All Quiet on the Southern Front (1/1)
Title: All Quiet on the Southern Front
Ship/Characters: Wash/Taylor, Wash & Jim friendship
Genre: Bromance
Rating: PG
Word Count: 607
Summary: She never loses. Never. But as the saying goes, “there’s a first time for everything.”
-----
Wash crouched down next to Jim behind a large boulder. Her dark bangs were plastered to her forehead. She looked steadily at the sheriff, skin covered in black and green paint just as her own in a design she herself had created, who waited with bated breath.
“They’re out there. I know it.”
He nodded in agreement then took a moment to peer cautiously over the rock protecting them from their elusive enemy before returning to face her. The rain had begun pouring in earnest only moments ago and he found that he needed to speak up in order to communicate with his partner.
“This is their home turf. They have the advantage.”
They had made a grave mistake by entering such unknown territory without precaution. They had been too careless, too cocky. Entirely certain that they’d complete this mission without so much as a scratch. It would cost them dearly.
They had arrived to find the area deserted. (Or so it had seemed.) Had walked into the abandoned building to confirm no signs of life when a loud war call brought forth about a dozen enemy soldiers. They had barely escaped yet managed to bring down two of their adversaries before running and diving for cover.
“If we found a way to skirt past their defenses here, we could possibly gain the upper hand by coming at them from the rear.” She knew it wasn’t the most prudent plan but they were running out of options.
Shannon looked wary. “My source confirmed the surrounding area as high risk. We’re stuck.”
“Can we trust your source?”
“Without question,” his voice rang out with conviction.
“It’s quiet. Too quiet,” she remarked more to herself than for his benefit.
“They’re trying to lure us in.”
She nodded in agreement and pushed her bangs out of her face with the back of her hand as she contemplated their situation. “We can’t stay out here much longer.”
“Any ideas?”
Good ideas? No. But a bad idea was better than none. Or at least she hoped so. She knew they had no other option and voiced her opinion brazenly.
“Screw it. Let’s go in guns blazing. I’ll be damned if we stay here any longer like sitting ducks.”
He wanted to agree. Did agree in fact but he knew the inevitable outcome of such a disastrous strategy.
“We’re outnumbered. We won’t make it out alive.” He paused for a second before asking. “What about our back up?”
She sighed. “They’re not coming, Shannon. This was all a set up.”
It was clear by his facial expression that he had refused to believe it until now. Had kept the hope that they’d be rescued. But the harsh truth was irrefutable. Alliances were a fickle thing.
“Ok,” he said resolutely. “Let’s do this.”
Lighting and a deafening crack of thunder shook the earth as if signaling to the world the finality of their intent as they adjusted their gear and readied their weapons.
“And Wash?” She turned to him. “It was a pleasure.”
She smiled at her companion. “Likewise, Shannon.”
They charged forward.
-----
He’d never before felt such a strong urge to laugh and it took all his self-control to push it down as he regarded his second-in-command and the sheriff, covered in red, blue, and yellow paint, with a wide smile, blue eyes twinkling in mischievous delight. There was not an inch that remained free of the splatter.
“Had fun?”
Wash regarded him with false indignation before looking back at Shannon and shaking her head. “Those kids were brutal.”
Taylor couldn’t help the laugh the escaped him at her response.