ℒeaning against Steve's and his apartment door, William looked at the small, fragile piece of paper in between his nimble fingers.

REGISTRATION CARD
ᴍᴇɴ ʙᴏʀɴ ᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴊᴜʟʏ 1, 1924, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴏʀ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴄᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 31, 1924. ᴀʟꜱᴏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɢɪꜱᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇɴ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇ 18ᴛʜ ᴀɴɴɪᴠᴇʀꜱᴀʀʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʙɪʀᴛʜ ᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 1, 1943.

ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴠᴇᴅ
ʙᴜᴅɢᴇᴛ ʙᴜʀᴇᴀᴜ ɴᴏ. 33-ʀ012-42

18, Will Everett Rogers

The paper was shaking slightly, making the young boy frown. He had succeeded on the first try.

And he wasn't even 18 yet.

His blue eyes were wide as saucers, his pulse ran like Jesse Owens and he could feel the beads of sweat covering his temples. A cold shiver ran down his back as he read that one word in cursive, bold letters. Approved.

Was that how Steve felt when he was offered one, probably first and the last, chance to get into the army? He sure as hell didn't look as freaked out as William felt. Unlike him, Steve seemed to be ecstatic and thriving for the front lines.

William tucked the piece of paper carefully into his side pocket, groaning internally as he realized he had to come up with a lie for Mrs. Davis.

There was no way The Mistress of Evil was letting him just march into the camp Leigh like Steve. No, she would probably hit him upside the head, burn the enlistment form, let the authorities know what he did and make him work for his hide. And possibly chain him into the basement with jars of mushrooms and pickles, let him out only on full moons and turn him into a fat turkey to make a nice dish out of him on Thanksgiving.

Apparently, William was as good of a thief as he was a liar. A trait Steve and he did not have in common. With the wind in his sunny hair and thirst for adventures swirling in his eyes, William took off towards someone whose handwriting was as intelligent and beautiful as the person herself.

The cold lemonade tripped down Wills' chin as he gulped it down, the droplets of sweet drink disappearing under his new shirt. He wouldn't admit stealing it from Mrs. Davis home. He had an idea whose shirt it used to be, considering it had been a while since it had seen daylight and it smelled of dust.

As the last drop fell on his tongue, the boy swiped his dry lips with the sleeve of his shirt, not caring one bit about making it dirty. The sun of Brooklyn was really trying to fry him alive.

"Gabriela Diana Revoretti, the Duchess of... Longslane?" William nodded, leaning against the porch. "She called me over for her only son had died tragically in a war and she had found relations to us. Oh, and make sure you write my name on it, will you? Also, mention it that she had first written to Steve but he had declined her legacy. You know, Steve and his patriotism don't sit well with mansions and basements filled with gold." William said, fighting with the sleepiness that came with warmth, Rosa's sweet voice and the lemonade she had offered.

Rosa was the most dangerous, lethal and addictive drug.

"Okay, you little liar, grandson of a duchess you shall be." the gentle laugh made the young boy sigh in relief.

The Carter's residence was three stories high, their backyard was wide and one Irish hound strolled the garden while the other one was sleeping next to William, enjoying the warmth and the company. The house was elegant and caught the eye of every bypasser. It almost forced people to look. There were flowers everywhere and old apple trees gave the mansion a dreamy look.

William was one day going to live in a house just like that one, if not even better.

Angry sigh made him blink his groggy eyes and glance towards Rosa. There was a scowl on her pale face that didn't sit well with the boy. "Why must you go?" her small voice made guilt stir within Will. And he could not stand the adorable pout that crossed her face.

He pushed himself up, the Irish Hound looked startled, staring at William in curiosity. "Oh, but isn't it time to win this war once and for all?"

"But Michael and Peggy are there already, not to mention your brother. Hasn't the war demanded enough lives to ruin?" Will leaned on the column, crossing his arms. "It's an adventure, far greater than the ones written in words, Rosa." the girl crossed her arms in a challenging way, making William raise his golden eyebrow.

"But what will come of you? Face it, Will, you're fifteen not twenty-two years old experienced soldier." he waved her off, swiftly leaping onto the mahogany coloured railing, crouching down slightly as he looked at her playfully.

"I will become..." he said trailing off, his voice low and a small smirk pulling on his lips. Rosa's dark eyes followed him with interest. "... The American Eagle!" he said, standing up straight, saluting her as he jumped off the porch, spreading his arms and running in circles as if he was flying. The girl jumped up, leaning on the railing he had been standing on as she watched him with happiness. The two Irish hounds started barking, running alongside William as they too, wanted to play once in a while in this hollow place.

"I will grab the enemy with my sharp talons, I will stare them in the eye with my piercing gaze and they will all fall before me, the mighty Eagle!" he said proudly, coming to a stop as he puffed his chest and rested his hands on his narrow hips, satisfied as he heard her giggle. Before she could say anything, he continued. "Do you know what else Eagles do?" he narrowed his blue eyes, hiding them from the glaring sun. "They prey on innocent bunnies!" she shrieked, noticing William running at her. "William no, don't!" she kept yelling over her shoulder, running from the lean boy.

The empty house echoed with their laughter and the dull colours seemed to shine as the Eagle chased the girl.

The two hounds barked in excitement, running and jumping alongside the boy. "But I don't wanna be a rabbit, Will!" William, finally catching up after jumping over the railing, curled his hands around her middle, pulling her against him as they both shook with laughter. "Alright, you can be a dove Rosa!" Struggling to break free from his iron grasp, the two fell on the ground. William groaned as her elbow had collided with his ribs. He clutched his side, fighting a grimace as Rosa pushed away, looking at him worriedly. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" he shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Hey, what can I do? William? I'm so sorry!" she said hurriedly, her dark eyes filled with panic as she watched him go still. He pried his one crystal blue eye open, fighting back a smirk. He watched golden halo appear around her as she shadowed the light of sun.
He mumbled something quietly, making Rosa frown. "Come again?" her whisper caressed his rosy cheeks as he looked the girl leaning over him. "Come closer, Rosa." not quite hearing what he said, the girl leaned in, straining her ears.

Like a flash of lighting, Williams dry lips connected with her cheek. She yelled out angrily, but William had already jumped up and started running away. Cursing at the boy, The dove started chasing the Eagle.

This time, she could not catch him.

The two froze as they watched the two wolfhounds dash into the house towards the front door. They could hear the door open and a high pitched voice ask for Rosa.

The dark eyes met blue, both equally frightened as they heard the voice of Mrs. Carter. Forgetting her giddiness, Rosa pulled him towards the back into the shadows. On their way down the porch stairs, William grabbed his hat and the letter. "Go! Ma can't find you here, she'll have you arrested for heaven knows what!" she whisper-yelled.

With a gentle brush of his lips against her forehead, William was gone, leaving behind a girl with messy clothes and grass in her hair. Despite that, her eyes still shone with something akin happiness as she heard her mother come to the porch.

(gif credits to the coolest Wattpader oakenshield_)

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