A Strange Home Coming (for TSB and Illianacole)

[TheScarletBlade]

His seat shook as the whole plane did, the sound of screeching from the tires as they touched down on the solid asphalt of the runway and begun to break as the plane attempted to slow its massive forward momentum as it ripped across the runway at March Air Force Base, in California. As the plane finally slowed down to a controlled taxi, the excitement in the cabin of the large massive jet liner made by Boeing was at an all time high as the group of about 100 hundred US Marines begun to restlessly buzz around, getting out of their seats and most of them flocking to the tiny windows on the side of the plane, to look out into the brightly lit California day and see, for the first time in almost 8 months, the beautiful United States. Some very naive people actually wonder how someone could find the concrete mess of buildings and smog filled air of California beautiful but they are the kind of people who have never spent 8 months running around in 130 degree sun looking at nothing but plane barren dirt and sand, sand soaked red with the blood of brothers and sisters whether they are fellow Americans or part of the coalition of forces helping fight the war on terror, of Afghanistan or Iraq. Compared to that little special piece of hell on earth, being in California was comparable to being back on earth or even having earned a ticket to heaven since many would imagine the sunny beaches a slice of paradise and skimpily clad bikini covered women being angels.

As the plane taxied down the runway and further into the small Air Force base that was little more than an airport for military flights going all over the world, where ever the military operated. As the big jet liner full of marines started to get closer to its parking space, the sound of band music began to fill the air, faint at first but growing louder and louder as the plane got closer to where it was going to park and drop them off. Sergeant Derek Stanton absolutely hated that music. Every time that a unit returned from a combat unit, they usually had a large procession for the families, where they all come out and the marine corps band plays some triumphant and happy little number to welcome the returning Marines back to the United States. If you had family, loved ones,lovers and friends, they would all be there cheering and waving American flags as they waited for a chance at reunion after a long separation during the deployment. It was often a gut wrenching, bitter sweet event with tears and happy cries though if you were alone in the world, it was almost a depressing event. As the plane finally pulled to stop, a hundred marines begun to grab their bags and line up with a certain amount of what could almost be described as giddiness as the door to the side of the plane opened and everyone just wanted to escape the confines of the cabin they just spent 20 hours sitting in and reunite with lovers and family. Derek was the last person in line, not in an rush to get off the plane knowing that even in the joyous almost frenzied mob of people waiting outside, not one person there was waiting for him.

Not his first time returning from the middle east war zone, Derek having been in the marine corps for about 6 years and having spent time in Iraq, then out in Asia and now Afghanistan, Sergeant Derek Stanton just kept volunteering for duties, having only spent a total of 4 months of the last 6 years actually back with his feet on the familiar soil of America. With nothing to keep him in the states since his family either dead or having disowned him, no girlfriend, most of his old high school buddies having just moved on with their lives and scattered to the wind, Derek had no reason to stay in a country he felt almost out of touch with: more comfortable shedding his blood for the idea of what America was in his mind instead of the actual place. Derek steeled himself for the sight of all the happy people reveling in the warm joy of their reunion, Derek finally stepped off the plane and placed the cover (or hat to known military types) to his tan colored digital camouflage fatigues and pulled the brim down a little bit to get the bright golden rays of the sun out of his amber brown eyes. The hard rubber soles of his worn combat boots clunking against the metal steps as he made his way down, the celebrations were already full swing as the men Derek had spent the last 8 months fighting and dying with were finally reunited with their families. Walking past clumps of people as he lowered his head a little bit, Derek was wearing an icy cold expression on his handsome, clean shaven face as he pushed past all the happy people: a marine reunited with his child here or a woman having jumped up into the arms of her man over there. Feeling like the Grinch, Derek went through the motions as he shook hands with a few of his guys families and girlfriends, genuinely caring for the men under his command but the bitter melancholy mood he was in just making him want to get away before he puked. Finally the little welcome back ceremony concluded after about an hour as the Marines had to catch their buses back down to base, spending a week or so debriefing before they finally got their hard earned leave.

That week, seeming to drag on forever, was finally over that Friday and the battle worn, eager Marines were finally let go to be left to their own devices away from the unit for almost a month. Derek contemplated just spending the time away in his little room in the barracks just catching up on a lifetimes worth of sleep hes lost but for some reason, he felt drawn towards home. Derek was born and raised in California, in a city about a 3 hours drive from where he was stationed. Getting some items collected for his trip and time away from his quarters, Derek pulled out his old flip phone, the cell phone he had in high school and being away for so long,he hardly needed to replace it since he never used it. Dialing a familiar number, the number to his oldest and best friend growing up, his buddy Eric who was still living in his parents house with his sister. His sister....now that was something to think about, though the last time he saw her she was still in high school, though she was definitely going to turn out be be quite the looker. Wiping that train of thought from his mind as he placed the ringing phone to his ear, the familiar run playing a few times before it kicked over to the voice mail that told him that he reached the home of Eric and his sister and that they missed his call. Taking a deep breath as he cleared his throat a little bit, the machine finally beeped "Hey brother, its Derek, I am coming home for about 30 days but I am still not welcome at my dads place so I was thinking I would crash at your place and I figured we could have some fun catching up....tell your sis Hi for me and see you soon bro" Derek said casually as he finished the message by clicking his phone shut, stuffing it into the pocket of his dark navy blue jeans. Tying up his tan leather combat boots and slipping into his black leather riding jacket, Derek tossed the black backpack full of clothes over his back and grabbed his full face visor riding helmet and walked out of his room, locking the door behind him.

the night black 2009 Ninja Derek rode had barely a 1,000 miles on it because he had bought it after his last deployment but had hardly ridden it anywhere before he was out of the country again. Having been riding since he was a kid, riding his motorcycle was one of the little joys in life that Derek really appreciated. Having a custom sports bike that was meant more for running laps around a track, Derek had turned a three hour trip into a two hour one as he burned down the interstate going over a 100 miles per hour when he could and weaving smoothly between traffic when it started to get dense. Almost borderline reckless, Derek believed on some subconscious level that if he had just survived roadside bombs(IEDs) and fanatical religious zealots equipped with Ak-47's and nothing but the death of every American on the planet in mind, he was hardly going to die burning rubber down the interstate. Finally within the city limits of his home town, so much had changed yet it felt exactly the same, it was the oddest feeling because it felt like he had just come back from a coma to find the world had moved on yet. Navigating the familiar streets to find his way to Eric's house, he softly pulled his bike up in the empty drive way and pulled softly on the brake as he pulled in his clutch, the powerful sports bike purring softly as it idled under him, Derek kicked out the kickstand as he killed the motor to his bike. Unclipping the strap that held the helmet in place, Derek pulled it off his head to reveal his handsome, clean shaven face that was glistening with a little bit of sweat from being stuck in the riding helmet as he ran a hand through his short black hair that was a freshly cut high and tight . Throwing his leg over the bike as he pulled the key from the ignition he looked at the house, it was just like how he remembered it, a slight smile showing on his face as a flood of happy childhood memories flashed through his mind, Derek was holding his helmet as he walked to the door, knocking on it with three sharp knocks.

 

[illianacole]

Hayley, opened the door not two seconds after the third knock. She'd gotten his message about an hour before when she'd finally woken from her nap. God D was looking better than ever. She couldn't help but take an appreciative sigh as she drank him in.

She'd called him D ever since she'd been four years old and couldn't keep him and her brother straight. He was nearly family and as far as Eric was concerned he was. They'd been friends all their lives. Once, long ago she'd had her first crush on the man standing on her doorstep. She'd even told her friend carrie that the D stood for 'DAYUM'. But, of course, at the time she had been too young for him to even picture in those terms and by the time she was he'd run off to the Marines and stayed gone pretty much since then.

In that time Hayley had grown from a gangling little girl with freckles on her nose and sunstreaked hair cut into a pixie do (her mother hated trying to get the tomboy to take care of it properly) into a woman who was still on the short side at 5'2" but had the curves of a rubenesque goddess. The freckles were gone and her tawney tresses had grown to the middle of her back. She'd had her share of boyfriends and heartbreak, but secretly she'd always had a soft spot for the one that got away. Which brought her back to the present and that self same man now standing before her.

"He's not here." She said crossing her arms in mock disgust at him, "Went on some trip for work two days ago, said he'd be back in three weeks. " Then she couldn't stand it anymore and she had to grin and hug him. " I should tell you to park your behind on a bench for not telling us you were coming home. We'd have been there for all the hoopla, ya know! But, I won't. You can sleep in his bed as long as you help buy more groceries."

As she let him go she stepped aside, letting him step in and giving her a chance to check out the hindquarters. Okay the D still stood for 'DAYUM.'

 

[TheScarletBlade]

His mind in a sort of nostaligic mode as he waited for the door to open, thinking about all the fun and trouble he and Eric had gotten into, when the door finally opened he was definitely expecting who opened the door. When a stunningly beautiful woman opened the door, Derek was a little wide eyed as his amber brown orbs shot over to the address number on the house, finding it was the one he was expecting, yet he definitely felt like he was at the wrong house. It finally setting it, he had totally forgotten about Hayley: almost expecting to see a young blond 15 year old girl, definitely not the visage of a goddess standing before him. The whole fact of the matter somewhat catching him almost completely off guard, It took him a second to recover, as his keen amber brown eyes slowly traveled from her head to toe to take it all. Hayley, a little girl that hes known since he was really little, back when him and Eric were still playing with wooden sticks pretending to be the teenage mutant ninja turtles, so it was strange to imagine the woman who stood before him now was the same Hayley.

Her voice snapping him out of his contemplative reverie, Derek felt his heart sink a little bit at the thought of missing his best friend before he went on another business trip, though that meant business must be picking up, so Derek could only be happy for his friend, though it kind of flashed through his mind that he might not be able to stay. As her arms wrapped around him in a hug, he couldn't help return the gesture, his strong arms wrapping around her as she pressed herself against him, the causing his blood to boil a little as he felt her against him: she was the first beautiful woman hes touched in almost 5 years. Her scent practically intoxicating, errant thoughts of sexuality drift across his mind though he quickly suppresses those, hes never thought of Hayley like that...well...least he didn't tell Eric or anyone else about it, because admitting you wanna tie up and take advantage of a 15 year old usually doesn't go over well with the parents or the brother.

" Well I am used to sleeping on worse" Derek said with a little roguish grin appearing on his face as he looked down at her " and I really don't want to impose on you while your here alone though it wouldn't be the first time I slept over" Derek continued as he took another glance down at her, wishing deep down she had invited him to stay in her bed instead! Dropping his arms from around her his grin got a little bit wider "well I can do you one better and cook for you" Derek said casually, being a pretty good self taught cook since his mom was dead and his dad was to busy working to take care of him and his brother. Stepping into the house as she slipped aside, Derek took a second to look around the room, naturally scanning the room for threats as if it were natural as breathing, something hardwired into him. Trying to stop that train of thought as he stepped into the familiar living room, Derek shrugged off his back pack and slowly lowered it to the ground by the couch as he collapsed into the comfortable cushions so he could untie his tan leather combat boots he wore for riding, slipping his feet out of them.

 

[illianacole]

Hayley smiled as D made himself at home. Without a word she moved into the kitchen and grabbed an ice cold beer from the fridge, then returned to the living room to hand it to him. "You look like you could use it." She said with a grin.

carefully she folded the layers of her skirt under her as she sat on the floor. For some reason she'd always done that. If someone was on sitting on the furniture, Hayley could usually be found sitting on the floor nearby. She'd never thought much about it, but she did blush a little when she glanced down and realized what kind of view it offered of her bikini clad breasts.

Giggling, she tried to start up some conversation with him. "I may not be Eric, but I guess I will have to do. So tell me, How are you, Handsome?"

 

[TheScarletBlade]

The couch was surprisingly comfortable. Used to sitting in shitty red earth dirt foxholes dug in haste or under triple canopy jungle so thick you cannot see the sky above you, the sun barely able to penetrate, the comfortable couch was definitely preferable to those things. Leaning his solid form further back into the cushion behind him as they came up to somewhat embrace him, the tension in his body seemed to ease a little bit as he felt more at ease, his guard coming down a little bit as he felt more at home in the house he had spent most of his childhood hanging around in: since he rarely wanted to back to his own house. The physical tension might be gone but the sexual tension: definitely not. When Hayley had walked into the kitchen, Derek's head slowly turned to catch a glimpse of the way her hips swayed a little, the view of her cute little backside, trying not to make it to obvious as he made sure he looked casual and still facing forward when she returned with a bud light that was dripping condensation: ice cold from the fridge.

Bud Light, it was his and Eric's favorite beer so it was no surprise when she brought it, the refreshing cold beer offered was well received as he took the dark glass bottle in his hand, feeling it chill to the touch as he took it in his rough,callused hand. Holding it up in a little cheers sort of gesture of thanks with a little nod of his head as well, he set the rounded edge of the bottle to his lips as he tipped his head back a little bit finding it press into the cushions a little bit as the bottom of the bottle went up into the air, the inverted bottle pouring the light yellow liquid down into his mouth as he quickly gulped down more and more, the cold liquid going down smoothly as he finally tipped the bottle back down and let out a contented sigh as he let the bottle come down and rest against the arm of the chair. As he finally let his amber brown eyes drift over to where she was sitting, he noticed she was on the ground. It was a little strange because there was plenty of space on the couch next to him but it was her house and she could do as she pleased after all.

Though her choice of seat wasn't the only thing he seemed to notice as hawk like eyes, trained to be every vigilant, noticed a decent view of her shapely breasts as they hardly hid behind the little cloth of her bikini. The sight was one worth saying, even lingering on though the keenly focused war fighter kept a blank expression on his handsome clean shaven face as he pretend not to notice as he replied to her question "I am still alive, despite the Islamic worlds attempts, turns out that Morrigan finds me a little bit useful to die I guess" said casually with a little chuckle, calling upon the pagan goddess of war with just the slightest bit of reverence "As for currently....I am pretty hungry" his words just as casual though his amber eyes just happened to flicker down to her bikini clad breasts again.

((Sorry, typhoon knocked out comms here for a while so I know the post is late!))

 

[illianacole]

Hayley caught the double meaning of his words as she saw the momentary glimmer of lust in his eyes and a deep blush settled into her cheeks. She would love to believe that it was her in particular that he wanted, but she was sure that he was probably just that deprived of female company.

Still, her mischievous side reared it head as a wicked thought floated across her mind, two could play at this game. Gracefully, she leaned forward so that she was on all fours, "Well then, Let's get you something to eat." Her voice was husky as her hand skimmed over his thigh and then right past him to the phone on the end table. With a sultry little laugh she leaned against the arm of the couch, allowing her breasts to rest where her hand had just been. "What kind of take out would you like?" she asked turning her head to look at him.