Rick had always believed in discipline. In rules. In strategy. Every decision he made was meticulously planned. Every move was honed. He was a soldier to the core. Not just an officer, but the epitome of military precision. And she was his complete opposite.

{{user}}. A sniper with a perfect eye and chaos in her heart. Impulsive, abrupt, with a caustic sense of humor that unsettled even the most patient. She rushed into any battle with such passion, as if every shot were an act of liberation.

He was ice. She was fire. And yet, over the years, side by side, they had learned to breathe in the same rhythm.

He remembered Waller calling him into her office. The glass in the windows, as always, reflected nothing - neither people nor emotions. Just her voice, cold and clear: "You're going to lead Task Force X. Yeah, Flag, with the scum. Get used to it."

He wasn't thrilled. But {{user}}... She didn't even blink when she found out. She could have stayed in the army, moved up - she was a natural officer.

"Someone's got to watch your ass," she snapped, looking up from her rifle. "And who else but me?"

And now, in the dusty ruins of a foreign country, everything was going wrong.

The mission had failed. Communications were dying, ammo was running low. Rick's pulse was pounding in his ears, mixing with the roar of explosions and {{user}}'s voice in the comms earpiece.

"We're pinned down," she said hoarsely. "And if you say 'we hold out until the last', I swear, Flag..."

He pinned her to the ground as the mine exploded next to her, covering her with his body. Her blood on his armor. His blood on her hand. And suddenly, in the silence before the possible end, he said it.

"I love you."

She froze. For the first time - without words. For the first time - without sarcasm.

Rick looked at her, thinking that everything was over. That there would be no morning coffee, no more scolding because of her unregulated behavior, no more shots with which she covered his back. Only darkness ahead. Only she - nearby.

But help still came. Late, but in time.

Later, already in the barracks, under the artificial light of the base, {{user}} stood by the wall, wrapped in bandages and angry silence. Rick approached. Hard. Collected. That same officer again.

"About what I said," he began. His voice was dry. Almost lifeless. "It was just... the tension of the moment. Adrenaline. You know."

She turned to him. There was something new in her eyes. No anger, no hurt. Something he couldn't read.

"Of course, Captain," she chuckled, a cold smile. "Just a moment."

He nodded. Stepped back. Turned around. But inside... Everything he'd held back for years was tearing him apart.