The Soldier's Tale by RJ Scott

chastisement, just the same gentle sadness he felt from Will. It irritated him.
    "You don't want to know. Either of you. The things I had to do—"
    "The things everyone had to do. All of our soldiers put their lives to test for our country. There is never expectation that you'll be the same person after what you have to do." Di seemed to be the one trying to convince Daniel. If anything, Will had grown quieter, just observing. It was time to change direction with this and get past the deep psychological barriers that he was not letting out and move on to the purely aesthetic.
    "People stare at me all the time, my leg, my scars. It scares them to see me. How can either of you want that on your day?" He pushed the right note of disbelief into his voice. He was experienced in using all the right arguments when needed. It didn't matter that Sean had spent most of last night telling him how gorgeous he was. He knew what he was, inside and out—damaged goods. Will looked at him, suddenly focused with an open-mouthed expression, and in a flurry of movement, he was on his feet and inches away.
    "Tell him, Di." Exasperation coloured his voice.
    "He has to make his own choice," Di finally offered, both men rounding on her immediately, Daniel with the feeling that finally someone was listening to him, and Will with disappointment written clearly on his face. Stubbornly, Will continued the art of persuasion.
    "I won't have anyone else, you know. If it isn't you, then I will stand on my own."
    "That's not… Will, please…" Daniel frantically tried to link words together but was helpless against his friend's obvious disappointment.
    "You don't bloody see it, do you?" Will crossed his arms across his chest, cast a brief look at his wife-to-be, then focused back on Daniel. "Are you at least coming to the Red Lion tomorrow night?" Daniel winced inwardly. Damn it, the stag do. He'd forgotten.
    "Of course."
    "Seven in the bar?"
    "Seven."
    They started to leave, but just as the front door was shutting to barricade him in his house, Will turned back, extending his hand, which Daniel immediately took in a strong grip.
    "Everything is okay, Dan," Will offered cryptically.
    Daniel watched his friend leave, saw him pulling Di in for a hug and shared conversation as they walked, and something gripped his heart. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy that his friend was happy or guilt that he was letting him down.

Chapter Ten

    Sean was too damn observant by far. They were only halfway through a double pepperoni pizza, beer for a not on-call Sean and an orange juice for Daniel, when Sean placed his pizza carefully back on the plate and leaned forward.
    "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing."
    "You don't seem yourself somehow, what happened? I'm worried. Is it your meds?"
    Daniel hurriedly interrupted that train of thought. "The meds are good; they work better. It isn't that, honest. It's just this whole wedding thing." Sean frowned, and Daniel realised he was squirming in his seat now that he had to explain to his lover where his head was at. "Will, both of them, came over earlier." Frustrated, he pushed his food away and climbed onto Sean's lap, wincing at the sharp twinge of pain in his knee but pushing that to one side and cuddling into the space between Sean's neck and shoulder. Sean immediately pulled him closer, holding him to support his weight more to keep it off his leg.
    Daniel inhaled the smell of Sean, the scent of outside, the autumn air, a mix of aftershave and of pizza. Everything felt warm, comforting. He was hopeful that Sean wouldn't judge him for his cowardice. He was making this decision to save his best friend from the embarrassment of having him at the church. Sean would understand. He slid one hand up and into Daniel's hair, twisting his fingers and gently encouraging him to lean back and look up.
    "Talk to me." Sean's voice was so damn soft and encouraging, and Daniel attempted to explain, but all that came out was one huge bloody pity party