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»»————- 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰: 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘳🕊️
𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈 𝚃𝚆𝙾 — 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗' 𝙰𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎
𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸
𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦
𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨
𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦...
— ᴮᵒᵇ ᴹᵃʳˡᵉʸ
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DEEP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF STALAG LUFT III, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE GERMAN AIR FORCE, American prisoners had found themselves enduring the bitter cold and relentless misery of captivity. Yet, amidst the bleakness of the holidays, a peculiar sense of camaraderie flourished among the captives of the Bloody Hundredth. With a fair share of German captives in American hands, the Krauts made a half-hearted attempt at maintaining a semblance of humane treatment towards their prisoners, perhaps in fear of potential consequences. It had been five long months since the arrival of the key Majors of the 100th... Five months trapped in this dismal pit of despair.
As Christmas and New Year's drifted by, the captives exchanged makeshift tokens fashioned from the scraps of their barren existence. Each humble offering carried a silent testament to their resilience and defiance against the oppressive grip of captivity. Some gifted cherished photographs, a bittersweet reminder of happier days, while others fashioned charms from the most mundane of objects, like spoons and forks, infusing them with hope. A few even resorted to written correspondence, despite being mere bunks apart, seeking solace in shared memories and distant dreams. Yet, for others, the silent tears that soaked their pillows spoke volumes, a poignant lament for the families they yearned for and the comrades they had lost along the way.
Gale's and y/n's Christmas, on the other hand, unfolded in a world entirely their own — a realm where obstacles only fueled the flames of their passion, forging a connection unbreakable by any trial. Regardless of the relentless barrage of challenges that tested their relationship, they emerged from the crucible stronger, their love burning brighter than ever before. Their quest for secret moments of intimacy during the holiday bordered on reckless abandon, each clandestine rendezvous heightening the allure of their forbidden liaison. Under the cloak of night, they ventured forth, defying curfew and risking everything for the chance to be alone together.
Scaling the rooftop in a daring escapade, they sought refuge in the secluded huddle of a slippery corner, sheltered from prying eyes and the menacing gaze of Glemnitz. Every touch, every glance, ignited a wildfire of desire between them; each heartbeat echoed the urgency of their illicit tryst. For in that brief encounter, in the midst the shadows and the danger, they found comfort in the intoxicating embrace of one another, their love a beacon of rebellion against the oppressive forces that sought to tear them apart. Together, they braved the wintry night, their attempt to stargaze thwarted by the relentless snowstorm that obscured the heavens.
Yet, as the icy flakes danced around them, they found themselves drawn closer, seeking pleasure in each other's arms, or rather, between their legs... against the biting cold. Their bodies pressed together, they fought off the chill, their shared desire kindling a fire within that blazed brighter than any star in the sky. With the threat of hypothermia looming, their determination to remain together only grew stronger, each embrace infused with a fervent thirst to chase away the cold. And as the night wore on, the star-crossed lovers ended up standing beneath a mistletoe, lovingly crafted by Bucky from shards of glass and crumpled newspaper.
With hearts pounding and breaths mingling, they shared a passionate kiss — their final one for the night, sealing their love amidst the swirling snowflakes. However, as New Year's dawned, Gale fell ill with a terrible cold, rendering them unable to venture out into the frosty night. Undeterred, the y/h/c lovingly tended to him, tucking him in with gentle care. With his head nestled in her lap, she read to him his favorite book, the soft cadence of her voice lulling him into peaceful slumber. And as the clock struck midnight, they welcomed the new year in the tranquil cuddle of their shared love, their hearts entwined in a bond stronger than any storm.
The celebratory feast during these days consisted of boiled peas and semi-frozen cabbage which no one dared to touch. But all was well once they all toasted to some warm, stolen beer — a daring feat of ingenuity Majors l/n and Egan had orchestrated... the acquisition of an entire box of liquor, and they somehow miraculously evaded detection too, cunningly shifting the blame to an unsuspecting guard named Friedrich! As the bitter chill of winter permeated the camp, the loot brought a fleeting enthusiasm to the hearts of the prisoners, a rare moment of respite in their otherwise dreary existence. Amidst the laughter and camaraderie, for the first time in their lives, the prisoners found solace in the ephemeral illusion of normalcy, if only for a moment, in the midst of their grim reality.
And now that the winter began to relinquish its gelid grasp, their confinement became somewhat more tolerable, a welcome respite from the harsh conditions of the past three months. Despite enduring a diet that would make rabbits wince, consisting mainly of potatoes and turnips year-round, they sought consolation in the small luxuries afforded to them. Access to basic amenities, hygiene facilities, and the occasional diversion of books and music provided little escape from the monotony of incarceration. While they were grateful for these minor indulgences, what they truly longed for was news from the frontlines.
A glimmer of hope to sustain them through the darkest days and the murkiest nights was all they really needed. Dreams of returning home, whole and unharmed, fueled their tenacity; a beacon of light in the midst of uncertainty. And though their circumstances remained somber, they clung to the belief that one day soon, they would emerge from the shadows of war, their spirits unbroken, and their hearts filled with the promise of freedom. But until then they had to pull through the pickle they had landed themselves in. With five months already behind them, they braced themselves for the looming challenge of another five.
"Thanks-" Gale muttered gratefully, balancing the two jugs of hot water they had secured for bathing, waiting for the girl to collect her share before they moved on. "My fingers are too frozen for this." y/n sighed, struggling to maintain her grip without spilling any. "That's alright, I got it." The blonde assured, taking her share as well, ignoring the tremble in his stiff fingers, a reminder of the frostbites they had endured. "Need a hand?" The raven inquired, observing the two as they slowly made their way, having finished his own bathing hours ago. "I wouldn't say no," Buck shrugged, appreciating his friend's offer of assistance.
"Any word on the mail?" Gale inquired, turning to Bucky as they marched to the . "Nope." He replied, popping the 'p', his expression stoic. "Another holdup?" y/n interjected, her arms crossed tightly against the bitter cold, her hands buried deep within the folds of her coat. "War." Egan deadpanned, his tone heavy with resignation. "The Red Cross is struggling to get mail through to the camp." He explained. "Sure they are!" The y/h/c scoffed bitterly, rolling her eyes in disbelief. "They manage to deliver weapons, but heaven forbid they bring us food." She muttered sarcastically, her frustration boiling over.
"Yeah, maybe we should start considering your cannibalism idea... could really spice things up." Quipped the raven, playfully referencing her rant from the previous night. "Finally, someone sees the genius in my plan!" y/n exclaimed, her tone surprisingly earnest as she entertained the idea, eyes dead serious. "Don't encourage her... She'll actually go through with it." The blonde sighed, well-acquainted with his lady's eccentric tendencies. "Keep talking, and you'll be the first to be eaten." She retorted, her tone teasing but with a hint of genuine threat. "Don't threaten me with a good time, love, I might just take you up on that offer." Gale whispered huskily, his breath hot against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"Well, I mean... If you insist." She purred innocently, trailing her fingers lightly along his chest, the frosty air crackling with undeniable chemistry between them. "Jesus Christ- I'm still here, you deranged lunatics!" Coughed Bucky, choking on his saliva, catching up to their innuendo, his face contorted in mock disgust, eliciting awkward giggles from the two. Upon reaching the communal bathroom, the blonde escorted y/n to her stall, where a curtain (courtesy of the Krauts) provided some semblance of privacy. Despite this gesture, Gale remained wary of the other men's snide remarks about her, refusing to leave her side.
He stationed himself outside the stall, a silent guardian, waiting patiently until she finished, ensuring her safety in a place where trust was a privilege they couldn't afford. "Are you sure you wanna wait? Your water might get cold, you know." The girl frowned, her tone tinged with concern and a trace of guilt. "As long as you promise to warm me up at night." He affirmed with a coquettish wink, his voice laced with imputation as he fought to suppress the chattering of his teeth to not make her feel worse. "What do you have in mind?" She mused, leaning closer to the man. With a sly grin, Gale replied, his ocean blue eyes twinkling with seduction.
"I think it'd be best if I show you instead..."
(1.6k words)
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