(no subject)

[aut_nihil]

Pope doesn't go on as many missions as he once did. But he sees trouble brewing in the future, in the solo orders Carver was given, and he can't stomach staying behind when Carver might face the worst alone.

So he defies his own orders and he goes with Carver.

And things go sideways. They're outnumbered despite his best efforts and his warnings, and they're gathered up, hoods on their heads, arms tied behind their backs.

Carver's strong though. They're going to make it through this. He's going to get them through this.

Comments

[aut_nihil]

"They have a jukebox. Nothing but country songs though, reminds me of when I was a kid." And he's not a nostalgic man but he has to admit some things do tug at his soul after all.

"Run by the same family that's owned it since it opened. I keep hoping the kids will want to keep it open."

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver never liked country music. Never really had an ear for music in general but he hums a little, settling into the shape of Pope's story. He can almost picture it. A small place, run by the same people year after year. The sort of food that melts in your mouth. The clang of quarters going into that old jukebox.

"Sounds nice," he murmurs. "I never was good at cooking ribs. But when they're made just right...yeah."

Yeah. That'd be a good meal to come back to.

[aut_nihil]

"What's your freedom meal going to be then?" What is Carver going to do with himself when he's free?

[fortitudosalutis]

"I'll cook," he murmurs, smiling a little as he thinks of it. "My grandma's pasta with kale and lemon. Mhmm. Cook up a really big bowl and get myself a glass of vodka. Yeah, that's what I'll do."

There's something wistful in his tone. He'll cook it for Riley, he thinks. He's always wanted to.

[aut_nihil]

He chuckles. "That kid Austin could get behind that. Is he still vegan?" Austin follows fads like kale cleanses, but impatiently, never finishing anything that takes more than a week.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Nah, it's keto this time." Carver huffs at that. "My version has sausage in it anyway. Lemon gives it a kick. People think kale's all bitter and shit, but you cook it right it tastes pretty damn good. My grandma used to grow it. And then we'd poach the deer and take it to her friend who'd make the sausage."

He huffs.

"Pasta we bought from the grocery store, though. Cheap kind. But it did the trick."

[aut_nihil]

"You should have Bossie over. He makes pasta fresh. Only thing he does know how to make, far as I've heard." He's always amused by his people's hidden talents.

"Used to love hunting deer. We'll do that; get a group of us, go out hunting this fall."

[fortitudosalutis]

"I'd like that," Carver murmurs. "We could go up to my grandma's house in Colorado. It's not mine anymore, but people rent it out sometimes. We could go hunting. I could cook for everyone."

It'd be like family. No war. Just all of them together, laughing.

[aut_nihil]

"Count on it," Pope says, and this is what he'd hoped for by talking about that little place on Route 9: he feels inspired to get out of here, determined to live for a future where his sons and daughters go out hunting with him. "Make it a Thanksgiving trip for us all."

[fortitudosalutis]

"Yeah," Carver agrees, and he shifts so he can press against Pope. Just a little. "It's rural. Close to the reservation, too, so nobody'd bother us. The kids'd love it."

Enough room to drink and let loose, not worry about scandalizing the officers.

"Shaw'd love it," he adds. "She came up with me once before my grandma died. It was nice."

[aut_nihil]

"It wouldn't be a proper hunt without her," he agrees. He glances at Carver; finds that despite it all he is glad for the contact. "I took her hunting once. That woman can stalk."

[fortitudosalutis]

"Big sister's a badass," he agrees, expression softening a little as he smiles at Pope. "She was with me the first time I went into combat. She ever tell you that?"

[aut_nihil]

"Yes she did," he says with a wry smile of his own. "Said I should keep an eye out for you, that you were up and coming. The Army did you wrong, not giving you that advancement."

Pope fought for Carver.

[fortitudosalutis]

He sighs. “I wanted it, sir. I wanted to be just like her—and you.”

It didn’t work out, though. He got shot down so hard he nearly got whiplash.

He’s quiet for a long time. Then:

“I’m not gonna re up. I was working up to telling you. They’re never gonna let me be a sergeant, you know how it went down.”

[aut_nihil]

He's quiet. Draws in a long breath. "Carver, I'm going to tell you something I haven't told anyone yet. I'm retiring. I'm starting my own firm. I can take care of my people better if I go private sector. You come work with me; I'll put you to real use."

[fortitudosalutis]

Oh.

Carver stills, watching Pope close. Somehow, of all the responses, he didn't see that one coming. "....you want me to come with you?" he murmurs. After all this, Pope wants him to come along?

[aut_nihil]

"I was going to wait to pitch it to you until after I was out and had it all set up," he gestures around them, "But we're here and this seems like a better time to tell you."

[fortitudosalutis]

"I'll come with you," he replies immediately. "Whatever you need, I'm there."

The Army's disappointed both of them time and time again. Maybe they're due for something pure.

[aut_nihil]

"I'm asking Shaw, too. And the kids, when they're up for grabs." He's picked his people. He's confident they'll all say yes.

[fortitudosalutis]

"You taking any of the officers?" He pauses, considering who Pope listens to. Whose opinion he values. "Mancea?"

[aut_nihil]

"Just Mancea. If he'll go," he's the only one Pope isn't sure about. Mancea isn't motivated by money. "I'll need your help recruiting."

[fortitudosalutis]

"I think he'd come. He doesn't really seem like the golf and beach type, anyway."

Carver settles against Pope, closing his eyes. It's easier to think of future plans than the things stained against this mattress and what they were made to do to each other.

"I'll help you," he promises. "Riley—Sergeant Anders, he's getting a medical discharge. He'll be out in like three months, and he knows all the pilots."

[aut_nihil]

"Is he? What happened to Anders?" He knows Anders saw heavy action, they all did, but Anders wasn't under his command for any of it.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Shit, you didn't hear about that?" Carver winces. It was pretty bad. "His bird got hit by an RPG. Killed the pilot. Anders and the other gunner got shredded. He was in Germany for a while, getting sewn back together."

Carver had wanted so badly to go with him. It wasn't possible, though. And asking would have prompted questions neither of them could have answered.

"He's okay," Carver adds, a little softer. "Mostly. He almost lost an eye. And he was close with the pilot, they called her Junebug on the coms. I liked her."

[aut_nihil]

There were a few disasters like that, tragedies like that, but he thinks he knows the specific one Carver is talking about.

"They have him on desk duty now?"