first_in_time | The Voice In The Dark [for Splendid

"Chesterton!" Stephen's voice called out across the base's pub, "you've got an early start tomorrow, what on Earth are you doing hanging around here?"

Strong hands from seemingly nowhere reached out and grabbed Ian by the arms and legs, and hoisted him up from the floor. Ian's friend drank the last of his pint and grinned at him. "You won't be needing that if you're going to have an early night."

The group of men marched Ian out of the pub, across the grassy grounds and into their living quarters. A few of the other men watched and chuckled, figuring that it was some kind of birthday torture. Not that anyone had mentioned Ian's birthday even in the slightest all day. But then why would the army make anyone feel special and individual?

Ian's friends prattled on and on about his early start, and the batch of new recruits and beauty sleep right up until they threw him into his own room. They laughed and shut the door, plunging Ian into almost complete darkness.

Once the loud laughter and excuses had diminished, Barbara's voice crept out of the gloom: "I hope they weren't too rough with you."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

first_in_time

"It's the only reason I'm glad he's in the army," Barbara grinned and reached up to kiss him sweetly. "Life has been a lot more interesting with you around. I like it."

From:

splendid_roman

He smiled. "Were things that boring before?"

From:

first_in_time

"Not necessarily but I've never been so keen for a phone call." Barbara peppered a few more kisses to his cheek. "Or the post, for that matter."

From:

splendid_roman

He chuckled. "My mother's been complaining I don't call her enough because when I have some time I call you instead."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara was busy giggling and kissing his cheek to be paying all of her attention to their conversation. Ian made her feel so special and so happy, she owed him a lot, really, and her feelings for him swelled with each touch, each kiss, each time he looked wth her.

"I love you, too," she said softly against his cheek and for a very brief moment, she had no idea what she'd said but then it hit her and barbara gasped, slapping a hand to her mouth.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian went rigid. He hadn't realised Barbara felt that strongly. He hadn't really thought about what he felt, so he could hardly say it back to her. But the silence between them felt oppressive and he had to say something.

He let go of her and stuck his hands in his pockets. "I'm touched that you feel that way," he said, not looking at her.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara fumbled for words, her hand not leaving her mouth. Although she struggled to look at Ian for a moment, it hurt that he couldn't look at her.

"Ian, I...this wasn't how-" she cut off, unsure of what to say. It was how she felt, tuthfully. She wasn't going to try and eat her words, that would be silly.

From:

splendid_roman

It wasn't much comfort that she was feeling as uncomfortable as he was and did look over at her. He put his hands on her shoulders. "It's not wrong to say how you feel."

From:

first_in_time

"It is when the receptive party doesn't really feel the same," she replied and tried to smile but it was weak.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian smiled weakly himself and dropped his hands. "I'm sorry."

From:

first_in_time

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I should have paid more attention to what I was saying and now I've made you uncomfortable. If you'd like I can wait here while you fetch Alan or Stephen and I can go home."

From:

splendid_roman

"No, I don't want you to go." Maybe it would be easier if she did, but then he'd kick himself for not taking the opportunity to spend time with her. And his friends would think they'd had an argument, if Barbara left earlier than she had to. "You should stay."

He took her hand and led her over to the bed, where they could both sit down. "That's why you asked me if I'd be willing to move across the country if you got a job there."

From:

first_in_time

Now Barbara smiled genuinely, even though it was a small smile. Ian still wanted her here, so she can't have scared him away or made him too uncomfortable. He must still have some deep feelings for her. Men have run for far less.

"Yes and no," she replied after a moment of thought. "I like what we have, even if I am further along than you are, and moving so far away could damage it. I think that if my feelings were more like yours," she continued, not wanting to mention love again, "it would still sadden me if we lived hours apart."

From:

splendid_roman

"It does sadden me." They already didn't see enough of each other, if they lived further away they'd have even fewer opportunities to see each other and he didn't think their relationship would be able to survive that.

"But it's not going to be for a few months and we don't know how we'll feel then."

From:

first_in_time

"I do know that, I promise you, and I understand that transferring might not be possible. I was only curious." Barbara tentatively reached out for Ian's hand just to hold for comfort and reassurance.

From:

splendid_roman

"I know." Ian didn't move his hand away and did feel better for holding Barbara's.

"I haven't had the best luck with girlfriends moving away." He chuckled. "The first girl I loved, well, I didn't realise I loved her until I'd convince her to take a job she wanted that meant she moved away. With the second we both moved away from where we were living at the time and we agreed to split up for the benefit of our careers."

From:

first_in_time

"Heavens," Barbara replied, feeling more confident now that she had Ian's hand in hers. "I do hope that we have more luck."

From:

splendid_roman

"Some of it was due to my decisions, not just luck." He didn't have to always put his career first. That was something he could do differently with Barbara, if he had to, but he wasn't going to worry about it until it happened.

Edited (Changed my mind) Date: 2014-01-24 03:21 pm (UTC)

From:

first_in_time

"Why don't we cross the bridge when we come to it?" she suggested, squeezing his hand. "Tell me about the new recruits instead and what you have planned for them."

From:

splendid_roman

He nodded, happy to leave worrying about that for the future. "The same as all the previous recruits, really." Which might be a bit samey, but at least it didn't require too much planning. "They're still new, so we're not too hard on them yet." He grinned. "I'm sure Harry's mentioned that we take them on ten mile runs with a heavy backpack and make them answer questions as they go."

From:

first_in_time

"I used to think he was exaggerating!" Barbara gasped then giggled. "I used to roll my eyes and not believe him. I probably should apologise," but she probably wouldn't. "And you have to run them, too?"

From:

splendid_roman

Ian chuckled and nodded. "And look as if I'm not out of breath. But that's why I spend some of my free time in the gym and going on runs."

From:

first_in_time

That certainly explained why Ian looked quite fit, and why she could see the shape of muscles on his arms and chest through his shirt. Which she quite liked.

"And do you enjoy all of the extra exercise?"

From:

splendid_roman

"I haven't really thought about it." He did so now, for a moment, but it was hard to see it as enjoyable or not when he'd been doing it so long. "I suppose I'm just used to it."

From:

first_in_time

"So you'd go mad if you missed a day or two?" it was an entirely innocent question, even if Barbara later compared his answer to the possibility of them sharing the night.