Fragile (Slow Updates)

Chapter 18: New Reality

 Not a single step taken when he found himself in a bear hug, feet fluttering in the air.

"Petit frère (little brother)!" An all too familiar voice called out.

"Vous êtes en train de le tuer, Maître André Boudreau. (You're killing him Master Andre Boudreau)." The voice of Master Lucas Laurent advised with a soft chuckle. A Commando de Montfort member clad in a full tan clad uniform with tan plate carrier, belt and pistol holster, balaclava, gloves. black ballistic glasses and Ops-Core SF Fast helmets with Multicam cover.

Master Andre Boudreau, member of Commando Jaubert evidently by the fact he wore the same tan clad uniform with a desert digital camo applied to their HK416, distinguishable left forearm tattoo and clear ballistic classes.

 "À quand remonte la dernière fois que nous avons vu notre petit frère GCP? (When was the last time we got to see our little GCP brother)?" Andre inquired gently, setting the Legionnaire down in front of a very confused Harris.

A Marine parachutist, French SAS quickly answered. "L'opération Copperhead, peut-être l'opération Sandcastle ou Pacific Storm. Alors oui, ça fait un certain temps. (Operation Copperhead, maybe Operation Sandcastle or Pacific Storm. So ya, it's been some time)."

Sergent Adrien Pierrepont, his face hidden behind clear ballistic glasses and camouflage Daguet balaclava. The multicam clad male, non standard issued plate carrier seen with SF units, assault pack, tan belt multicam holster housing a HK USP and Ops-Core helmet. Slung over his torso a HK416 set up in a more creative way than the Sous-lieutenant was permitted to do. A D-60 magazine, tan Manta suppressor sleeve, Aimpoint CompM5 with magnifier, Remintall LM-LowProfile laser module, flashlight and vertical grip.

'Fun, a family reunion.' He thought, eyeing the three special forces members as they eyed him back. "Les gars, la raison pour laquelle vous êtes ici est évidente. Nous pouvons prendre un verre ou quoi que ce soit d'autre plus tard et partager nos histoires de guerre autour du point d'eau (Boys, the reason for you being here is obvious. We can have drinks or whatever later and share our war stories around the watering hole)."

Faint echoes of past battles flickered in his mind— the crack of gunfire, voices barking orders. He exhaled through his nose, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It had been too long, but standing here with them again, it felt like no time had passed at all.

"Ouais! Où donc s'évanouir ivre (Ya! Where so getting black out drunk)." They cherried happily with Sergent Pierrepont eyes landing on Harris. "Qui est le Yank? (Who's the yank)?" Even with Sergent Pierrepont's smile hidden, the Sous-lieutenant could still see his smirk.

"Harris, this is Master Lucas Laurent, Master Andre Boudreau and Sergent Adrien Pierrepont." The four exchanged pleasantries upon Sous-lieutenant Vogel introduction. "These dumbasses have been with me since Operation Copperhead, Sandcastle and Pacific Storm."

Introductions aside, the Legionaire's boots dragged him to the infirmary with the boys following alongside a confused Harris.

"Ainsi... Le yank et vous êtes une chose? (So... The yank and you are a thing)?" Master Lucas Laurent inquired, the Legionnaire practically being able to see his hidden smirk.

The Sous-lieutenant eyed the Commando out of the corner of his eye. "C'est juste une amie, Lucas (She's just a friend, Lucas).""Je peux voir la façon dont elle te regarde, Eric (I can see the way she eyes you Eric)." He countered. In fact, Harris was eyeing the Legionnaire, her gaze filled with worry.  

He sighed, turning his gaze back front. "Lorsque vous êtes l'un des rares hommes en déploiement, les gens finissent par vous remarquer. Il y a beaucoup de femmes qui sortiraient avec moi, juste parce que je serais classé huit, neuf – bon sang, même dix – alors que l'interaction humaine est limitée à l'autre bout du monde. Malgré cela, le sergent Dubois et moi ne sommes pas officiellement une chose, mais, d'une certaine manière, nous le sommes (When you're one of the few men on deployment, people start noticing you eventually. There are plenty of women who'd date me, just because I'd rank an eight, nine—hell, even a ten—when human interaction is limited halfway across the globe. Despite that, Sergent Dubois and I Aren't officially a thing—but, in some ways, we are)."