"Hey Shadid, did you know it really hurt when I fell from heaven?"

"That's not how it goes."

"Means I'm an angel, doesn't it–"

"Shut up, Amari!" Kamilah held Ana down when her laugh turned into a cry of pain. "And stay still!"

The heels of Ana's boots dug into the dirt-covered floor as she clenched her jaw, body arching in agony from her stomach wound. But she still sucked air through her teeth in uncontrollable laughter, wracking her body with alternate spasms of dizzy humour and pain. Maybe she hit her head in the three-storey fall and somehow did not feel it.

"Issa, come here and hold her up," Kamilah ordered after carefully prodding around her right shoulder.

Khalid complied and left his lookout post at the hotel's front entrance, joining the women behind the reception desk. He snaked his arm under Ana's back and hauled her up from the ground. The sniper groaned at the motion and rested her head on his jaw. Through squinted eyes, she could see blood soaking through the bundle of cloth Khalid held against her stomach. But her attention was torn away when Kamilah gripped onto her shoulder and bicep.

"Gently–fuck!" Ana cursed when Kamilah rolled her arm backwards.

The medic shook her head, still holding onto Ana's arm as the sniper struggled in Khalid's vice grip. "Sorry, Ana. I need to do this one more time. On the count of three."

"Just amputate–"

"One–"

"Fuck me!" Ana shouted, as the burst of pain turned into sudden relief when her joint popped back into place.

"I'd have to take you out somewhere first."

Both sniper and spotter snapped their gazes towards the medic, who was still frowning in concentration as she moved to Ana's stomach wound.

"What?" Ana breathed through difficult gasps, prompting a quick glance from Kamilah.

"What?" she asked, before removing the blood-stained cloth from Ana's stomach.

"You just said– Do you know what you just said?"

"What did I say," the medic replied off-handedly. She pointed a small flashlight at the bullet wound, getting a clearer view in the unlit reception lobby.

Ana shared a glance with Khalid, who shrugged. Then she jerked when fingers pressed gently against her stomach.

"Agh!"

"The bullet's in too deep. I can't remove it here without you bleeding out." Kamilah withdrew a small syringe, removing its cap and injecting it into Ana's abdomen. "This will lessen the blood flow, but we have to get you back fast."

The medic put away her equipment, then coaxed Khalid into handing over the injured sniper. She nodded at his assault rifle, which lay on the floor next to him. "You'll need to clear the way for us. I'll carry her."

"Ooh." Ana almost made another joke, when Kamilah withdrew her own pistol and held it up.

"Are you able to handle this?"

"Yes," Ana said, feeling almost offended. She took the weapon, getting used to its grip and weight.

The preparatory shuffling and clicks from Khalid finally stopped, and he rose to his feet with rifle in hand. Ana's sniper rifle and pack were slung around his back. "You ready?" he asked.

Ana gripped onto Kamilah's shoulder, world spinning violently when the medic lifted her from the ground. She shook her head, regretting it instantly when the dense buzzing was aggravated by the action.

"You alright, Amari?" Kamilah asked as Khalid scoped out their surroundings through the building's entrance.

"Think so," Ana muttered. She could hold the pistol in her hand steadily enough, but the dark edges in her vision was a little worrying.

"Stay with me."

"Don't think I have any other choice." The sniper smiled, looking to the front as they joined Khalid. "Just a disclaimer though: if my aim's not that good, it's not my fault."

Their journey back to extraction was relatively uneventful – just a few stragglers trying to block their path, who fell quickly under Khalid's expert aim. By the time Ana was loaded onto the transport truck, her breathing had grown laboured, and she had lost enough blood to put an end to her witticism. Halfway through the drive, she lost consciousness and slumped in the corner she was propped up against.

The next thing she knew, she was waking up to a familiar sight – green tent canvas, curtain partitions, and shadows flitting back and forth behind said curtain. Her cubicle was dark, the only source of illumination filtering through the curtain in front of her bed. Ana tried to make a sound, but started coughing from the dryness in her throat. The jarring motion pulled at a tender spot on her stomach, and set off a series of aches from her lower body.

The partition was soon pulled open, forcing Ana to slam her eyes shut against the sudden flood of light. She heard a click followed by the sound of the curtain being drawn shut again. Cracking her eyes open, she was greeted with the sight of Kamilah standing in the now-lit cubicle. She held a small paper cup in her hand.

"Breathe, Amari," Kamilah said quietly.

"Trying–," the sniper croaked, barely taking a full breath before coughing again. "To–" She swallowed hard, forcing herself to calm down as she was lifted gently into a sitting position. Kamilah kept an arm behind Ana's back, lifting the cup of water to the patient's lips.

"Seems like you're feeling better already." Kamilah sounded amused when Ana drained the cup in a few short seconds.

"I'm thirsty. And I feel like death."

"Of course you do." The medic set the cup aside and lowered her back onto the bed. "You had a blood transfusion just a few hours ago."

"Lost that much, huh?" Ana took a full but tedious breath. "Seems you need to work on your running speed."

Kamilah smiled faintly as she checked Ana's vitals on the monitor beside her bed. "And you need to work on resting for now, Ana. You have a concussion and fractures all over your body."

"And you? You're not hurt?"

"Why? Disappointed?"

"Relieved, actually." Ana gave a weak grin when the medic glanced over at her. "Have you even taken a break yet?"

"With you people around? Of course not." She went back to tapping on the screen. "But my shift is ending soon. So you'll have to look for someone else to bother."

The partition opened again.

"Like him?" Ana deadpanned, watching Khalid walk in.

"Like him," Kamilah confirmed. "Come in. I was just finishing up."

"She alright?" Khalid asked, taking a seat on the side of Ana's bed.

"Yes, but she'll need to stay here for a few more days."

"Yay."

"Not yay. You get to rest here while I slog my ass off? That's not fair."

"Then go fall off a building."

"Please. I'm not that big of an idiot."

"Are you implying–?"

"Khalid, please don't aggravate the patient."

"Hear that, Khalid? Don't aggravate me."

The doctor sighed audibly, turning away from the monitor. "Try not to stay too long," she told the visitor. "She needs her rest. You as well."

"Yes, ma'am."

Kamilah cast one last glance at Ana before leaving the pair alone, drawing the curtain shut behind her.

"You're wearing your puppy dog eyes again," Khalid said when he turned back to Ana.

"I don't have puppy eyes."

"Please. If she had a Frisbee, you'd have it in your mouth right now."

"Shut up."

Khalid chuckled, shaking his legs idly. "Don't be shy, sis. If it's all the same, I think she'd throw the Frisbee to you too."

"Will you stop with the Frisbee shit."

"Fine. But I'm serious. Back there, when you passed out in the truck? I've never seen her so worried before." He paused, cocking his head. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen her worry at all. Have you?"

"No."

"There you go."

Ana heaved a sigh, turning her gaze away. "Stop putting ideas in my head, you ass."

"Like they weren't there already." He leaned forward, wiggling his thick eyebrows. "And I'll bet they're even dirtier than–"

"Doc!" Ana yelled, cutting him off. "Doc, get this piece of–mmph!" The rest of her words were muffled by Khalid's panicked hand, clamped tightly over her mouth.

"Shush! You're gonna get me–"

The curtain was yanked open to reveal an alarmed Kamilah, soon replaced by a thoroughly annoyed one.

"Issa, get out!"

Ana sat comfortably on the sandy ground, leaning against a stack of empty crates beside the mess hall. Her crutch lay next to her as she watched the friendly football match take place in front of the barracks tents. After their victory in Dakhla, there had only been a few skirmishes before the insurgents finally pulled out. It was one of the last strongholds the enemy had, and the taste of complete victory wafted tantalisingly through the air. Spirits were high, so a football match was arranged for that evening. A few teams were formed and took turns playing, while their friends on duty snuck jealous glances at the players.

As expected, Ana's squad formed a team of their own. They were grouped near the makeshift playing field, discussing strategy that had better work because Ana put her money on them.

"Wishing you hadn't fallen off the building now?"

Ana rolled her eyes at her new companion, who sat down on her right. "You make it sound like I fell off on purpose." She took the proffered bottle of cold beer, taking a grateful swig.

"Didn't you?"

"No?" She squinted at Kamilah, who took a draught from her own bottle. "I was dodging bullets, alright?"

"Not very well, it seems." The doctor glanced pointedly at her stomach, and Ana tugged on her t-shirt self-consciously.

"You seem very intent on tearing down my self-esteem, Doctor."

"More like your reckless behaviour. You're getting hurt too much for your own good."

"Keep nagging at me like that, and I'll start thinking you actually care."

When Kamilah gave no follow-up, she wondered if her joke had missed its mark. Or rather, hit it front-and-center. Khalid's words floated through her head, and she cursed him for planting them there. Ana snuck a glance at Kamilah, who wore her usual impassive expression as she watched the current football match wind down. She wondered how upset the medic supposedly was, back in the truck. How she would look like with a crack in her composure. How it would feel to be the reason for that crack. She was digging a deeper hole for herself with each passing thought, and yet she could not stop.

As her team walked out onto the field, Ana's gaze fell to the hand lying on the ground between them.

She could not stop.

Her hand drifted slowly to the side, eyes pointed down at her personal playing field as she neared her target. Lifting her little finger, adrenaline slowing her perception of time, she brushed it lightly along the side of Kamilah's. It twitched in surprise, but stayed where it was. Ana waited before trying again, this time running her fingertip over the slim digit. It did not move when Ana's finger landed back on the ground. She waited some more, to no avail. Kamilah gave no reaction at all. Ana shifted her finger back in defeat, insides cringing at the failed advance, when it was stopped midway.

She glanced down – less subtly than before – and found the coveted finger hooked over her own. A bout of lightheadedness revisited her, but she was pretty sure blood loss wasn't the cause this time. Ana stole a peek at Kamilah's face, still carefully neutral and facing the front. She pressed her lips together at the burgeoning smile, opting to watch the match as well. Or at least, pretend to. Through the ebb and flow of the crowd's excitement, Ana felt her own keep at a constant high, attention fixed on that small and simple point of contact. It became her consciousness, her world. Nothing else mattered.

Not even when her team lost by just one goal.

Those big stupid oafs.

When Ana awoke in her cot the next morning, she was unsure if that moment ever happened. It was peaceful, calm, and lamentably short. Almost like the memory of a dream that would leak through her fingers as the day wore on. And it did. They had been thrown into a frenzy of pack-and-shifting the moment they finished breakfast – their company was being redeployed to the camp in Abu Minqar. An official briefing would be held later in the day, and scuttlebutt was that one last showdown with the insurgency would happen there.

But the more exciting rumour – for Ana, anyway – was the presence of the Sa'ka Forces in Abu Minqar. Also known as the Egyptian Thunderbolt Forces, they were a commando battalion held in awe by many a soldier. One of the elites with an impressive combat history, and a near-perfect record of victories. Their name was present in all of Egypt's major triumphs on the battlefield. And Ana's sister was one of them.

The thought of meeting her spurred Ana on to complete their tasks quickly, and she moved at a speed that somehow turned into a squad-wide race at efficiency. The bustle lasted until the evening, when the briefing was held. It was only after dismissal, as they made their way to the mess hall that she was reminded of what happened the previous day.

Their medical colleagues were rushing out of the large tent just as they walked in. Ana barely turned into the entrance when Kamilah slammed right into her, hands automatically grabbing onto her arms as the sniper stumbled backwards. They managed to keep from falling over, thankfully.

"What's the rush?"

"Supply delivery," Kamilah replied quickly, hands still gripping onto Ana. She nodded in the direction of the camp's delivery bay. "It's been delayed a few days, and now we've to load it up before–"

"Shadid!" Deyab called from where he turned to look at their straggler. The rest of his colleagues were already far ahead of them. "Stop feeling up Amari and let's go!"

It was difficult to tell under the darkening sky, but Ana thought she saw a hint of red on Kamilah's cheeks. They let go of each other, a wide smile spreading on Ana's face along with a close-lipped one on the medic.

"See you around," Kamilah said, then ran off after Deyab.

Ana watched her go, left with only a fading warmth where Kamilah's fingers lingered over hers.

The moment they landed in Abu Minqar, Ana's head was kept on a swivel as she searched left and right for the other Amari. But it seemed her efforts were for naught, because it was her sister who found her first.

Ana was packing her belongings in the barracks, when a sudden body slam on her back propelled her forward, and pinned her to the bedside locker.

"Here's my baby sniper!"

The baby sniper groaned loudly and pushed herself off the locker. A pair of legs wound around her stomach as two arms wrapped around her shoulders. "I'm not your baby. And please get the fuck off my back."

"Tsk tsk. Language, little Ana."

"Get off!" Ana shook at her unwanted passenger, who clung onto her tighter than a koala on a tree trunk. "You're embarrassing me!"

"There's no one around."

"I don't care! You're breaking my back!"

A light slap on her cheek. "You're saying I'm heavy?"

"Get off!"

Her sister gave an exaggerated sigh and yielded, jumping off her back. Ana turned to glare at her, but opened her arms anyway to let the woman in for a bear hug. The Amari had not seen one another for almost half a year, each of the three occupied with their own assignments. Ana was stationed in Cairo, her father in Alexandria, and her sister in Asyut. The only times they met each other was during leave or chance deployments such as this.

When Ana was released from the embrace, she was finally able to examine Safiya Amari properly. She was four years older, but they resembled each other greatly – similar height and build, same eye colour, identical smirks. The only difference was that Safiya inherited their father's more angular features, wearing a beautifully defined jawline and nose.

"You smashed my face into the locker, you know," Ana said, pointing at her cheek when Safiya pulled away.

"Aw." The woman pouted. "I'm sorry. Come, let me kiss away your boo-boo."

"What? No!" Ana held her hands up, stalling Safiya by the shoulders when she swooped in. She laughed at her sister's ridiculously puckered up mouth. "Fuck off!"

Ana's arms were starting to buckle under the sturdy pull of commando-trained arms, when they heard the tent flap being opened. Their heads snapped towards the front, and Ana took the chance to shove her sister backwards. Of course. Of course it would be Kamilah who walked in. She glanced at her sister, who already had a smirk on her face, and prayed she would not embarrass her.

"Am I interrupting?" the medic asked, walking in slowly with her duffle bag slung over one shoulder.

"No," the sisters said in unison.

"Your bunk is in here too?" Ana asked. The medic nodded and looked around, trying to locate an unclaimed cot. Kamilah paused in front of them, her eyes landing on Safiya's nametag.

"Amari?" she said, looking between them. "You're related?"

"Unfortunately," Ana replied.

"Yes, ma'am." Safiya snapped off a crisp salute. "First Lieutenant Safiya Amari, 24th Sa'ka Battalion, at your service."

"Sa'ka? Impressive." Kamilah looked her over appraisingly, then glanced at Ana. "You never told me you had a…?"

"Sister. Older sister." The sniper stood beside Safiya, who had relaxed from her formal introduction. "You can tell from the wrinkles on her face."

The corner of Kamilah's mouth curved, and she resumed searching for her cot as Safiya nudged Ana painfully in the side. They watched her stop by a cot in the corner of the tent, then shove her whole bag into the locker.

"In a hurry?" Ana asked when the medic strode quickly towards the exit.

"Yes. A meeting." She gave a short wave at the sisters. "See you."

The Amari waved together, moving their hands until the tent flap closed behind Kamilah.

"Quite a looker, huh. What?" Safiya asked when Ana's gaze jerked towards her. "It's true. You know each other?"

"Yes. Same company."

"Lucky you. The medics I work with look like a camel's ass." A cheeky grin grew. "Have you…?"

"No," Ana said quickly. She reached for her still-open locker door and slammed it shut.

"You didn't let me finish."

"I don't want you to finish."

Safiya raised a brow, but thankfully did not pursue. "When's your squad supposed to report?"

"Thirty minutes from now."

"Good. At least we have some time to catch up." Safiya threw an arm around Ana's shoulders, leading her out of the tent. She heaved a sigh as Ana held her by the waist. "The Sa'ka are moving out in four days, way ahead of you all. Special mission," she added at the questioning glance.

"Are you even allowed to tell me that?"

"Probably not. But you're my sister, so I don't care." She flicked Ana's cheek. "Now, before I have to leave, tell me everything that happened to you."

"Including the smut?" Ana grinned, and her sister promptly mirrored it.

"Tell me your smut, and I'll tell you mine."

Between both of their duties, the sisters barely had time to catch up. Only by eating into their sleep time were they able to converse in peace. The days passed by in a blink of an eye, and Ana saw Safiya off with the promise of a family reunion later in the year.

Then Ana herself got swept away by packed work schedules, along with Khalid. A nervous anticipation hung over the camp, with many looking forward to the upcoming battle, and many more hoping they would be alive to celebrate a victory. As the impending confrontation loomed closer, reality started mixing with their cautious optimisim. Close comrades were sharing last wishes in case they did not survive, to be fulfilled by those who did. Khalid was working on a letter to his family. Ana had one half-written as well, and was tempted to add in some ridiculous last wish for her squad to carry out. Maybe go two laps around the running track in the Heliopolis base. Naked. That should get a few laughs.

She snickered to herself, tossing the datapad idly into the air and catching it as she strode into the barracks tent. The warm lights were on – majority of its occupants were still up, already dressed down from work attire and working on their personal datapads. Some were seated together, murmuring in private conversations. A couple of her squad mates were there as well, lounging in their respective cots. She returned their tired greetings, removing the towel from around her shoulders to hang it in the locker. Tossing the datapad onto her pillow, Ana turned towards the corner where Kamilah sat alone on her cot, hunched over something that cast a glow over her shoulders.

Lips already curving, Ana approached the medic and sat heavily beside her. Kamilah turned her head to see Ana nod at the datapad.

"Writing your last will? 'I hereby leave all my anesthetic to the idiots I call colleagues.'"

It felt like a lifetime ago since she had seen Kamilah's smile. The past two weeks had been a blur of endless activity. The only times they managed to see each other, were when they scarfed down their meals in the mess hall like hungry dogs, or lay on their beds in the barracks with aching bodies. Not that there had not been moments. Lingering glances when they passed by each other. Playful winks – all of which came from Ana – during PT. Not-so-accidental brushes of their hands whenever the sniper felt a little braver, drawing an almost imperceptible smile from the medic. Each brief encounter dragged her foot closer to the invisible line, and Ana resented not having the time to explore new boundaries.

"No." Kamilah angled the pad towards her. Ana saw a memo filled with so much medical jargon, her vision almost swam at the sight. "Although there are some anesthetics in here." She scrolled down the memo slowly, and Ana leaned in to read what she pointed out. "These are going to help us keep you in one piece. Or at least, quiet while we try to keep you in one piece."

"Fascinating."

"You don't recognise any of these, do you?"

"No, only the people who use them on me."

"That's good enough, I suppose," Kamilah sighed, closing the memo and bringing up another report. Then she turned to her companion, who made no move to leave. "Don't you have anything else to do?"

"Other than sleep? No." Ana rested her hands on the mattress, tapping her feet in an uncoordinated rhythm. "Actually, I have a letter to finish. But I don't really feel like it now."

She stretched her legs forward, slippers scratching across dry ground. "You finished yours?"

"My…?"

"Letters? To your family."

Kamilah stared at her oddly. She shook her head, looking down at the pad.

"Trouble finishing?"

"Never wrote them."

"Oh? No last words? Wishes? In case anything happens? Or no, wait. You're not worried because you've got everything settled."

Kamilah's finger paused while scrolling down the datapad. She fixed Ana with a gaze that watered down the edges of her smile.

"There's nothing to settle. I have nothing to say."

"Not even an 'I love you'?"

"No."

"Or, 'Hey I'm dead. Fuck you.'" It was a wild guess. But judging from the snort, it was on point.

"You know, that is petty enough that I might actually do it."

Ana chuckled, glad the mood had risen from its sudden dive. "Not on good terms with them?"

"No terms at all."

"Ah. Well, that makes things easier, doesn't it? You don't have to care about anything. You can just leave your…entire makeup set to the barracks' cat. Or use all your money to hire pole dancers for your funeral."

A wide smile appeared on Kamilah's face. "Ana…"

"Hey, I'd have dancers on my coffin if I could. What better way to be sent off?" Ana laughed when Kamilah pushed at her shoulder.

"You're unbelievable."

"I know. And my father would throw all his medals away before letting that happen," she sighed, falling into a short pause.

"But you really have nothing to settle? With anyone? Nothing to say to your friends?"

"Why?" Kamilah played along. "Do you have someone in mind?"

"Me?" Ana said, leaning in. "Why don't you write a letter to me?"

"Oh? And what will I say?"

"Hm." Ana made a show of thinking it over, smile turning coy. "Maybe something like: 'Dearest Ana, I've never told you in life, but I have always found you to be drop dead fucking gorgeous.'"

Kamilah laughed, a deep and smooth note from her throat that made Ana's heart skip a beat. She leaned in close, and Ana's fingers dug lightly into the mattress to stop herself from moving away.

"And what will your letter to me say? 'Dear Kamilah, I'm sorry for always making a fool of myself, but it's the only way I know to get your attention.'"

Though warmth started gathering in her cheeks, Ana held the gaze and kept her smile on. "So you're saying I have gotten your attention."

"What do you think, Amari?"

They were close, so close together. Shoulders touching, heads tilted towards each other, eyes locked so they could see every emotion that flitted through. Kamilah's fingertips ghosted over the back of her hand, leaving an electric trail in their wake. Ana wanted so much to take a dive right then and there. But that was not the place to do it. Not in the barracks with their colleagues present.

The thought poured cold water over her head, and Ana quickly straightened herself, as did Kamilah. She hoped no one noticed what just happened. Shifting her hands into her lap, Ana collected herself as Kamilah fidgeted with her datapad. Then she remembered the uncertainty looming in the horizon, and cursed their unfortunate timing.

"You have an early shift tomorrow, don't you?" Kamilah said. "Why don't you turn in?"

Ana nodded, standing up from the cot. "Don't turn in too late yourself."

"I know how to take care of myself."

"You're saying I don't?"

"What do you think?"

They received their orders the next day. Ana and Khalid would be deployed three days ahead of the main force, along with numerous other sniper teams, to conduct reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines and provide support during the actual assault. Three teams – Ana's included – were given a top priority target: the leader of the insurgency. Locate and track his whereabouts until the rest of the army rolled in, then put a fatal shot in his body when the opportunity arose. The snipers spent the entire day poring over maps and intel gathered by the Sa'ka forces, then prepared to leave at dawn.

When she finally returned to the barracks, she had precious few hours left to grab a peaceful rest before plunging into enemy territory. But she joined the medic at her cot again, trying to poke as many reactions out of her as possible. When Kamilah learned of her assignment, she became quieter and told Ana to rest, like she did the previous night. Ana, finding no other words to say, complied with the doctor's order.

The snipers were already sitting in their respective LSVs, going through the mission plan on their datapads as they waited for the drivers to be dismissed from their meeting. Ana waited in the passenger seat while Khalid sat in the back with the vehicle's mounted machine gun. Breathing in the crisp morning air, she ran her eyes over the map again, recounting every detail of the mission plan and wishing she had a thermos of coffee to take leisurely sips from. Sighing, Ana dragged her finger across the pad's screen, when the comm piece in her ear crackled to life.

"Lieutenant Amari."

Ana froze at the sound of Kamilah's voice.

"How did you get this–?"

"I have my ways."

"Why are you even up this early?"

"I want to tell you something."

"Yes?" Ana prompted when Kamilah paused, leaving her heart to do somersaults.

"If you return unharmed from this mission, that dinner might just happen."

"But I–"

"Good luck, Ana."

The channel clicked off before she could reply. Ana tapped on the earpiece repeatedly, trying to raise the same channel, but to no avail. There was a short pat on her shoulder, and she looked back up at Khalid.

"Who were you talking to? Why do you look so surprised?"

Ana stared at him blankly as Kamilah's words settled into her mind. Then her lips parted as poorly-stifled giggles started to bubble up from her chest, before evolving into full-blown laughter.

"You're choosing a very bad time to lose your mind, Ana," Khalid said, wearing a look of utmost apprehension.

"Oh Khalid, my brother." Ana grabbed onto the front of his combat armour and dragged him down so they were face-to-face.

"If you fuck this up for me, I'll shove my rifle up your ass."