𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫|| 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘅 𝘆/𝗻 𝗹/𝗻

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 - 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 & 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬...

"Hey- Hey, Donny! Stop biting Nefertiti's tail!" She chided, gently prying apart the two mischievous baby ducks. It was a daily routine now, herding the little troublemakers away from each other's feathers as she'd take them to the pond to play, occasionally accompanied by Meatball, who was currently at the vet for his monthly check-up. 'Well, at least I get to hang out with these lil boogers while the men are out.' As she watched the ducklings waddle around the makeshift pen, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. These tiny creatures, with their boundless energy and innocent antics, offered a welcome distraction from the grim realities of combat. It was a simple pleasure, yet one she clung to fiercely in the midst of discord.

She paused for a moment, recalling the advice of the psychiatrist she had begrudgingly visited. "Look for the positives." He had said, his voice echoing in her mind. And so, she sought comfort in the company of these feathered companions, finding moments of joy amidst the turmoil. It wasn't easy, navigating the complexities of war while tending to a brood of unruly ducklings. But in their pure little eyes, she found a glimmer of hope — a prompt that even in the darkness, there were still moments of light. And so, she embraced her role as caretaker, forging an unspoken bond with her feathered charges. 

For in the quiet moments spent tending to their needs, she found a sense of purpose — a fleeting glimpse of normalcy in a world torn apart by conflict. Although that lasted for barely a minute when the tranquility shattered like fragile glass as a thunderous boom reverberated through the air, startling her and the baby ducks from their peaceful recess. The suddenness of the crash sent a ripple of panic coursing through her veins, her heart hammering against her chest in a rapid rhythm of fear. Instinctively, she scanned the horizon, her eyes widening in alarm as she spotted a distant plume of smoke rising ominously against the azure sky.

It was a B-17, she realized with a sinking feeling, the crash occurring far beyond the reaches of her immediate surroundings. Yet, even at this distance, the shockwave of the impact rippled through the air, a sheer reminder of the ever-present specter of danger. The golden ducklings, sensing her jitteriness, huddled closer to her side, their tiny bodies trembling in fear. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a tense silence broken only by the distant echoes of destruction. But as the initial shock began to ebb away, she forced herself to regain her composure, her mind racing with a newfound sense of urgency.

With practiced efficiency, she checked the perimeter, ensuring that none of the animals had strayed too far from safety. "Gale?!" She sat up, her gaze snapping towards the figure approaching through the haze. His blonde hair dampened with sweat, each breath coming in ragged gasps as he walked towards her. Her heart clenched with a sudden surge of perturb, as she tried decipher the source of his distress. The intensity of his exertion was palpable, etched into the lines of his furrowed brow and the heaving rise and fall of his chest. "What happened?" She called out, her voice tinged with worry as she watched him draw nearer. 

Despite the gravity of the accident, there seemed to be no haste in his movements. There was a sense of calm that belied the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. As he finally reached her side, she reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against his sweat-dampened skin, wiping a trickle of blood that dripped down his left temple. "You're injured." y/n observed, already moving to fetch a med-kit, but the man's firm hold on her wrist halted her in her tracks. "I'll manage." He assured, settling himself beside her at the edge of the serene pond where she had been resting moments before. 

"I thought I might find you here." He mused with a gentle smile, his dreamy blue eyes drawn to the ducks floating placidly on the water, knowing all too well her affinity for them. The heat radiating from his body was a sharp contradiction to the cool, earthy breeze, a tangible reminder of the trials he had endured. "What was that?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she searched his eyes for answers, plopping down beside him. But even as she awaited his response, she already knew the truth — that whatever had transpired, Gale had faced it with steadfast dignity, his spirit unbroken regardless of the challenges he had faced.