A Fallen Star [1x1] (LynxAmelia x Vizzy) [Inactive]

Walter smiled wearily, and placed his fingers to his lips before winking at Hayley. Walter's eyes stung, it was a terrible feeling but telling her the truth was about the only way to keep her from hating him when she found out herself. Walter knew she tried grabbing his hand, but by some force of nature let it go when the old woman turned around; he knew his fate was sealed. He nodded his thanks, ever so slowly walking into the room with the sliding glass doors and looking around at the vast amount of military records. Where did one even start? "Hayley, everything will be explained in due time..Just help me find my file, please." Walter nearly begged her, as his eyes scanned the room "I-..I'll explain once you see it...Me and Little. I was interviewed, but made sure little was in the picture with me. Should be in both of our files." Walter murmured as he turned around to face her.


"I told you I was in the military, didn't lie. Just never told you how I was in the service, or what the conditions were for my discharge." Walter stated matter-of-factly "Sixty dollars could have bought an old clunkin' car, or a small house.". "How do they organize the files here? Name of solider or date, maybe war? If you don't feel like helping, then I'm glad you got me this far. Thanks, Hayley." Walter whispered before he started for the far left of the room and opened a filing cabinet to start sifting through files.
 
Skeptical ol' Hayley's eyes narrowed as she frowned. "Are you sure you haven't escaped from an asylum?" she asked quietly before heading to the opposite side of the room. Her supernatural memory coupled with her instinct had recorded every bit of information that Walter had spewed out. "Year 1959.." she said to herself as she reached the appropriately numbered cabinet. The number Walter had called his own was the one she remembered better so she set about searching for it. She knew it was logically impossible for him to have been in that war and still be so young.


Or so she thought until her finger hit the Draftee number he'd mentioned, "34059000," she whispered softly before pulling out the file. Her hands were shaking and, for a moment, she closed her eyes and prayed, prayed that all the things that she believed in wouldn't go to trash from the information she was about to read, prayed that this be a nightmare and she would still be in bed.


And then, she opened the cover of the file....
 
It had the normal mambo jumbo a military file usually entailed; blood type, age, weight, height, color of eyes and hair, hometown and date of birth. However, like most files in that library, his was marked with a large print 'Deceased-KIA' right over his picture. Surely enough, the black and white worn edged photo resembled Walter right down to the goofy smile he wore. "Did you find one yet?" Walter asked as he sifted through a pile of random photos and newspapers of which were beginning to yellow. His back was to Hayley, so he didn't quite have a way of knowing she'd already opened his file. "I uhh..Died, four or five years into the service. Took a round to the head when my platoon got pinned." Walter quietly explained "I died instantly, no pain. I'd like to think we won that war." He shook his head with a dark chuckle "We lost. I can see it just by looking at some of the photos from later years. Some of these guys look..Defeated. Not a smile to be seen.". Walter tossed the photos back into place before turning around, his eyes growing wide upon seeing Hayley almost shaking when opening a file. "You don't believe in god. You need proof to believe me. Go on, if you need me to, I can tell you what's on that without even looking. George should have signed the back of the folder if he ever made it out. Center right, same as his position when he used to play ball as a boy." Walter leaned against the file cabinet and crossed his arms over his chest.
 
"This is absurd!" Hayley exclaimed, "Complete and utter madness." She snapped the file shut and turned around to face Walter. "The Vietnam War was one of the greatest historical events known to man," she began, her mind instantly switching to thinking mode, "You wanna know why? The first televised war, some would say. The most catastrophic one barring the World War would say the others. But I.. I believe it is the greatest war because it showed that you don't need money or firearms to win a war. You need dedicated men and women who wish to fight for what they thought was a right. The right to freedom. Which not even the great United States of America cannot deny, could not deny to a so-called Third World Country." Hayley adjusted the glasses on her face. "It says here that you," she pointed a finger at Walter, "You died in the Vietnam War. As proud as I am to make your acquaintance, would you care to tell me why or how you just happen to, I don't know, resurrect in the middle of a forest?" At each word she stressed, her expression was a theatrical one of mocking disbelief that said 'care to enlighten me?'
 
“Falling from grace, I guess.” Walter mumbled as something distracted him off to the left “You don’t believe in him, but I’m an angel. Believe it or not, the skies do get crowded, or I guess I just wasn’t pure enough for them.”. Walter used the filing cabinet as a support as he slid down to the ground and took a seat. “They could have just let me die when they threw me down, but I guess the big man had different ideas.” Walter smiled and tried to slick back his hair “Then you came along, helped me out. Some kind of angel, huh?”. Walter tilted his head back and let it bang against the filing cabinet “It wasn’t everything people make it out to be. They rob you of senses and make you something of a shell. You can’t pee, get aroused, sleep…Just a doll of sorts. Pain, is something you can feel a ton of. Loss and regret.” Walter shook his head “Hell would have been a much easier sentence. I can smile through physical pain, always did when with my platoon. They often joked I was born grinning like a fool.” Walter sniffled and squeezed his eyes shut. “Did he sign it? George? Did that old cocky shrink get out alive?” Walter sputtered and smiled, his face growing a deep crimson. “Center right…Just tell me, or let me see it myself.” Walter chocked out and covered his eyes from Hayley’s view, a small pitter patter could be heard. The sound of water dripping from a faucet to a flat surface.
 
Hayley looked down at the folder in her hand. She turned around and tucked it back into the drawer she had pulled it out of. Some things, she felt, are better lost than found. She did not say anything until she heard the finality of the click with which it closed. Then she stood up and turned to where Walter sat. She didn't know what she felt. It wasn't sympathy or empathy, that's for sure. She had no way of know what Walter had experienced in the battle. Heck all her little worries seemed to be insignificant in the face of what he was going through. Living all over again, without family, friends or even clothes. Impulsively, she strode towards Walter and dropped to her knees beside him. She proceeded to wrap her arms around him and tuck his head on her shoulder. Though tight, the hug exuded warmth and a sense of comfort. "You have me," she said, "It may not be much, but you have me." She ran a hand over the back of his head, marvelling at the soft blonde hair that belonged on an angel. Perhaps it did belong to one as well.
 
At first, Walter struggled against the hug he didn't know how to accept it and he didn't want her pity. Walter's eyes were more or less letting tears fall freely now, and it was almost hard to concentrate on seeing what was going on. He relented his struggles and gave way to Hayley's embrace, and simply wrapped his arms around her in return. It took a bit for him to calm down, simply sitting there in Hayley's arms crying like the day he were born. Walter's flow of tears slowed, and his took a shaky deep breath "I have you for now, but how long can I expect that to last." Walter rasped, as he locked his arms around Hayley "Can you really live with someone knowing they aren't alive? That they can barely provide for the ones they hold close?". "It's unstable, like my state of mind is. I've killed, and watched people die. I couldn't cry because everyone was already doing enough of it." Walter chuckled, but choked and quickly stopped "I took care of my platoon. Making them all happy and keeping morale up. " As he spoke his grip tightened on her "George died. Right before I did..Grenade took out our entire left flank...He used to hold me like this sometimes, yelled at me when I tried tossing a joke or smile his way and pressed my buttons until I broke down.". Walter sniffled, and his face burned with irritation from the salty water "I'm sorry I dragged you here.".
 
Hayley's hug remained firm despite all his struggles. She had a vague idea of how Walter felt. She'd felt a similar pain once her parents left her with a poor excuse of a brother as the sole source of support, which wasn't much. Her shirt had grown rather wet from all his tears but she slowly rubbed his back to comfort him in a way she personally had never been comforted. Perhaps it was what he needed, someone to understand. She knew she had no way of fully understanding the situation but seeing a grown man weep this way tugged at her heartstrings. "Shh.." she cooed softly, "I know it is shallow to say this, but it is alright. Dwelling on the past isn't going to be of much help Walter, not after so many years of doing it anyway." She lifted her hand from around him to try and wipe some of his tears. "You're a brave man, Walter, I know that," she kissed his forehead at the point where his soft blonde hair began, "You're here for a reason, I know that too. But till you know why you're here, all you can do is survive." Hayley put her arm back around him, "I can tell you another thing too," she said, "I will always be there to help when you need it."
 
Reassurance, it was nice to know that in this world he did not belong, he had someone. He finally calmed down enough to the point of which his tears had stopped flowing, and he could breath and talk normally. If anything a small sniffle here or there would be standard. "Thanks, Hayley." Walter said shakily "But, what you said goes both ways. You're there for me, I'm there for you.". Walter lifted his face, and tried not to smile, despite the corners of his lips twitching "In this together, right?" he was loosening his lips a little more "It's going to make me feel worse if you're the only one supporting someone.". Walter's lips turned upwards in a full grin, genuine as can be, even if his face was tear streaked and eyes were red and puffy. "Sorry I soaked your shirt." He announced with a chuckle and tried to wipe away the water from the cloth in a futile attempt "We should get going. I don't think I can survive without a job.".
 
Hayley chuckled as she held Walter at an arm's length and inspected him. "You might wanna wipe your face or I just might face rape charges," she said light-heartedly, "And don't worry, we can just mooch off my brother till I get a job!" she added cheerfully. Then she seemed a little less cheerful and asked, "How do you feel though? I don't expect you to be hunky-dory but I would be glad to know whether you wouldn't cry on our way home." She then got to her feet and straightened her skirt. Then she closed the drawers Walter seemed to have thrown open in his hurried search. "I do hope you haven't gotten too attached to the floor. I'm starved!" she extended her hand towards the seemingly broken man, her face sporting a small but genuine smile, probably the only genuine smile she had smiled in a long long time.
 
"I'm too exhausted to cry anymore." Walter chuckled as he merely used her hand for guidance, preferring to get up under his own power "And that floor might be sticky, but it's not all that enticing of a seat.". Walter began to wipe his face with his opposite hand, and wiped the tears off on his pant leg "I'm fine with mooching, just so long as I can pay it back in full." his stomach growled as he spoke "And maybe lunch wouldn't be such a bad idea.". However he did grimace slightly and clutched her hand tighter "You're going to pay attention to school. Leave working to me, we can split my wages." Walter urged. He may have looked like a mess, but crying that much wasn't one of his fondest things. Although, it did leave him feeling better that Hayley was with him, like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
 
Hayley just winked. "I have my own debts to pay, Walter," she said, walking towards the glass doors, "I wouldn't be making any money for years if just kept studying. Besides," she looked at him over her shoulder, "I have no intention of getting you or myself the job today. You need to get adjusted to this world right?" Hayley barely realized that his hand was still attached to hers as she walked on, "Well, the world now isn't all that great. In fact, it has pretty much gone to the dogs." She nodded to the librarian as she headed to the locker to take her bag and the shopping bag that contained Walter's new clothes and only then did she let go of his hand, "You'll have to change before we go home. Else Charlie would chop me like a hunk of meat." Exiting the double doors of the library once more, she mused, "Now, what would you like? My treat," she grinned up at him.
 
Walter, despite not wanting to mooch even more, was definitely hungry enough to eat. He took his bag of clothing with a nod acknowledging that he'd have to change before meeting the infamous Charlie, if he ever was going to. "I guess going to a parlor sounds swell." Walter confessed as he slung the bag over his shoulder and rubbed the bridge of his nose "Someplace with shakes, I haven't had one since I was seventeen.". Walter slipped his hand into the pocket of the tight jeans, wincing slightly from the fabric tightening on his waist "Is your brother some sort of twig? Or are guys just built smaller in this day and age." Walter muttered and pulled his hand free. He honestly couldn't wait to meet this 'Charlie' maybe even give the youngster a good tal--God he sounded like his father just then.
 
Hayley nodded happily as she turned to the road and began walking. But with nothing more than a step, she stopped. She'd always seemed to walk ahead of Walter. Him following was a different thing, but she felt rather disgusted with her own behavior. She turned around and walked back to him with a hung head. "I'm sorry," she muttered, feeling rather guilty now. Then she held a hand out to him, hoping for him to take it. "Walk with me?" she asked a little hopefully, her lip bitten ever so slightly in fear of being declined. And... shyness?
 
Sorry? Had her heard her correctly? What on earth did she apologize to him for? It was about then it dawned on him, was she sorry for leading him around everywhere? The only thing that seemed logical considering she also asked him to walk with her, much less hold her hand. Which, Walter not only took, but bent at the knee and waist to place a small kiss atop her knuckles. Extremely old fashioned, and corny, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time, just to reassure the girl. Walter rose again and goofily smiled "Well, if you look that adorable, who could ever refuse?" He chimed and used the hand outstretched to him to pull her into him so that her shoulder nearly bumped into his and he laid the same hand over her shoulders, pinning her to his side. "People seemed to be doing this alot, almost like leaning on one-another for support." Walter chuckled and bumped her with his hip "Which way, cap'n.".
 
Hayley blushed brightly. She had seen many men kiss women's, correction, ladies' hands this way, but only in movies. Despite herself, she couldn't help but be flattered by this act. It didn't help that he pulled her to him almost immediately and put his arm around her. With her face red with embarrassment, she was in no position to ask him to take it off. She would've actually, if it hadn't felt so comforting and she hadn't remembered how upset he had been just minutes earlier. And at her short height in comparison to his, she would probably appear more like his sibling than his... er, friend. Somehow she didn't like that thought too much and cast it away. She just laughed and nodded her head to a side, "That way," she said, smiling shyly as she began walking, "What's your favorite flavor anyway?"
 
Walter smiled and began heading into the direction of her nod, almost uneasily seeing as he didn't know the lay of the land. "My favorite flavor.." Walter breathed mostly to himself, either his memory was shit or he couldn't remember much from before the war. "Vanilla?" Walter asked himself, a cross look coming about his features "I can't tell, it's been a little too long. Who knows, I just want something sweet.". He gripped her shoulder tighter and cleared his throat "You know, you basically had a peek into one of my darker secrets, why not tell me a little more about yourself..Other than the fact that you are a complete bookworm.". Walter chortled and tilted his head back, emphasizing his steps with stomps "And don't give me the run around. You read my file, I'm a hardened killer!".
 
Hayley gave him an amused glance before bursting out laughing. "Hardened killer indeed-" she began before she froze to a halt. For barely 10 feet away from them stood a man with pitch black hair and eyes the same bright blue as her own which were currently narrowed to an angry glare. Despite the man's relatively thin form, he sported a rather handsome face which was currently marred with an angry scowl. "Charlie," Hayley squeaked, suddenly conscious of Walter's arm around her. But, as was her nature, she did not attempt to push his arm away or get away from him. She wasn't willing to push away her only current source of comfort, even if it was scanty. "What are you doing here?" came her small voice as the man strode towards them. "I should be asking you that, you insolent brat!" he said, tugging her away from Walter by the collar of her shirt, "I go out one night and you give his guy my clothes?" Hayley was rather close to tears by now, "I-I can explain," she said, shaking a little, "He-" "Shut up!" he yelled, loud enough to make a couple of people glance at them, "I will not have any little sister of mine sleeping around with strangers." It seemed deliberate, his words. He probably wanted people to hear it. Hayley dropped her eyes, openly crying by now, unable to form any coherent words.
 
Walter was partially stunned, how else could he react. He now knew why Hayley feared Charlie, he was emotionally abusive, and physical. Well, breaking news...Walter was too. "So, you're the French prostitute." Walter joked with a smile, even if his eyes were burning with a golden rage "Your choice of cologne is terrible. Ladies man, who can't even keep his hands to himself even when it comes to his own little sister.". Walter slowly approached, and placed a hand on Hayley's shoulder "You know what they teach you in the military, son?" Walter spat as his hand shot forwards and took hold of Charlie's wrist. "They teach good men like me, how to deal with womanizing, sacks of shit who berate women and cower behind cover when bullets start flying." Walter threatened and adjusted his grip on Hayley and lightly shoved her to the side; ripping her out of her brother's grasp. "Now, lemme ask you. Just how far are you willing to go to insult my girl again. I'll sure as hell take you out to pasture, pretty boy." Walter balled his fist up and let it stay at his side. "I've taken bullets, had grenades kill my buddies, and a thug like you sure as hell don't scare me. Your scrawny ass better be rounding that corner or I'll stick my foot so far down your throat it'll come out the other end." Walter's tone had gone dark and cold, there wasn't a hint of his jovial old self anymore "Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear.".
 
The little girl watched the entire exchange with a stunned expression, strangely lucid despite her loud sobs. She knew her brother could be scary, she was used to hearing such things, probably worse too. But what surprised her more was Walter speaking so very harshly. A part of her wanted to defend Charlie, after all he was still her brother. But it was even more scary for her. If she had gotten a couple of words out with Charlie, she wouldn't even make a peek with this new angry version of Walter. Slowly, she backed up against a wall. She wasn't able to see too well now, thanks to her glasses being wet with her tears. She did make out Charlie shooting a nasty glance in her direction before swearing under his breath and walking off. She knew she would probably get turned out of the house that day. But strangely, she didn't mind. Mainly because her uncle would stop his allowance if he did. Hayley pulled her glasses off her face and set about wiping it with an edge of her shirt, unable to do much else.
 
The second Charlie was out of sight Walter began to calm down, the fires in his golden irises dimmed and he began to breathe slower. "Ha--" Walter stopped and noticed her over yonder propped up against the wall. His expression went from threatening to worried in about three seconds flat and rushed over to her, ducking so that he was eye level with her. "Shhh.." Walter cooed, as he swatted her hands away and placed either hand on each of her cheeks, wiping away her tears with his thumbs "I didn't hurt ya when I got him off you, did I?". He smiled apologetically and stood, at the same time pulling her head so that it rested on his chest. Walter cradled her like that for a moment, just as she had done for him only minutes ago. "I guess the cat's out the bag about me 'sleeping' with you" Walter chuckled lifting his hand and gently patting her shoulder "Kinda wish you didn't see that, I don't like getting rough.".
 
Hayley was partly terrified when Walter approached her. With her glasses off, she couldn't see his face too clearly. She could only picturise the hateful expression from seconds earlier.When her hands got pushed away, her fear returned anew. Perhaps he would hit her or scold her for having such a terrible excuse of a brother. But his later touches were more caring than anything. "I'm fine," she mumbled against his chest, sniffling softly, one hand clutching her glasses tightly, not wanting to lose them, "And it's probably a good thing, not having to hide you that is. You're too big to hide under my bed or in my closet," Hayley forced a chuckle out of herself. Then she pulled herself back a little to put her glasses back on. "We might have to stay away from him, at least for a little while," she said, turning in the direction Charlie had gone in, "Not that he would do anything but.. I think it is best not to provoke him. He isn't the nicest of people when he's angry."
 
"I think it best he didn't even think to bother you for a little." Walter breathed as he shook his head "If you hadn't noticed, I can be pretty mean as well.". Walter wasn't worried about Charlie, he could handle someone like him with a single well placed punch, but a guy like that would never duke it out with a guy larger then himself. Real sleazebag, that Charlie guy. How he considered himself a big brother was beyond Walter. Sure, he'd only had three years before shipping off to war, but he was kind and gentle. He had to be, otherwise his old man would have done exactly what Walter just threatened Charlie with, he shivered at the thought. "We don't gotta worry about Frenchie for a bit, just so long as I'm with you most of the time he won't bother you." Walter explained in a hushed tone, his lips curling back into that goofy lopsided grin.
 
Hayley frowned slightly as she looked up at him. "Don't get into trouble with him," she said firmly, "Threats are fine, but I will not watch you beat him up." Then she shook her head and let out a sigh. Pulling out her purse, she checked for the money inside. "We'll probably have enough for lunch," she said, stuffing it back into her pocket. She smiled slightly as she extended her hand once more, "Shall we go then?" she asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She half expected to be yanked back to his side once more and held there with an arm around her shoulders. And strangely, she wasn't all that against it. In fact, she had to reinforce that act for her brother's sake, else he wouldn't let Walter stay in the house any longer. Right now, it was her only excuse to keep Walter in her room, calling him her boyfriend.
 
Walter was tempted to argue, but it wouldn't get him anywhere. He vowed to himself that not a hair should be harmed on Charlie's head, but one step out of line and he'd be dead meat. Walter noticed her gesture again extending her hand and wanting him to walk with her, of course he would have been more than happy to. Instead of yanking her around like she were some doll, he clasped his hand around hers and moved himself around so that he could reassume the closeness they once had without such violent movement. Plus, after what she'd seen him do and what she gets daily from Charlie, she needed to be treated as if she were a little more fragile than a piece of concrete. "Sure---Mind telling me which way we're going?" Walter asked her as he gently swayed away from the scene of the crime, heading in the complete opposite direction of which she had already set for him only moments ago.
 
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