Band of Brothers Preferences and Imagines

Joe Toye Imagine #1

AU: I now nobody asked for this, but I was bored//

         I was sitting in this plane, with an easy eighty pounds of gear strapped to me, about to drop into an active war zone in France. Normandy. I have been preparing for this moment for two plus years with a bunch of men that have either dropped out, failed, or was kicked out. Dealing with a bunch of gross and cocky men and a horrible.

     Commanding Officer who could sit and yell at our company all day but couldn't read a map to save his life. Day in and day out of discriminated upon for your gender, for being the only female in the company, being forced to do more then the men in order to "make it equal". Whatever that means. Being humiliated for years, torn down, only to build yourself back up. Listening to briefings upon briefings about this jump. Knowing that all of this could be a waste, and I could die within minutes of landing, or not even landing yet. I knew what I was getting myself into. Just like all the other men.  I had to fight. This was for women, me, my family, my brothers in arms, and my country.

      I anxiously bounced my knee, as I kept looking around the small plane, staring at all the men's expressions. Some looked scared, some looked tired, some looked bored, and a few were even smiling and cracking jokes. Those being Luz, Hefferon, Malarkey, and a few others. I chuckled to myself as I watched them converse happily, almost like they didn't care about the fact that we could be facing sudden death in just an hour or two. Maybe it is how they coped. I nervously bit my lip, staying silent as I continued to just look around the insides of the aircraft.  tried to keep my nervous tendencies under control and or just not too obvious. I don't want people to notice those kind of things.

      In Easy Company, I wasn't taken seriously when I first joined. I was a small women, walking in wanting to be a paratrooper along with many other strong, and big men. I was made fun of by some, flirted with by many, and ignored as well. Many thought I didn't believe a woman could ever fight in a war such like this, I belonged at home. You know, cooking, cleaning, taking care the kids or siblings. Though, when I told people I was enlisting, I was called crazy and many other things. But, I didn't listen. I enlisted for the paratroopers, and got in. I had many other higher ups scream in my face that I am a woman, and I wouldn't make it. When I had trouble with PT,  I was screamed at for my gender. I was bad mouthed made fun of, pushed around. I never let it stopped me. I was determined to be the first female paratrooper. And that is what I did. While all the guys hung out late at nights, or went out on what seemed their rare weekend passes, I stayed at the barracks. Exercising, doing late night runs up and down Currahee Mountain at late hours by myself. Doing push ups, sit ups, crunches, the full nine yards, for hours. Knowing that if I practiced. I got better. Which I did. Soon enough, I was the fastest at running Currhee, three miles up and three miles down. I had the best time on any obstacle course and I started to catch the eyes of many. Most of the men began realizing that I wasn't some small broad that wanted to get all the men. I wanted to make something of myself.

      I began to make friends. First was Luz, Guarnere, Malarkey, Penkala, Muck, and soon all the guys began to talk to me and actually take a liking to me. It was pretty nice. Though, some took more than others. Like both Joes. Joe Leibgott and Joe Toye were two very opinionated, outspoken, stubborn men. They made it clear on how the felt about a woman like me doesn't belong in the company. Whether it was too my face or not. They got the point across. It wasn't till I stood up for myself and yelled back at them, unleashing all the words I had been wanting to say for a long time. That is when the just began respecting me. Leibgott and I became quite close surprisingly. And surprisingly fast as well. Close like brother and sister. He always teased me in training and always ruffled my hair. Just like what the other guys did. They all knew I did't need any type of protecting, that I was more than capable of protecting myself. But, they always were protective. It was sweet and gave me a nice feeling, so I never did complain.

      One man in that company that I was always drawn to, that I always caught myself staring at in any given moment. Was Joe Toye. The one that was the coldest and meanest to me, and the last one to somewhat warm up to me. I was currently sitting next to him on the plane. He didn't seem to exactly really talk to me much. But I just kept getting a certain feeling or vibe that came off of him. That maybe he didn't hate me. Though, I always kept those thoughts pressed back . Not telling a single soul. He was quite nice looking, Nice face, nice build, husky voice. He was funny, I have heard some of the jokes he had cracked to a couple other men in the company. He wasn't a bad guy, I could see the tough exterior. 

      Many of the men were sleeping, I think all but just me. I should be sleeping, but my childhood fear was slowly itching its way up back into my brain. Each large bump I feel makes it worse. They faint sound of bombs bursting didn't help much either. I just clenched my jaw hard and swallowed, forcing my fear back down. But, when we hit another large bump, which jostled my small frame around, I grabbed onto the arm near me. Not realizing who I grabbed until I followed the arm and saw the face. Toye. He looked down at me, he must've not been sleeping then. I yanked my hand back, thankfully the camouflage that was spread across my face covered the pink that fell upon my cheeks.  I noticed as our eyes met.

    "I'm sorry Toye, I didn't mean to grab you, I just got-" I was cut off my him, not being able to finished my sentence. I common thing Joe Toye does.

     "Hush L/N, you're fine," he had whispered, his voice in a hushed, soft tone. Was he being, nice? I couldn't believe it. My heart fluttered. What the hell was I feeling, and why was I feeling it. I have a crush. I have a crush on Joe Toye. Shit. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words formed nor came out. So I quickly just clamped my mouth shut. My face heating up just a tad bit more. "You know L/N, you can be cute sometimes," I couldn't believe he just send that. Doing the side glance and everything. It felt like I had a raging fever. I could feel my heart in my chest. I couldn't function. he had a slight smile on his face. A sweet smile. I smiled back.

      That plane ride was turning out to be much longer than anticipated. It was lasting much longer and dragging on. Joe and I kept whispering to each other, not wanting to wake anyone up. We talked for hours. Just like random stuff. Some small talk, funny stories of our families, stories about the guys. It was nice. I didn't think I had smiled this much in years. It was all normal until Joe randomly went:

     "I've liked you since the first day you walked into Toccoa," his words rushed and low, but I managed to understand. I was shocked, and I guess it displayed on my face as he seemed to be avoiding my gaze. My shocked expression soon turned in a small, whilst my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. 'I shouldn't have said nothing, I'm sorry-" It was my turn to cut the man off. Not with a sentence. But with my lips. I grabbed the sides of his face, gently placing my lips on his chapped ones. I could feel the shock gong through him, but he melted against my lips and held my waist. The grasp on my waist was firm, but gentle. 

     When I pulled away, he sat there, wordless. I smiled and simply said, "I like you too Corporal," and gave him a quick peck on the lips before going back to our conversations. Soon though, I fell asleep on his shoulder, with his arm wrapped around my waist tightly. Maybe this comany wasn't so bad after all.