Oh, the 1980's… This piece is inspired by Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar. It is set during the Great War.

Love is a Battlefield

Matthew glared up at the dirt and beams that made up the protective barrier of the trenches and the sandbags that crowned the top in perverse splendour. His boots were soaked in the slime and water that coated the bottom. The trenches were a mess of mortar damage and rifle fire and the rebuilding that came after. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with his comrades waiting for orders to 'go over the top'… He was waiting to die.

He knew the chances of survival. He knew that the numbers were not in his favour.

And damn if that was not depressing.

The soldier next to him was smoking a cigarette even though snipers could use the ember as a flashing beacon. Matthew supposed he was still below the line of sight or, perhaps, it just did not matter at this point.

"We're going to die, y'know."

The other soldier looked over at him and stubbed his cigarette against the trench with a chuckle.

"Aren't you a little ray of sunshine?"

Matthew laughed but it was bitter.

"Yes, that's me."

The soldier held out his hand and Matthew shook it. He was covered in filth but, beneath that, he was pale. His helmet was tilted on his head due to a loose buckle but he supposed that did not matter much either.

"Gilbert."

"Matthew."

"How old are you, Matthew?"

"… Nineteen."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow and tightened his grasp on his hand so that his knuckles ground together. It hurt. Matthew tried to avoid his gaze.

"How old are you, really?"

Matthew blushed and tugged back his hand.

"Sixteen," he whispered. He had forged his documents and joined up to follow his brother overseas but the two of them had been separated into different battalions. He wondered if he was still alive.

Gilbert looked at him for another moment before returning his attention to the clouds drifting above the sandbags.

"I was sixteen once." He sounded wistful.

A bugle sounded somewhere down the line and the soldiers shifted their weight from one foot to the other in anticipation. Matthew looked around him and saw ashen faces set in grim determination. There were men kissing tattered pictures of their sweethearts or letters from their hometowns and each one of them was promising to come home.

Matthew knew that most of them would be unable to keep that promise.

The numbers were just not in their favour.

"I don't want to die."

"Then don't."

"That's not how it works."

"It does if you have something worth living for. Or someone." Matthew laughed again. The soldier on his other side jostled him a bit, unnerved, but Gilbert grinned. "I take that as a 'no'."

"I have never even been kissed."

"Really?"

"Really."

Gilbert tore his eyes from the clouds and looked him over again with interest. Matthew continued to avert his gaze because it was embarrassing. His brother used to tease him all the time about his lack of experience.

The bugle sounded again and someone was shouting orders he could not hear.

"Do you want to?"

"What?"

The shouting continued and the soldiers started grasping at the beams in front of them. It must almost be time.

"Kiss."

"Of course I want…"

He was cut off when Gilbert reached forward and pressed their lips together. Their helmets bounced off each other but he kept their lips touching. His lips were rough from the weather and surroundings but…

It was sort of nice.

Gilbert pushed off and started climbing up the sides as one last shout rang down the trenches to signal their assault. He leaned back and saluted him with one hand and a wink.

"Now? Now you have something to live for!"

He went over the top.

Matthew watched him disappear, stunned, before scrambling up after him with the rest of his comrades. Of all the conceited, arrogant moves… But it had worked. Matthew was no longer worried about chances or numbers.

"Wait for me!"

Author's Notes:

This is an almost literal interpretation of the song but there are several lyrics that fit in just fine. … I always laugh when I see this music video. I mean, really. I have never shimmied with such an intense expression on my face. Ever.

There are many interesting wars but this piece is set during the Great War. This war is probably the one I study with the most interest. Yes, yes, I understand that the Second World War was terrible (and it is interesting, do not mistake me) but that is the point. I understand it. It was a war of morals and beliefs, 'right' and 'wrong', and condemnation. I know that there are certain things worth dying for and I can imagine signing up for WWII. But… The Great War was such a gigantic clusterfuck. It was a snowball that started rolling out of control and a lot of good people died for no particular reason. It also tore apart Europe and paved the path for WWII. The commonwealth perspective of this war is quite interesting because Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand, and India were so misused. These battalions were sent on just plain awful missions.

"Over the top" is an expression that came about during this war and meant going over the top of the sandbags to fight, and often die, in No Man's Land for the sake of a mile in the right direction.

I am still looking for more song titles and artists for future chapters of this.