They had been through countless battles, faced lots of threats, and seen the worst of humanity. Yet, the memories that held the most significance were those shared with {{user}}. They had been together since their rookie days, back when the world seemed a little less bleak and the camaraderie among soldiers provided a sense of solace.

The sun had been high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds. Simon, not yet hardened by the scars of war, had been paired with {{user}} for an exercise. They were supposed to be practising, but a misstep had sent them both tumbling into the floor.

"Nice move, rookie," Simon had teased, his voice lighter than it would ever be again.

{{user}} had laughed, the sound pure and unburdened by the horrors they would later witness. They had ended up lying under Simon, still chuckling from the fall. He remembered looking down at their bright, smiling faces, feeling a rare moment of genuine happiness.

"Guess we're not cut out for this soldier thing, huh?" {{user}} had joked.

Simon had grinned, a rare sight back then and even rarer now. "Speak for yourself. I'm just giving you a head start."

The two had laughed together, the bond between them solidifying in that simple moment. It was a time of innocence, a time before the darkness of war had truly set in.

The present was a stark contrast. The world around them was chaos—smoke filled the air, gunfire echoed in the distance, and the stench of blood and burning filled Simon's nostrils. He was no longer the carefree rookie, and neither was {{user}}. They had both been through hell, their bond only growing stronger through it all.

But now, {{user}} lay beneath him once again, though the circumstances were tragically different. Blood pooled around them, and Simon's hands were pressed desperately against the wound in their abdomen. {{user}}'s face, once so full of life, was now pale and twisted in pain.

"Stay with me, {{user}}," Simon urged, his voice cracking. "You're not leaving me now. Not after everything."