The Golden Soldier (Call of Duty: WW2 Fanfiction)

Chapter 34

Everything had been through and because of Turner. My future and what would happen to me was sealed with him. With him gone, I was scared. I was so fucking scared. Explaining it all over again to the boys or Pierson would be impossible. Without a phone to prove it my situation wouldn't make sense at all.
    With that, I tried to avoid the boys as much as possible. It wasn't hard considering we had been moving and unpacking a new camp. We'd moved into colder weather, as if the Rhine itself was ice from the inside out. Snow had merely fallen, leaving us treading through a few inches as we set up the new temporary camp.
    It had been a solid month and a half since everything with Turner. I had managed to heal myself, sticking to treating others and secretly going out on patrols—against Pierson's initial orders. Without the close company of the boys, I felt lost if I was honest with myself. It's why I decided to join them Christmas Eve.
    I brought my gloved hands closer to my sides as I hugged myself. Treading through the packed layers of snow had become less of a workout as the days of the white shit had built up. It was just getting used to the cold that I knew would never happen for me; I had never been one to enjoy snow.
    "Who the hell are you?"
    I raised my chin to the greeting Aiello gave me. "Hi."
    All four boys looked directly at me, as if they'd been waiting for me to come back around to them for far too long. I plopped down on the crates Zussman sat on, letting out a deep sigh and appreciating him for moving over. My eyes scanned each of theirs and then soaked in the heat of the fire.
    "You've barely spoken to us for the past month," Daniels commented.
    "I know," I breathed, "and I'm sorry. Everyone has different ways of...grieving."
    "You should be over—" Aiello stopped himself. "That's not the only thing going on is it?"
    "Did Pierson say something?" Zussman challenged.
    I shook my head, deciding the Pierson topic wouldn't be a good idea. "Well, I've been reflecting on some things."
    The boys looked at me expectantly. I sucked in a low breath, preparing to tell them everything I'd planned to. I should have told them months ago like I had Turner. It would make everything move smoother.
    "What things?" Stiles questioned.
    I reeled back. "Just things ahead. I'm concerned as to how it will go."
    "Considering we're spending Christmas in this shithole," Aiello grumbled, "I'm not seeing it go well."
    A silence fell over the group. Zussman subtly handed me a canteen of alcohol, offering it as they drank themselves—minus Stiles. I took a swig of the gut-warming liquid, hating the throat burn but loving the warmth coating my body. I ignored my cautious conscious and took a second swig.
    "Merry Christmas, Turner," Daniels raised his canteen and I about hurled my whiskey back up.
    The other boys muttered a response. I stared into the fire, imagining what it would be like if Turner was still around. Perhaps if I hadn't shot...
    "Ava, did you hear?" Aiello still raised his container. "Pierson made farm-boy over here a corporal. I wonder what Turner would think of that."
    I gazed at Daniels from across the fire, narrowing my eyes. What were Pierson's motives for that? If he wanted to brainwash Daniels into convincing us that Pierson was the right platoon leader, I had no doubt he would fail. Everyone missed Turner and dreaded Pierson's wrath of new leadership.
    "Probably that you're the same old sack 'a shit Aiello," Zussman's voice sounded scratchy as he glared at the man across from him.
    I subtly bumped him with my elbow and muttered lowly. "Zuss."
    "Now's not the time," Daniels snapped, holding up his drink.
    In unison, all the boys gave a toast: "To Turner."
    I lifted my drink to my lips, anticipating the heat again. The others did the same, all enjoying the momentary silence as we began to drink to our toast. Then the loveliness of Pierson stomped on it.
    "To Turner," Pierson was sloppy on his feet as all of us snapped to look at him. "Lucky son of a bitch."
    I practically dropped the canteen in my hand, gripping the edge of the crate with my right hand so tightly I thought it would splinter. Zussman noticed, his hand subtly coming down on top of mine. I let out a breath and glanced to him in thankfulness, silently feeling the panic bubbling up again.
    "You're always first right?" Pierson chugged more of his bottle of intoxication.
    We all glanced at each other. Aiello eyed Pierson more significantly than Stiles, who was watching Pierson in concern. I couldn't help but subtly glare at the sergeant, feeling Zussman's hand press down harder to keep me seated.
    "Keep eyeballin' me," Pierson growled, coming closer. "Yeah, get your jollies tonight boys because tomorrow when that convoy comes through you're gonna be on the frontline defending it." I tensed as Pierson drunkenly came up between our circle and kicked at the fire as he spoke. "And Turner's not gonna be there to defend you!"
    Daniels and Zussman popped up, the former pressing the brute back. "Easy!"
    Pierson flung away, glaring at Daniels. "Easy. You're a corporal now, huh? Yeah, let's see how easy it fucking is."
    They tensely stared one another down, face to face with the fire flickering over their faces. I set my canteen down, prepared to get up if I had to. I knew I wasn't supposed to exist to Pierson at the moment, but I wouldn't let him harm one of the boys.
    "Go on," Pierson lowered his threatening voice. "Give me an excuse."
    Daniels only shook his head, moving away as if Pierson had officially lost it. Pierson straightened, glaring at the receding Daniels.
    "Yeah, that's what I thought," Pierson looked to the rest of us, who were silently watching him in slight shock. "Six years I served with that man. Six."
    I watched his face twitch as he spoke, as if thinking of Turner caused him pain too. Pierson let out a breath that appeared in the cold night air and then he slammed his bottle into Aiello's shoulder socket, storming away so no one could see anything more.
    "Merry fucking Christmas."
    I thought he was going to completely disappear, maybe never turn around to spot me. It really sucked to hope for things that would never happen.
    Pierson paused from where he'd started off and then turned his torso so he could meet my gaze. I raised my chin, narrowing my eyes as he glanced at the boys. They still watched Pierson as if he was dangerous viper who would strike at any moment.
    "Make sure to take the opportunity to use that whore too."
    I shot up, charging to go after Pierson; he'd already started walking off again. Zussman sharply caught me, stopping me with two hands to either shoulder. I let out a grumble.
    "Let me have five minutes with that bastard!"
    "Let it go, Ava," Aiello said from where he sat.
    I struggled against Zussman for a moment longer before sinking into his chest. He patted my back and I fought to keep tears behind my eyelids as I closed them. I drew away from his warm embrace to face the boys.
    "We can't let him get away with this, any of it," I announced.
    "He can do what he wants," Stiles pointed out.
    "He'll get anything hindering his image out of his way without second thought," Aiello shot me a look.
    "Discharge papers or not, I'm not going anywhere."
    They all shot me quizzical looks.
    "I'm never going to go back to the states," I told them firmly, stepping forwards as Zuss sat back down. "It's not where I'm from, not in this time period anyways."
    "You've already had to much to drink haven't you?" Stiles rolled his eyes.
    "No, I'm being dead serious about this," I glared at him. "Anything I say in the next ten minutes is completely, utterly true, understand? And you can't tell a soul."
    They glanced at each other and Daniels spoke up. "Okay."
    I took a deep inhale. "I'm from the year 2012."
    There was a moment of silence and then Zussman started uncomfortably laughing. I shot him a sharp look.
    "Too much to drink."
    "Zussman," I touched his cheek, forcing him to look into my eyes. "I'm not joking and I'm not drunk." I released him and looked to the others. "God, I wish I still had my phone to show you. It worked with Turner. He believed everything and was in the process of helping me get back to my time period before he died."
    "So," Aiello rubbed his chin, "you know the outcome of this war?"
    "I refused to tell him and I refuse to tell you," I stated calmly.
    "Then what else do you have to prove about where you're from?" Stiles wondered.
    I went into everything I could think off the top of my head. From descriptions of phones and other technology, to the clothing people wore, and the hobbies, I told them everything I could. Their faces were held in a solid piece of shock and disbelief, listening as I explained my own life to them. I explained how I made it in this time period miraculously and how I didn't know how to get back quite yet.
    "Does Pierson know?" Daniels asked once I finished.
    "No!" I raised my eyebrows. "He can't know! It'll just give him another reason to discharge me."
    "He is already."
    "It won't happen," I glanced around to the boys and they let out gasps as I spoke my next words. "When the papers arrive I will have found my way back and if I haven't then I will make sure I'm dead. I'd rather die than return to an unfamiliar America."
    "Don't talk like that," Zussman clutched my hand. "Please."
    "Yeah, we need you," Stiles said. "You're our golden soldier."
    "Your what?" I let out a chuckle.
    "I've been trying to form some sort of description of you and I think I've finally stumbled across it," Stiles glanced around.
    "And that is?"
    "You're virtually indestructible, through spirit at least," Stiles started, "and I think you've made your history with us highly valued. Like gold as jewelry, you will always have a place around necks and in our hearts."
    "How romantic, college," Aiello scoffed.
    I smiled across at Stiles, tears welling in my eyes. "You're so sweet."
    "See?" Stiles shrugged. "The Golden Soldier...our."
    I let out a laugh and Stiles grinned.
    "It has a nice ring," Zussman shrugged. "I'll let it stick as long as you don't do what you said you would."
    I shared a long look with him, the intensity of the pleading in his gaze to hard to handle. "I won't."
   "We'll find other ways to make sure your life is perfect back in the states," Zussman promised. "I will help you try and find your way back and I hope these num-nuts do too."
    "We will," Aiello, Daniels, and Stiles all nodded.
    I smiled and let out a small chuckle of happiness. Leaning down, I wrapped my arms around Zussman's neck. Placing a kiss to his temple, I squeezed him like a stuffed animal.
    "Thank you."
    Zussman's cheeks were reddening when I pulled away and Aiello rolled his eyes in amusement. Daniels chuckled, taking a swig from his bottle again. I ruffled Zuss' hair and then glanced at the others.
    "This is going to be one hell of a Christmas, boys," I whispered.
    "We'll make it count," Daniels dipped his head.
    "I know," I whispered.
    "Look out Zuss, you're under the mistletoe," Aiello threw a small green bundle over his head.
    He glared at him. "Fuck off!"
    "Settle down," I laughed, shaking my head. "All right, I'm headed off. Anyone want to join?"
    "I'll go," Stiles yawned.
    "Me too," Aiello stood.
    "We'll stay," Zuss looked at Daniels in a knowing silence. "Goodnight boys and lady."
    I followed Stiles to the tent, walking alongside Aiello. He pressed closer to me as we neared the tent, his body only slightly warmer than the environment. I glanced upwards at him.
    "You better after that night?"
    "Of course," I nodded. "Now that you all know everything behind my brain, I'm sure you can understand why I was so...ugly then."
    "You're never ugly Ava," Aiello's eyes grew soft. "Not in my eyes anyways."
    I stroked his scruffy cheek once and then hugged him tight. Aiello returned the hug, his breath inhaling on my neck. We stayed like that for a solid minute before I released him.
    "Merry Christmas," Aiello whispered, gently kissing the top of my forehead.
    I smiled, watching him retreat into the tent without another word. My eyes glanced around at the other tents, spotting a figure not too far off. I narrowed my eyes, realizing the figure was chugging more alcohol. I opened my mouth to say his name and then stopped myself. He began to move forwards, but I faced my tent and briskly moved inside.
    I never wanted to speak to him again.

--•--•--•--

Ava's secret is officially out. With Pierson not knowing, how do you think it's going to go? Hopefully Ava will find a way to get through it all.
Hope you enjoyed and happy Saturday!
Song: Casualty by Hidden Citizens
~MS~