More Than Anything

Church glanced into Tucker’s room and froze. Tucker looked up from his bed, slightly worried. He tucked his magazine under the top blanket smoothly as Church walked in, heading straight for Tucker’s desk. He lifted a sheet of paper that was until recently leaning up against the wall.



“What the hell, Tucker?” Church shook the paper in Tucker’s face.

It was the picture of Church and Grif, nose to nose, taken just over a week ago. “What?” Tucker asked him innocently.



Church very deliberately made ripping motions. Tucker shrugged. He had a backup on disk- how stupid did Church think he was? Instead of ripping it, however, Church stole it. The picture would eventually find itself on Church’s side table.



“You miss him, huh?” Tucker asked as Church left the room.



Church didn’t dignify him with an answer. He smelled a slight burning in the kitchen and knew that Caboose was still trying to make dinner. Church didn’t dare go in to see what it was. He found himself on the top of the base, sitting with his feet over the side. Another hot, sunny day, just like the past three years, no exceptions. He bit back a laugh- he could hear Donut on this side of the canyon.





*





“C’mon, Grif, help a little!” Donut whined.



Grif shook his head. “No way. I am not washing the Warthog again.”



“J-just stay outside with me? Please?”



Donut was looking past Grif to Sarge. “Donut, no. I’m going inside.”



“I’ll put in another order for Oreos with Command!” the private promised desperately.



Grif pause. “Fine. I’ll stay outside. But I am not helping.”



“Thankyouthankyou!”



Grif frowned beneath his helmet. What was wrong with Donut anyway? Grif sat on the ground and watched as Donut scrubbed at the Warthog. He began to hum softly, careful not to annoy Grif and have him leave.



Sarge passed between the two. One armored hand brushed Donut, who’s humming died in his throat. He fearfully glanced at the red soldier, one hand mindlessly wiping the same spot over and over as he watched Sarge walk away. Only when he was back to the base did Sarge turn to look at Donut. Donut quickly looked away, back to the jeep.



“Hey, you okay man?”



Donut jumped at Grif’s voice. “Y-yeah.”



“Doesn’t look it.”



“Forget it, okay?” Donut turned on him. “It’s none of your business.”



Grif shrugged. “Nah, I suppose not.”



Donut went back to cleaning. How was he supposed to do anything when he had to worry about Sarge?





*





“Just this once?”



Church glared at Tucker. “No. I am not taking pictures.”



“Come on! Just one.”



“You want fucking pictures of him naked? Take them yourself! I’ll take the camera from your corpse.”



Tucker smiled slyly. “You’d want them?”



Church instantly realized his mistake. “What? No! I’d delete them, asshole!”



“Whatever you say.”



Church huffed and turned the other way. Why had he asked Tucker to do guard duty with him? “Oh, just go.”



“Seriously?”



“Yes. Now go, already.”



“Thanks, man.”



Church watched Tucker go. What was with him lately? He was being nice to even Tucker. Well, maybe nice was a bit of a stretch. He still didn’t want to be one-on-one with him for too long.



Tucker had the camera hidden in his armor as he made his way to red base. Church had placed the offer to take the pictures himself, so he would. He knew which room was Grif’s- he could only hope that the orange soldier felt no inhibitions about being naked in his own room. As a last resort, Tucker could always sneak into the shower. He had noticed that, every time Grif was at blue base in the evening, he showered at exactly the same time. Now, in fact. It was a little late for sneaking in, though, so Tucker settled for watching the window.





*





Donut peeked out of his room. There was Grif in his towel, heading into his room. No one else was in the hallway. He grabbed his towel and made his way to the showers. None were on, thankfully. He crept into a stall and stripped. He threw his dirty clothes out of the stall to the floor, leaving his towel on the bench beside them.



The water felt clean and warm. He closed his eyes, forgetting everything. Blood Gulch? What was that? He loved showering, when he could let everything go.



Below the sound of his own pounding water, he heard another shower begin. He froze, knowing that Grif and Simmons were both already done. ‘Please let him not know it’s me, please let him not know it’s me…’ Donut thought frantically. His heart sunk as he realized that yes, of course Sarge knew just who was in the stall next to him.



Donut listened for the other man. The shower continued going, but Donut couldn’t hear Sarge. He turned around just as he remembered something. The stalls didn’t lock.



“Hello, Cupcake.”



Donut shrank back against the wall, right beneath the showerhead. Hands found themselves in front of him, shielding his body vainly from Sarge. The elder advanced into the stall, making no move to go for Donut. Instead he continued his shower as if he were in his own stall, except now he made use of Donut’s lilac shampoo. Donut wanted to squeeze past Sarge and out, but he knew there was no possible way to do so. He was going to have to talk to Sarge.



“I-I’m done.” Donut flinched as Sarge’s gaze fell on him. “Can I g-go now?”



“Don’t move.” Sarge ordered.



Donut looked at him with blue eyes large with fear. “S-sir?”



“You never did receive your punishment for insubordination last week.” Sarge growled.



“I’m sorry, sir!” Donut cried. “Just please let me pass, now.”



“If it wasn’t bad enough that you were standing up for Grif, of all people…” Sarge muttered.



“Sir, when we are done, I’ll-“ Donut tried to pass Sarge.



One arm lashed out in front of Donut, hand pressing against the wall. Donut squeaked and stepped back. He cowered back, spray of water pounding at his back. He felt as the heat left it and goose bumps raised on his skin.



“Can’t we talk about this later?” Donut pleaded.



“No. It has to be now!” Sarge insisted.



Donut whimpered as rough hands slid down his arms. He shook his head, trying to back away from Sarge, instead feeling cold tile at his back. A shiver raced down his spine. Sarge reached around him to turn the water off. Donut ducked beneath Sarge’s arm and was out of the bathroom before Sarge could turn around.



The pink private didn’t pay attention to where he was going; he didn’t care. So it was a surprise when he ran into Simmons. At first he thought it was Sarge and began to struggle.



“Donut! Donut, it’s me!”



“S-simmons?”



The maroon soldier asked softly. “What’s wrong?”

Donut turned to look behind him when he no longer heard the shower.



“Simmons, hurry up. I need to get into my room!”



Simmons let him go, suddenly seeming to realize that Donut was both wet and lacking clothing. Donut tore past him, into his room, slamming the door shut. Simmons stood still until he also saw Sarge go into his own room, Donut’s towel and clothing in hand.



The pink private leaned against the door. “Oh god…”



He could hear everything going on outside of his room, Sarge’s door closing before opening moments later. He scrambled to dress. Only after completely dressing did he notice that he still all wet.



When the knock came at the door, he didn’t answer it.





*





“What’s wrong with Donut?” Simmons asked Grif as he lay down.



“I was gonna ask you.”



“No you weren’t.”



“You’re right. But I still have no idea.”



Simmons frowned. “He tore away from Sarge like-“



“Sarge?” Grif sat up. “You don’t think he…?”



“Sarge would never do something like that!” Simmons said fiercely.



“Oh, stop being a kiss-ass for two seconds!” Grif shouted.



Simmons looked towards the door. “Maybe we should go check on him…”



“Sarge? No thanks.”



“No! I meant Donut!”



“Oh. Yeah. Definitely.”



They both heard the slamming of a door. “Uh, Grif? Either we hurry up, or we’re too late.”



Grif opted for the first. “C’mon.”



Donut’s door was locked. Grif pounded at it anxiously. When had everything become so difficult? Here he was, trying to get into another private’s room because he was worried that said private would be taken advantage of by their C.O. Whatever happened to doing nothing but watch for blues that weren’t even going to attack all day?



“Donut!”



Grif thought he could hear Donut. Or maybe not.



Simmons stood by his side. “He’ll be okay, Grif. Don’t worry so much.”



But Grif wasn’t so sure.





*





Donut held his blanket over himself. “Sarge, stop it!”



Sarge looked down at the private, who was so desperately trying to get out from beneath him. “Stay still, private.”



“What? No!” Donut pushed Sarge’s chest.



But Sarge wouldn’t move, despite Donut’s actions. Donut was confused when Sarge gently kissed his cheek.



“Hey, what are you-“



Donut left off words as Sarge’s hand slid down his body towards his groin. “I won’t force myself on you, son.”



The pink soldier almost laughed. He was so close to it when his C.O.’s hand found its destination. Pleasure shattered his thoughts rapidly. He could think of nothing else.



“Sarge…?”



“Calm down.” He whispered.



Some hidden part of Donut’s mind was scared. As his erection grew, the hidden part grew as well. He was almost there, so close, when Sarge stopped. Donut choked back a sob. He wouldn’t do it, no, no…



“I’ll be going, then.”



Donut couldn’t believe him. Was Sarge waiting for him to beg? Well, he would be waiting for a long time. Donut squeezed his eyes shut. He would wait for Sarge to leave, then he would take care of it… oh god, Sarge’s hand was on his chest… Donut squirmed until Sarge stood up.



“Give me your hands, Cupcake.”



Donut refused, continuing to grip the useless blanket. He wasn’t going to let go until Sarge was gone. His plan was shattered when his hold was broken, arms raised above his head.



“Please don’t do that.” Donut whispered as Sarge wrapped Donut’s sheet around his wrists, then the headboard.



“I said I wasn’t gonna force myself on ya. I meant it.”



Donut watched Sarge leave disbelievingly. “Y-you…”



The door was shut in his words.





*





Tucker looked back through the pictures, satisfied. Grif did go to his room straight after showering without dressing first. Man, he would have quite the collection to show Church. Tucker passed Sarge’s room, barely looking in the window. He peeked into Donut’s, hoping for an added bonus. He instead found the private tie to his bed, sobbing. Tucker dropped through the open window.



“Tucker?” Donut cried.



“What the fuck?” he asked as he released Donut.



“S-sarge…” Donut threw himself onto Tucker, who was eerily reminded of the first night Grif had spent at blue base. There was lots of condemning Sarge that night, as well.



“It’ll be okay…Wait, he didn’t… did he?”



Donut shook his head. Tucker smiled. “That’s a small mercy.”



Tucker went to leave, but Donut grabbed onto his arm. “Stay, tonight, please. He’s gonna come back, I know it. He knows I wouldn’t be able to get out myself…”



The blue hesitated, but only briefly. “Fine. But if I’m caught, I’m blaming you.”



Donut smiled broadly at him. Tucker asked then. “Do you, uh, always go to sleep like this?”



The pink soldier looked down at himself and blushed. “No.”



He was thankful he had lost his erection. There was something about being tied up, expecting Sarge any minute, that was rather softening.



Tucker held Donut, the latter pressed between him and the wall. For the first time in a week, he felt safe.