Morning Coffee And Sweet Surprises (Closed to Poprockz)

[Poprockz]

"Yea, I think that's enough for one night. We all need a break, and to process..."

At the feeling of Vin's hands upon him, Sabastian looked up at Vin for a moment and then deflated slightly, his body relaxing a bit from his touch. When the man started to turn his body, he allowed himself to be led away, too riled up inside to be able to continue the conversation without loosing his cool again. They were all tired and weary, and a good night's sleep would really do the trick; or at least a period of rest where they felt relatively safe.

However, as he reached up and gently took the hand on his shoulder in his own, he noticed that the texture of it was not as it usually was. The nomad's hands were usually rough, yes, but not this rough and crackly. Sabastian quickly stopped and whipped around to face Vin, grabbing his other hand as well and flipping them both up so he could see those palms of his. When he finally saw the man's skin, he sucked in a horrified breath.

"Vin..." His tone was strained as his sympathetic eyes flicked up to his face and back at those palms.

They were awful. It looked as though the man had third-degree burns, his flesh red and cracked in places. It must have happened when he had been in the shed, trying desperately to help Damien and Quint get out of that burning blaze. How Sabastian hadn't noticed before, he wasn't sure. All that mattered now though was that Vin very much needed help and he knew just the person who needed to help him.

"I'm sorry for not noticing sooner. Fuck, Vin... Come here." Very tenderly, he took one of Vin's wrists and led him quickly over to where Quint and Sayori were perched on the bench. Once they were in front of them, Sabastian took Vin's wrists and guided them so that Quint could see his palms also. Even then, he held Vin's hands with care as though they were precious to the little man.

"Quint, will you give us some of your gel? Vin got these burns when he was trying to move the worktable in that burning shed, and he needs something to help with the pain and the healing. Will you help? Please? The burns are really bad." Sabastian looked at Quint with a pleading expression, the man asking out of respect for the other man. Technically speaking, he could basically lift Quint up and shake him like a maraca until he got the goop, but he really didn't want to be that asshole. He cared about Vin a great deal, but he wasn't going to compromise his morals to get him healing gel if it came down to it. Quint had gone through a lot, basically being milked dry every day, so he wanted Quint to do it willingly if he decided to accept Sabastian's request.

Sayori sat next to Quint and listened, looking down at Vin's burns and getting a very concerned look on her face. They were indeed very bad, clearly needing medical attention as soon as possible. Looking over, she also waited for an answer, hoping that Quint would give them what they needed.

....

Damien had also met Vin's gaze with a somber one of his own, watching as they left. Once they were out of sight, he turned to Cora and let out a little sigh. It looked as though she was still tucked away within her shell, that dark place where only the bad thoughts kept her safe from falling even lower. With her hand in his, he pulled her a bit closer to himself. He didn't tuck her hair away, leaving it to fall where she wanted as his other hand simply caressed her cheek under her locks.

At that point he tried to find something to say, something that might make things better for her, but he was having a hard time finding anything that he thought might get through the self-hatred. The silence stretched onward, the man only glancing over to the side when he saw Sabastian and Vin walking by again to go toward Quint. He wasn't sure why, but it looked somewhat urgent.

"Can... I get your help, Cora? My back, I think it opened up a bit, so we might have to apply something to keep it from getting infected." He felt a bit inadequate for having not found something to sooth her with, so he had gone the other route of seeking her help. Maybe if she did something helpful it might boost her self worth or at least give her some time to get back to a stable place within herself. In addition, he really did need her help. At the moment, his back was exceedingly painful and every little movement felt like it set fire to a specific part of his burn.

He knew about Quint's healing gel, but he knew without a doubt that there was no way he was getting any. It would have been nice, but he didn't blame Quint for hating him for what he had done. There was simply nothing he could do about the man's loathing at this point- all he could do was address his own issue with the tools they had on hand in the car.

 

[Drobabes]

As if bringing attention to it reminded him that they should be hurting, Vin's hands suddenly felt like they were on fire once more, the pain of it radiating through both his palms and making him grit his teeth so he didn't let out a groan.

"I mean, we really haven't had a minute to stop and lick our wounds" he tried to joke, hating that sad look on the little blonds face, though it was difficult now that he was made aware of the pain again. When Sabastian then took him by the wrists and started to lead him over to Quint, he didn't quite react until they were actually over there, and remembered what the man could do. It was only at that point that he got a bit of hesitation, his steps slowing.

"Vin got these burns when he was trying to move the worktable in that burning shed, and he needs something to help with the pain and the healing. Will you help? Please? The burns are really bad."

"Yea, of course" he said, bringing out one of his white tentacles and bringing it up between them. He had no problem helping this guy out seeing as the nomad hadn't, at least as far as he knew, done anything wrong. Although, when he started to bring it up closer to his hands, Vin flinched back.

"You know, I really don't want that c-...stuff, on my hands" Vin said, catching himself at the last second before he slipped and insulted Cora's brother. It wasn't that he didn't like Quint-he didn't know anything about him yet, but after having been told what was in that healing liquid that they had made him drink...well.

"Don't be a pussy" Quint said, the purple ring in both his eyes glowing a bit and making Vin get distracted as the half zombie looked him dead on, and then, before the nomad had a chance to argue, squirted a bit of the liquid on both his palms.

"It's just goop, just like what Sabastian makes."

If Sabastian were still holding his wrists, he would be able to feel a huge shiver run through Vin's body before he swallowed hard and said a bit reluctantly, "thanks..."

...

Cora had let herself be pulled forward, though she simply closed her eyes when that warm hand lighted upon her cheek. She didn't say or do anything until Damien asked for help with his back, and then she looked up at him, her eyes dark in the moonlight but still showing just as much concern for the steely eyed man as they always did. It was good, though. She did need something to focus on, to pull her away from that dark place.

She turned her gaze over and across the way, her face vulnerable as she caught her brothers eye. For a long moment, they just seemed to stare at each other, and when Quint all but turned his chin up at her, Cora made a little 'tff' sound from within the back of her throat. Her brows knitted, and then she took Damien by the hand and began to lead him to the back of the car.

As she worked to get some proper supplies out, she couldn't stop her hands from shaking and the occasional renegade tear from falling down her face. When she had everything gathered into an empty bag-clean water, some fresh gauze, a numbing cream that she had grabbed from his cabin before they left, a bowl, and some clean rags, she directed Damien over to another bench that was far enough away from the group that they could have some privacy without being completely out of sight. She had him sit down, and then much like the first time she had treated his back, started with the numbing cream to give him a bit of relief as she prepped it to clean. Of course, it was still going to hurt him badly seeing as it was such a bad burn, but every bit of relief was sure to help.

"Damien..." she started, her fingers trembling against his skin. For a moment, it was like she didn't know what to say, or perhaps simply couldn't find the words. Finally, she just settled on something simple.

"...thank you..."

 

[Poprockz]

Sabastian could indeed feel that shiver going through Vin’s body and despite all that had happened, he couldn’t help but get a little smile on his face. He found the fact that Vin was a bit grossed out to be pretty funny, though he wasn’t going to say anything about it out loud.

“Think of it just like miracle medical gel. Some scientist named Doctor Quintonian Bluefelderon worked in his lab tirelessly for years until he got the exact formula correct.” As he spoke, he reached up and started to run the goop all over Vin’s hands, his own soft fingers delicately spreading it around so that it could deep into all of the damaged tissue. There was a bit of intimacy in the way he did it, as though he was not only trying to apply it, but also to sooth the larger man.

His little narrative also seemed to amuse Sayori, the woman also smiling and letting out the smallest little chuckle. “And why was the mad scientist trying to create such a powerful elixir?”

“That’s a good question... Some say he was trying to find the key to immortality so that he could live forever, and others assumed he was doing it for money and bitches. But the real reason that he created it was...” he leaned in closer to Sayori and gave her a serious look. “So he could give himself the biggest dick on the earth.” With that, he leaned back and gave her a half-grin, turning his gaze to Vin and then Quint to see his reaction.

“Pffft!” The petite woman was filled with mirth, a hand going over her mouth as she hoped it wasn’t noticeable how her cheeks had turned a bit pink. The thought that had first come to mind was that Quint’s dick was plenty big enough, but the second thought was an image of Quint posing like a superhero with a humongous boner sticking out of his costume.

—————————————

He followed her lead, moving with her to the bench. It didn’t slip his notice the look the siblings had exchanged, and it only made his heart ache to see how it had affected Cora. He didn’t resent Quint for not providing the gel, but it still was painful to see how hurt Cora was at being denied help from her only sibling.

“You’re welcome... and I’m sorry.” Damien winced and then relaxed as her hands passed over a particularly tender area with the numbing cream. “I never meant to come in-between you and your brother and I hope as time goes on that maybe someday things will get better. I don’t know if he’ll ever see me as... a decent person, but I don’t want to be the reason you to are at odds, especially with how much I know he means to you.”

His voice had been quiet, wanting to keep the conversation between the two of them. He had never had a sibling, but he imagined that it was like having a best friend who knew you better than anyone. If there was one thing he was grateful for, it was that Cora had always had Quint to support her, to help her through her tough times.

 

[Drobabes]

"Some scientist named Doctor Quintonian Bluefelderon worked in his lab tirelessly for years until he got the exact formula correct."

Quint couldn't help but let out a chuckle, glad to have something to distract him from his anger with his sister. Even if he wasn't angry with her, though, he still would have found that name hilarious, and it felt so much better to laugh now that they were actually free. There was no chains wrapped around his every move; no need to second guess his every spoken word or unconscious motion for fear that someone would twist it. And though Vin didn't outright share in their mirth, he did have his own little smile on his face, largely just do to the fact that Sabastian was touching him.

"So he could give himself the biggest dick on the earth."

Both Vin and Quint let out a laugh at the punchline, the nomad then reaching up with a now sealed hand to gently run the back of his knuckles across Sabastian's cheek. And while Vin was busy with that, Quint was leaning over towards Sayori to get a better look at her face as she laughed, loving that she too was finally able to do it freely.

"But when the experiment was only halfway successful," Quint said, rolling with the little dialogue Sabastian had started as he brought out an extra tentacle and held them both before Sayori.

"The madman had to find a way to please all those thirsty bitches. So he created sex toys that could be wore inside the body, no batteries required."

He then started to vibrate them before her, making that same 'whrr! whrr!' noise that he knew would turn her little 'pfft' into full out giggles. Quint could only keep it up for a few seconds though, as suddenly he was filled with an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy. It was so strong that the tentacles that he had out went to wrap around his middle, along with his arms, as he hugged himself and almost started to giggle himself, his laughter becoming light and boyish. He thought that maybe it was just the freedom catching up to him, but the next thing he knew, something small with tiny purple eyes hit him full on in the chest like a little torpedo and sent him flying backwards off the bench with a little 'oof!'

Unbeknownst to the group, Bowie had gone off into the forest to hunt the moment the car doors had been opened. He hadn't had a chance to eat or drink anything of significance at the last place they had stayed, so when the opportunity had presented itself, it was his top priority. Upon returning and hearing Quint's familiar laugh, however, the snake had slithered with great speed, and then, launched himself full force into the half zombie. Once he had him on the ground, Bowie proceeded to slither and run himself all over Quint's body, like a happy dog who had not seen it's owner in months.

The snakes movements were tickling him like mad, and combined with the fact that he could actually feel the happiness pouring out from the serpent and through their link, Quint was left struggling and laughing like a little kid as his hands, and then finally his tentacles, came out to catch the noodle and bring him up into the moonlight.

"Bowie?!"

The snake bobbed, his mouth opening just slightly in what could only be interpreted as an ecstatic expression, if snakes could be expressive.

"Bowie Bowie! Look at my handsome boy! Jesus, you got huge, and your all muscle again!"
_______________________________________

Cora stopped what she was doing and then she came around to the other side of the bench as she wiped her hands on a rag. She didn't sit down, but she did lean in and take his face between both of her hands gently, lifting it so that his eyes were meeting her own and he could see her expressions as she talked.

"Damien, he is alive. He is alive because you saved him. And as long as he is alive, then I can handle whatever else may come. If we drift apart...even if he ends up hating me, that's fine, because I'll know he's alive and free, and I can live with that."

Her thumbs stroked his cheeks, and though her eyes were still wet with tears, her voice was steady and sure.

"I can live with it because you, Damien Finch, are worth it to me. And I would go through it all again just so that I could meet you, and feel the way you love me, once more."

Cora's eyes softened as she went on, and though she had intended to keep staring into his own with love and affection, she couldn't help but glance up when she heard the group start laughing. Her expression became a bit sour, then, bitter that they could all stand over there and laugh and joke like there wasn't someone sitting here in agonizing pain. Well fuck them then.

 

[Poprockz]

Vin and Quint's reactions to his little joke pleased Sabastian, the blonde looking pretty smug from it until he felt that knuckle on his cheek. A softer look came to him, his gaze meeting Vin's as he enjoyed the feeling of that affectionate gesture. He was super happy that Quint had agreed to give Vin the treatment he needed, as he couldn't imagine how long it would have taken Vin to heal otherwise, those burns looking extremely red and angry before the application of the goop. He wasn't sure why, but he himself was starting to be filled with joy. Though perhaps it was just relief at being able to finally rest and have Vin beside him without worrying about anything else at the moment.

"But when the experiment was only halfway successful. The madman had to find a way to please all those thirsty bitches. So he created sex toys that could be wore inside the body, no batteries required. whrr! whrr!"

She had watched as the other tentacle came out, raising her eyebrow and waiting for him to finish the story. When he mentioned the "thirsty bitches" she almost lost it, another little "pff" coming from her, a playful look in her eye. However, it was only when he made the 'whrr!' noises that she really let loose with a cascade of uncontrollable giggles, the woman imagining him with a wild grey mustache and a lab coat with a suave look and two hot women at his side. It made her eyes squeeze shut, hunching over as her shoulders shook with mirth. Though the next thing she knew, she heard a little "oof!"

The sudden "attack" had made Sayori quickly jump to her feet, tense and ready to help Quint if need be. At first she thought some wild animal had come after him, but she soon recognized the snake as the same one who had restrained Cora. Both Quint and Sabastian had off-handedly mentioned Bowie at one point or another, so she quickly deduced that this must be that same snake. The woman let out a relieved breath and sat back down, smiling as she watched the little noodle wriggling and making Quint himself squirm and make such joyful noises.

Her gaze softened just a bit more, thinking to herself how much she enjoyed the sound of his laugh. If there was something that could cheer her up, it was that boyish laugh of his, the man seemingly unfamiliar with the word 'restraint' when it came to his own joviality. It gave her hope, the fact that no matter what they had all gone through before, there was still a part of Quint that he had nurtured and kept safe from Kuznet- the part of him that could be so honest and unfiltered.

Sayori realized she was staring at him, standing up once again and glancing at Vin and Sabastian before walking around the bench to lean slightly over Quint and the danger noodle. She curiously looked at the snake, noticing that he had beautiful eyes, almost as beautiful as Quint's. It was curious; she had never seen a snake of that size so close, usually only seeing garter snakes every once in a while, their little bodies quickly wiggling under bushes.

"Handsome indeed." With a closer look having been attained and not wanting to interrupt their reunion, she turned and started to meander nearby, looking up to the beautiful star-lit sky. There was a world of difference between looking at something through a window versus standing under the expansive blanket of darkness and twinkling lights.

Sabastian chuckled for a moment at their antics, though he soon took the opportunity to turn his face and reach up, taking that hand in his and pulling it to his mouth. He kissed each of his knuckles, but mixed it up on the last one by parting his lips ever-so-slightly and giving him the most inconspicuous lick. Afterward, Sabastian simply pretended like nothing had happened, his eyes sliding innocently away from Vin while his cheeks became slightly pink.

-------------------------------------------------

"Damien, he is alive. He is alive because you saved him. And as long as he is alive, then I can handle whatever else may come. If we drift apart...even if he ends up hating me, that's fine, because I'll know he's alive and free, and I can live with that. I can live with it because you, Damien Finch, are worth it to me. And I would go through it all again just so that I could meet you, and feel the way you love me, once more."

To feel the way she held him, and see the way she looked at him, that combined with her voice and what she was saying made him want to choke up, the man swallowing back his tears and giving her a nod. It made his heart swell with gratitude that she felt so strongly about him that if given the chance, she wouldn't have done it differently. It made him feel loved, and part of him wondered if she knew how much her words meant to him, how much she meant to him.

He was about to say something when he looked up and saw the sour look on her face, his face lowering and the man pursing his lips. They were over there laughing while Cora was over here with him, having to treat his wounds as he couldn't do it himself. All of them were her friends, but they felt so distant in that moment in time. It twisted him up inside that he was the only reason they weren't all gathered around, celebrating their escape while laughing and joking, enjoying each other's company as though they didn't have a care in the world tonight.

Maybe it wasn't just in regards to Cora that it hurt, maybe he too felt a bit torn up. He had tried so hard to be a better person, and yet it didn't feel like he would ever truly be able to call anyone his friend. Damien knew deep down that he desperately wanted to feel accepted, and that the only reason he denied it was that it simply hurt too much. Why desire something if it was never going to come to fruition, all it did was give him false hope. There was no way to go back and change what he had done, and God he wished he could have. There was no price he could pay in money, pounds of his own flesh, or pain that would assuage his own guilt and the disgust and hatred with which people would regard him.

Cora was different though- she was the one who had not averted her gaze. She had stayed with him, taught him to be better, and showed him that life wasn't futile.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him for a moment and hugged her snugly. The man's head rested against her stomach as he simply took a moment to ground himself again, knowing that at the moment he felt a bit fragile. When at last he released her, he looked up with immeasurable love in his eyes. "Every day, I feel like you find a missing piece of me and put it back into place. Even on days when I feel like it's not worth trying to be any more than just alive, you make me feel like it's all worth it, like it has meaning."

He paused and looked down for a moment as though he was debating on saying more, eventually looking back up with a more vulnerable expression. "I sometimes like to pretend that I don't care what other people think, but I... I do, and it's only with your support that I feel like I can get back up and keep trying to improve because it's your opinion I hold the dearest. I don't want you to feel sorry for me, but I just wanted you to know that your faith in me makes me feel like I have the strength to face the consequences of what I've done and try to do better."

 

[Drobabes]

That sneaky little devil. Vin looked down at him with a smile, and although he wasn't exactly in the mood to really go at it in that moment-being absolutely exhausted, physically and mentally, he was still affected by that little tongue having sneaked out for a taste. Not to mention being able to feel that warm blush on his cheeks as he ran a calloused hand over his soft skin and through his hair, before gently pulling him into a hug. Standing there together, Sabastian would be able to feel how hard he had made the nomad, especially when Vin subtly shifted to press himself against his soft little body.

"I think it's time we get some sleep" he rumbled, dipping his head down near Sabastian's ear so that he could feel his hot breath on his skin.

Quint was none the wiser to their shenanigans, although he did feel a sudden tingle go down his spine and he didn't altogether like it very much. After having given Sayori a huge grin when she came over to see Bowie, he decided it was probably time to get up and dust himself off.

Bowie slithered up over his shoulders and onto his head-just like he always did, which made the tall zombie boy very happy that the old serpent still had his personality quirks, and then he looked over and saw Sayori.

A very bittersweet feeling came to him; one that was difficult to explain. He was overjoyed to have her out of Kuznet's reach, and while he still considered her a friend, now that they were free, would that continue to be the case? After what had happened with the egg incident, he couldn't help but feel a bit scared that she might come to resent him, now that she had time to process everything, and then choose to go her own way. Of course, he wanted her to go her own way-to be free and be able to live her life how she wanted while still being safe, but suddenly, he found himself really wanting to be a part of her life. Though they hadn't known each other very long, he had grown very attached to her, and the thought of her someday leaving really fucking stung.

Clearing his throat a bit, he walks over to her side and crosses his arms, trying to warm himself as he looks up at the stars with her. After a moment of silence, he just smiles and says,

"They're beautiful. I haven't had a chance to see them them yet, with these eyes. Or maybe I was just taking them for granted before."
________________________________

When she felt those arms wrap around her waist she averted her eyes from the group and looked down at him with a sad little smile, her hands coming up to run her fingers through his hair in a comforting manner. While she wished that the circumstances were different, Cora didn't think she would ever grow tired of him hanging onto her like this. It was such a basic physical comfort, and while she didn't necessarily need it from him, it helped her a lot to feel like she was helping in some way, and like she was needed.

"Even on days when I feel like it's not worth trying to be any more than just alive, you make me feel like it's all worth it, like it has meaning."

Cora felt similarly, but perhaps for a different reason. She knew life had meaning; perhaps not any obvious meaning, but the meaning that they decided to give it. And perhaps there in lied her problem for so long-that she had been seeking, without realizing, her own meaning. Her own connection. It could have been argued that the love of her brother and Sarah was her meaning, her something for living, but she had always had a bit of a nagging thought in the back of her mind that she was just a burden for them. They could have moved on and started their own family if they didn't need to take care of her. A ridiculous thought, really, but one that she couldn't help but have from time to time; and because she wouldn't voice it, it only continued to eat away at her, along with everything else.

"I sometimes like to pretend that I don't care what other people think, but I... I do..."

Her hazel eyes looked deeply into his own, taking in the truth and the pain behind his words. In a way, it made her feel a bit good to hear that he did care what other people thought. It was a step closer to normalcy, and a step farther away from that dark place he had been where nothing mattered, so why even bother?

"You are doing better baby" she said quietly before giving him a sad smile.

"Every day I see you changing so much..."

She reached a hand up and pushed his hair back gently, her fingers daintily dancing around the gash on his skin so as not to harm it. As she did this, her eyes roamed over his face, as if searching for something. After a moment more, she spoke quietly again.

"Or maybe not changing, but just finally becoming the person that you wanted to be."

When her eyes met his again, she gave him a more genuine smile, knowing that it was partly true for her as well. She hadn't realized how much she had wanted to be...well, anything, other than numb, before she had met him. Now it felt like there were endless possibilities, and even with the threat of Ray and the dangers of their new world, she realized that she still wanted to try to be something, and it was along this line of thinking that led her to a very sobering thought.

They needed to start over. And not in the way in which she had thought about it simply before, but really start over. Just her and him. Because she knew that as much as she loved her friends and her brother, they would never truly be able to forgive Damien for what he had done, and would likely never be able to allow him to grow; to give him a chance to lead a better life. And she couldn't blame them for that, but she had drawn her line in the sand.

Moving her hands down from his soft hair, she gives his arms a little squeeze and starts to move away.

"Let me dump that bowl and get some clean water and some more pain meds. I know it has to be hurting bad by now."

With that, she moved off the bench and went to the car and grabbed some supplies. Along with another few pills, she grabbed an apple, a knife, some peanut butter, and a pillow for them both to rest on. She knew if he didn't eat something while taking all those pills it would likely hurt his stomach, and she also assumed that he might not have eaten much, if at all, over the past few days, and the pillow would keep him from having to move.

When she came back to the table, she handed him the supplies while she got fresh water and another rag ready. She thought it might do him some good to have a task to focus on while she finished cleaning his back, and when she was done, she wetted the rag and laid it very carefully over the whole wound. With the knight having cooled down considerable, she thought it might feel nice to have that rag be cooled by the breeze every so often. When she was done, she sat down next to him and laid down against the bench, her arm resting under her head as she looked at him with an almost unreadable expression. After a moment, she whispered,

"Will you sing with me? Ray wouldn't let me sing at all, and I...I missed you so much..."

She couldn't help but shed a few more tears, the culmination of everything simply piling up on her again and reminding her once more of how relieved and thankful she was to have him by her side again.

 

[Poprockz]

Indeed, Sabastian felt pleased that such a simple gesture had coaxed such a strong response, though it was entirely possible that Vin had been hard for a while now. Whatever the case was, he felt safe and warm in those arms of his, a tingle going down his own spine as that breath tickled his ear. It didn't even occur to him that Quint would be able to feel it, his mind completely on Vin at the moment.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Sabastian sighed and looked up with his chin on the man's chest, wondering to himself how Vin managed to stay sane while rocking a boner a lot of the time. It seemed like he was perfectly fine without getting any relief, yet Sabastian couldn't imagine just letting his own erections work themselves out; he had always needed to work them out to feel better or it would bother him, tantalizing him until he gave in and stroked out his own pleasure.

They went back to one of the rooms that he assumed was an office, having grabbed a sleeping bag from the car beforehand. When they were getting it, he had glanced over at Cora and Damien, wondering what the fuck they were all going to do in the morning. He was still pissed about it all, and he wasn't sure how to work it out in his head. In any case, he thought to himself that one of them would probably have to stay up and keep an eye out in case Kuznet's men showed up, or a zombie hoard approached. Not to mention... the new information about Damien himself.

"Hey," he said, inspecting one of the maps on the wall. "Do you mind if I get up a little bit later and keep a look out? I'd love to lay with you until you fall asleep, but afterwards someone's gotta make sure we don't get a bite taken out of our asses. When it's been a while, I'd grab Quint and make him the watcher and then I'd come back here to sneak back into the sleeping bag." Sabastian glanced up at Vin and then shrugged and looked away. "I just wanted to run it by you so you didn't think I just split, you know?"

His mis-matched eyes returned to Vin and he gave him an apologetic look, "I don't want to make you worry."

---------------------------------------------------

Sayori had seen the movement out of the corner of her eye, but didn't slightly turn her face to look at Quint until he spoke. His eyes seemed to glow slightly in the dark, like a swirl of galaxy purple around a deep blue. It almost looked like he had the night sky in his eyes, or perhaps a romanticized version of it. Would one get lost in them if they looked too long?

"They are beautiful..." she murmured in agreement, her eyes then returning to the stars. After seeing his breathtaking eyes in the dim light of the night, the stars themselves seemed to have lost a bit of their sparkle. Maybe she was feeling a bit sentimental, having almost lost him in the fire that had consumed the shed. Had he perished, she wasn't sure what she would have done with her newfound freedom. Technically she was still uncertain, but in that case she would have been utterly devastated.

"You know, I always had a pretty sheltered life. I did well in school, played the violin, had good friends. My parents were well off enough to co-sign a loan for me when I wanted to put down a down-payment that I had saved up for my Karaoke bar. I never knew... how difficult life could be. I have reached a place that I don't recognize, and I'm not sure how to move forward..." Sayori reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, letting her train of thought drift for a moment before continuing on. "Everything... is different now. I feel so small under such an expansive sky." She quietly rubbed her own arms to warm them up; though there were no tears, there was a somber tone to her quiet voice.

"Quint... I need a favor from you, but you would have to promise keep it between us." Her eyes didn't meet his yet, but she got a bit of a worried look on her face. Near her stomach, her fingers started fiddling with each other, occasionally rubbing the smoothness of her nail polish.

------------------------------------------------------

"You are doing better baby. Every day I see you changing so much..."

Her hand felt so nice in his hair, that comforting warmth bringing a small smile to his face despite the sadness in hers. He wondered if she was sad for him, or whether it was the fact that he needed to change at all. To change for her seemed to be a small price to pay for the way those hazel eyes regarded him with such love.

"Or maybe not changing, but just finally becoming the person that you wanted to be."

That made him feel a bit proud, though a bit surprised also. He hadn't ever thought about it like that, but in a way she was right. His mother had never really "raised" him to be his own person, never really instilled any real values in him, and neither had his father. Well, not any good values anyway. Perhaps Cora was right when she said that he was basically growing into who he should have been had he been allowed when he was growing up in that manor.

Her smile was returned and he nodded as she went off to get more supplies. If he was being honest, his back hurt very badly. The numbing cream helped a bit, but it was the type of injury that would probably have resulted in several layers of his skin being scraped off, he imagined (at least from watching an episode about sunburns once on a medical show he happened to see). It was easier to keep himself from being too vocal about it, but he couldn't hide the way his body was sweating slightly from how it ached and burned, his shoulders twitching slightly every now and then. He knew Cora was being gentle when she cleaned it, but no amount of delicacy could save him from the sting he felt from her movements, even as he was distracted by slicing and eating the apple in front of him.

When she was done with tending to the injury and laid the cold towel on it, he flinched and tensed his shoulders, the shock of the cold being a bit much for a second before the relief set in and his shoulders came back into a relaxed position. It would become a bit of a problem if the injury impacted his ability to protect her, but hopefully with her attentive care it would at least be manageable.

"Will you sing with me? Ray wouldn't let me sing at all, and I...I missed you so much..."

His look was a bit sad as he heard that from her. Why the bastard felt the need to drown out every solace that she had, he would never know. Even his own mother, twisted as she was, had never taken away music as a method of coping with his own circumstances. To think that her voice had been stifled while growing up and even now when she had been in his clutches, it filled him with sorrow. He knew his own life had been harsh, but every time he heard more about hers, it just added to the pile of horrific things that demon had done to her and it made him want to wrap her up in his arms and never let her out of his sight again.

One couldn't live that way though, clutching onto the things one loved to the point that it crushed them. All he could do was hope that he was enough and that his words and actions of love let her know that he was truly grateful to have her and that his heart would forever overflow with affection for her. He had also missed her, pining for her as he wandered about the military base like a puppy abandoned on the side of the road. To see her again was to know true joy, but to have lost her had also been true despair.

Damien was quiet for a moment before he started to sing. As always, his voice wasn't anything to write home about, but it was charming in its own way, unrefined and heartfelt as it was. There was no need to impress, simply a need to connect and to give them a bit of an outlet. He took the knife for the apple and tapped it on the bench, making a rhythm to match his wistfully sad words.

"We'll do it all... Everything, on our own. We don't need... Anything, or anyone. If I lay here. If I just lay here... Would you lie with me and just forget the world?" His eyes looked into hers as though he was almost asking the question, waiting for her to join into the song herself.

 

[Drobabes]

When Sabastian had looked over at Damien and Cora, he had gotten a sober look on his face and turned back to their task, taking the sleeping bag as a distraction. He wasn't aware of what Cora's brother had taken her out into the woods to talk about, but it was obvious that he knew as well, and Vin could only imagine that over the coming days, possibly everyone in their group except for himself and Cora would have it in for the man. He didn't like it, but he knew he was going to have to talk to the tall women in the morning, and then tell Damien it was time to go. For him to stick around with them would simply be too dangerous for the steely eyed man, in his own opinion.

Once they were inside the building, Vin spent a minute just walking around and using the light from his lighter to check for bugs. Though he wasn't really scared of them, per-say, it was still a very unpleasant experience to wake up with one crawling up your chest, or down your leg, and he wanted to find a spot that they likely wouldn't want to come near while they both slept.

He turned his head towards him at that 'hey', briefly trying to see what Sabastian was looking at in the dark. It looked like a map of some kind, but his eyes just couldn't see in that dim light like the half zombies could.

"I just wanted to run it by you so you didn't think I just split, you know?...I don't want to make you worry."

Well, he wasn't exactly wrong. Even now, though he hoped Sabastian had no reason to run away again, he had still gotten a shot of fear down his spine and had considered telling him no. However, he could hear the guilt in the little man's voice, and it did help to assuage his own anxiety a bit as he came over to him. Finding him in the moonlight, he reached up to cup his cheek as Vin himself let out a little sigh before answering.

"Yea, that'll be alright. I think we do need to talk though, Bastian. Not tonight, but soon. There's some things that...I want to clear up with you, before we go too much further."

Despite the nasty words Sabastian had spit in his note, the thing that kept coming back to Delvin's mind was the hate that the little man seemed to have around his own body. And while the fear of his strength and the abilities themselves were rightly justified, it really didn't sit right with him that those things were twisting into something poisonous inside his lover's soul. He had to make it clear to him that he meant it when he said he didn't find him disgusting, but he would need to explain it further than that. Much like compliments, people had a hard time seeing the reality behind the words if there was no proof to back it up for them.
_______________________________________

Bowie slithered down from the mans head and worked his way inside the collar of his shirt, finding the night air to be a bit too nippy for him now. Moving along Quint's back, he wrapped his strong body around the mans torso and then proceeded to pop his little head out from underneath the bottom of his shirt. The little snake was expecting to get a laugh or a giggle, as the precious singing one always found his antics amusing. What he saw instead, though, was the new soft one staring at his precious in a way that made the snake flick his tongue out slowly, and curiously.

"You know, I always had a pretty sheltered life."

Quint looked down at her, the ghost of a relaxed smile still on his face as he listened to what she had to say.

"I never knew... how difficult life could be. I have reached a place that I don't recognize, and I'm not sure how to move forward..."

That smile was soon replaced with a frown, and a concerned look. She was right, everything was different now. And Quint himself had had just as little time to process it all as she had. There was one thing he knew for sure, though-he wasn't going to let her face this new world alone. Kuznet had almost broke her with his sick games, and though it wasn't his job to put her back together, he wanted to. He himself had come closer to breaking in those cells than he ever had before, and it was only because of Sayori, reminding him not to give in, not to give up, that he hadn't fallen down into the dark depths.

"Quint... I need a favor from you, but you would have to promise keep it between us."

There was absolutely no hesitation in his voice when he looked down at her and answered.

"You don't even have to ask, Sayori. Just tell me what it is and I'll do it, and when I'm done, not even Ray will be able to pull it out of me."

He ended on a little grin, though he understood that whatever was wrong was very serious.
___________________________________

Though it was true that he probably wouldn't have hit any top billboards had he ever pursued a career in singing, to Cora at least, his voice was perfect. It was rich and sweet, like molasses, and when it washed over her so gently, she couldn't help but melt into it, and hang onto every word in the hopes that more would come.

"If I just lay here... Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

Her lips turned up into a little smile, her wet eyes meeting those dark depths of comfort as she quietly bared her soul.

"I don't, quite, know...how to say, how I feel...

Those three words, are said too much...they're not enough..."

Her eyes had traveled down to the bench for a brief second, her voice becoming a bit choked until she swallowed and brought her gaze back up to his. Reaching for his hand, she took it and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

 

[Poprockz]

The quietness after his question made Sabastian think to himself that Vin might actually say that he wanted him to stay in bed the whole night. While Vin had difficulty seeing in the dimness, Sabastian could see the worry in the other man's brows as he walked over. If that was what he wanted, he wouldn't fight him on it, but he would at least want to let Quint know that he wanted him to do it at least for part of the night.

"Yea, that'll be alright."

That surprised him, the blonde having expected for Vin to simply veto the idea of him keeping watch. It was a testament to the fact that Vin still had a little trust that remained within him after what Sabastian had put him through. Or perhaps it wasn't trust per se, but a recognition that Sabastian was being honest when he said that he truly loved the long-haired nomad.

"I think we do need to talk though, Bastian. Not tonight, but soon. There's some things that...I want to clear up with you, before we go too much further."

"That's fair..." He said softly, leaning his face against that warm bear paw of his. It scared him, the unknown things that Vin might need to address, the answers that might be asked from him. But he knew it was worth it to have an honest discussion, and he wanted Vin to know how he felt and how much he cared.

"I actually have something I need to show you tonight though." Backing away from Vin, he took off his military jacket and then his tan shirt, setting them in a little pile near the sleeping bag before walking over to the window. Raising the blinds, he let in the moonlight to allow Vin to see him better before making eye-contact. He was nervous, but it was something he wanted to get out of the way sooner rather than later; to be in the heat of the moment, Vin's mouth on his body, he didn't want Vin to accidentally stumble upon his back when they were supposed to be having a moment of passion.

After a moment of hesitation, Sabastian turned around and looked over his shoulder. The demon wing that was carved into half of his back stood out, the pattern easy to discern even with the light they had. The knife-wounds were raised, seeing as he hadn't had any gel but his own to seal things off, but at the very least they had closed up and hadn't gotten infected. There were bruises on his back as well from when Niles had beat the shit out of him, but that wasn't what he was trying to display at the moment. The bruises would heal and fade into nothingness- the scar would not.

"This... is the souvenir that I got at the giftshop on the way out of Kuznet's dungeon. I haven't actually looked at it myself yet, but I'm told it's a wing. It's silly but.. I think I've been a bit scared to look at it, you know?" He was trying to be light-hearted, but he couldn't help his nerves showing a bit in his voice.

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"You don't even have to ask, Sayori. Just tell me what it is and I'll do it, and when I'm done, not even Ray will be able to pull it out of me."

The mention of the General made her purse her lips for a moment before nodding, "I'm not sure he would have to, as he would likely already suspect." She knew that was very vague, so she sighed and looked over to him, a very vulnerable look in her eye as she started to explain.

"When we were back at the house, the General gave me a bath in the morning and then proceeded to... use me." Her eyes flicked away from Quint, unable to hold his gaze as she continued. "He pretended, fooled me into thinking that he hadn't finished, then let me get up. He was being unusually kind that morning, and I was foolish enough to think that maybe there wasn't an ulterior motive. It would seem as though it was all a set-up to tell me that he wanted me to have his child, so we wouldn't be using any contraceptives then or any time in the future."

It was only then that Sayori turned to him again, though this time there was more fear in her eyes than anything else. "I started feeling nauseous this afternoon, but I don't know whether it's my anxiety about the situation tricking me into false symptoms, or whether I'm actually..." Her throat moved as she swallowed hard, the Kuznet's pearl necklace still wrapped around her throat moving ever-so-slightly. "Pregnant."

--------------------------------------------------------

Though his own voice wasn't star-quality, he felt that hers was. That beautiful, sweet voice of hers was like lemonade on a hot day, something that perfectly satisfied his ears and his heart in tandem. Even when it broke with emotion, he couldn't help but have a little smile on his face, his eyes going to his hand in hers as she squeezed it.

The song was very true- the words "I love you" didn't seem to do any justice to the way he felt about her. She was his life, his inspiration, and his rock, while also being a feeling that he couldn't even begin to describe. It was something he would never have imagined in his life until experiencing it for himself, and since he found it he didn't think he would ever find anything like it ever again unless Cora was the one by his side.

"Forget what we're told, before we get too old. Show me a garden that's bursting into life!" When he sang the word "bursting" he had taken the smallest bit of peanut butter on his thumb and smudged it on her nose, his eyes a bit playful while still retaining a somewhat serious tone. The hope was that she would find that little gesture more endearing than annoying, reminding her of the time when he had smeared frosting on her nose in the car. Things had been difficult and dark from the beginning, but there were always times where such a simple tease would make her smile, if only a little.

"Let's waste time, chasing cars... Around our heads. I need your grace, to remind me... To find my own." It was his turn to tear up a bit, the man blinking away the moisture and continuing, that same small smile on his lips. It was almost funny how such simple lyrics could convey so much. As the song said, it was only by her grace that he was able to find some within himself. To see the world through her eyes, to be retaught that what his heart felt was right, that was just one of the many gifts she had given him.

"If I lay here. If I just lay here... Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

 

[Drobabes]

"I actually have something I need to show you tonight though."

He didn't know what it was he wanted to show him, so he was simply watched with curiosity as he started to strip. If it wasn't for the fact that Vin could hear the nervousness in his tone, his boner might have came back up for some fresh air. As it were, though, he was just slightly worried about what could be wrong and hoped it wasn't his new body doing something strange to the little blond.

"This... is the souvenir that I got at the giftshop on the way out of Kuznet's dungeon."

For a moment he stood rooted to the spot, staring at Sabastian's back. Not because he was struggling to see in the dark, but because the bright moonlight made it all too easy for him to see the contrast on that pale, smooth skin, and show just how reaching each cut and slice had been-even coming so close as to cut near his spine.

When he finally did move, it was on slow feet, with a hand outstretched and shaking until the tips of his fingers lighted upon his skin, and his trembling would be felt on Sabastian's back.

"He did this to you?" he whispered, his tone almost too shocked to be angry. Yet.

"Cut you like this?"

The pain of the burns on his hand were forgotten; his fingers running down with a feather-light touch until they reached the bottom, just above his jeans. It went so far, covering almost the whole half of his back, and so intricate that Delvin knew he had likely taken his time and no doubt enjoyed himself. What had he done to Sabastian?! To get him to lay still long enough to cut him in such precise patterns?! Had he...had he done other things to him as well?...

The hand that was on his back suddenly pulls away and forms into a fist, and in the next second Vin's knuckles collided so hard with the tile of the wall next to Sabastian's head that a little crack was left in the stone where his more prominent knuckle had made contact. The smell of fresh blood would soon follow, though Vin himself was none the wiser to it. The anger that was filling him in that moment was far, far greater than the hatred he had felt towards Damien.

"He's not going to get away with this" he said quietly...coldly.

"Not this."
_______________________________________________________

"I'm not sure he would have to, as he would likely already suspect."

Though Quint didn't turn away from her, he heard the giggles coming from his sister and it distracted him just a bit as he felt a flare of anger for that rapist. How could he make her laugh? Why was she allowing him to make her laugh?

"When we were back at the house, the General gave me a bath in the morning and then proceeded to... use me."

He tried to keep his cool, knowing that this was hard for her to talk about, but he couldn't help the way in which his hands flexed over his biceps and his body became stiffer. Though he wouldn't let himself be so stupid as to get cocky, there was no doubt that Quint was starting to feel confident once more. The only reason Ray had been able to snag him before was because he had been absolutely desperate and purposefully put his defenses on hold. Now, though, there was no reason for him not to pursue the evil bastard with as much ruthlessness as he had been doing previously. And now that there wasn't the threat of any organization rats in the FBI, or any other such parties, that could give away him or Francisco, there was no longer a need to hold back. He could go after who he wanted to, if they were still alive, and slowly start whittling away his chess pieces.

"I started feeling nauseous this afternoon, but I don't know whether it's my anxiety about the situation tricking me into false symptoms, or whether I'm actually...Pregnant."

The news was sickening, but not shocking. After all, how many times had Ray referred to her as livestock while it was just the two of them? More times than he could count on both his hands, and no doubt done with the sole intention of pissing him off. Still, it was a terrifying possibility, and one that he instantly saw as causing her a great deal of stress, even if it had only happened one time before they escaped. Watching the way that her beautiful doe eyes got so wide with fear, and the way that condescending piece of jewelry bobbed in the moonlight as she swallowed hurt him badly and only further drove in the need to protect her from that awful fate. Reaching out for her, he took her in his arms and pulled her into a cool hug, his lips coming down to kiss the top of her head and his hands wrapped up her shoulders.

"You don't get morning sickness that fast, Sayori" he said, not to invalidate her, but rather, to confirm that it was her anxiety making her sick.

"But tomorrow I'll take us to a shopping center or a mall, and we'll find you a pregnancy test, ok? We'll grab a few so that you can use one in a few weeks and make sure it's not a false reading. I'll make sure that no one knows what we're really doing, and if it comes back...positive, then I'll...help you..."

He swallowed hard and pulled her head against his chest a bit, holding her just a bit tighter for a moment. What he was about to say next was going to be very difficult for him, because it was something that, had the circumstances been different, he would not have condoned, and even may have tried to talk her out of it.

"I'll..." he swallowed hard again, and though he squeeze hard, his fingers in her hair gave just the slightest little tug.

"I'll take it out...like I did the eggs..."

Quint didn't want to do that. He understand the arguments on both sides, but he himself just couldn't fathom harming something that would one day become a life; another human being. However, he had had, a certain talk, with his sister, long ago. It was the one and only thing that she had ever wanted in this life, and yet, even she admitted that had Ray never done such an awful thing to her, and he himself had gotten her pregnant, she wouldn't have been able to care for that child. Not in the way that it was needed the most. She would never have been able to look at it and not see the face of her abuser, and it was for this reason that Quint was willing to set his morals aside for Sayori though he could only pray that he wouldn't have to actually make that choice.
_________________________________________

That little boop of his finger, combined with how he had sang that particular word, made her erupt into giggles, and for a brief moment, let go of his hand so that she could wipe it off. It was indeed endearing, how he could take such a somber moment and remind her how to be happy; how to laugh. Quint had always done that for her while they were growing up, but perhaps because he was her brother, more often than not she just found it frustrating because she didn't want to smile. She didn't want to laugh, and she just wanted to feel what she was feeling without being interrupted. Damien on the other hand, however, seemed to be able to read her better and know when it was best to simply let her be-like how he hadn't tried to move her hair aside earlier, and force her from her safe place until she was ready.

Her giggles were brief, dieing down into a soft look once more as he continued. When it was her turn, she reached for him again, letting her fingers feel the scruffiness on his cheek and not minding it one bit.

"Forget what we're told, before we get too old, show me a garden that's bursting into life.

All that I am, all that I ever was...is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see."

Her lips turned up into a sweet smile before she continued, her eyes staring deeply into his own. She felt like, if she just didn't look away too soon, he would reflect back to her a part of herself that she wanted to love.

"I don't know where, confused about how as well...just know that these things will never change for us at all.

If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?...if I lay here," she began to finish quietly, her voice trailing off into a softer and softer whisper.

"If I just lay here...would you lie with me? And just forget the world?"

 

[Poprockz]

There was silence, the blonde waiting for Vin to say something, anything. He knew it would be a bit surprising, but he hadn't thought that Vin would be so utterly shocked by it. Was it really so extensive that it even gave Vin the willies? He had been about to turn around so that he could see the other man's expression when he heard the footsteps and felt that trembling hand upon his skin. The fact that the man was shaking clued him in that Vin was beyond shocked, he was probably mortified.

"He did this to you? Cut you like this?"

"Yeah... He was testing the connection between Quint and I..." That was all he said for now, the man getting the feeling that Vin might have more to say. Sabastian hadn't thought about it before, but perhaps the reason he had been further drugged during Kuznet's cutting session was not so that he didn't have a chance to fight back, but more because Kuznet had wanted a still canvas free from movement. It made sense considering that the General probably found him more useful with the full use of his limbs rather than a man paralyzed for life from a cut to the spine.

When suddenly Vin's fist made contact with the tile over his shoulder, Sabastian jumped from the suddenness of it, his eyes wide as he turned around and tried to see what exactly was going on. The look on Vin's face told him that he was beyond rage into a place where it simply settled into cold loathing. The explosiveness was probably just a symptom of his rage boiling over before settling into a simmer. He could understand- the cut certainly wasn't anything to be taken lightly, but he felt a bit bad that Vin was so upset on his behalf.

"He's not going to get away with this... Not this."

"He won't. That motherfucker is going to get what's coming to him one of these days." The sentence was spoken with assuredness, though it could have simply been Sabastian's wishful thinking. What the nomad didn't know though was that Sabastian knew that there was a man on the inside slowly unraveling Kuznet's web of lies and extortion, and that someday he would be able to bring the big man down once and for all. Francisco, the rebels, Quint... It was all a connection based on a mutual hatred for Kuznet, or at least a recognition of the man's madness and cruelty. He had to be stopped, and he would be in time.

For now, there was no use in punching the office wall, the blonde getting a whiff of the blood coming from the man's knuckles. Reaching out, he gently took Vin's hand from the wall and pulled it toward himself, looking at the debris and bits of tile stuck in his knuckle before starting to pick the little pieces out. "The pain is gone, and I'm out of that place. Maybe we'll get a chance to sock it to him where it hurts in the future, but for now I just want to be reminded of how nice it is to lay next to you, to have you eat my mushrooms for me, and to hear the way you sing so handsomely. I appreciate that you care about me, but don't hurt yourself."

Now that all the pieces were picked out, a tentacle came out and he put just a bit of his goop on one of his fingers, rubbing it on the man's knuckles before kissing the back of his hand. His sapphire and amethyst eyes looked up through his eyelashes at him as he added, "I want to keep you to myself for a very long time, so I want to keep you in one piece."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

A hug was just what she had needed, the woman letting herself be pulled against his body as his arms wrapped around her back. She wouldn't usually initiate such contact, seeing as though the guilt for what she had done to him still lingered strongly within her, but since he had done it first she was able to let herself simply take comfort in the gesture. Sayori closed her eyes and buried her face against his chest as those cool lips pressed down with such affectionate pressure. Her own arms went around his torso and she held onto him snugly, as though he was her only buoy in a storm.

"You don't get morning sickness that fast, Sayori.... but tomorrow I'll take us to a shopping center or a mall, and we'll find you a pregnancy test, ok? We'll grab a few so that you can use one in a few weeks and make sure it's not a false reading. I'll make sure that no one knows what we're really doing, and if it comes back...positive, then I'll...help you..."

She could only nod as he spoke, her words seemingly caught in her throat. His reassurance that she wouldn't have felt sick so early was comforting, the woman feeling a bit better about things, even more so wen he started to talk about getting some pregnancy tests. It was good to know that whatever the case might end up being, Quint would be there to support her through it. Sayori had thought before that maybe Quint had been nice to her after their egg-romp out of a sense of duty or obligation, but she could tell from his tone of voice and body language that he did truly care about her regardless of his feelings about what had happened. That in of itself lifted such a large weight off her shoulders that she couldn't help but squeeze him tighter when his own arms pulled her even more snugly against his chest.

I'll... I'll take it out...like I did the eggs..."

That sentence made her freeze for a moment, the woman then starting to cry from the implications. She too didn't want to have anything to do with ending a life, especially one that had no choice in the matter. But that being said, she would be lying if she said she could love a child without resentment if it resembled Kuznet even slightly. To be reminded every day of the heinous things he had done to her would be a torture all on its own, but she would feel most bad for the child itself. What kind of life would it be to have one's own mother regard oneself with such bitterness in her eyes? That wasn't the kind of life she wanted to give to anyone.

In addition, it simply wasn't safe to have a baby with them at this point, especially since they would be on the move. It was possible that she wouldn't always have Quint to protect her, so a baby could truly put her and others in danger in the future. One bout of colic and a zombie horde would be alerted to their presence.

Even with all of that justification, it hurt her deeply to think of doing such a thing, not having ever wanted to have to take a life into her own hands like this.

"I... I don't want things to end like that, but I can't think of any better option. I can't... I couldn't... They would always..." She shook her head and wiped her face against his shirt and sniffled. "I'm just going to pray with all I have that the tests are negative."

--------------------------------------------------------------

"If I just lay here...would you lie with me? And just forget the world?"

His own soft whisper joined her on that last line, their two hushed voices intimately intertwining as though that last sentence was the most meaningful of the song. While the song itself was chalk-ful of meaning on its own, it was also the interactions they had that made it meaningful. When she looked deeply into his eyes, it conveyed such deep affection, her hand on his cheek making her tenderness known to him. The act of singing with one another and not caring how it sounded or whether they stayed on rhythm, it was cathartic and it made him feel closer to her than ever.

When the song was over, he simply sat with her for a bit without moving or saying anything. They didn't really need to at the moment, as everything that had needed to be said in the moment had already been sung. Now there was just a comfortable silence between them, wrapping them up like a warm blanket and giving them that sense of connectedness.

A cool breeze blew by, ruffling their hair just a little before moving on through the night. Damien imagined that it was going to be a long day tomorrow, but it would be manageable as long as Cora was there by his side. Part of him whispered not to trust it, not to be lulled into a sense of security with her, but he pushed that to the side. If he was a fool for trusting her to stay with him, then he would gladly play the part of the fool. He was tired of constantly trying to protect himself, to shield himself from pain and criticism. While playing things down or pushing them away was basically a reflex at this point, he wanted to hold onto Cora tightly and never let her go. She was worth the risk of heartbreak if it meant that his heart would be full and complete for even a moment.

After simply letting the night settle, Damien ran his fingers through his hair and looked up at the stars. "I'm not sure what's going to happen in the coming days, but I know that whatever it is won't stand a chance between the two of us." His face turned toward her with a half-smile, those steely eyes having a bit of determination in them.

 

[Drobabes]

Just like back at the auto shop, Sabastian had a power over Vin that he couldn't even begin to understand. His touch and his voice were like a cool drink of water, putting out the fire within him. A fire that was born of anger and hate, but also pain. That old familiar feeling of having no control; of being unable to stop the awful shit that just seemed to keep happening.

"I want to keep you to myself for a very long time, so I want to keep you in one piece."

He took the hand that was already holding his and brought it up to his lips, returning that tender kiss as he closed his eyes and let out a sigh. When he opened them again, he looked deeply into those jeweled eyes and brought Sabastian's hand up to his face, holding it gently against his short scruff.

"I hope you know how much you mean to me Bastian. I know I'm not a hero, but if I could, I would do anything to keep you safe."

He let out another little sigh and then kissed his hand once more before he started to lead them over to their sleeping bag. There wasn't anything more to be said tonight, and much like his little lover, he just needed the comfort of his body against his chest. Vin needed to feel his warmth and softness, and be reminded once more that things were going to be okay.
____________________________________

"I... I don't want things to end like that...I can't... I couldn't..."

"I know sweety, I know..."

His hand on her back rubbed her gently as he felt her tears wet his shirt. The man was on the verge of tears himself, but he wanted to be her pillar right now.

After a moment more of holding her, he gently pulls back and gives her a smile as his hands reach behind her. She would be able to feel the coolness of his fingers on the back of her neck, and just a second after, he would bring them in front of her to show her the pearl necklace dangling in his hand.

"What do you say we get rid of this?" he grinned.

"I think I saw a good flat rock over there, and I bet you I could crush it into dust. And once that's done, we'll flush it down a toilet!"
_________________________________

"I'm not sure what's going to happen in the coming days, but I know that whatever it is won't stand a chance between the two of us."

That smile of his was returned with a beaming one of her own. Maybe it was true, or maybe it wasn't, but Cora knew that she wasn't going to waste a single moment with him ever again.

"No, it won't."

She scooted herself a bit closer to him and tucked her face near his neck, her hand coming up to gently run her knuckles along his chest and over his heart. After a moment of silence, she whispered in a sleepy tone,

"I love you baby."

And then...she pretended to go to sleep.

 

[Poprockz]

"I hope you know how much you mean to me Bastian. I know I'm not a hero, but if I could, I would do anything to keep you safe."

"I know." Sabastian said softly, smiling as he felt the scruff of the man's face on his hand, his thumb rubbing it affectionately for a moment before he was led over to the sleeping bag. "You seemed pretty heroic to me today though- maybe you're more hero than you realize."

When they got in, he relished the heat that radiated off of the man, finding that the sleeping bag was warmed up in no time at all. Even before he had turned, Sabastian had always found sleeping bags to be pretty chilly at first, requiring a lot of tossing and foot rubbing before it was warm enough to let his lids drop. With Vin though, it seemed lie not an unlikely theory that he had been birthed from a volcano itself.

He snuggled up against Vin's chest, not having bothered to put his shirt back on. For a while, he simply lay there, listening to the steady sound of Vin breathing while feeling his chest rise and fall. It was a bit tough to stay awake, but he managed by making sure that he didn't close his eyes for any length of time. If he had, he knew that he would be snoozing softly in Vin's arms before ten minutes was up. After a while, he knew it was time to get up, estimating that it may have been about half an hour since they had gone to bed.

Very delicately, he disentangled himself from Vin and wiggled out of the sleeping bag. Before he left though, he knelt next to the sleeping man and gently kissed his forehead, whispering, "I'll be back to you before the sun comes up." With that, he simply looked at him for a moment, his hand stroking Vin's hair while he thought to himself how it was amazing how much he had grown to love him. There was just something about him that clicked so well with himself, something that he just couldn't quite put his finger on.

Getting up, he put on his shirt and jacket before making his way out of the room, his tentacles extending as he grabbed and pulled himself up onto one of the building rooftops. He then sat cross-legged and very still, his eyes looking out upon the horizon.

---------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn't apparent what he was doing when he reached behind her neck, so for a moment she almost thought that he might cup her face. His face was still close to hers, so it seemed like he might have intended on kissing her. When he came back with the necklace though, the flustered feelings inside her abated and she let out a little breath. She was a bit relieved that she had guessed wrong, but also... maybe a tiny bit disappointed? That whisper at the back of her mind surprised her, the woman unsure as to why she would have desired that from him. He was attractive, yes, but he was still married and grieving the loss of his spouse, not to mention the current state of their friendship. It had been a rough day, so perhaps she was just a bit tired after all of it, her mind not quite in the right place.

She recovered quickly, her slightly surprised look becoming a little smile. "I would like that very much." A fake-serious face was then attempted, the petite woman talking in what she hoped was a convincing male Russian-accented voice. "These were my mother's pearls, Sayori. But maybe you don't deserve them." Her voice went to normal before she shook her head and finished with, "what a pretentious ass."

She chuckled and then seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up a bit as a genuine smile came to her lips. "One good thing about all this though is that when we were escaping, Cora sang a bit to distract the officers, so they came into the room. Niles was being Niles of course, so I had come out to try to get him to stop picking on Cora. I was just saying something and then..." Sayori paused for dramatic effect, watching his expression to see when the opportune moment would present itself to reveal the punchline.

"I puked all down his leg! Chili. You should have seen the look on his face." A giggle came from her, the woman turning from him and heading over to the rock he had referred to. Once this was done, maybe she would be able to rest easy tonight.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"I love you too..." Damien answered affectionately, his arm going around her as she cuddled up close to him. The wet rag was still on his back, but as far as he was concerned it could stay there. Putting on a shirt or even taking the cloth off sounded like a bit much right now, and he felt pretty tired after everything. The night almost seemed to weigh down on him, trying to coax him into slumber to allow his body some reprieve from the worries of the day.

It occurred to him that they might want to eventually go into one of the rooms, but for now he simply closed his own eyes and very gingerly leaned against the back of the bench. Part of his weight went toward Cora so that they could lean against one another, so the pressure on his back wasn't unbearable. He slowly fell asleep, trusting that if any zombies came into the area that hopefully Quint and Sabastian would be alerted to their presence.

 

[Drobabes]

He laughed at her impression of Kuznet, agreeing that he was indeed pretentious. Among many, many other insults that he couldn't begin to even catalogue in one book. When she got to the part about Niles, he unconsciously started to lean in a bit, his smile not quite a full grin yet. That was, until she told the punchline, and then he almost dropped the necklace from the air that forced itself out of his lungs.

"Haha! Oh god, did he do that thing where he went full Robo Cop and just slowly turned his face to glare at you?"

Quint stood up straight, a bit turned away from her, and then with a very angry scowl, he slowly turned his face towards her and looked her up and down.

"I'm going to make you clean this filthy mess up! Disgusting!" he growled. Or, well, he tried to anyway. About halfway through it, his voice cracked and he almost laughed again.

On the way over towards the rock, one of his tentacles reached out and grabbed a good sized boulder. It wasn't huge, but it would have taken a good heave and shove from him before he turned. Now, it was like the thing only weighed a few pounds.

Sitting the necklace down on the rock, he turned to her with a grin again and then held the boulder down before her.

"Alright, alright! Put your hands on it, and on the count of three, we'll crush it together! Ready? One...two...three!"

A bit of a loud pitch was heard, similar to a mechanical whine in a way, and then Quint felt the give of the pearls. From there, he proceeded to turn the boulder first right, and then left, and then right once more, really wanting to make sure it was all crushed to nothing more than dust. When it was finished, he lifted the boulder up and sat it on the ground before letting out a slow whistle at their work.

 

[Poprockz]

Sayori watched Quint get into character, her eyes gleaming slightly as she saw how he was able to even mimic the robotic officer's movements and the way his eyes went kind of wide in a furious way.

"I'm going to make you clean this filthy mess up! Disgusting!"

"Ha! Yes, he did it exactly like that!" Another giggle left her, Sayori reaching up to cover her mouth before wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks and sighing. For tonight, she thought to herself that she was done crying. Now she just wanted to finish everything on a good note, to do away with the chains holding her back so she could move forward with Quint into an unknown future. One that was certainly filled with danger, but also one in which she still had someone who cared enough about her to walk by her side.

Once the necklace was set down, she watched him put the large boulder over it. She had expected him to simply crush them then and their, but found him inviting her to join in. There was no way that her own strength would really contribute anything to the grinding of the pearls, but she figured it was more symbolic than anything and she found herself wanting to participate. Even though it wouldn't be possible without Quint, she wanted to crus those pearls with her own hands as well.

A determined gaze was set upon the stone as she laid her own hands upon it with him. "Ready." When the countdown was done, she put her full force into crushing it, her meager body weight also leaning forward to exert more force. It didn't matter that it was mostly Quint- she wasn't going to sit back just because he was doing most of the work.

When it was done and the rock was pulled away, she stared at it. It was a wonder that the pearls hadn't shot out from between the rocks like little bullets, but there they were pounded into dust.

"Do you ever look at powder and think to yourself that it would be hilarious to try to snort it, but then the logical side of you tells you that it would be a really bad idea?" The words were almost spoken absent-mindedly, the woman tilting her head slightly to the side.

 

[Drobabes]

"We're supposed to have a logical side?" was his simple answer, his face completely serious for a few seconds before he cracked and smiled.

"I've lost a few bets, and took more than a few things up my nose. None of them were ever anything fun though. You would think hot sauce would burn more than powdered sugar, but you would be, wrong...oh hi Bowie."

His sentence trailed off as the snake came out of his collar, his little amethyst eyes glowing slightly in the moonlight as his tongue flicked lazily at out at Sayori. Suddenly Quint smiled; a very soft, affectionate smile.

"He likes you. I can feel the affection coming from him."

Almost as if to back up Quint's point, Bowie slithered out of his collar a bit more until he could boop his nose against her cheek before pulling back and doing a little head bob for her. Not a second after the snake had done this, however, he turned slightly away and opened up his mouth very wide, his jaws stretching in what looked like a yawn. With a little chuckle, Quint reached up and rubbed a finger under his neck.

"Yea, you and me both buddy. 'Ol Polaroid Boy's concoction still isn't completely out of my system."

 

[Poprockz]

A raised eyebrow was what Quint got in response to his comments about powdered sugar versus hot sauce. Fortunately, she had never had the displeasure of finding out how each felt up one's nose.

"..oh hi Bowie."

When the beautiful snake popped out of his collar, she regarded him curiously. The snake seemed very intelligent and she wondered just how close the snake was to being on par with humans. She didn't get as much chance to wonder though, as the next thing she knew, the snake had booped her and did the most adorable little bob.

Her cheeks became a bit pink, thinking to herself that what the little snake had just done had been the most cute goddamn thing she had ever seen in her life. She was actually speechless for a few moments, her expression melting into one of adoration as she watched the snake proceed to yawn. If someone had told her yesterday that snakes could be cuter than cats, she wouldn't have believed them, and yet here she was with the cutest noodle on the planet. It also tickled her pink at the fact that Quint mentioned that Bowie liked her, though she wondered what she had done to earn the snake's fondness.

"Hmm... Perhaps it is time for us all to retire for the night. Hopefully in the morning the drugs will have worn off completely." With that, she smiled and walked back to one of the buildings with Quint, pausing at the car to grab a couple sleeping bags for the two of them, seeing as they each got their own separate ones. Part of her really wanted to sleep in the same bag as him, wanting that physical comfort as she fell asleep. Sleeping with Cora hadn't completely eliminated the nightmares, but it certainly reduced them quite a bit. As it was, she got into her own sleeping bag and drifted into an uneasy sleep.

.....

Sayori stood back in the room she had at the base, standing near the bathroom, looking at the bed. Quint sat there, a downcast look on his face as Cora approached.

"What's wrong?" his sister had asked, sitting down next to him and waiting, a concerned look on her face.

He shook his head and cast his eyes toward his lap, seemingly reluctant to talk about it. "I... didn't want to."

"Honey, didn't want to what? Talk to me, please." Cora reached for his hand and held it, squeezing it slightly. At that point Quint's eyes started to tear up, looking up at Cora with that beautiful gaze.

"After Sayori had her eggs she... she came on to me, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. She kept rubbing herself on me, and I wanted to push her off but I was afraid I might hurt her. But more than that, I felt responsible for her. I thought that maybe if I said no, she might hurt herself." Tears started sliding down his cheeks, pain apparent on the man's face.

Sayori watched, her own expression becoming ashamed from how much he was hurting. Stepping forward, she was surprised to find herself bumping into a clear glass wall, keeping her from going to him. She wanted badly to go up to him and apologize, to tell him that she never meant to hurt him. "I'm sorry..." the small woman whispered, her hands pressed up against the glass.

There was silence before she felt a massive hand on her shoulder. "It is alright, little bird. You're his pet too, you were bound to push your snout in-between his legs like a common dog. "

She knew that voice without having to look, not deigning to meet his eyes as she continued to watch Quint cry and talk to Cora. Her gaze turned to a scowl and she shook her head, "I am not a dog."

"Really? I could hardly tell with the way you were whining and whimpering as you humped his leg like a bitch in heat." His hand squeezed her shoulder and she winced, a second later feeling his breath against her ear, "why should I treat you like a woman when you act like an animal?"

The pressure on her shoulder grew and soon she whimpered and was forced to her knees. That hand yanked her around so she was facing him, feeling tiny compared to his tall stature looming over her. Undoing his belt, he unzipped his pants and let out his cock, though instead of making her do anything at the moment, he simply stroked himself, those icy blue eyes watching her intently. Soon, he let out a slight breath and his cum shot splattered onto the ground in front of her, the man then sighing and tucking his cock away.

"Lick it up, little pet."

"No." Her little body shook with anger as she lifted her head and glared at him. "NO. I won't! I am not your pet! I am a human being!" Her hand went to her chest as though to enunciate her point.

His face became bored and he bent over, grabbing her by the back of the neck and slamming her face down into his puddle of jizz, grinding her face painfully against the floor as though punishing a dog for a mess on the carpet. "You... are whatever I say you are. I will always hold your leash, and you will never be able to fly far enough that I won't catch you."

....

Sayori sat up with a start, breathing hard and drenched in sweat. That had been an awful dream, not only because of Kuznet, but because of the feelings of shame that she could still feel echoing in her heart. With unsteady hands, she unzipped her bag and stood up, slipping on her shoes and going outside for a bit of fresh air.

 

[Drobabes]

Quint had been glad that she wanted to sleep in the same room as him, as he really didn't want to leave her alone with Damien still in their presence. Even though they weren't in the same bed, like they had all basically been forced into before, he felt confident that having her by his side as they slept would give him enough time to get up and help her if anything happened. Not to mention he would be able to smell anyone creeping up on them.

After snuggling into the blanket, Bowie wrapped himself up next to the mans chest, and before long, they were both sleeping like puppies. Neither of them even so much as twitched when she got out of her covers, though that could have been because she was so daintily quiet when she did.

...

Cora had waited long after she heard her brother go to bed, and when she was sure that everyone was finally asleep, she had sat up on the bench and watched the stars and the moon. She could have gotten Damien up then, but she needed some time to herself to mentally prepare for what she about to do.

It would not be easy, the two of them going out and trying to survive on their own, but more than that, there was a great ache in her heart for leaving her brother behind. Their whole lives, they had done almost everything together. They were basically inseparable, and though she knew she wouldn't regret this decision, it was still no easier.

When the moon was nearing a lower point in the sky, Cora knew it was time to go. They would need a good head start with a bit of light, and she herself had no problem driving by moonlight for a few miles-just enough to get them far enough away so they wouldn't be easily tracked.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she sniffed and then turned to Damien.

"Damien," she spoke quietly, sure that no one was close enough to hear her.

"Sweety, wake up."

She waited until he had gotten his bearings a bit, and then she took his hand between both of her own.

"Damien...I want to leave. Just you and me. I want...I want us to go, and start over, just the two of us..."

A few more tears ran down her face, and she quickly reached up to wipe them away.

"I love them all so much, Damien, but they'll never be able to accept it. They'll just keep tearing into us, or...something worse might happen. So we need to go. Please?"

 

[Poprockz]

When Cora had sat up, Damien had briefly surfaced from slumber before going back down. He had figured that maybe she had just needed to adjust, or perhaps she was trying to decide if she needed to try to grab a blanket from the car. By the time she had decided to rouse him, he had been deeply asleep once more.

"Damien. Sweety, wake up."

The man's eyes slowly opened, looking around before he sat up and yawned. It was a bit chilly out there, so perhaps it was simply time to grab a sleeping bag and move into one of the rooms. He prepared to get up from the bench but was stopped when she took his hand in his as though she wanted to tell him something important. From the look on her face, he started to become more focused and alert- it looked as though she was struggling with something and he wanted to be able to help if need be.

"Damien...I want to leave. Just you and me. I want...I want us to go, and start over, just the two of us...I love them all so much, Damien, but they'll never be able to accept it. They'll just keep tearing into us, or...something worse might happen. So we need to go. Please?"

His eyes widened as a shot of adrenaline went through his body. This was a shocking proposal to be given immediately after waking up. He reached up and tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes before dragging his hand down the side of his face against his stubble. This was a lot to process. Of course they could both go to his safehouse as that was what they had intended on doing in the first place. At the beginning, they had only had each other to rely on and to plan for, but things were different now.

A conflicted look came to his face before he quietly replied, "Cora... I can handle any criticism they throw at us, so I don't want you to think that we have to leave because of me." The man paused, running his fingers through his hair at that point. "If we leave, you may never see your brother, Sabastian, or Vin for that matter..."

It was true that he was concerned about her leaving behind her friends and family, but if he was being honest with himself, he was also reluctant to leave them. Despite the harsh treatment, he still considered Sabastian and Vin to be friends, friends that had been there for him when it counted.

"I... also gave Vin my word that if I got his help in rescuing you that he would be able to talk to you in the morning about us and try to talk you out of things. At this point I know you love me and are committed to staying with me but... I can't help but feel like I would be stabbing him in the back. Can we... Can we at least maybe wait until tomorrow night?" He was bargaining with her now, he knew, but he didn't want to leave things like this. If Vin woke up and saw that they were gone, he knew what he would think and he knew he would be utterly disappointed.

----------------------------------------------------

Unbeknownst to Cora, Sayori had been on the other side of one of the buildings next to them, just tucked away around the corner. She hadn't noticed that Cora was awake as well until she heard her very quiet voice speak to Damien. It had made her jump slightly, still a bit jumpy from the nightmare. Though she soon focused in on what was being said, her eyes widening as she discovered that Cora was trying to leave with him.

She didn't understand- why was Cora initiating this? It would have been expected for Damien to try to weasel himself away by scooping her up and making a run for it, but it was surprising to think that it was Cora making the suggestion between the two.

For a moment, she debated on whether she should do anything. She certainly wasn't going to come out from her spot and reveal herself to them, still not trusting Damien to be a gentleman to her if she opposed what they were trying to do. It didn't seem like her place to stop them if they truly wanted to leave either, especially since they were both adults who could decide for themselves. Still... the thought of Cora being out there all on her own with only Damien to protect her, it just didn't sit right with her. For that reason, she very quietly got up and turned to make her way back to Quint.

By chance, she spotted Sabastian on top of one of the roofs when he shifted, the man having been a bit out of range to hear the hushed conversation. She walked a bit closer to him and waved her arms until the movement caught his eye, the woman then putting a finger to her lips as though to tell him to be quiet.

Sabastian was a bit curious as to why she was calling him over, the man using his tentacles to carefully get down from the roof so he could walk over to her.

"What's up?" he whispered, yawning afterwards. He'd really have to see about waking Quint up soon because he was starting to get a bit sleepy.

"Cora and Damien are going to leave," she whispered back quickly, her eyes glancing in their direction to make sure they weren't coming this way.

"That fucking bastard..." Sabastian hissed, gritting his teeth and glaring, the man preparing to go over there and kick Damien's ass.

While she knew she didn't have to defend him, it didn't seem right to set it up in a way that it hadn't happened, so she quickly grabbed his arm and added, "no, Cora wanted to go. Damien just woke up."

"What...?" His expression turned to one of confusion, then of pain. It hurt to hear that Cora was going to try to just up and leave after everything they had gone through. He couldn't let that happen- he had to talk to her, to try and work things out.

 

[Drobabes]

"I... also gave Vin my word that if I got his help in rescuing you that he would be able to talk to you in the morning about us and try to talk you out of things."

She couldn't help the small scowl that knitted her brows when he said that. There was no way he could talk her out of it, and she was quickly growing tired of everyone trying to. Why couldn't they let her make her own choices? Hadn't she had enough of that robbed from her throughout her life? Though, when Damien went on to say that he felt as if he would be stabbing him in the back, she instantly regretted her dirty look. Her face melted into a look of pain, and she couldn't help but turn away for a moment, biting her lip as she thought about his proposal.

Technically, they could do it that way, but she had the feeling that her brother might sniff her out too quick. She would try her best, but if she said the wrong thing without thinking, he would be all over her and likely beat the crap out of Damien just so that she was forced to stay with them until he could walk again. No, it had to be tonight.

With a determined look in her eye, she turned back to him and let out a little sigh.

"I'll write my brother a note" she whispered.

"He'll know it's my handwriting-Ray made us practice until our fingers bled. That, and, I know what to say that will leave no doubt that it was my choice. I don't think this can wait for another night, Damien, and even if we waited, the outcome would still be the same. Even if I tell Vin no, he might still think you were the one to talk me into it.

"The note will work, I promise."

She sounded completely convinced of herself, having no doubt in her mind that her brother would believe her words, even if it did make him enraged and hurt.

 

[Poprockz]

"I'll write my brother a note"

"He'll know it's my handwriting-Ray made us practice until our fingers bled. That, and, I know what to say that will leave no doubt that it was my choice. I don't think this can wait for another night, Damien, and even if we waited, the outcome would still be the same. Even if I tell Vin no, he might still think you were the one to talk me into it. The note will work, I promise."

There was a long pause where nothing was said, Damien mulling over her words. She sounded absolutely convinced that Quint would somehow understand that she was being genuine when she wrote that she wanted to steal off into the night with him. He was inclined to believe her, not only from the tone of her voice but from the way that she and Quint knew each other so intimately. There were things about Cora that only Quint would know and vice versa. If she wanted to find a way to convince him, she could probably include some kind of inside phrase or reference.

That would take care of the issue of Vin being hurt from the lack of the promise being fulfilled, at least a little bit. It was possible that they all still thought that Cora was fooling herself into thinking she loved him, but all he knew was that the note was the best they could manage at this point, especially if she was saying that they needed to leave now. It was a tough thing to decide to do, but he eventually nodded and looked her in the eyes.

"Alright. We'll write a note and then be off. I really wish we could have stayed with them, not only for you, but because I... also care about them. But I understand that sometimes difficult decisions have to be made if we want to find our own happiness," a sad smile was given to her before he reached out and pulled her into a hug, closing his eyes and breathing in the smell of her hair before letting her go and standing up.

"Do you have some paper and something to write with?"

 

[Drobabes]

"I really wish we could have stayed with them, not only for you, but because I... also care about them."

Her lips wobbled a bit as a bit of guilt bubbled up in her. Of course she didn't want to take him away from people that he had finally found a connection with, but at the same time, she knew that over time it would likely only hurt worse. How long would he be able to stand their hateful glares, where once there had been happiness and camaraderie? Could he stand it? Could she? Maybe she was being a bit selfish again, but she felt like this was the only thing they could do.

When he pulled her into that hug, she let her hands wrap around his waist, being careful not to go near the wound on his back. She was crying a bit, but she had set her mind on the task at hand and she wasn't going to back out of it.

"Do you have some paper and something to write with?"

"No," she said, standing up with him.

"I'll have to get it from your car. I think we should take their stuff out and leave them with a good amount of the supplies. Let's just...take what we need..."

With that, she took his hand and started to walk them over...

 

[Poprockz]

There was a flash of violet as Sabastian rounded the corner, Cora and Damien coming into view as they were about to go to the car. Before they got close, Sabastian had quickly jogged over and in front of them, blocking off their path to the vehicle. He then stood there and panted softly in the shocked silence, looking first at Damien and then at Cora. Nearby, Sayori trailed behind him, slowly moving in their direction without the intention of getting too close. Sabastian was there to protect her if something went wrong, but there was no telling what Damien would do when confronted.

"I didn't want to believe it when I heard that you were leaving... so I had to come and see for myself," Sabastian's voice was strained, his brows furrowed. While it may have looked as though he was angry, there was also a great deal of pain in his eyes, the man feeling like he had been sucker-punched. If this was what it had been like to be them when he himself left, he knew he could never do that ever again- it simply hurt too much. Cora wasn't leaving for the same reason though, he assumed, thinking that she was probably leaving because of all the hatred that was directed at Damien.

"What the fuck, Cora?" He said angrily, his lip trembling slightly from all the emotions roiling inside him. "I just- what the fuck?" Sabastian was at a loss for words for a moment before gesturing at Damien. "I know it wasn't his idea to pick up and leave, it was yours, so why are you just picking up and getting out of dodge? Aren't we your friends? Where are you even going? We don't even fucking have cellphones to keep in touch or anything, and you were just going to leave without saying anything?!"

 

[Drobabes]

If she wasn't still in a mild state of paranoia from having just escaped Kuznet's Dungeon, she might have allowed herself a startled scream when Sabastian rounded the corner on them. As it were, she simply jumped and gasped, her hands flying up in the air for a moment before she realized who it was. Although, once she did realize, it was almost worse.

The silence that followed was like a deafening roar, not even a soft breeze, or the crickets being heard to break the spell over them all. When Sabastian finally chose to speak, Cora felt herself bristling and getting ready to defend Damien. After all, this was her idea, and she didn't want him being hurt any more than he already had.

"I know it wasn't his idea to pick up and leave, it was yours, so why are you just picking up and getting out of dodge? Aren't we your friends? Where are you even going? We don't even fucking have cellphones to keep in touch or anything, and you were just going to leave without saying anything?!"

How had he found out it was her idea?! Was he just standing there listening to her? Or...Sayori. She saw her coming up behind him, and for a moment, she felt such a flare of anger and frustration. She didn't even really understand where it was coming from or why, but she suddenly found herself letting out a frustrated whine.

"Oh, of course you're my friend you stupid...idiot!" she almost yelled, her hands balling up into fists and her own eyes starting to become wet again.

"And no, I was going to leave a note! I was...I was..."

Her eyes found his, despite the dim light, and she heaved a breath as she tried to explain herself.

"You guys are never going to accept it. Quint won't accept it, you won't accept it..." she said, her gaze turning over to Sayori for a moment before she looked back at Sabastian again.

"All of you will always be looking at him like he's a piece of shit, and looking at me like I'm the blind, love struck, victim, but I'm not! And I...can't expect you guys to see things differently. It's not right of me to ask that of you, so...so I'm leaving. And you won't," she sniffed, bringing a hand up to wipe the corner of her eye.

"Have to worry about me. You won't have to take care of me, just take care of yourselves."

God, how had this been easier for her to stand up to her brother and be so adamant in what she was doing? But with Sabastian...why was this so much harder? Why did she feel so much more vulnerable with him standing there and staring at her like that?

 

[Poprockz]

"Oh, of course you're my friend you stupid...idiot! And no, I was going to leave a note! I was...I was... You guys are never going to accept it. Quint won't accept it, you won't accept it...

All of you will always be looking at him like he's a piece of shit, and looking at me like I'm the blind, love struck, victim, but I'm not! And I...can't expect you guys to see things differently. It's not right of me to ask that of you, so...so I'm leaving. And you won't... have to worry about me. You won't have to take care of me, just take care of yourselves."

For a moment, Sabastian was simply flabbergasted, his mouth slightly open as he scowled at her. Of course it was good to hear that she considered him a friend, but it hurt to think that she thought that everything was rooted in stone as far as Damien was concerned, and that she didn't have the power to change anything.

Taking a step forward, he found his voice and started trying to put things straight. "Won't have to take care of you? Cora, I was kept prisoner by Kuznet too, and though it was only for a short period, I got just a hint of a taste of what you might have had to deal with. He's fucking nuts and he enjoys making people miserable and causing them pain. He killed people in front of me, then he cooked them and tricked me into eating them." His lip trembled once more and tears formed at the corners of his eyes, the man hugging himself as his eyes continued to burn into Cora with a need to make her understand how he felt.

Both Damien and Sayori adopted shocked expressions, both of them horrified at what had just come out of the blonde's mouth. It was one thing to murder people, but it was something else entirely to do something so sick as to make someone eat the bodies.

The doe-eyed woman's eyes widened more as she realized that the plate of rice and meat Niles had brought him had smelled a bit different, and that they hadn't allowed her any of it, giving her her own meal to consume. She also knew who it was on that plate, her own eyes watering as she remembered how casually Kuznet had shot them all in the head. While she hadn't even really known them, she had known that they were just as scared and helpless as she had been.

Sabastian continued, "you had to live with that kind of bullshit for years- you're probably one of the toughest people here. If Damien was abusing you, I know you would have already found a way to get away from him because you've had a shit-ton of opportunities."

"That aside, we want to take care of you, and we want you to take care of us- that's what friends do. Friends worry about each other and I would worry about you even more if you just took off. There are so many things out there that want to hurt us, Kuznet, regular and fully turned zombie, gangs..." He gestured to the horizon as if those things were simply lying in wait nearby. "If you don't have someone like me or Quint around, then it just puts you at more of a disadvantage. I know you think it's worth it to you to make sure that the two of you are able to live together without being bothered, but I'm telling you it's not."

"I'm not gonna lie," his eyes flicked over to Damien before returning to Cora's, "I'm fucking disgusted about his actions, and that was part of why I was so angry yesterday. It makes my fucking blood boil to think about how scared those women must have been, and I honestly haven't fully processed it all right now. What I do know though, is that Damien ran into a burning building to save your brother's life. He didn't have to, since you were safe right there and he probably knew that he could die attempting it and even if he made it, that your brother would find out about him and hate his guts. But he did it for you because he really seems to care about you."

His brow furrowed a bit more and he held his arms out to either side of himself, his tone increasing in volume, "so what if people look at him like he's shit? Prove them wrong! Show them that he can and will be better. Fight for what you know is right for you! You don't have to choose between him or us- you just have to stand your ground and let time show people that you were right!"

He paused, his anger fading into a more desperate look, tears starting to come down his cheeks as his voice softened into a pleading tone "Don't just leave before even talking to us about it. Don't just assume that we can't move past this or try to make things work. We're your friends and we love you, Cora." A sniffle was heard before the small man wiped his eyes. "Don't go."