Hurts Like Hell | John Laurens

Dix

Both John and I are eager to get back to camp, after the one month break we were both forced to take. I'm stationed now in South Carolina with John, and my job as their new Lieutenant is to train all the new recruits.

All the new cadets were lined up.

"Alright listen up!" John yells, everyone stands at attention. fucking badass. "Most of you know, I'm Lieutenant Colonial Laurens. This is your trainer Lieutenant Laurens." they all looked confused, "my wife." John finishes.

I stand right next to John, "Thank you for the introduction, amour." I clear my throat and speak loud enough for everyone to hear me, "You all heard correctly, Lieutenant Laurens. I am not your maid, nor your mother. I am here to train you sorry excuses for men. Refer to me as my name, not Mrs. Laurens, Lieutenant Colonial Lauren's bitch, or the hot french chick. Just in case any of you are getting any ideas, everyone drop and give me twenty."

I hold back a laugh while watching them do push-ups. Pathetic. "Did they send me little girls when I need men? Now, it's my job to turn you sad excuses of soldiers, into somewhat decent ones."

John stands with a satisfied smirk on his face, and his arms crossed.

"And how exactly is a woman going to do that?" One laughed.

"Step forward son." John says, reading the look on my face.

"Looks like I've found a partner for your first lesson," I laugh and smile at him, "Hand-to-hand combat. Which you should have no problem beating me in, since I'm merely a woman."

I pop my knuckles and examine my opponent quickly. About 6'3 maybe 18 years old, he's got some meat on his bones, not much though. He's an easy opponent. Besides the height.

I cross my arms and he puts up his hands as John counts down.

"3, 2, 1, begin."

My opponent lunges for a punch, and keeps throwing punches. I dodged and weaved to avoid the hits, and caught his fist with my hand, twisting it around causing him to cry out in agony. I swiped his leg, sending him to the ground. I put my boot on the side of his face to keep him from getting up. I pushed his face closer to the ground and he tapped out.

I sigh, "Disappointing."

The cadets look at me in awe. "Can anyone tell me what he did wrong?" I ask. No one. "Okay. Well for starters, his balance was off the entire time. Second he was attempting nothing but force. Third, he wear wearing himself out. Fourth, he read his opponent wrong."

I put my hands behind my back and scan the cadets as I continue, "While on the battlefield, you must be able to defend yourselves. You have families to go home to, and you have to fight for your life so you get home to them safely. No one wants to receive that letter that their son, brother, or husband is dead. You have to read them, they can't read you. Example, cadet thought I wasn't intimidating because I'm a woman, and how I'm built. I'm a small person, but did I or did I not just kick that cadet's ass?"

"You did." John coughs, a proud smile on his face.

"He's so tall, he had to reach down with his punches and kicks. His guard hand was his left one, signaling he's right handed. On the battlefield you have to do this in three seconds or less. This is what determines if you live or die. You family needs you to come home, so it's either you take every word that leaves my lips to heart, or you die. Have I made myself clear?"

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" They all say in unison and salute me.

"You're all dismissed."

The cadets go back to their assigned tents, and John and I go back to ours.

"I think I've fallen in love with you all over again. Impressive how many times I've fallen in love with you. When I hadn't met you, Anthony, you being yourself, and you training my men." John pushes me up against the wall, "Damn my wife is pretty badass." He presses his lips to mine.

**********

don't ask how i know this
i totally wasn't in martial arts for five years
i just told you how i know this

look how freaking adorable he is i can't even