The Young Man -- Origin Story Rewritten

Assignment

"It's been a coupla days. Four of you are gonna have to go over there." The commander clapped his hands together. "So. Any volunteers?" After a moment, he half-smiled. "Yeah, didn't think so."

He looked out over the room filled with soldiers, all standing at attention. Parker and Devon weren't surprising choices, because of their skill and training in the open field. The commander chose Dixon next. Probably because he was low ranking, but experienced enough to be of use.

His eyes wandered over to me. "And you there, uh, Lawrence. You too."

The room relaxed noticeably, now that the others knew they weren't about to be sent out to their deaths.

Me? I had mixed feelings I guess, but at the end of the day, it didn't really matter, did it?

We were to set out early the next morning, and were let into the bunks early to rest. As if any of us were going to get any sleep.

I lay down for a bit, and then when the rest of the men not on night shift streamed into the barracks, I sat up again, leaning my back against the wall. As usual, no one paid me any mind. Every now and then, someone would sense I was looking their way, and stare back at me.

There were the usual discussions, much lighter than the last few nights and even punctuated by laughter. The lamps began to run low and I lay down again.

The conversations had mostly gone quiet, soft discussion and whispers.

"...gonna be a relief, huh?"

"Yeah. He always rubbed me the wrong way."

"He just-- looks at you, and never says anything."

I rolled over and pressed my face into the thin padding of the bunk.

"Reg says that he's bad luck."

Bad luck my ass.

A third man spoke up. "Hey, watchu saying I said?"

"'Bout Lawrence being bad luck."

"Shut your damn mouth Preston," Reginald hissed.

"What? You think he's listening?"

"Probably. He's not asleep, he'd be talking if he was."

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I remember my brothers mentioning it a few times-- and by mentioning, I mean slapping me awake to complain, as brothers will. Still, I thought I'd grown out of it.

"Hey."

"Marcus--"

"No, no, did you hear what he said last night?"

"What?" Preston whispered.

"He was talkin' bout boys," his voice lowered a notch. "Dixon."

I could feel them looking at me, and didn't move, even though that would probably give away that I was listening anyway.

Goddammit, I can't help it if I thought Dixon was kind of cute. But what all did I say, did I--

"Shut your mouths!" We all jumped. One of our superiors had poked his head in the doorway and heard the whispers.

After that, everyone quieted down completely. I can't say if I managed to sleep at all that night. I just pressed my face into the bottom of the bunk and tried to comfort myself with the thought that tomorrow this'd likely be over.