Hey everyone o/
Yeah I know, haven't posted in a long time - sorry 'bout that. I don't really have an excuse and I won't bore you with it so... yeah. I'm still alive and I am still working on this story. Just... slowly.
I hope there are still some people who read this - you're the best xD
I guess I own the OCs and the grammar mistakes. Read and enjoy :D
Chapter 12 (Prank War) Love is blind
"Okay Jim – you remember what you need to do?" Dugan asked, smiling as he watched the medic.
"Yeah, yeah… but I don't get why I need to be dressed like this…" Morita muttered, shifting in the smoking clothes. "Where did you even get this stuff?" he added, looking at the others.
"You steal it you keep it, and if they get you, you give it back," Bucky shrugged, smirking.
"Oh ha-ha…" the well-dressed one rolled his eyes.
"Now, repeat the mission one more time," Monty had his arms crossed over his chest.
"-sigh- I'm supposed to meet with a HYDRA scientist and pretend to be an employer. I'm to get information and report back what I find," the medic sighed in slight annoyance.
"Good! You're all set!" Dernier smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
"We'll escort you half way – then you're on your own," Steve nodded as they left the barracks.
"But we'll still be on the com. if you need anything," Gabe assured and winked.
It was late at night when the Howlers started heading towards the forest near their camp. Jim was front and center, walking as Falsworth showed him – chin up high and back straight. It was a bit difficult, since when he was a ranger, he had the exact opposite.
"Keep it calm man," Dugan said into the link, making Morita wince.
"I'm trying okay? Just… nervous…" he whispered, swallowing.
"A few more meters – I can already see the rendezvous point," Barnes added, smirking to himself.
"Yeah, bright light ahead," the medic nodded and swallowed again.
"Good luck pal!" Jones couldn't help the smile on his face.
A few seconds later, his transmitter beeped and that indicated he had a call incoming.
"Everything set on your end?" came a female voice.
"Sure is. Yours?" he asked back, the others knowing what was going on.
"Yes. I'm going to be near in case… anything happens."
"Same with us."
"Good. Peggy out," and with that, the link was turned off.
"Whose idea was this again?" Monty asked the boys.
"Mon!" Dernier smiled, patting himself on the chest.
"With help from Mademoiselle Carter," he added, scratching his cheek.
"Well, it's genius!" Dum Dum smirked, watching in the distance.
James didn't really know what to expect to find – or who for that matter. But when he did arrive, his eyes opened wide and his jaw almost dropped.
"M-Mister Morita!" there was a girl with glasses and long, loose hair standing next to a table. On it, were candles, which were the source of light. In addition, there was a full prepared dinner for two, with soup, the main course and dessert – all along with a bottle of fine vine.
"Ah... Hello Lily," the man cleared his throat, seeing she was dressed in a yellow-white dress and apparently had some make up on.
The two stared at each other for a minute or so, before a light wind blew past them and Murdock shivered. In a second, Jim was by her side, offering his coat.
"A-Are you cold?" he quickly asked, looking her up and down. He had forgotten the others were listening or even there.
"He took it!" Bucky bumped his fist with Dugan while Jones set up the transmitter to play it out loud.
"Now, who brought the snacks?" Monty smiled, rubbing his hands.
"*Right here!*" Frenchie opened up a bag of cookies as they all settled around the transmitter.
"I got the drinks," Steve had to admit, this was a bit amusing. And cute at the same time.
"Right! Sit back, grab a drink and a cookie and enjoy the show!" Gabe smiled as it started.
"Room for one more?" at that, the men turned, surprised for a second, before Steve and Bucky gave some room for the new comer.
"What took ya so long?" Timothy teased and offered the bag of cookies.
"Unlike you, I made sure the perimeter was safe," Peggy rolled her eyes and sat down.
"Details, details!" Barnes waved his hand in the air. "Oh! It's starting!"
"So um…" Jim didn't know what to say, so he just stood there, putting his coat on the girl.
"I'm so sorry…" she whispered, eyes downcast. "I – I was told that… that this was a mission… a really important one…" she added, pulling the coat further on her shoulders.
"You too huh?" Morita gave a small smile. "Seems we were set up," he added, looking at the table.
"Now what? I mean…" she didn't want to finish. In truth, she was really surprised who showed up – but knew that if she assumed right, it wasn't a coincidence. Carter knew she had a crush on the young Commando.
"Well, let's not waste good food," the medic led her to the table and pulled up the chair. He didn't expect this – but should have. Between the guys, no one really talked about their 'love life' – well everyone knew about Steve but oh well. He himself had always had a liking for the young nurse.
"T-Thank you," Lily put a stray hair behind her ear and waited for the man to sit down.
"Set the food on her plate," suddenly buzzed in his ear and that reminded Jim his team was here.
"May I?" he asked, motioning to the food. He was kinda mad at them – but he hardly knew anything about girls so he was willing to take help from pretty much anyone.
"I-If you really want to," she gulped, blushing as he set the food up.
The rest of the evening the two talked about… things. Both beings medics of sorts, they quickly got off in a subject and started talking. They explained it was different for a field medic like Jim and an actual nurse like Lily. But they could agree on most things – like how horrible it was to see so many die and how proud they felt when they saved someone's life.
During his chat, Morita forgot all about his team. They didn't even talk to him, hearing he was doing find on his own. Instead, they listened, enjoying seeing their friends happy.
"So… where are your parents? I – If you don't mind me asking?!" Lily asked nervously, quickly adding the last bit.
"Ah…" Jim gave a weak smile and set his fork down. "Well… I think my mother's still alive… my father, not so much… died early on," there was a quick flash of sorrow over his eyes but it was gone quickly.
"I-I'm so sorry…" she whispered, lowering her head.
"Nothing to worry about. This is war. It's bound to happen…" he wanted to ask about her, but didn't really think he should. She was such a pure girl – and the fact she might have been tainted by this war made his blood boil.
"Well… I lost mine at the start…" she whispered, unsure of she should even talk about that.
"…Was it at the attack on Pearl Harbor?" his voice was weak and half cracking. The only answer was a nod and a small sniff.
"My… father worked there… and my mother – she was giving a visit…"
"…I'm so sorry…" he couldn't look her in the eyes. And it seemed both of them have lost their appetite.
"Well, that took a turn…" Monty muttered, biting his lip as silence followed the duo's conversation.
"What should we do?" Gabe raised an eyebrow, looking at the others.
"Let them sort it out," Peggy answered, looking straight ahead at the forest.
"Peg, you don't get it," Barnes said, eyes going from her to the others. "Jim's father was part of that attack. He probably feels guilty about it."
"…" silence was on this side as well as no one really knew what to do or if to do anything.
"Want to go for a walk?" Morita offered, giving a weak smile.
"Sounds nice," Lily smiled back, taking the hand he offered and standing up.
"Where to?" Murdock asked as he started leading.
"Just… walk around. Talk. It's… nice, being able to talk to someone like you," James grinned.
"T-Thank you!" she blushed, moving her glasses up a bit. "It's really nice to talk to you too," she added, smiling and looking up a bit.
"…Can I ask you something?" Jim asked after a few minutes of just walking around in the forest. The night was cool and fresh, giving a really nice feeling.
"Of course," she nodded, her hand in his.
"Do you hate the Japanese after… after what happened with Pearl Harbor?" he looked at her for a second before turning away.
"…No, not really…" she answered after a minute. "I mean… I don't really like what they did but… I can understand they were under orders… I can forgive, just can't forget…" she spoke softly, scared that he might run away if she said anything wrong.
"…Was he there…?" it was hardly more than a whisper. Lily was no idiot – she could connect a few dots not to mention she was friends with Peggy. Things tend to rub off on someone.
"…Yeah…" he had to clear his throat as they stopped, the Howler avoiding looking at her.
"Then thank you…" at her words, he turned around, looking wide-eyed.
"For helping us… for joining our side…" she had her eyes closed, but he could see a few tears slipping out and down her cheek.
"I hope… I hope you don't have to suffer any because of what happened," in a moment, he embraced her, her head set in his neck and his bowed.
"…Thank you so much…" he whispered and could feel his neck get a bit wetter.
The Howlers (yes, Peggy is a Howler) couldn't help the smiles on their faces. Dugan was sniffing, trying to keep himself from crying while Dernier didn't even bother to hide it, letting out tears of happiness.
"Well, that seemed to have worked out… better than we wanted," Falsworth shook his head, still smiling.
"Who would have thought something good would come out of a prank war," Gabe turned off the transmitter and sighed.
"C'mon, let's leave them to it. They clearly don't need us any longer," Steve got up and stretched.
"Maybe we should leave you and Peg alone eh?" Bucky winked as the two blonds turned red.
"Barnes!" Carter growled as the man jumped.
"Hey, c'mon! Love is in the air tonight!" he put his hands up as everyone laughed.
Jim and Lily stayed like that for a good minute before pulling apart and looking at each other. There was understanding and acceptance in their eyes as they leaned into a small kiss, as the Moon passed over them, casting light on the two. And the way the tree tops were grown, the light seemed to form a silver heart at their feet.
And cut! Yeah, I know, it's not much, but I think I did alright!
I do suck at Romance so I'll try avoiding any of those in the future. Oh and next one isn't gonna be Prank War part, just so you know.
Well, do tell me what you think and I hoped you like it ^^
Till next time~