#MustangRambles

[callsign-mustang]

His dearest, Reader

Being Colonel Konig’s chosen soldier was as stressful as could possibly be- deal with recruits and the other tasks he needed done while fulfilling her own responsibilities and duties. Not that Reader minded. They’d become quite accustomed to being his right hand, having his back in the field and doing all that they could to deserve the position he handpicked them for.

Konig was a strict but fair colonel, pushing his men as hard as he could, inspiring them to strive to become the best soldiers they ever could be. That was no less true about his treatment of Reader- pushing them in the field, being stricter during exercises. The late nights, the rough sparring sessions, the hard-won lessons were for them, to better not only their body for war but for the diplomatic side of being a soldier. After all, he wouldn’t always be at their side to take charge.

It was rare when he’d go on missions especially such long ones without his mentee, but he’d taken to the pen upon realizing his messages to Reader were not being delivered. The first letter came barely a week after he’d gotten settled, the typical fashion- succinct, to the point and matter of fact about his new base. He had strict instructions on them taking over the training of their team back home. His dry humor coming out in his little side notes about the men he was helping to whip into shape. Reader had sent a reply to his letter less than a day letter, thus beginning to be their inked correspondence.

Their letters had gone from being about his distaste for the lack of tact his men had, their incompetence and his inability to understand the reason why the younger soldiers were so rambunctious to his thanking them for the concepts of training exercises they’d given, commending his mentee on their growth while he was overseas.

Their own words had started at being unsure of their role without him there, slowly they found a sense of courage and had begun taking the lead on base for their men. The independence they felt while he was away was helping to make the soldier more self-sufficient, more confident and sure of themselves. Their Colonel could read it just in the way their writing had changed nervous and anxious to a soldier come into their own. -A proud moment-

They found each other excited for those next letters, those blessed words of a letter addressed to them from a military messenger always bringing them out of their drudgery. Letters became less professional, speaking of their personal lives, their aspirations and hobbies. Who knew that their oh-so fearless Colonel had been bullied in his childhood? Or that his handwriting could be so elegant? Albeit there were some letters when his anxiety seemed to make his scrawl more illegible.

His most recent letter was the same as always, his asking how his mentee was, if their own ventures were going well. The letter told them he’d be back home soon… months apart and now they’d finally see him after all these letters back and forth to one another. His little doodles in the corners of the paper, the small German-English babble he’d use to tell about story. Oh, how they clung to his every word. Their eyes drew to the bottom of the page.

“My Dearest, Reader

Colonel König”

A single comma and now Reader was sleepless, consuming their every thought. He was usually so perfect with his grammar and now there was a single mistake in his writing. It had to have just been a mistake…. It changed the meaning of the phrase entirely. Did he intend to do this? But how it made their heart soar re-reading it. Couldn’t deny the flutter in their heart as they thought about his voice, the idea of him uttering those words to them…

‘My dearest, Reader’