A mini Drabble on how I imagine Farah ended up helping Captain Price get Laswell back and Alex didn’t. Not something I’ve done before but I like it.
Farah Karim knew how it felt to lose someone, and she had since she was a child. Her parents when she were young, countless soldiers during her imprisonment, Hadir, and then Alex.
Alex had hit her the most though, watching that factory blow, hearing those words in her head, the last words she’d hear from Alex, ringing in her head.
It had all been too much, and yet, Farah didn’t have the privilege to grieve the way she wanted to, she had to be Commander Karim, she didn’t have the privilege to be Farah, not when Urzikstan was still in danger. Because of this, when Alex Keller had re entered her life, months later, her wounds were still raw, they hadn’t been given the time to heal.
Maybe that was one of the reasons why she’d become so protective of Alex in the aftermath, assisting him in learning to be a person again, and holding him when he broke down. She saw how her orders had hurt the other, and she wouldn’t hurt him again, not now, not ever.
“Farah.” Alex’s voice was firm, and he frowned across the table at her. “I have to go. Price needs us, all of us, Laswell needs us.”
“I am quite aware, Alex.” Farah shot back, narrowing her eyes at him “I’ll take my forces to intercept the convoy, you will stay here.” She practically commanded him, a deep frown set on her face. Farah knew how irrational she was being, Alex would be an asset to saving Laswell, but this mission was dangerous, and by god she didn’t want to watch him die. “I’ll get her back with my forces and return to you.” She concluded calmly, unable to entirely meet Alex’s eye, she knew the look he was giving her.
“Commander, that’s not fair and we both know it.” Alex grit his teeth, bending over the table to get slightly closer to Farah. “I can handle myself, I’m a soldier, and Laswell needs everything she can; you can’t keep doing this, Farah, you can’t, I-“
Farah slammed her fist down onto the table and looked away. “I know, Alex! I know! I know I’m not being fair.. but we don’t have time to talk about this.” She stared at Alex, fire in her eyes. “And so, as your commander, I am ordering you to stay here. End of discussion.”
There was no more room for discussion, as Farah left, and Alex was left alone, silent, knowing this was Farah’s desperate attempt to keep him safe.