8So I've been listening to the song "Camouflage" by Sabaton and it seems inspiration hit me to do this one-shot. If you want, you can blame Vala for always doing one-shots and putting that idea in my head instead of writing "Moving On" or FTDATT.
It was late 1965 in the jungles of South Vietnam and Private First Class Hiccup Haddock was lost. His squad had been sent on a search and destroy mission, given the simple orders from their Commander to search and destroy any NVA or Vietcong they could find. The squad had come across scattered pockets of resistance but nothing they couldn't deal with. That was until the last contact they had with Charlie. Hiccup's M16 had jammed and as he worked to clear the blockage from his weapon, hidden behind a large tree for cover, he missed his squad leader giving the signal to fall back.
"There," The man said as he looked up to find he was all alone in the jungle. Not seeing his squad mates around at all, Hiccup bit back a curse and stayed low and started listening and was able to hear Charlie all around him. The same contacts they had just been engaging were now advancing towards him. He could hear them talking between each other and slowly advancing towards his position. As he stayed still and listened to his surroundings, he heard twigs snap to his left, so he grabbed up his gun, forgetting he hadn't loaded it and pointed it in the direction of the snap.
Nothing appeared through the brush, so Hiccup lowed his gun slightly, staying on guard while making his position more defensible; praying he would make it through the night. He only realized he didn't have a magazine loaded once he picked his M16 back up. It was then that a large hand fell silently upon his shoulder. Hiccup startled and whipped his head around so fast that it might have caused whiplash. His eyes widened when he saw the large Marine that had appeared out of nowhere at his shoulder. The man made a shushing motion and Hiccup nodded. He looked over at the big Marine who had rather friendly eyes and a flaming mop of red hair atop his head.
"Wait, if Charlie wants to tangle now he'll have two to dodge," the large man said in a deep voice. Both were still hidden as the voices got closer. Hiccup swallowed nervously but he was glad that he had someone watching his six.
"Well, thanks a lot!" Hiccup responded. "Names Hiccup, what's yours?"
The large Marine smiled and then whispered, "The boys just call me Camouflage." Hiccup nodded and was still awfully glad to see the big Marine. The two took a battle stance side by side and let loose with their M16's as they could see the outlines of the Vietnamese that were closing in on them. The two fought ferociously all night, shooting and fighting to hold onto their life and position. Hiccup was confused, he was sure that he saw Camouflage get hit but the man showed no reaction when getting hit and when asked about it he didn't say anything, it was as if the bullets were going through him as if he wasn't there.
All night they fought, only getting a reprieve in the morning when the enemy backed off. The two took a chance and made a break for a nearby river they knew would take the two back to the edge of the jungle that would be near to the base Hiccup was deployed out of. They got close to the riverbank and bullets started flying around them.
"Ambush!" Hiccup shouted as he slightly panicked, even though they had been fighting all night.
"Stay your position and return fire." Camouflage said as he calmly stood up and returned fire. Hiccup stayed in a kneeling position but returned fire. You know how they say you can see the bullet that kills you and it's almost as if in slow motion? Well, Hiccup looked left and that's what happened, he saw a 7.62mm bullet from an AK-47 coming flying towards him through a bush. In an instant, much of Hiccup's life flashed before his eyes.
His childhood, hearing stories from his father about fighting in World War Two and Korea, the pride when Hiccup graduated Basic, his girlfriend Astrid back home who was waiting for him and Hiccup made peace with everything when he saw Camouflage, that big Marine, swat that bullet out of the air with his hand as if the bullet was a fly!
"You're not dying on me now." Camouflage said as he kept firing, Hiccup shook himself out of his stupor and returned to shooting back at the enemy. The ambush only took a few minutes to clear and they were back on their way following the river out of the jungle. Once again, Hiccup was awfully glad to see that big Marine. They broke through the jungle and Hiccup could see his camp and he took a few steps out of the jungle and cheered cause they had made it out. Hiccup turned to see Camouflage still in the jungle, the big Marine just giving him a wave goodbye before winking at him and disappearing into the jungle.
Hiccup, seeing his friend go back into the jungle, ran to his camp. As he walked through the gate he was immediately swarmed by his best friend, Toothless, who was followed by a medic to check the man out.
"Hiccup! You made it!" Toothless said as he nearly hugged his friend to death, only letting go to let the medic check him out. "What happened out there? How did you survive and make it back?"
"You won't believe this but this big Marine named Camouflage just appeared out of nowhere and basically rescued me. Even saved me from a bullet or two and I tell you what, it was as if nothing could hit him. The bullets would just go through him like he wasn't there." Hiccup said, his exhaustion starting to catch up with him. Toothless and the medic looked at each other and Toothless gulped.
"What is it?" Hiccup asked as the medic grabbed his arm and led him to a green tent on the right.
"You may be tellin' the truth boy, but this here is Camouflage and he's been right here since he passed away last night." The medic told Hiccup as he showed him the dead body of the big Marine that had been with Hiccup all night. "But before he went, he said Semper Fi, and said his only wish was to save a young Marine caught in a mirage. So here, take his dog tag son. I know he'd want you to have it now." They medic finished as he handed Hiccup the dog tags for Camouflage before sending him out.
Hiccup looked at the dog tag, "Dagur Bazerk" was etched in the cold metal that had some blood spatter on it. Clenching the tag in his hand, Hiccup made a promise to himself to try and live up to the man who had saved him as well as find the man's family and said a quick prayer in thanks.
Well it's Memorial Day weekend, or close enough cause it's Friday, and I was listening to this song and the idea for the came to mind. Actually was working on FTDAT but clearly, I got distracted with this. Hope you all enjoyed this story. Now go give the song a listen, I love it enough to write a story based on it so.
Semper Fi,
Thearizona