Send me "âč" for my Muse's reaction to yours pushing them out of harm's way... and taking the blow instead.
   They walked in silence, military boots scuffing against overgrown shrubs as they and the rest of the Howling Commandos unit navigated themselves back to the base. The moon loomed high above yet, despite night being thickly cloaked upon them, the intense summer heat was still strongly evident even after the afternoonâs hours. James ran his tongue along his chapped lips, the tense atmosphere left no room to allow him to wince as he felt a strong sting accompanied with the faint taste of copper as he had done so. Â
   It happened in an instant. As the edged closer, the brunet had felt his foot get caught against a root, nearly causing him to stumble as he gave out a hiss. It was in the nanosecond of re-composure when, suddenly, a harsh break within the still atmosphere alerted the group of an intruding presence. The brunetâs hand had instinctively shot to grasp at the pistol rested at his hip, the enemy presumed too close in distance for his main when sound of ghastly shots spontaneously rung out through the air and the repugnant stench of blood met Jamesâ nostrils as he was thrust towards ground. Duganâs voice tore through the echoes of exchange (Stay alert and keep your ground!) There was no time to react as James twisted his body, his now-cocked pistol trapped tight in his grasp as he shot at an inky presence at a nearby tree, the subtle gleam of metal against the moonlight alerting him of the enemyâs presence.
   As the gunfire gradually began to cease, James allowed himself to step back and examine who exactly had knocked him out the line of fire. Wispy strands of golden hair spiked his anxiety as the soft light illuminated the highlights of his best friendâs features. Crumpled against the ground, the blondâs hand had been at his side were deep scarlet blossoms emerged with each breath that the younger had took. His teeth were clenched, his eyes screwed shut as if to block out the sweat that dripped from his forehead as a pained moan scratched through his throat.
   âSteve--â James had immediately sunk down at the otherâs side, his hands quickly scrambling at his own torso as if to search for anything that could help with the fallen maleâs wounds, âJesus Christ--Shit-- Steve, I was ready to shoot at âem!â A handkerchief that had been crumpled within his pocket was extracted and the brunet pressed the cloth against the bullet wounds evident on the youngerâs side. His heart thundered in his chest, eyes wide as he desperately attempted to stop the bleeding as he pressed harder, his free hand pressed against the side of Steveâs neck, âCan you hear me? Steve-- Steve, can you hear me?!â His mouth felt dry, his words croaked before he mustered up the power to shout, âWeâve got a man down! I repeat, weâve got a man down!â
   âTake him to the base!â He heard one of the men holler through the dark as another gunshot rang out, âWeâll keep these bastards at bay--Go!âÂ
   He didnât need to be told twice.
   Seizing Steveâs body, James adjusted the blond onto his back, faltering only at the slightest due to the lack of accommodation he still had towards the otherâs new build. He ignored the nausea that spiked in him as he felt Steveâs blood penetrate the thickness of his coat, coming into contact with his back as he rose onto his feet.
  âYouâre gonna be alright, Steve,â the brunet had whispered as one hand grasped at the blondâs, ââM not gonna let you die, not on my watch.â Not for me, not when everyone needed him, and not for something that could have easily been avoided, he had thought as he broke out into a sprint. Each second wasted was a new bullet that penetrated into Steveâs torso and, with each second he allowed his best friend wounded, was a new guilt that tore his own being.
