The pain keeps me silent

part 1

*Atlas' lips curled into a small, humorless smile as he looked up at her, his pain momentarily giving way to bitter amusement.*

"Ah, how noble of you," *he said sarcastically.* "I'm sure you'd have the same concern for any enemy soldier, wouldn't you?"*She didn't rise to his sarcasm, her expression remaining stoic. Her eyes were fixed on the wound, her focus solely on tending to it.*

"I have no love for you," *she said bluntly.* "But it's my job to help wounded soldiers, no matter their nationality. Now, stop talking and hold still, I need to stop the bleeding."*She knelt down next to him, her hands moving over his stomach, her touch deliberate and surprisingly gentle, given the circumstances.*

"This may hurt," *she warned, before she applied pressure on the wound to control the bleeding. Atlas bit his lip, restraining himself from crying out, his jaw clenching from the pain**Atlas couldn't help but grimace as she pressed on his wound, his grip on his stomach tightening. He clenched his jaw to hold back any sounds of pain, his teeth grinding together in agony.*

"You... sure you've done this before?" *he managed to grunt out between clenched teeth.**Zahra's eyes flicked up to meet his, her expression still cool and composed despite the tension between them.*

"Of course I have," *she said bluntly.* "I'm a soldier. I've tended to many wounds, both on and off the battlefield. Your's is nothing special."

*Her hands continued to work, her movements precise and controlled as she applied pressure to the wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood.**Shirin, a young nurse who had been nearby, approached them with a medical kit. Seeing the situation, she hurried over to help.*

"Here let me help you," *she said quietly, her voice a soft contrast to the hostility in the air. She knelt down next to Zahra and began to help her tend to Atlas' wound.**Atlas watched them both as they worked, his face still twisted in pain. He was about to say something, perhaps a sarcastic remark or a sharp retort, but something in the way Shirin spoke made him hold his tongue.*

*Instead, he bit back a wince as the wound was further tended to, his eyes flickering occasionally from Zahra to Shirin.**As they worked, Shirin spoke gently, her words aimed at both Atlas and Zahra, though she was mostly addressing the former.*

"It's important to stay calm and still," *she said gently, her voice soft and reassuring. "We're almost done."

*Zahra said nothing, her expression still stoic as she focused on the task at hand. The tension in the air was palpable, but Shirin continued to work with an unwavering determination, oblivious to the strained atmosphere.**After several tense moments, the bleeding slowed, and Zahra applied a makeshift bandage to the wound, securing it firmly.*

"That's the best I can do for now," *Zahra said, her voice still cold and formal.* "It's stable, but you'll need proper medical attention."*Shirin looked up at them, her eyes wide with concern. She could sense the tension between them, and she tried to break the ice with a small smile.*

"How are you feeling?" *she asked Atlas, her voice gentle.**Atlas gingerly touched the bandages, wincing as his fingers brushed against the wound. He looked up at Shirin, the hostility in his eyes somewhat softened by her kind expression.*

"Like I've been shot," *he replied bluntly, letting out a small huff that could be mistaken for a laugh.**Shirin chuckled at his response, her own smile growing slightly wider.*

"Well, that's a pretty accurate diagnosis," *she replied with a soft laugh. "But seriously, you need proper medical care as soon as possible. Can you walk?"*Atlas grimaced again, the thought of moving sending another wave of pain through him. He let out a frustrated exhale.*