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Fandom: Band of Brothers/The Pacific
Title: You got so good, you lived for the action
Author: poutmeter
Characters: Joeseph Liebgott, Eugene Sledge
Genre: Gen
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Band of Brothers, The Pacific, nor do I mean any disrespect to the real men in E company, their families, or the First Marines and their families. This is based on the actors' portrayal of real men in a fictional setting not the actual men of Easy or The First Marines themselves. Nor do I own the real Eugene Sledge or Joeseph Liebgott.
Summary: Sledge is feeling post-war jitters at the daunting task of returning home and resuming a normal life.
A/N: This is as spoiler-free as I can make it, Sledge may feel a little off because I'd written this prior to finishing his book With The Old Breed and not after watching him in the Pacific. Just a fictional 'what if'. Thanks to binnin for the quick beta and the lame title is from the actually awesome song A Dog in a Bag from the Fratellis. It's my standard go-to song for post-war depression-like things.
They both reach for the same book, hands brushing and Sledge returns the same glance to someone that looks as old as his brother--maybe a little older. Sledge's in regimental attire, returning from what he's hoping is his last war, just last night and if it's any more obvious that he's fresh off the Pacific, he's not sure.
The other man looks at him for a few minutes and steps back. That's when Sledge sees the gleam of dog tags. He knows it's ridiculous that there's any chance...that this man could have been a replacement at the end of the war, but he finds himself speaking: "What unit?"
The man, already turning to go, regards him with a furrowed brow; he almost looks uncomfortable.
"101st Airbourne, E Company." It's reported with a detached fondness, as if he's still not sure his unit is really gone, that he's even really there. "Deployed to Europe."
It's almost like looking in a mirror but Sledge recounts the impact of--or lack of impact at--news of Germany's defeat that had hit him and the rest of the guys. They'd been preoccupied with Okinawa at the time, just trying to live through the Japanese and their seemingly never-ending barrage. There's still a distant kinship; not even a fraction close to that of those who fought with him, still here was someone who maybe would understand.
"5th Marines, K company," He explains by way of almost apology. "Deployed to the Pacific."
There's silence and finally the man asks: "You just get back?"
It's said out of curiosity and yet he catches an undercurrent of something else.
Relief?
"We were deployed to Peking after the N--" Sledge's already going to have a tough time adjusting. "--The Japanese surrendered." The phrase still feels unreal, almost contradictory in itself. He still can't believe it.
The man smiles at his slip up and tensions loosen. He smirks slightly. "They're always going to be Krauts to me."
Sledge laughs, despite himself. The cafe and the civilians in it don't serve to daunt him as much anymore. He's still apprehensive of seeing his parents--he's changed so much.
"When'd you ship out?" It turns out to be a loaded question. The other man looks put out, as tired as Sledge feels.
"Two months ago," he admits distantly and Sledge knows that look immediately. The ones who'd been sent home, they'd returned and even came back to the company wearing that look. They couldn't handle the deceptive welcome of home. Greeted with enthusiasm and never fully accepted. Sledge wondered what was made of them now.
"It's hard, isn't it?" He's already trying to prepare, but he can't even begin to comprehend.
"Ridiculous, more like. Didn't get many purple hearts and still crazy." He can sympathize immediately and the infantry man sighs, "Need to get goin'."
"Your name?" The man is moving away; it's as if he stops, he'll be overtaken by something. "I'm Eugene. Eugene Sledge."
There's a pause and finally: "Joseph Liebgott."
There's a wan smile, attempted but too out of practice--Sledge feels that too.
"See ya later, Sledge."
He's gone and Sledge still has the book in his hand.
Title: You got so good, you lived for the action
Author: poutmeter
Characters: Joeseph Liebgott, Eugene Sledge
Genre: Gen
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Band of Brothers, The Pacific, nor do I mean any disrespect to the real men in E company, their families, or the First Marines and their families. This is based on the actors' portrayal of real men in a fictional setting not the actual men of Easy or The First Marines themselves. Nor do I own the real Eugene Sledge or Joeseph Liebgott.
Summary: Sledge is feeling post-war jitters at the daunting task of returning home and resuming a normal life.
A/N: This is as spoiler-free as I can make it, Sledge may feel a little off because I'd written this prior to finishing his book With The Old Breed and not after watching him in the Pacific. Just a fictional 'what if'. Thanks to binnin for the quick beta and the lame title is from the actually awesome song A Dog in a Bag from the Fratellis. It's my standard go-to song for post-war depression-like things.
They both reach for the same book, hands brushing and Sledge returns the same glance to someone that looks as old as his brother--maybe a little older. Sledge's in regimental attire, returning from what he's hoping is his last war, just last night and if it's any more obvious that he's fresh off the Pacific, he's not sure.
The other man looks at him for a few minutes and steps back. That's when Sledge sees the gleam of dog tags. He knows it's ridiculous that there's any chance...that this man could have been a replacement at the end of the war, but he finds himself speaking: "What unit?"
The man, already turning to go, regards him with a furrowed brow; he almost looks uncomfortable.
"101st Airbourne, E Company." It's reported with a detached fondness, as if he's still not sure his unit is really gone, that he's even really there. "Deployed to Europe."
It's almost like looking in a mirror but Sledge recounts the impact of--or lack of impact at--news of Germany's defeat that had hit him and the rest of the guys. They'd been preoccupied with Okinawa at the time, just trying to live through the Japanese and their seemingly never-ending barrage. There's still a distant kinship; not even a fraction close to that of those who fought with him, still here was someone who maybe would understand.
"5th Marines, K company," He explains by way of almost apology. "Deployed to the Pacific."
There's silence and finally the man asks: "You just get back?"
It's said out of curiosity and yet he catches an undercurrent of something else.
Relief?
"We were deployed to Peking after the N--" Sledge's already going to have a tough time adjusting. "--The Japanese surrendered." The phrase still feels unreal, almost contradictory in itself. He still can't believe it.
The man smiles at his slip up and tensions loosen. He smirks slightly. "They're always going to be Krauts to me."
Sledge laughs, despite himself. The cafe and the civilians in it don't serve to daunt him as much anymore. He's still apprehensive of seeing his parents--he's changed so much.
"When'd you ship out?" It turns out to be a loaded question. The other man looks put out, as tired as Sledge feels.
"Two months ago," he admits distantly and Sledge knows that look immediately. The ones who'd been sent home, they'd returned and even came back to the company wearing that look. They couldn't handle the deceptive welcome of home. Greeted with enthusiasm and never fully accepted. Sledge wondered what was made of them now.
"It's hard, isn't it?" He's already trying to prepare, but he can't even begin to comprehend.
"Ridiculous, more like. Didn't get many purple hearts and still crazy." He can sympathize immediately and the infantry man sighs, "Need to get goin'."
"Your name?" The man is moving away; it's as if he stops, he'll be overtaken by something. "I'm Eugene. Eugene Sledge."
There's a pause and finally: "Joseph Liebgott."
There's a wan smile, attempted but too out of practice--Sledge feels that too.
"See ya later, Sledge."
He's gone and Sledge still has the book in his hand.