Splinters In Time

Lawrence Gray

Victor looked down at his friend. "You really like her, don't you?"

Lawrence gave a small nod.

"How old is she again?" Victor's tone hand the flat edge of disapproval.

"Nineteen. I'm eighteen."

"She thinks you're twenty-one."

Lawrence shrugged, sitting up. "So? It's not that bad. Besides, we might get shipped out tomorrow. Why not live a little?"

"... Alright." Victor leant back in his chair. "Go talk to her."

"Really?" Lawrence flushed bright red. "Do you think I should?"

"Go for it. You don't need my permission." He leant forward, putting his drink down on the table. "You're an American soldier- around here, you're like the new toy in the playroom. Use it. What's the worst that could happen? You trip and fall flat on your face? Because you already did that outside the infirmary and she laughed- in a way that said she thought it was charming. As far as I'm concerned, you're in. So go talk to her."

"Alright." Lawrence nodded, growing more confident. "Alright." He stood from the chair.

"-And don't fall over!" Victor added just in time, as Lawrence turned and nearly clipped the side of the bar.

Victor shook his head in amusement and took a long drink. The lad was alright really- if he could get himself together enough, Victor could see a good military career ahead of him, perhaps with a promotion not too far away.

He laughed as he watched Lawrence becoming flustered talking to the lady, who as far as anyone else could tell was absolutely delighted to be talking with him; fluttering her eyelashes at him and finding excuses to touch his arm and straighten his collar.

Yeah. Lawrence Gray would be just fine.

***

All Victor could see was the burning cradle. It was a sight that kept coming back to him, a sight he would never forget.

The next thing he saw was the flap of his tent opening and Lawrence's hand flying towards his face. He heard it before he felt it.

"Hey!" Victor fell from his chair with a crash. Standing up, he faced Lawrence who was filled with a righteous fury. "I could report you for that!"

"Oh, then I better make it worth it!" The next one was a fist and drew blood from Victor's nose.

"How dare you?!" Lawrence bellowed. "How dare you? They were innocent!"

"Stand down! Our intelligence was faulty. I was only going on what we had." Then, perhaps because he was feeling particularly sour, or perhaps he was just seeking retaliation from someone, Victor added under his breath. "Besides, it's not like it was your little girlfriend's house."

He saw the swing coming this time and managed to block it.

"Did you even think about that?" Lawrence spat. "Did you even think about the people? They were civilians! We were meant to protect them!"

"It's war, Lawrence! Sometimes, these things happen in war!"

"Oh, yeah? Well, I hope you can live with it- every day for the rest of your life!"

Suddenly, Lawrence was pulled back, restrained by two men who had rushed in once they overheard the commotion. "Are you alright?" One of the soldiers asked Victor.

Victor looked at Lawrence, bucking and writhing like a hissing cat in the pair's grasp. He dabbed his nose with his fingers, blood staining his skin, and closed his fist around it. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you." He sat back down, rubbing his palms over his face as he thought. "... Let him go." He dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Just got a bit hot under the collar, that's all."

They let Lawrence go; the man indignantly straightening his clothes and shooting Victor a cold look as he stormed out of the tent.

"Go take a walk, shake it off!" Victor called out after him.

Lawrence did not speak to him for many days after that. In fact , the young man was actively avoiding him when he could. It hurt, but Victor felt he deserved it- maybe it was part of his penance for the terrible thing he had done.

When he did get the chance to speak with Lawrence again, the young man was packing.

"...Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm on leave." Lawrence muttered- tone perhaps suggesting it was not exactly his idea. "After that, I'm transferring to the Navy."

"The Navy? But you'll have to start all over again in the Navy!"

"Yep." Lawrence said, closing the bag with a snap. "But it's what I want."

"But why the Navy?"

"I like boats." The man's dry tone was accompanied by a one-armed shrug.

Victor sighed. "Is this about what happened? Because I'll tell you now, you'll see just as bad in the Navy."

"Yep. But it won't be from you."

The words stung. Victor fought to find something to throw back. "She won't wait for you, you know."

"She might." Lawrence shrugged again. "I hope she does. But if she doesn't, that's her prerogative." He straightened up, and turned to face Victor properly for the first time. "I'm not doing it for her, or you, or anyone else. I'm doing it because, right now, this is what I need."

"Sounds like your mind is made up." In a moment of leniency, Lawrence stuck out his hand. Victor shook it once. "In that case, I wish you all the luck in the world."

Lawrence would be fine, Victor told himself. He had a good head on his shoulders. Lawrence Gray would be fine.

A/N: So I know there's been lots of speculation about Bonnie's Mum, but I don't know... I see her more in her Dad. XD

Disclaimer, I know very little about the military or WW2 beyond what I can quickly Google. So if something is incorrect, forgive me. :D

For some clarity: I know the summary of this book says it covers seasons 1 to 3 of Stranger Things, and the majority of it ABSOLUTELY will, but I also wanted to include some backstory about her parents and so the first 4 to 6 chapters will be a short story about them. Hopefully that's alright, I will try and keep it as interesting as possible! (Well, I think they're interesting, and I hope you do to!)

Don't forget to like and comment! Luv ya all, thanks for reading!