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After a gruelling few days of training, they finally had some downtime together. So they decided to spend it together down at the pub, and have some fun.
They got all dressed up, with the help of Dawson, and looking very dapper, walked to the pub, making ladies swoon. They sat at the bar and ordered their drinks, and sat there talking about nothing and everything. Their friendship was remarkable, as though they had grown up together.
It was still a peaceful time, though the wisps of war were starting to appear over the horizon. Although they were none the wiser. They were young and invincible, or so they thought. For now, though, they were safe.
There was no music when they entered, but as evening came, a jazz band did too. Soon enough, there were some upbeat tunes being played, and some people had already begun to dance. The three bobbed their heads and tapped their feet, tapping their fingers on their glasses. Itching to move.
Henry saw an opportunity; a stoic redhead. He somehow charmed her into dancing with him, and his friends looked on. Dawson in awe, Collins indifferent. The former never really had much luck in talking to ladies in a manner that would engage them, despite his good looks and even better clothes. and the latter; well he wasn’t interested in them.
So, it was a surprise when Collins felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned around to see an attractive dark haired woman standing there.
She gave him a pretty smile and extended her hand out to shake. He took it and she told him her name.
“Would you ?” She said gesturing to the stage
“Ah, wish I could but I’m spoken for”
“Ah, scotty ! That’s adorable. What about your companion ? Are you brothers ?” She said looking between the both of them
“Friends. Well, brothers-in-arms too” Dawson said.
“Would you ? ” She asked with the same smile. He said yes and they both trotted off.
“So what do you boys do ?” She asked as they started to dance
“We’re pilots in training down at the base”
“Oh, that’s rather charming ! Come here often ?”
“One could say so, yes”
“So how long have you known each other ? You and the other lad”
“We met a year ago. I was with my friend Henry and he was wandering around like a lost puppy. So here we are”
“No way ! Looks like you’ve known each other for years!”
“We click well”
“What about his lady ?”
He thought for a second, still dancing
“Hasn’t really talked about her, probably some bird up in Scotland”
She gave him a funny look, but continued to dance with him.
“So, what’re your names”
“Well there’s Henry, right over there,” he said pointing to the couple dancing in the centre of the crowd, “and that was Collins and–“
“Oh dear I’m terribly sorry; hold on I’ll be right back, wait for me” she said and trotted off.
When they left, Collins finally released the breath he was holding in and let his body relax. He ordered another drink. He kept thinking about the look she gave her before she went off with his friend. It was a knowing look. As if she knew something. Maybe he was just thinking about it too much. So he brushed aside the thought, and After two more glasses, he felt lighter, more outgoing. He saw his friends dancing, and decided to go join them.
He again felt a tap on his shoulder, and it was the same lady. This time she had a curly haired man with her, and she was smiling wide.
“Gosh, I’m so sorry for leaving your friend hanging like that, where is he ?”
“Oh he’s gone to the loo”
“Oh perfect. This is Richard, by the way. I think you’ll enjoy each other’s company” she winked at Collins and went in the direction of the toilets.
He looked at her go, mouth agape.
“I could really use some fresh air right now,” Richard said. “Care to join ?”
Collins felt compelled and followed him outside. They went out the back door, where windowless buildings surrounded them on three sides. It was a clear night and the moonlight was illuminating everything around them.
“So, Charlotte tells me your name is Collins. That can’t be a first name, is it?” He said, lighting a cigarette, leaning his back against the wall.
“Alan.”
“So Scotland huh? I love that place. Been there twice,” he said, taking a puff. Then, turning to him, “never tasted any though” he said winking, giving him a sly smile, making the blond turn to face him and give him a look of amusement and confusion. That look changed into a smirk, as he responded with a
“That can change”
Richard flicked the cigarette away, and it sizzled and went out as it hit a wet patch.
And that night, their only witness was the moon.
“How did she-“ Collins ventured
“Oh, she can sniff em out like magic. Glad she’s on our side”
Buckling back up, they went inside as if nothing had ever happened. There, stopping occasionally for more drinks, they danced the evening away, and before anyone knew it, it was 10 O’clock at night. It was only when Collins glanced at his watch by chance that he realised that tomorrow would be a working day.
He gathered his friends, who had now lost their respective partners and were flailing around laughing drunkenly, and having a great time. Despite everything, Collins was the only one with a high tolerance for hard liquor.
He was still somewhat in his senses, Henry in second place. Dawson was gone. He’d drank far more than usual and was dangerously close to flopping on the ground like a spaghetti noodle being the long-limbed clumsy creature that he was.
They finally stumbled out, all giggly and swaying. Leaning their backs against the cold wall, Dawson and Henry slid down and sat on the ground. Collins stayed standing, shaking his head amusedly at his friends.
“Tsk tsk tsk, you should've stopped after three” He said and was met with more giggles.
They practically had to carry Dawson back to base, and to his room. He was giggling uncontrollably at this point, and the slightest movement would have him in stitches.
“Oh, he’s going to regret this” Henry said before bursting into giggles himself. Collins rolled his eyes and shook his head, wondering who put him in charge of these five year olds. As they turned the corner to the corridor which was lined with their respective rooms, who would they see but squadron leader Farrier himself.
A barely discreet loudly whispered “holy shit” later, all three of them were standing in attention, saluting. Or at least as straight as they could stand. Dawson swayed a little too much to the left and bumped into Collins who nudged him back to his place.
“Good evening squadron leader” came one very slurred, one barely comprehensible and one clear voice.
“Good evening gentlemen. At ease, at ease. I take it you’ve had quite the night”
“Yes sir”
“Hahaha Good for you, Good for you. Now go get some sleep”
“Thank you squadron leader” they said and began walking to their rooms. As they passed him, he turned around and called out
“Collins”
“Yes sir” he said turning around
“What is it that you were drinking ?”
“Scotch, sir.”
“Good man. Go on now, buzz off”
As he went out he heard three doors slam shut. He just shook his head with a smile and lit a cigarette.
.•*•.
They had been at war for six months now. Collins had lost his best friend, but was trying his best to get by. So was Henry. They’d been deeply impacted by the whole incident, and it was visible to anyone who’d known them for long enough. As a silver lining, though, the superiors thought that this would be a good way to warn off any more potential friendships from forming. It was for their own good after all.
They had been together for ten months now, and had yearned for each other for even longer. But now, every mission they went on was tainted with anxiety and worry. Concern; whether they’d come back alive or not, if they would come back at all, and would they come back together. So far luck had been on their side, but for how long would they be able to tease fate and keep getting away with it ?
As soon as war had been declared,
Goodbye letters were written, and entrusted with some old friends, to be given to families in the event of their death.
Photographs were kept in breast pockets, safe and sound,
“always in my heart”.
The gramophone in Farrier’s room had been in disuse, boxed up and shoved under the bed for months.
“What’s the use” was the cynical albeit real conclusion. No one really had time for that, anxiously waiting for the bell, and then coming back rattled and exhausted.
It was eventually forgotten about too, because either Collins, Carlton, Walter, Elliot or one of the ladies would be on the piano, providing the music.
Collins was unusually jittery this particular day, owing to the fact that he had been shot at. He’d limped back to base somehow, but his plane was listed as irreparable. It broke his heart, the old faithful had served him good while it lasted. He had become fond of the machine and sitting in the cockpit felt like a puzzle completed. He’d taken good care of her too, polishing and cleaning, watching the ground crew doing their job. She was his pride and joy. He’d named her after his little sister “Marceline”
“Oh, love, don't be so distraught,” Farrier tried to comfort him sitting on his bed that evening.
“I can’t imagine flying any one other than her, it’s almost like we were made for each other”
“Yes my love I know… but that’s just how it is”
Collins just nodded at that. After a few seconds,
“I’ll ask them if they can give me a piece of her. Remembrance”
“That’s a good idea, love. Cheer up now, please”
“I’m trying, Farrier I’m trying”
And almost as if a bell went off in his mind, Farrier dug under the bed and found the box. Collins looked on as he set it up, and put in the vinyl. Soon enough, the beautiful melody of the song filled the air. Not too loud, but it was raining so it didn’t really matter.
“Dance with me”
Collins just gave a sad smile and shook his head.
“Come on, it’ll cheer you up” he said, this time taking his hand. He reluctantly got up off the bed and was immediately pulled in close by the waist. He chuckled and put his arms around him, getting a kiss on the cheek from the brunet.
“Cheer up sweetheart” he said and pulled him even closer. Their bodies were now touching. Collins had his head at the crook of his partner's neck, and they held each other like that, swaying till the song ended, and a little after that.
Now breaking away, Farrier's shoulder was a little moist where Collins had his face. He’d been unable to control his emotions; it was an overwhelming mix of melancholy and a bit of regret, but also love. As he faced his partner, Farrier could see his glossy eyes and pink nose. He gave him an understanding smile and nod as he sniffled, pulling him in yet again, running his hands through his hair, which as usual were quite soft.
He cupped his face in his hands and kissed away the tears, telling him that “it will be okay my sweet”
“That song was nice,” Collins said. Farrier went to put it on again. And there, they stood, holding onto each other, comforting, crying, loving and forgetting about the whole world.
“You know, if the whole world was watching, I’d still dance with you.” Collins said.
And they danced the night away