Trigger

Chapter Two

"Are you alright?" Link growled as they peered over the empty landscape.

"Fine for now. Was it the group of men from before?"

"No. Someone else, though I bet they're in on it. Two men isn't enough for people like us."

Ghirahim shot one last glance around the block before muttering, "Cover me," and shutting his eyes. The pain in his leg made it hard to concentrate, so the mental map flickered here and there, but it worked well enough.

There were four other men taking cover behind a building back in the direction they came from with ear pieces that Ghirahim had seen before, on other men. Link was facing their direction.

Ghirahim slid his eyes open to whisper, "Four men, eleven o'clock. They're taking cover behind the building, waiting for orders."

"Check for snipers."

He shut his eyes again and checked the rooftops, the windows, to find nothing. Getting an idea, he checked back at the diner and found a woman on the roof, peering through a scope at them, her finger on the trigger.

"There's one on the diner roof aiming at us. We need to get to cover. Now."

"I see her now. Anyone in front of you?"

"None."

"Can you teleport?"

"A short distance, yes. There's a truck parked a little ways down that I can get us behind."

Link gave a soft hum as a response and reached back for Ghirahim's wrist, wrapping his fingers around it. "Now!"

The sorcerer shut his eyes again, and suddenly they were standing behind the truck with gunfire ringing in the air. It stopped almost immediately, and someone shouted, "The sorcerer's injured; they can't have gone far! Scout the area!"

Ghirahim leaned onto the side of the vehicle when Link released his wrist, panting lightly. "Do you need a barrier?" he asked when his companion cocked the gun and got ready to go out.

"Save your energy in case we need a quick escape. Apply pressure to your wound, and if you can, try to get the bullet out of there. Otherwise, wait until I get back. This shouldn't take long."

Just before Link left cover, Ghirahim reached to grab his hand again and instructed, "Stay out of the sniper's line of fire. I'll see if I can take her down in a bit, but until then, be careful. She may also have a communications device."

The blond gave a nod and started moving, waiting until no one was looking before he ran across the street and shot down a guy who got too close, immediately drawing the attention of the others.

"They're over there!"

"Get 'em!"

Ghirahim let out a brief hiss and ducked further into cover when they ran towards their fallen comrade, and he noticed Link smirk, shooting down another of them with ease and changing position. Instead of leaving his eyes transfixed on the smooth, precise movements of his companion, he decided to see if he could kill the sniper before she killed Link.

She was gone when he looked, meaning that she had probably changed positions as well. He sent a warning message to Link before taking a look for her. She was in an empty house surprisingly close by, searching for either of them.

"Found her. I'll see if I can take care of it. Be on your guard."

He noticed Link roll his eyes and mutter under his breath, but nothing more. Instead, he went back to the sniper and smashed the light above her head. Shards of glass flew around her as she wheeled around, pulling a pistol from her belt, unaware that her assailant wasn't physically there.