The Loud House: Lincoln's Return
Legalities: I don't own the Loud House. Also this is inspired by Loving Return by Devumaru, and A hero's welcome by Nostalgiah. That said this takes place after Lincoln graduates High School and the Louds have all grown to some degree. I hope you enjoy and I hope I do something original instead of just copying the two but if it seems like I'm merely being a copycat point it out and I'll change things up.
Chapter 1: Graduation, and Basic
Lincoln Loud, age eighteen, was standing before his family as his principal called out names for each member of his graduating class to pick up their diplomas. He was wearing a black cap and gown with an orange polo, blue jeans, and orange and black sneakers underneath. He sighed softly as he thought about his plan. He couldn't face his family, not with the wrongness about himself. He knew how he felt was wrong but he couldn't exactly tell anyone because he didn't want to be seen as the worst by them. He heard his name called and walked up to take his diploma the principal smiled and said "Thank you for your decision to serve Mr. Loud."
Lincoln smiled sadly and said "Than you principal Davis." The principal nodded and continued calling out names. He sat down with the others who'd received their diplomas while his family hollered and cheered. He smiled sadly then the smile faded as he thought "I'm sorry. I can't face the truth. I'm worthless, a monster, I need to atone for my sins. I hope you can one day forgive me but I need to face this head on." Lincoln turned to his buddy Clyde and they fist bumped.
Eventually the principal called the last name then said "David Carlisle, Francesca Smith, Leon Harris, Marcus Taylor, and Lincoln Loud, please come up." The five students stood by their principal and he said "These five students are all taking the time to enlist in the military each one in a different branch. I would like to thank them for their service and would like it if you all joined me in thanking them for their service." The crowd stood up applauding the five students then Principal Davis said "Thank you everyone and now it's time for you all to go off and enjoy you're lives while these five prepare to set out and join their chosen branches. Thank you and have a wonderful day."
Lincoln smiled sadly at the principal and thanked him along with the other four then they all went to their families. Lincoln's sisters gathered around him hugging him as his mom took pictures, his dad smiling with a tear in his eye, and his sisters each congratulating their brother on passing high school. Clyde and his father's walked over with Clyde saying "Hey Lincoln. I guess you're shipping out soon, right?" Lincoln nodded and he said "We'll always be Clincoln Mcloud right?" Lincoln nodded and said of course, then they shook hands got pictures taken by both their families before Lynn senior hurried his family to the restaurant they had reservations at.
They all ate and talked about the good times they'd all had as they were growing up the younger girls laughing at some of the stories from their older sisters and only brother while talking about how they'd changed from their youth. Lincoln smiled enjoying the atmosphere and promised himself he'd never forget these moments. All the while a small voice in the back of Lincoln's mind repeated Monster, Demon, Degenerate, Worthless. Lincoln ignored the voices after thinking back "That's why I'm joining the service to end the demon." Lincoln smiled with his family laughing about the good times. He added his own two cents to everything that was said and laughed at his old habit of reading his comics in his underwear, which he honestly hadn't grown out of but he couldn't help but pretend didn't still happen.
Eventually the family returned home and Lynn Sr said "Alright kids, time to say goodbye to your brother. He ships out in the morning." The kids all looked sad at the thought of losing Lincoln but they put on a stiff upper lip so they're brother wouldn't feel too bad at least, at first.
Lori was the first to embrace her little brother. She said "Twerp you better come home in one piece. I will literally find you and drag you back from the grave if you get yourself killed." Lincoln smiled sadly and rubbed Lori's back as she let a few tears fall down her eyes and hit his shirt.
He said softly "Of course Lori. I can't promise I'll be in the best shape as time goes on, but I can promise I'll do my best to stay out of trouble. However it's a war out there, you know? I don't know what's going to happen." She nodded sadly and hugged him tighter then backed up allowing Leni to grab him next.
Leni cried into his shoulder saying "Linky please say you don't have to go? Please? I can't handle losing you. If anything happens I like don't know what I'll do. I can't handle the thought of you getting hurt Linky. Please promise me you'll come back."
Lincoln rubbed her back and kissed her forehead saying "Leni, it's ok. I'll be fine. I'm strong now, remember? I doubt anyone will get a chance to take me out. If anything I think I'll probably be unbeatable with all of you behind me. I can only promise I'll try my best to make it home."
Leni sobbed harder and said "You need promise that you will come home Linky not that you'll try. I can't, I just can't stand the thought you won't be here. What about the younger girls, how do you think they'll feel not having you here for there birthdays and stuff. Please Linky please promise you'll come home!" Lincoln couldn't make that promise and he knew it. He tried to act like it was no big deal but it took Lori pulling Leni off for him to feel comfortable enough to turn to his third oldest sister Luna.
He swallowed and said "Hey Lunes." She smiled sadly and hugged him not saying a word. He said "You understand why I gotta do this, right?" She nodded into his chest not being able to say a word. He said "Can you please speak to me Luna? Tell me that you understand and that you aren't mad at me for leaving?"
Luna swallowed thickly looking Lincoln in the eyes and said "I know you feel you gotta do this Linc, but little bro I'll never be comfortable with you going off to fight for any reason, especially not a war. I'm sorry Linc, I'm trying to be strong but the thought you might die and the fact you couldn't promise you'll come back worries me. I know you'll rock out there, but I, I, I need you to be careful. I need you to be so careful that you can make it back. I need you to come back just like Leni and Lori. I need you bro, I just I need you. Our family's not complete when you're not here."
He nodded slowly and said "I get it Luna. However I don't think I'm truly the glue that holds the family together. That's you girls I'm just the dorky brother who helps you see reason when you need it. I honestly think that if I wasn't born you'd all be free to do what you think is best. I hope you keep watch for me and keep rocking on. Play a SMOOCH song for me, ok?" She nodded and stepped back her lower lip quivering.
Luan was next. She didn't have her customary smile on her face, instead she had a serious look. She said "Lincoln there's nothing funny about what you're doing. I can't wait for you to come home from this, but I honestly don't think I'll be able to laugh knowing you'll be facing a fight for your life. Promise you'll call whenever you can?" Lincoln nodded and smiled sadly then hugged his funny sister and she finally said "You know Lincoln I just thought of a pun." He raised an eyebrow and she said "What's a soldier's least favorite month?" He smirked knowing where she was going with this as she said "March. Get it?" He laughed and nodded. She stepped back and wiped a tear from her eye then stood next to Luna.
Lynn was after Luan. She said "Linc, it looks like the martial arts training I put you through will come in handy, huh?" He nodded and she said "Just be safe, ok little bro?" He nodded and she quickly ran upstairs not wanting the others to see her cry at the thought of losing her little bro even if it was only for a few years.
Lucy was the next to speak. She said "Lincoln, don't make me see you on the other side, alright?" He nodded. She swallowed slightly and said "I'll ask the spirits to look out for you. I know great grandma Harriet will be sure to keep a close eye on you. I love you big brother." He smiled and hugged Lucy who went to comfort Lynn.
Lana and Lola were next to step up, Lola half a step back to let Lana talk first. Lana said "So this is it big bro." He nodded and she said "You're going to learn how to fight, right?" He nodded again and she said "Are you sure you can't stay Linc?" He nodded and she said "Gosh dang it, I don't know what to say."
Lincoln smiled and whispered in her ear "I'll teach you how to shoot when I get back Lans. I know you're anxious to see how a real gun works so I promise to do what I can to take you out to a shooting range when I know how to shoot. Just keep strong and don't change too much while I'm gone ok?" She nodded.
He let her go from their hug and she stepped back to stand by her older siblings while Lola walked up to Lincoln and he said "There's my princess." She stared at him trying to memorize his form. He smiled and said "Say what's on your heart and mind Lola. You've always been the most outspoken of us. I promise to listen and not interrupt you."
Lola took a deep breath and said "I love you Lincoln. I know you and I haven't seen eye to eye all our lives but I want you to know I've always loved you big brother. You'll always be my knight in shining armor. I know I don't always act like a princess but I'll try my best to be one you can be proud of as time goes on, so just come home, ok?"
Lincoln smiled and said "Of course Princess. What kind of knight doesn't return to his princess when he's done with his mission? I promise to always write and call if I can even video chats. I just don't want any of you to think that I'm doing this because I don't love you. I'm doing this because I love all of you guys and don't want the fighting to ever come to the US." Lola hugged her big brother then grabbed Lana and ran to bed with her older twin in tow.
Lisa walked up to Lincoln and said "Lincoln, I have devised a solution that should make you able to regenerate anything short of losing your head or heart."
Lincoln shook his head and said "I can't take that Lisa. I have to be on even playing field with all the other soldiers. I refuse to be given a leg up. It would be a disservice to my brothers and sisters in arms if I could just heal from just about anything."
Lisa sighed and said "I should have known you'd be to noble. But please let me talk to congress about getting you reassigned to a safer post." He shook his head and she sighed then said "Fine you stubborn fool you I will do everything in my power to keep an eye out for you. Thank you for serving Lincoln." the just smiled and hugged the eleven year old.
Lilly was the last of the Louds to approach Lincoln. She stared at him and said "Do you really have to go Linky?" He nodded and she said "Why? Why can't you just stay here with us? I thought you wanted to be an artist? I thought you loved us? Why won't you stay Linky, Why?"
Lincoln hugged his baby sister and said softly "I made a commitment Lilly bug. I have to honor it. If I don't the fighting may eventually come to the US and put you and the others in danger. I couldn't bear to live with that. I'm sorry Lilly but I can't just sit back. I have to do this." She whimpered and he picked her up then handed her to his mother. She took and put Lilly to bed then Lincoln said "I promise I'll do my best to come home everyone."
Lynn Sr. sighed and said "Thanks Lincoln for reassuring your sisters. I think it's time we all went to bed though. Lincoln has an early day tomorrow." The family nodded and went to bed Lincoln hugging his father before heading to his room. Lincoln stretched as he headed upstairs then he climbed into bed and thought "Tomorrow is the start of the end. Either I'll come back fixed or I won't come back at all after it. Either way, There will be an end to it."
**********************************The Next Morning**********************************
Lincoln woke up bright and early and dressed in his Army shirt and jeans. He walked downstairs and ate with his parents then his mother hugged him and said "My baby boy. All grown up and taking on responsibilities he doesn't need to handle. Why do you have to do it son?" He just smiled and she said "Right because you're a man. A man who carries this family's support on his shoulders and who is still my baby. I can't wait for the day you're back home. Good luck sweetie."
Lincoln nodded and kissed his mother's cheek then said "I will do my best mom. Thanks for the luck but I'm not going to need it. Not with the support of my family behind me and the love of you, dad, and the girls. I know I have your support and that's all I need. I'll see you when I get leave." She nodded and bid him farewell as he and his father headed to the airport.
At the airport Lynn Sr. pulled Lincoln into a hug and said softly "I'm so proud of you son. I know you'll grow to do great things. After all you're a loud and we Louds are the best." Lincoln laughed and nodded then hugged his father and started for the plain. He stopped as his father said "Lincoln, you look really cool." He grinned and gave his dad a thumbs up then climbed onto the plane and headed to basic training.
The plane ride passed in silence, with each member lost in their own little world. Lincoln was fighting his inner demons and he knew that soon enough they'd end one way or another. After all he couldn't let them consume him, he couldn't let them get away, and he couldn't give up. He would come through this stronger and that was all that mattered. He sighed and stared out the window watching the clouds.
Eventually the plain touched down and he entered the camp he'd be attending for basic training. He stood in line with other soldiers at attention. The drill sergeant inspected them and said "Starting tomorrow you will be wearing ACUs so enjoy your last day as a civvie. That said starting tomorrow you are mine. Today you have permission to rest and get your uniforms, your boots, and pick your bunks. However as soon as you receive your ACUs you'll be expected to wear them until you leave the military. You will answer all things starting with sir and ending with sir is that understood?"
The cadets all called out "SIR YES SIR!" He nodded and turned then headed back to his barracks while the new recruits including our intrepid hero were all gathering their ACUs and changing. The rest of the day passed quickly with them learning the ins and outs of the base and everything that was going on. After that lights out was called and the cadets lined up in their bunks. Lincoln was in a top bunk with a guy named Marcus Rain as his bunk partner.
The following morning the cadets got up at the sound of the bugle and made their beds then the sergeant walked in and said "Good cadets you're all ready. Let's begin with a few drills." They lined up and marched out of the room then he led them through drills. After that they were told to do an obstacle course.
The obstacle course was hard for some, easy for others, Lincoln found it pretty easy what with his morning activities in his home. He completed the course three times before their commanding officer said to rest for chow.
After chow the men and women of Lincoln's company donned their gear and packs and did a ten mile run. When they got back to their barracks Marcus and and Lincoln commiserated on how this was still better than they'd thought it would be. Then they played paintball with no protection on their faces.
This continued for the next eight weeks with the cadets doing different things, learning new tricks of the trade, learning how to be soldiers, and more. Finally basic was over with Lincoln being granted his M16 and a sniper rifle as he was his soon to be new squad's sharp shooter. In this time Lincoln continued to fight his demons and was starting to come out on top more and more often. Little did he know that his life was going to be upended yet again in the future but for now life was good.
I know, this chapter was short. I don't plan on going through everything Lincoln does in the military unless it's in flashbacks after this. I have only ever tried to serve in the navy and got a medical discharge for preexisting conditions in basic so I don't know how the other military branches handle their workloads. I'm going to skip to Lincoln coming home in the next chapter i think because i really don't know how to do military at all. Anyway thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed.