His Darling (John S.)

Part 1- The Start of it All

(A/N: I looked up ww1 sniper uniform and this is what I got, kinda creepy lol)
(It will be important for the next few chapters)

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

<1915, 4 years ago>

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

When you're told you are going to war you'll acknowledge you need to kill and possibly die But it doesn't sink in completely.

It didn't for the men that haven't experienced war yet.
It didn't for the boys who were never meant to experience it.
.
.
.

When the men and boys of Birmingham got off the train they were immediately sectioned for a hair cut to make it less likely for lice to occur, by the end every man was clean shaven and had buzz cut hair.

They were given uniforms before getting on that train to the boot camp to get basic training, they were wearing them as they stood in rows listening to their General, they were sectioned into 4 groups for 4 drill instructors and were led to where they would be staying for the next 16 weeks before being sent off to fight.
Of course it wasn't all the men of Birmingham some couldn't go because they were either too old, too young, or something else but the boys too young would be sent eventually once they were old enough, they needed as many men as they could.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The 16 weeks were brutal and by the end of it some of the men didn't want to continue and wanted to go home already but they knew that wasn't an option until the war was over, they still had high spirits that they would win.

By the end of training they were assigning jobs.
.
.
.
.

"General Gunderson, I am Liam Darling I am a Runner for Small Heath Rifles, I have a message for you from Sergeant Major Shelby" the man with a similar uniform and helmet and glasses that called himself Liam Darling handed out a letter to General Gunderson next to the leader was his lieutenant.

It was his job to deliver messages to units in dangerous terrain, a Foot Soldier.

Currently he was standing in front of the General of the Cavalry, the man read the letter and nodded "alright, we'll head out in four days" he said "wouldn't it be better to go now?" Liam argued in confusion "are you questioning me soldier?" General Gunderson asked although it was debatable if it was a question or a threat, Liam didn't stand down however "yes I am sir" he said firmly as he looked up at the General "you have no authority to question me Sergeant Darling, all you need to do is deliver fucking mail","yes that's true I don't have authority but it's important fucking mail sir, they decide where you and your men fucking go, whether an army or platoon need your I assistance because help is important and not useless like you seem to be, Sir" Liam told him a couple times angrily mocking him.

During this angered conversation neither man raised their voice but both held annoyance in it "men are waiting for you and your soldiers to help and you're deciding to toy with their lives just cause you want to bum around all day a little longer" Liam told him sternly, neither broke eye contact "you.are.a lazy yellow-bellied bastard who has no right to your rank General Gunderson"
.
.
.
.
The General smiled at him it wasn't malicious or mocking but proud? "alright, once everyone gets their things we'll leave within the hour" Liam was immediately confused, before he could say anything however the General left to gather his soldiers, Liam turned to the lieutenant "what was that?" The man sighed with a smile "the General likes to mess with the Runners to see who has a spine, even did it to his own Runner Noah Bryant","and what did I show?"," that you had one" he said before leaving once the General called for him.

Liam was scared though thinking the whole time he would cause strife in the units because he called the General a coward but the thing about Liam Darling was that when scared he always showed it with an angry determined face the only thing to give it away was his quickened heart beat and his hands tightening so much his knuckles turned white.

And that happened almost all the time now.
---
When Liam got back with the Cavalry he hoped to see his younger brother still there so when he noticed he wasn't he immediately got worried he went to Sergeant Major Shelby and asked him where his brother was "I sent him to be our spotter for us up ahead..don't worry Liam, he's a smart boy and he's small so I'm sure he's hidden well" Liam nodded firmly but still had that worry in his eyes.

Liam Darling and Thomas Shelby were not only brothers in arms, they were friends, when doubts and sadness rose they would give each other words of comfort and faith but they knew how the other worked so the Shelby knew that no matter what comforting words he spewed to him the Darling would still worry for his brother, he has ever since they got on the train, to the bus, to the trenches, and especially now since his brother was recognized as an excellent sniper and would be useful in infantry Liam knew that technically infantry was more safer than the trenches since he was less likely to come across disease and constant shell fire but somehow being out in the open scared him more.

His brother had been spotting for them a few times and had been successful but Liam couldn't help it, a long time ago he figured it was just an 'older brother' thing to worry for the younger one but at the time the worry was just for getting in trouble, yes there was trouble now but it's different before trouble meant just getting yelled at by your parents or teachers for doing something stupid which would result in being grounded or forbidden to do things...

While here trouble still resulted in being yelled at for doing something stupid but the yell would be in anguish instead of annoyance and instead would result in death...

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
(A/N: Gelllooo readers, so just want to say that I did have part 2 ready But my dumbass removed ALL of it and now I have to somehow remember how I wrote it, I even had a note of it but delete that too since it was already here just thought "nah won't need that" and now I want to stab something lol)

(I was so proud of it too T^T)