In The Shadow Of Versailles (Part Three of the Darwin series)

In The Shadow Of Versailles

Author's Note: Ta dah! Here it is, later than late! (April 6th ha ha ha who was I kidding? This thing wasn't even in a full first draft by ANZAC Day.)

June 28th marked both the 103rd anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and also the 98th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. I was hoping to publish it that day, but then I was travelling so there went that plan.

So instead, we're here on July 4th, which is also an important date in the shared history of these two countries. In 1918, on July 4th, American soldiers fought in battle at Hamel under the command of Australian General John Monash. It was the first offensive of the war where Americans were under the command of a foreign general. To honor the American troops, the battle took place on July 4th. Together, the Americans and Aussies achieved victory in just 93 minutes. (Please go watch this amazing video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZHlO0Sj3lA).

There are some Google Translate translations into Turkish in this work. I have provided what is supposedly the translation in English next to them in italics, but if you speak/read Turkish and see glaringly obvious errors... I blame Google.

Kyle woke up in the early hours before dawn, panting and out of breath as he sat up. The final scenes of his nightmare were playing through his brain, making every moment a living hell.

"GET DOWN!" Avery screamed.

A shove to the ground.

Those five cursed gunshots. Avery falling. His own desperate scramble to reach his sibling.

Blood, blood everywhere. No rise and fall to that slim chest. Only more blood.

Eyes open, a haunting shade of pale green, staring in death at their brother.

"Hey, are you okay?"

The voice rising out of the darkness from the other side of the bed slowed his heartrate. It took a few seconds for Kyle to respond as the memories slowly abated, but finally he found his voice.

"Yeah. Just a nightmare." He murmured.

"Gallipoli?"

Kyle didn't even need to answer. A soft nod was all he gave, his eyes falling towards his knees, arms wrapping around them as he pulled them to his chest, just trying to breathe.

His companion sat up, leaning over and wrapping his larger body around him. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here. I'll make sure those nightmares know whose gonna kick their ass."

Kyle tries to laugh, but the wounds are still to fresh, the war too recent.

They've been at peace for a few weeks, barely even a month. Soon enough, 1919 will be here, and the peace talks will begin. French trenches will soon be his past. He can start over anew in his own homeland.

But for now, it is 1918. It's a time of mourning. A time to make sure his troops get home.

A time to try and finish growing up after having experienced his first independent war.

He finally unwraps his arms from his own legs and turns into the embrace. Alfred's smiling as he does that, but his eyes are worried. Worry doesn't belong on that face, but Kyle doesn't know how to take it away.

So he does the next best thing. He decides to forget it for a few moments. No more, no less. Just long enough for it to fade into the background.

It's a small kiss, gentle and sweet, and Alfred responds eagerly. The fears and aches are forgotten for a few seconds.