Shadow over the Frontline (Madness Combat x Girls Frontline)

Grief

Shadow POV

Qilin: god fucking damn it!

Qilin was punching a tree. We were stuck now far away from our hideout. It has probably been blown to bits right now. I wonder what they will do with all these clues that they'll find. I wonder if they will act on having an unknown military in their area.

Qilin: fuck!

He hit the tree again. His fingerless gloves were visibly damaged now and he has hurt his fingers as blood flows out.

Shadow: stop it! You hurting yourself doesn't help anyone now.

He disregarded me and hit the tree again. With every punch he took a chunk out of the tree. It now fell over. He actually punched down the tree with his anger and frustration.

Shadow: are you done?

He kicked the tree stump.

Qilin: guess I am.

He just looked down and then walked over to me and sat down on the tree branch that I was sitting on. I could see in his body language that he was just broken by this hole situation.

Shadow: you and me. We'll make this through.

Qilin: I promised you know. We've been through so much together and now he's just... gone...

He held the dogtags in his hands. His blood dirtied them. He gently held it up with his fingers. The light reflected on it and a sheen emerged. He was a good guy. I hate to see him go. But I didn't get so attached to him like our squad leader.

Shadow: and you intended on keeping that promise. That it was broken wasn't in your control.

Qilin: does it matter?

Shadow: in some way yes. You tried your hardest to keep your promise to him.

Qilin: yet I still let him die.

Shadow: there was nothing we could do. He died in the dark so we may live in the light.

Qilin: is that really what I want right now?

He just looked up. The sun rays reflecting on his yellow glowing shades. I couldn't see his face but he just looked so damn broken. Like he would just give up. I put my hand on his shoulder.

Shadow: his sacrifice honors us. Through this the squad lives on. We still have a chance to see the red Nevadan sky again. But for that I need you and you to have a clear head.

Qilin: ugh... this isn't about me anyway. I need to keep pushing.

Shadow: we all stand behind you, squad lead.

Qilin: all? Who else?

Shadow: well me. Then our new friends probably too.

Qilin: that wannabe spec ops team? The what did they call themselves? DEFY? Please. We're just a tool for them. They'd betray us any second we run out of our use.

Shadow: they seemed to like you.

Qilin: one wanted to kill me. I'm sure.

Shadow: the one who always has her eyes closed?

Qilin: that one is unnerving. Like it considers genocide every step it takes. Those models are just unstable and dangerous.

Shadow: and that makes them our closest friends huh?

Qilin: exactly. Let's see how long they'll be our friends.

Qilin now looked at me. His body language was more upbeat now. He was ready to continue the fight. His hate for the world overcomes his grief for his close friend.