A/N: Took a while, my apologies! Enjoy! BTW! I did a quick fanart image of the fic. It's in The Loud Booru, Yustax...you'll recognize the pic immediately.
Summary: It all began with an innocent look that soared the sporty girl and the man with the plan down a path not meant for them to take together, searing their hearts under siege. LynnColn
A Siege of Hearts
Chapter 7
A Loud Family Minute.
Present time.
Loud Residence.
November 9th 2004.
Two eyes opened blinking in the darkness, moaning in exhaustion. The brunette looked at the clock on her nightstand, it displayed that it was past 3AM in the morning. Sighing dejectedly she looked to her right, where Lucy's bed used to be. The Goth teen had moved to Leni's room a few years ago since the fiasco. It seemed that all she could nowadays was just to go through college classes and sports to maintain her sanity, occasionally talking with her only friend in the world that didn't even lived in the city. The sporty girl blinked tears and growled at herself, standing up. Too stressed for an early morning jog, she exited the hallway, looking at the linen's closet that used to be Lincoln's room; it turned into Lily's room after he was forced off their home. This time she couldn't stop the silent tears that slipped down her face, breaking down and slipping on the wall, crawling her face into her hands, hating everything that this supposed family was supposed to stand up for.
Four years.
Four long years since they were abruptly separated.
Her broken heart was barely patched still since he was cast away cruelly from her life. The last time she saw him, just last year after spending three years apart; she called up to him in that military school that he was sent to, in his graduation, for 'trouble youths' but he turned his back to her, never displaying emotion, or a flicker of his eyes, lost to a stern military discipline and transformed into somebody she didn't knew, cursing their father with bold open hatred. Her love was going to war and it destroyed her as it destroyed the family, though she would never admit to herself, a part of her wished for things to stay like they used to be, an eternal ruse that they were just brother and sister with a close relationship; for Lynn what they did wasn't wrong or immoral. When she wasn't in college or playing sports, since last year she had her eyes glued to CNN, other news channel or the internet that would let her see a glimpse of Lincoln, pressing Lisa to find any information about his whereabouts, though she denied help, she knew in her heart that she looked anyway, hiding her emotions behind sound logic and experiments because in despite of all, they were still family; it seemed that nowadays everyone had a mask that they refused to take off when they were in family company, though in the inside, they were all alone and in despair...except for sweet Lily, God bless her heart.
Every day she thought about him. His sweet and loving personality, his soft touch, his words tickling her ears when they were in their alone time and the things he did to her that send her body in tatters…and he was gone thousands of miles from her. Lynn didn't knew how she could maintain herself intact with the agony that seeped into her heart every single day that had passed, just talking to him would be enough to alleviate her soul, if he was even still alive. The thought clenched at her heart painfully twirling her insides. She didn't even know what he was doing or where he was, only that he enlisted in the armed forces, in the Marine Corp. Her parents were in his completion of boot camp, Lincoln hadn't permitted neither of them to take pictures or supplied information where he was going, only that he said that he was doing it for her, to supply her with a normal life that he couldn't give her; it was what her mother told her after they came back from California, to Lynn's great regret.
But it was certain.
He indeed went to war and was currently fighting in it.
The images that she had seen were horrendous. Destruction, mayhem, one of them most powerful countries in the world toppled in days, Saddam Hussein statue taken down by tanks and its own citizens beating it with rocks and sticks, with the dictator himself captured at the end of the year and was currently behind bars. The world had gone mad and she didn't know what to think or do. It seemed like yesterday when the conflict started after one of the worse days in American history with 9/11 – a day that nobody would ever forget – perhaps it was justified that US of A was doing their part to bring stability to the 'liberated' country, though the infamous weapons of mass destruction were never found. Last year, President Bush gave his infamous Mission Accomplish speech aboard an aircraft carrier, though he didn't said the phrase, he did say that major combat operations in Iraq were over.
They weren't.
And now, as conflict and death roamed the Middle East since last year, the country had changed, or more likely, they had all changed. An anti-Muslim sentiment swept through the nation since 9/11, people went into panic mode at everything and with good reason. They said that courage moved mountains, but fear? Fear moved their world. From what she had seen, these people wanted to kill them, for them, the United States represented something to be feared and labeled as 'evil'.
Just yesterday the battle of Fallujah started; it was a small city under the control of a heavy insurgency that started in Iraq with the fall of the old government and is currently trying to topple the new and Free State of Iraq, to crush them under their holy war. CNN had erroneously reported that the battle had begun on October, then it apologized for its unrealizable report, but now it was certain, with radio and television reporting the battle, live. She didn't know anything about war, nor cared for its history, but she knew it was bad. If Lincoln was involved…what were the possibilities that he came back in one piece and not in a wooden casket? She shuddered drying her tears thinking about the uniformed men that she had seen twice around their neighborhood carrying a flag in a wooden case. She didn't know who they were, only that after knocking and being received by the family inside, the military men gave them the flag and the family broke down crying as the uniformed men saluted, firm and unfeeling.
Lynn lived in a constant state of terror.
One thing was to be forcefully separated from the love of her life that was also her brother, the other was to imagine how it would be if the uniformed men came knocking on their door to inform them of his passing. She sighed clenching her fists together but stopped as she heard the creek of a door opening slowly, from it Luna Loud stepped into the hallway. Both observed each other before the rocker made a disgusted expression and mouthed 'freak'. The sporty girl growled and was more than ready to cave her face in; it would be just a fraction of the pain that Luna owned Lincoln and her after destroying everything. But she wasn't worth the effort; none of them were anyway, since Lynn was just a tenant in her eyes, a stranger living among strangers.
The glow of the TV turning on from downstairs called for the 21 years old attention. She made her way downstairs to find Leni, surfing through the channels, avoiding news channels on purpose because only sorrow and pain would follow. Slowly she made her way to her, her pitter patter of feet made the blonde to swing her head and her eyes with her. Her frown quickly turned into a tiny smile, patting the space on the couch next to her. Lynn sat down slowly, with her palms on her knees looking faintly at the TV and the walls around her though slowly she felt the trek of fingers trailing down on her shoulder, leaning towards her sister who enveloped her in a loose though warm hug as the brunette fully reclined her head on her shoulder with a fast quiver of her lips.
"It is another one of those days, isn't it?"
Lynn said nothing, just simply pressed her head sighing as the older girl's fingers passed through her head, soothingly caressing her hair just like Lincoln used to do it for hours when they cuddled with a marveled expression on his face. She felt her lips slowly turning into a smile; he was always so easily impressed with whatever she did, the poor sap was lost in her eyes, literally kissing the ground she walked on. It was silly but adorable and…and…oh God…oh God, she couldn't help the tears that came flooding crashing her head into Leni's chest.
"Shhhhhh. It's ok Lynn…" The blonde said slipping her arms around her, bringing her into comfort as her body shook with her shrieks of pain, wetting her blue camisole. "Maybe everyone in this house has forgotten how many days Lincy's has been gone, but I do not forget. No sir" The blonde sighed. "Just know that he'll come back."
"But…but…what if he-heee, doesn't" She sniffed. "It's so hard Leni" Lynn buried her head on her shoulder, agonizing. "It's my fault…I did this"
The blonde sighed at Lynn's self-blame. The brunette would never forgive himself, but Leni could never blame her for pinning everything on herself.
"It wasn't your fault, or Linc" She pursed her lips, deep in thought." I might not be the smartest person in the world…but I think that any love is good loving. So you guys took what you could get…as my siblings, you understood each other, respected what you guys had; perhaps, thinking the whole thing out wasn't like, your forte or whatever, but I get it. I might not understand it, but I knew deep in my heart that…it was a loving union and I wish things were different…but…this is the reality now Lynn." She hugged her sister tighter. "I wish I knew how to help, I'm dumb, everyone calls me a retard at school and I feel so…useless and alone" It was her turn to cry, digging her fingers through Lynn's hair.
Lynn winced at her words. "You're smart Leni…you just see things differently, things that nobody realizes is there. Whoever says that you're a retard will meet my fists, personally."
Both sisters smiled at each other, enjoying each other company.
It wasn't the first time they engaged in comforting each other, both with their own problems to deal with. The Loud siblings that lived off the city, just like Lynn at campus, Lori at another city and the rocker with her band mates, they came almost every weekend to keep the family together, perhaps that word was poorly chosen, but it maintained everyone sane as they could be, even if Lynn or Luna hated each other's guts and the brunette felt the indifference that the family displayed at her, living as they could.
Leni's problem at lack of fragmented rationalizing was finally evaluated as a form of dyslexia. Medication was recommended but not taken, her case not being as severe as others. It was something that she will have to live through, feeling insecure about her own intelligence. She saw a psychologist who recommended highly demanding mental exercises that strained the mind to keep her sharp. Things like chess, board games, reading to small kids in the library and even video games were recommended. But at times, she feel dumb for not getting the most basic things disregarding her unique and sweet loving way of looking at things, things that people often disregarded, without looking at all the wonderful things that she could do. Her family was supported as ever, even Lynn, going through her own personal pain and feeling segregated from her own family under this roof, managed to find time, with just a handful of her sisters and her only friend in the whole world being able to give her enough comfort to live on with what she was left with.
Both of them held each other as they emptied their pain and their feelings, physical exhaustion filled the void letting them sleep through the pain, soundly.
Rita Loud saw them from the top of the stairs, bloodshot eyes focusing on her daughters. She sighed, feeling the need to take to drink more wine to ease the headache that was building as she made her way downstairs, blanked in hand, laying it on top of them. Her eyes focused on Lynn's, her cheeks were wet, she had been crying again. A part of her told her that she deserved it after the triple agony that she had made this family gone through, but she came from her, from her womb and she was not ready to abandon her own daughter, regardless if her husband wanted to get rid of her like a used towel when THAT was discovered, passing their sin to THEM. She didn't have it in her heart. Her hand extended to caress her soft brown looks but close enough to touch; they started trembling on mid-way before she let her hand to fall on her side, sniffing through the agony in her heart.
She wasn't ready to forgive and in seven years of separation from her only son, now in a war zone, she didn't even consider the possibility that their relationship would ever be the same again; as a mother, she had enough problems as it was, having as many of her kids home returned a sense of normalcy to her life before this nightmare began. Turning off the TV, she made her way upstairs taking a last look at her girls, sleep being elusive that night and no matter how many times she hugged her husband, who crawled her close, Lincoln's blue eyes duality by the years, from horrified and scared to cold and detached was the last thing in her mind before she succumbed to fatigue.
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Lynn woke up for a second time that day, groggily moving her hand to rub her eyes, when she couldn't, she gazed at her left, her face breaking into a smile. Lana was clutching at her arm, occasionally moving her head with a soft sigh.
"Finally, IT has awaken" The blonde smirked slapping the comforter that someone had placed on top of her, covering them both with the comforter. "Dutch oven!" The smell that came from her sister was if something had crawled inside of her ass and died. Lynn screamed, throwing herself to the side, her eyes feeling as if they had melted.
The blonde threw a nasty laugh, Lynn pushed her away blindly with a laugh of her own, managing to stand up with a chuckle.
Of all the siblings, Lana still loved her for who she was, still in the dark about what really happened that night, but never pinning the blame on the brunette. Leni was missing from her side, her body immediately missing her comfort and her warmth, but the bundle of crazy that was trying to suffocate her made up for it. The 14 years old was in her oversized pajamas laughing as she tried one more time to slam her face on the couch to do a second dutch oven, but Lynn wasn't known as a professional fighter for nothing, intercepting her hand in midair and swinging her body to the right, the force sending the blonde backwards, falling on her butt. The brunette chuckled immediately kicking the comforter down and launching herself at the teenager, rolling her left forearm over her flexed arm and propelling her body upwards effectively pinning Lana to the floor.
"Say it" The brunette smirked.
She growled. "Never! I rather eat my shorts"
Lynn laughed. "I'll make eat your words, literally" She pulled to the side, crossing her right leg over hers, limiting her movement and with no leverage, the blonde fell back down.
"Alright! Uncle!"
Lynn laughed in triumph releasing her, helping her to her feet but keeping her legs bent in case she needed to show her sister who's boss. Lana saw her stance and immediately she released the hold on her hand, not seeing how a ruse could topple the queen of fighting. Lana opened her mouth but immediately closed it, the sudden and sweet smell of pancakes, bacon and eggs permeated the air making the sister to take a deep whiff, both growling with hunger. There was the sound of a war cry, the house waking up with the Loud siblings stampeding down the stairs for a hearty breakfast. The kitchen became captive to the punishment with eleven set of footsteps charging it, chairs noisily scrapping the floor to sit on the table, waiting for the fill.
The brunette took her seat at the edge of the table, far more calmly than usual, hands tugged under the table, ignoring the odd looks that occasionally came her way and the pissed off look that Luna nowadays had for her. Sighing, she half smiled at her mother placing a stack of pancakes with arranged bacon and eggs next to them, muttering quick thanks before digging in. Lynn had become somewhat of reserved every time she visited the home and with good reason.
A lot had changed.
Everything was so different, so full of unacceptable tension. Everyone was wearing their shiny masks on the table, pretending was nowadays so easy, the pieces fit so right in the mold, but on the inside, everyone was falling apart, barely holding together. Lynn wanted to find out what would it take to crack everyone to pieces, at least to destroy the farce that the family lived day after day. It wasn't easy to miss it; even her mother breakfast had lost its lush taste after so long, just doing it out of obligation. Conversation came to minimum, simple topics like the TV or after activities as the most popular ones. The oldest siblings that lived off the house got their turn but never did Lynn and Luna exchanged pleasantries, the brunette barely holding it together to not smash her skull in and not acting up out of respect for her parents. Downing her coffee with a gulp, Lynn took her plate and her closest sibling's plates to the sink, completing ignoring the lifted plate that Luna held on her way to the sink.
The rocker growled, vein throbbing with fury. The matriarch stabbed her with a warning gaze, making the musician to groan and back down completely. Just because they didn't lived here anymore didn't mean that she didn't held any authority over them in the nest.
With nothing better to do, Lynn was quick to play a match of football to pass the time, dressing to break into a sweat, to at least break the rut that she fell to every single day of her life, passing the ball with Lana and making her run. Her sister arm was strong, no doubt of all the wood exploration and camping she did with her friends, an odd troop she gathered out of dislike for the lack of acceptance by the boy scouts. She was so enrooted into her thoughts that she didn't hear Lana throwing the ball until the very familiar sound of a whistling ball sailed through the air, waking her up to break into a run, almost to the back of their fence.
The sudden crack of the air sent Lynn screaming for cover, the ball slamming next to her head, feeling as her heart stopped as six gray shapes broke through the sky with a massive crack, passing so close to their house that the windows rattled, or it felt that way. The shape turned out to be fighter planes with a single cockpit, dual turbines attached to a t shaped tail, an elongated nose and long wings. They were escorting a quad engine, with a single jet at the back of it. Ever since they entered war, this was a common occurrence. The National Guard flew their planes day and night across their town, occasionally military helicopters passed them through. She sighed picking up the ball and turning to face her grinning sister.
"I think you pissed yourself" She commented a finger extended to indicate the growing wet stain slipping down her shorts.
"Goddamn it" Lynn cursed running immediately to the bathroom, ignoring the guffaw of laughter that came from Lana.
Taking a shower and exiting to the hallway in just a towel, Lynn passed Leni's room with a sigh, wishing to connect back with Lucy, who had taken refuge in the vast libraries of high school to lose herself in literature and in her poems. The Goth had taken Lincoln's departure harsh, finding nobody to give her a piece of understanding that she mostly needed and she blamed her. Lynn loved her to death, but they just couldn't connect and with her brother gone, she fell into a deep state of solitude, only speaking when absolutely necessary and not making an eye contact. The brunette suspected that she would spill everything that was ever talked, but then decided not to tell anyone about what they both shared together…she was that good of a sister. With a wave of pain, she entered her room, quickly getting dressed, sitting on her desk and lifting her already set up laptop, booting up Windows XP with a chime of a bell echoing through the room.
She knew what that she could make her feel better, quickly logging into Messenger. Scanning her short list of contacts, a smile broke from her lips, double clicking in the user '***TranceAddict***(L)'
Lynn immediately sent a buzz through the conversation, window shaking. She didn't have to wait much.
***TranceAddict***(L): You BITCH! I was drinking soda.
Lynn cackled.
ChampionOfAll;): Bullshit, you were probably watching a soap opera.
***TranceAddict***(L): I don't watch that crap.
Rolling her eyes, Lynn typed an appropriate response that would set her off.
ChampionOfAll;): C'mon Ronnie. You're basically living off the novella life.
***TranceAddict***(L): Piss off Loud.
She paused reminiscing the day Ronnie Anne and her became friends under a violent confrontation the very same day Lincoln was dragged to a military school, almost all fingers were pointed at her. The screaming, the slaps, the tears that ripped her heart from her chest, the agony so raw displayed on the brunette's face. She was one of the few people who knew exactly what had happened, the sin that was discovered. Since that day, their friendship was cemented, fitting together so perfectly, each dealing with their own changes.
ChampionOfAll;): How's life treating ya?
***TranceAddict***(L): Bustin my chops with university classes. Im having problems with a faggot of a teacher sending me 1.2 million pounds of homework. I thought that political science was gonna be more challenging but this bullshit is pissing me off. I bet that bitchass hates me because imma a beaner.
Lynn rolled her eyes, her keys flying an appropriate response.
ChampionOfAll;): Your such a dramatic bitch.
***TranceAddict***(L): It's *You're* you hick.
Lynn could almost feel her shit eating grin and decided to ignore her jest.
***TranceAddict***(L): How's life in that nut house?
ChampionOfAll;): Been a long time since Linc left…everyone here are posers. Still dunno where my brother is…I am just worried, he's fighting in the war.
***TranceAddict***(L): Yeah, got more than one cousin in the war too. Through every branch…shit's rough. Probably we're too attached to the news, they're reeling us like fish. You gotta learn to relax, he'll be fine….and he'll come home when he's ready.
Lynn sighed.
ChampionOfAll;): I am sure he will…but the better question is, will this family receive him with open arms?
At that, the Latina was silent, contemplating the events of that fallout and everything that came with it. Their conversation was put on hold for a while and then they returned to talk about more trivial things, not in the right mindset to talk and Ronnie Anne understood perfectly, after all, she was the only friend of the sportsgirl, she only wished that there was a way to appease her heart, invaded by horrific thoughts and guilt. She was also worried about Lincoln; she didn't hate him in the slightest but she knew one thing, if there was a person who would not abandon those he loved, it was Lincoln and he'll come back to take back what was his, in one way or another, regardless of how long it takes.
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Anbar province
2nd Battle of Fallujah.
November 10th 2004.
0600 Hours.
The whistle of death echoed before a massive bang sent him to dive under his tank for cover. There was a mechanic who tripped on a tool box, slamming his head on the front of the tank, stunned. Lincoln didn't waste any time taking him by the arms and dragging him under the armored behemoth, praying to God that a piece of shrapnel didn't strike him. Numerous explosions resonated through the air, sending dust under the tank, his view completely blocked but he could heard the violent thump that shook his body of impacts after impacts. The sound of screams running out through the air was the real thing that scared him the most.
It felt like hours but most likely it was at least a single minute of shelling. Gunnery Sergeant Dunkar finally looked under their tank at Lincoln's bewildered gaze as the mechanic came awake with a shake of his head.
"Corporal, move your ass. We need to silence that mortar fire!"
"Aye sir. You alright?" He asked the grease monkey.
"I'm fine, Marine. Give em hell!" The mechanic patted his back with a big smile, crawling his way out of the tank caressing the painful bump on his head. Within seconds, the tank crews assembled as they could, undressed, unarmored or weaponless with their commanding NCO doing a head count. Satisfied, he motioned with his head, the crews rapidly mounting their tanks still under continuous mortar fire, slipping their comms helmets. The jet engines fired up, whirling with jet turbine power. Lincoln was currently in just a tan t-shirt, shorts with his interceptor geared up vest and on his socks.
The radio cracked to life.
"Overlord, overlord. This is Sword actual"
"This is overlord. Send it."
"Receiving mortar fire. Lousy's FOB is hot and compromised, request to scout and engage mortar team."
There was a pause and for a moment the TC thought that they would get their asses stranded to protect the compound.
"Sword, green light. Search and destroy. F18's in route to scout the area"
He smiled widely at the information.
"Solid copy. Sword out." He killed the transmission, switching to crew comms. "They just let the hogs of war on their asses. Sword, roll out, follow my lead, maintain dispersion. Ramirez, forward, half throttle."
"Roger." The driver answered, moving the 62 ton behemoth out of the compound, followed by the other three tanks, accelerating with a high streak of jet fuel, the tracks clacking on the hot sands. Passing a small stock of buildings, the armored Iron Horse platoon charged up the sandy concrete. At their left flank a couple of Humvees carrying Marines from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, stationed behind a sand berm. Everyone went in formation, nobody in a convoy to avoid enemy fire, charging half a mile before the TC voice cracked on the radio.
"Platoon hold. Wait for orders and hold position."
The crews stopped with the Humvees deploying at an angle, half covered by the berns. The TC didn't have to wait long.
"Sword, this is Dragon 1-5 checking with you. Flying two F18's flying grid 1-0 plus 1-0, I got your grid zeroed. I am providing Intel for this mission. Orders to follow"
"Solid copy. We're looking for mortar teams firing on the FOB, over. We need a recon of the area."
"Affirm. Wait one."
The TC waited, patiently observing the environment through his thermal sights. The heat was already unbearable inside of the tank but what most bothered everyone was that for every minute that passed stationary, men were being shelled right now.
"Sword, enemy contact at north-west, four clicks, 1-5 of your position, small complex. Multiple hostiles and vehicles with plenty of heat signatures. Patching target."
The coordinates were immediately displayed on Dunkar's maps.
"Outstanding, requesting JDAM at target area."
"Negative, Negative Sword. We're on standby for a firing mission."
Dunkar sighed. "Roger. Thanks for the assistance, good luck. Sword out." He swapped to crew comms. "We got a heading, north-west, four clicks, 1-5. We got enemy contact. Roll out." The vehicles started moving again, the Marines were aiming to make a point NOT to shoot at them, one that would show the insurgents that they don't fuck around.
"Sword actual, come in."
The radio cracked again, breaking radio silence. With a confused raise of his eyebrows, the Master Gunnery Sergeant opened a channel.
"This is Sword actual, identify yourself."
"Sword actual, this is 1st Lieutenant Ditomasso, 1st Batallion, 3rd Marines B Company, Charlie-3. We're covering your advance with two squads and three Humvees and make this mortar fire to stop. How copy?"
"Solid copy. Your assistance is welcomed but not needed. Do a 360 back to FOB. Over."
"Negative Gunny, Charlie-3 is rolling with Sword. That's an order Gunny. Charlie-3 out."
"Roger that. Be prepared to fire. Sword out."
Dunkar stared disbelievingly at the radio, cutting the channel and switching back to his crew comms.
"What the fuck just happened?"
"I think you just got buttfucked by the butter bar, Gunny." Ramirez said with a shit eating grin, everyone breaking into a laugh, easing the tension as they rolled into battle.
"That's the problem with butter bars sir. They all believe they're caped superheroes saving the Earth from the world eaters. They're too blind to their own bullshit" Lincoln said, clenching his hands on the joystick in his station. "You should file a report with the LTG and get this medal hungry idiot off our back before he gets his Marines and his ass killed and it's blamed on us." He said wincing as they hit a dune and climbed all the way to the top, the tank threads rolling on the rocks before they rolled down, the mortar fire getting closer by the passing second.
"It wouldn't even pass the first chain of command. I know these kids, thinking they're some hot shit because their daddy gave 'em a pat in the back because they just came off West Point. Some are good, some are bad. As always, we get stuck with the bad one." He chuckled before his non nonsense attitude took over. "Enough chatter. Focus."
The tanks continued their charge on the uneven terrain, climbing another raise of sand with a violent tug of gravity, tracks skidding back to the cracked asphalt just at the north of the outskirts of Fallujah. The vapor trails of the mortars could now be seen on his thermal optics at least than half a mile away inside of a complex with wide concrete walls. Lincoln immediately zeroed in the windows, observing a man in terrorist garb peeking out his head with binoculars, making wild gestures to whoever was inside. The mortar fire immediately ceased as the tanks rolled out in the open, charging the road with a thrust of their jet engines.
"Gunny, contact, 3 o clock, third building right." Lincoln informed Dunkar still aiming on the move.
"Sword, hit that complex! You're approved to engage. Charlie-3, be advised, enemy contact to our East, 1 click from your position. Circle building from the rear and don't let foot mobiles to leave the complex. Enemy mortar teams in that position. How copy?"
"Solid copy. Hitting those buildings." Came the radio response making the Master Gunnery Sergeant to roll his eyes in exasperation.
The tanks immediately opened fire obliterating the second floor and this time, there wasn't an ounce of hesitation or quarter. Lincoln centered his crosshairs and fired, opening up with the coaxial at anyone who had the idea to leave town. His coaxial was like a wall melter, the armored piercing incendiary rounds pulverizing the cinderblock wall with ease. Yesterday the motor t's didn't have time to empty the casings basket, hot brass was bouncing on his legs, as he cringed with every numerous impact on his skin, brass starting to pile at his feet, forcing the young man to press his sock covered feet against the armored turret. The west wall fell with a well-placed high explosive around, exposing a mortar team, scattering, but not quick enough. They disappeared with a pink mist from the 50 cal fired by their TC. The tanks were forced to stop firing as the Humvees came barreling from the flanks, one at each side. Heavy automatic fire was immediately heard as their vehicles disappeared behind the complex, firing their 50's as they went. An insurgent carrying a folded mortar over his shoulder ran like a madman, jumping over the left wall, coax rounds dissipating on the sand dune as he ran away up hill, taking hits freely but not falling down, finally disappearing behind it.
"Fuck, did you see that?" Came the radio from 3-2.
"They're so pumped full of drugs and pure adrenaline shots. Expect that to be the norm." Swabble answered, the 50 cal opening up at the center house, the rounds easily passing through the concrete, hitting the man behind it.
"Charlie3, sit rep?" Dunkar asked.
"We've dismounted, we're just behind the southwest corner taking machine gun fire from an undisclosed position, we're going in."
"Roger that, flanking to provide cover. 3-3 and 3-2 move to left flank, 3-4 with me."
The tanks started their advance, firing their coaxial machine guns as they went. A cargo truck shot out from a broken wall in a last ditch effort to escape but one of the Humvees on the back wall and Lincoln's tank blew it off the water with well-placed shots, exploding and tilting on its side. Nobody came from the burning wreck. Small numerous explosions echoed through the small complex, heavy automatic and AK firing back which Lincoln guessed were the infantry squads that disembarked in their position. Without being ordered to, Lincoln aimed where he supposed the stairs were on the biggest complex, firing a HEAT round. The round exploded passing through both sides, the east structure caving into itself, burying three insurgents under the ruble, the automatic firing ceasing immediately.
"Ooorah Loud. "Dunkar congratulated him for the good shot; several hoots of excitement came from the other crews.
A few seconds passed without activity, scanning for movement. Out of nowhere, automatic fire ran over before it was silenced by two quick shots.
"Sword actual, target has been suppressed. We got a man down."
Dunkar cringed.
"What's the status of your man down?"
"Shrapnel to the arms. He's stable, I think"
"Charlie-3, interrogative. Is he stable or not?"
"Wait one." Came the response, a panicky tone to it.
Cutting the transmission with that channel, he switched to his crew comms.
"Can you believe this retard is on charge of people?" Sighed the driver.
Lincoln chuckled, squeezing his joysticks.
"I'm sure he wears his heart on his sleeve, just that his head is up his ass clogged up with visions of grandeur and shiny medals." Swabble said earning a chuckle from the TC.
Relaxing on his chair, the TC observed the battlefield for any movement. All Quiet on the Western Front, no movement whatsoever. Regardless he kept his tanks aimed at the complex, scanning the surrounding terrain for infiltrators; no movement from the running man with the mortar, hopefully he had died. Sighing, he quickly called command for a possible EVAC of the only casualty and a supply run. One hour later, three 30 ton vehicles showed up, packed with ordnance, supplies and clean uniforms, a rare thing. Many Marines were carving the ruins of the complex, gathering the dead insurgents, looking for intel and piling up all the captured ordnance to be detonated by engineers as soon as they were able. Five Humvees from the 1st Batallion 8th Company 'Alpha' Battalion, set up a perimeter around the complex and from it, the commanding officer of Alpha exited one of the Humvees. The haggard tank crews quickly left their vehicles, standing lazily and relaxed to avoid sniper fire at the commanding officer; the crews were dirty, sweaty, mangy and full of battlefield soot, occasionally Lincoln would glimpse at the entry of the sewers at the right side of the complex, having some questions about them for his TC, it would be a concern for later, the CO having his firm attention. The young 1st Lieutenant Ditomasso quickly went to the small gathering, some of his men trailing after him.
"Gentlemen" Col. Mark Gurganus, the Regimental Combat Team-8 Commander smiled briefly. "Your work I take it Gunny Dunkar?"
Extremely awake, the TC looked around the destruction and then at his tanks, nodding slightly at the CO.
"Aye, though Lieutenant Ditomasso helped secure the rear and cut off their escape."
As soon as he said that Lincoln rolled his eyes. He had no qualms of criticizing bad leadership openly and this time it wouldn't be any different. The white haired man was standing the furthest from his crew on the right but he still felt the steel gaze of the young Lieutenant on him, he held up his gaze in defiance, higher in rank or not, he wasn't ready to let a butter bar walk all over them and kill them all just to satisfy their rank ego. The lieutenant eyes turned to the CO nodding at the TC.
"You got a casualty, Lieutenant." The Master Gunnery Sergeant commented dryly, crossing his arms behind his back in at ease position. "What's his status?"
The Lieutenant bobbed his head a few times, disbelievingly staring back and looking aside for a second. If he would have turned around he would've seen the men he was leading stabbing him with a look of distrust.
"He's stable. He took shrapnel to the arms from a grenade. My Lance Corporal should be back in the battle soon."
Colonel Gurganus smirked. "Well since this been squared away. Gentlemen, report to the high command, Operation Phantom Fury is about to begin."
The eyes of everyone hardened, all business knowing that the final push for Fallujah was about to begin. Some trembled in exhilaration for the battle that was to come but some, men like Lincoln knew that despite their obscene firepower and their combined strength, good men would die and would get torn apart. He prayed to God that his trigger finger worked through the entire battle, wasting the insurgents occupying the city until there were nothing more than dust under their boots.
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Lynn stared at the wall, squeezing a brown and white husky dog plushy on and off.
Compared to her brother and lover, she despised remembering. It reminded her of a simpler time, a time where all that existed was an undescribed joy, a life full of love and unparalleled fulfillment; it only lasted for three years before it all crashed down to hell. She squeezed her plushy harder, hands trembling under the strain of her ever present agony, her mind jumping back to that special day, the day where they both went beyond brother and sister.
Seven years ago.
Happy.
There was no other feeling to Lynn than happiness.
Yes!' Lynn would have jumped for joy if she wasn't in the kitchen table enjoying some delicious Mexican food that her dad had made for the day. Nothing could knock her down; she was into cloud nine, occasionally sending her feelings into the warm gaze of her brother who had the same expression on his face. Their family only saw it as gratitude and that's why they smiled, it was the only thing they could do after today's stressful day but finally they were back as a family, only Lori was sadly missing from a normal weekend dinner. As usual, both siblings sat across each other, their feet touching under the table, playing footsie, both suppressing giggles and happy grins.
Nothing could compare to the euphoria. Not all the trophies or prizes in the world could compare to the joy she felt at this very moment. She wanted to dance; she wanted to take out her new boyfriendther out, away from prying eyes to discover all that only happened in her most passionate dreams, but now? It came true, it was real. Her smile dipped into super nova, without a shame, though her busted lips were protesting, flaring in discomfort but the memory of his warmth lips on her took care of that. Leni was giving her another odd look again, but this time it was shared with Lincoln, occasionally tilting her head and observing the pair, an odd smile protruding from her lips. The brunette would ask her about later, for now, she wanted to enjoy the warm atmosphere a little bit longer.
After washing the dishes, the Loud family gathered in the living room watching an old black and white monster flick, more out of the amusement of the ridiculous of it. The youngest of the family wanted no more than to watch cartoons but the sheer enjoyment out of this family moment was enough to drive the boredom away. Everyone was happy that Lincoln and Lynn escaped a worse faith than just some bruises and busted skin; like all wounds, they would heal and scar and in a few weeks, they will look as good as new, as if nothing had ever happened.
At 9 o clock the matriarch called it a night, kissing the unwounded temple of her brunette daughter and kissing the cheek of the white haired boy. For once nobody protested or whined to stay late, after today, everyone was tired and sleep sounded delightful. Lynn smiled, having plans of her own for today and a pending talk with her new boyfriend, she winked at him as she went upstairs, Lincoln smiling at her, watching her for a few seconds going upstairs, or better yet…staring at her jiggling bottom. The white haired boy was about to retire when his dad stopped him and made a motion to the basement, Lincoln understood immediately.
Both males walked downstairs silently.
Lynn Sr. Loud hugged his son, sniffing, his fingers tracing through his white hair lovingly. Lincoln hugged him back and it wasn't long before he also cracked, spilling his tears on his dad shirt.
"There isn't a day where I don't feel proud of you Lincoln. And today, it is no different. "He smiled. "You have the gratitude of the family Lincoln, you're a Loud through and through and we protect our own. It could have been worse, much worse if you hadn't intervened." He hugged him tighter, smiling, waiting to hear what he had to say, though what Lincoln did caught him entirely by surprise.
Lincoln face twisted into a look of savage hatred, digging his fingers on his father's green sweater, shaking from rage.
"They touched her…they touched her. I…made them bleed and I wish I tore off their fingers for daring to put their disgusting pig hands on her." He closed his eyes trying to block the horror he felt at encountering the scene, his sister pinned by two burly males, laughing and trying to take off her pants. How Lincoln wished he would have smashed their heads open.
Lynn Sr. hands went to his shoulders grasping them firmly, trying to placate his son never imagining his sweet and caring son saying such violent things.
"Lincoln, look at me." Lynn Sr. tilted his son's chin to force him to look at him. "What you did today was the right thing, but you mustn't lose yourself from who you are. You have no idea what a man can do when he lost his way, he can do terrible, terrible things…remember who you are Lincoln."
The white haired boy remembered how satisfying it felt to have his hands punching that bully to the ground, weak attempts to throw him off, the bully's blood splattering on his clothes and his knuckles. His father was right…what was happening to him? That…that wasn't him at all…he broke down again.
"I'm sorry…I…I-I lost control, when I saw Lynn about to be violated, I acted, I didn't think but I enjoyed what I did to them…I…I am a bad person dad?"
The patriarch smiled at his son, brushing his glistening tears off his cheek. "Never. You are a person with a heart of gold; you unleashed severe punishment of those ruffians, but remember what I told you. Do not lose yourself Lincoln. Ok?"
The white haired boy smiled. "I promise…now, I wanna go to sleep, I am exhausted."
Lynn Sr. nodded. "I bet, Raging Bull"
They both laughed at the reference, hugging each other once more.
"I'm proud of you Lincoln, your mom and I are pleased of how you turned out to be" His dad placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it briefly as he laughed. "I know I've said it a lot these days, but this only makes you a certified man."
The white haired boy smiled, looking aside in embarrassment, blinking through the discomfort of his shiner.
"Well…don't let it go to your head or something." Lynn Sr. joked, making the white haired boy to roll his eyes as both males started to climb the stairs.
In Lynn's room, the brunette felt like passing the room but she knew how much that irritated her sister. The Goth was currently reading a horror novel, occasionally sipping from her steaming cup, blinking and passing a page every other minute.
The brunette couldn't concentrate about how much time had passed. She had so much to do, so much to say to her new boyfriend, just waiting for that opportunity to present itself. She sighed, tracing her busted skin with her fingertips, she felt eyes on her, turning her head swiftly, finding Lucy staring0 at her, with her chin tilted, almost as she was studying her. The silent was perplexing and certainly a little creepy, not unusual coming from the introverted and mysterious Goth who placed her cup in the night table, marking her book and closing it on her lap.
"Well?" Her sharp voice made her jump on her bed.
"Well…what?" She asked innocently but as the Goth tilted her head upwards at an angle, exposing one of her amethyst eyes, ingesting Lynn's uncertainty, she knew that she was caught.
"It's not the way I would've liked to get my wish come true." The brunette let on simply. "I never imagined that I was about to be…ra…ra…undressed without my permission. It's not like I would've like to get closer to him, well, to all of you."
The Goth said nothing, covering her eye with a quick shake of her head, observing her and studying her. Lisa might have the gift of intelligence and research but Lucy possessed an unnatural way to dwell into things that was almost surreal and supernatural. She knew how to read you and almost perceive things that you hadn't even realized but she said nothing, lying Indian style on her bed.
"Hmmmm." Came the murmur from her lips. "Or perhaps this is exactly what you hoped it would happen."
The brunette eyes widened slightly. She couldn't know, could she? She had been careful, only Lincoln knew of her sinful thoughts and reacted accordingly, becoming her boyfriend, but after today, she wanted to show him a part of her that nobody knew. That Lucy was giving her another unnerving and knowing look was terrifying to contemplate.
"I don't know what you mean by that. He saved me from being traumatized for life."
"Yes, his quick actions saved you and spared you of a horrible faith. I am truly in debt with him, for saving you…though for you…it feels different, doesn't it Lynn?" She asked, drumming her fingers on her arms.
She was sweating bullets around her sister. This had never happened before; never had she felt this terror that trickled up her spine, making her shiver unconsciously. Feeling her distress, the Goth relaxed, lying on her pillow and retaking her book, flickering to the marked page and returning to her reading. Her face was hidden behind the pages not observing but feeling Lynn's shock, she shrugged her shoulders.
"You should go and talk to him. The others and I had decided to leave you guys be for today, but tomorrow, we want to spend time with our family members that were spared from such monsters." The silence that followed made her peek lower the book, enough for Lynn to see her hair covered eyes. "Unless you want to sleep with him today and seek each other comfort. I am okay with this; you're his damsel in distress after all."
Lynn finally had enough of her enigmatic attitude.
"I am not his damsel in distress. I was in trouble; he saved me, to the cost of getting a beating himself and a couple of new scars. He would've done this for any of us."
Exasperated, the Goth went straight to the point.
"The others might be blind of what is really going on between you two, but I know Lynn. I know what is in your heart."
Those words were enough for Lynn to backpedal on her bed, true horror setting in, falling on her butt and starting to hyperventilate, her eyes dilated with unshed tears. Lucy's eyes widened, throwing her book aside, immediately catching her sister by the shoulders, squeezing hard. The sportsgirl trashed by now crying openly, almost reopening her wounds.
"Shhhh….easy Lynn, take a deep breath, relax. I am here for you."
She didn't felt she was. Nobody was supposed to know, NOBODY. What…was she in the wrong? It was the very first day with not even a single minute of alone time and from all her family; Lucy was the first to notice, by now her dreams crumbling.
"I am not going to tell anybody Lynn." She said, though she didn't mention if she was going to stop them.
"Wh..what?" She was in complete shock, trying to stammer a response.
The Goth sighed. "I've known for quite a while. You aren't exactly subtle with what you want. The furtive looks, the desire to touch our brother, even the smallest touch made you happy. I just want to know…why? Why of all boys in the world, did you chose him? Your own brother."
The cat was finally out of the bag. Lynn squeezed her eyes, breathing nice and easy to release the frustration that she had felt for over two years.
"He gets me." She started, gathering her courage to continue. The Goth was silent, tracing her shoulders softly, it helped to relax her. "Nobody gets me like he does. And he's always there, in ways that nobody else can be. Sure, I forced him to go to things he didn't want to, but he did it, just to make me feel happy, even at the cost of his own happiness or if hurt himself and destroyed his social reputation and he always came back for more. We've been always close…you guys know that, but now, I…we…" She swallowed the sour pill. "We've become closer, in ways that it's not allowed. Just like I wanted"
Lucy's eyes widened, hidden behind her curtain of hair, stopping caressing her shoulders. She almost fell back and a wave of revulsion hit her, she knew about the unknown, she knew about the taboos of society. But never in her young life would Lucy imagine that she would be a witness to it, especially under her own roof with her own family.
"Are you…are you saying that it happened?" She asked in shock and displeasure, the repulsion getting stronger.
Lynn nodded.
The young Goth didn't knew what to think or do. Should she go and tell the others and break this up before it destroyed the family?
Lynn looked self-conscious. "You…you promised me not to tell."
"That's when I didn't knew you hooked up…with our brother, your own brother." The accusatory tone shocked the brunette and she clenched her fist, fighting tooth and nail not to let out a left hook. "But…I…I did promised. How long Lynn? When did it all started?"
The sports girl sighed, playing with her hair. "Two years ago. It came out of nowhere…it hit me like a punch to the gut. I don't know how it started; it just came and built up. I tried to resist, telling myself that it was wrong, disgusting and plain forbidden…but my heart wanted what it wanted. It doesn't matter if we came from the same womb, I saw him as a boy and he sees me as a girl. Plus. Lincoln kept doing what he does best; he keeps our smiles up…. When we swapped to play football, when we went to the dance together and so many happy moments, he's the kind of guy that girls want. I…I hated it…but after we went on a hike after a fight, my attraction grew to love beyond brother and sister and just today, after he saved me, I knew that I couldn't deny it any longer, but he confessed that just like myself, he was struggling to these unknown feelings and thinking about me in ways he shouldn't…so I said yes."
Lucy blinked, unsure of how to react.
"Does anyone else know about this?"
The brunette shook her head. "You're the first to know about this…though…Leni has giving me odd looks all week and now she's smiling randomly."
"Hmmmm" The Goth hummed. It was true that Leni perceived the world in a different matter, compared to her, Leni had her own way to know things. She was a very observant person, able to understand the smallest of details and changes of her environment and the people that surrounded it. It was like some sort of sixth sense. She might have learning difficulties, but that girl could see everything around her perfectly. Without a doubt, Leni knew something that she didn't and that scared her. Would she be a bad sister, a bad member of society of not putting a stop to this? Before the pain, the separation and the mockery came against her family? Reaching her own conclusions, the Goth took her hand.
"Lynn…I hope you guys know what you're doing. This is very serious and very delicate matter. If people found about this…it will tear off the entire family apart. The repercussions could have cracks that will keep this family broken for the rest of our lives. You must be very careful, no, both of you need to be. There are so many things against you. How would you make this even work? With so much people in this house, with Luan's cameras, do you even know what couples do? And, have you given any thought about how will you be a couple on school or well, the future?"
To her surprise, Lynn smiled.
"I thought you liked forbidden romances and running around obstacles?"
The Goth sighed. "Yes, but that is fiction, this is real life. Please, be serious."
Lynn nodded. "I was actually about to talk that with Lincoln…we cannot tell anybody. Besides, it is part of the challenge." She smirked.
The Goth cleared her throat. "Lynn, I will help you. I…I will look over that this is morally wrong, an unholy union of untold sin and instead I will try to protect your secret. But you must promise me to take this extremely seriously and that you won't do anything harsh and if you need an ear to talk, you can always come to me. The same offer is extended to Lincoln of course."
Lynn hugged her tight, burying her face on her shoulder.
"You're the best sister a girl could ask for."
"Yes…Yes. I am the best" The Goth gave her a timid smile. "Now, do you want to go and sleep with him?"
Lynn gave her a shocked look.
"As in Sleep-Sleep, sister."
Lynn bit her lower lip and nodded.
"Then go. Have that talk and don't do anything stupid Lynn and I mean it. This is something of life and death, okay?"
The brunette nodded. "I promise"
Lucy went back to her own bed, covering her body with her dark comforter.
"Good night Lynn, tell Lincoln I said hi."
Both sisters smiled at each other.
"I will"
The brunette left the room, tip toing around the hallway in direction of Lincoln's room.
Lucy watched her go, flipping her body to face the window. Her eyes locked against the storage of a thousand delights opening the drawer where the bust of Edwin was stored, still the love of her life and her ideal partner.
"Sigh…Oh Edwin, muse of the undead, King of Kings…have I made the right decision? Or did I just condemn my entire family for a faith worse than death?"
The vampire bust kept his silence.
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A/N: More to come about the insights where everything started. Next chapter is gonna start to get hot! The moment I've been waiting for is the right moment…though I am still gathering the lemons for later on ;) Stay tuned!
D4rK.