3.
Pike was still their drill sergeant. After getting out of the hole, Mouse noticed that as the first thing important to know. As much leeway as the captain had, and how much of a blunder Pike had committed by beating the shit out of him, it didn't matter. Not that it surprised him. But it did make him kind of bitter. From now on, he'd have to sleep with one eye open; who knew what that fucker intended to do to him? There was no way to know. He sure as hell didn't want to find out, but it didn't matter what he wanted. It never had, and never would.
Ryan fell in line with him as he marched towards the barracks. "You the welcoming committee, Peewee?" Mouse asked.
"Come on, don't call me that," Ryan moaned. "Someone might hear us."
"Alright, alright, as you say. But don't you know I have leper now? You should stay away. In broad daylight, at least."
"That's not true," Ryan insisted. "Everyone knows Pike's a fucking bastard. We all hate him. He would do the same to either of us if he could. Good thing he's not the captain, or our lives would be hell."
"How are the others? Did they get by without me?" Mouse joked.
"I missed you," Ryan said under his breath.
"You snuck into the hole every night." Mouse did the same by dropping his voice. "How can you say that?"
"I missed you out in the field. You're a real mate, Ahab."
"Well, color me flattered."
"Don't go there," Ryan said, gesturing at the barracks. "The captain wants to see you."
"Why?" Mouse felt slightly apprehensive. Reynolds was pretty much a mystery to him at that point. He would scold him, and punish him, and then caress his cheeks and act like he was about to kiss him. Nah, the last part was just his imagination.
"I don't think it's anything bad," Ryan hurried to add, mistaking his change in tone for something else.
"I'll see what it is, then. Can't I take a shower first? I kind of stink."
"No. He said you should go see him directly once you're out."
"Okay then. No moment like the present." Mouse patted Ryan on the back. "Are you getting along with Jordan?"
"Don't you have a nickname for him, too?" Ryan bristled.
"Nah, I'm only giving those to people I really like." Ryan's cute face lit up at that for a brief moment. Mouse patted his cheek. "Now, shoo and see about your business. We don't want people to think I got myself a dog, right?"
Ryan smirked at that. "I wouldn't mind."
"You're just saying," Mouse teased.
There wasn't any trace of a smile left on his face when he entered the main building and headed over to the captain's office. He had no idea what Reynolds had in store for him. All this time he had spent in the hole, higher-ups -- the kind who hired assholes like Pike in the army and didn't mind sacrificing chum like him -- could have reached out to the captain.
He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Whatever it was, he would find out soon.
Captain Reynolds was at his desk, as usual. "Ahab," he said and threw him a hard to read look.
"Reporting for duty, sir," Mouse said and saluted.
"At ease. There's a call for you. I'll be out for a few. Just keep it short."
Mouse had no idea what to make of it all but took the phone Reynolds handed to him and put it to his ear.
The captain was already out of the room, when Karl's voice carried to him like from another world. "Mouse," he said shortly.
"Hey, asshole," Mouse said, wondering if he could afford himself to feel relieved or not. "What's up?"
"I'm getting married."
"Well, good for you. Are you still going forward with that? Man, your heart is fucking ice. What does Kekko say?"
"I'm getting married to Cesco."
Mouse remained nonplussed for a couple of moments and moved the phone from one ear to the other. "Have you placed a long-distance call just to pull my leg, you fucker?"
"It's no joke," Karl replied, in that same clipped manner of his. Army dudes tended to be like that after a while. Even if Karl was no longer with his unit, he still had the same manners.
"Well, I'm surprised. No, I'm shocked. That's the word. Wait, is daddy alright with that?"
"He's paying for the whole shit."
"Damn. Did he fall on his head or something? And why the fuck don't you sound happy? You're marrying my Kekko, for crying out loud." Mouse sat in Reynolds' chair, as the news was starting to sink in. There was a strange feeling inside him he couldn't explain.
"He's not your Kekko," Karl said tersely.
"Okay, ours," Mouse conceded.
Karl remained silent.
"Wait, did you call to invite me to the wedding?"
"No. Don't come. At all. Not until a bit later."
"What am I supposed to get from this? Can't I even walk you two to the altar or some shit?"
"It's not a happy day or whatever, you moron," Karl suddenly snapped.
"You're one weird fuck. Are you still on that you're not a fag, while dying to plow Kekko's tight pussy every single fucking day?"
Maybe it wasn't that good an idea to rile up Karl since he was the only ally he had in the outside world, but he couldn't help it. He felt pissed.
Karl drew in a long breath and then released it. "We'll talk later. I'll send for you."
"Send for me? Hey, what's this all about? Stop being so mysterious, for fuck's sake."
"You're not invited to the wedding, but you are to the honeymoon," Karl said quickly.
"Honeymoon?"
"Yeah. I need you there."
Mouse remained tongue-tied for a while. "Need me? Think Kekko's too thirsty for cock to deal with him on your own?"
"I can deal with him. But I gotta live with the fact that he's mad crazy about you."
It wasn't like Karl to admit stuff like that.
"Wait, you said you're the one who needs me, not Kekko."
"Yeah, I have things to talk to you."
"Alright."
"I don't want to talk about them on the phone."
"Alright."
Karl finished the convo without saying goodbye. Mouse stared at the phone, still incapable of processing what the fuck had just happened.
Captain Reynolds was back that very moment. Mouse jumped from the chair and put the phone down. He was a bit fucked up on the inside, so he just moved around the desk and walked toward the door.
The captain put a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped. "Bad news?"
Mouse shook his head. "No."
The grip on his shoulder increased, making him look up. "The sergeant won't bother you again."
Mouse just nodded, biting his lips. He needed some freaking alone time to think of what Karl and Francesco getting married meant.
"Dismissed," the captain said, releasing him.