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:

splendid_roman

He looked down at their hands for a moment, not wanting to tell her because it would upset her. But it was clear he couldn't say nothing and he couldn't come up with a convincing lie.

At last he sighed and although he looked up he didn't quite meet her eyes. "I got into a fight."

From:

first_in_time

She sighed a little and tried not to be too upset. Ian had once mentioned that the army encouraged brutishness. It could very well have been part of a sick training exercise, or he might have had to defend himself.

"Was it with Brown?"

From:

splendid_roman

He nodded. "He was saying things about you again and I hit him to shut him up."

From:

first_in_time

"But I told you that I didn't need you to hit people on my behalf," Barbara said and then let go of his hands so that she could out her arms around him in a hug.

Despite having told Ian not to fight for her sake, Barbara was still touched that he felt the need to stand up for her, particularly when she couldn't. Had she tried to hit Brown, he'd possibly immobilise her and try to kiss her. The thought made her shudder.

From:

splendid_roman

He put his arms around her in return and relaxed in her arms. "I know, I'm sorry." He chuckled and added, "I'm very sorry after cleaning the toilets."

Edited Date: 2014-01-22 12:12 pm (UTC)

From:

first_in_time

Barbara leaned back and pulled a face. "That's disgusting but thankfully I have a remedy for that. Would you like to know what it is?"

From:

splendid_roman

It had been disgusting, hence why it was used as a punishment. It did put him off the idea of fighting with Brown again soon, but he hoped the fight would put Brown off too.

"Yes, I do," he said, curious as to what it was.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara stepped back, giving him eyes and swinging her hips in hopes of throwing him off guessing her surprise. She walked toward his tidy desk where a plastic container sat with two forks, a box of matched and a candle.

She lifted off the lid to reveal a large piece of chocolate cake. "I'm sorry but part of the payment of being snuck in was that I shared the cake, so there may not be much left for later but I can still sing happy birthday and you can still blow out a candle."

From:

splendid_roman

He couldn't help looking at her as she walked, so it took him a moment to focus on the cake when she revealed it. "It looks good," he said, going over for a closer look. Although it was hard for cake not to look tasty, especially chocolate cake. He smiled, looking amazed at how well he was being treated. "Did you make it?"

From:

first_in_time

"Of course I did," she smiled at him and passed the container over so that her hands were free to put in the candle and light it.

As Barbara sang happy birthday, she stayed quiet, not wanting anyone else to hear. Her hand went to Ian's hip and still she continued to smile. Barbara hoped that She hadn't gone too far in all of her plans. She wanted Ian to feel special and loved but she hated the idea of making him feel uncomfortable.

Once she'd ended her singing, Barbara lifted his hands a little, bringing the candle closer to him. "Make a wish."

From:

splendid_roman

Ian couldn't help smiling as he was holding a piece of chocolate cake Barbara had made for him and she was singing Happy Birthday to him.

He did as she asked and blew the candle out, but he couldn't help looking at her for all that time. His wish was to keep her. "What have I done to deserve you?"

From:

first_in_time

"You were probably just a good boy in school," she grinned and giggled. "Now I'm afraid that the cake isn't very warm anymore and I. Couldn't sneak in some ice cream to go with it, since it would have melted. I'll do better next year, I promise."

She held out a fork and patted the chair at his desk for him to sit down.

From:

splendid_roman

He took the fork and sat down. "You are going to eat some of this too, aren't you?" He couldn't eat all of it on his own and he did at least have a spare chair for visitors. There wasn't a knife, but they could just eat it both at once.

From:

first_in_time

She nodded and waved the extra fork before sitting on the desk and crossing her legs. She'd seen the extra chair but this way she had a better view of Ian.

"The very best part about cooking cakes and biscuits is that you get to eat hem afterwards," Barbara grinned and reached downward to cut off a section of cake with her fork once Ian had had his first bite.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian wasn't going to complain about the view he got either. "And licked the spoon." He grinned and licked the cake off the fork before digging it back into the cake for another bite.

From:

first_in_time

"That was always Harry's job," Barbara replied and watched Ian eat for a moment before reaching for more herself. "He would lick the spoon and the bowl, and if would share the cake with him. As I'm sure you can imagine, he enjoys home visits."

From:

splendid_roman

He smiled, imagining that. "How is Harry getting on?" It was odd trying to think of him as Barbara's brother, rather than one of his old recruits.

From:

first_in_time

"He positively hates his new superior but at least he has the same friends with him as before, so they encourage one another through each day," Barbara ate another piece before continuing, "he comes home when he can and moans to Mum and I the entire time, yet he keeps going on with it. I suspect that he's either determined to be a soldier or he has fallen for one of the secretaries."

Edited Date: 2014-01-22 09:02 pm (UTC)

From:

splendid_roman

He nodded and ate while she spoke. "You have to be pretty determined to get through basic training in the first place, so a superior you hate isn't likely to stop you. And it wouldn't be forever, he can always get a transfer."

From:

first_in_time

"I'll make sure that I pass that on to him just incase he doesn't know about it." Barbara continued to watch Ian as he ate, glad that he was enjoying her cake. "Have you ever thought of transferring?"

From:

splendid_roman

He shook his head. "I like it here." Aside from not having many free evenings, but that was partly because he hadn't needed them quite so urgently before now.

Once they were down to the last bit of cake he said, "You should have the last piece," and gestured to it with his fork.

From:

first_in_time

She shook her head. "It's for your birthday."

Barbara adjusted herself on his desk and carefully considered her words. "What about if I were to get a job on the other side of the country? Would you transfer?"

From:

splendid_roman

He poked at the cake while he considered. It was a serious question and either answer could be taken the wrong way. Eventually he decided to go for honesty.

"I don't know," he said, looking up at her. "I suppose it would depend on where I could transfer to and how serious we were about continuing to see each other."

From:

first_in_time

Admittedly that wasn't quite the answer she had been expecting but she wasn't disappointed in what he'd said. Barbara almost blurted that she was serious enough to love him but managed to save herself at the last moment.

"I'm sure this wasn't the conversation you'd hoped to have on your birthday, but since we're on the topic...how serious do you think we are?"

From:

splendid_roman

It certainly wasn't a conversation he'd been expecting to have on his birthday. He felt like they hadn't seen each other enough to be serious, but that was partially a problem of timing. The kisses they'd shared felt serious, though.

"I'd like us to be serious." It sounded like a non-answer, although it was an honest one and he put a hand on her knee. "When I think how long we've known each other it feels like we can't be this serious yet. But it feels right."