Chapter Four

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"Shit!" (Y/N) gasped, eyes widening as he watched one of their helos crash to the ground, erupting in flames. Gunshots began to rain down, causing his team to abandon the shepherds and get to cover, ready for a fight. "Get up, go, go!" (Y/N) ordered, guiding them to one of the sheds. He ushered for them to get behind it for cover.

"Come on," The oldest man told the others, waving his arms, showing them the way. (Y/N) watched as a gunshot ripped right through his chest, sending him to the ground.

"No!" The woman cried out, getting up to grab him. (Y/N) pushed her back, not wanting her to get out of cover.  (Y/N) narrowly avoided the open fire and ran to get the old man, pulling him into cover. He was barely breathing but he was alive. "Thank you!" The woman gasped, holding the man in her arms. He was going to die. (Y/N) had seen enough fatal wounds to recognize it. But at least he wouldn't die alone. 

(Y/N) peeked his head out of cover, trying to see what was going on. He wasn't around his team, unfortunately, but he could hear their screams and orders. (Y/N) saw some shepherds running, trying to escape. 

One screamed out in pain as a bullet shattered his kneecap. He fell to the ground, grabbing his knee. His friend looked back for a second, reaching his arms out like he was going to save him. But his eyes turned to the soldiers who were now on even ground with the Marines, rushing in. He gave his friend a sorry look before running away, leaving him to die.

"You have to save him!" The youngest girl said to (Y/N), seeing the same thing he did. "Please!"

(Y/N) sighed. It was likely a suicide mission. He should be fighting the Ground Army, not saving random civilians. But the look in the girl's eyes made him hesitate. If anything, he could just say he was saving a suspect... It wouldn't look as bad as saying 'I abandoned my team to save a useless civilian.' "Fine... Stay here, okay? Out of sight."

"We promise," The girl replied. (Y/N) couldn't see her mouth, but he could see the edges of her eyes crinkle. She was smiling.

(Y/N) aimed his gun, ready to shoot if anyone tried to stop him. He quickly rushed to the fallen civilian, ducking his head to avoid detection. "Be still, I'm here to help you," (Y/N) says once he's reached him.

"No American would help me," The man spats, trying to back away.

"Would you rather I leave you to die?" (Y/N) hold his hand out for the man to grab. (Y/N) can see his face twitch, considering.

"Fuck," The man sighs, grabbing (Y/N)'s hand. (Y/N) pulls him up, helping him walk as best he can to a nearby fence. He can barely walk, more like hopping with one leg. (Y/N) sets the man down, kneeling right next to him.

(Y/N) was hoping he'd seen it wrong. That he hadn't got shot in the knee. But lo and behold, it is directly in his knee. "I need you to stay still for me," (Y/N) instructed, reaching into his satchel and grabbing some supplies. He needed to clean the wound first. "This is going to hurt."

(Y/N) starting cleaning it, earning a wince from the man. "Will I be able to walk again?" The man asked, curious.

(Y/N) took a deep breath. "Probably not. Your entire kneecap looks shattered." The man nods solemnly, understanding. After a moment, all (Y/N) had to do was wrap it. He reached for some bandages, ready to wrap it. He looks up at the man, whose face was now pale as a ghost. "What's-"

"Behind you!" The man breaths out. 

(Y/N) carefully turns his head, trying to see what has upset the man so much. "Shit..." (Y/N) mutters as he locks eyes with the Iraqi soldier standing there.

Salim keeps his gun trained on (Y/N). He thought (Y/N) was hurting the man. Salim thought maybe he was wrong about him. Maybe he wasn't actually helping these people. Maybe he wasn't actually kind.

"What do we do...?" The civilian whispered, afraid to even take a breath.

"Just... stay there. Be calm," (Y/N) said quietly back to him, not loud enough for Salim to hear. Slowly, (Y/N) put up his hands, dropping the bandage he had. He slowly stands up, his back facing Salim.

Salim takes a breath, ready in case of anything. He is about to ask the civilian if he is okay, but his eyes catch something else. Medical supplies. Salim can see the injury on the civilian. So the American was helping him...?

"You're helping him?" Salim questions, curious. He still has his gun ready, just in case.

(Y/N) doesn't expect English. "Yes, sir."

"I... see," Salim says after a moment, lowering his gun. The gunfight has moved away from the two of them. Salim feels comfortable lowering his weapon. "What's your name?"

"(Y/N) (L/N)," The other responds. He turns around slowly, cautiously, seeing that Salim is no longer pointing a gun at him. (Y/N) slowly lower his hands.

"My name is Salim Othman." Salim holds his hand out, willing to shake the other's hand. (Y/N) hesitates. Worries this is just a trick. 

Suddenly, the ground begins to shake. (Y/N) gasps, trying to stay standing, but falls to the ground. Salim and (Y/N) see the ground begin to crack beneath them, starting to cave in. Salim rushes to pick (Y/N) up, trying to save him, but the ground breaks entirely, sending the two of them down into the Earth.

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