The first day at the unit had been hell.

The Vietnam sun was as hot as ever and the water supplies had run low. Some local farmers had tried to attack the camp the night before. The mood was tense and the soldiers grumpy.

But despite all the odds against him, Adler had a smug expression on his face.

Thanks to him, you had been lucky enough to get teamed up with the MACV-SOG, not as a member with authority but as a support unit in case of emergencies.

So bandaging his arm had turned out to be a lucky coincidence for you.

"Alright boys, this is (Y/N). Our new guardian angel.", he introduced you to his group of men. "Be nice, the morphine is tight."

The group wasn't a proper troupe, just a hand full of soldiers, a few uninteresting faces, some just cannon fodder and others support unites just like you.

But you had met Sims and Woods there for the first time.

Confused about the title, you frowned.

"Your what?", you asked and slid into the shadows to escape the sun.

Sims greeted you with a nod of his head. He was halfway hanging out of a helicopter, while reading a magazine with those kinds of pictures.

"You're the medic.", he said.

You nodded.

"Yeah, but that's not what he said."

Woods snorted.

"You don't get nicknames in your old unit?", he asked with a broad grin, arms crossed in front of his chest.

He was tattooed, you noticed and immediately made a mental note to check if any of them had meanings.

You tilted your head, eyes narrowed.

"No?", you shrugged. "I mean, we do call the pilots assholes."

"Cause they're too full of themselves?", Sims asked with a grin.

"Yup."

Next to you, Adler shook his head. Back then he had seemed a lot more careless. Still taking great pride in his duties but he had been quick to make a joke or sometimes even teased others. He had smiled a lot more, even if it was just a cocky grin or a smirk.

Vietnam had truly taken some of that Adler and had turned it into another man.

"Good to see you get along.", he turned to look at you and immediately frowned. "You still don't got a hat?"

You shook your head.

"Supplies said there ain't nothing left.", you raised a hand to be able to look at him. "I'll be good without."

"A blind angel is a dead one.", he insisted and looked around. "Anyone willing to share?"

But the troupe was just as poorly equipped as the rest of the camp.

Sims had a hat, but it was more of a helmet, heavy and made of metal. He was able to wear it thanks to his massive hair but the sun would have burned a hole into anybody else's head.

Woods wasn't even wearing a proper uniform, just a tank top and some cameo pants. His head was protected by a bandana. But he didn't seem to need a hat, his eyebrows were cover enough.

"Looks like we're just as short as the rest.", you joked and glanced up to Adler again. "But you're double covered, my boy."

Confused, his eyebrows rose over the brim of his shades.

"I'll take that if you don't mind.", without hesitation, you grabbed the bucket hat that was sitting on his head and snatched it before he could even realise what was going on. "You got a big head."

You gifted him a smug smirk, put the hat on yourself and looked up.

Now, he was standing in front of you, baffled, with a head full of thick, brown hair. The bright sun made some strands shimmer slightly reddish, indicating that he had some Scottish or Irish blood in him.

Surprised by the sight, your eyebrows rose. To your misfortune, you had to admit that he was handsome. After many months of war, his looks still managed to strike you.

Only thinking about how he'd look in a normal environment, a bar, washed and trimmed, or maybe a diner, made you shiver.

For a moment, you two just stared at each other. Not a single word was said.

His hand was still dangling in the air as if he was demanding the hat back, but didn't move.

Amused, both Woods and Sims watched.

"You may now kiss.", Woods joked. "What's gotten into you two?"

Quickly, you shook off the paralysis.

"How do I look?", you asked Sims with a wink. "Suits me better than him, no?"

Sims let out a huff.

"You should be careful.", he shifted and jumped out the helicopter to fix the hat for you so that it didn't get into your field of vision. "The doc doesn't give things away easily."

Your eyes jumped to Adler.

He swallowed thickly.

"Better than getting killed by the sun.", he said and pulled out a cigarette to smoke. "I'll let you have it. For now."

Teasingly, Woods whistled.

"Holy shit, I might have to start believing in wonders.", he laughed. "Damn, angel, Adler seems to like you."

Snorting, you shrugged.

"I doubt that.", you said.

"Me too.", Adler agreed and tried to get his lighter to spit out a flame.

But the small, metal cube was out of gas.

A soft curse escaped him. Now he was annoyed, clearly visible by the wrinkles on his forehead and the way his lips twitched.

"Here.", you pulled out your own lighter and held the flame out to him. "Treat yourself."

For a second, his attention was glued to the flame.

"You know what, angel?", he leaned forward to get the tip of the cigarette glowing. "I changed my mind. You just moved up on my favourite people list."

Snorting, you killed the flame.

"Is that a compliment?", you asked into Woods and Sims direction.

"Very big deal.", Woods agreed and wiped some sweat from his face. "Adler doesn't like people."

"Didn't you hear him?", Sims asked sarcastically. "He has a list."

You had to laugh.

"Shut it, you two.", Adler hummed. "Now let's get going. Time for angel to get an impression of the situation."