Wow. I think this may be one of my favorite GK fics. There's such an honesty to it, it took my breath away.
He tells himself that it’s because he’s crap on the phone – which he is – and because Brad only talks if he has something to say – which he does – but still…
I can see this so vividly. After all their talk over radios and such, relying on verbal communication to relay critical mission information, I can see them floundering when the things they now want to say no longer fit that requirement. Twisted my heart because maybe the things they need to say now are just as important, but they wouldn't see it like that. Not yet, anyways.
He only wears it when he’s having a bad day: CNN reporting soldiers killed in Iraq, protestors in the main quad decrying the soldiers along with the war.
The sweatshirt is so telling about what Nate must be going through after coming back from Iraq--needing to get out of the Marines, and yet still very much a part of it in some ways. The isolation he must feel is so very poignant and this sentence and his search through the airport really made me feel it too.
He still says it sometimes, and it freaked Nate out at first – was that going to be a part of their relationship now? Was it some kind of, of something, for Brad? He’s gotten used to it now, think it’s mostly habit, and a little bit like Mike calling his wife sweetheart, Poke sometimes saying honey to his. That’s still a little fucked up, but Nate’s getting used to a little fucked up as his baseline.
Lol! Funny and yet also so illustrating their relationship.
He has no idea what Brad told himself, about why they didn’t or why they did. He’s not sure he wants the answer.
I love the unanswered questions running through this--highlighting their lack of verbal communication which though they can wordlessly communicate emotions and support, it can't answer questions they haven't asked.
Maybe it’s just knowing that Brad’s somewhere close, that he can stand still for a couple of days and no-one’s going to care or object.
I love this idea about Nate finally being able to stand still. Military life is often composed of "hurry up and wait", lots of movement, followed by lots of anxious waiting until the action finally gets going, this peace that Nate finally gets to experience is, for me, the climatic point of the story.
He steps up behind Nate and wraps both arms round him, like he doesn’t care that they’re on a public beach, like it’s normal, not far and away the most obvious gesture of affection Brad’s ever made towards him. Nate leans back into it, feels Brad’s warmth even through their layers of clothing.
This perfect gesture says everything they are struggling to say to each other, and a perfect, peaceful ending they deserve.
Really, reading this has made my day. It was subtle, gorgeous and totally perfect for them. Thank you so much.
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He tells himself that it’s because he’s crap on the phone – which he is – and because Brad only talks if he has something to say – which he does – but still…
I can see this so vividly. After all their talk over radios and such, relying on verbal communication to relay critical mission information, I can see them floundering when the things they now want to say no longer fit that requirement. Twisted my heart because maybe the things they need to say now are just as important, but they wouldn't see it like that. Not yet, anyways.
He only wears it when he’s having a bad day: CNN reporting soldiers killed in Iraq, protestors in the main quad decrying the soldiers along with the war.
The sweatshirt is so telling about what Nate must be going through after coming back from Iraq--needing to get out of the Marines, and yet still very much a part of it in some ways. The isolation he must feel is so very poignant and this sentence and his search through the airport really made me feel it too.
He still says it sometimes, and it freaked Nate out at first – was that going to be a part of their relationship now? Was it some kind of, of something, for Brad? He’s gotten used to it now, think it’s mostly habit, and a little bit like Mike calling his wife sweetheart, Poke sometimes saying honey to his. That’s still a little fucked up, but Nate’s getting used to a little fucked up as his baseline.
Lol! Funny and yet also so illustrating their relationship.
He has no idea what Brad told himself, about why they didn’t or why they did. He’s not sure he wants the answer.
I love the unanswered questions running through this--highlighting their lack of verbal communication which though they can wordlessly communicate emotions and support, it can't answer questions they haven't asked.
Maybe it’s just knowing that Brad’s somewhere close, that he can stand still for a couple of days and no-one’s going to care or object.
I love this idea about Nate finally being able to stand still. Military life is often composed of "hurry up and wait", lots of movement, followed by lots of anxious waiting until the action finally gets going, this peace that Nate finally gets to experience is, for me, the climatic point of the story.
He steps up behind Nate and wraps both arms round him, like he doesn’t care that they’re on a public beach, like it’s normal, not far and away the most obvious gesture of affection Brad’s ever made towards him. Nate leans back into it, feels Brad’s warmth even through their layers of clothing.
This perfect gesture says everything they are struggling to say to each other, and a perfect, peaceful ending they deserve.
Really, reading this has made my day. It was subtle, gorgeous and totally perfect for them. Thank you so much.