#hoosier smith imagine

[mads-nixon]

You Before Me

Bill 'Hoosier' Smith x Reader

Masterlist

A/N: hiiii! this is my first ever hoosier fic, so please let me know what y'all think!! i've recently become obsessed with jacob pitts lol! this is about the fictional portrayal of the H company boys. i have nothing but love and respect for veterans on this blog!

Summary: During the battle for the Peleliu Airfield, (y/n) and Bill are separated after both being injured by a mortar shell.

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: injuries, blood, straight angst with fluff

PELELIU AIRFIELD: SEPTEMBER, 1944

Ringing. 

It was all that filled (y/n)’s senses, drowning out the surrounding chaos. She could taste the acrid tang of smoke in the air, making her cough and struggle to catch her breath. Everything seemed hazy and distorted, the world spinning around her. Blinking, she tried to clear her vision and make sense of what was happening. Dust and dirt swirled in the air, making it hard to see beyond a few feet. She lay on her back, helmet long gone, trying to remember what had led to that moment.

They were taking the airfield.

Hoosier was with her and then–BILL!

“Bill,” she croaked weakly, blindly reaching out for him with a shaky hand, finding nothing but dirt and rocks. She rolled onto her side to look for him, but the movement caused white-hot pain to shoot through her body, sending sharp jolts of agony up her left leg. The pain was fierce, radiating from her ankle and calf. Every motion seemed to intensify the pain, making her grit her teeth as she sat up on her elbows, her eyes nervously drifting to her legs. (Y/n)’s eyes widened as she took in the damage. Her left calf was littered with shrapnel, and her ankle was turned at an unnatural angle, both oozing with blood.

She took a nervous gulp, throwing her head back against the rocks of the crater. 

This was not good.

Taking a shuttering breath, she called out again. “Bill, are you there?

Through the ringing, she heard a pained grunt from her left. She recognized the sound instantly, and her heart fell, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Bill!” she cried into the haze, panic gnawing at her as she searched frantically for him.  She prayed the smoke would clear and she’d see him looking back at her, unscathed with his signature lopsided smirk, but answers to prayers aren’t always what we’d like them to be. Through the smoke, she spotted his still form to her left, sprawled out on his stomach, his face etched in pain. Her heart lurched with both relief and fear. When she spotted the growing red stain on his lower thigh, the relief disappeared.

“No, no, no,” (y/n) whispered to herself before raising her voice. “Bill? Can you hear me?”

Summoning every ounce of strength, she rolled over and began to crawl to him, dragging her injured leg behind her. As she forced herself to crawl towards him, her breaths came out in ragged gasps, chest heaving with the effort to overcome the searing torment. The muscles in her leg protested every inch of progress, and she gritted her teeth, trying to muffle the pained sounds that left her lips. (Y/n)’s broken ankle got caught on a particularly sharp rock, and she whimpered involuntarily, a low, guttural sound escaped her as she clutched the rocky ground for support. 

Pushing through the pain, she extended a trembling hand, her fingers brushing against his uniform, feeling the warmth of his skin underneath. He’d managed to pull himself forward, flipping over and propping himself up against the rocky wall of the crater, pained grunts filling the air. His breaths were shallow and ragged, eyes barely open as he fought to stay conscious. 

When he managed to pry them open further, they were clouded with pain and drowsiness, wandering aimlessly for a moment before attempting to find (y/n)’s gaze. He saw her face above him, her lips moving rapidly, but he couldn’t quite understand what she was saying. 

“You’re okay, hon. You’re okay,” (y/n) whispered, painfully sitting up beside him and putting pressure on his wound. His slick blood coated her hands as she pushed with all her remaining strength. As Hoosier lazily looked up at her, his senses slowly came back to him.

“(Y/n),” he mumbled. “I dropped my weapon.”

“It’s a-alright, Bill,” she whimpered, the pain in her ankle and leg flaring, sending waves of dizziness and nausea through her. The pain seemed to meld with the fog of fatigue, weighing down her limbs and blurring her focus. (Y/n)’s eyelids became heavy, as if someone had placed weights on them. She blinked forcefully, attempting to stay alert.

“Shit,” she groaned, her eyes drooping as her strength dissipated, the pressure on his leg lessening. Just as she felt herself slipping away, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.

“Oh, Bill. (Y/n),” Bob called, and seconds later, he was by their side, his eyes taking in the carnage before him. He had arrived just in time to take over the task of applying pressure on Bill’s wound, giving (y/n) a much-needed break. She let out a shuddering breath, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her as she fell against the rocky wall of the crater beside Hoosier. 

“Corpsman!” Leckie screamed. “Corpsman!”

(Y/n) watched through a haze of drowsiness as Bill clenched his eyes and leaned his head back, breathing heavily. She shakily reached out for his hand, intertwining their fingers gently. His once strong hand now felt almost limp and lifeless in her grasp, and she squeezed it in an effort to keep him awake.

“We’re gon’ be alright, ” she strained.

Glancing at her leg, Bob’s eyes widened and he quickly moved one hand off Hoosier’s wound to get a better look at the damage, but she weakly pushed his hand away.

“No, Bob,” she rasped, her voice hoarse and filled with worry. “Bill…Please, help Bill first. He’s h-hurt worse than I am. I’ll be okay, just…take care of him.”

Bill flopped his head to the side to look at her with concern in his half-lidden eyes. “No,” he grunted. “(Y/n/n), no.”

Leckie shook his head, trying to help her again. “Your leg, (y/l/n)!” he exclaimed. “You’re gonna-”

“Bob,” she interrupted, her eyes lowering to Bill’s wound, tears in her eyes. “I know. Help Bill.”

With a frustrated growl, Leckie brought his hand back to Hoosier’s thigh. “Corpsman!” he yelled again. “Hey, everything’s gonna be fine, you two. It ain’t shit. Everything’s gonna be fine.”

Bill lifted his head for a moment, lazily licking his lips before peering down at (y/n), his gaze traveling down to her foot and its horrific position. “Darlin’,” he breathed. “Your foot.”

“I’m fine, Bill.”

Bob felt his heart tear seeing the usually spunky couple in such a pitiful state. “It ain’t shit,” he reassured. “You’re both gonna be fine.”

Hoosier’s eyes drifted closed, and (y/n) shared a panicked look with Bob. “Damn it! Corpsman! Stay awake! Both of you.”

She nodded feebly, her grip on Bill’s hand tightening as she fought to stay conscious. Pain and exhaustion weighed heavily on her, but she knew she had to be there for Bill. She struggled to keep her eyes open, blinking against the weariness that threatened to pull her into the darkness. After a minute that crawled by like hours, two corpsmen slid down into the hole. One of them quickly evaluated the situation and dropped down beside Bill, barking orders at Leckie as the other knelt beside (y/n), speaking gently. “Ma’am we’ve gotta get him stabilized. We’re gonna take him first, but we’ll be back for you, I promise.

(Y/n)’s chest tightened at the words, and she nodded weakly.

“Bill?” she heard Bob mutter from beside her. “Bill?”

Her unfocused gaze flew over to his face, watching as he lost his battle against unconsciousness, his eyes fluttering shut, whispering, “Sorry.” (Y/n) felt his grip go limp, and her eyes widened in fear and desperation. She released his hand and shook his shoulder, her voice trembling.

“Bill, no, please,” she pleaded, her words choked with emotion.

“Help me carry him back,” a corpsman stated, roughly looping his arms under Bill’s shoulders and lifting him with the help of the other corpsman. (Y/n)’s eyes never left them as they quickly carried him out of the crater. The second they left her view, she felt a sudden rush of adrenaline leaving her body. The pain from her injuries hit her anew, and every ache and throb seemed to intensify twofold. She groaned, closing her eyes tightly.

Bob turned and put pressure on (y/n)’s trembling thigh. He urged her to breathe, to focus on anything but the pain, but the agony was now all over her body.

“Focus on my voice, (y/n),” Bob implored, his voice shaking. “Hoos would kill me if I let anything happen to ya, so you’ve gotta stay awake for me, sweetheart.”

Spots danced in her vision and her eyelids drooped as she began to drift away into the darkness that was invading. “Stay with me, (y/n),” Bob replied, pushing more of his weight onto her leg. “They’re coming back! Stay awake!”

USS SAMARITAN (AH-10): SEPTEMBER, 1944

It had been a long few days since Bill had woken up groggy from the fog of his pain medications. The medical ship rocked subtly beneath him as he lay in his cot, an itchy blanket covering him. He was going out of his mind looking at nothing but the gray steel of the ship’s interior and hearing the moans and cries of his fellow Marines. 

Since the moment he’d woken up, he’d been asking about (y/n). He asked nurses, other wounded marines, and anyone he could get a hold of. After four days of this, anxiety settled into his stomach, and he decided to search for her himself. He scanned the room for nurses before swinging his legs over the side of the bed, wincing at how it pulled on his wound. The man in the bed beside him was dead asleep, so he snatched his crutches and used his left leg to push himself off the bed. Bill smirked as he slowly started toward the hallway, but his plan came to a screeching halt when he heard a voice behind him.

“Just where do you think you’re going, private?”

He sighed and turned around, coming face to face with one of his nurses, Evelyn, who wore a disapproving expression. 

“Just going to the bathroom,” he lied, nodding toward the door.

“Really?” Evelyn asked, amusement lacing her tone as she pointed to the opposite side of the room. “Because the bathroom’s that way.”

“Fine,” Bill grumbled under his breath. “You caught me. I need to find someone.”

“So what’s the lucky girl’s name?” she asked, helping Bill back into the bed.

“How’d you know I was lookin’ for a woman?” 

She smiled. “The look in your eyes.”

A fond smile formed on his lips as he replied. “Corporal (Y/n) (y/l/n). She’s my best friend.”

“Just a best friend?” Evelyn smirked, peering down at him with a skeptically raised eyebrow. “Sounds like she’s more than that to you, marine.”

“She is,” he chuckled. “I’m lucky to have her.”

After a moment, his expression fell and his eyes drifted to the stark white bandages on his leg. “We both got hit by the same mortar,” he said softly. “I don’t know what happened to her.”

Evelyn placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’ll see what I can find out for you.”

Looking up at her with glossy eyes, Hoosier cleared his throat. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Another day passed, and there was still no word on (y/n) or her condition, and Bill became even more desperate. Later in the day, he saw Evelyn in the corner of his eye and waved her over.

“Ma’am,” Bill called out to her, his voice tight with worry. “Have you found her yet?”

Evelyn smiled gently and shook her head. “Sorry, private. No luck yet,” she sighed. “But I’ll keep asking around.”

He hung his head with a sigh, closing his eyes as he sunk back down onto the bed, bringing up a hand to run it down his face.

“I do have some good news, though,” she announced, getting a wheelchair from the corner. “We’re going on a trip to the top deck, and I think it’ll help you feel better.”

Bill grunted, turning onto his side and facing away from her. “No thanks.”

“Come on, private. Trust me,” Evelyn encouraged, her voice persuasive. 

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and relented. With a little help, he eased into the wheelchair. As they made their way to the top deck, he couldn’t help but be disinterested, his thoughts consumed by worry for the woman he loved. Once they reached the top deck, Bill was lost in his thoughts, absentmindedly watching the unending sea before him. 

Evelyn pushed his wheelchair to a quiet spot, hoping the openness and fresh air would ease his worries. “It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” she asked, taking a deep breath.

Bill gave a faint nod but remained lost in his thoughts. As the sun caressed the deck with its warm embrace, he basked in its gentle rays, closing his eyes to fully immerse himself in the comforting warmth. The distant sounds of the ship and the gentle lull of the waves created a calming aura around him, temporarily easing the weight of the world from his shoulders. He thought of the last time he’d felt so relaxed: It had been beside (y/n) as they laid out on the beach in Melbourne, not a care in the world.

The distinct sound of a wheelchair being pushed beside him broke Bill from his memory, and a flicker of annoyance tinged his moment of peace. He wondered who was being wheeled so close. When he opened his eyes, however, annoyance quickly turned to a surge of relief and elation. There, right beside him, was (y/n) in a wheelchair, her head tilted toward him in a peaceful slumber. The second he saw her sleeping form, it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, the knot in his chest finally loosening. The anxiety and fears that had plagued him for days now seemed to disappear. 

He found himself captivated by the soft curve of her lips and the way they seemed to hold a hint of a smile even in her dreams. They were lips he’d kissed a thousand times, each one bringing back a fond memory. Bill reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with his eyes. His heart swelled as he admired her every feature, from the sweep of her lashes to the graceful arc of her eyebrows. Hoosier couldn’t help but glance down at her foot, finding it wrapped in a large cast that reached from her toes to her knee. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched her, completely overwhelmed with emotion.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” he smiled, his hand tenderly cupping her jaw as his thumb gently rubbed against her cheek.

(Y/n)’s unconscious mind seemed to recognize the touch, and she leaned into his hand, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “Five more minutes,” she murmured sleepily. “I’m having a good dream.”

Bill chuckled softly, his gaze soft as he admired her peaceful form. “Well, darlin’, what dream could possibly be better than me?”

As if in response, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light as her eyes met his ocean-blue eyes. “Am I still dreaming?” she asked softly, a sparkle of hope lighting up her eyes. 

Hoosier shook his head, his voice filled with reassurance. “No, (y/n/n), you’re not dreamin’. 

“Are you sure?”

“I know how I can prove it to ya,” he grinned.

He leaned over and gently placed a kiss on her lips as undeniable proof that he was truly before her. His hand remained tenderly on her jaw, his touch grounding her spinning mind. As he pulled away, they rested their foreheads against each other. A radiant smile graced her lips as she fully registered her presence, his loving gaze warming her heart. “Bill,” she whispered, feeling his warm breath on her face.

He grinned back at her, his eyes reflecting the same joy and relief she felt in that moment. “Hey there, beautiful. “How’s my favorite girl doin’?

“Better now that you’re here,” she replied, her eyes shining.

Bill pulled back slightly, intertwining their hands before he looked down at her foot, concern etched on his features. “How’s your leg feeling?”

“I should be asking you that,” she scoffed, shaking her head at his tough-guy attitude.

He rolled his eyes, a playful smirk gracing his lips. “Answer the question, woman.”

“It aches. My ankle was broken in three places, so I’ll be in this cast for a while and then crutches for months after that. How are you? You scared me to death, Bill.”

“I’m fine,” he insisted nonchalantly with a shrug.

(Y/n) pointed to his bandaged thigh, a teasing glint in her eyes. “I have eyes, ya know.”

“Piece of shrapnel nicked my fe-female-femorum…whatever that artery is,” Bill remarked, struggling to find the right words.

Breaking out into a laugh, she squeezed his hand. “It’s femoral, hon. You were so close.”

“Whatever it is,” he chuckled. “It wasn’t shit. Just like Leckie said.”

Her smile faltered slightly, and she turned her gaze from his face to the vast ocean before them. “So you remember what happened?”

Bill followed her gaze. “Some of it,” he admitted, his voice dropping. “I remember you tellin’ Bob to help me instead of you…I can’t believe you did that.”

“I’ll always put you before me. Always,” she affirmed, their eyes meeting in a solemn gaze. 

“I feel the same,” he whispered. “But please don’t do that again. For my sanity.”

Hearing sniffles behind them, they craned their heads back, following the sound. Behind them stood Evelyn and (y/n)’s nurse, Jackie, with tears glistening in their eyes.

“Y’all are just too precious,” Evelyn exclaimed, her voice laced with elation as she wiped a tear off her cheek.

(Y/n) glanced at Bill, trying to hold back a laugh at his surprised expression. “You won’t be saying that when he starts to get all grouchy,” she joked, earning a playful scoff from him. “But really, thank you both so much. We really mean it.”

Jackie beamed. “Of course. We’re glad to have helped you two find each other again. Y’all will have a great story to tell your kids someday.”

Bill, though not one to easily show his emotions, found himself touched by their kindness. He cleared his throat, his gratitude evident in his eyes. “Thanks,” he mumbled, a hint of newfound shyness coloring his words. 

“We’ll leave you to it,” Evelyn smiled as she and Jackie walked away to help another patient.

The couple turned back to the front with their hands still intertwined, and neither of them spoke for a moment as they stared out at the vast sea. The soothing sounds of the waves lapping against the ship’s hull filled the air.

“This kind of reminds me of that day at the beach,” she mused, looking over at him with a sly grin.

“Oh absolutely,” he retorted, his signature sarcasm making an appearance. “Except for the part where we’re fully clothed, surrounded by stinking marines, and half blown to hell. So, you know, I’d say it’s just like that day.”

(Y/n) rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand, bringing it to her lips. “Damn, I love you,” she drawled.

“Good, ‘cause you ain’t ever getting rid of me, darlin’.”

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[imaginesbymk]

IMAGINE — YOUR BOYFRIEND HOOSIER BEING SENT OFF TO PELELIU, AND HE GIVES YOU THE DOG HE SAVED FROM GUADALCANAL TO TAKE CARE OF.

NON REQUESTED

HOOSIER’S LAST DAY on Pavuvu base was unbearably painful. You stood there at the docks waving farewell to the ship as it is heading off at sea to everyone’s unknown fate. You were already familiar with war. Some of the men you interacted with never came back to base, and you knew why - because of that, the thought of losing Hoosier made you sick.

You kissed him goodbye before he stepped foot on the ship. As you left him a heartwarming kiss, he leaves you something behind in return. You bent down and petted the stray dog as it panted from the heat. Hoosier up on topside smiled down at you, remembering his promise.

“Take care of ‘em for me and I’ll come home for you.”

[antigonenikk]

biblically accurate pacific (2010) characters

[eugenesmorphine]

Could you use prompt 52. “Don’t look at me like that.” And a foxhole kiss for Bill Hoosier Smith of the Pacific?

Sky Full Of Stars // Bill "Hoosier" Smith Imagine

AN: Long time since writing. I have definitely missed it. I might be a bit rusty but I hope ya'll enjoy. And I used to have a taglist, but I honestly lost track. So just comment if I should make a post for people to comment on, making a new taglist!

Word Count: 1,711

Y/N sat in the foxhole, staring up at the stars that remained in the sky above. Her mind was mostly blank at that moment. It was a rough day for all of the Marines. A lot of loss, a lot of hunger, and a lot of lost morale. It was war after all. But, Y/N couldn’t help but just stare at the sky and think of nothing. She would rather think of nothing than think about how much she was truly hating life at this moment. Hating how hungry she was. Hating how tired she was. Hating how sweaty, unclean, and hating the stretch that her nearly rotten uniform stunk of after days to months of wearing it with no opportunity to shower. So nothing was peaceful at the moment. The silence, well more like the absent sound of gunfire, bombs, or screaming, was peaceful.

The thought of nothing was quickly interrupted but a thud of boots hitting the dirt of the female’s foxhole. Blinking, snapping out of her quiet glance, her head snapped over to the sound of the thud. Quickly reaching and grabbing her rifle just out of spite.

“Hey! Easy now, L/N. It’s just me,” rang the voice. Once Y/N heard the voice, and her eyes adjusted to the Marine’s face whilst in the dark, the female Marine relaxed. It was just Mr. Bill Hoosier Smith, a close friend of hers within the company. The breath she held was now exhaled as she slowly released her tightened grip on her firearm. “See, that’s more like it,” the male spoke as he gently sat down across from her. Letting out a heavy sigh as his knees popped whilst he sat. Y/N just sat quietly in response, kind of just staring at Bill.

Bill eyed her closely. Well as well as he could in the near pitch black night. Y/N’s silence was something new that came over the female Marine. A once bubbly woman, who always had quick responses for every snarky remark, question, or sarcastic statement ever said to her. Always willing to share a cigarette with her group of friends and always willing to speak up or talk into late hours of the night. Now it was quiet, and closed off. He didn’t blame her, but was still a little surprised at the sudden change in character. Of course he, and a few others had questioned Y/N before. But was met with it being shrugged off her shoulders and no true answers. But Bill, being the man he was, wasn’t taking no for an answer this time. 

“Alright, I’m sick of this,” Bill started, after about five minutes of complete silence. While he was waiting for his female counterpart to say something. Anything at all. But nothing to his wishes. Y/N just looked at him, her face not changing at all. A blank, closed off stare. It was like Bill was looking at a stranger. 

“Sick of what?” She debuted. Not a change in face still. No raising eyebrows. Not even a hint of attitude. Just a straight, monotone voice. That grinded Bill’s gears. Her eyebrows knitted together. He wasn’t mad at her. Not at all. He could think of a billion reasons of why she was starting to act the way she was. For christ sakes they were in the middle of World War II! But that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried. And Bill Hoosier never showed himself worrying. 

“Seriously? Y/N, you have single handedly sectioned yourself away from our friends and I. And you haven’t even noticed. Or maybe you have,” Bill paused in his words. Hoping Y/N would say something. But she didn’t. Her eyes shifted. They became glossy for a moment he swore he saw. But she quickly blinked and turned her head away for a moment before turning her head back over to Hoosier. This time her eyes showed more frustration, more emotion. But yet, nothing left her mouth. No explanation, not even any questions. And that grinded Bill’s gears even more. “Don’t look at me like that!” he whisper-shouted. Careful not to alert any other Marines resting in other foxholes. 

Y/N’s eyes now definitely softened to the tone change. Her eyes become glossy once more. Now Bill was now frustrated, and highly confused. And that’s when Y/N’s eyes began to pour out tears. And a few stifled sobs left her lips.

To be truthful, Y/N had been slowly pulling herself away from everyone. Partially she herself noticed her actions, though partially she didn’t. More so, didn’t recognize how hard she actually was doing it. And now, all her emotions were coming up to the surface. Everything she had tried so hard to push down and away, was spilling over like a boiling pot. 

“I'm sorry,” was all that spilled out of her lips. Bill sat shocked as he watched the female’s tears quietly slide down her mud caked cheeks. Getting onto his knees and shuffling to her side of the foxhole, he placed a caring and comforting hand to her shoulder. Y/N leaned into his touch. “I just-” she started and then she stopped. Trying to contain her heavy emotions and get her thoughts in order before she tried to speak.

In her world, in her mind, she believed if she had closed herself off from anyone, it would protect her own well being. Y/N had seen so much loss in her service on the Japanese islands, so many men dying in such horrific ways. Watching friends be shot, blown up, or both. Seeing so much death, destruction, and sadness. She couldn't bear the sight, or even the idea, of her closest friends falling victim to this war. Especially Bill Hoosier Smith. Who she thought more than just a close friend, a fondness of feelings had grown whilst their time spent together. Foxholes shared, ducking for cover with each other, and one night in Australia that the pair shared that stayed between them and only them. Never to be spoken about, but the thought remained in both their minds ever since. But, Y/N thought that if she just separated herself from the group, especially from Bill; that if anything was to happen to any one of them, it wouldn’t cloud her mind. That it wouldn’t take over her wellbeing so bad that she couldn’t bear to see the end of war. That plan seemed great in the beginning. Until she realized that the isolation made her feel a billion times worse. It made her feel alone and scared. But she thought she was already far too far into her plan already to back out of it now.

“Look, you know I’m not one for all that emotional shit,” Bill paused. Turning his head to the side momentarily to try to process his words properly. Not only was he not good with anything with emotions; he also wasn’t the best with women either. “Just talk to me about it, or don’t- well do whatever you want to do. But stop kicking us, especially me, to the side. We miss you damn it,” Bill took another pause. Y/N finally looked up at him, stifling her quiet cries for just a moment. Taking a deep breath and locking eyes with the female Marine. “I fucking miss you, god damn it.”

It didn’t take Y/N a second thought before she grasped the sides of her dear friend’s face and planted her lips onto his. Bill’s eyes widened, but he quickly grabbed the side of her face as well. Gently squeezing it, as her messy hair stuck between his hands. 

Pulling away quickly Y/N looked at him, a few more tears rolling down her face. “I haven’t stopped missing you since that night we were in Australia,” she finally spilled. Her breathing became a bit more labored, and Bill just sat there staring at her. Still in a slight feeling of shock. “We brushed it off like it was nothing! And ever since then, and ever since things really started getting bad here. With all this death and dying happening all around us,” Y/N stopped to take a breath. Wiping a few stray tears that leaked from her eyes. “The thought of you had been clouding my judgment, making me make mistakes on the field. Which isn’t your fault, but I thought if I had just distanced myself and not thought of anything to do with you; my mind would clear up,” Glancing down at her hands and sucking in her bottom lip. “But it didn’t. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how much I missed you. And it was distracting me even more,” Placing her face in her hands and shaking her head. “God this is so embarrassing,” she muttered through her hands.

Bill was now a little shocked by the confession. Of course, he felt the same way. He was just some idiot Marine that didn’t know how to express his feelings in the slightest way. He thought if he just didn’t talk about it, the nagging thought would just go away. But clearly, that didn’t work for either of them. So now here they were, both sitting in silence. Bill just sat trying to figure out what he should say next.

“If it makes you feel any better,” Bill started, Y/N peaked up through her hands. Scratching the back of his head for a moment, with a soft sigh. “All I’ve thought about for the past few months has been how bad I wished we were back in Australia,” taking another deep breath. Pausing just for a second longer. “And I wished it was just you and me back home in Indiana. Out of all this mess,” he stated. Scooting himself to sit besides her. Resting his elbows on his knees and staring up at the black sky full of stars.

Y/N sat up and rested her head on his shoulder. “We can do that. After all this,” she whispered. Now also looking up at the stars. Bill looked back down at the woman and a small smile formed on his lips. 

“Alright then, Corporal L/N. You got yourself a deal.”

[she-wolf09231982]

One Shots 1️⃣🔫 Headcanons👤💣

Imagines🔮

~~~~~~~

BoB🔮

Eugene Roe1️⃣🔫

Joe Liebgott1️⃣🔫

Joe Toye1️⃣🔫

George Luz👤💣

Bill Hoosier Smith1️⃣🔫

Tim Gutterson1️⃣🔫

[turn0nthemoon]

Thanks for the lemonade

Note: I used the idea of meeting Hoosier and Chuckler for the first time as a basis for easing myself into fanfiction writing. It’s meant as an exercise so it’s pretty tame, but read along if you like. :)

Wordcount: 1262

Warning: smoking??

Pairing: Hoosier x Reader

Summary: You’re pouring lemonade at the nurses stand when two marines take your mind off of gloomy thinking with some cheerful chatting.

.

.

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The sun was burning your cheeks as you poured cups of fresh lemonade for the row of tired marines lining up at the nurses’ stand. Some were watching you with expressions of confusion, some disbelief, some amusement and some were looking right through you, making you feel as hollow as the gaze with which they beheld you.

You poured as much care and gentleness as possible into every cup while you passed them into dirty hands. Every once in a while you heard croaky voices mutter “thanks or “ma’am” in your general direction, but most marines took the cups silently. You had seen and heard the horrible aftermath of battle in your time as a military nurse, but this was your first time looking into the faces of those still stuck in the nightmare from which some never wake. Feet dragging with the heaviness of knowing that each step taken is a step closer to their doom.

You thought of all the wounds of war you had healed and how only few of them would be as crippling as the one these men already carried. A wound that in the hospitals had been masked to you by the relief of escape.

“Too lovely a day to be frownin’ on isn’t it ma’am?”

The words interrupting your heavy thoughts were spoken by a tall dark-haired man that had just taken a cup of lemonade from your hand. He looked rather too battered to be speaking of lovely days you thought, but the friendly smile that shone on his grimy face suspended your disbelief for a moment.

“oh, I don’t know” you blinked at him, not wanting to disagree and started to pour another cup.

“Not exactly a sight for sore eyes eh?” – a slightly shorter man next to first one joked as you passed him some lemonade. You let an unsure smile graze your face as you studied them both for a hint of whether the comment was an invite for pity or for fun. Despite the appearance of it, you guessed that the second man to speak had fair hair underneath all that dust and muck.

He saw you hesitate and continued to speak;

“I clean up nice believe it or not, but unfortunately for my friend here he always looks sick as a dawg” he said and slapped the tall guy on the shoulder. That got a laugh out of you and you watched the taller guy scoff and roll his eyes, looking amused.

“Lotta ladies beg to differ” he replied smugly; “Ain’t that right Hoosier?”

“Ain’t right at all” the shorter guy retorted and caught your eye as you laughed at their banter.

Your laugh was about the sweetest thing the men had heard in a long time. Especially the one called Hoosier thought so and it made him straighten up a bit. In fact your laugh was just as sweet as you looked - cheeks red from the sun and loose strands of hair tucked behind your ears… Hoosier kept his appreciation to himself and hoped that you might extend the interaction with an answer. You noticed the anticipation.

“Well…” you smiled, deciding to join in on his joke, “the lemonade was supposed to liven you up a bit, but if your friend’s looking no better by tomorrow I’ll get you your money back.” Hoosier let out a chuckle at your reply. Not a full toothy grin but an upwards tug of the corner of his lips that despite its modesty reached his eyes. Bright eyes that bored into yours with what you thought was approval and suddenly hoped was a little more than that.

“Oi!” The taller man exclaimed with a grin as you shifted your eyes to him, “the friend has a name! I’m Chuckler” he said and stretched out a dirty hand towards you, taking no notice of your joke being on his expense.

“Chuckler?” You asked and shook his hand when an officer yelled in your direction.

“You two! Quit bothering the nurse! You’re holding up the line!” Chuckler let go of your hand and eyed the officer with blatant annoyance.

“Are we bothering you Ma’m?” he asked politely.

“Not at all…” You smiled at them. “But I don’t know if the same can be said for him” you looked discretely in the direction of the officer that had yelled, and was now staring intensely at the marines in front of you.

“Guess we better get movin… Thanks for the lemonade” Hoosier said and they both quickly emptied the small cups and put them down. Chuckler started moving away to neutralise the dissatisfaction of the glaring officer. Hoosier made to follow but then leaned back and offered you a handshake.

“‘Don’t believe I gotcher name, miss?” He said. The hand open in front of you was as dirty as the one his friend had offered, with scraped knuckles and dust that had settled in to darken every fine line. You were happy to take it.

“Y/L/N” you told him. You felt a tingle up your spine as his fingers closed around your small soft hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Y/N Y/L/N” you elaborated. His head was angled so his brow shielded his eyes from the sharp sun but you thought they glimmered still.

“Pleasure to meet ya, miss Y/L/N” he said “I’m-”

“Hoosier?” You interrupted and he nodded with an amused expression. You felt the name bear a weight on your tongue as if you had spoken a big important word whose meaning you had yet to discover.

“That’s right” he said still holding your hand. He let go with a slight jolt when Chuckler grabbed onto his shoulders with a tug.

“Officer’s getting real red in the face over there buddy” he said and Hoosier looked over nonchalantly. The officers jaw was tightly clenched, apparently debating what effect repeating himself would have.

“Looks like yer right” Hoosier commented and turned back to you.

“‘Scuse us Ma’am” he said and they left you to your task. You absentmindedly continued the repetitive motion of pouring and handing over cups of lemonade as you followed the two marines with your eyes.

In the tired oncoming of battle-worn men, it lifted your spirit to see good humor among some of them. Chuckler and Hoosier had made their way to a small group of marines who you guessed might be part of their company. Some of them were laughing and a few of them looking extremely tired, but all content in each others presence as they awaited orders on where to move.

Although he had his back turned you could see Hoosier pull a cigarette from his pocket and swiftly pull out a lighter after it. He let the cigarette hang loose from this lips as he lighted it with ease. You thought he moved with a sort of careless elegance, that despite the pitiful state of his uniform and dirty skin made him look quite charming. Then he flicked the lighter closed and as he placed it back in his pocket he swung his head around and looked at you. Lightening went through you as his blue eyes met yours – caught already staring. You thought you saw the hint of a smirk on his lips before you turned your eyes down. You could feel your cheeks flush from something other than the sun.

Though intently focusing on keeping your eyes on what your hands were doing, you eventually gave in to the temptation to steal another glance at Hoosier, but when you looked up, him and his companions had gone.

[inglourious-imagines]

The Pacific Masterlist

Robert Leckie:

War Poet

Crackers & Jam

Eugene Sledge:

Home, Sweet Home

Saved

Sidney Phillips:

Ireland Whiskey

Movie's Magic

Bill "Hoosier" Smith:

Shirt Incident

Tattoos

Charlie

Secretly in Love

Stubborn Lovers: Part One, Part Two (completed)

Glances

Heat & Shirts

Mysterious

Stay with Me

Andrew "Ack Ack" Haldane:

Foxhole Love

Missing Piece

Spy Soldier

Edward "Hillbilly" Jones:

Let Me Love You

By Your Side

October 10, 1944

Lew "Chuckler" Juergens:

Love Me Tender

Wilbur "Runner" Conley:

Confessed

[crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington]

hi, i really love your art!! (it's so cute and is singlehandedly feeding my RE obsession fr, thank you so much ^_^) do u have any playlists or songs that remind u of the games/characters?

OH YEAH BABEY I WAS WAITING FOR THIS!

ethan:

when i was done dying - dan deacon

evil - interpol

SAD- lemon demon

hermit the frog- marina and the diamonds

watching him fade away - mac demarco

the outsider- marina and the diamonds

chateu (feel alright) - djo

passing out pieces- mac demarco

dead or alive- oingo boingo *

poor grammar- roar *

chris:

gotta be a reason - alec benjamin

heaven knows im miserable now- the smiths

lonely zone- vansire

karl:

power freaks- jean dawson

community gardens- the scary jokes

kiss me son of god - they might be giants

eveline:

maybe- flower face

the tv made him do it- moon walker *

mia:

rules- the hoosiers

our word -36 questions

youth- daughter *

miss dimitrescu:

when a woman is around- unloved

mithan:

the truth -36 questions

MIA- chakra efendi

birds dont sing - TV girl

yr the best - carpet garden

care- TEMPOREX

no children - the mountain goats

lost kitten- metric *

rosemary: *

wild sage (cover) - claypup (the mountain goats)

wintersberg: *

evil side- the dirty nil

me and mr wolf- the real tuesday weld

( if i update i will reblog :3)

(* means recently added)

updated:

1/28/23: added a song to ethan, mia, eveline, mithan added rosemary and wintersberg section

(btw these arent songs that i think they would listen to, these r songs i could explain why every single line of lyrics relates to the charcter and how i can imagin a entire animation to it)

[fellow-fandom-fruitifier]

(Red songs are ones I feel fit the best, some song are more vibes than anything.)

So I went through every single song I’ve ever downloaded (It’s A LOT, like, it’s a playlist over 30 hours long.) and grabbed all the ones I maladaptive daydream Wukong and/or Macaque to. So, without further ado, I present:

💞✨An Overly Long Wukong/Macaque “Playlist”✨💞

People Eater and Misery Meat by Sodikken

Sober by FIDLAR (makes me think of a v angsty shadowpeach fic from SWK’s POV)

Rät by Penelope Scott

Scrawny by Wallows

Nowhere To Run by Stegosaurus Rex

I’m Gonna Win by Rob Cantor

Poor George by James Supercave

Candle Queen by GHOST

Copycat by VocaCircus

Bury A Friend by Billie Eilish

Can’t Be Erased by Coda

Ghosts by Jacob Tillberg

Maniac by Conan Gray

Snowcone by Rei Ami

OH NO! and Are You Satisfied by Marina & The Diamonds

Good Enough by Atsuover

Two Birds by Regina Spektor

Bird Song by Florence + The Machine

Suki Suki Daisuki by Jun Togawa

Saint Bernard by Lincoln

I Can’t Decide by Scissor Sisters

Ghosting, Wrecking Ball, Hayloft (+ Hayloft II), Arms Tonite (YES IK WHAT ITS ACTUALLY ABT SHUP UP😭), and Problems by Mother Mother

Everybody Loves Me by OneRepublic

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

Violent by Carolesdaughter

Troublemaker by Olly Murs

Sweet Tooth and Devil Town by Cavetown

Bust Your Kneecaps by Pomplamoose

Cupid’s Chokehold by Gym Class Heroes

Cloud 9 by Beach Bunny

I Can’t Fix You by The Living Tombstone

Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

Applause by Lady Gaga

She Wants Me Dead by Cazette

Backstabber by Kesha

Hell’s Comin’ With Me by Poor Mans Poison

Paparazzi Murder Party by Vain

‘Cause I’m A Liar by Mcki Robyns-P

Choke by IDKHBTFM

Everything Stays by Adventure Time

I / Me / Myself by Will Wood (Idk y, it just feels so wholesome shadowpeach-y 2 me)

Worst Case Scenario and Goodbye MR A by The Hoosiers

Anything You Want by JAWNY

Stalkers Tango by Autoheart (listen… listen man… just think abt it)

Bad Day by Darwin Deez

Fuck You by Lily Allen (bitter exes💀)

True Love FT. Lily Allen by P!nk

Feels by Calvin Harris

Change The Formality by Infected Mushroom

I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams by Weezer

Villain by Stella Jang

Washing Machine Heart by Mitski

Ghost Busters (bcz I think it’s fun E, just imagine SWK & others like ‘who ya gonna call’ & 6EM is the ghost)

Pride X New Magic (I MEAN C’MON “Loves gonna get you killed, but prides gonna be the death of you.” IDBSIXGSINSEIH, the edit audio ever)

Sucker By Jonas Brothers

Bloody Nose and Kitchen Fork by Jack Conte (this song has the vibes that just scream the past tragedy part of their relationship 2 me, idk how 2 explain it)

Passing Through by Kaden MacKay

Karma by AJR

One Way Or Another by Blondie

These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra

Bad Idea! by Girl In Red

Brutal by Olivia Rodrigo

Them Changes by Thundercat (same reason as the Jack Conte songs tbh, but it’s more the present tragedy part)

C’est toi qu’elle préfère by Alice et Moi

Break My Heart by Dua Lipa

Jesus On The Telephone by Machinery Of The Human Heart

Too Close and Michelle by Sir Chloe

Another Believer by Rufus Wainwright

Dancin Closer To The Edge by JOHNNH GOTH

Julie VS. Robot Julie by Arthur

She Wolf by Shakira

I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire by The Ink Spots

Plug Me In by Lil Soda Boi

Run, Rabbit, Run! by Flanagan & Allen

Youth by Daughter

Stay Calm by BonBun Films

Exorcism FT. Cyber Diva by Creep-P

Step On Me by The Cardigans

Girl Anachronism by The Dresden Dolls

I’m Not The Only One by Sam Smith (it’s prolly just me tbh)

Shit by Bo Burnham

NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER by Odetari (THE VIBES N SHIT, THE GIRLS R FIGHTIIIING)

[ktredshoes]

Share a favorite line that you've read / written that impacted you

Thank you very much for the tag, @gorgeousundertow! The "read" was easier, because I've read it aloud to at least half a dozen people. The "written," curiously enough, involves a similar theme -- how about that?

Under the cut, because they're both longer than a single line.

Read

It was a darkness without time. It was an impenetrable darkness. To the right and the left of me rose up those terrible formless things of my imagination, which I could not see because there was no light. I could not see, but I dared not close my eyes lest the darkness crawl beneath my eyelids and suffocate me. I could only hear. My ears became my being and I could hear the specks of life that crawled beneath my clothing, the rotting of the great tree which rose from its three-cornered trunk above me. I could hear the darkness gathering against me and the silences that lay between the moving things.

I could hear the enemy everywhere about me, whispering to each other and calling my name. I lay open-mouthed and half-mad beneath that giant tree. I had not looked into its foliage before the darkness and now I fancied it infested with Japanese. Everything and all the world became my enemy, and soon my very body betrayed me and became my foe. My leg became a creeping Japanese, and then the other leg. My arms, too, and then my head.

My heart was alone. It was me. I was my heart.

It lay quivering, I lay quivering, in that rotten hole while the darkness gathered and all creation conspired for my heart.

How long? I lay for an eternity. There was no time. Time had disintegrated in that black void. There was only emptiness, and that is Something; there was only being; there was only consciousness.

Like the light that comes up suddenly in a darkened theatre, daylight came quickly. Dawn came, and so myself came back to myself. I could see the pale outlines of my comrades to right and left, and I marveled to see how tame my tree could be, how unforbidding could be its branches.

I know now why men light fires.

― Robert Leckie, Helmet for My Pillow

Wrote

The ride home is a welcome respite from the pell-mell dash to find his brother. The rushing sounds of the breeze in Bill’s ears are punctuated by Eddie’s occasional sniffle, and Night’s humming, still on key. Bill finds himself humming counterpoint. She smiles at him as she floats along his side, and he senses her pleasure in the harmony. He’s not sure if Eddie can see her or not; he’ll ask later.

In his head, he hears her ask: How do you feel?

He answers her in kind: Relieved.

Do you understand now?

He looks at her quizzically. Realization dawns gradually as he thinks about everything that’s happened in the few hours since leaving his mother to look for Eddie. It’s not exactly what I was thinking when I read that book, he replies.

Her laughter rings in his ears. No, youngster, heroism rarely is.

I’m not a hero. I don’t feel like a hero.

I wouldn’t expect that you would. Her response feels like a kindly pat on his shoulder. Let me ask you, though: how will Eddie remember this?

He looks up at the sky, as he pedals, sees the stars winking against the darkness. Okay.

This is the fearlessness that made me choose you, dear heart.

He looks at her sharply but sees nothing in her fond smile but sincerity. It’s the first time she’s called him something other than “youngster.” What are you talking about?

You didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Why would I? He’s my brother.

She laughs like bells. You’d be surprised, sweet boy.

Bill thinks about the conversation the rest of the way home. Night continues humming.

from Precious Broken Things, a Hoosier Smith WIP that I plan to finish someday

No-pressure tagging @shoshiwrites, @mercurygray and @reallylilyreally and anyone else who'd like to join in.

[mads-weasley]

tag game!

thanks @georgieluz for the tag!

last song: a little bit longer by the jonas brothers (they're my fav)

favourite colour: i loooove sage green!

currently watching: justified (fx) - I started watching it after getting Jacob Pitts brainrot, and now I'm hooked!!

last movie: redeeming love

sweet/spicy/savoury: I'm typing savory as I am in the middle of eating a mint chocolate chip milkshake :)

current obsession: the pacific/hoosier smith/jacob pitts

relationship status: single and healing!

last thing you googled: "No Child Left Behind Act 2001" for a research paper that is related to my major! (history education)

tags (no pressure of course!): @softguarnere @hxad-ovxr-hxart @inglourious-imagines

[mads-nixon]

Hoosier Dating an Extrovert Headcannons

Bill "Hoosier" Smith x Extrovert!Reader

Masterlist

A/N: I'm currently obsessed with Jacob Pitts...so you're welcome :) this is about the fictional portrayal of H company boys on the show. nothing but love and respect for veterans on this blog!

You and Bill get along from the beginning, and y'all are the epitome of the grump x sunshine trope!!

Sarcasm and your endless optimism go perfectly together, even if no one fully comprehends it.

Where Bill sits and observes most of the time, you never seem to tire from the excitement, telling him about every second of your day with a bright smile on your face.

He won't admit it, but he finds it incredibly adorable.

When things slow down at night and you're sitting in your foxhole, you two often find yourselves talking about everything from back home to the future.

In the quiet when it's just the two of you, Bill seems to stray away from his usual snarky and blunt attitude for one that's much softer. If Leckie or Runner ever got wind of it, he knows he'll never hear the end of it.

You slowly pick up on some of his traits, your own sarcastic and witty side becoming more prominent. Of course, Bill notices and he feels a sense of pride knowing that he's influenced you...and he teases you relentlessly.

"Now, who'd you get that fine sense of humor from?" he asks you, a smirk adorning his lips.

You just roll your eyes. "Definitely not you, honey. You're not as funny as you think."

The teasing NEVER ends, and the H company guys all love the two of you, so they go along with it.

When the terrible shelling on Guadalcanal started, you happened to be on your way back from the bathroom, so you sprinted towards the first hole you saw.

The men inside were calling for you, and right as you were about to slide in, it was hit with a shell, throwing you onto your back. Seeing the horrific remains of the men inside tore at your insides, and you froze. A second later, you snapped out of it and ran to the next hole over, which happened to be your hole with the boys.

You slide into the hole, and someone grabs you and holds you to their chest. It doesn't take long for you to realize it's Bill. He's got you in one arm and a whimpering dog in the other.

He was going insane not knowing where you were, and having you in his arms calms his nerves slightly despite the bombardment happening around you.

The next morning, he holds your shaking form (wrapped in his *signature* blanket) tightly as you sit outside your hole, staring numbly at the ground ahead of you. From then on, you seem to be more reserved...more quiet, and it worries him and the guys to death.

Whenever things got rough, they (especially bill) always knew you to be the one happy thing in their life (not that you didn't make them happy still ofc, but seeing you so shaken hurt them).

He does anything and everything to make you smile, laugh, and seem like your old self again. You never tell him exactly what happened, but it doesn't take much for him to imagine something along those lines.

You know those little habits that you picked up from Bill? Well, he picked some up from you, too, and he finds himself having a more energetic and extroverted attitude while he's trying to be there for you, cheering you up to the best of his ability.

Slowly, with Bill and the other guy's help, things get better, and you become more like yourself again. Although he's overjoyed that you're back to your bubbly and extroverted self, he's soooo relieved that he doesn't have to pick up the slack on that front...because it is exhausting for him to act like that. He'll leave that to you!

Tag List: @footprintsinthesxnd

[ask-you-what-sir]

wanna dance? ~ bill 'hoosier' smith (the pacific)

my masterlist  |  my hbo war masterlist

pairing: bill 'hoosier' smith x female reader

short summary: him and her have been best friends for a couple years before the war, and they keep in touch even when he's away - only to realise with time that they're in love, but for varying reasons neither confesses.

words: 4.4K

a/n: this is written for the hbo war secret santa 2021 event !

dear @itsametaphorgwil , this is me, your secret santa! happy holidays to you, lovely one! have an awesome day and an even better christmas and new year's eve! i wish you all the best xx hope you'll like this lil present i made for you ♡

also huge thanks and love to @hbowardaily for organising this!! ✨

(y/n/n) means: your nickname

"Dear Bill,

Yesterday I met the old Mrs Thomas in the store and she asked about you – do you remember her? She was the one lady I accidentally bumped into at the Town Hall last Christmas when you chased me down the corridor, the one whose drink I spilled on both our dresses.

Lord, what an embarrassing moment. Anyway, she doesn't seem to remember – or if she does, she didn't bring it up, thankfully.

I wish we were still living in last year, or preferably the year before that. Then you would still be here, with all your stupid and slightly irritating jokes. Now every day feels the same – I wake up, I help Ma with the housework, then go to the store for my shift, leave in the late afternoon, check if there's a letter from you, another round of chores and finally going to sleep. All the while worrying about you.

And you know what's real frustrating? You're overseas, fighting for our country, risking your life, whilst I'm here, at home, doing the same things I've done before the war – except of course not meeting you every other day. I feel useless.

Enough of my complaining, tell me how you're doing. I hope it's not as bad as I imagine it to be. Please take care of yourself.

Yours sincerely,

your best friend (y/n)"

- - - - 3 years earlier - - - -

"Are you ready?" Dorothy calls out from the bedroom.

"One moment!" (y/n) answers equally loud from the bathroom, pulling the hairbrush through her hair one last time, glancing in the mirror to make sure everything's as perfect as it could be and moves back to her room with an excited bounce in her steps.

After promising her mother that she's going to be back by curfew, the two girls leave the house, practically rushing to the dance – this is the first time their parents let them go to an event like this and they feel like bursting with excitement.

Though after about half an hour, (y/n) has to admit that it's not like she hoped it would be. Dorothy has been asked to dance in the first twenty minutes, and has disappeared from her sight completely. Now she's standing by the wall all alone, watching all the couples dance. It's definitely not as enjoyable as she predicted.

But then a boy slumps down on a chair a few steps from her, a loud huff leaving his lips and it piques her interest so she turns her attention to him instead of the dancers. She's seen him around town before – which isn't surprising at all, Loogootee has never been a town big enough for the people living there to not know everyone else at least by sight –, and she knows that he lives two streets down from her, and goes to the same high school, only a year above her.

She can't help but wonder what got him looking so moody on a night that's supposed to be all fun.

About a minute later his head snaps towards her and swiftly she turns her gaze back to the dancefloor, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks for being caught staring – even if she wasn't staring like that.

"You wanna dance?" A voice speaks up next to her after a couple seconds, and glancing to the side she finds the same boy now standing right next to her.

With a confused frown forming on her forehead, (y/n) can't help but glance around to make sure he's talking to her. "Okay," she nods eventually when she finds no one else nearby.

"I'm Bill," he introduces himself on their way to the dancefloor.

"I know," she chimes back a bit taken aback still, but feeling it slowly dissolve into a happy atmosphere surrounding them. "I'm (y/n)."

"I know," Bill grins at her, and his response is enough to break the ice between the two as they burst into giggles.

As they start dancing, she can't help but remember the way he threw himself on that chair just a couple minutes prior, and she's back thinking about the possible reasons behind it within a moment.

"What are you thinking about?" His voice brings her out of her train of thoughts.

"Nothing," she's fast to reply, but seeing him raise an eyebrow in question she knows he won't take it as an answer. "Well, I was thinking about what got you so grumpy previously."

Bill grunts, his eyes darkening once more. "The girl I came with ditched me for someone else," he shrugs.

(y/n) takes a sharp breath, not expecting such an answer, and she feels herself grow sadder for him. "I'm–"

"I know, you're sorry. Don't be," he cuts in. "I just wanna forget about it, okay?"

All she can do is nod in response and so they continue dancing without a word for the next few minutes. When the song that's been playing ends, he asks if she wants to go out to get some fresh air and since before he appeared she was standing alone, she immediately agrees.

As if the new dosage of oxygen had a magical effect on him, he starts talking right away – and from then on, he's almost unstoppable, words flowing from his lips. He's determined to make her laugh, and he definitely succeeds most of the time – her facial muscles start hurting as the night goes on from all the wide smiling and laughing she's done.

When the time comes for her to go back home, he offers to walk her – reasoning that he wouldn't want to stay longer anyway and that he lives in the same direction – and they keep up the joyful conversation all the way to her front door. They say goodbye, and she disappears inside the house, thinking about how blue it makes her that everything will go back to normal now, and he won't be listening to his funny stories any time in the future.

Living in such a small town, they eventually keep on bumping into each other after that night, even out of school – especially when she starts helping out in her family's little store. He turns up often, with his friends or by his own when his mother sends him for something, and the two of them always chat a little, more and more as time progresses.

Then one time he (accidentally) stays until the end of her shift, and then they eventually spend the rest of the day together, wandering around town and talking about anything and everything – and just in general, having fun. From then on, it becomes a regular thing, every week (then later on even more than once a week) he shows up at the store just in time to catch her leaving and they go somewhere together.

They literally spend every free minute together – they are best friends despite the gender differences.

- - - - - - - -

"Dear (y/n),

I'm in Melbourne now, can you believe it? They sent us here to relax some and refit. The people here are awfully nice, and finally I had a comfortable enough place to sleep in and time to do so as well – it felt indescribably great.

Today the guys and I went sightseeing, well, as long as you can call sitting in different bars throughout the day sightseeing. (I know you're shaking your head right now, but don't even try to deny that you let out a small laugh too. I know you too well, I can even hear your laughter in my ears as I'm writing this. God, I miss hearing it in person.)

How is life going back home? Has your sister recovered from her illness yet?

Hopefully I can write more consistently to you from now on, at least as long as we stay here.

- - - - - - - -

Yours,

Bill"

It gets harder and harder every day for (y/n) – since she's realised that what she feels for Bill is something more than just friendship she's been only missing him more. There are times when she feels like stopping answering his letters, because maybe it would all be easier if she let go and tried to get over him, to forget about her stupid feelings towards him.

But every time, after a couple days pass, before she can realise what she's doing, she's sitting at her desk, a pen in her hand and a paper in front of her on the wooden surface. She can't stop writing back to him – for multiple reasons. First, she fears that if she stopped, it would only do harm to his morale, maybe he wouldn't be able to focus as good wondering why she's not replying. Second, she misses him. Too much to just not write. She wants to hear about him, hear from him. Third, worry is eating away at her. Her best friend is overseas, close to dying every other minute, and she can't do a thing about it. If she doesn't hear from him and makes sure he's alive, she won't be able to take it.

Which means that she has to find a different method to get over him.

On the other side of the world, Bill holds onto the letters he's gotten with the utmost care, he treasures them as if they're worth more than gold – because to him, they do. He misses her like hell, and for some reason he can't help but feel that she's the only thing keeping him grounded. The only thing that keeps him believing that the war hasn't destroyed everything worthwhile in this world for good, that there are still things to be alive for, to be happy for – like her and their friendship.

And even though they keep on experiencing such different things, and their lives aren't as similar as they have been back when they were nothing but kids from Loogootee, Indiana – and they each have their very different difficulties to face and fight every day, they both make sure to reply to the other's letters.

After literal years of hearing about almost nothing else from his friend but this mysterious girl named (y/n), one day Leckie proposes the possibility to Bill that even though he seems pretty oblivious about it, he might be in love with her.

"Basically since the first day we've met, every other sentence you say includes her in some way," Leckie shrugs after mentioning his opinion.

"Nah, that's stupid, she's my best friend and nothing else," Hoosier shakes his head, a chuckle leaving his lips as his eyes move around their surroundings.

"You sure?"

"Of course I am, I love her like a sister. I'm not in love with her."

"Okay, you know better," Leckie raises a hand in defense and turns back to writing a letter to Vera, but his eyes disclose that he's not at all convinced by his friend's reasoning.

For the next couple days, all Bill can think about is Leckie's words, even when they are getting shipped to another battle to fight, this time to Cape Gloucester. He can't put it into words why he can't seem to shake the thought, but it keeps on repeating inside his head whenever he has at least one second when he has nothing in particular to do.

And as any postal service they could get is delayed due to their fighting, he doesn't hear from (y/n) for a while and the feeling of missing her becomes almost too much to bear. Suddenly, it's crystal clear that he's been only living in oblivion and that's she's actually the love of his life. God, how ignorant he's been all this time.

When he tells Leckie that he was right, the man just shakes his head with a look that says 'finally' – he doesn't know how much longer he could've taken Hoosier being so stupid.

- - - - - - - -

"Dearest Bill,

I'm so glad to hear you're back in somewhat safety again, not in the direct line of fire!

Johnny Baker, you know, from Grant Street, got wounded - he's been transferred to some hospital I don't know where. Did you by any chance meet him over there? Maybe you were fighting together. But I guess there's only a slight chance for that, there must be so many different groups of soldiers fighting that don't meet at all - sorry, I'm not familiar with these Marine terms.

Anyway, when Mr Brown came to the store this morning and started saying how one of the local boys who enlisted got hit, I felt like fainting. I don't know how I would survive losing you. I lo I've never been more impatient in my life than that time to hear his answer when I asked him who it was. I also felt a little bad later, because I probably looked a bit too relieved for someone that just got to know that a boy from around here is in hospital, with a wound that might be very serious for all I know.

I hope the days aren't too dull for you, and you can get some well needed rest again. Tell my greetings to your friends for me, please. It's always nice to hear your stories about them.

- - - - - - - -

Yours,

(y/n)"

(y/n) almost confesses in one of her letters, totally by accident – luckily she realises it just in time and she can cross it out without it being too obvious what she wanted to say initially.

Ever since understanding her true feelings, she's thought about this various times, whether she should tell him about it or not. In the end, common sense always won.

She wouldn't want to divert his mind from more important things – like fighting a war. And also, somehow more importantly, because of fear of rejection. He's him and she's only her. Why would he want anything to do with her when it comes to dating? It's not like she doesn't know how he feels. He's told her – and others who asked about the two of them throughout the years – so many times how he loves her, but only as a sister. Just like if they were family members.

And she would never want to ruin their friendship – she values it more than to let it disappear only because of her stupid feelings.

What she doesn't know, that with the help of his friends, Hoosier is able to somewhat decode her letters – they spend a great portion of their free time in Pavuvu reading and analysing the words she's written. Of course, the most useful man when it comes to deciphering meanings behind words (fully written or crossed out half-words) and sentences is Leckie. Runner even jokes about how he should do this as a job when the war ends.

Despite her trying not to give anything away, they come to the conclusion that she's probably in love with him too – after what Hoosier literally jumps up and punches the air with his fist, feeling an outburst of joy none of them have felt in quite a long time now.

Still, he can't make himself writing down the words in any of his letters that would let her know how he feels. He knows he might die one of these days and he most definitely doesn't want to put her through any more heartbreak than necessary.

He doesn't want to be the one to wake false hope in her about how one day he might go back home and they could start a life together. What is more, he doesn't want her to wait around for him, especially since there's such a huge chance that he might as well never go back again. She should find someone to settle down and start a family with, why wait around for someone who's half dead already?

Bill even asks her about any possible guys around town she could date – reading his suggestions (y/n) can't help but roll her eyes, thinking about all the dinners she's spent with a couple men from around town who weren't overseas, at least not anymore because of different slighter wounds. They all went down the same way, everything was going totally fine but she still couldn't shake one thought – that none of these men are him.

- - - - - - - -

"Dear (y/n),

I hope you're not too worried by now, because I'm fine. Sure, these past weeks haven't been my best ones yet, but I'm doing alright now, and that's what matters. I'm in hospital now, trying to heal as fast as I can. As soon as they let me out, I'll be on my way home and nothing can stop me, truly. Definitely feels weird to be back in the country though!

Did I miss anything interesting since my last letter? Please, let me know of anything and everything. The longer your reply is, the better. I have to have something to do to prevent me from going fully crazy in this place. Don't take it as if I'm not grateful for being here – they take real good care of me, and I know I'm lucky to be here, and not buried in the ground. (Sorry, that got a little too heavy.)

Can't wait for us to meet again! It's what keeps me going on the nights I can't sleep.

- - - - - - - -

Yours sincerely,

Bill"

(y/n) calculates the change and places it gently into the hand of the customer standing on the other side of the counter, when the lady speaks up. "I didn't know Bill Smith was coming home."

She glances up, slightly frowning at the sudden comment, not really knowing what to answer – in the end she just hums in agreement.

"He just drove past me on the street when I was on my way here, at first I thought my eyes are mistaken," the woman continues eventually even without getting an answer.

"He drove past..." (y/n) repeats the words, freezing in place as they suddenly get a meaning inside her head as well.

She didn't know he was arriving home today – hell, she didn't even know he was released from the hospital in the first place.

Then, as if trying to make up for the time wasted when she stood frozen, she unties the straps of her apron with fumbling fingers, almost tearing it in the hurry to get it undone, then rushing around the counter she throws the entrance door open and with the following glance of a surprised customer she's already on her hurried way to the Smith's house.

Getting to their front door, (y/n) takes only one second to try and catch her breath before her knuckles rap a fast and loud rhythm on the wooden surface. Her fingers impatiently play with the material of her skirt as she waits for someone to open it – and as soon as it cracks open, she starts speaking, not even waiting for the other to acknowledge her.

"Mrs Smith! Lovely to see you! I've heard Bill has arrived home, is he here? Can I come in?"

Practically not even waiting for an answer she rushes past the older woman who stares after her with a warm and wide smile, watching as she practically flies into the dining room.

Loudly crying out his name as soon as her eyes land on the boy (y/n) immediately draws attention to herself. Bill's eyes widen and this time it's him to freeze – he feels like he's not able to move a single muscle in his body from the surprise of seeing her so unexpectedly.

With a few quick steps she's right in front of him, leaping straight into his arms, not caring at all about his family all around them watching or not behaving well-mannered. When her body comes in contact with his, Bill comes back to life, his arms move to tightly grip her waist to keep her right there, pulling her impossibly close to him.

Oh, how many times he's dreamed about this in the past years. And now finally he can do it.

"It's so amazing to see you," she breathes out, face still buried in his neck. "I missed you so bad."

"I missed you a lot too, (y/n/n)," he whispers back, his palms gently moving up and down her back in a caressing manner. His eyes are closed as he tries to live the moment to the fullest and store every little detail of it as perfectly as he can.

When the initial great happiness decreases a little – but only a little –, (y/n) loosens her arms around his neck as a signal and he gently puts her back down to stand on her own two feet. She glances up at his face, but only for a moment because she knows that if she wasn't careful enough, she would get lost in his almost grey but still blue orbs and wouldn't be able to tear her gaze away from them.

Later on in the afternoon, the two of them are sitting in the backyard just talking and catching up – and it feels as if no years has passed since their separation, as if it was only yesterday when they last saw each other.

"I just don't think it was fair of him to say that, you know? And even though mother wants me to go and apologise to him, I don't want to," the girl rambles on, her right hand mindlessly moving across the lawn as she's enjoying the soft feeling of the blades of grass stroking her skin. "What do you think I should do?"

When she doesn't get an answer for a couple long seconds, (y/n) looks up to find Bill already watching her – his eyes somewhat dazed, a heartwarming and butterfly-awaking smile playing on his lips. And it's more than clear that he's not paying any attention to her.

"Bill," she tilts her head, but it seems that it's not enough to grasp his interest so she takes to more drastic measures and calls out his name louder, her fingers snapping in front of his eyes. "William!"

"What?" He asks back, his whole body wincing in surprise as he wakes from his daydreaming.

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" (y/n) shakes her head with a playfully disbelieving look in her eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Bill diverts his gaze in slight embarrassment, and she could swear she saw a blush forming on his cheeks. "Could you repeat it?"

"It's not important," she shrugs, smiling at his profile, taking in the lines that write his face, enjoying that she can watch him without him catching her in the middle of it.

"No, wait, I wanna hear it. Anything you say is important to me. I'm sorry, I got lost in my thoughts. Please, tell me."

"Nope. Should've listened the first time."

Hoosier rolls his eyes, looking back at her. Their eyes connect and she can see something naughty sparkle up in his orbs just then but there's nothing she can do when the next moment she's being tackled down to the ground by him, his hands roaming around her sides, tickling her wherever he reaches.

"No, stop! Stop, Bill, please!" (y/n) exclaims, trying hard to wiggle away from him, but while once ago she might have been able to push him away, him being a marine for years has made him too strong for her to stand any chance now.

A minute or so later he stops his movements, leaning over her and catching his breath. His eyes sparkle bright as he stares into her (y/e/c) ones, and suddenly he knows he has to confess. It's not like his reasons why not to are valid anymore – he's not fighting a war, facing death about every day. All his mental contradictions are out the window now, so why would he keep quiet about it?

"I love you," he speaks up gently a second later, having convinced himself.

For a moment her rapidly beating heart feels like stopping from hearing these three words come from his mouth, but then she reminds herself that he probably still means it only as proof of his brotherly love.

"I love you too," her lips curve into a smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes and he's fast to notice.

"No."

(y/n) frowns, confused as to why he just said that.

"I love you. Like love love," Bill tries again, watching her face intently to catch the moment she understands what he means.

The thoughts spin in her mind, trying hard to make the words make sense. "You do?" The question leaves her lips in the end – and Bill's not satisfied at all with the doubt still filling her voice. It's fair to say he didn't quite expect this moment to go like this.

"Yeah," he nods, a little too vigorous and enthusiastic to his own liking, but at this point he just wants to make her believe him.

(y/n) bursts out giggling and his eyes widen in surprise. Is the idea of him loving her so ridiculous that she has to laugh about it?

"I-I'm so-sorry," she stutters in-between giggles as she tries to catch her breath, still looking up at him from her lying position. "I just didn't expect to hear this, at all."

"Oh," Bill replies, the confusion that has previously been written on her face now apparent on his own.

"I love you too, don't look so scared," (y/n) grins widely, then as she sees him open his lips, she foregoes and answers the question she knows he wants to ask. "Yes, love love."

The grin forming on his lips matches hers in width and within a second he's leaning down, only stopping a finger-breadth away from her face.

"I've been waiting for so long to do this," he mumbles.

"I bet I've been waiting even longer for you to do this," she whispers back.

Then his lips finally touch hers, gentle and feather-like until he feels her kiss him back with more passion – after that, he deepens the kiss himself. He feels that there's no need to restrain himself when for the past year all he's wanted to do was this, all he needed was her permission.

And the taste and softness of her lips along with the way it feels as they move along his are even better than in his dreams.

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[alienoresimagines]

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Thank you Amy ! 🥰💕 I hope you'll like this ❤

The pouring rain on your window was like a drum, lulling you back to sleep despite having been the reason why you woke up in the first place. Shifting until you were on your back, you tried not to wake the still sleeping form beside you. Hoosier was in a deep slumber, you could tell from the soft little snores coming out of his mouth as he huddled closer to you, probably looking for warmth, his hair tickling your neck.

You kept shifting and turning for several minutes, your mind whirling no matter how much the sound of the rain was soothing your nerves. Finally, once you had enough and were convinced that if you shifted one more time you’d wake Hoosier up, you sat quietly and let your feet hover on the floor as you rubbed sleep from your eyes. Starting to get up in slow movements, a sigh escaped your lips when you felt an arm wrap itself around waist, bringing you half on the bed and half on Hoosier.

“What’re ya doin’ ?” Sighing quietly through your nose, you passed a hand in Hoosier’s soft bed-hair, knowing how relaxing it was to him.

“I need to do some work.” You had kept your voice low and the calm atmosphere set by the rain was undisturbed. The man behind you groaned and tightened his grip on you, making sure you wouldn’t go anywhere.

“Five more minutes.” A smile crept its way onto your face.

“You know, it’s not because I get up that you have to as well.” You chuckled as you felt him shake his head behind you.

“Stay.” Almost hearing his pout made you cave in and you felt him smile in your neck once he realized you’d relaxed back against his chest.

“Five more minutes.” You murmured, pulling the blanket back on you, even though your eyes were already closing and Hoosier already asleep. The rain would fall for much longer than five minutes but when you were in Hoosier’s arms, surrounded in warmth, who were you to count the minutes passing ?

@murphyism @mavysnavy @justwant-samu-ass @order-of-river-phoenix @inglourious-imagines @liebegott @tvserie-s-world @stressedinadress @warrior-healer @punkgeekcryptid

[spotofimagines]

Picture ~ Hoosier Smith

A/N: This is for @inglourious-imagines writing challenge, absolutely check out anything else written for it (the pieces I've read so far have been wonderful!) and maybe even take part yourself! Here's a little snippet into downtime with H company, enjoy :)

Warnings: smoking

Summary: Leckie's sister sent him a picture of them both, and Hoosier is intruiged...

5. If I ever see you anywhere near him/her/them, you'll have to deal with me.

Down time away from battle was both rare and well-received amongst the men on the island. A minute or two to catch their breath, have a cigarette, take in the yellow sky beside the sea, reload their weapons. It was just as much useful as it was needed.

Days when the Captains knew the fighting would hold off for longer were the days letters got passed around. Small reminders from family about the reasons to fight and the love they have waiting for them back home.

Leckie had been lucky enough to hear from you this time around. His darling sister. The only person who wasn't working in writing that he thought should be. You always had a natural nick for words and he truly enjoyed reading your letters whenever they came.

This time, however, the envelope held an extra piece of luxury. Black and white and bent on one corner, was a picture of the two of you, dressed nicely for summer and stood smiling outside a restaurant you had just shared lunch in. Down toward the end of the letter, you wrote about finding it in a shoebox in your mother's closet whilst redecorating her bedroom, along with the promise of taking him to that restaurant again as soon as he comes back, so he can get another taste of that scrumptious lemon tart he'd gone so long without.

When he finished reading your letter, he just looked at the picture again, fiddling with the bent corner until he noticed the writing on the back: "For when you need a little happiness." A small smile formed on his face at this as he flipped the card around to see you again. His relationship with his parents was termultuous, his father especially, but he's always loved you to the moon and back. His sister was really special to him and alongside Vera, you were the person helping him to keep fighting every time he woke up. This picture was going to stay close to him from now on.

" 'kay Leckie, you go."

He looked up at the group and the smile fell from his face. He'd been so busy thinking about seeing you again that he'd pretty much forgotten where he was, and he'd definitely forgotten the group of boys around him. He cleared his throat and looked back down at the picture. "It's from my sister." He began smiling again but rolled his eyes at the low whistles sounding in the hot air.

"Oh, you should not have told us that, man." Runner laughed and Chuckler broke into a huge grin, leaning over Leckie's right shoulder to peek at what the photograph entailed.

"I didn't know you had a sister?" Hoosier's deep voice said, confused as he released a breath of smoke. Leckie huffed and closed his lips tight. Reluctantly picking up the picture you sent, praying thanks to god that you had it laminated, he twisted it round for Hoosier to see. Runner leant over to try and catch a glimpse but didn't get much of a look in before Hoosier had grabbed it to inspect Leckie's sister properly.

"It's from summer a few years back. Says she'll take me there again when she can," Leckie grinned to himself whilst he skimmed over the last part of the letter he had missed before, "and that she'll introduce me to her new friend to talk to as well." He raised his eyebrows and shook his head a little with a quiet laugh. Runner whistled, shaking his own head and muttering "Good for some, huh?" to no one in particular. You didn't know your brother had a thing for Vera Keller, actually he couldn't be sure you even knew he'd spoken to her before. He supposes he'll keep that to himself before you start meddling without him in town to repair the damage.

Chuckler's large hand meets Leckie's shoulder and squeezes it. "That sounds nice." He smiles kindly and offers him a cigarette which Leckie takes with a nod.

Hoosier is still deeply inspecting the picture of you both, eyebrows pressed together as he takes you in. Turning it round incase there was a message on the back, just like his mother did to her photographs, he finds your hidden message and smirks a little. It was a sign of a sweet woman, he'd been told. Well, he hoped so, because you sure looked like one.

His eyebrows furrow together again in thought when he brushes a dot of dirt off your face with his thumb, until a quiet washes over the group. "I think I should write to your sister, Leckie." He spoke, not moving his eyes off the picture. Leckie's head whips to Hoosier and it adamantly shakes side to side, a breathy laugh following. "Absolutely not."

There was always teasing like that with other soldier's family members but Leckie couldn't even play along when it came to his sister, especially not with the boys in his company. He'd seen what they were like when left to their own resources. You were far too good to have to deal with any of them.

Hoosier looked up at Leckie and, despite his seriousness, had to hide the grin working it's way onto his face. "She seems like the perfect woman to me."

"You don't even know her." Leckie bit back, taking a drag of his cigarette.

Hoosier shrugged and calmly turned his eyes back to the picture in his hand. "Well maybe she could take me to this restaurant and I get to know her, she looks lovely." Hoosier was speaking earnestly but, around marines, talk like that was nothing but jokes and Leckie didn't want it.

Runner's bright grin as he watched his friend had Leckie taking action to stop it as soon as possible. "No." Leckie deadpanned at Hoosier's suggestion. Hoosier jutted his hands out and frowned, watching Runner opposite him in the circle, silently asking why he wasn't allowed. The fact he genuinely cared was lost on Leckie, who had heard it all before from Hoosier about Chuckler's sister not too long ago.

Leckie took the opportunity to grab the picture back from him which put Hoosier's eyes on his friend like a hawk. Leckie tucked the picture under the letter on his lap then leant his elbows on his knees, pointing a cigarette-clad hand Hoosier's way. "If I ever see you anywhere near her, you'll have to deal with me." Leckie threatened, fully serious in his words.

But Hoosier's chuckle had Leckie smirking before smoking again. "I'd like to see you do that, truly." Runner and Chuckler were laughing at Hoosier's words now and Leckie was trying hard not to join in, but there was no use, he just chuckled along with them behind his hand.

Sid traipsed over and dropped down on the other side of Hoosier with an envelope of his own in his hands. Hoosier just leant closer to Leckie and spoke again, making sure he knew he was trying to be as authentic as he could. "You know you should at least give me her adress so I can write her a letter," his sincere voice had Leckie raising his eyebrows a little as he blew the smoke in his mouth out to the side, questioning whether he actually should consider it, until, "do you think she'd give me a picture?"

Nevermind.

Leckie shoved Hoosier away from him, shaking his head, no sign of enthusiasm in him at all. Hoosier just looked confused at Runner for the second time. The smaller man just laughed away, his bright eyes shining joy at the utter loss on Hoosier's face. "It was a genuine question..." he mumbled but wasn't heard over Chuckler inviting Sid to share with the group what he had gotten. Runner shrugged at Hoosier before turning his attention to Sid, his smile fading to make way for his new curiosity.

Hoosier just smoked, not really caring about Sid's family life at the moment. He couldn't help himself stealing glances over at Leckie as they all listened to Sid's letter, wondering if he'd be able to sneak a bit more time with the picture or to read the letter you'd written.

Thing is, Hoosier did joke a lot about that sort of stuff, but there was seriously something about that photograph that had his brain ticking, working to find a way to talk to you. It would be nice to have someone send him letters beside his own mother, that's for sure. And now that he knew the challenge of getting past stone-faced Leckie existed, he was going try as hard as he could, be persistent every day, to get that address and have that lunch with you some time in the future.