The comms crackled with the order neither of you wanted to hear—engage the enemy. That’s what you were supposed to be.

Across the battlefield, through smoke and chaos, Simon saw you. Even with the mask, the distance, the gunfire—he knew it was you. He always did. And for a split second, everything else faded.His team moved forward, yours did too.But Simon hesitated when the first shots rang out, he wasn’t aiming at you—he was covering you. Taking down threats near you, shifting his position to keep you out of danger. He broke formation without a word, choosing you over orders.

Over everything. You saw the way he moved—not as an enemy, but as someone protecting you. And for a moment… you almost faltered. Then your grip tightened on your weapon, because love didn’t erase reality. Not here. Not now. Simon stepped closer, closing the distance between you both in the middle of chaos, trusting—believing—you wouldn’t hurt him. “Don’t—” his voice came through your comm, low, urgent. You pulled the trigger. The shot echoed louder than the war around you. Simon staggered back, more from shock than pain, his body freezing as he stared at you. Not angry. Not even confused, just..hurt. Not from the bullet but from you. He had chosen you over his duty and you chose yours over him.