took over my chest before placing my helmet that sat in my lap onto my head. "Five. I'll be by Five. Don't forget, Lake." I hurried my way out of the ward as I gave the few nurses I saw a nod of thank you.
I don't think I would if I could.
I had my hands behind my back as I waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs outside of the soldier's ward. I brought my right hand out from behind me so I could check my watch that was on my wrist.
Five. Right on the dot.
"Good work today, Rookie."
"Thanks, Gloria." I looked up toward the two voices like the one I figured was Gloria gave me a large smirk before turning her attention to her fellow nurse once more.
"Seems you've got company. Get used to it." I noted the blush that took over Claire's face as she turned her head toward me with a large smile. I swallowed hard as I noted that she was even more beautiful under the setting sun instead of the dreadful ward.
"Here I thought you wouldn't show up." I smiled at her as she came to a stop before me.
"Here I thought you told me the wrong time on purpose." She just gave me a small laugh as her smile widened on her face.
"I was tempted. You're not the first soldier to flirt with me, you know."
"What made you give me the right time then?"
"You're first to treat me like a normal person instead of just a pretty sight." I blushed at her words as I glanced away from her. "That bashfulness worked in your favor too."
"W-Well. I'm thankful for it then."
"I'm Claire Maria Nuñez, by the way."
"James Lake Junior, since we're sharing." She giggled at that as she extended her hand toward me.
"Well, it's wonderful to meet you fully, Jim."
"Wonderful to meet you as well." I took her hand in mine. The soft skin of her hand taking my calloused one with ease. Her hold was gentle against mine and it shot a spark up my arm and through my nervous system. As if knowing I was turning into putty within her hands, she gave a smirk before speaking softly toward me.
"Here I'm wishing this won't be the last time as well."
And for as long as I stayed at the base, I made sure of it. I met her after her shift at the ward as many times as I could. My squadron would toy with me on the subject saying that I was rather young to spend so much time on the first girl I met overseas, but she wasn't just some girl to me. I learned more about her within that month on base than I had about even my own platoon in the six months I spent with them.
She was from California, which luckily I was too. She joined the nurse's union for the war right after she graduated high school, despite her parent's wishes for her to go to college instead.
"I wanted to do my part." She looked up toward me as we walked beside each other in the crisp fall wind. "I wanted to help in any way I could."
"Do you regret it? You've must have seen hell in the short time you've spent here." A smile appeared on her face before placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Not even the slightest."
But when I was stationed in the trenches on the frontlines of France, it never needed our communications between one another. Letters between the both of us being the thing the kept me sane during my time in the trenches.
"What's your lover girl writing to you about now, Hunter?" I chuckled at Draal as he took the spot next to me. "Or is it your buddy Toby from back home? Well, with that handwriting, it might be your mother, honestly."
"No, it's Claire."
"What's she saying?"
"The normal. Stay safe. Keep your head low. She hopes to hear from me again soon. We're in her prayers. The usual."
"Has she said she loved you yet? Any plans to run away together after all of this is through?" I just chuckled at Draal's teasing as I shrugged at his words.
"She already told me she wants to head back home to see her family as soon as she can. But since we found out our hometowns aren't too far away from one another-."
"She's saying the two of you should meet up again after this bullshit ends?" I gave him a simple nod as I read the rest of Claire's letter.
I'm trying my best to make sure my letters are long for you. Entertainment within those trenches is near to nothing besides each other's company so I figured these will keep your mind off the war for a little bit. Hopefully not enough for you to forget where you are though. Again, I don't want to see you in another ward anytime soon, Lake.
But I should be getting back to work now. With the war hopefully coming to an end, the number of soldiers we're getting are few and in between, but still enough to get our beds full. I'll write to you as soon as I can. Don't be afraid to write to me as much as you wish. I always find a smile on my lips when I read from you. Makes it feel as if you're still here in a way.
Much love,
Claire Maria~
I smiled at her words as Draal just gave me a soft slap onto my back.
"You're a lost one now aren't ya?" I felt a blush take over my face as I just gave my fellow soldier a shrug.
"I guess so. But I'm happily lost, in a way."
"Only you, Hunter. Only you."
"Could you blame me though?"
"Honestly? No, I can't. You've got yourself a good girl there. Just don't fuck up for a few more months and you'll be just fine."
"Trust me, I don't plan on it." I folded up Claire's letter and put it into my shirt's pocket before pulling out a small notepad I had hidden away to write back to her as soon as I could.
I nearly dropped my bag to my feet as Claire rushed into my arms. Her arms looping around my waist as her head rested itself onto my shoulder. I just chuckled at her as I wrapped my arms around her in reply.
"I knew you said you missed me, but I didn't think it was that bad."
"Shush." She tightened her arms around my waist as I just pulled her closer into me. "Seven months was too much."
"We've only known each other for a year, Claire."
"Again, shush." I rubbed small circles into her back as I smiled at her words.
"I missed you too. Don't worry."
"Good." She pulled back from me and gave me a gentle smile in return. "Happy to back on your home soil?" I just smiled at her as she cupped both sides of my face.
"I'm happier to see you again." I noted the blush on her face before she rushed forward and captured my lips as if she has done it a thousand times before. Even though it was the first we've ever shared.
When I first signed up to join the war efforts, I thought I would see some action and then head back home before I knew it. At least, that's what my teachers said. That's what the men in my hometown had said. Yet they couldn't have been more wrong in their lives.
I smiled against her lips as I pulled her close against me.
But Lord was I okay with it.
We pulled back from each other with large smiles on each other's lips. Her hands still on my cheeks as she whispered softly toward me.
"Let's get you home, soldier."
"What if I don't want to go back to Arcadia Oaks just yet? What if I want to stay here a little longer?"
"I wouldn't say no."
"Perfect." I leaned forward to capture her lips once more. This time pulling a small giggle from the nurse as she looped her arms around my neck. A single thought running through my mind as I held her close.
I'm already home as it is.