Chapter Text
"Beej, you've had almost three years." Hawkeye snatched Charles' red velvet pillow from his cot and sailed it across the tent at his best friend.
"So what." It returned with a force unwelcome and unexpected.
"Oww! Dammit!" Hawkeye growled. "You don't have to get nasty." He cradled the pillow, almost rocking it.
"And you don't have to get nosey."
"Well...excuse me... "His tone dripped sarcastic covering hurt. "Beej! You're the kid's father. It's not like we're gonna be bunkmates forever you know."
“You are free to leave anytime…”
”… go pitch a tent…in a minefield!”
” … go fly a kite! preferably in an electric storm”.
"The only lucid thoughts that give me hope, and make me pray every night for its swift cessation." Charles announced, entering the tent snatching the pillow from Hawkeye.
“You’re a little late to the party, Chuckles.” Hawkeye tried to tamp down the anger in the tent.
Charles offered a rare smirk and whacked him with it. “Indolent child!" He played the game.
Barking excitedly, JR bounded into the tent, jumped up and snatched the pillow from Charles' hands.
"I'm open, JR!" Her best friend raced in behind her. "Right here, girl!”
”Right here, boy!” His irate father demanded, his hands out, daring the boy to defy him. The dog tossed the pillow into the air. Jamie dove under it. Charles landed on top of him.
Before his godson had barely uttered "Ooff!", Unc Hawk grabbed him, chuckling, "And that, Lady…” he nodded in JR’s direction with a smile , “and the Tramps,” he gestured towards the remaining three, “is how they invented the pancake!"