I really can't belive I did this - Christ I don't like the whole notion of having a 'day' for buying stuff for your partner - if you like them do it everyday! So what I wrote a piece and its been bloody ages... Enjoy. 

The dull flare of the lighter glowed compared to the early morning sun, itself creeping over the buildings around. The slow drawing of breathing relaxed the figure, combined with the constant pacing along the wreckage of a house – calmed the silhouette in the morning sun. The dusk light crept into the ruin, streaking over the old panel board walls and through the shattered windows – greeted with varing degrees of grumbling. Outside the finished cigarette fell to the gravel of the garden, a thick boot stamping out any remaining ashes and dulling the spark. The figure walked through the door – previously kicked in.

The grumbles slowly lessened as bodies began to crawl out of blankets and stare wide-eyed at the wall, in some way trying to wake their ruined sleep. While some rummaged through their packs for a tin can or two – something to kick start the stomach – the smoker from outside now preceded to apply a sharp kick to the ribs to those that tried to stay slumbering.

“Alright guys wake up – we’ve got a big day ahead of ourselves.”

The Squad leader’s voice seemed to send the sleepers to the brink of getting up. In reaction to this final act of disturbance to their sleep, pillows – or what was used as pillows, jumpers, rolled up blankets anything soft – were thrown towards the SL. many missed their mark causing those left snoozing to continue without something to rest there heads. Turning to one of those woken, the SL. smiled and walked back out the door.

“I’m going to get the Sentries to come back in for grub, make sure it’s indigestible.”

The journey to the remainder of the squad comprised of jumping the back fence and crossing the neighbouring street, jumping the fence of that property and looking up a tree. The eyes above peeled themselves from binoculars, glanced down to the SL. and smiled what could only be described as warmly.  Before jumping from the tree the man clicked over his radio – emitting a sharp burst of static followed a quick command to head back to the centre ‘brick’. As his feet met the ground with a satisfying thud he reached for a backpack underneath his former lookout.

He Knelt.

“I know we’re not really ‘going out’ cause we seem to be in the middle of a battlefield – but today is Valentine’s Day and so I thought I’d get you something,” He stammered all over the place and blushed several different shades of red – finally his hand came out of the sack with a can of Peaches, “Well you always say you’d love to have Peaches again – just like old times – and I guess a ring is easy to scav these days…” The stare into her eyes was that of a man prosperous in what really mattered.

Without saying anything – she lifted her lover up to his two feet and kissed him. Not just any kiss, but think more the kind when one has a rifle slung over their shoulder and a knife on their thigh, while dressed in Jeans and a Cam Shirt that haven’t seen a wash for weeks.  But them take into account that it is also a kiss when they haven’t tasted another lip for months and finally they do seem to like each other – So I guess you could say it was a good kiss, all circumstances accounted for.

Breaking the sweet embrace the Squad Leader tossed the can into the air and caught it, whistling as is spun through the air.

“Now where’s that can-opener!”