『Grimora』

He would stare openly if he thought he could get away with it, but he cannot allow himself that indulgence.  He is already ‘other’, set apart from the soldiers by his artistic sensibilities and his camera, and it wouldn’t do to let them learn of his other proclivities.  He remembers too well the disgust on the faces of his schoolmates, his father.

He is lost in thought, camera subconsciously lowered from his face, when one of the two men he doesn’t know stands up, staring at the sky as much as he can from under the edge of their shelter.

“Is that one of our planes?” he asks, arm extended toward something up in the air.

The other three men stand as well, looking at where he’s pointing.

“No,” Matteo says, sounding more thoughtful than afraid, “but it’s coming straight at us.”

“Enemy patrol!” Andre says quickly.  “We need to get out of here!”

Stefano hears the words, but he’s reacting much too slowly, and the others are already running, leaving the shelter behind.  He stumbles to his feet to follow them, but before he can make it two steps an ear-splitting explosion rings out, and the ground underneath him is gone until he lands hard on his back.

He can hear faint voices over the ringing in his ears, but everything around him is obscured by swirling sand.  There’s another explosion, some more exclamations, and then someone is grabbing him under the arms and dragging him backwards.  Confused, he begins to struggle, but then Andre’s face swims into focus above him.

Andre’s lips are moving, and Stefano desperately wants to know what he’s saying, to hear these words that are clearly intended for him, but he’s too disoriented, eyes burning from the sand and nearly deaf from the force of the explosions.  He can only squint up at Andre and allow himself to be dragged to safety.

What happens next is a blur of activity.  He’s being lifted, and then he’s in the back of a transport vehicle.  His eyes are fixed on Andre, sitting across from him, brow furrowed in concern, and Stefano feels sick for making him worry but also thrilled that Andre is worried about him.

At the medical tent they clean and patch up some minor wounds, all the while remarking that he’s very lucky and it could have been much worse.  Stefano is sure it would have been much worse if Andre hadn’t been there.  It’s all pain and noise and more questions until finally the activity dies down.  He’s left alone, sitting on his cot in the medical tent.

For the first time in an hour, he can breathe again, though each inhalation causes a twinge in his bruised ribs.  He closes his eyes, relishing the darkness and silence for a moment.

When he opens his eyes, Andre is standing in the doorway of the tent.

“Hi,” Andre says.  “I…uh…just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

His cheeks are flushed, and he’s fumbling his words a little bit, but Stefano has never been happier to see him.

“Yes, at least I think I am,” Stefano says.  Then, realizing Andre must have also been quite close to the explosion, “What about you?”

“I’m alright,” Andre says.  Then, after a pause, he adds, “Maybe a little shaken up.”

Stefano nods in sympathy, because ‘a little shaken up’ doesn’t begin to describe it.

“Do you want to sit down?” he asks, gesturing to the cot beside him.

“Uh…yes, if that’s okay,” Andre says.

He seems nervous in a way that’s not like him at all.  He takes a seat beside Stefano, but he’s looking down at his hands, which are folded in his lap.

“Thank you,” Stefano says, remembering suddenly that he probably owes his life to this man.

“It was nothing,” Andre replies.

“No,” Stefano says, “it wasn’t.  You didn’t have to come back for me.”

Andre raises his eyes to Stefano’s face.  “I couldn’t leave one of my brothers behind.”

“But I’m not-” Stefano begins to say before Andre draws in a deep breath and grabs his hand.  Stefano falls silent.  His heart is racing again, but this time it’s with excitement instead of fear.

“Yes,” Andre insists, pressing Stefano’s hand between both of his.  “Yes, you are.”

Their eyes meet and linger, and Stefano has the distinct impression there’s something both of them want to say, but the moment passes.

“By the way, I’m Andre,” he says.