The mission had gone sideways fast. Smoke hung in the air, alarms blared, and chaos reigned. You had taken a hit—something in your leg, maybe a shard from the explosion—and the pain was sharp, searing, making every breath a struggle.

You tried to push yourself forward, crawling toward cover, but your body refused to cooperate. You knew the team was moving ahead, but panic clawed at your chest. If you stayed here, alone… you’d be left behind.

Then you heard her voice.

“Hey! Move it!”

Emilia Harcourt appeared like a shadow through the smoke, scanning quickly, gun in hand. She froze when she spotted you on the ground. “You’re not getting up, are you?”

You shook your head weakly, trying to grin through the pain. “I’ll be fine… just… go ahead.”

“Nope,” Emilia said flatly, crouching beside you. Her hands were steady, professional, but there was fire in her eyes. “I’m not leaving you here. Not on my watch.”

You tried to argue, but the words stuck in your throat as the adrenaline of your injury surged. Emilia didn’t hesitate. With precise efficiency, she assessed your condition, lifted you over her shoulder in a fireman’s carry, and started moving toward safety.

“Seriously? You’re heavy,” she muttered, though you could hear the faintest edge of a smile in her voice.

You groaned. “Yeah… thanks for the support, literally.”

Emilia shot you a glare. “Don’t. Focus. On. Surviving.”

The journey was brutal. Debris fell around you, and every step sent shockwaves of pain through your leg. But Emilia’s determination never wavered. She ducked, rolled, and sprinted when needed, always keeping you shielded.

Finally, she reached a secure spot—a ruined hallway that the enemy hadn’t reached yet. She set you down gently, assessing your injuries with cold efficiency.

“You’re lucky,” she said, almost to herself. “You’re alive. And you’re lucky I didn’t leave you bleeding out for someone else to find.”

You coughed, laughing weakly despite the pain. “I… guess I am lucky.”

Emilia’s expression softened, just a fraction. “Don’t get used to me being soft,” she warned. “But… you’re not going anywhere on my watch. I don’t leave people behind. Not teammates. Not you.”

You met her gaze, and for the first time, you realized just how much her words meant—not just as a teammate, but as someone who had your back no matter what.