6th November 1942
John placed the empty shot glass on the bar with a cringe, swallowing the mouthful of vodka right as Buck took his last sip of ginger beer.
"I think I ought to call it a night, Bucky." Gale said, leaning in closer to John's side to make sure he was heard.
"Yeah, me too-" John replied, standing from the table with a slight lurch, blinking away the slight dizziness. Gale stood too, hand going to John's lower back, picking up his own cap.
"Ey, I'll be joinin' ya lads." Curt was just as drunk as John, promting a little gaggle of men to stand and join them in leaving the bar. A few of them were on a weekend pass, the majority had just walked the few miles from the base to join them in the centre of Walla Walla.
Curt sidled up to John once they spilled onto the street, leaning into his side once he slung an arm around his shoulders, warm and solid. Gale walked ahead with Douglass, Crankshaft and DeMarco, giving John a great view as they talked about the last practise mission.
"How've you been tonight, Captain?" Curt said, fixing John with a look that made John a little weak in the knees, teasing emphasis on the last word. His eyes were almost grey in the streetlamp light.
"Excellent, Lieutenant." John replied with a grin, trying his best to match Curt's pace.
"Mm, good, see I thought you would be, since you've been eyeing up Cleven all night." Curt wrapped an arm around John to hold his waist.
"What?" John huffed through laughter, not sure whether he was truly incredulous or afraid.
"He's got a pretty face, I'll give y' that- but you're blindingly obvious if a guy knows what to look for."
"And you do?"
"I've been around, Jack, trust me."
"Stop with the fuckin-" John groaned quietly at the nickname, stopping himself before he could repeat that conversation,"Suppose I do just believe you, how do I stop being so obvious."
"I don't know, dude, you just look so in love every time you look at him."
"Can't exactly control that, can I?"
"Guess not. It'd be weird if you suddenly stopped lookin' at 'im."
"So your advice boils down to 'stop lookin''. Great advice, so glad you decided to grace me with your presence." John laughed, squeezing Curt's shoulder.
"Yeah, I know. I'm full of knowledge."
"Hey, you're smarter than you look."
"Wha- hey!" Curt protested, reaching out to prod John in the side, setting both of them giggling.
Gale, Curt and John separated from the other guys before the turning to their hotel, those of them with leave staying the night in the city. Gale still walked ahead even though he now had no one to talk to, bidding them goodnight at the door.
John clung to Curt all the way up the three flights of stairs, only tripping once- which was pretty good for him- ending up outside John's room.
"Wanna smoke?" John asked as he fumbled with the key, inviting Curt in on an impulse. He didn't want to be alone yet.
"Sure."
John locked the door behind them and fished his pack of cigarettes and lighter from his pocket, allowing Curt to take one and lighting both. Curt gave him a rakish grin and flopped down on the threadbare armchair, crossing one leg over the other as he inhaled.
John sat on the bed, opposite Curt but a good metre away, shrugging off his jacket onto the floor.
