Bullet To The Heart

Walk Like the World is on His Back

Walk Like theWorld is on His BackElliotstood quietly outside the airport. His black hair was neatly cut, and he wasclad in his uniform. His left foot tapped in a random pattern. His hands werein his pockets and his right hand held tightly onto his cell, the other wastucked deep in the black fabric of his uniform pants, his thumb was circlingthe silver band on his ring finger, a simple thing that to anyone else wouldjust be a man admiring his wedding band. But to Elliot it was much much more,it was an unfilled promise and he wanted to take it off, but he found himselfunable if José was still stuck in his heart like a bad splinter.

Hisphone buzzed, and he whipped it out of his pocket. The cold black case calmedhis heating nerves and he took a deep breath. He was waiting for Randy, sweet,lovely, Randy, his newest client. But not really. Elliot saw so much of José IRandy it was slightly worrying. But Elliot was determined to help Randy throughthis difficult time.

I'mhere, Teddy

Elliotsmiled at the nickname Randy had given him and looked around eagerly. His eyesmet a rusted sky-blue pickup truck and his heart stopped. Why? Why was he sonervous? Why did he feel as he was going to faint? What was going on? Thedriver's door opened and a man in a pale blue dress shirt and black slacksstepped out. Randy had gelled his fluffy brown hair back and shaved his face soonly a light 5 o'clock shadow complemented his face.

Helooked around and caught sight of Elliot, he smiled brightly and stared walkingacross the parking lot to Elliot. The soldier straightened up and grabbed hissuit case in one hand. Randy crossed the side walk to meet Elliot on the sidewalk and he looked at the taller man.

"Hi"Randy breathed out.

"Hey"Elliot smiled, and Randy pulled something out from behind his back, a bouquetof daisies.

"Randy?These are so pretty" Elliot took them and reached forwards to hug hisfriend.

"Igot 'um in the morning'" Randy said, "can I take yr' things?"

"Oh"Elliot shook his head, dislodging some of is combed back hair and it fell overhis forehead, "no, I'm fine, I carried 40 pounds of things' round thedessert, I'm sure I can handle a ten-pound bag"

"Okay,off to the farm then" Randy spun his keys on his fingers and lead the wayback to the truck, "how was the flight, I know sometimes the flights canbe rocky"

"Anyflight where I'm not getting shot at is a lovely one" Elliot snickered, ajoke to him but it made Randy's smile fall and he walked straight faced.

Elliotwatched his new companion walk steadily. Randy had a very cowboy walk; his hipswere bow legged and he walked with his hands in his pockets and the thumblooped around the belt loops. His shoulders were broad but slightly hunchedover and is head tipped towards the ground.

"Hey,I know that what I said, about being shot at, it was wrong, I'm sorry, I knowhow hearing about war can hurt the loved one of a solider fallen, I couldn'teven look my buddies in the eyes after José went down"

"Thepeople in my town, when they go off to war, no one has ever come home in onepiece, and I've had no one to talk to about Eli, it's okay. Just, I want thisvisit to be about you and me, not Eli and José"

Elliotreached out and grabbed Randy's wrist and pulled his hand form his pocket,Elliot cupped Randy's hand and stopped the man from walking, "I'msorry" He looked at Randy and smiled, "I'm really excited you invitedme here Randy, I'm excited to be here, with you"

"I'mhappy yr' here too ya' know, I can't wait to get you outta those fancy duds andinto some real clothes" Randy turned around to face Elliot and Elliot'sbreathing shallowed as Randy stood closer. Randy reached up and ran his fingersthrough Elliot's hair and cracked and parted the gel, He brought the strandsforwards and gave Elliot a more natural and roughed up look. Randy unbuttonedElliot's uniform jacket and the first three buttons of his under shirt,"You're nowhere near the army now Sargent, be free for once"

Theystood there looking at each other for a while, Randy's hand drifting throughElliot's hair and Randy observing the scars that painted Elliot's chest,"we" Randy whispered, out of breath and blushing red, "shouldget going, it's a four-hour drive from here to my ome' town"

Elliotnodded and had to resist the urge to pulled Randy back closer to him and keep lookinginto the pale green eyes reflecting in his own black eyes. The two menclambered into the old truck. Randy had tossed Elliot's bag in the bed of thetruck. Randy started the engine and the two of them were off.

"So,I know your older brother is back in Oregon with Carson, who else is at yourhouse?" Elliot asked.

"Mymaw and pa are there, as well as my twin brother Blake and my little sisElizabeth"

"Wow,you have a big family"

"Youdon't?" Randy asked.

"Itwas just me for a long time, my mom and dad died in a car accident when I wastwelve, I have an older sister but she's not too fond of me, when my parentsdied she took care of my younger brother but left me to the state."

"Icouldn't imagine anyone not being fond of you Teddy, you're a ray of sunshineon a rainy day" Randy sent a small smile Elliot's way and focused on theroad.

"Shewas 15 when I was born, to her I was the brat that took her parents away fromher"

"You'renot a brat Elliot" Randy reached over and took Elliot's hand, "not tome"