loving traumalized men

Sniper breathed heavily, the warm air in Italy filling his lungs.

The small town was glistering in golden sunlight and quiet as death, it's little gardens and colorful houses abandoned by the residents to make way for Axis forces.

Karl was crouched and moved with the long shadows sun cast. The streets were crawling with soldiers, some of whom he evaded, but most he killed. One less Nazi, is always better.

Having found decent vantage point on the upper floors on one of the houses, he laid on his stomach to scope the area.

Through the scope of his trusted sniper rifle, Karl could see the Nazis were up to something about hundred yards away. There were 3 soldiers and one officer in one of the more decimated houses, near outskirts of the small village. The officer was circling a person.

The sniper zoomed further, enough to see the officer's face full of disgust and smugness. The person was civilian, betrayed by their eyes darting around,panicked in face of certain execution.

'Far too young to die' Karl mused, stoic to a fault. His list of operations didn't exactly have him getting involved with this, but he wasn't heartless enough to let innocent soul die, on his watch.

It wouldn't take long, acceptable detour from trying to push through the city to find the partisans of Italy.

The officer was on the civilian's face now, screaming in german how people like them were blight on world, mere rats to be exterminated. The person turned their head away.

Karl could feel his heart rate spike high. The sun's rays highlighted the person, their brown hair gleaming in the light. The shape of their nose, the freckles decorating their face.. The curve of their lips..

His blue eyes met their grey through the scope, as if they knew he was out there, watching, waiting. The gaze was intense, eyes pleading and committing the beauty around them for their last memory on this earth.

Under the golden, warm sun of Italy, the Desert Ghost fell in love.

It felt like being hit with a bullet fired by Cupid herself. Soft, yet all changing. Changing history, like one bullet. His history.

Breath heavy, Karl exhaled and pulled the trigger. The officer fell to the ground, blood splattered as the bullet destroyed his brain and eye.

The 3 soldiers sprung into action, separating in different covers within the house walls. The person freed from execution sat still, hands bound behind their back.

It was nothing more than routine to dispatch the rest of the soldiers, their blood painting the walls of small farmhouse. With quick sweep though the scope to check for reinforcements that never came, the sniper got up and proceeded to diminish the distance between his location and the farmhouse.

Among the carnage, the person still sat, eyes wide, heavy breath filling the silence of the room.

''You're safe now.''

Muttered in uncharacteristically gentle manner, the sniper snapped the bounds in half, eyes attentively watched as the civilian stretched their sore limbs.

''You- The bullet-'' They tried to form coherent sentence but their shock was obstacle. Their voice louder than needed, hoarse and deep. Karl's heart skipped a beat.

''I'm sniper.'' He choked out, a crack in his stoic nature. His fingers gripped his rifle tighter. The person stared at him with wide, curious eyes, making no attempt to move.

''Can't walk?'' His question got a quick nod.

Karl had never been bothered by the fact he wasn't liked by his peers. He liked working alone, was known for it. As he towered over the small person he unwittingly had lost his heart to, for the time in his life, he felt awkward.

He wanted this stranger to like him.

Neither of them were moving and the clock was ticking. He had to find Angel.

His hand wrapped around their bicep disturbingly easy. How fragile was this person? They didn't resist as Karl yanked them from the floor.

Desert Ghost didn't have plan regarding this civilian. The rest would depend on finding Partisans alive.

He dragged them along, until another Nazi checkpoint and several taps to his arm broke his concentration.

His eyes met theirs. The eyes were beautiful up close and personal. His hold lingered over them, as well as the gaze.

''Wren.''

''Karl.''

''Thank you, for saving my life. Where are we going?''

Karl patiently explained his mission, let it slip he was SOE operative and the small Wren listened attentively.

''The castle. Nazis liked to execute people there.'' The unexpected tag-along civilian nodded towards the looming castle in the near horizon.

''How do you know that?''

''Heard gunshots on the day I went into hiding.''

Quiet exhale and quiet blam of the gun. Bullet hitting nearest Nazi in the neck. Smirk flashed their way. Karl got red cheeks as reward.

He felt their eyes on him, as he systematically cleared the checkpoint. The civilian seemed determined not to interfere with his mission, which in his heart, left a hollow feeling. Desert Ghost didn't like when people talked endlessly, he was always on point, short, bordering on side of rudeness.. But with Wren, he didn't mind it.

''How long you've been hiding?'' He asked as the duo crouched nearer and through the checkpoint. Karl had decided to abandon rooftops for a while. Anything to keep conversation going, he had asked the first thing that piqued his interest.

Small civilian instead asked the year, which he readily gave, 1943. He had just been released from Afrika, pretty much straight to Italy for another mission.

''Three years then. It was 1940 when I descended into the basement.''

Karl hummed as he took a look around. The city was quiet, no birds singing, no sign of life. Some red banners flew in the gentle wind.

''And how old are you?''

The question earned him stern, offended look. The soldier cocked a eyebrow at the civilian's anger.

''I'll let you know I'm 28 now.''

Wren's voice was calm, with sharp edge, as they took short detour away from Karl's side to tear the closest nazi banner in two. He watched them struggle for a bit and for his disappointment, before he was able to offer help, the fabric gave into the tugs and tore apart.

When they returned they threw the question at him. He shrugged, not caring much to detail his dull personal life.

This led the small civilian crouching by his side to speculate, out loud.

''You look like in your 40s, but you also seem younger than that.. 30s? Is that too young for skilled sniper..?''

Karl left Wren to their pondering, trying to orientate their position on various maps he had memorized and still carried with him. The fortress that had been good landscape had disappeared into the colorful houses and ascending stairs, the city build on hills and the coast.

He begun to climb one of the houses, a pastel blue paint on the outer walls. Much of Bitanti village had survived the war, most likely due to Mussolini and Hitler being useful for one another.

Remembering he had company, he looked back, one hand dangling near his body, another clinging to railing.

Wren looked at him in mix of wonder, worry and sadness. Sniper felt close to offended, when he realized the civilian's sadness was likely due to believing he'd abandon them. His brows creased before he yelled down - against his better judgement and quicker than his brain allowed to stop him - ''I'll scout ahead, stay there!''

Flash of surprise on their face and big nod later, Desert Ghost heaved himself the rest of the way onto the roof. The advance point proved useful, as he could not only see the fortress (that he had deemed to be logical first step in finding Angel, as her last whereabouts was there), more nazi checkpoints, but also see they were on right track.

He dropped softly next to the civilian, who had busied themselves with admiring the flowers hanging on some the houses porches and windows. Karl wondered was Wren the kind to find the beauty in destruction or in middle of such catastrophe.

They jumped slightly as his hand engulfed their small shoulder, as silent signal it was time to get moving. The brief touch left fire in his soul.

''I know you didn't ask why I was hiding, since there could be many reasons, but I have many traits they find undesirable. Uh, like I'm their enemy three times over.-''

Karl glanced at them, kept his gaze on them. He wondered why Wren was telling him this. Something this, fragile, dangerous.

''I'm transvestite, homosexual and autistic, talk about a combo. Straight to camp or to death, so I've heard.''

Desert Ghost continued staring, hands gripped his rifle. Either, he someway radiated trustworthiness or Wren was rambling out of loneliness. Being three years underground seemingly alone, would drive anyone mad.

The civilian had turned to him, silence stretched between the duo. Both waiting for something in dead town.

Fairnburne didn't know what to say, to such confession. He never questioned the fleeting comrades of their personal life nor did they his. As soldier, he had no manual, no aide for this.

''You're safe with me.''

The words popped into his head and left his mouth quicker than he had time to think. He could not make such promise.. could he? They were in middle of war zone, fascist country and though partisans were putting up admirable fight, they were few in number.

As Wren smiled, wide and genuine, in grin that showed their teeth and momentarily hid their two front teeth that slightly showed between their lips at all times - Karl realizes to his horror and conviction - he had meant it. They were safe with him, everything else be damned. Fairburne would not in any circumstance tattle tale on Wren nor be the reason they could be shot for being who they were.

And as Desert Ghost turned away in embarrassment, he promised quietly to himself he would try his damn best to keep this civilian alive. Perhaps one life wouldn't mean much in face of those thousands that had already been lost, but the world would be bit brighter for it.

The rest of the way was made in silence - broken by Karl's sniping. Sometimes Wren would pat him on the back for particularly good shot, which left the soldier baffled.

Fortress loomed over them in small hill, the outside filled with scattered bodies. The duo cautiously made their way inside, Wren now clinging to Fairburne's arm. While Karl understood the reason - it was likely the civilian had never seen dead bodies before - as well as he knew logically he should wiggle free, in order to be on standby to shoot - he found himself reluctant. He was starved for touch and Wren had shown to be ready to give it to him, he was not going to complain.

Inside a woman and few men emerged from the shadows. The woman was holding machine gun to the pair, Wren hid behind Desert Ghost as he rose up to stand.

Few seconds of tension before Karl spoke up.

''You must be Angel.''

The woman with stern look, her brown hair tied to ponytail and bandana, lifted the gun off. Confidently she strode past the duo, the few men with her following her in haste, looking around for enemies.

''How nice of you to join us.'' She remarked, sarcastically, before reminding Karl they did need to talk.

Baffled the duo looked at each other, with Karl giving a shrug and Wren emerging behind him, hands still around his bicep, but loosely than before. Sniper followed Sofia, so Wren did too.

As the ragtag group made their way towards the Partisan HQ Karl had located empty before seeing Wren - Angel decided to ask few questions.

''Who's she? SOE didn't mention anything about companion, only sniper.''

Wren snapped to gaze at Karl in panic. They had no place to go and if Angel were to cast them out then-

''Partisan. He wants to join the resistance.''

It was pure bluff. Sofia must know all who work for her and the list is short this deep to war. Wren was baffled and grateful Karl would be willing to outright lie to protect them.

He did, want to join, but had had no idea how, before they went underground three years ago. He had heard of rumors, but had no contacts.

''Hm. Must've missed him with the fights with the nazis.'' Angel mused, buying the outrageous bluff she was fed, but her tone made it clear she knew she was lied to. Her eyes drilled into Wren, who's eyes were fixed on the sniper.

''Lucio, find red for this man. He's one of ours.''

One of the men did quick salute, before disappearing into the depths of dark HQ ahead of them. The walk back was quick with enemies dispatched and partisans shortcuts.

He soon reappeared carrying piece of red fabric. He tied it with pretty knot and winked at Wren who in turn looked curious. Karl was looking at the exchange with pit in his stomach.

He knew what it was, jealousy. Wholly distracting emotion in middle of mission but one he could not squash down.

Only the open smile and eyes full of gratitude eased the ache in his heart and the pit in his stomach.