#joseph toye x reader

[privatebullshit]

with faith undaunted [part 06.]

— ♡

part 06. deprivation [4.2k words]

summary: y/n y/l/n is a nurse-in-training when she meets joseph j. toye in 1942, shortly after the attack on pearl harbor, at camp toccoa. she's the americana dream, he's a reckless private. what happens when their fates cross paths?

♡ follow along on their journey of love, loss, and hardship as the story progresses in events taking place before, during, and after the war. ♡

warnings: language, general war violence, wound descriptions

a/n: please bear with me here. i know that for the most part, this is joe toye's pov during the war with very little mentions of reader, but i just want to make it clear that this fic is based around how their love for one another changes course during the various points of war. but rest assured, you'll get your moments with joe soon<3

song rec: silver soul - beach house

wfu taglist: @luvrottt @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @fromjupitertocentauri @annasansh @bluecanvasshoe @catbusloki

previous parts: 00. promo 01. remembrance 02. blossoming 03. timidity 04. longing 05. departure

wfu masterlist bofb masterlist

— ♡

They expected to get shot at, that wasn't some secret that was kept from them, but one thing that the infantry didn't account for was the fact that they were headed straight into a blast zone as soon as they loomed over France.

Easy Company trained for this, to jump out of perfectly good planes and land in the soft grass with the comfort of seeing their chute open above them. What they didn't train for, though, was landing in an active battlefield, explosives lighting up the night sky like the Fourth of July.

The first blast was an eye-opener, literally. Joe blinked a few times before looking around at the other guys, they all had the same tense look on their face. The kind of look someone gets when they're trying too hard to stand up straight and hold their breath. Anticipating. Waiting. They had all heard the explosion in the distance.

Before they had any time to brace themselves, the plane shook violently as nearby bombs set off around the other C-47s, knocking some men over, including Joe. The red light sparked on like a bomb of its own, glowing angrily as if it was about to burst.

Joe grunted, listening to Lieutenant Winters tell them to hook up and check their equipment.

"SEVEN OKAY!" he screamed, patting the man in front of him to signal that it was his turn.

A few more blasts rumbled through the aircraft, jerking and throwing the men around like ragdolls, some falling back onto the seats. Other planes could be heard outside of their own, the low buzz of the engines failing making Joe's stomach twist in knots.

"I WANNA JUMP, SIR!" one man shouted.

Winters shouted over the commotion, guiding the men to the door, "Now, listen to me, STAY ON THE PLANE, you're not jumping!"

Joe clenched his jaw as if he was already preparing himself for impact. He was on auto-pilot now, trying to let muscle memory take over from the previous jump trainings that they've had. Slivers of light came in through the increasing number of bullet holes through the plane's body, each one narrowly missing the soldiers by a hair.

He hung onto his clip as they approached the drop zone, but there wasn't any time left. Sure, they would miss the DZ entirely, but the alternative was ending up like most of the other planes, in flames and into pieces.

The pilot flipped the switch, changing the vicious, red jump light to green. There was no coming back from this. It was no longer Camp Toccoa; it was Normandy.

"LET'S GO!" Winters shouted. He made eye contact with Joe briefly, giving him a slight nod before jumping out of the plane without any hesitation. The rest of the men followed, an uncomfortable silence falling over them as they were launched into the air. No screams, no sharp breaths— only acceptance that this is what they were meant to do. They pulled their ripcords, chutes exploding into canopies to bring them to the ground.

The sky filled with the odd beauty of men and their parachutes as they descended. The feeling was somewhat comforting, but in the eerie sort of way due to the fact that they could die at any moment while in the air. During training, they had the luxury of a clear field with no German artillery aimed at them. They had a real chance, save for some small fractures or the occasional concussion. But here? Here, they weren't guaranteed anything— not even a landing.

Some landed in the brush of the trees, suspension lines strangling their limbs as they hung like marionettes, the sick sound of their necks and joints snapping ringing like a gunshot.

Some didn't even make it to the ground, already taking bullets and shells mid-air. Even when their feet touched the enemy land, patches of it were engulfed in flames, and others were infiltrated with high concentrations of Kraut soldiers.

Joe was fortunate enough to land safely, hands ripping off his chute and untangling himself so he could get out of the open. His wrist started to burn, causing him to look down and see the skin stripped off, pink and raw. He didn't even feel it when he first landed, the adrenaline coursing through his veins veiling any sort of immediate pain reaction.

"Fuck- fucking hell," he cursed, realizing that the ropes gave him a severe friction wound. He ripped off some of the silk from his used chute with his M3 trench knife, wrapping it around his wrist as he hissed in pain, tightening the knot with a pull of his teeth.

As he finished, he heard ticking in the distance made by one of the cricket clickers they were given to identify one another, looking around cautiously as he held his M-1 Garand in a ready position.

"Flash!" Someone whispered hastily, the nearby bushes rustling with movement.

Joe turned around sharply, "Thunder!"

From the bushes emerged Malarkey, Popeye, and Guarnere. Joe exhaled out of relief to see at least some of his comrades, hustling over to them to form a plan.

"Good to see you, Joe," Guarnere said, tipping his helmet in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, you too, Bill," Joe replied, nodding back to him and the other two.

"What happened to your wrist?" Popeye asked, gesturing to the now blood-soaked fabric tied around the joint.

Joe waved him off, not wanting to concern about any minor wounds right now, "Rope burn, it don't matter. Where the hell did we land?"

Malarkey answered this time, taking a look at his surroundings, "I don't know, but it's definitely not the fuckin' DZ."

"Aye, there's some tracks up ahead. We can follow 'em, see where they lead." Guarnere gestured to the faint glimmer of the steel tracks, a promising sight since they had not the slightest clue where they were at the moment.

The four walked for a while, on guard at all times just in case they got ambushed by a bunch of Krauts. Joe was itching for a cigarette, fingers twitching against the side of his rifle as if he was mimicking flicking his lighter open. He'd have to wait for now, though.

Joe thought the area felt a bit familiar based on what he'd studied back in Aldbourne, but the reality of the situation was that they were still separated from the rest of Easy.

"I don't remember hearing about any railroads near our objective," Malarkey huffed, continuing to walk the tracks.

Joe glanced at Malarkey, "I'm tellin' you, this is the spur line that runs parallel to the river. We should be comin' up to a road and bridge ahead."

Malarkey scoffed, "Yeah, how would you know?"

"Because I studied the sandtails, alright?

Popeye suddenly signaled for them to stop moving as he crouched down, Joe and the others quickly followed suit, inching forward slowly.

Malarkey started to whisper, "Probably a friggin' train or—"

"Shh!"

"Flash!" Came a voice from behind them, the four turning around in alert.

"Thunder!"

"Lieutenant, is that you?" Malarkey asked.

"Malarkey?" Winters approached them, all exchanging greetings with each other.

Joe followed as they ventured farther down the tracks, stopping when they heard distant gunfire and the sound of a German cart nearby. Winters specifically told them to wait for his command, but Guarnere opened fire on the band of Germans in an angry frenzy, everyone else firing their weapons shortly after.

"That's enough Guarnere! Everyone okay?" Winters shouted.

"Yes, sir," Joe replied.

Guarnere's little blow up could've cost them big time, especially since Winters and Lipton didn't even have any weapons except knives and some explosives. Joe looked down at one of the horses that was still twitching and whinnying in pain, the sound too painful to keep listening to.

He took out his pistol and shot the poor animal, his face contorted into a repulsed expression at having to do it. They moved out from the area, walking even when the sun started to rise.

"Did you see him? He just sat there," Guarnere complained as they walked through the shallow water. Their boots were soaked with mud and algae, the moist friction becoming more unbearable by the minute.

Joe shrugged, "He didn't have a weapon. What's he gonna do? Shout at 'em?"

"Shouts at me for killing Krauts," Guarnere grumbled back, stomping his way through the mud.

Joe tried to reason with him once more, "He just wanted you to wait for his command."

"Joe, he don' even drink!"

They reached a point to grab supplies from dead soldiers, navy aircrafts raging up above. They had to move fast since the landings were starting. Once they reached the Battalion HQ, they realized that many of the men were still missing.

Joe lit up a Lucky Strike, finally inhaling the sweet taste of tobacco as he took a seat. It wouldn't be long until they had to start moving again, but damn, it felt good to just take a break for a minute or two.

"Toye! Get over here, Winters needs us up front."

Joe tipped his head back and groaned, getting up with a grunt as he made his way into the barn. They talked battle strategies and mapped out where the German guns are firing.

Joe was to be part of the main assault line, so he stubbed out his cigarette and started to collect ammo to get ready for battle.

During the Brécourt Manor assault, Joe nearly got blown up by grenades twice. He was surprised he even made it past D-Day at this point.

"Jesus Christ, fuckin' twice," he muttered, slightly dazed from his concussive state.

While securing the second German gun, one of the Krauts started blabbering while putting his hands up in surrender.

"Shut up," Joe growled.

"No make dead! No make dead!"

"Shut the fuck up!" Joe repeated, shoving his rifle in the German's face.

"No make dead!"

Finally having enough, Joe punched the guy hard, his knuckles adorned with the brass knuckles y/n gifted him. The metal made a clinging sound upon colliding with his face, Joe smirking slightly at the little victory. So, his girl helped him knock out a Kraut indirectly. That was more brag worthy than killing 20 POWs, in his humble opinion.

At nightfall, they had an hour to rest before having to move again, finding peace in the back of a little truck. Joe sat with Buck, Malarkey, Guarnere, Lipton, and Liebgott, and another soldier, having a bite to eat and taking sips of French wine.

Liebgott escaped Malarkey's rancid farts, the rest of the guys choking on the gross air as Malark laughed at them. Winters came to exchange a few words with them, even sharing a drink, much to Guarnere's surprise. After Winters left, they talked among themselves for a little while they could spare a moment.

"So, Lip, how's the wife?" Buck asked, shoveling another spoonful of food into his mouth.

Lipton smiled a bit as he looked at his wedding band, "Jo Anne? She's good. I got a letter from her a few weeks ago. Come to think of it, she mentioned y/n, too." Lip looked over at Joe as he said that, Joe's eyes widening in surprise.

"Y/n? How is she? Is she alright?" Joe asked, leaning forward.

Malarkey and Guarnere laughed hard, "You're so smitten with her, Joe! It ain't like she's on the front lines with us."

"Shut up, I just- just want to know how she's holdin' up," he grumbled, staring at his mess tin.

Lipton smiled warmly, "Jo Anne said that y/n is doing just fine. She's working hard around the hospitals apparently. There's mentions of transfers happening soon."

Joe's expression softened a bit at the fact that his love was doing okay, but he was curious about the transfer situation.

"Transfers? To where?" he asked.

"They're going to ship out some of the nurses to England, from what I've heard. They needed help with the wounded over there," Lip replied, the others nodding their heads.

Joe was silent for a moment, biting his lower lip before he released it, "How is it? Being married."

Lipton leaned back, giving Joe a knowing look as his mouth quirked into a slight smirk, "It's special, Toye. I miss my wife every damn day I'm away from her."

Buck leaned in to join the conversation, "Hell, I shoulda put a ring on my girl's finger before we left to get into this mess."

"Why, are ya thinkin' 'bout marryin' y/n?" Guarnere asked, taking another sip of wine.

Joe hesitated, his heart skipping a beat. Sure, he's thought of it, and he obviously told Harry back in Aldbourne that he wanted to marry her, but now, with a bunch of the other guys, he felt embarrassed all over again. Joe was usually quick to act, his brazen toughness and mentality making all the decisions for him.

But when it came to love and marriage, he was a deer in the headlights. Malarkey noticed his apprehension to answer, "Hey, man, it's okay if you don't have it all figured out. But between us—all of us—I think we can all agree that war is uncertain. If you don't decide soon, a bullet or some damn grenade isn't goin' to wait for you to."

Lipton nodded in agreement, "I knew my wife was the one I wanted to come back home to after the war, that's why I married her. I didn't want to be stuck in a trench wondering why I left home without making her 'Mrs. Lipton.'"

"I. . . guess I'm just thinkin' about it, y'know?" Joe said, continuing when the other guys hummed for him to go on. "I mean, she's the perfect woman, you all know how she is. It's- this goddamn war."

Guarnere placed a supportive hand on Joe's shoulder, "Joe, we'll say it for you; you want to marry that girl."

"Yeah, make her yours, Toye!" Malarkey said, pumping his first in the air.

"Put a ring on it, Toye."

"Come on, Joe, just admit you want to marry her."

"If you don't, I will."

"Shut up, no one wants to marry your stinky ass, Malark."

Joe chuckled at his friends' banter, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants, "Yeah, I do."

Lipton grinned, raising an eyebrow, "Do what, Joe?"

Joe flushed slightly, voice lowering to a sheepish murmur, "I do want to marry her."

"There you go, atta boy!" Buck laughed, clapping Joe on the back. The back of the truck erupted in cheers and shouts, all of it making the warmth in Joe's heart spread even more.

— ♡

The days after D-Day were filled with intense battles and taking over several towns, including Carentan. Joe wasn't a mortarman, neither did he do things like snipe like Shifty or arm the bazookas like Tipper, but he was a damn good rifleman, and intense when he needed to be.

He followed Guarnere as he called out commands, the other men in the squad following close behind as well. The Battle of Carentan was only a taste of how the rest of the war would go, soldiers getting flanked left and right with machine guns and artillery. Doc Roe was scampering around the whole town trying to help those who screamed for him.

Joe was fortunate enough to make it out unscathed, the company successfully securing Carentan as American tanks pulled through. The men were headed back to England, having been taken off the front line for the time being.

Joe decided that he needed to send another letter to y/n, tell her all about what he'd been through so far, and that he was finally back in England for a short break.

What he didn't know, of course, was that she was writing him a letter around the same time. Y/n had been chosen as one of the nurses to be sent to England to help the wounded at the aid stations there, since they were extremely shorthanded and needed extra support. All the soldiers that had been wounded in France immediately flowed into English hospitals, the amount becoming overwhelming for the staff there.

So, y/n had packed her bags and got ready to go to England, not even knowing that Joe was there, but only for a short time.

Joe sat down next to Harry as he pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil from the inside of his jacket, the latter giving him a goofy grin and nudging him.

"Writin' again, lover boy?" Harry chuckled, leaning his elbows on the table to get a better look at what Joe was writing.

"Leave me alone, Welshy," Joe retorted, but his voice failed to have any real annoyance in it, only causing Harry to laugh harder.

"It's a damn good nickname for me, and I love it because Kitty loves it," Harry said proudly, flashing a toothy smile at the thought of Kitty. Joe that it was tooth-rottingly sweet that the slightest mention of Kitty managed to make Harry into a sappy, lovestruck fool.

"You love anything that she does, huh?" Joe said, starting to map out his letter. He treated it like he was writing a battle report, much to Harry's disappointment.

"Y'know, you're not one of those behind-the-desk, upper echelon typists. You can add a bit of feelin' into the letter." Harry took the paper from Joe and studied it.

"Toye, this can't even be considered a love letter."

"Whatever, it's. . . hard for me. Could you help write it again?" Joe asked, a slight tinge of guilt in his voice. He was a grown man, he should know how to do things like this on his own. He wrote letters to his parents all the time while in basic training, but he guessed nothing was enough to prepare him for writing things with feelings in them.

Harry sighed dramatically, "Fine, but you owe me one. Now, start out with this. . ."

Within a few minutes, thanks to Harry's help, Joe wrote a nice letter just for his lovely girl. This was the first letter to be sent to her since Aldbourne, so any previous skills that he gained in love letter writing had diminished, but he was quite proud of how he did this time

To My Darling Y/N,

I am now back in England after dropping in Normandy and spending several weeks there. The D-Day invasion was incredibly difficult, but I managed to make it through safely. I even survived two grenades and punched a Kraut with the brass knuckles you gave me. Isn't that crazy, my love? We also secured the town of Carentan, but many of the men were either killed in action or severely wounded.

I'm sorry that I haven't gotten the chance to write until now, the days have been long and tiresome. It all sort of feels like a blur. But one thing is for certain, I miss you. And I miss you dearly. Every time I see your picture in the locket, my heart aches to see you again.

I love you very much, my little nurse.

With love,

Your Darling Joe

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it, Joe?" Harry gently squeezed his friend's shoulder, noticing the obvious tense state that Joe was in. His hand was gripping the pencil so tightly, Harry thought it was going to snap in half.

"Yeah- no, it wasn't. I'm gonna get this sent out, thanks, Harry," Joe mumbled, getting up from his seat to search for Vest.

"Vest, hey, Vest!" Joe called out to the younger male, the boy turning around from where he was standing.

"Oh, Joe! I was looking for you actually," Vest said, hands rummaging through his bag.

"Why? Did I get somethin'?" Joe asked, hands still tightly clutched around the letter for y/n.

"Yeah, here." Vest handed him a letter addressed to Joe. "Is that going out? I'll take it." Joe gave him the envelope, thanking him again before going to a quiet corner to sit and open the letter for him.

It was from y/n, and as soon as he registered that clearly, he stood up out of surprise. He didn't expect anything from her— in fact, he didn't expect anything from her at all. He was happy to just exist in her little world. That was enough for him.

But alas, she sent something anyway, and that made his heart grow in ways that one would've thought impossible. He gingerly took the letter from the envelope, hanging onto every word and kiss that clung to the page.

To My Darling Joseph,

I haven't heard back from you in a while, so I'm sending you this in hopes that it gets to you safely. I've just been told that I'll be transferred to England to work at one of the aid stations there. I'm not quite sure where you are right now, but I miss you, and I hope you're doing alright.

I love you so much, Joe.

With love,

Your Darling Y/N

Joe couldn't believe what he just read. A letter she must've wrote a couple weeks ago that he just received, which could mean that she was on her way to England right now. But the worst part was that his letter that he just gave to Vest won't even get to her right away.

They had every chance to see each other, but also the chance that they would miss each other all the same. Joe's heart thumped in anticipation, silently praying for a miracle.

Sergeant Lipton stood in the front of the room, announcing to the men that he had something to say. Joe felt a lump in his throat as he realized the inevitable— they were going back to the front lines.

"Listen up, all weekend passes are cancelled. We're not coming back to England, boys. We’re moving out at 0600," Lipton announced, disappointed groans coming from all sides of the building. Joe’s heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach as he clutched y/n’s letter.

They were going to drop into Holland soon, and the war would continue from there.

— ♡

Y/n was shipped out to England via ship alongside other nurses from her department, boxes of medical supplies surrounding them. She gripped her aid bag tightly, thumb brushing over the coarse fabric. The war had taken a toll on her— seeing the wounded men’s hopeless gazes, hearing their soft cries for help or mercy, some wanting to be put out of their misery and some screaming out of desperation for the nurses to not let them die.

She’d pulled out more bullets and shrapnel pieces than she could count, injected flailing bodies with morphine that offered them the slightest bit of relief. It broke her heart whenever they’d hold her hands, their eyes watery and filled with the fear of being alone.

She treated each of her patients with gentle care, tending to them as they needed. Y/n wanted to help them as she hoped someone would help her darling Joe if he ever got hurt. Amidst the uncertainty that the war dawned upon everyone, she made it her mission to save as many soldiers as she could. But now, trudging across the seas to reach England made her stomach churn with the nagging thought of seeing more violence and bloodshed.

Upon her arrival, she was thrust into the nearest hospital and began working quickly.

“I need morphine! What happened to our supply boxes?” y/n screamed, struggling to keep a hysterical soldier on the bed as he thrashed around in pain.

“We’re already low! We can’t keep up with the amount of wounded coming in here!” shouted another frantic nurse whose apron was stained dark red with blood.

As weeks passed, this was their normal. Every day became a chaotic whirlwind of agony and anguish for soldiers and nurses alike. Y/n had finally gotten a moment to catch her breath, her head resting on an empty hospital bed. Her entire body was trembling with leftover adrenaline from a previous encounter that morning. A young boy’s face was nearly split open with large pieces of shrapnel sticking out from the torn flesh.

She couldn’t save him. A boy whose life was taken far too soon by this damn war. Y/n didn’t know whether to scream in anger or cry out of frustration. And yet, she stood silent, not even having enough energy to emit a sob.

“Miss y/n?”

The voice startled her, causing her to jump and let out a small gasp.

The delivery boy bowed his head in apology, walking closer and extending his arm to hand her a letter. She took it gingerly with a soft “thanks,” the boy scurrying out quickly.

She recognized Joe’s handwriting right away, immediately opening the letter with her bloodstained fingertips. Every word only pulled the knot in her stomach tighter, her heart aching with the weight of not being able to see her beloved.

They had missed each other by a week. A fucking week.

Y/n laid her head back down, a raw, guttural wail ripping from her chest and up her throat. No one ever really won in war— not even two lovers hundreds of miles apart.

[imaginethatneathuhpartdos]

Oh, this got me squealin'.

Cute as all shit.

Very soft, very fluffy.

Kudos to you.

You Can Just Stay (Under This Weight)

Joe Toye x Reader One Shot

Requested?: lol nah fam. I’m just a sucker for soft intimacy in the middle of violent conflicts

Warnings: potty words, a messy attempt at describing hair brushing, a most likely shoddily written Joe Toye, like a skosh of angst, 90% just wish fulfillment and fluff (sorry) 

Ya girl listened to Lullaby by Mary Glenn while writing this nonsense, a perfect song to sway to alone in the dark (but like in a dreamy/fun way?)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With a final grunt of frustration, you threw the paddle of your broken hairbrush across the room, causing Perconte, Bill, Luz, and Joe Toye to startle as it clacked loudly to the ground.

 “Gees, Y/N,” Bill snapped, hand on his chest as if he could manually slow down his racing heart. “Don’t do that shit- fucking thought we were under attack—”

You didn’t bother to listen to the complaining sounds of upset coming from the men sitting to your left, snatching up your gun and bag before storming out of the room and heading towards the bedroom you and Joe had been assigned to for the night.

Part of you felt bad for scaring your friends by your childish outburst. The logical part of you knew that throwing your broken hairbrush had been unnecessary and needlessly disruptive and loud.

But the other part of you- the part that was sick of feeling like a goddamned invalid since you’d been shot in the hand?

Well, that part of you wanted to cause much more destruction than that.

Keep reading

[rogue-durin-16]

HEAD-TO-HEAD (part XI/?)

Summary: Joe thought she was pretty. Had he just said that, things might have been different for them. Maybe they wouldn't have gone head-to-head at each other for three years like it was a contest.

Pairing: Joseph Liebgott x Reader

Genre: angst/rivals to lovers

Tags:

Head-to-head: @derersketnoget @ladystardustfromarss @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark @sxalbatf @aliciax3 @jetjuliette @luvrottt @fromjupitertocentauri

Band Of Brothers: @fernando-jpg @chubbypotatoepie @tvserie-s-world @clumsy-wonderland @lordndsaviorwinters @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark

Permanent taglist: @randomparanoid @karlthecat15722 @thebutchersdaughtersblog @amourtentiaa @comfort-reads

Warnings: sexism, slut-shaming (borderlining harassment here ngl), language, smoking

A/N: We're halfway through and I just wanted to mention I'm low-key taken aback by the support this series is getting. It's been so long since I sat down and wrote a long ass fic series, and I forgot how much I liked it. I'm glad y'all are as invested in this silly journey as I am, so enjoy <3

Head-to-head masterlist

Band of Brothers masterlist

Rogue-durin-16 masterlist

"—can't believe he got himself a girlfriend." My hearing barely caught on George's full sentence, despite him standing by the pub's threshold I had just crossed, due to the racket inside.

"That's not a girlfriend, alright" Guarnere's back was to the door, but still I saw the direction he shamelessly pointed at. "that's a toy."

"Don't be mean."

"You came!" Luz turned around and took a step back, opening to me the closed half circle they boys had formed. "Thought you were ditching us for loverboy Andrew."

I hummed, taking off my uniform's jacket. "He had things to do."

"Mail boy dumped you? Looking like this?" George whistled, "Men these days," he smacked Toye's chest with the back of his palm. "am I right, Joe?"

"Oh, quit it." I dismissively waved at him, an amused smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "You playing darts?"

Babe, the new kid Guarnere had taken under his wing, gave me an enthusiastic nod. "Toye and I against Lieutenant Compton and Luz."

Of course. "Don't get sharked." I exhorted, giving the replacement a pat on the back. "Someone wants a drink?"

"I'm comin' with you." Toye stated.

My eyes flickered to the full beer he was holding. "No need to."

"I'm comin' with you, c'mon."

With some resistance, we managed to conquer a small corner of the bar counter, dangerously close to Joe and the Attagirl he had chatted up a week prior.

"Huh."

The woman's sharp eyes landed on my puzzled gaze. She gifted me a polite smile, which made Joe turn.

I didn't know what I was expecting, but it surely wasn't a curt nod.

"He gets laid and manners fly off the window." If he heard it, he chose to ignore it. "If he had any to begin with."

"Just order the damn drink." Toye urged me, nudging my shoulder to redirect my attention to the counter, which earned him a warning glare. "Don't go givin' me that look."

I pushed down the urge to start a pointless argument and did as I was told. The barman was quick serving the drink, but not quick enough to avoid trouble.

The free stool on my right scrapped against the wooden floor. "Your boyfriend stood you up?"

"You gotta be shittin' me." Toye rubbed his temples. "Go back to your seat."

"That's what you're opening with?" I spat at Joe, taking the drink Toye shoved into my grasp.

"You're not denying it." His tone was smug enough to almost bait me.

Almost.

"Go back to your pilot and let me enjoy the night without wanting to claw your eyes out." I hissed, bumping his shoulder when I sidestepped him.

Toye walked with me without a word until our paths parted; him joining Heffron to play darts, me squeezing myself between the pub's tables until I found a free chair by Bull's fresh-faced squad. God, did they look young.

I kept my interventions to the minimum, limiting myself to enjoy the bantery conversations. I wasn't in the mood to get any additional attention; it was odd enough for me to be there in the first place, after telling my friends I wouldn't be joining them that evening.

That's why the first time Cobb threw a bad comment to one of the new kids, I simply rolled my eyes. The second time, I just shared a tired look with Bull. By the third time, though, he was out of line.

"Let the kid be, Cobb." I quipped, taking a sip of my drink, legs crossed with my back leaning on the back of the chair. "It's a damn unit citation."

"You should take that off too, Y/l/n." His words carried a poison I had heard too many times. I mused how far he would take it before getting smacked. "Not that you did anything other than suck some officer's dick."

"Hey-" Hoobler gave the man's shoulder a discrete push, causing Cobb's head to snap at him. "Ease up, pal. Don't go there."

"Why? Did I fuckin' lie?" His attention returned to me. "How else would she be here?" My posture didn't change a bit, but there was a tension straining my shoulders and jaw while I seize the situation. "How many higher-ups did you fuck to play soldier, Y/l/n?"

"Cobb." Bull didn't say anything else, but the name was so obviously a warning.

Despite my piercing eyes not breaking eye contact with the man standing across the table, I didn't miss Guarnere's gaze ping-ponging between us rised eyebrows.

"What, you jealous?" Cobb sneered at my clap back. At his lack of response, I cleared my throat and left my glass on the table, propping myself forward on it. "You know what I think, Cobb?" My tone was uncharacteristically light, my pursed smile containing half of the words I would say to him. "I think you're just mad I got through Normandy and came out of it with a promotion, when you didn't even make the damn jump."

"Wait, what?" Garcia's eyes shot Cobb a disbelieving look. "You didn't jump?"

"I was hit before I could jump." A wave of shame washed over him like a buck of freezing water, his ears heating up at Guarnere's snickering. "You're a bitch."

"Cobb, shut up." Martin deadpanned behind me.

"Someone has to say what we're all thinking."

"Oh my-" I jumped out of my seat, palms hitting the wooden table. "If you want me to punch you, just say so."

"What's going on?" A quick glance over my shoulder let me know more people than I would have liked were now on us, Buck among them.

"Cobb's calling Y/l/n names, Lieutenant." Babe was quick to give it away, triggering a sigh of resignation on my part.

"I see you don't mind getting dicked down by replacements now," he taunted, not minding Buck's steps to stand by my side. He seemed to be about to try and deescalate the situation, and a part of me wondered if the officer really expected to be successful on it. "Should've figured. Isn't your 4F boyfriend a replacement, too?" Bull secured my arm before I could go around the table. "Where's he? Too busy? Or just too embarrassed to show up with you?"

Guarnere got up with a tired groan, accommodating his uniform— if I didn't hit Cobb, he would.

"You got a big fucking mouth, you know that?" I found myself yelling.

"Funny comin' from you." The man laughed bitterly, eyes glassy from the alcohol "Bet you hear that a lot."

The back of Compton's hand extended before me as a signal for me to stop as he attempted to approach Cobb himself.

He didn't get to him before a hand yanked the instigator's bicep with enough force to make him stumble until his back hit the wall.

"Say that again." Liebgott's daring tone screamed trouble, but he didn't seem to care. "C'mon, say that again, tough guy."

Cobb gaped and, for the first time in the night, he thought twice before speaking.

"Lieb, knock it off." Malarkey had moved through the crowded bar to reach the boiling situation.

"No, I want him to repeat what he said." Cobb tried to step out of Joe's reach, but the latter shoved him back into place.

"Joe," his eyes darted at my call like a flash for a split second.

"Yeah, I know— you got it, but I'm already here." He dismissed me, his full attention on Cobb as if he was waiting to be given an excuse to come to blows.

I nearly missed the concerned yet expectant glance Buck spared me before jumping in. "Alright, that's enough." With a firm hand on Joe's chest, he pushed the Translator back; More and Malarkey took it as a cue to get a grasp and pull him away. "Next time you better watch that mouth." The blond man warned Cobb with a pointed finger. "I might just look away and let her smack your face." The Private muttered a halfhearted 'yes, sir' before our Lieutenant slapped the back of his neck on his way out.

"Thought we were 'boutta send him to the hospital." Guarnere commented with a joking tinge in his voice while he sat back down.

"You're not gonna send anyone to the hospital, Bill." Buck sounded like a father tiredly scolding his trouble child. "Y/n?"

"Sir?"

Buck handed me my long forgotten drink with poorly hidden uneasiness. "Why don't you go outside?" His hand gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, the Lieutenant scanning the pub like he was silently looking for someone else. "Cool off, get some fresh air."

I nodded at the idea, downing what was left in the glass, squinted eyes fixed on a now mortified Cobb sitting in a corner of the bar, until I turned heel to head out. "I'll be back in a moment."

"Y/n/n, can I take your seat?" Babe tentatively questioned when I passed by him and Toye.

"Suit yourself." I tried not to sound too irked, forcing a small smile at the replacement who repaid me with one of his own.

"Hey," Toye stopped me briefly, cutting through. "You alright?" I shook my head affirmatively. The Irishman stepped closer, looking over my shoulder. "You want me to deck him?"

A genuine, quiet laugh left my lungs.

"We'll make it look like an accident." George joked, jumping into the short exchange to offer me a cigarette. "Heading out?"

"Yeah, I need a minute." I placed the smoke between my lips for Luz to light it. "I'm not about to get court-martialled for punching that piece of shit."

"Smarter than some." He mumbled under his breath, pulling a smoke for himself too. "Speaking of the devil, I think Lieb's outside." It was a friendly heads-up.

"Alright." I took a puff out of the cigarette and walked past the boys and out of the place. Aldbourne's cold air hit the bits of my skin left exposed and suddenly I was very grateful for my uniform's jacket.

I slipped it on, braced myself and took a few steps out of the entrance, my heels clicking on the street. Sure enough, there he was, leaning against the building's wall, hands shoved into his pockets while he maintained a heated yet hushed conversation with some of the boys.

Before I could decide whether it would be best to stay on my own or approach him, Don took it upon himself to call for me. With a drag of Luz's cigarette and a double check behind me, I strolled over, arms folded over my chest to preserve the heat.

"—was just drunk, Joe." I only caught part of Skinny's sentence, but the topic was obvious.

"Half of us are drunk, Skinny." More countered before Joe could. "You see anyone pulling that shit?" The man speaking, standing across from me, greeted me with a nod.

The small group made space for me, Talbert quietly checking if I was alright while the rest seemed to be trying to convince Joe this wasn't worth it.

"Y/n, side with us here." Penkala begged, introducing me into the conversation.

"Side with what?"

Liebgott tilted his head up with a humorless laugh, earning an exasperated sigh from Sisk.

"Do you think this was worth the trouble?" Malarkey asked, motioning at the pub.

"What? Cobb?" I turned my face away to exhale the smoke out of the circle of soldiers. "Fuck, no."

"Okay, don't act like you weren't gonna throw hands at him." Joe hissed, throwing a judgmental glare in my direction.

"Doesn't matter what I was gonna do 'cause you beat me to it."

Silence, filled with nothing but the tension coming from two wound-up individuals who didn't know how to talk things out.

"C'mon Mal." More was the first one to bail, giving both Malarkey and Penkala a tug to follow him back in.

"Are you gonna give me shit for this?" Joe inquired in that high-pitched tone he used when he was pissed and didn't even know at what.

Skinny was quick to follow Alton's example. "I'm out."

"Wait for me." Tab called, taking half a step back to the entrance before looking over his shoulder at us. "Don't kill each other."

And just like that, Joe and I were left alone to tread a ridiculously thin line between an argument and an honest conversation.

"I'm not giving you shit for anything." I tried my luck, making a point to sound genuine —because I was.

Joe seemed to get the memo. Truce.

"He's a fucking idiot." He commented, kicking a pebble away.

"I know." I shrugged, taking a drag and exhaling it into the night. "He's all talk, though."

He puffed. "I'm not."

"Neither am I."

Joe mused his next sentence before laying it out unceremoniously. "You wanted me to punch him, didn't you?"

The ghost of a grin twisted up the corner of my lips for a split second; long enough for him to catch on it.

"He's gonna get himself beaten up one of these days." I tossed the cigarette to the ground and heeled it. "Mark my words."

"That wasn't the question." Joe taunted me with a crooked half smile of his own.

"He's not worth the trouble, Joe." I limited myself to reply.

"Still not an answer."

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I threw another question at him; an obvious deflection he allowed me to get away with. "You left that poor thing in there on her own."

"She knows how to handle herself."

I stole a glance at the pub's door, as if I could see the woman if I tried hard enough. "What's her name?"

"Where's your boyfriend?"

My lips twitched. "I asked first."

"Lorna." He gave in without a fight, which meant he expected me to do the same. "Where is he?"

"His pass got revoked."

"Why?"

A shrug. "Didn't ask."

"Bullshit." His tone got a chuckle out of me. "That's the second time I said it and you didn't deny it."

"He's not my boyfriend," I clarified, leaning in before adding "don't lose sleep over it."

His mouth opened like he was torn between laughing and countering something. I didn't let him do neither before waltzing back to the entrance.

[narwal-ed-in]

ARMY GLITTERATI - (Band of Brothers x Bimbo!Reader)

✨glitterati✨- /ˌɡlɪt̬.əˈrɑː.t̬i/ - 1940's slang for famous people, glamorous people, in the spotlight.

Summary: “You want to become a combat medic for the 101st?” “What, like it's hard?”

Warning: Period typical sexism, Fem reader, she/her pronouns, slight body shaming (not directed at reader). NO BETA READ. I WROTE THIS JUST NOW SO PLEASE DON'T EXPECT MUCH.

No disrespect to the real veterans of WW2, all my BoB fanfics are based on depictions by actors in the miniseries.

Borders by @plutism

BEFORE TACCOA

The war is raging and everyone is doing their part to help the men on the front.

For you, that mostly meant trying to look your best at all times, no matter how inconvenient the situation.

"Looking good is a ginormous part of the war effort, it's good for boosting troop morale. I saw it on a poster at the teaching hospital" You reasoned with your father after he complained about you buying another pair of shoes and some expensive vanishing creams.

"Darling, I think they meant that we should all keep our appearances up, not buy out our local department stores"

"Oh my god daddy, you're suffocating me! I'm just doing my part by looking nice..." you glare at your father in his work clothes and eye him with a grimace "...and clearly you're not"

When you get a telegram informing you that you've been selected to participate in a program that aims to send female medics into combat you jump on it.

This is going to be so much fun.

"I'm going to be the talk of the town when everyone finds out. Not even Reverend Smiths boring old story about dying for ten minutes in a car crash and seeing Jesus will be able to outdo this!"

Your supervisors at the hospital are shocked that you've been chosen, seeing as you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

You had once walked out of an operation because it was bloody and you were wearing white (all the nurse uniforms are white).

You hoped you wouldn't be assigned to the army or the airforce.

The army is too basic, and if you were stuck on an airbase somewhere then nobody would be able to see how fab you always were.

The navy was your goal, their uniforms were sooo cute, you were just dreaming of all the ways you could style it.

It's just your luck when you get assigned to airborne.

"THIS BLOWS! I'm in the two most unglamorous branches at the same time"

After your initial breakdown you realized it wasn't that bad. If you were jumping out of planes it just meant that your hotness would have a bigger audience since it would literally be raining down from the sky.

"When the Germans see all this falling from the sky, they're going to flip their friggin wigs! AHHHH"

CONNECTING WITH EASY

You're assigned to Easy company and meet the men a few months into their training at Camp Toccoa.

You show up randomly in the middle of the day.

Although the men had been told a woman would be joining them and they had been expecting you, they hadn't been expecting YOU.

You were a ditzy thing and looked like you’d jumped out of one of their pin up postcards. The brass surely couldn't expect them to put their lives in your hands.

"I'm sooo happy to meet everyone. You know, the other girls in the program are such massive liars, they said airborne was where all the uggos went, but that's so not true. After all, I'm here"

You always woke up an hour earlier than the rest of Easy so you would have time to put your face on.

It was one of your tenets to never be seen by anyone outside of family without makeup on, or with your curlers in.

Malarkey, Skip, Penkala, Shifty, Bull, Christenson, Lip and Winters had all been kind to you from the beginning, expecting nothing in return.

But some of the guys had other ideas.

George was one of the men that befriended you initially. And although he did have the ulterior motive of getting it on with you, he eventually stuck around because he actually liked you.

You guys have great play-flirting banter and you're both very entertaining people to be around, especially when you're drunk.

On the rare nights anyone gets passes they want to be around you and George because they know that's where the funs at.

You get sloppy drunk with George, flirt with men from Easy and other companies all night, then end up with your shoes off at 3am, sitting on the curb and crying about one of your ex boyfriends.

Perconte was one of your original detractors but when you found yourselves making the same brain dead comments about obvious things, you both decided to put your two half braincells together to form the singular braincell you share between yourselves.

Talbert was trying to get into your pants instantly. Nobody was surprised.

But just like George he grew to be genuinely fond of you.

What was surprising was Joe Toye taking you under his wing.

Toye could see that you were absolutely clueless and the worst part was, you had no idea.

Toye couldn't bear the agony of watching you skip around camp with your happy-go-lucky attitude, harping on about celebrity gossip nobody cared about.

"Y/N!" Toye yelled as you all got dressed to run Currahee "Why the hell is your PT shirt pink?!"

"Isn't it just the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen, Joe? I put a red handkerchief in with my laundry. Cosmo said carnation pink is the color of the summer"

Huffing and puffing, Toye took out one of his spare shirts and forced you to wear it.

"And when you give it back, it better not be fucking 'flamingo pink'" Toye said.

"Oh honey, this isn't 1939, flamingo pink is so over. I wouldn't be caught dead in that. You know, Joe, sometimes I feel like you don't care about fashion at all" You scoff at his cluelessness as you walk out.

Joe Toye is secretly your best friend in the company.

Toye taking you in meant Gaurnere and Johnny Martin had to be around you, much to their chagrin.

They didn't want some girl hanging off of them.

You win Gaurnere's respect when you coach him on what to write to his girlfriend back home to assure her that he's serious about their relationship when she began doubting his intentions.

And you win Johnny's respect when you help him find the most romantic gift for his wife for valentines day.

"Y'know, back home they call me the love doctor...Well, they used to, before I told Betsy Kline that Rob Jones was her soulmate but then he left her at the altar to elope with his housekeeper"

Sobel despised you from the moment he laid eyes on you.

Not wearing your red lipstick everyday was torture, but you had to stick to natural colours so Sobel wouldn't be able to tell what you had on.

He tried with everything in his power to get you kicked out, but much to everyones surprise, you kept up extrordinarily well with the men when it came to physical training.

"I do a lot of Pilates. It's really good for flexibility and helps you keep a positive outlook so you're not be such a 'negative nancy' all the time. Some of you could really use it. Some more than others..." you said as you side-eyed Skinny who just looked around incredulously

Eventually most of the men come to consider you a friend and a confidante since you give remarkably sound relationship advice.

"It's like sooo hard being the smartest person and the hottest catch in this camp at the same time"

The hardest nuts to crack in your immediate friend group end up being Leibgott, Cobb and Doc Roe, all for different reasons of course.

Leib was snide and arrogant and spoke to you like you were a silly little girl.

He didn't shy away from telling you how dumb he thought you were to your face.

Your relationship eventually becomes friendly but he will still be mean occasionally.

He always ends up apologising though and feels really bad when he makes you cry (the other guys nearly bite his head off whenever this happens).

"Jesus Christ, Y/N, stop being a baby already. I said I was sorry" Lieb said to you as you cried into your pillow.

"You can say sorry to me, Joey, but how are you going to tell Rita Hayworth you're sorry for saying nobody cares about her nighttime face washing routine?" You spoke inbetween sobs.

"I ain't saying sorry to Rita because I ain't sorry I said it. I stand by what I said. Nobody cares how some broad washes up at night"

"You take that back! That routine saved my life" You jumped up, pointing an accusing finger at the man.

"How the fu-"

"You're a horrible, horrible man Joseph Leibgott"

"Oh put a sock in it" Leib rolled his eyes, making you cry even harder.

Toye, ever protective of you, had enough "I swear to god Leibgott, leave that girl alone!"

Cobb was just straight up cruel to you and made sure you always knew "your place".

Roe didn't seem particularly close to anyone.

But as you all of you went into the more specialised aspects of your training and you and Roe spent more time together, he found himself looking out for you.

You were sitting alone on the grass after everyone had groaned and walked off the moment you started talking about an article you read in a magazine.

You sigh sadly, pulling at the grass when a shadow falls over you.

Bringing up a hand to block the sun you finally recognize who it is. It's Eugene Roe.

"I, uh, I was wondering if I could sit with you?" he asked.

You nodded excitedly and he took a seat beside you in the grass.

"What was it you were telling the others?"

You gasped "You really want to know?"

"I guess…"

Doc had seen everyone walk away, and although he didn't care much for mindless conversation, he knew talking to people meant a lot to you and had come over to cheer you up.

Without missing a beat you began one of your famous tirades.

By the end of your first year in Toccoa you end up finding your place.

Thanks for reading! Please like, comment and reblog if you want❤️

[imaginethatneathuhpartdos]

That had me tearin' up a bit.

Very cute.

Heyyy can I have a Joe Toye request. He asks a girl to dance one weekend while at Toccoa and really likes her and blah blah blah. Goes off to war. Then meets again after he’s wounded, maybe she’s a nurse, and he’s all ashamed because he can’t dance now, but she likes him anyway. Or something. Idk, I just have the bare bones idea. 🤔

Hi! I kinda went with your idea and i really hope it's okay and it's what you we're thinking of. it gave me so many Joe Toye feels and i didn't think i was possible to fall more in love with him. 

All requests are open💕

Taglist: @hellitwasyoufirstsergeant @floydtab @curraheewestandalone @liebegott @vintagelavenderskies

Dance with Me

Joe looked at her sitting all by herself. While all her fellow nurses got up to dance with various guys, Y/N sat tapping her feet to the music. He couldn’t understand how no one had asked her to dance.

Joe placed his drink down on the table with sudden realisation. He thought Y/N was beautiful and he couldn’t stand to see her alone, but he was also glad she wasn’t pressed closely against some paratrooper who would run his dirty hands all over her. “I want her” Joe nodded at Y/N with his head

“You go get ‘em” Luz rolled his eyes at his friends knowing full well he couldn’t dance to save his life.

With one last look, Joe stood to his feet and It was like he had tunnel vision. Nothing else mattered except Y/N and he couldn’t help but wonder how her hand would feel wrapped in his. He realised he would have to ask her before he could dream about how her skin felt.

The closer he got the further away he felt and the more his nerves made him shake. At some point, he caught her attention and she was staring back at him. It was too late to back out now, he thought. She had seen him walking towards her and he didn’t want the embarrassment of having to return to his friends after chickening out.

Joe had crossed the room and as he stood in front of her, he suddenly lost the use of his voice. Y/N waited for him to speak but Joe was in awe of her and the way she held herself. “Dance” He blurted out. Joe closed his eyes in awkwardness. He didn’t even say hello or tell her his name.

When Joe opened his eyes, he expected Y/N to be bewildered and get up and leave, but there was nothing but a warm look in her eyes. “Are you asking me to dance soldier?”  

“I’m trying to” he said in a mousy tone of voice, almost shrinking away from her. Joe looked at the floor as he felt his cheeks redden, but he didn’t miss the smirk she sent his way. Y/N held out her hand, which he took both gratefully and confused.

She was the one to lead him to the dance floor and he gladly let her. Y/N turned to face him, placing both of Joe’s hands on her waist and hers around his neck. The feeling of her hand gripping his neck was everything he thought it would be and more.

Joe continued to stare at his feet, trying to avoid standing on her toes, and he only looked up when Y/N spoke into his ear. “So, are you going to tell me your name soldier?”

After that night, Y/N and Joe were inseparable when they both had free time. Although spare time was rare, because he was running Currahee or doing more jump training, he always made time for her. When she wasn’t learning how to treat gunshot wound or about bandages, she was at Joe’s side.

When he had to leave for Aldbourne, he promised to write her every chance he got. It was a promise he kept and despite the terribly horrific mail service, Y/N received letters from Joe. Sometimes two came at once due to the backlog of deliveries. She lived for his letters, his handwriting like a song she was desperate to hear. The letters became few and far between the longer the war went on, but she didn’t blame Joe because she surely knew he was busy.

One day the letters stopped coming altogether. At first, Y/N though it was the crappy mail service, but the other nurses were getting their mail just fine. She kept writing to him for weeks with not a single reply. It wasn’t until she asked her friend Anna, who was dating Donald Malarkey in Joe’s company, to ask her boyfriend what was up that she learned why he hadn’t been replying. For months she worried about him, but little did she know what had happened to him and poor Bill Guarnere in Bastogne.

The months she spent writing letters to him in Europe and he was lying in an adjacent hospital ward to the one she worked in. As soon as she found out, Y/N went to see him, but he didn’t want to see her. No matter how many times she tried to get in, she was refused entry on Joe’s orders. She decided to write him more letters, giving them to the nurse on duty instead of mailing.

Seven or eight letters and three weeks later Y/N had enough. She was going into that ward whether Joe Toye liked it or not and she was going to give him a piece of her mind.

Y/N pulled the curtain back to see Joe sitting up in his bed looking out the window. His head snapped towards her when he heard the hooks of the curtain screeching against the metal pole and his face fell. The rollercoaster of emotions on his face could be easily read. Fear to shame, to anger.

“Get out.” Despite the rage boiling with him he never screamed or raised his voice. He wasn’t mad at her; he was mad that she was seeing him in the state he was currently in. All the scrapes on his face and arms were nearly finished healing, but his leg, although under a thin white sheet, was obviously wrapped up in thick layers of bandages.

“Joe- “

“Leave, please.” His chest was heaving, trying to breathe and calm himself down.

Y/N stood still, her legs heavy like stone, even if she wanted to move, she couldn’t. She stared at him while he looked everywhere but at her. The silence between them was full of tension and discomfort. In all the time she had known him, there was never an awkward moment between them.

“Joe, talk to me.” She sounded desperate, the quiet between them was killing her. She needed to know why he was ignoring her and pushing her away.

“I can't dance.” He blurted it out with a tone that was obviously harsher than he meant. His shoulders relaxed as he let out a heavy breath and she watched his eyes momentarily close. “I can't- I can't dance.”

Joe’s brown eyes avoided looking at her, missing the baffled expression on her face. The completely unexpected and spontaneous admission confused Y/N to no end. What has dancing got to do with anything?

She didn’t understand. Joe was sweet and he always had a smile waiting for her. Ever since she had met him, he had never uttered a word in a harsh tone towards here, and yet here he was like his personality had done a complete U-turn.

“Joe, what do you mean?” Y/N only had the words out of her mouth, and she remembered his leg. Glancing down, she wanted to slap herself there and then. Joe reached down to touch where his leg should’ve been in an almost automatic reaction.

Joe looked at her looking at his leg. He tried to read her reaction. Pity was the last thing he wanted and certainly not from her. He would rather she blew into anger or a fit of rage than stand in front of him with sympathy written all over her face.

She could see him battling with himself to choose the right words. The expression on his face was a mixture of fear and embarrassment. He was ashamed. Y/N knew Joe struggled to describe his feelings, especially when it came to her. Patience was the only way to deal with him when he got like this. “The night we met- “

When he didn’t continue his sentence, Y/N knew he was lost for words. He couldn’t say what he wanted to say out straight and direct, so she chose another method. It was guaranteed to get him to talk to her at least. “You hadn’t said two words to me until you asked me to dance.” Y/N beamed.

“The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” The memory would be forever engraved in his mind, something he thought of regularly at night in his foxhole. Joe felt his heart sing and break all at once. With a hoarse voice he swallowed the lump in his throat and begged the tears not to fall.

They fell into another silence and Joe was sure she could hear his heart pounding against his chest. He was so deeply in love with her he was prepared to let her go and move on with someone else. He didn’t want her to settle for him and look back in twenty years��� time and regret visiting him in the hospital. He didn’t want her to stay with him because she felt some sort of obligation towards him just because they were together.

“Dancing, that’s what your problem is? You want to dance, with me?” Y/N almost laughed, but for his sake she didn’t. He didn’t answer, avoiding her eyes once again and suddenly interested on the loose thread of the white hospital sheets.

“You should be with someone you can dance with, someone who can make you as happy as you were that night.”

It was then Y/N couldn’t hold in her slight laugh. Biting her lip was the only way to stop herself and she felt bad for poor Joe. Obviously offended, his face dropped causing her to place her hand on his cheek. At first, he physically flinched away but against his better judgement he leaned against her hand. “Joe, I only danced because you asked me. I'm not a big lover of dancing, that’s why I was sitting on my own.”

He couldn’t believe it. The whole time he lay in the hospital bed he thought back to that night and he swore he had never seen someone as happy as Y/N did on that dance floor. The thought of not being able to make her that happy ever again scared him. He could live with only one leg, but he couldn’t live with knowing he was stopping the person he loved from truly being happy.

“I love you” Joe placed his hand over hers, kissing her palm.

“I love you too.” Y/N noticed his hand was rougher than she remembers, but it didn’t change how she felt about him. He was her Joey, no matter what. “And besides, I wouldn’t want to dance with anyone but you.”

[m0isan]

Patience will pay off, sure? Joe Liebgott x Reader

Synopsis: George and y/n had trouble getting dates in England. He did want one and y/n didn't, but both ended up with one. While Joe ended up scoring a shower.

A/N: Just a little something, needed more Band of Brothers fics so thought i should give it a try. Sorry for my english, it's not my first language<3

Wordcount: 1420

Aldbourne, 1944.

George Luz was one of y/n best friends, the two had been attached by the hip since camp began at Toccoa. Everyone assumed that the relationship held something more than just friendship, but it never did. Ever since the travel to England both had found someone else that made the heart skip a beat.

George had been hung up on one English girl that lived in Aldbourne, so he had spent all his free time trying to get to know her and eventually ask her out. The problem for George was that the English girl did not seem to be interested in his attempts to woo her.

“George, just give up! She is obviously not going to say yes just because you ask one hundred times”, y/n said to her friend. “Now you are just scaring her away”.

George just looked at y/n. The two of them were seated outside on a bench trying to get away from all the noise the Americans had brought to the small English town. Geroge had a cigarette hanging from his lips and he had now turned his whole body towards y/n after she had dismissed his chances with the girl, ready to disagree.

“I don’t like this negative attitude you have y/n”, he said grinning, “I know what I’m doing”.

Y/n lit her own cigarette while scuffing at his words, “If you know what you are doing, why are you no were near a relationship with her… do you even know her name?”

“Of course, I know her name y/n! Give me some credit will ya!” he said at the same time he blew out some smoke. “Just because you can’t score a date doesn’t mean you have to look down on everyone else’s hope of getting one” he smirked at this statement.

Y/n’s head flipped around, and she was now facing her friend and looking at him suspiciously. “What is that supposed to mean?” she hissed at him. George just looked amused at her question.

“I know about Joe” he simply said.

Y/n just stared at the boy in front of her. In her mind questions were traveling back and forth, but she couldn’t form a sentence with her mouth. George took advantage of her silence and continued, “I know you love him, it’s painfully obvious for everyone watching you. I think Liebgott is the only one besides you that doesn’t know, and that is just because he is so caught up in his love for you to notice”.

Y/n couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted to, but no… Joe Liebgott was in fact not in love with her, and she would not let herself get her hopes up. She knew better then that.

“Fuck off Luz, mind your own business and keep your ass out of mine” she would not sit and have this conversation, not when Geroge just were trying to tease her. Y/n got up and took one last blow from the cigarette before starting to walk back into the town.

“You know I’m right y/n! You can’t deny looove!” George yelled after her, but he stayed put on the bench and planed his own night, the night of nights when he finally would get the girl to say yes to him.

(Later the same night)

It was not what y/n had planned for the night, but she ended up at one of the bars in town, almost all her friends from Easy were there happily drinking and conversations were filling up the room. George had not turned up for the night, she had not seen him since she left him on the bench earlier that day. But Joe Liebgott was more than willing to keep her company. Around the table sat the other guys playing cards while drinking, y/n did not really pay attention to the game, but by the sound of it was Bill not on a winning streak tonight. She kept looking towards the door in the hope of catching George come in, she felt a need to apologize for the way she acted earlier.

But Joe did his best caching her attention and flirt with her throughout the night and she couldn’t deny the warm feeling she felt from his attempts. But she would never admit to him or to anyone else that she liked him, his ego was already too big for his own good. Maybe she thought to herself while sipping on her beer, in a future where he was a little bit more mature and not so full of himself could she admit it. But that is a big if.

Y/n drank the rest of her beer and stood up from her seat. “You getting another round Y/n?” Danald Malarkey was quick to ask her as she rose. “Nah, I’m done for tonight boys, you will have to find someone else to buy you beer”. She was met with protests and voices asking her to stay. A hand grabbed her wrist as she was about to turn around, she looked down and found Liebgott looking up at her.

“For real y/n? Leaving already? Can’t you just stay here, it’s not like you so much else to do”, Joe kept eye contact with her and the people closest to them had quiet down.

“Well, I’m going to need to go and have a shower to wash away the stank of having to be in the same room as you for more than ten minutes”, she gave him a sharp reply and she could hear a slight whistle from the table.

“You need any help with that?”, Joe answered quick, not bothering to point out her harsh tone. He rose to his feet, still holding on to her wrist.

Y/n rolled her eyes and looked at him, she could see his eyes glitter in the dim light and his eyes were full of hope. He was very close, way too close for her brain to not start running with thoughts of him, all him, in the showers… with her… NO, y/n had to stop herself thinking before she said anything. By now, the whole table was looking at them, waiting for what would come. Which y/n, to be honest, also were waiting for.

She could see Joe starting to say something, but she decided quicker, and her words came out before his did.

“Let’s make a deal, Liebgott”, she smiled at him and continued, “you can help me shower when that English girl agrees to a date with Luz”. The men around the table erupted in laughter at the same time she saw Joe’s expression drop.

“Way to go Lieb! Luz never getting that date and apparently so are you”, said Joe Toye, who was seated on the other side of Liebgott. Joe let go of her hand and sat down beside Toye again. But just as he sat down and Y/n once again turned towards the door, did it slam open, and George Luz came running towards the table where his friends were seated.

“Guys! Guys! Guess what just happened! You will never believe it!” he shouted as he made his way to the table. By now the whole pub was silent, all eyes on Luz who was panting heavily by his running.

“What now Luz? I’m busy getting my heart ripped out here���, Joe mumbled as he felt a pat on his shoulder from Toye beside him and Bill sending him a small smile from the other side of the table, all knowing the mans feelings towards y/n.

“Whatever Liebgott. But she said yes! Doris said yes to a date with me!” George had the biggest smile anyone had seen in a while. Men around the pub started applauding and whistling at Luz, not everyone had luck in finding a woman in England.

But Liebgott wasn’t looking at Luz anymore, his eyes were stuck on y/n and a smirk found its way onto his face. Y/n in return looked at him and their eyes locked with each other. Joe rose up from his seat and took her hand and with a playful gesture gestured towards the door.

“Ah, what the hell!” y/n gripped tighter on Joe’s hand and dragged him out of the pub into the night.

The guys at the table saw y/n and Joe leave and a wave of whistles accompanied them out, everyone had been waiting for them to finally do something about their feelings for each other. It just needed a little push in the right direction.

[luminouslywriting]

Band of brothers headcannon ,somehow somebody told them u were cheating on them and they get super angry or depressed but then they discover it's not true, in a way or another.

An angsty request? Nonny, I'm not sure if you know this, but I live in angst and pain and prefer writing this sort of stuff haha! So keep sending in the angsty headcanon requests, because I'm SO down! Requests are open!

Cut for length, light spice in some, angst under the cut, picking on Webster at least once for no reason haha:

Dick Winters:

-It's not necessarily that someone told him that you were cheating as much as it was implied through subtext and he does NOT deal well with that at all.

-But he's not super vocal about it??? Like, he's the type of man who would rather just talk to you about things than let rumors lie in wait and spiral.

-It doesn't stop him from worrying about if he's done something wrong to push you away until you're able to finally talk.

-And when you do talk, there's this massive relief that you were just getting another job and talking with a superior about it—nothing malicious or mean of the sort.

-Please just reassure this man that he's the love of your life. He's a fairly secure man, but this was rough emotionally and he never accused you of anything but that doesn't mean that he wasn't worried for a second there.

-It definitely becomes a laughing point in your relationship later on.

Lewis Nixon:

-Listen, this man has NOT had good luck when it comes to women or relationships in his lifetime. So when you're a little busier than normal and out longer than normal, he can't help but spiral.

-He takes these fears to some of his friends (not Winters though, because that man would tell him to screw his head on straight haha), and they somehow get it in his head that you're cheating on him

-Cue the downward spiral of drinking and being depresso-expresso yet again

-So when you come home and you've been working extra hours to get a surprise for him—because all you wanted to do was afford a dog on your own wages rather than Lew's money—and he's all emotional and upset—it's a rough situation

-Arguments are had and feelings are hurt. So when he sobers up and realizes that you were just trying to do something sweet for him, he's hurrying to apologize in a big grand romantic gesture sort of a way.

-Moral of the story? Don't surprise him, he'll assume something else is going on or start some sort of conspiracy theory about it haha

Ronald Speirs:

-Someone starts the rumors maliciously because they had a crush/feelings for you and it gets around pretty quickly....and the thing about the entire situation is that he's unfazed? -Like this is the man who people-watches and reads people really well. He's fairly certain that he'd know if you were cheating on him lol.

-That being said, when the rumors finally make their way over to YOU, you shut them down and go to talk to him.

-He's really patient and sweet about the entire thing—because of course he knows you weren't cheating on him, but you're apologizing because of the rumors and he's just wanting to be there for you because that's a rough reputation to have going around tbh.

-Speirs is so secure in the relationship and the way that you feel about him. If not for the declaration of love, then certainly for the way that you are screaming his name later that evening lol.

-Also definitely finds the root of the rumor and uses intimidation to make them back off—no more problems like that for you two ever again.

Buck Compton:

-He's shocked and baffled as to what he's hearing and he's going through everything in his mind trying to figure out where he went wrong. Has he upset you? Were you two not close? What happened anyway?

-He gets real quiet about things when he sees you next because he's trying to figure out how to express what he's feeling.

-And there's definitely some distance on his part and so when he finally comes to you and just asks about the entire thing, YOU'RE just as baffled as he is.

-So reassure him, give him cuddles, attention, verbal affirmation that he's the only man for you, and he'll be secure in no time at all

-But also, realize that it's now going to be a lingering fear of his that you'll leave him for someone else. So be on watch and on guard for any feelings like that re-emerging over time.

-Communication and showing love is going to be big in patching things up.

Carwood Lipton:

-Heart shattered and in disbelief the minute that he sees you hugging another man that he does not recognize.

-He doesn't necessarily want to confront you and have a nasty argument about it, but his jealousy is certainly spiking quite a bit. This leads to him pulling away from the relationship.

-And then the minute that you introduce him to your cousin who has been fighting down in the Pacific for the past few years?? It all clicks into place and he suddenly feels very silly.

-Shamefully admits this to you later when it's just you two alone. And he feels really bad that he even doubted your feelings and intentions.

-But tell him that he's the one, demand that he give you a family—all will be solved by morning haha

-It becomes a running joke in your family for years to come.

Joseph Liebgott:

-JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS—he knows that you have lots of guy friends and that you get along well with HIS friends. But let's be honest, it's probably Webster who suggests that maybe you're a little TOO close to some of his friends.

-And so the ugly side of his jealousy rears it's head and he's getting all possessive and kind of controlling in some ways

-Confronting him is going to be the simplest and easiest route to handle this entire situation

-It's going to be a few arguments later that he realizes that he's really messed up by accusing you of sleeping with one of his friends. But he does come to you and genuinely apologize for his words.

-Yes, this is something you and said friend are going to hold over his head for the rest of your relationship lol.

-And yes, Webster may have gotten punched by you for planting the idea in sweet Joe's head.

Donald Malarkey:

-Listen, this man pays no mind to rumors. But when the rumors involve you and another man? He tends to pay attention. He doesn't believe what he's hearing at all.

-Definitely runs to talk to you immediately about the rumors and isn't sure what to make of your reaction—shocked, of course.

-Your reassurances calm him down and a cuddle session immediately will help him feel much better

-He's definitely going to bring you flowers the next time that he sees you out of guilt lol

-Tries to be more confident in the relationship after that because you promised him that he's the only man for you

-Also attempts to quell rumors with his friends because he's fiercely defensive over you and your honor.

Eugene Roe:

-Soft man here is in love with you to the point of self-destruction, okay?? So when he comes to see you in the medic tent and finds another man kissing you, he's immediately hurt and heart is shattered.

-What he doesn't know is that that was a patient who just kissed you and you had to literally slap the man to get him off of you. So Gene here is in his feels and upset about things.

-When you come to see him and he doesn't really want to talk, you're so confused and he gets really emotional about the entire thing. It's a whole messy argument of you trying to explain what happened.

-And then of course after he's had some time to process the entire thing, he feels just awful for not listening to you or understanding the situation

-He comes to you with a really sincere and soft apology, possibly some chocolate in hand to help his case, and tells you how much you mean to him

-Is it the first time he admits that he loves you? Absolutely. And this certainly leads to the best makeout session of your life haha.

Bill Guarnere:

-Throws hands the minute that someone tells him you're cheating on him. He doesn't believe the rumors for one freakin' minute.

-So when you have to patch him up after some injuries and you're demanding to know why and he angrily explains that it's about you, it's a whole mess.

-You're sitting there trying to explain that you would NEVER, and he KNOWS that so he's just mad that someone would spread the rumors anyway

-This just leads to the two of you being more annoying with PDA haha

-And having a really noisy session of sex where you're both just being so vocal about your love for one another

-Yes, everyone knows that this just strengthened your relationship.

Joe Toye:

-He hears it around the guys in the base—the thing is?? It's an old rumor about some guy that you had kissed BEFORE you were with Joe.

-He gets real quiet and sullen about the entire thing, almost a pouty behavior that leaves you with your head spinning because where is all of THIS behavior coming from??

-It takes a few days of this behavior before he's ready to talk about it and then you're attempting to explain that it's an old flame and that your feelings are solely for Joe now

-In fact, seducing him might just be the move because then he's super smug about the entire thing.

-He might even go and talk to the ex to see if HE has any feelings for you left. And yes, some intimidation might be in order to get him to leave the rumors alone because you and Joe are together now.

-You warn him not to act all pouty like that again though—it was NOT it for you two haha

George Luz:

-Bamboozled, shocked, dismayed, all five stages of grief—but mostly in disbelief

-He's immediately going to shade the hell out of whoever was spreading the rumor even BEFORE he goes to talk to you about the entire thing

-Super down on himself and joking about how he's messed up the entire relationship because clearly you're cheating—and GIRL, you better shut that down NOW

-Please just give him a grand gesture of love yourself and shade him a little bit for even thinking like that??

-Honestly, if you say you're down for marriage, problem solved and this man will never bring it up again—except for maybe in the speeches at the wedding lol

-Is convinced you're even more beautiful when you're shading him for being stupid and believing rumors haha

[uramakimochi]

BAND OF BROTHERS MASTERLIST

- Band of Brothers? More like, Band of Finest Men Alive!!! -

> BACK TO MAIN MASTERLIST <

!!!DISCLAIMER!!!: istfg, if someone comes at me for doing this i'm gonna block them. I write FOR THE CHARACTERS of the show!! Just like you write ff of your favorite character from your favorite serie/movie, this community does the same with this one, okay?? It's not that hard to understand!! We obviously don't mean to disrespect the real veterans and soldiers who fought the war!

• JOE LIEBGOTT:

- Given enough

[she-wolf09231982]

Chapter 8- Adapt and Overcome

Summary: After the German bomb run on Bastogne, the locals and American soldiers there that were left, helped piece back together what they could of the town. Medical personnel that had survived still tended to the wounded however they could with whatever supplies they had left. Easy Company remains in the Ardennes Forest preparing for an inevitable assault on German forces in the town of Foy. However, morale is low due to cold weather, constant shelling, zero relief, and numerous casualties to include a few of your closest friends as Easy pushes forward into Haguenau.

A/N: Mature audience, Joe LiebgottxFem!Medic, post D-Day, She/Her Pronouns, Y/F/N, Y/L/N, Cursing/Swearing, Derogatory Slurs, Mentions of death, Confrontation, Military Terminology, Medical Terminology, 1940’s slang, Inappropriate Nicknames, Band of Brothers References, Mentions of Weaponry, Yiddish/German/Italian to English Translation, Descriptive Wounds/Injuries, Blood/Gore, PTSD, Smoking, Banter, Pining, Consensual Physical Contact/PDA, FOREVER FLUFF

German is identified with (g)

Yiddish is identified with (y)

Italian is identified with (i)

Made the best discovery writing this piece: "Liebling" means "darling" in German!! That absolutely made my day and now is my new favorite pet name/term of endearment from Liebgott.

Beginning 1x7 The Breaking Point then transitions into 1x8 The Last Patrol

*These stories may not fall entirely in accordance with the TV series timeline. I do not know the real soldiers the actors portray in this series, so please understand I show no disrespect. Some or most of historical events and character interactions in my fanfics are fabricated purely for the sake of the enjoyment of fiction*

~~~~~~~

January 5th, 1945

German artillery fired onto Easy Company from the town as Easy soldiers scattered to the nearest foxholes to take cover.

“INCOMING! TAKE COVER!” Lipton shouts to the men as he runs to the nearest foxhole.

Blasts coming from all directions causing trees to fall and dirt to fly made it difficult for the men to navigate safe passages to their holes. You had been separated from Joe before the attack started. You lay flat behind a pile of fallen trees for cover while you shield your face from the debris. You were too afraid to move, fearing you’d just get hit.

After what seemed like hours, the ambush came to a halt, and you suddenly heard a familiar call from the distance.

“MEDIC!”

You sprang from the ground and started running towards the cry for help then you ran into LT Buck Compton.

“Buck! Are you ok!?” you ask as you look him over frantically.

He had a distant look in his eyes.

“Sir? SIR??” you take him by the shoulders and shake him.

Buck finally looked at you, “...yeah.” he whispered.

“Did you see anyone else that was hurt? I heard someone call for a medic.”

His eyes began to gloss over. You tilted your head while you furrowed your eyebrows.

“Buck? Who needs help? Please, tell me!” you urge him.

He pointed to a path through the trees and uttered names that almost had you fainting at his feet.

“Bill...and Joe.” 

You wasted no time dashing through the tree line where he had pointed to. The path lined by the woods seemed never ending. All you heard was the drumming of your heartbeat in your ears while your feet became heavier and heavier impeding your ability to get to Joe as fast as possible. Images of his lifeless body flashed before your eyes, causing tears to stream down, stinging your cheeks from the cold air.

You finally reach the clearing, stopping to assess the carnage of blood in front of you. You see Doc Roe already kneeling over a soldier lying on his back whose face you couldn’t see from where you had been standing. To the left you see Guarnere leaning against a pine, his right leg hanging on only by tendons and ligaments.

Two men rushed in with a litter. 

“Bill, you go first.” 

“Whatever you say, Doc.” Bill replied. 

“Over here. Take this man.” Gene ordered pointing at Guarnere.

Guarnere was hoisted onto the stretcher, and carried off, not before a snappy exit comment,

“Hey, Joe, I told ya I'd beat ya back to the States.”

Tunnel vision sets in as the world starts to cave in on you. You fall to your knees as you attempt to pace your breathing so you won’t pass out.

Malarkey appeared from the path behind you.

“Y/F/N! Hey, you ok??” he asked concerned as he hooked you under the arm to help you up.

His voice was distant and muffled.

“I-I-” you stuttered, but words completely fail you when you see the right leg of the soldier that Doc was helping...more so the right leg that was completely missing. You gasp slapping your hand over your mouth in a desperate attempt to stop the scream of terror from escaping. You look at Malarkey with dread painted all over your face.

“It’s...Joe!?” you managed to say between panting as you start to hyperventilate.

Don looked over and understood what you were reacting to.

“Y/F/N, that’s Toye. Joe Toye.” he clarified slowly and deliberately so you could understand.

You stare back at him, progressively absorbing what he just said.

“Toye…” you echoed back.

Don nodded. You look back at Doc and Joe Toye, finally coming back down from your shock. 

As Malarkey pulled you up, Doc turned around noticing you were there.

“Hey, Y/F/N, come over here and hold this so I can wrap it up.”

You swiftly go to help Eugene, seeing Toye’s pale face as you get closer.

“Hang in there, Toye.” you say in your best reassuring tone.

~~~~~~~

That night, Corporal Penkala and Sgt. Skip Muck's foxhole took a direct hit, killing them instantly, a moment witnessed by George Luz. A dud shell also landed next to Luz and Lipton's foxhole, fortunately sparing their lives.

The eventful day the Germans provided had you and Eugene running around like crazy, following the cries of ‘medic’ in every direction. Both of you were running on steam, and you had yet to see Joe Liebgott at all since this attack began.

When the bombardment finally calmed down, it was too dark to venture out to find him. You decided the safest bet was to stay put. You would’ve heard by now if Joe had been transferred to the aid station. Or at least you hoped.

The following day, the move on the town of Foy commenced, thankfully with LT Speirs in command. As Easy company rushed the field towards the town, a sniper effectively picks off the men as they approach. The sniper is eventually taken down by a mortar and the men quickly enter Foy. With the village filled with attacking Germans, Speirs makes a suicidal run through the German front line to make contact with I Company. However, the most fascinating thing about what Speirs did wasn't that he successfully connected with I Company, but that he ran back the same way he'd gone unscathed.

~~~~~~~

After taking the town of Rachamps a few weeks later, Easy takes a much-needed rest in the solace of a local convent. The Sisters have taken the liberty of bringing in their choir to sing for soldiers. Of the 145 men that entered Bastogne, only 63 remained. After you have tended to the wounds of the soldiers that were hurt during the assault, you wander amongst the men to find your Joe.

You find Lipton and Speirs conversating in one of the aisles.

“Hey, Y/L/N, good to see ya. You doin’ ok?” Lipton asks.

You nod, “Yes sir. You?” 

“I’m just fine.” he responded softly.

You look at LT Speirs, “Sir?”

“I’m fine, Corporal.” he stated.

“You haven't seen Liebgott by chance, have you?” You ask, trying not to sound too distressed.

Lipton looked over the crowd of scattered soldiers.

“Yeah, he’s right over there. By the altar.” 

You look where he had pointed and see Joe sitting on the floor against the stone wall by himself where dozens of lit candles stood on iron stands around him. You B line to him, picking up the pace to get to him as fast as you could. As you get within ear shot you call out to him.

“Joe!” you manage to gasp.

Joe quickly looked up upon hearing your voice. His face lit up when he saw you, hastily standing up to meet you halfway. When you reached him, he enveloped you, lifting you up from the ground as he pressed you against his body.

You bury your face into the crook of his neck as happy tears began to cascade from your bloodshot eyes. Joe’s chest heaving from joy was electrifying, leaving you a melting mess in his arms while he lowered to your feet.

“I thought they got you.” you whispered through your sobs.

Joe scoffed, “Those Krauts ain’t gettin’ me.” 

He pulled away to look at your face. He used his gloved thumb to wipe your tears.

“I’m right here, Gams.” 

You throw your arms around his neck, pulling him into a desperate kiss. His arms snake around your waist, angling his head to intensify the lock he had on your lips. You unconsciously slack your jaw, allowing his tongue to slowly run along your lower lip. Although you both were lost in this magical moment, you suddenly became aware that you were ‘necking’ in a church and thought it best to behave before you both lost complete control.

You gently pull back as Joe’s disappointment clearly appeared across his face.

“We shouldn’t have done that here.” you admit.

Joe smiled at your properness. 

“If God didn’t want it to happen in His house, He wouldn’t have let it.” Joe justified.

You raise an eyebrow and smirk at him.

“It’s inappropriate.” you countered.

“So, you’re saying if it had been right outside the church, it would’ve been fine?” he countered. 

You giggle, “Perhaps.”

Joe laughed, “Well how about we find a place to rest, and we can just cuddle up?” he compromised.

“Yes.” you agree as he pulled you by the hand to where he was sitting.

The church had provided blankets to the men, which Joe had spread out on the floor picnic style. He sat against the wall, then offered his hand for you to hold as you lowered yourself down next to him. He folded his coat, placing it on his lap for you to lay your head on. You nuzzle into him, resting the side of your face onto the coat while he combed his finger softly through your mess of hair. 

Before you drift off to sleep, over the choir singing in the background, you hear a low gravelly whisper:

“Ikh hab dir lib (y)(I love you).”

~~~~~~~

February 9th, 1945

The plan had been to relieve Easy Company and head to Mourmelon. The following morning, orders changed after Hitler launched a counteroffensive in Alsace, and you were all to help hold the line in the town of Haguenau.

As Easy began loading up on trucks for Haguenau, PVT David Webster is dropped off by a depot Jeep,

"Thanks for the lift." Webster tells the driver.

As he greeted his battered comrades, he received no welcoming glance from any of them. The air of disdain grew thick as he passed each truck. He had been sent to an aid station long before Bastogne, and their collective resentment stemmed from his long stay in the hospital and his making no effort to return quickly and rejoin the company.

You're seated next to Joe in the bed of a deuce truck, huddled into him trying to keep warm as Webster walked up.

"Hey guys, some lieutenant told me to report to 2nd." he stated gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder behind him.

He looked at one of the soldiers across from you and Liebgott.

"You're name's Jackson, right?

"That's right." Jackson replied dryly.

"Who's leading the platoon?" Webster queried.

"Sgt Malarkey is." Jackson responded.

"What? No officers?" Webster questioned.

"I guess you didn't hear." Liebgott began, "They're making Malarkey lieutenant. He's on the fast track now."

"Really? That's great." Webster noted.

"Yeah, ain't it?" Joe replied sarcastically.

"Hey, Jackson, help me up, will ya?" Webster said trhowing his gear bag up onto the bed of the truck as he hoisted himself up.

Webster sat on the bench next to Jackson, then noticed you half passed out on Joe's shoulder. He observed the medic brassard on your left arm.

"New medic?" he asked, motioning with his head towards you.

Joe looked down at you, shifting your face onto his chest as he wrapped his left arm around you to hold you steady when the truck picked up speed.

"No. She's been here since the beginning." he stated, shooting a cold glance at Webster.

"So, you came from the hospital?" Jackson asked Webster.

"Yeah."

"Must've liked that hospital, cuz, uh, we left Holland four months ago." Joe sneered.

Webster felt the bitterness, “Well I wasn’t there the whole time. There was rehabilitation, then the replacement depot-“

“-Well I’m sure you tried to bust out and help us in Bastogne.” Joe interjected.

“Well, I don’t know how I would’ve done that.” Webster defended.

“That’s funny, because Popeye found a way. So did Alley, right? Back in Holland,” Joe illustrated to Babe who was sitting on your left, “And Guarnere--”

“Yeah, where is Guarnere? He still your platoon sergeant?” Webster asked obliviously.

“No. He got hit.” Jackson answered bitterly.

The trucks arrived at Haguenau then came to a hard stop. The men started to unload from the rear. Joe gently nudged you.

“Zeit zu gehen, Liebling (g)(Time to go, darling).” Joe whispered to you.

“She speaks German, too?” Webster probed.

You strain your eyes to look at him.

“Who’s this?” you ask Joe.

“Webster.” Joe answered plainly.

“Hm, don’t you look all bright eyed and bushy tailed.” You say through a yawn.

Joe scoffed, “Yeah, had a four month furrlow, now he’s ready for war.” Joe joked.

Joe jumped from the bed of the truck, then offered his hand to you to help you down which you accepted.

“Spread out. Hold along this line ‘til I figure out where we’re going.” Malarkey called out.

“Sarge? Sarge-“ Webster approached Malarkey.

An incoming shell soared over and hit a nearby building before Malarkey could respond. An unexpecting frightened Webster dove to the ground while LT Speirs spectated in the background like a child watching a fireworks display.

“What’s the matter there, Webster? A little nervous in the service?” Malarkey teased.

~~~~~~~

Later in one of the abandoned houses of the town, Captain Speirs and LT Lipton were setting the place up as Command Post. Lipton had been fighting off pneumonia since you left Rachamps and was looking rather rough. You and Eugene had been hounding him since to take it easy, but he has chosen to keep pushing through for the men.

“Sir, pneumonia has killed people with rest. You keep pushin’ yourself like this you’re gonna die.” You lecture him, “Luz, go grab the man a blanket, will ya?”

You call out to George as you guide him back down onto the couch.

“I’ll be alright, Y/L/N.” Lipton assurred.

“Sgt Lipton? Feeling all right?” Webster’s voice carried through the room.

You look up, slightly annoyed, “Look at him. He’s got pneumonia, does he look all right?” you hiss.

“Sorry to hear that.” Webster replied.

“What are you sorry about?” Luz said as he threw a wool blanket over Lipton, “He’s alive, he’s got a couch, a goddamn blanket. He’s snug as a bug.”

“Well, if the man would stay off his feet and keep warm...maybe eat something, he may actually recover.” You state firmly.

Lipton sighed, “I promise I will try harder to take it easy, Y/F/N.”

You hum is disbelief as you try to start a fire in the fireplace to heat some soup for him.

"You fuckin' Italians think you can solve everything with food." Luz said outloud.

You glare over your shoulder at him.

"Non vengo pagata abbastanza per essere tua madre (i)(I don't get paid enough to be your mother)." you mumble under your breath.

Luz's face twisted with confusion, "Huh?"

"Nothin'." you reply curtly.

“Have a seat Webster, I’ll help you get situated.” Lipton said pointing to the chair nearest to him.

Webster observed you by the fireplace.

“So, you Liebgott’s girl?” Webster inquired.

You start the fire and hang a tin cup with water and broth above it before you respond.

“What if I am?”

He stared back in shock.

“Just wonderin’.”

“You got a lot to say, don’tchya? A little advice, David Webster, quit asking these guys so many questions about who went where. Don’t make them relive all their losses so soon. Got it?” you say with spitfire behind your voice.

Webster’s jaw fell open while his eyes widened.

“Um, yeah. Got it.” He uttered.

You give him one last look over and leave the room.

Upon your return, a replacement officer arrived while Captain Speirs moved about the room shuffling through some papers he had snatched from Lipton’s hands.

“Listen, for chrissake, will ya go back in the back and sack out? There’s beds back there with fresh sheets.” Speirs ordered Lipton before he could say anything.

“THANK YOU, SIR.” You project across the room to the Captain, “I guess it takes a direct order from the CO to get you to do what me and Doc been askin' you to do for days.” You assert with exasperation.

Lipton shot you a frustrated expression, “I will, sir, I was just tryin’ to make myself useful, sir.”

~~~~~~~

Another abandoned building was designated as barracks for the companies occupying the town. Floors that were able to bare weight, had bunks lining the walls in each room. You had a single bed to yourself that was conveniently arranged where the headboard of your bed met Liebgott’s bottom bunk. You lay on Joe’s bed briefly to rest your eyes.

The new officer, LT Jones, entered the room to let Malarkey know that at 0100, a mission was to commence across the river to obtain POW’s for interrogation. After Jones took Malarkey aside to go over a few details, Liebgott took Webster to the bunks to get the information out of him.

“Hey, Web. Come here, I wanna talk to you for a second.”

“Why??” Webster asked alarmed.

“You want some coffee?”

“No.” Webster replied quickly, paranoid by Joe’s sudden act of kindness.

Joe looked at Jackson, “Fifteen.”

“Fifteen what?” Jackson asked.

“Looeys since D-Day,” Joe replied, “This kid out of high school yet?”

Joe asked looking at LT Jones talking to Malarkey by the window.

“West Point.” Webster replied.

“Isn’t that where Ike went?” Jackson asked.

“He actually graduated with his son.” Webster clarified.

“Shit. So, uh, what do you know about this patrol thing?” Joe interrogated Webster.

You sat up from Joe’s bunk.

“Patrol?” you asked, somewhat panicked.

“Uh, nothing.” Webster lied.

“Oh, come on, I know you know something.” Ramirez pushed.

“I don’t!” Webster insisted.

Joe spit at the floor, “Bullshit. You were there, right? At the CP. This is a prisoner snatch, right? Come on, Webster. Spill it.” Joe pressured.

You shifted onto the side of the mattress to hear better.

“Capt Speirs is to pick fifteen men. LT Jones wants to be one of them.”

“I say let the kid go. He could use the experience.” Joe said with a cynical smile.

“Probably could find fourteen replacements to help him out.” Ramirez added.

“Who’s going?” You chime in, asking Webster, “I assume they need a translator and a medic.”

“I don’t know who.” he replied.

You roll your eyes at him.

“Why are you holding out on me? I know you know-” Joe accused Webster, “Who?”

Webster hesitated, “Well, if I tell you, you can’t let anyone know I let you know.”

“Your secret’s safe with me, Web. Who is it?” Joe urged.

Webster paused, “Heffron-“

“Oh, shit.” Babe huffed.

“-McClung, and Ramirez.” He ended.

“He want any other guys from any other platoon?” Joe asked.

“No. I don’t know. Not that I know of. That’s all I know, I’m sorry.”

~~~~~~~

“2nd Platoon, on me!” Malarkey called right outside the shower tents that were set up for the soldiers to finally have a proper hot shower.

The men form up around him.

“All right, I’m leading this patrol. CO wants Grant, Liebgott, Wynn, Jackson, Shifty from 3rd platoon, and Webster.” He relayed.

“They don’t want anyone from first?” Cobb asked.

“No.”

“Is there anyone they don’t want from 2nd Platoon? Jesus Christ-” Joe expressed sarcastically rolling his eyes, “It’s always 2nd Platoon. I swear to God, if we were down to three guys, they’d still want us for it.”

Joe trudged off towards the showers.

You run after Malarkey, “Malark, they didn’t say anything about bringing a medic?”

“Those were the only names they gave me, Y/L/N.” he replied wryly.

“Maybe you can suggest I come with-“

“Y/F/N, those are the names. I’m sure there’s a reason they’re not sending you or Doc.” he barked.

You coward back slightly, trying not to push the subject any further.

He softened his demeanor realizing he was overreacting some, “I know you wanna be there, but we can’t afford to lose more people, let alone medics. Especially good ones. Get it?” he explained as warmly as he could muster.

“Ya, sarge, I understand.” You reply with a weak smile.

He gave you an encouraging nod and walked to the shower tent. You realized you were about to be surround by dozens of naked men and should probably head back to the bunks before you see too much.

~~~~~~~

Back at CP, Luz was unpacking what looked to be dozens of chocolate bars and candies sent from the Post Exchange from Stateside. His Easy Company brothers progressively encircling him like vultures trying to convince him to share as he counted them to record for inventory.

“Goddamn it, Johnny, you’re breaking my heart, I’m telling ya!” Luz started.

“Come on, George, just give me, I don’t know, 10, 15 bars.” Martin begged.

Luz slammed down a small pack of gum on the surface of the table, “Here, Juicy Fruit! Happy?”

Another soldier walked in behind Cobb and Martin, “Just got report of movement. 1st Sergeant Lipton wants you to lay a few bazooka rounds into a house across the river.”

“You’d think we’d get just one Hershey bar-“ Martin complained disregarding the soldier’s report.

“Come on, Luz, you’re 1st platoon at heart.” Cobb pushed.

“Jesus, Cobb, there’s not enough-“ Luz explained.

Liebgott entered the room with you right behind him. Webster and LT Jones entered not too long after you.

“Whoa, Hershey bars!!” Joe exclaimed.

“Where!?” you ask trying to look over Joe’s shoulder on your tiptoes.

Luz rolled his eyes, “Jesus Christ!”

“Wait your turn Liebgott, Y/L/N.” Cobb commanded.

“Yeah, yeah, who they for?” Liebgott dismissed.

“Not you! Not even for Y/F/N!” Luz established sternly.

You furrow your eyebrows at him, “I am offended, George! Have I not taken care of you when you needed it?”

“Yeah, and so has Doc but I don’t see him in here asking for handouts.” He replied.

“Oh, come on, George, one bar for me and Y/F/N, we’ll share one.” Joe pushed.

“No! There’s not enough to go around!” Luz claimed.

“Hey, big mouth, give the kid a Hershey bar.” A familiar voice projected across the room.

Everyone looked up and saw Frank Perconte back from the aid station after receiving a bullet by the Germans in his left buttocks.

The guys laughed collectively.

“You gotta be shittin’ me!” Luz said with a wide smile.

“Look who it is!” Joe added.

“What’s up guys? I like what you did with the place, George.” Perconte jested.

“Yeah, yeah, I did good. How you feelin’?”

“As long as you keep your hands off my ass, I’ll be fine.”

Luz chuckled, “Here have a Hershey.”

He tossed a candy bar across the room to Frank.

“He gets a fuckin’ Hershey bar?” Joe protested.

“Well, he got shot in the ass!” Luz retorted.

Martin walked over to Perconte, “Did I tell you to stick your big ass out in the wind?”

“No! But I expect a little sympathy from you, right?” Frank repsonded.

“Yeah, should I rub it for ya?” Martin teased trying to spank his left butt cheek.

Perconte quickly shuffled to the side, “Get the fuck outta here!”

“Can you believe this guy? I try to get him out of the fuckin’ war, he comes straight back!” Martin stated.

“Yeah, well, that’s not what I heard. I heard the Krauts are finished.” Frank said.

“Yeah, well, just to make sure, we gotta row across the fucking river tonight, grab a few, and ask them in person.” Joe explained.

Frank’s disappointment surfaced across his face.

“Ya kidding me?”

Joe shook his head, “Wish I was. Welcome back, Frank.”

~~~~~~~

At 1700 back at CP later that day, a briefing was to be held by Capt Winters about the upcoming patrol for that night. The soldiers listed on the roster to go sat around a long dining room oak table with LT Jones standing awkwardly off to the side.

With Capt Speirs’ and Lipton’s permission, you also attended the briefing, standing across the room where you had a clear view of Joe sitting at the head of the table. You could see the guys secretly whispering their opinions to eachother about LT Jones leading the mission instead of Malarkey.

“No way. Not on his first day.” Grant stated.

Joe rubbed his bottom lip thoughtfully, “Well, do you see any other officer here?”

Webster, standing behind Joe’s chair, crossed his arms, then looked at Lt Jones sympatheticlly, knowing the frustrations of being doubted for being “the new guy.” Another handful of Easy soldiers entered the room.

“Who’s in charge of this bullshit?” one of them asked. He looked over his shoulder at LT Jones. “No he ain’t.” he determined outwardly.

“Well, if he ain’t, it’s you, Chuck. Or Shifty, or Mo.” Babe asserted.

“Well, that would be better.” Joe appended.

You feel your stomach twist into knots at his words. And as if he felt your anxiousness, he shifted his attention to you, meeting your gaze across the room. He gave you his signature infectious Liebgott grin, and you couldn't help but smile back.

“Ten-hut!” Jones called out to bring the room to attention as Captain Winters walked into the room.

“At ease.” Winters instructed the men.

Winters explained that they were to cross the river in four rubber boats with LT Jones, the ranking officer will go along as an observer. Sergeant Martin was to lead the patrol in Malarkey’s place. He assured the guys that the battalion will be covering their withdrawal with the POW’s, and were to utilize the whistles provided to signal to them to blast the outpost after they’ve safely returned to the boats.

“Remember, it’s about prisoners,” Winters reiterated firmly, “-Don’t pop the first thing that moves.”

Winters flashed a brief glance at Liebgott before continuing.

“Clear?”

The men mutually responded, “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Picked your assault team?” he asked Martin.

“McClung, Liebgott, Sisk, Cobb, Garcia, and Webster, as translator. The rest of you guys, a base of fire with Sergeant Grant. You speak German, right, Webster?”  Martin bellowed at Webster across the table.

“Yeah, a little bit.” Webster replied meekly.

Not before wishing his men good luck, Winters made his exit.

“A little German?” Joe began, “-his German’s as good as mine. And Y/F/N’s.”

Joe motioned with his head towards you. You look at the floor somewhat flattered, but also frustrated that two soldiers who speak German would be going on this mission when they really only needed one. This thought had you pushing down angry tears.

Coincidently, Webster had the same thoughts.

As you file outside with the guys out of CP, you immediately head back to the barracks so Joe wouldn't see you upset before he left. Webster approached Capt Winters, Capt Speirs, Martin, and LT Jones.

“Sir?”

“Yes?” Winters acknowledged.

“Liebgott and I, we both speak German. You said fifteen men, there’s sixteen of us, including two translators.” Webster elluded.

“Well, fine,” Speirs began, “Hey, Liebgott. You wanna sit this one out?”

Joe’s obvious elation displayed on his face, “Yes, sir,” he looked at Web, “Thanks, buddy!”

~~~~~~~

I’m dedicating this chapter to my lovelies @wordsaresimple-imnot @mrs-greenside @skiesofrosie @yourspeirs for sharing and fueling my everlasting enthusiasm of BoB

❤️🪖♠️🦅

[imaginethatneathuhpartdos]

Damn. That's cute.

More than Words (Joe Toye x Reader)

A/n: listen no one requested this but I thought of this while I was at work and I had to write it. Also I’m sorry for the lack of content, and I’m sorry cos this is hella unedited. Anyway enjoy I love you all!

Tag list: @gottapenny @wexhappyxfew @bandofmarvels @medievalfangirl @starryrevelations @itisjustmethistime @etainlord @snafus-peckuh

It was the flutter y/n felt in her stomach, along with the quick beating of her gentle heart every time she saw Joe Toye. The way his dark brown eyes would search for her in a crowd, how soft his gaze would be whenever her e/c eyes would meet his own.

Y/n would often tell herself that love, at first sight, did not exist. She never believed in fate, but walking into Toccoca and seeing the tall, handsome man she couldn’t feel anything but butterflies in her stomach. And for the longest time, that little crush developed into more than a crush.

The little things Joe Toye would do that would quicken the pace of her beating heart. Joe Toye felt the same way about her, at first it was him teasing her. But sooner than later, Joe felt the butterflies in his belly every time he would see her.

The gestures started out slowly, a brush of their fingertips whenever they passed each other. It was as if the world stopped every single time their eyes met, and their fingers touched. Then slowly, when no one was looking, Joe would take her hand in his. It was almost as if their hands were meant for each other, his calloused hand interlaced with her own. It was as if it was all meant to be, and y/n hated to admit that.

The heart attacks both would go through, Joe would often say it was an adrenaline rush. The first sweet kiss they both shared in the empty pantry of the mess hall, his on either side of her face and her hands on his waist. It was as if their lips were meant for each other, sparks flying the instant their lips touched. Everything in the world stopped and it was just them standing in that pantry. Until someone standing at the entrance of the pantry cleared their throat, panicked both turned to see none other than Winters.

They both knew it wasn’t allowed, Joe would joke and say he did it for the thrill and adrenaline rush. But y/n knew that he loved her just as much as she loved him.

Their secret relationship went on until the first jump in Normandy. Both separated from each other, seeing dead soldiers on the paths scaring y/n. She prayed that her Joe Toye was alive and punching Nazis, but the hours were long and she was desperate to know where half of the company was. But most importantly she needed to know that the love of her life was alive.

And soon after, in strolled Richard Winters followed by Guarnere, Lipton, Malarkey and finally Joe Toye. If it weren’t for secrecy, she would’ve jumped into his arms and kiss him more than a thousand times. But instead, she sighed in relief, Buck watching the exchange of glances and sighs of relief between them. Until then, Buck Compton understood and knew something only Y/n Y/l/n, Joe Toye, Richard Winters and himself only knew.

*

The war continued on, with little to no time between them. It was back to when their relationship started, simple grazes of their fingertips when they walked past each other. Until Joe couldn’t hold it in any longer, snatching her from Guarnere and Lip and hiding behind a building in the dark. Y/n smirking, her stomach doing flips as the hand that grasped her wrist slowly made its way to interlace his fingers between hers.

With no time to breathe or even blink, he pulled her in for a kiss. His lips meeting hers, the salty taste of them on her own. A low moan leaving her, enough to drive him to slip his tongue into her mouth. The butterflies that she felt in her stomach only made the kiss feel like it had been eons since their lips connected.

Pulling apart, his chocolate eyes darted around her face. Her eyes still closed as the moment replayed in her mind over and over again. His hands on either side of her face, as he let out a shaky breath and whispered “I love you”

*

Carentan happened. Caught up in fighting the enemy, bullets flying from left and right. Running from one corner to another, following Muck and Malarkey y/n held her weapon and shot. Shooting to one side as she heard bullets fly behind her, in a split second it all slowed. Her mind buzzing as she lowered her weapon, hiding behind a pillar she took a deep breath and realized her arm was bleeding. Just below her chevrons, a bullet had managed to lodge itself into her flesh. The slight pain making her close her eyes and cursed at herself.

After finding out that a ricochet had hit the love of his life, Joe Toye managed to drop everything and run towards the aid station. Seeing others wounded, medics tending to said wounded. He stood at the doorway and scanned the room for his girl. His eyes landing on a tired y/n, as she talked to Eugene who wrapped her arm with a bandage. Joe walked towards her, y/n only sighed as he walked closer. A tired smile on her face as she scooted off the bed, standing up to meet the equally tired man.

“You know, you’re going to make me lose my mind y/l/n.” His voice low and raspy, nothing but adoration and concern in his eyes. Y/n smirked and shook her head.

“Thought you already did, Toye.” The smirk only made Joe chuckle and shake his own head slowly. Y/n turned around and grabbed her OD and then back to Joe who was staring at her. Love and adoration written all over his face, something that y/n was glad she made him feel. “You’re staring...” she sang as they walked out of the air station.

“You know what,” he said more to himself than anything, grabbing her hand and pulling her to a secluded area. And area where it was just them two, alone. Y/n chuckled and followed in tow as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m about to do something that proves that it’s your fault that I’m losing my goddamn mind.” He pointed towards her, y/n furrowed her brows as she put on her jacket being ever so careful with her wound.

“Baby, it’s not just my fault.” She joked, Joe looked away from her and brought his hand to cover his mouth. Slowly pacing, y/n growing concerned when he didn’t speak. “Joe?”

“I love you more than anything in this world.” He blurted out, y/n’s breath hitched as the words replayed in her mind over and over again. Heart beating slightly faster as his eyes locked with hers. “I’m not the brightest, but I know for damn sure there are not enough words to express how much I truly love you.” He sighed as he stepped towards her, y/n blinking rapidly as her eyes glassed over, tears threatening to spill.

“Joe-“ he shook his head, reaching her hand as he leaned down to press a kiss on her forehead. Resting his own on hers, a shaky breath leaving his mouth as he closed his eyes.

“The only way I can think of letting you know- Y/n, marry me.” He whispered the last part, y/n swallowed hard and smiled widely.

“Of course,” she chuckled, a tear escaping and slowly falling down her cheek. “When we get home, it’s the first thing we-“

“No, I don’t want to wait until we get back.” He shook his head and pulled his forehead away from hers. Y/n furrowed her brows and thought of all those times she planned the ideal wedding with the perfect man. The perfect man was standing right in front of her, he was everything and more. “Here” he spoke after a few seconds, y/n chuckled and opened her mouth to speak.

“Here, you want to marry me here?” She asked, Joe gave the shocked woman a firm nod before reaching for her hand again. His thumb brushing over her ring finger.

“I’ll marry you anywhere, but I want to do it now.” Y/n smiled and shook her head in disbelief. Leaning on just enough to peck his lips. “You want to do it in the trees or beside the bush?” A smile on his lips as he playfully asked, shaking her head once again she brought her other hand and rubbed her face.

“Fine, let’s get married. Here and now! C’mon, it’s just you and me” she spoke as she interlaced her fingers with his, a content sight leaving Joe’s mouth as he walked closer towards her.

“What happens at weddings?” He asked, y/n not knowing if he was serious or not. A soft giggle leaving her lips before realizing she didn’t know either. “Seriously, what do we do?”

“We promise to each other.” She simply spoke as his gaze soften, “on this day, June 11, 1944 at-“ she glanced down at her wrist to look at her watch “at 17:21. I, y/n y/l/n, promise to love you more than anything. I promise to cherish you, hold you, love you in sickness and in health. To remind you of my love, to never leave you alone, to always make you smile. I promise to always be there, through thick and thin.” The words making joe tear up, a small smile on her face as she finished.

Clearing his throat he chuckled and swallowed hard, “I promise to remind you every day that I love you. And that I will love you for eternities to come, in sickness and in health. Until we grow old together with kids and grandkids. I promise you that you will be my one and only.” Y/n felt the tears escaping and rolling down her cheeks. Stepping forward she closed the gap between him and her, her lips pressing against his. The kiss was soft as she breathed in deeply. Heart thudding soft against her chest as she thought of the moment over and over again.

Pulling away Joe chuckled and rested his forehead against hers, “I owe you a wedding ring, Mrs. Toye.” He whispered, y/n closed her eyes and hummed in response.

“Mrs. Toye, I like the sound of that.”

[privatebullshit]

with faith undaunted [part 04.]

— ♡

part 04. longing [2.9k+ words]

summary: y/n y/l/n is a nurse-in-training when she meets joseph j. toye in 1942, shortly after the attack on pearl harbor, at camp toccoa. she's the americana dream, he's a reckless private. what happens when their fates cross paths?

♡ follow along on their journey of love, loss, and hardship as the story progresses in events taking place before, during, and after the war. ♡

warnings: language

a/n: this one is gonna sting a bit, sorry ya'll

song rec: once more to see you - mitski, i'm your man - mitski

wfu taglist: @luvrottt @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @fromjupitertocentauri @annasansh @bluecanvasshoe @catbusloki

previous parts: 00. promo 01. remembrance 02. blossoming 03. timidity

wfu masterlist bofb masterlist

— ♡

Early 1943

Joe and the other Easy Company men had completed their jump training out of the C47 aircrafts, which marked that they were officially Paratroopers and were bound to receive their jump wings. Y/n and Joe hadn't seen each other in a while, all too busy with their training to share a moment with one another. The big jump wasn't too far away now, and the war effort would soon demand more out of them.

But now? Hell, it was time to celebrate! The company was currently in one of Fort Bennington's pubs, chugging beers and slamming down the empty glasses, listening to old records, and shouting heartily, all of their tension melting away. Joe was having the time of his life, but the only thing missing was her.

He leaned against the counter, waiting for George to shut his yap so he could get a beer. When the latter finally turned around, Joe had to listen to his bullshit before getting a drink.

"Corporal Toye," Luz said, mimicking Sobel's infuriating voice, "there will be no leaning in my company."

Joe rolled his eyes, but stood up straight anyway, humoring the idiot for the time being.

"Are those dusty jump wings?" Luz asked, causing Joe to look down and blow hot air onto the wings, polishing them with his thumb. "How do you expect to slay the Huns with dust on your jump wings?"

Having enough of Luz's imitations, Joe grabbed him by the lapel of his uniform, pulling him in just enough to speak lowly, "Luz, just give me a drink."

George grinned widely, laughing to himself as Joe let him go, "Hell of an idea, Joe. There ya go." He placed a tall glass of cold beer in front of Joe, who took it and raised it to toast with George.

"Three miles up, three miles down," George said, Joe nodding in agreement as they clinked glasses and took a sip.

The moment was cut short when the sound of the record scratching rang through the air, followed by a loud "Ten-hut!" Every soldier put their glasses down, standing at attention as Colonel Sink came into view.

"Well, at ease, Paratroopers," he spoke warmly, the men following his instruction and standing in a relaxed position. "Good evening, Easy Company."

"Evening, sir!" they responded.

A few more words and a glass of beer was exchanged, Colonel Sink raising his glass and shouting, "Currahee!"

All of Easy eagerly exclaimed "Currahee" back, cheering and whistling in congratulations to them all. As Colonel Sink went elsewhere, the men started to have fun once more, playing drinking games and betting packs of smokes.

It wasn't until the record scratched again that everyone had to stop what they were doing, but there was no call to stand at attention, no heavy steps made by boots of important officers, just the soft click clack of heels against the wooden floor. In fact, it was just that a pretty woman had walked in, dressed in her starched and ironed nurse uniform, a Red Cross armband now adorning her left arm.

Joe turned his head to find the source of the sudden silence, his eyes widening and jaw going slack as he saw y/n standing in the doorway. She looked like she was looking for someone, and his heart couldn't help but thump at the fact that it might be him she's searching for. He placed the now warm glass of beer on the counter, meeting her halfway as they both waded through the sea of enlisted men.

Everyone's heads were turned as they stood in front of each other now, gazes full of soft admiration and mutual pining that only those two couldn't figure out. Joe's hands trembled as he took hers, raising it to his lips to press a soft kiss to her knuckles, letting it fall back to her side.

"Joe," she breathed out, her voice filling his ears with a sweet melody that the record couldn't dare to recreate.

"Y/n, you're here," he responded, shock and relief lacing his voice. Y/n nodded, still gazing up at him as if he was the only Paratrooper in the room.

"I wanted to say congratulations. . . on becoming a Paratrooper," she spoke softly, adjusting her headscarf slightly.

Joe reached out to tuck a piece of hair that fell out of place behind her ear, "Thanks. You too, y'know, on becoming an official nurse for the Army Nurse Corps." His heart ached to take her far away from here, away from the prying eyes of the Easy men, where no officer would intrude on their shared moment.

"Thank you," she smiled, hers causing Joe to smile back. The men around them started to murmur, never before seeing Joe act so gentle with anyone before.

George pushed his way to stand next to the two, flashing a charming grin as he wrapped his arm around y/n's shoulders, earning a tense squeak from her and a glare from Toye.

"Well, if it ain't our favorite nurse! I thought that was you, y/n," Luz snickered, drawing her closer to his side.

Soon, some of the other guys got up and started to greet her, showing off their jump wings proudly.

"See, this here is a real man's pair of jump wings!" Skip said, earning a smack on the back of the head from Malarkey who said, "Every man has the same pair of jump wings, you moron." Penkala laughed in the background, wrapping an arm around his two best buddies.

Y/n's cheeks flushed at the attention, letting out a string of giggles before gasping slightly when she felt someone's arm snake around her waist. Joe had a gentle but firm grip on her, leading her to the middle of the room.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, holding one of her hands in his.

She averted her gaze to the pins on his uniform, "You already have me." He couldn't disagree, but it still made him flush like a boy. The two danced, ignoring the protests and groans from the other guys that clearly wanted to dance with her.

"We're off to North Carolina in the mornin'," Joe said, looking like he was starting to miss the girl in his arms already. "Where will you be?"

Y/n pressed her cheek against his chest as they danced slower, Joe bringing a supportive palm to the small of her back, thumb rubbing small circles on the fabric of her uniform. She was silent at first but eventually gave him an answer.

"The same place, at least, that's what I've heard so far," she murmured, her grip on his hand subconsciously growing tighter. He squeezed her hand back in a reassuring manner, letting her know that he heard her and he was there.

"A little more time together then," he said, placing his chin on top of her head. They stop moving, y/n moving her head back just enough to look into Joe's eyes. Ask anyone in the room and they'd say the two were beginning to be more than they'd like to admit, but that's not something they wanted to talk about it just yet.

"I'll see you there, Joe," she whispered, fingers slipping from his grasp as she moved back, a sudden chill passing over Joe as her warmth retreated from him. It nearly split their hearts in two, but they did what had to be done.

— ♡

Camp Mackall, N.C.

Easy Company had been training nonstop for the upcoming invasion, pouring out blood, sweat, and tears as Captain Sobel made continuous mistakes because he couldn't read the damn map. It pissed Joe off to no end, but alas, Sobel was their CO, so it wasn't like they could do anything about it for the time being.

Y/n had been working tirelessly, continuing to train as a nurse while also helping the men whenever they sustained a reckless injury. Time was nearing for them to pack up and go again, this time to a place where y/n couldn't follow. Both she and Joe dreaded the day to come, lingering glances holding more weight than words could at the moment.

As y/n stood around the aid station taking inventory, she heard someone clear their throat, instantly turning around and expecting to see Joe. When she was met with Doc Roe standing there, holding his helmet sheepishly, she was surprised but offered him a warm smile.

"Roe, it's good to see you," she said, putting down her clipboard.

Roe nodded politely, "It's good to see you too, Miss y/n. I came to say goodbye before we leave." He shuffled around, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. Y/n could recognize the tone of his voice, taking a few steps closer to him and placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"It was nice training with you, Eugene. You be careful out there, alright?" she said, enveloping him in her embrace, Roe instantly melting against her.

"I will," he whispered, sniffling quietly.

Y/n reached into her apron and pulled something out, holding it in her palm, "Let me see your hand."

Roe pulled back, extending his right hand to her, watching as she placed the object in his palm. It was a beautiful pair of scissors, tiny, intricate details etched in the bows and shanks. He felt her wipe away a stray tear, pulling her back into his arms to hug her once more.

"For the world's best medic," she said quietly, rubbing his back.

"For the world's best nurse," Roe said back, placing a kiss to the top of her head.

Two close friends in the same field, separated by the uncertainty of departure and war.

— ♡

In the dead of night, y/n found Joe smoking a cigarette as he leaned against the outside of his quarters. She approached him quietly, the leaves crunching underneath her Mary Jane heels, causing him to look up.

He took one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and putting it out with his boot. His arms reached out for her, and she found herself in them immediately. Words bubbled up in her throat and threatened to spill out, but they only came out as a soft sob.

Joe shushed her softly, caressing the top of her head as he held her close, looking to the stars as he wondered if and when he'd get to hold her like this again.

"I know, sweetheart," he said, twirling a strand of his hair around his finger.

Y/n muffled her shaky voice in his chest, "I'm gonna miss you."

Joe's heart cracked into a million pieces, each piece containing something he adored about her. He wanted to stay in the States; to bring her home to Pennsylvania so she could meet his parents— his mother would love her dearly— and to hold her while the war raged on elsewhere. The only battle that mattered in this moment was the one between his duty and his darling.

"Don't go, they have enough soldiers to fight," her voice wavered, his shirt becoming damp with tears.

Joe sucked in a trembling breath, clutching her tighter, but carefully, as if she was made of porcelain, "I have to, y'know I have to, angel. But I'm gonna come back home to you, I promise."

He was teary-eyed too now, gritting his teeth to hold back broken sobs as he buried his face in her hair, "I don't wanna leave my girl."

Y/n lifted her head to look at him, eyes rimmed red and cheeks wet with tears, "I'm your girl?" She spoke the question so softly into the air, Joe could hardly hear it, but he did. And that was what made his resolve crumble, a cry escaping his lips as he nodded.

"You're my girl. You've been my girl since the day we shared that cab together," he mumbled, kissing her crown.

After they managed to calm down, now slumped on the ground and against the wall, y/n curled up on his side and Joe's arms around her, they were silent for a bit. They would have to part soon before anyone saw them together so intimately, but for the time being, it was their safe sanctuary while the crickets chirped around them.

"Remember when I went out one weekend back in Georgia?" y/n muttered, fingers tracing lazy patterns on Joe's arm.

Joe hummed, "Yeah, why?"

"I got you something, I just didn't know when to give it to you," she admitted, fishing two things from her apron. She placed one in Joe's hand, Joe lifting it up to his eye level.

It was a beautiful silver lighter with a Bible verse engraved on the front, which read:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

"I know you're a devout Catholic," y/n whispered, her fingers tracing over the letters on his dog tags. "I figured it would be a moment of peace every time you lit a cigarette."

Joe held the lighter tightly, tilting her chin up to kiss her forehead, "It's perfect, angel, thank you." He tucked it into his breast pocket where he kept all his cigarettes.

"This is for you, too. For good luck," y/n said, placing a gold locket in his palm next.

Joe's eyes widened, thumbs gently prying open the locket. Inside was a beautiful picture of y/n smiling, Joe's heart leaping from his chest. He was quick to put it around his neck, hiding it underneath his shirt for safe keeping.

"It's beautiful," he whispered, "I'll send you somethin' from Europe, hon'."

She nodded because she trusted him, but she was scared all the same. Joe was scared too, afraid to leave his promises broken and empty, afraid to leave his one and only. She smoothed her lips against the underside of his jaw, earning a soft exhale from him as his hands tangled in her hair.

For now, this was enough, something to hold onto when all seemed hopeless.

— ♡

"Aw, bring it in!" Luz chuckled, drawing y/n into a crushing hug as Easy Company boarded the train headed to New York.

"See you, Luz. Don't annoy Joe too much," y/n smiled, patting his back.

Soon, she hugged every man in the company, some longer than others, and some definitely more emotional. Sergeant Lipton smiled as he approached her, giving her a tender hug, "Take care of yourself, kid."

"I'm not a kid," she protested. "I'm a fully capable nurse now!"

Lipton's shoulders shrugged up and down as he laughed, "That you are, but you'll always be our little girl in here." He placed a palm on his chest where his heart is, vision blurring just a bit.

She gave Lipton a sad smile, patting his hand and watching him go to the other officers with a heavy heart.

Joe was one of the last men to board the train, halfway inside the door before he dropped his bag, running to lift y/n into his arms, spinning her in a circle. He set her down, pressing his forehead against hers as he sighed, "I'm gonna miss you so goddamn much."

"I'll wait for you, Joe. Come back home to me," she spoke against his skin, kissing his cheek softly.

Joe returned the kiss to hers, pulling back when he heard the guys shouting for him to get on board before they left without him. Shit, if the guilt wouldn't kill him, he'd let the train pass him by so he could stay with his beloved.

He smiled at her before hopping onto the train, moving so he stood in front of one of the open windows, his buddies crowding around him. Y/n looked around, eyes widening as she heard the train's whistle signaling their departure. She quickly got an attendant's attention, kicking off her heels.

"Can you lift me up to that window right there?" she said frantically, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

The attendant, who's gone through this more times than he could count, smiled and nodded, "Up you go, girl, onto my shoulder— there you go."

She was lifted onto one of the attendant's shoulders, Joe reaching out to steady her with a laugh in disbelief, "What are ya doin', sweetheart?"

"This," she said, holding his face in both of her hands as she kissed him, lipstick-coated lips pressed against his, Joe cupping the back of her head to bring her closer. All the men inside the train cheered and whistled for the two. The kiss felt like it lasted forever, but it was only a second before they had to part, the attendant setting y/n down to her feet.

The train started to move slowly, and she ran as it picked up speed. Joe leaned out of the window, watching her struggle to keep up, tears filling his eyes.

"Will you write me?" she called out, breathless but determined.

"Like it's the last thing I'll ever do!" he shouted back, watching her figure get smaller and smaller as the train reached a speed she could no longer keep up with.

"I love you, Joseph John Toye!"

It was faint, but he could hear her scream it in the distance, his heart panging with longing. He leaned back in his seat, reaching into his uniform to pull out the locket around his neck. He held onto it tightly, letting out a quiet sob as the men around him placed supportive hands on his shoulders and back.

"That's a girl worth fightin' for, Joe," Guarnere said.

"So, ya best make it home, huh?" George added, everyone agreeing with him.

Joe let out a sad laugh, opening the locket to see her beautiful face once more, "I love you, too, y/n y/l/n."

[rogue-durin-16]

HEAD-TO-HEAD (part X/?)

Summary: Joe thought she was pretty. Had he just said that, things might have been different for them. Maybe they wouldn't have gone head-to-head at each other for three years like it was a contest.

Pairing: Joseph Liebgott x Reader

Genre: angst/rivals to lovers

Tags:

Head-to-head: @derersketnoget @ladystardustfromarss @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark @sxalbatf @aliciax3

Band Of Brothers: @fernando-jpg @chubbypotatoepie @tvserie-s-world @clumsy-wonderland @lordndsaviorwinters @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark

Permanent taglist: @randomparanoid @karlthecat15722 @thebutchersdaughtersblog @amourtentiaa @comfort-reads

Warnings: language, allusions to sex (barely)

A/N: I feel like this chapter got out of hand lengthwise but I'm the one making the rules, and the rules say no one cares about how long each part is. Maybe I'll update the next part before Thursday, maybe I won't, who knows? I'm chaotic and impatient so everything's possible!! Enjoy<3

Head-to-head masterlist

Band of Brothers masterlist

Rogue-durin-16 masterlist

Another slow morning, another goddamn plate of powdered eggs.

Since our return to England, every day felt ridiculously monotonous. It didn't matter how many maneuvers we did, how intense drill trainings were, it just didn't feel like it was enough to keep our minds running and our hands busy.

Maybe it was just me. Maybe Normandy had made something inside me snap like a worn out rubber band. No, it had to be all of us.

All of the veterans, at least. Fuck, there were too many new kids. New kids lucky enough to have landed on Easy Company, I thought to myself, after looking up and spotting Y/n and Bull chatting with five replacements. Probably explaining something to them, by the attentive faces staring at the two veterans.

A piece of bread hit me from across the large table. I blinked at Malarkey's smug grin.

"What."

"A bit early to be ogling, don't you think?"

"A bit early to put me through this shit, don't you think?" I dryly mocked the ginger.

He limited himself to hum, amused at my annoyance, and returned his attention to the most interesting matter at hand in our rowdy table; listening to Luz and Perconte argue over who could throw a deck of cards farther.

Muck was egging them on whilst Penkala was trying to set rules—something about trajectory and wind resistance. Not like any of us gave a shit.

I was halfway through tuning them all out when Toye gave me a nudge to move further to the right. As if we could spare space.

Y/n plopped down by Toye's left, leaning forward to ask us both, "What's going on?"

"They're throwing cards." Her friend replied, his voice raspier than usual due to the morning hours. "Seein' who gets farther. Malark's running a bet, if you wanna join in."

"It's too early for this." She sighed, stabbing at her breakfast halfheartedly.

"That's what I'm saying." I agreed, pointing my fork at her.

"Wow, agreeing with me, Liebgott?" Her arm stretched out to jokingly place the back of her hand to my forehead. "Should we call for Roe?"

I swatted her away, earning a 'for fuck's sake' from the man between us. "Woke up feeling funny?"

"Very."

Mail time interrupted Perconte and Luz's little competition.

A new guy—one of the replacements, I figured—walked down the aisle between tables, calling out names. Nobody gave him much thought, barely glancing up as letters landed in front of them.

One dropped by my tray. Not for me. One dropped in front of Y/n. She didn't seem too interested either, fingers lazily tapping the envelope before flipping it over.

I went back to my eggs.

Then I heard it.

"What, you go to war and forget your manners?"

Everyone of us looked up at the guy, Y/n included. Her face shifted fast; annoyance flickering into something harder to read —maybe shock—, before breaking wide open.

"Ohmygod—"

She was on her feet in a second, launching herself at the guy, arms wrapping around him like he was the last lifeboat on the Titanic. And he —whoever the hell he was—held her just as tight.

The table went quiet.

I dropped my fork, stomach twisting into bothersome knots. I scanned my friends' faces and told myself I couldn't be the only one feeling like this.

Y/n's tone was unmistakably soft when she whispered something into his shoulder, her voice too quiet to catch any words. She wasn't letting go.

Toye looked over his shoulder. "You her brother or somethin'?"

The guy laughed, finally pulling back from her. "Old friend."

Old friend.

I scoffed under my breath, picking my fork back up. "That's what they're calling it now?" The backhanded comment was low enough to stay out of Y/n's earshot, but the men around me heard it loud and clear.

Muck shot me a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothin'," I shrugged, stabbing at my eggs again. "Just never seen her jump into anyone's arms like that before."

"Jealous, Lieb?" Luz smirked, folding over the table as far as he could to keep the comment down.

"Oh, Jesus Christ."

But my eyes were still on her. On them. The way her body had eased into his arms, like, for a second, the weight of the war we all carried wasn't real for her.

Y/n was still holding onto him— barely, just to clinge onto the touch. Her fingers, slightly unsteady, gripped his arm as if she let go, he'd disappear.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she finally asked, voice hovering somewhere between disbelief, concern and the happiness that comes from being met with a piece of home.

The guy grinned. "Delivering mail?"

She pulled back, just enough to smack his arm without having to put any actual space between them. "You're supposed to be in Norfolk, sitting this out. Are you stupid?"

The teasing edge in her voice didn't quite mask the worry underneath. Yeah, this guy wasn't just an old friend, was it?

The man's smile softened. "Finally got the greenlight."

Y/n frowned. "From who?" She was too wrapped up in the conversation to notice the blatant snooping on our part.

"Some doctor with bad judgment, apparently," he joked. "Said I'm not allowed to do much, but at least I get to be here. Figured I'd rather be in the game late than not at all."

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Christ, Andy…"

Andy.

I could feel Muck and Luz exchanging glances, Penkala turning his head to whisper something to Malarkey, even Toye was side-eying Andy. They were waiting, letting it play out until she came back to us.

I was already over it.

Y/n's hold hovered at his elbows, her body language completely open in a way we had never seen before. And Andy— he was looking at her like she hung the goddamn moon.

Not exactly how you'd look at a friend.

"Wait—did you get assigned to Easy?" She pointed her thumb at our general direction.

Oh, fuck no.

"Hell, I wish." Andy denied and added, "Some guy from basic training saw your name on the mail roster and mentioned it in passing. Switched shifts with him soon as I could."

That made me turn.

My mouth started running without sparing my mind any time to catch up with it. "What, you went around basic dropping her full name?"

Y/n's brows shot up. Luz snorted. Malarkey kicked my shin under the table, tearing a wince out of me. To everyone's surprise, Andy simply grinned. "Something like that, yeah."

"You like being the laughingstock, then."

Malarkey's boot met my shin again, harder. My retaliation was followed by a smack on my neck— Y/n's courtesy.

"Fuckin'—" I rubbed the now sore spot on the back of my head. "You're pretty damn eager to touch me this morning, aren't you? Fuck."

"You really don't know how to shut up, do you?" She spat, kicking the back of my seat.

Andy gave me a puzzled look. "Who's this?" He asked, addressing the woman standing in front of him instead of me.

"I'm—"

"A pain in the ass. He's a pain in the ass." Luz jumped in before the situation had the chance to escalate. "Ignore him."

"Yeah, he's having a bad morning." Malarkey clarified with a smile. "Right, Lieb?"

"Fuck you both."

"See what I'm talkin' 'bout?" Luz motioned at me with a flick of his wrist. "Bad morning."

Y/n's attention was back on him after that, although not for long, since someone from another table called for the mail.

"Are you free this weekend?" Andrew asked, all casual confidence.

Y/n snorted before answering with, "If they don't revoke our weekend pass, yeah."

"Good." His ridiculously blue eyes raked her form. "I'll find you."

That should've been the end of it, but as he took a step back, Andy reached out —an easy, practiced motion—, and tapped the side of her cheek with two fingers. A gesture that seemed so familiar between the two of them, it was almost nothing.

Almost.

I caught the way her lips twitched, like she was biting back a smile. Just like that, he was gone, walking off without looking back.

Y/n exhaled, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and turned back toward the table where everyone waited.

"Who was that?" Malarkey was the first to ask.

"A friend." Y/n answered simply, reaching for her coffee like it was that easy.

Penkala let out a low whistle. "Didn't look like just a friend."

"I don't care what it looks like." she stated, taking a sip of the lukewarm liquid in her mug.

Luz occupied his hands on recovering the cards that had been abandoned atop the wooden surface, not without a grin. "Childhood sweetheart?"

"God, no." She made a face. "I grew up with him. He's like— he's just Andrew."

Muck raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, well, Andrew sure looked happy to see you."

"You guys are worse than nuns." She messaged her temples at the snickering around her. "He's a good friend. Practically like a brother."

"Like a brother?" A scoff teared at my throat, making her meet my gaze. "You serious?"

"Dead serious." Her tone was a warning in itself for me not to keep pushing. "And he shouldn't be here, he's fucking stupid."

I pushed anyway.

"No, you're fucking stupid."

"Okay, what the hell's wrong with you?"

"Y/l/n, you can't be that fucking dense." She leaned over her tray, gaping at my statement. "That guy wants to be more than friends."

"Yeah, Liebgott? 'cause you obviously know him better than I do after seeing him for— what? Two whole minutes?"

"Looks like it."

"You know what—"

"Can you two shut the fuck up?" Toye slammed a hand on the table, making my cup clink against my plate. "It's not even six, I wanna have my damn breakfast in peace."

That shut us up. Both Y/n and I sat back like two kids who had just been scolded, reluctantly focusing on our powdered eggs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

READER'S P. O. V.

I slowed down my rushed pace when I spotted Easy Company leisuring all over the tarmac, my boots crunching against the mildly frost-bitten grass. The men were scattered in small groups, some checking their chutes, some playing cards on top of overturned crates. I wasn't late. Good.

It took about three seconds for Don to notice me. Three seconds too quick.

"Well, well, well," he called out, tossing a pair of gloves at Penkala. "Look who decided to show up!"

I rolled my eyes, but the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth told me I wouldn't be getting off easy.

"Y'know, Skip," Malarkey continued in a mocking tone, "I don't think I remember seeing Y/n come back to the barracks."

"Funny, I was about to comment how she wasn't at the mess hall this morning." Muck leaned forward from where he was crouched by a duffel bag. "Had a nice, looong night with Andy, Y/n?"

The way he said it sent a ripple of amusement through the men in earshot. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Nothing happened."

"Oh yeah?" Malarkey drawled, grinning as he rocked back on his heels. "So you just—what? Took a nice long walk 'til sunrise?"

"Yes, actually." I dropped my bag by my feet and kneeled down to do a quick equipment check. "Did I miss anything?"

"We're still waiting on the officers." Penkala, who had been watching the brief exchange with the lazy ease of someone who enjoyed a good show, finally spoke up. "So far, the only thing worth mentioning is whatever's going on is that right there."

I followed his vague gesture across the tarmac, toward a small group of RAF officers gathered near the planes the division would use for the morning's maneuver. Except, it wasn't the officers that caught my attention.

It was Joe.

He was angled just slightly toward a woman in uniform; an ATA pilot, by the looks of it, who leaned against a Spitfire.

The woman laughed at something he said, tilting her head just enough for her curls to bounce with the movement. Joe grinned satisfied. Smug.

"What's he doing?" I asked, my voice coming out flatter than I intended.

Muck, still crouched, shot me a knowing look. "What's it look like?"

It looked like he was flirting. It looked like he was good at it. It looked like he was enjoying every second just for the hell of it. For some reason, that rubbed me the wrong way.

"You missed the full show last night."

I had to fight with myself to pull my gaze off them. "What show?"

"While you were walking with Andy," Malarkey sat down beside me with a groan. "Joe decided he wanted to get laid. Made it everyone's problem." The ginger opened my bag wider to help me make sure I had everything. "You know how he is."

"A productive evening, if you ask me." Muck rummaged through his things and handed me a chocolate bar, which I eagerly took since I had skipped breakfast.

"Skip won three out the four bets Guarnere ran." Malarkey clarified.

"Jesus." I made a noise in the back of my throat, something too disdainful to be classified as a genuine laugh. "And that's the girl?"

"The girl's friend." Skip corrected me. "That was the one bet I lost. I was damn sure he'd go for that one." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head "Lost two packs of smokes."

"Two packs?" I scoffed, half amused at the thought of Liebgott having enough criteria for Skip to bet on it. "Why were you so sure?"

The blond man hummed, feigning nonchalance. "She looks like someone I know."

Malarkey nudged him hard enough to make him sway. "Christ, shut up." he muttered under his breath.

I shot another look at the woman in uniform; her coy smile and the way she tilted her head to the side when Joe almost unperceptively leaned in, as if she was past his game but was indulging him nonetheless.

"That's not as funny as you think it is." I deadpanned, my eyes glued to her.

"Maybe." Muck shrugged. "But looks like I was right either way. Where's Guarnere? I'm getting those smokes back."

And just like that, he was off to another point of the tarmac where Bill animatedly chatted with Johnny.

Penkala furrowed his brows at Joe's act. "He's really workin' for it."

"He's not workin' for shit," I countered before I could stop myself. "She's already eating it up."

Malarkey snorted, zipping my bag. "Sounds like you got a problem with that."

"Why would I have a problem with that?" I shot back, a little too quickly. "I don't."

Penkala stretched his arms over his head, eyes landing on me as he said. "Hey, as long as Joe's got his fun, right?"

"Right." An exhalation, sharp and short. "Good for him." I raised to my feet again, dusting off my fatigues.

"Look at it this way," Malarkey mirrored my movements. "He'll be less annoying now."

"Maybe." I forced myself to focus on checking my straps. "Or maybe he'll be even more insufferable."

My eyes drifted across the tarmac again.

Stop looking.

"Fifty-fifty chance." Penkala replied, taking Don's helping hand in order to join us.

Stop looking.

"There they are." Malarkey pointed at Winters and Nixon, approaching the planes with the rest of the officers trailing behind them.

Joe spotted them too. He leaned in to whisper something in the woman's ear.

Stop looking.

"C'mon." Don's boot nudged my bag, prompting me to grab it.

I followed my friends' lead.

My eyes darted to the pair one last time.

Stop looking.

[imaginethatneathuhpartdos]

Nice.

Words Like Knives

Getting into a heated argument with Toye and you both sitting on high tension. “Maybe people keep away from you because they don’t want to put up with someone so fucking cynical,” you spat before you could stop the words. You catch yourself and look over at Toye to see him frozen, looking at you with tears welling in his eyes and jaw clenched. “Is that how you feel?”

For @fandomscenariosforyou​

Also on AO3 here

Keep reading

[luminouslywriting]

Can I have a headcannons of bob, like you breaking up with them?

A/N: I rise from the dead to grace you all with my presence, a small gift, and my love. Gif is not mine and belongs to swiftzeldas btw! As a reminder, my requests are open and I am going to be working on them on the weekends now that my midterms are over!

Dick Winters:

-This goes surprisingly well? Like, he takes it like a champ and I can't explain it. The man is as respectful and understanding as they come.

-Probably leads to a very heartfelt conversation between the two of you

-Depending on the severity or reason of the breakup, he might cry tbh

Lewis Nixon:

-Doesn't take it well but also isn't that surprised?

-He's probably drinking as you break up with him and already trying to figure out how to drown his sorrows.

-Definitely someone who says something hurtful in the moment and then regrets it for years to come.

Ronald Speirs:

-Is scarily silent for a hot minute

-Listens to all of your reasons and depending on if he feels like the relationship can be salvaged, he'll probably just respond with a "no." Also alternatively might try to distract you with a makeout session in order to stop the breakup convo.

-However—if it's not worth fighting for, he'll probably just take it like a man and move on.

Buck Compton:

-Listens very carefully to your reasons why and probably asks a few questions of his own

-He's out here trying to come up with a compromise or something to make things better

-Probably holds onto a picture of you for a long time after the breakup.

Carwood Lipton:

-The most amicable of the breakups sans Winters

-He knows it's coming for a while and can feel it when you want to talk—he's been emotionally prepping for days or weeks

-Probably hugs you as you part ways and genuinely well-wishes you for the future

Joseph Liebgott:

-This is an argument—it's not gonna go over well. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a fair amount of back and forth.

-He's gonna guilt trip you just a little bit

-Overall, it's an emotional affair trying to break up with him

Donald Malarkey:

-A sweetheart about the entire thing—listens, takes his time to understand your pov

-Really just wants the best for you and knows that you two being together isn't a good thing

-Probably the type of guy that you remain friends with after a breakup tbh

Eguene Roe:

-Literally gives you the biggest puppy dog eyes and I'm sorry, but it's that gif from Shrek 2 where Puss in Boots is giving the eyes

-Jk, he's actual pretty quiet the entire time and is just trying to figure out where things went wrong

-It feels like a one-sided conversation, unfortunately

Bill Guarnere:

-Talks a lot over you, tries to talk to you, and with you—but it's rough

-He just wants to understand where or why things went wrong and what he can do better

-Don't worry, he's very respectful and understanding of the whole thing though

Joe Toye:

-Silently listens the entire time with an unreadable expression until the very end

-At which point, he's going to give his 2 cents about the entire thing, respectfully, i might add

-Probably keeps in contact with your mom or your dad weirdly enough haha

George Luz:

-Literally crushed when you tell him you want to break up

-Promises he'll do better and be better for you, that he'll give you grand gestures and the whole nine yards

-Has a rough time moving on after the breakup for sure

[brassknucklespeirs]

Scary Dog Privilege [Joe Toye x reader]

This is taking me longer than i intended so here's my apology, have another snippet

『-』 Neither of them were given a moment to continue this exchange of simmering annoyance as a new bout of whistles filled the air causing Y/N to whine in distress, curling into herself to grasp at any comfort she could. She looked up from under her brows towards the sky as the first explosion went off, but immediately flinched in discomfort, turning her body away and pushing herself as close to the side of the foxhole as she could. When the not-so-solid soil wall seemed to wrap its arms around her tightly in a moment of shared unease, Y/N realised she had, in fact, unconsciously turned away from the wall of the foxhole, not towards it, and found herself pressed firmly against the warm body of Joseph Toye. The man's arms remained steadfast around her waist as the chaos outside the foxhole continued, his own fear slipping through with every 'bang' that was heard. The ground shook violently as a shell hit close by and Y/N let out a strangled scream of terror. Her hands unravelling from themselves to grasp at Joe's jacket, tugging herself closer to him while she tried her best to focus on the warmth that radiated from him, or the way his fingers could be felt rubbing back and forth over her spine. Even if he was a particularly cold man towards her, it had not been the first time she had used him as a distraction, though this was much more than just admiring him from afar. There was a certain intimacy in being held as if she was the only thing that could bring reassurance to the soldier beside her, a type of intimacy she had gladly welcomed at that moment as she too tightened her grip on his shirt, even going as far to hide her face in the fabric covering his shoulder.

A heavy silence hung over the air when the shelling stopped, the only noise being the creaking of nearby trees, half destroyed from the blasts and desperately clinging to hold their form. Y/N stayed leaning against Joe, his warmth offering comfort as her body grew tired as the adrenaline had leaked faster from her than it had the last time. Her wound began to burn hotter than last time, and a pained whine left her lips as she lifted her hand, pulling her face from the man's jacket to watch as crimson blood trickled down the palm it had begun to stain.

"Shit. MEDIC!" Joe screamed out as he glanced down at the woman as she lay groaning against his side, her hands coloured with scarlet liquid while her face was screwed up in a look of discomfort. "Uh, how many fingers am I holding up?" He asks, his voice a mixture of worry and uncertainty, his hand showing three fingers. Y/N seemed to pause her groaning for a moment, her head tilting up to look at him, her face showing disbelief at the words. Her gaze flickered between his face and his fingers, too confused to answer immediately as she took in the dead-serious look of concern on his features.

"I'm not dying you fucking moron. It's a shallow gash, not a mortal wound." She replies with a quiet snort from her nose in amusement. Sure, the sliced flesh burned but it was certainly nothing to write home about, and she was more than prepared to never think about it again once she had been seen to by a medic. Until that point, she would ensure she'd made it clear to Joe that she deserved a little bit of appreciation for drawing blood for him, even if it was her own. The man rolled his eyes at her answer, pushing his fingers closer to her face while his brows tugged together in silent frustration.

"Just answer the fucking question Y/L/N." He said firmly. With a huff of irritation, Y/N gave her answer before using the hand that wasn't pressed tightly against the wound on her hip to flick his own hand away from her face.

"Thank the lord above they didn't make you a goddamn medic." She muttered under her breath quietly, though the roll of his eyes told her he had heard the words leave her mouth. 『-』

[to be continued...]

[imaginethatneathuhpartdos]

Very cute.

Gotta love when a tough guy is soft for his partner.

I want one.

Some domestic Toye HCs would really water my crops 👀

I enjoyed writing this WAY too much😂  it's less domestic and more fluffy? i don't know why but i let the writing gods guide me and this is where they took me. I really hope you like it and gives you as much Toye feels as it has given me.

All request are open💕

Taglist: @floydtab​ @curraheewestandalone​ @liebegott​

Joe never thought he would be the type to fall completely and utterly in love with someone. Yes, he knew he would end up with someone, but he didn’t think he would be in love as he is.

It’s like a little obsession he has. Where most people want a cup to tea or nap after a long day, Joe wants a kiss and a hug from his person. And if he doesn’t get them you best believe he sulks and broods on his own.

He can’t believe he ended up living with someone so amazing as you who understands him so well and can read his every little emotion. He makes sure to thank you and tell you that you are loved at least a thousand times a day.

He acts all mushy when you’re around and he can’t help the smile at always crosses his face when you look at him.

He makes up an excuse to talk to you just so he can see your face when you look up from whatever you were doing. It’s something dorky that if you didn’t know Joe the way you did, you would’ve thought it was an out of character thing for him to do.

And his heart melts when you say his name and he swear is the most beautiful sound he has ever heard. If you’re in another room and you call him, it takes him a second to realise what is going on, and another to actually answer you back.

If you call him Joey, he knows you want something. He pretends to hate it, but he secretly loves it. He doesn't let anyone else call him that because it is reserved for you and you alone.

This man is one you do not want to cross. If anyone even thought of saying something negative about you or he didn't like their tone of voice, there is nothing he wouldn't do to defend your honour. 

It's a rare occurrence, but it has happened that he has come home with scrapes and bruises because he didn't like the way someone was talking about you. You are the most precious thing to him and Hell be damned if he would let anything slide when it comes to you. 

Joe can be surprisingly handy around the house and if he thinks he can do it himself he refuses to let anyone do it for him. But sometimes it’s ended in disaster and he has to admit defeat and ask you for help.

He sits on the floor when putting furniture together and he can be really stubborn. He will sit and huff if he loses a screw and even if you suggest walking away to take a break, he won’t give up till he’s completed it.

If you’ve gone shopping or bought something that is even slightly heavy, Joe refuses to let you carry it. He loves to do little things like that for you because he thinks it’s a nice way to show the person, he is with how much he loves them.

One of his favourite things to do is watch you put away the food shopping. He sits against the countertop and watches you zoom around the kitchen in your own little world. Sometimes there’s a little conversation but normally he is too lost in looking at you to form a sentence.

But when you need help placing something on a high shelf or press, he is standing behind you ready to help before you can even ask him to. If you ask him to do anything consider it done. There is nothing this man would not do to see you smile.

In return for Joe putting something together or helping you out, he demands kisses. He won't do anything without the promises of kisses before and after.

On days off Joe likes to do nothing, but that’s only if you have the day off too. If you have work or plans, he can’t sit and do nothing by himself and he looks for a distraction, so he forgets that you’re not there with him.

He usually cooks something for the both of you. While Joe isn’t an amazing cook, he does a pretty good job once it’s not too complicated.

No matter what, he always leaves the kitchen in a mess and he SWEARS he is going to clean it up, but you promise to help him. After all he is the one who made the food. It's a nice way for the two of you to catch up and talk about what you did during your time apart.

Because he can’t really cook, you normally make dinners, but he loves to help you out. He proudly shows you the carrots he has chopped or apologises when he lets the soup on the stove boil over, either one earns him a kiss on the nose, and he is in heaven.

If you also have the day off, his ideal day is spending the morning wrapped up in bed with you beside him. He wakes up first, because he's a light sleeper and doesn't really sleep, and he likes looking at you sleeping peacefully beside him.

With your back to his chest and his arm loosely over your waist, he whispers everything he loves about you in your ear in his raspy morning voice. His voice is huskier than usual because he is literally only awake and it's still thick with sleep. And a special mention in here about his sexy morning voice for @hellitwasyoufirstsergeant.

When you're both chilling on the sofa doing nothing in particular, Joe likes to lay his head in your lap. And while he would never ask for it, 99% of the time he wants you to play with his hair or just rub the back of his head.

If he's had a really bad day, he storms into the house and slams every door in the process. He throws, and I literally mean throws, himself onto the couch beside you and once you ask him if he wants to talk about it the flood gates open and you can't get him to shut up until he completely finishes the story.

On days like that, he lies in your lap as well, and he finds it so relaxing when you draw shapes on his shoulders as he tells you about his day. He appreciates all the little kisses you place on his forehead every so often.

Joe loves to have you sit on his lap where he can have his hands on you. He likes to rub circles onto your hip with his thumb or he runs his fingers up and down your arm. His favourite is when he can put his hand on your thigh when you're talking to him. It's nothing sexual for him. It just calms him down and it really grounds him.

Joe Toye appears rough and ready on the outside, and while he looks ready to fight anyone who looks his way, he is such a soft human being. It is a fact, and no one can change my mind.