Fic: They Killed Another Kennedy! (6/6)
Aug. 9th, 2007 01:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bradygirl_12Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: Steve/Diana, Robert/Ivan
Category: Drama
Rating: (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: In June of 1968, Steve and Diana struggle with violence in-country and back home.
Summary: Sometimes, the world just breaks your heart.
Date Of Completion: August 4, 2007
Date Of Posting: August 9, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 645
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note:
jen_in_japan requested "Steve/Diana in Vietnam, sometime in the mid-to-late '60s" from my DCU GSB Fic Request Meme. All chapters can be found here. VI
ANGELS IN THE CLOUDS
(June 6, 1968)
“I just received a summons from the JLA.”
Steve nodded and kissed his Angel. “Let me get dressed and walk you down.”
Once in the lobby he met a tall, lanky Texan who knew how to work the hotel’s radio equipment. He looked weary as he lit a cigarette, nodding to Steve and Wonder Woman.
“They killed another Kennedy,” he said in a soft drawl.
Steve knew then that Bobby Kennedy was dead. He tightened his arm around his Angel. She said nothing, just squeezed his arm.
They walked to the entrance. “Steve, I…”
He kissed the top of her head. “Go. You’ve got a JLA mission. I’ve got an observational mission. We’ve both got our duty.”
Sadly, Wonder Woman nodded. She kissed him, her arms going around him like she never wanted to let go. His arms mirrored hers, both of them holding on tightly, desperation skittering around the edges. He smoothed her hair, his sadness and general malaise easing a little as her love washed over him.
When they separated he gave her a little smile. “When you get back you’ll have to tell me all about the latest JLA adventure.”
She smiled, too. “Of course. And I want details of yours.”
“Always, my Princess.”
Laughing a little, she reached up and touched his cheek. He took her hand and kissed the palm, murmuring, “Remember, we never say goodbye, just ‘see you’.”
She nodded and said softly as she touched the medal around his neck, “See you, Steve,” then turned and walked out of the lobby on her way to the airfield to pick up her invisible plane. He watched her go until she was out of sight, then wandered over to the radio room.
He leaned back against the wall next to the entrance, simply staring off into space, the radioman keeping him silent company. When he saw Robert and Ivan, he nodded to the Texan and walked over to the pair.
“It’s all over,” Steve said softly.
“I know,” Robert said. “Ivan and I just heard.” He sighed. “We’ve got to get home. Our mission here is done.” He squared his shoulders. “Another Kennedy funeral to attend.”
“Violence here, violence there.”
Robert’s smile was small and bitter. “Seems to be the way of things.”
Ivan rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Maybe we can make a difference at the Democratic Convention.”
“I suppose we can offer our services to Eugene McCarthy.” Robert cocked his head. “How about you, Steve? Still interested in the campaign?”
Steve considered and said slowly, “I think so. We need some kind of hope, now that…” He sighed.
Robert squeezed his arm. “See you, then.”
Steve smiled faintly as Robert used what he knew to be Steve’s preference for goodbyes.
“See you, Robert, Ivan.”
Once they were gone, Steve went back up to his room. He had a flying mission for which to prepare.
A half-hour later, he came downstairs with the gear he needed and signed out a jeep to take him to the airfield.
Wonder Woman’s plane was already gone, and he performed pre-flight checks on the plane assigned to him. He touched his Medal of Athena, given to him by his Angel, and patted his breast pocket where his rosary resided in its small pouch.
“Colonel, glad to have you on this mission,” said Major Denholm over his headphones, his flying companion.
“Glad to be flying, Major. Now, let’s fire these babies up.”
The jets rumbled and shook, then shot off into the sky as the engines fully engaged.
Steve felt a peace settle over him as he flew in the bright, cloud-fluffy skies.
Angels flew among the clouds, and his Angel most of all.
& & & & & &
June 6, 1968—Missing in action over North Vietnam: Colonel Steven J. Trevor, USAF.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-09 06:05 pm (UTC)Well done!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-09 06:18 pm (UTC)Well done!
Thank you, Green Eyes! :)
Yes, DC killed Steve off in 1968, but it was another method (can't quite remember how at the moment, though he may have died saving Diana), so the ending was kind of pre-ordained here from the beginning considering the year.
Though, of course, he's MIA, so he might not be dead. I honestly don't know if I'll ever write a sequel to this or not, whether there's hope or not. It was just kind of melancholy from the start for me.
:(
no subject
Date: 2007-08-10 03:53 am (UTC)He kissed the top of her head. “Go. You’ve got a JLA mission. I’ve got an observational mission. We’ve both got our duty.”
Oh. *squeezes them both so very tightly.*
And it's a testament of how fond you made me of these characters that the last line literally felt like a gut punch. I suppose I should have seen it coming, considering, but...
no subject
Date: 2007-08-10 02:56 pm (UTC)He kissed the top of her head. "Go. You’ve got a JLA mission. I’ve got an observational mission. We’ve both got our duty."
Oh. *squeezes them both so very tightly.*
Understood!
And it's a testament of how fond you made me of these characters that the last line literally felt like a gut punch. I suppose I should have seen it coming, considering, but...
Thank you, Pervy! I'm glad that my story had a strong impact.
I had the ending in mine when I started it, so the story took on a definite melancholy cast.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-11 11:49 pm (UTC)Saying "see you" instead of "goodbye" is one of those wonderful, sad things military guys do to get through, just like relying on duty to get them through the hard times. It's a wonderful touch here, and I didn't see the ending coming, so it hit me pretty hard! *sniffles more*
Thank you so much for this, Brady! It's a wonderful series and a lovely exploration of their relationship, with all its strengths and sadnesses.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-12 01:22 am (UTC)*hands you a handkerchief and takes one, too*
Saying "see you" instead of "goodbye" is one of those wonderful, sad things military guys do to get through, just like relying on duty to get them through the hard times. It's a wonderful touch here, and I didn't see the ending coming, so it hit me pretty hard! *sniffles more*
My Dad, a Korean War veteran, always said, "We don't say goodbye. We say 'see you'."
The ending was there from the beginning for me, so the whole story was set in this melancholy shading for me as I wrote it.
Thank you so much for this, Brady! It's a wonderful series and a lovely exploration of their relationship, with all its strengths and sadnesses.
*beams through her tears*
Thank you, Jen! :)