In an unexpected turn of events, Kamilah was the one who got hurt.

The four women were at a playground, waiting for Zaid to bring the car around from the parking lot. Safiya was seated beside Ana without stirring trouble for once, with her arm around Zahra as they leaned against each other in silence. Ana and Kamilah were slouched in the bench, Kamilah tracing the veins in Ana's wrist and the lone scar on her palm. The day's trip to Ismaïlia combined with the supper they just had, left them ready to fall asleep on the spot. When she was about to close her eyes, Ana felt Kamilah get up from her seat, and watched her approach a little kitten sitting on a see-saw.

It was a scruffy little orange thing, mouth opening in high-pitched mewls as Kamilah knelt in front of it. She raised a hand slowly towards the kitten, letting it poke its nose at her fingers. Patting it on the head first, Kamilah moved to stroke down its back, pausing occasionally to let it peer curiously up at her and prod around her hand with a paw.

It was all going smoothly; Ana had leaned forward in her seat, preparing a quip about how the medic treated animals more gently than humans, when trouble arrived in the form of the kitten's mother. It came up from behind Kamilah, who only noticed the hissing feline when it appeared at the corner of her vision. She had barely lifted her hand from the kitten when the cat pounced, claws raking across the back of Kamilah's hand and her forearm.

The cat's screech and Kamilah's short burst of curses jolted the three sleepy women to attention. Ana moved forward instinctively, but Kamilah caught her with an arm and pushed themselves backwards, giving the vicious cat a wide berth. It remained hissing, tail swishing back and forth, until Ana's legs hit the bench. Only then did the cat turn its gaze away, taking the kitten in its mouth and dashing away into the darkness, disappearing through some bushes.

Then it was Kamilah's turn to hiss, quickly joined by Ana when she examined the damage. There were claw marks spanning from her hand, up to the middle of her forearm. Holding onto her clenched fist, Ana raised her arm gently as blood welled up in the scratches – which were too deep, they decided. So Kamilah was driven to the 24-hour clinic where she could receive proper treatment.

"You're losing your touch, Milah."

"Shut up."

"Now you can't make all the–"

"Don't you–"

"–pussies happy."

Kamilah screwed her eyes shut as if she were in physical pain, only cracking them open when Ana rolled her chair over.

"Maybe you're getting heavy-handed with your stroking."

"Please shut up."

"It's alright. You can practice on me." She grinned at the palm squishing into her face in an attempt to push her away. But she pulled Kamilah's hand off by the wrist, and kissed gently beside the dressing. "I won't bite. No promises about scratching, though."

"I hate you," Kamilah grumbled, scowling through the kiss on her cheek.

"You're like this because you're tired," Ana explained patiently, earning a very unamused stare. "Seriously though, you can just go to bed. I'll go down if you want."

"No… It just hurts a little."

"A little?" She worried at the bandage on Kamilah's forearm. "Do you need anything…?"

"I'm fine. Not like it's the first time."

"What?" Ana laughed as Kamilah took her arm away. "You just can't stop yourself from touching–"

"One more pussy joke and I'll punch yours."

"Is that what you're into now?"

There was a knock on the door just as Kamilah's eyes narrowed, saving Ana from a certain kind of death. "Yeah?"

Zaid poked his head in cautiously, looking oddly relieved when he spotted the two sitting in front of the desk. He then swung the door wide open, holding up a box in his hand. "I found some aspirin for Kamilah."

"She found it before you, papa."

"I've taken them."

"Oh, well." He tossed the box over for Kamilah to catch. "Hang onto these anyway. Just in case."

"Thanks."

"Didn't get anything for me?" Ana asked as her father backtracked into the hallway.

"Who are you?" Zaid's straight face was the last thing they saw before he shut the door behind him.

"Everyone in this house is an asshole," Ana muttered, turning to the computer where a chat message from Safiya had popped up, blocking the movie playing onscreen.

"That includes you."

"Didn't say I wasn't one." She glanced over at Kamilah, who was clenching her hand repeatedly. "Are you sure it's okay?"

Kamilah nodded, fiddling with the dressing on her hand. Then she reached for the aspirin and popped one tablet into her mouth.

"Does it hurt that much?"

"Not as much as your jokes."

"Yours, you mean." Ana sent a reply asking why Safiya had sent her a disturbing video of a man covered in shaving cream dancing, as Kamilah picked up the call on her phone. She kept silent, searching for a similarly weird link to send to the idiot no doubt still laughing in her own room.

"I haven't. My work pad isn't with me."

Ana scrolled through videos of cats flying through space with jetpacks.

"You…mean you'll be transferred?"

She glanced over at Kamilah, who was frowning and listening intently.

"Who."

A few moments more, and her gaze slowly lifted to the screen. Then it settled on Ana, whose head tilted in curiosity.

"You're not pulling my leg." Her parted lips twitched as if she was unable to find the words. "I… Thank you. I will. Thanks."

"Who's getting transferred?" Ana asked, watching Kamilah lower her phone and stare at the screen with that same incredulous look. "Milah?"

"Deyab," she said. "He's being promoted. And transferred to another company."

"Oh? Good for him then. It's been what, 800 years?" She paused. "Wait, so who's squad leader now?"

"Me."

The word seemed as surreal for Kamilah as it was for Ana, judging by her still-not-quite-there expression. But it sunk in much faster for Ana, who jerked her chair forward.

"Seriously?" Ana asked, laughter bubbling forth as Kamilah nodded. "That's great, Milah! Now you can bully your entire squad – legitimately." Her grin managed to crack a smile on Kamilah's face.

"Is that all you can think of?"

"Yeah? You have power now. You can do anything you want. Well, almost anything." When Kamilah's expression faltered, Ana reached forward and held Kamilah's face in her hands. "You know, it's like I'm more excited about this than you. Are you in shock? Do you need to lie down?"

Kamilah laughed softly, letting Ana feel about her forehead. "I guess. I just…never planned this far."

"Hm? You've spent – what? 5, 6 years in the army? And you never once thought about being given command?"

Eyes lowering in thought, Kamilah shrugged. "Not really, no."

"Well, time to start thinking about it. Think of all the ways you can use the power in your hands."

She snorted and peeled Ana's hands from her face. "You do realise I have power over you now, right?"

"Bull. We're the same rank."

"I have the authority."

"And what if I don't recognise it?"

"That's insubordination."

Ana chuckled and leaned forward in her seat, as Kamilah's fingertips glided over her palms. "And? What are you going to do about it?"

"Why don't you drop and give me twenty?"

Smile turning more crooked by the second, Ana said, "You didn't specify twenty of what, ma'am."

Kamilah held fast under lips ghosting tantalisingly over hers. "Use your imagination, Lieutenant." She allowed Ana a brief brush of their lips together, then tightened her grip over Ana's hands and pushed her away. "Now put the movie back on."

Ana pouted when Kamilah leaned back in her seat with a look of satisfaction, aware that she was driving her partner insane. The sniper was being played, but this was one trap she would walk into with eyes wide open. Cybernetic or not.

"–take care of yourself, and don't–"

"Cause any trouble, I know," Ana finished Zaid's sentence. "You've told me the same thing every single time you leave."

"And yet it still hasn't stuck. Has it, Kamilah?"

"No."

"Knife in my back," Ana deadpanned, staring at Kamilah as her father pulled her in for a hug. "Didn't see that coming."

"I thought you would've seen her comi–"

With a hand smashed right into her face, Safiya could only sputter the rest of that thought into Ana's palm.

"Girls," Zaid warned when Ana started pushing her back, and was grabbed by the waist and hauled off her feet. "Behave."

Only when she felt a tongue licking her palm did Ana yank her hand away in disgust, and Safiya finally set her down. Ana wiped her hand on Safiya's sleeve, her sister looking on with a bemused expression and keeping her mouth shut for the first time since they entered the airport.

"So, have you spoken to her?" Ana asked, peering at where Zaid was speaking to the other two women.

"Yeah," Safiya said equally softly. "She said I should hang on for at least one more year. And if I really don't like it, then I'll request a transfer."

"What about her?"

"It's alright for her. She says it's a little difficult…but she doesn't mind."

"Do you?"

Her eyes flickered towards Zahra. "I don't want to wear out her patience."

"It won't." Ana patted her sister on the back. "Even if it does, she'll let you know. And you'll know what to do."

Mouth curving in a fond smile, Safiya wrapped Ana firmly in her arms. "You're all grown now, you snotty little brat."

"You've said it before, mama."

"I know, little one." Safiya loosened her hold to get a good look at her sister's face, and gave it a pat. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"…This is getting weird."

"Let go of me."

"Safiya," Zahra called as they separated. "Let's go."

"Alright then." Safiya walked over and picked up her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "Bye, you two."

Ana reached out to squeeze her father's hand, before letting it go quickly to swat Safiya's away, which had swooped in for one last pinch on her cheek. Zaid sighed for the thousandth time that week, and ushered Safiya towards the departure hall. Zahra turned back for one last wave, then followed the Amari through the security checkpoint. Ana stayed with Kamilah, watching them walk further in towards the counters, then turn out of sight.

She lingered a few moments more, then made her way towards the nearby elevator, hand naturally taking its place in Kamilah's. "Well," she sighed. "It's just the two of us again."

"Mm."

"You know, I was thinking. Maybe I should go back to the house more. Keep it warm and clean and all that."

"Why not just move out?"

She shrugged and pressed the call button. "It's more convenient to stay in base. Besides, everyone's there."

"True."

"So maybe I'll just pop back there once in a while. When I need time away or something." She tilted her head so Kamilah could hear her mutter quietly, "Or time alone."

Ana stared blankly at Kamilah's quizzical frown, until it hit her.

"I meant time alone with you!"

Deyab's promotion ceremony was scheduled to be held in two months, which meant he had just enough time to spend poking fun at his colleagues more than usual without much resistance. And of course, training Kamilah to take his position. It was not that difficult a task, apparently. Kamilah had no problems in terms of capability – her mind was clear and her hands steady when forced into stressful scenarios, making decisions with bullets flying over their heads and soldiers bleeding on the ground. What would require adapting was the change in leadership style. More specifically, the change in personalities. Where Deyab would bark orders then yell encouragements interspersed with insults, Kamilah would keep silent after her intent was made clear. Furious scoldings turned into cold and threatening reprimands. Continuous banter became snappy comments. Praises were replaced by simple acknowledgements that the mission had gone smoothly.

She would have to work on that last one, Deyab said. But both leader and squad would warm up to each other in time. And though told that she had nothing to worry about, Kamilah did so. Constantly. Many times Ana had forced her to stop pacing the room, to stop reviewing their training footage over and over – be it on her datapad or in her head.

"You're doing it again."

Kamilah's faraway gaze came back into focus, as Ana slung an arm around her shoulders. They were strolling through one of the base's family neighbourhoods, not far from the barracks. Ana had dragged Kamilah out, hoping that a quiet walk down a more civilian-like environment would help her to leave work behind for a while. Obviously, it did not.

"Sorry."

"Relax, Milah. Training went fine today."

"We made to the objective slower than before."

"So? Performance fluctuates." Ana gave her a squeeze when she opened her mouth to retort. "Relax. Jaida was satisfied with our results today, right?"

"I guess." She kept her eyes on the pavement before them, then her attention was snatched back again – this time by a finger tickling at her ear.

"Talk to me, love. If you're going to think, don't keep it all to yourself."

"It's nothing."

"You're worried."

"How can you tell, I wonder."

"I'm pretty smart when I actually use my brain."

"Didn't know you had one." She smiled faintly at Ana's prompt agreement. "You're right. I'm just worried."

"About?"

"The squad," she said after a slight hesitation. "I don't work well with people."

"But you get along with them. And they've no problems working with you."

"That's not the point, Ana."

"Then what is?"

A frown appeared as Kamilah pondered over her answer, only to say, "I don't know."

"It's alright." Ana chose not to pry, and placed a kiss on the side of her head instead. "You'll figure it out." When the crease between Kamilah's brows did not lighten, she took a different tack and moved to the front, stopping with her back facing Kamilah. "Come on. Let's turn around."

"What are you doing?" Kamilah asked, looking at the woman standing stooped before her, with knees halfway bent.

Ana clicked her tongue and reached back to grab Kamilah's hands, pulling her forward so she was pressed up against Ana's back. Holding onto her thighs, Ana stood upright again, carrying Kamilah's weight easily. Kamilah locked her arms around Ana's neck when her feet left the ground.

"Ana–" Kamilah laughed as Ana bounced her up a little, resting her thighs in the crook of her elbows.

"Hold tight, Mr. Frodo. I will carry you."

"You closet nerd."

"Hey, I'm not the one who keeps re-watching the movies," Ana protested as she turned back down the street.

"They're good movies." Kamilah hugged closer about her neck, resting their heads together. "Also, your quote's wrong in fifty different places."

"You would know, nerd queen."

"Shut up."

When it seemed providing stress relief alone was not enough, Ana enlisted Mesi's help. Thankfully, her squad leader possessed all the tact and self-control that the rest did not. She took her time, first approaching Kamilah for the occasional tête-à-tête, before moving onto work matters, sharing her own experiences and grievances. In the end, after a few more training rounds as a platoon, Mesi had reported the same thing as Deyab – competent skills-wise, but still a little icy personality-wise.

Kamilah did get more comfortable though, as January wore on. She took the little bumps during training in stride, and giving orders came to her much easier. Ana had spotted her in the company of her squad mates more often, which she took as a good sign. Near the month's end, Kamilah's squad held a small celebration for Deyab's promotion – to which Ana's squad was invited, because they were 'in-laws' now. Ribbing aside, it was good to see Kamilah feel more at home with the others – Ana had less to worry about when she received her orders at the start of February. But that didn't stop her from fussing over the concerns she still had.

"If you need anything, you can ask my squad," Ana parroted the words that had been on repeat for the entire week, while she prepared for the deployment. "They like you. Still kinda scared of you, but they'll be there to help whenever you need it. Especially Mesi. You can always count on her."

"I know."

"And remember to take care of yourself. Don't stress yourself out over work, and rest when you need to." Ana hovered by Kamilah's side as her partner took the kettle off the portable stove. "Remember to take your meds. And go for all your therapy sessions. Please, please don't try to cancel it like last time. They're good for you, even if you think you don't need them."

"I know." Kamilah walked back to the table, pouring hot water into the teapot before setting the kettle aside.

"I'll call you whenever I can. If I can't, I'll just text but I'll be in touch–" Ana lost her train of thought, drawn in by the soft kiss. She ingrained in her mind yet again the gentleness of Kamilah's touch, the lips which were often slightly chapped, the twitch of fingers on her arms in yearning, and the tenderness in brown eyes. Ana's memory would serve to last her for the next three months, and something told her it would be the source of both comfort and unbearable pining.

"I know, Ana. You've said it so much I could recite it: you'll call and text me whenever you can. I'll take care of myself while you're gone and not stress out over–"

"Knowing is one thing. Actually doing it is another."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Ana sighed, then embraced Kamilah tightly. "This is the first time I've never wanted to go on a mission so badly before."

"It's only three months."

"Three months too long."

"It's nothing. It'll be over before you know it."

"You're just lying to make yourself feel better."

Kamilah laughed, warm breath puffing about Ana's nape. "I am."

"Is it working?"

"No."

"Same."

No night had seemed shorter than the one she tried to draw out the longest. She spent the hours in a limbo, doing nothing that would make time pass faster, keeping their fingers entwined as the seconds ticked by. Ana's eyes refused to close when she followed Kamilah into bed, gazing back into her partner's – who seemed unwilling to sleep as well, despite having an early day to look forward to. As their idle talk wore on, caresses turned to tickles, to squeezes and pinches, to kisses and laughter and play, to teases and affirmation as they made love.

Ana finally fell asleep with Kamilah nestled snugly in her arms, only to be woken when the warmth left her embrace at the break of dawn. She remained in bed, waiting for Kamilah to get washed up and dressed, before following suit and walking her down to the car park.

"Remember to take your breakfast," Ana reminded her, watching Kamilah stuff her bag into the top box.

"Yes, mother."

"You're horrible with breakfast when you have work. Or just food in general, really."

"I guess not everyone is perfect," Kamilah said wryly, pressing their lips together in farewell.

"You're not everyone," Ana murmured, getting a smile as she let go of Kamilah reluctantly.

Kamilah slipped her helmet on and climbed onto her bike. Starting up the engine, she paused with a hand on her visor, and looked back at Ana. "Is it too early to say 'I miss you already'?"

She shrugged. "Don't ask me. I started missing you last night."

"Drama queen," Kamilah laughed, rapping on Ana's forehead with her knuckles.

"I love you," Ana said just when Kamilah snapped her visor down, prompting her to push it back up again.

"I love you too. And say it earlier next time."

Ana grinned as the visor came back down, obscuring her view of Kamilah's face. She received a final pat on her cheek, before the motorcycle rolled onto the road and soon brought Kamilah out of sight.

Damn.

Ana and Khalid were among the five sniper teams chosen to join the Sa'ka in Jordan. The moment they arrived at Central Command, they were hustled into a briefing with the local troops and divided into five units – one to target each cell. Ana's team was not assigned to Safiya's squad, which was not unexpected, though still a little disappointing. But in the first week they took to prepare for the mission ahead, the sisters did have time to catch up and commiserate over how painful life was without their significant others.

As the plans came together, it became obvious that they would be spending a lot of time in the field. Or rather, in cities where it was much easier to blend in, and unwitting civilians could act as cover for their activities. Much of their time would first be spent tracking down their targets, observing their movements, and taking notes of their behaviours and habits, if there were any. That job fell to the snipers and a small group of hand-picked soldiers, who would have to operate incognito. They would then close in on these cells at the same time – attacking them one-by-one would merely give the others ample warning and time to burrow deeper underground. For such close coordination, intensive surveillance and accurate information was critical in the first phase. The teams posted in the field would have contact only with command, and no–

"–communications back home."

Kamilah cocked her head, studying Ana through the phone screen. "Sounds like you have your work cut for you."

"Yeah," Ana sighed. She was seated on the ground at the edge of the barracks compound, near a street lamp so she was not in complete darkness. "Well, at least it's only for a couple of months, right?"

"Right," Kamilah humoured her. "And it's surveillance, so you won't be jumping off buildings."

"You wish."

"I wish. Whether it comes true is up to you."

"Nice try."

"Is it working?"

"Yes. Besides, what's the point of getting hurt here? You're all the way in Cairo."

"Don't remind me."

"Why, Shadid. Are you saying you miss me?"

Kamilah's lips parted, no doubt ready to pop her bubble with a single retort. But she seemed to change her mind and settled for a slow exhale instead. "Yes. I miss you."

"Wow," Ana laughed. "Is this the first time I've won?"

"Only because I let you."

"You're so good to me," she cooed, getting an eye roll.

"Of course I am. And shouldn't you be turning in?"

"I don't feel like it."

"You're getting up early tomorrow."

"I know."

"You can talk to me again tomorrow night," Kamilah told Ana when her pout appeared. "I'll be here."

Reluctance soon gave way to common sense, and she relented. "Okay. Take care of yourself, alright?"

"The same goes for you."

"Yup. Sweet dreams, albi."

"Good night, amar."

Kamilah lingered onscreen, before ending the call. Ana stared at the phone until it went to sleep, then heaved a sigh and tossed it between her hands.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Ana didn't think she could bear any more of that fondness. Kamilah's presence alone made her days just that much brighter and, without her noticing, Kamilah had become an integral part of her life. Her second half, as it were, and she was now painfully incomplete. Ana kept thinking of little things to do with her, only to remember she was not there. Her eyes searched the base only to find no one to exchange fond and playful glances with. Hands moved to find thin air where another's should be. She turned over in her bunk just to see the dormant form of a colleague lying in the next bed, not the woman with whom she had gotten used to sleeping with.

Absence really should go fuck itself.

An incoming call snatched her out of her wallowing and, to her disappointment, she saw that it was not from Kamilah.

"What."

"Where are you?" Safiya asked.

"The barracks. Why?"

"You don't have a shift soon or anything, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm at the diner farther down the street. Come over."

"Now?" Ana asked incredulously. "Are you hungry?"

"Horny, actually. But hungry works too."

"I didn't need to know that."

"Whatever. Hurry up. I already ordered and I can't finish two bowls of sundae by myself."

"You ordered two before even asking me to come over," Ana said, unsurprised. It was hardly the first time her sister did something like this.

"Well, that and two slices of cake. And a waffle. With ice cream."

"Just how horny are you?"

"I'd be humping the table right now if my dignity wasn't still intact."

"What dignity?"

"I don't know. So are you coming or not?"

"Yeah yeah." Ana got onto her feet. "Think I need some of that too."

"Good." She could hear Safiya's grin in her voice. "See you."

Ana shoved the phone into her pocket and trudged towards the compound's gates. Kamilah was not here, so food would have to fill the void for now.

How eventful would the homecoming be, she wondered.