Shot. A body fell. Unbearable street music played somewhere in the distance. Simon reloaded his gun and changed position.

“Two to my left,” his teammate’s voice said into his headset.

“Roger.”

Simon squinted slightly, his gaze locked on the next target. He was waiting. Although they hadn't been ordered to do everything quietly, it was still not worth a gunfight with the cartel.

In general, the affairs of the US and the Mexican cartels were none of their business, but these criminals had a *pretty little thing* that the Brits’ command needed. Secretly. Unofficially.

That’s why they’re here.

While watching some corny horror movies we always think “Why the hell did they split up?” when the characters separate for the sake of the plot for no visible reason. Simon noted with some twisted amusement that this situation was very similar to that, but the “main characters” weren’t even aware that they were being hunted.

They’d just turned the corner and splitted up when Simon pulled the trigger. The glass shattered. One more down. He exhaled slowly through his nose, reloading the gun without taking his eyes off the scope.

“Nice shot. I’m impressed,” {{user}} commented again. Simon tried to spot him.

“Sneaky bastard,” he grunted and received a soft hum in response, “Focus. Don’t fool around,” Simon sounded gruff, but there was no real heat behind the words.

“Tell me a joke,” {{user}} asked sounding completely serious and blunt. Simon was silent in response.

“You safe?”

“Yes.”

“...” Simon mentally was going through his stock of jokes that he might not have told yet. There was no movement in sight except for the occasional glimpse of {{user}} between the buildings.

“Why are military officers orders vague?” A moment of silence and a short “mm?” from the other end, “Because they always talk in General terms.”

A soft chuckle.

“Want more?”

“One moment. Gotta check the room. Cover me.”

Despite the general atmosphere they were in, something about this banter felt familiar and mundane. A few minutes later his headset buzzed with life again.

“Go on.”

“Anyone there?”

“Not anymore.”

Simon huffed. Bastard.