Idk how I actually got into COD I like these characters so much but then I remember "Oh this is military propaganda" 💀 like I hope people realize that whatever they show in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or similar is a glamorized view of the military right? That these characters don't even follow orders from the higher ups half the time BECAUSE they are moral characters - this doesn't reflect real life AT ALL. Like when I consume COD content I think "wow bam action dramatic action and drama and fun cool 141 and Alejandro and Alex so fun" and then I get to Farah's flashbacks and scenes and I remember real life and I just... wished that the people in power irl were as human and empathetic as these fictional characters are - Nana
Alex suffering from phantom pain after the loss of his left leg, waking up in the middle of the night full of sweat after nightmare episode, having the worst pain cause his mind can’t comprehend his leg is gone and through all of this Farah is there for him
It was silent now, there was no shouting or loud clangs of the swords from outside of your hiding spot. You could only hear that sharp intakes of your breaths and the shaky exhale of them, you could only feel the trembling in your hands as you held tightly onto the small dagger your trusted guard provided you with.
Only mere moments ago, the halls were washed in shouts and an abundance of noise, each heightened noise causing your body to flinch. Your head against the wall as you basically cradled your pathetic dagger to your chest. However, the shouting ceased, and there was no longer any noise coming from outside.
This was one of the few moments that you had wished that you had listened to Farah, when she showed you some basic moves in combat. Although, you assumed, even with the limited knowledge you did have on combat, you wouldn't be able to defend yourself for long, or well.
You were hoping for some sort of sign that your dear guard was safe or on her way to give you the all clear that it was safe to come out of hiding. You wanted her, needed her, to explain to you what the Hells was going on.
All you knew was that one moment you were in the study, minding your own business. The next, Farah was dragging you by the arm into your current hiding spot, commanding you not to move an inch until she, and she only, came to find you.
With the certain look in her eyes that you rarely did see, you knew you had to listen to what she told you to do. Wait, and come out only when she told you so. You had only wished that she would come sooner and not leave you with a racing heart and a wondering mind.
You heard three sharp bangs on the entrance to your cramped, little hiding spot. You gasped under your breath, flinching at the harsh noise against the door, your trembling hands tightened around the dagger.
“Farah…?” You called out, desperately trying to keep your breath level.
There was no response…
You hesitantly pushed open so you could poke your head through to check if it was actually Farah who was banging for you to come out.
Though, before you could even realise what was going on, a rough hand grasped onto your hair and pulled you fully out of your hiding spot, causing you to yelp out in surprise.
“Let- let go of me!” You cried out, being forced onto your back as this mystery person dragged out, your hands reaching to where the hands clasped around your hair.
“Shut up!” A deep, harsh voice yelled at you, you couldn’t get a good look at your attacker, a hood over their head and a mask over their face.
“Farah-” you tried to call out again, but was met with a hand over your mouth and the only thing that could be heard was your muffled cries and yells.
“Shut up, you little bitch!” The man yelled once again, he huffed quietly, attempting to drag you out of the room where you hiding spot had been located. “Godsdamnit, fuckin’ royal assholes.”
You could feel your breaths hitting the man’s hand and back onto your skin, you tried to squirm and fumble within your attacker’s bruising grip. Your hands attempting to get his arms off of you, head moving side to side as you tried to get his hand off of your mouth.
However, the attempt was fruitless. The man was twice your size and you were incapable of getting out of the harsh grasp, you could only cry out muffled sobs.
Well, that was until there was a sharp, loud noise and, suddenly, a warm liquid splattered across your face. There was a thud beside you and the hand fell from your mouth, you gasped out and quickly squirmed away.
It was an unexpected sight, a blade covered in that crimson liquid that always made you nauseous when your eyes laid upon it. The steel was a mere few inches above your face, a single droplet of blood falling from it and onto your shaken-up face
“Princess.” Farah quickly said, you could hear the neat ‘slice’ as her sword retracted from your attacker’s throat.
“Farah.” You breathed out, eyes landing on her light brown eyes. “Farah, by the Gods…”
She pushed the attacker further you, he landed to the side and you saw his lifeless head was lying idly with his lifeless face facing yours. Your breath caught in your breath at the horrid sight, the blood pooling on the wooden floor under the man.
“Oh, Gods- oh…” you panted, you couldn’t pry your eyes away from the ghastly sight.
“You’re okay.” She reassured, helping pull your to your feet as she sheathed her sword. “You’re okay, you’re safe.”
You were wobbly as you were brought to your feet, your hands grasping onto Farah’s arms. Her hands were tight around your arms, she was cautious over you, she always was.
“What was the about? What happened? Why- why was..?” Your voice was painfully shaken, it wavered as your eyes darted all over Farah’s face, she was injured. “Farah, your face, you’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.” Farah dismissively said, shaking her head slightly, her hands moved to your shoulders. “Are you hurt?”
You shook your head quickly, taking a deep breath in. “No, no, I’m not. What happened here?”
“There were a group of assassins.” I she quickly answered. “I told you to come out when I told you so.”
“I- I thought it was you.” You said with a panicked voice. “I called out, I though-“
She sighed quietly, you were sure her annoyance at your inability to follow simple instructions was overran with her concern for your safety. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You’re safe, we have to get you to the King.”
“What- why?” You quickly asked. “Now?”
“Yes, he wants to make sure you’re safe.” Farah said, before turning around and heading to the door, expecting you to follow.
“Farah, wait!” You quickly called, grabbing her wrist.
She turned around, she was going to tell you that she didn’t intend on keeping the King, your father, waiting. However, when she saw that look in your eyes, she hesitated.
“I- I was scared.” You said with a broken voice. “I didn’t know whether or not you were coming back, I- I heard the yelling and thought you were… were…”
“Dead?” She finished for you.
You nodded slowly, tears prickling at the corners of your eyes.
She sighed faintly, quick to bring you into a tight hug. You didn’t expect it at first, you took a few moments before your wrapped your arms around her as well.
“You underestimate me, Princess.” She whispered, but paused for a few moments. “I’m not going to leave you just yet.”
The curtain in front of her was blowing back softly in the breeze from the open window behind it. Farah curled her hand around the thin material, pulling it aside around her face. She smiled when she felt the sun on her skin, squinting out into the day outside. In front of her stretched a row of fields, turned to bare earth, dotted with houses, before the ground turned into rocky desert. Beyond it, a mountain range rose up, jagged peaks poking against the blue sky, the face bathed in the morning sun. It looked like the one she used to be able to see when she was a child, when she and Hadir ran out of their home to the fields to play.
It must still be early, she thought. Even as the world glowed in the sunlight, she couldn’t see any people outside taking it in.
“Hey.” Alex’s rough voice called her from behind. Farah turned, letting the curtain fall closed again as she saw him on the bed, curled up next to where her body had left the sheets wrinkled.
“Hey.” She went back to him, leaning into his touch as he reached up to brush her hair back from her face.
“Missed you.” He murmured.
“I was just over there.” Farah clutched his hand, bringing her other one up to grasp his forearm as she realised how warm he felt. Why had she even gotten out of bed?
“Still. Missed you.” Alex repeated, pulling their lips together in a kiss. “Dunno how I’ll cope when you go back to being commander Karim.”
“I’m always commander Karim.” Farah replied. “I have to be.”
“Sure… Just… maybe not for the next ten minutes?” Alex pulled her close, tilting her against his chest as he took her hand. “This says you have to try. At least a little.”
Farah laughed, looking down at her ring. She reached for Alex’s matching one, not even realising that she’d gone to sleep with it on. Maybe it was a sign – to wear it as much as she could, when she could, since she wouldn’t always be able to.
“I can try.” She whispered to him, locking her arms around his neck as he pulled her up into his lap, brushing aside the sheets that had covered him. “Be gentle with me?”
“I always am.” Alex replied, his fingers teasing her clit, nudging his thumb against her hole as he let her rest her head on his shoulder, happy to take care of all the work. She held him tight as he sat back and rolled his hips, slowly sending soft waves of pleasure through her body. She reached up and kissed him, running her hands through his hair, pushing it back into perfect place, pressing his moustache down under her thumbs as she kissed him again. Alex groaned when she nipped his bottom lip, locking his arms around Farah’s middle as he slowly dragged her up and down, making her empty and full, again and again. Farah pressed every inch of skin she could against his, mumbling something that she thought was I love you against his lips, until someone shook her shoulder.
“Commander?” Alex was knelt at her shoulder, his silhouette distinct enough for her to recognise him instantly, even in the dark. “Farah?”
“Alex.” She sat up, brushing his hand aside. “What is it?”
“You were mumbling in your sleep. Where you… dreaming again?”
“Maybe…” Farah shook her head, ridding herself of the already fading images of a remote countryside honeymoon. “What time is it?”
“Almost two.”
“Time for us to switch?”
“I’ll give you a minute to get up.” Alex nodded, leaving the room to go back to the ledge, as Farah stood up and crossed to the other pallet, gently shaking Ayah awake.
They dressed silently together in the dark, not daring to turn on a light for fear of giving themselves away, before exiting the room, relieving Alex and Seyda from their watch on the warehouse, down on the plain from over the ledge, lit up by the full moon.
“Anything?” Farah asked as Ayah took over the sniper position.
“All quiet.” Sayda said, and Alex confirmed.
“Good. Get some rest, both of you. We have a long day ahead of us.”
They nodded and traipsed inside to get their own rest. Farah took up her post, watching the surrounding area as Ayah watched the warehouse.
“Anything?” Ayah asked.
“No.” Farah looked around. “It all still looks abandoned. But, that’s no guarantee.”
“I won’t.” Farah took a seat, sighing softly as she settled in to wait.
She shook her head again. How loud had she been talking in her sleep, if it had prompted Alex to come and wake her?
Can’t have been too loud, as it hadn’t woken Ayah up. Maybe Alex had just been on his rounds, and coincidentally looked in on them as Farah happened to be dreaming about fucking him on their honeymoon.
She swallowed, tightening her grip on her gloves as she adjusted them, refusing to think about the implications of that image. She couldn’t think about it, wouldn’t.
Farah had come to the conclusion years ago that she was never going to be able to get married. After what she’d been through at the hands of Barkov, how her family and country had been taken from her, and her dedication to taking it back and rebuilding, marriage was a luxury she would never have time to enjoy. Maybe, in a different life, where none of that had happened, she would. If she’d somehow still met Alex, maybe she would have been able to have it then. Maybe, in that time, she would have the luxury of being able to think about him in that light, rather than in her being his commander, and he one of her most loyal soldiers.
Farah shook her head, taking hold of her rifle to cover a round of the building. It did no good to sit around and dwell on dreams. Life occurs in the land of the living, so that’s where she needed to be.
