I'll Be Home
Leaning his head against the window, the train rattling beneath his feet like the comforting rock of mother’s arms, Jamie Highland watched the darkened scenery of green fields and little cottages pass him by.
It was warm in the compartment, no doubt thanks to the countless soldiers all milling around. Jamie did not add to the heat, of course, he couldn’t; but he could feel it and he could be affected by it almost as much as the regular Joe. He smiled as one member of the company began singing ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’, receiving a few appreciative laughs in response before all had fallen silent again.
Jamie looked back outside, his mind faraway home already.
He could just imagine it, London. The smog in the air that stayed no matter what decade it was; the people rushing to-and-from the train, family members embracing their lost loved ones, soldiers kissing their girls and wiping away their tears. He could see one of the older members of his company bending down on creaky knees to scoop up a crying little girl who had missed her papa so much, oh papa never leave again -
He shook his head, smiling to himself. His company would find their loved ones, and he’d probably trudge back home, falling face-first into his pillow and sleeping for forever and a day before getting up and being his cheerful self once more.
After all, what else could he expect?
He was startled out of his thoughts when the train suddenly screeched to a stop, looking out the window to see that they were, indeed, in the platform at London. Strange, how he hadn’t noticed the rest of the return trip. He’d been staring out the window and everything.
Grabbing his kit bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he adjusted the hat on his curly-haired head and made his way into single file with the other boys and men, marching out slow and steady as they had many battles before.
The air was as smoggy as he had imagined; the screams of train whistles grating on his ears. Soldiers fanned out to find their families and loved ones; wives hugged their husbands, little girls climbed into fathers’ arms and little boys asked for war stories. A few men drifted off with their fellow soldiers and no one said anything, because they all knew; of course they knew - and what were they going to do? Judge them? Foolishness.
War taught young men a lot of things, but it taught them most of all that judging others for little things was more foolishness than anything in the world.
He looked around automatically, not thinking he would actually see anyone when he spotted an alarmingly familiar curly head of hair. And then the familiar frame pushing his way through the crowds towards him.
Jamie Highland saw Quinton Rutherford’s wide green eyes very last, and the sight of them caused a grin to spread over his face.
“Quinn!” he called out, waving frantically to his fellow fledgling as he made his way over to him. Quinton blinked placidly before smiling softly, shaking his head and standing still just as Jamie reached him. The young-looking man looked the older vampire up and down. “What’re you doing here, then?”
“Well, why do you think, James? Certainly not for the scenery, as touching as some of it may be.” He gestured to the chaos around them before adjusting his glasses. “I heard you were to be coming home today. I thought I’d come and see you.”
“…ya didn’t have to do that, y’know,” Jamie said quietly after looking at Quinton with curious eyes. “I don’t want to waste your time or take you away from your work or - or anythin’. Not that I’m not glad to see you, I am! It’s just… well I wasn’t expecting -”
“Yes, I thought as much; so surprise.” Quinton smiled again, shrugging his shoulders and folding his hands behind his back. “I do believe everyone should have someone greet them when they finally come home.”
Jamie stared at him for a long moment, silently trying to figure him out, before he grinned and wrapped his arms around the fledgling, burying his face into his neck.
“…I’m glad t’see you, Quinn, I really am.”
After a moment of standing very stiff and still, Quinton relaxed and wrapped his arms slowly around the younger fledgling with a squeeze of belated affection.
“And I, you, Jamie.”