008 I am you and you are me
[A: Open to All; wandering around Bombfield.]
[Cain had tried desperately to keep his eyes open, the endurance of a clone and the fearful adrenaline from the situation helping with that. But at the end of the day, he was still only a ten year old child and he couldn't stay awake for days on end. Eventually, as morning crept over for the third day ( Read more... )
[Cain had tried desperately to keep his eyes open, the endurance of a clone and the fearful adrenaline from the situation helping with that. But at the end of the day, he was still only a ten year old child and he couldn't stay awake for days on end. Eventually, as morning crept over for the third day ( Read more... )
once they were up into open air, he had to blink... hard; the light was dim above, but they'd been underground a while. he had carefully shifted the boy onto his back so he could sleep more comfortably. the weapons at his hips were for easy access should they come face-to-face with any cannibals left wandering this area, or any unfriendly Mayfieldians still lingering above ground. he imagined he wasn't the only one coming to terms with the inevitable, right about now.
...shouldn't he be afraid? he doesn't... feel afraid. he only feels a heavy weight of grief and a tired ache, the weight of which far surpasses that of the small body warm at his back.
once Cain is secure, he pauses just long enough to steel his composure-- and then he's moving. he has no idea where the man he's searching for is, but his destination is clear... the only person he'd trust with Cain's well-being at a time like this if he cannot do so himself. the compassionate concern in Kent's eyes couldn't be faked... and it meant that he would do whatever was necessary to keep his baby brother alive. the burden was terrible and unfair, but he had nowhere else to go...
there's nowhere else to go.
he'll find Clark Kent.
he's fallen into the lull of putting one foot in front of the other, his eyes almost absently raking the desecrated wasteland for signs of a familiar face -- and he can feel the shift at his back. he tilts his head a bit, giving his brother a tiny cursory glance-- is he getting sick too...?-- god, please... please be okay.]
H-- hey, sleeping beauty...!
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There was enough food and water to last them for a while yet, and so it was a stupid risk to leave the safety of the bunker and wander around the ruined town. America had told them that there were cannibals, not to mention the air was probably toxic, so...
And even if Abel wanted to help, there was no way he would take Cain with him. He knows how protective his brother is over his well-being, and there are only two reasons he would take him out into danger.
Either he was severely ill, or Abel was, and they needed help.]
What's wrong? Why are we out here?
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[he shifts his hold on him slightly, but his attention has already returned front and forward where he's stubbornly moving because the alternative is unacceptable.]
It's-- gonna be okay.
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[Don't try to fob him off, he is no fool about to roll over and accept that this is normal.]
Why are we outside?
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I think...
[...something. his head hurts ;(]
...we should... find Clark. We shouldn't have...
[...]
We should... stick by our friends, Cain. [just keep moving.]
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[This isn't right, something is so very wrong here and it's making his stomach clench with sudden fear.]
Don't... don't lie to me, tell me what's happening.
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Please, just... hold tight and try not to breathe too deep, okay...?
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Sick... the air... radiation? It had been a nuclear explosion, after all, and Cain knew what one of those could do from his studies. Add that to the fact that he felt fine... a little fatigued, perhaps, but not sick by any means.
There was only one conclusion.
His voice is edged with a little more panic now, a demand as his eyes widen.]
Stop! Abel, stop now! Put me down, you--
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he keeps moving, in any case. no matter what else happens... that won't change until he's found what he's looking for.]
We're going to find Clark.
Don't panic. You'll breathe faster... just relax. [he's calm himself, somehow. at least... he seems to be. ;(]
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Clark is no doctor; and besides, no doctor can treat radiation poisoning anywhere... not the sort that came after a nuclear explosion. Which meant.
Which meant.
Which... meant... he was handing him off to someone else to be taken care of. It meant it was fatal, it meant his precious brother was dying.]
Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop!
[Don't ignore him, Abel. Don't.]
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I can't stop. Please, don't... be afraid. It's going to be okay. It's-- okay.
[...why is it after all this time, and so many centuries of chasing after death, when it's looming over him at long last... he finds himself wanting to cling to his god forsaken life the most? he's... a fool. he's such a stupid, stupid fool...]
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Without him, Cain was nothing.
He has never felt such all-encompassing fear, it's twining around his chest and freezing all thoughts in his brain. He feels like he's drowning on dry land as he starts to try and scramble around where he's being carried on Abel's back, trying to hold him properly and look into his face.]
...No. Don't... Abel, don't...
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C-- Cain, h... hey! Be careful...!
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He slides down off Abel's back, using his own advanced dexterity and Abel's weakness to his advantage, almost falling as he stumbles around to stand in front of him and look up into his eyes.
Ah.
...
His... eyes are glazed and his face is pale, sweat beading on his skin in a thin feverish sheen. He's sick, he's... really sick. He doesn't know if he says anything; but if he does, it's far from intelligible. Eyes wide and staring, all masks stripped away to reveal the most raw and naked of fears.
Brother... don't leave him.]
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but he is terrified, now.
Abel meets those eyes, his own wide in response. that single look... it takes his breath away. it makes his heart want to lurch to a stop for how bad it aches... stomach turning and the whole world seems to tilt dizzyingly for a moment before he humors the urge to sink. down, to knees in front of him -- reaching his hands out to apologetically cup his brother's cheeks, brow furrowed in apology and fear.]
D... don't.
[don't... look at him like that; don't-- be afraid, don't... Cain ;;]
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You can't-- Abel, you... can't.
[Where were all his intelligent arguments now? His solutions? His strategies? How has he been reduced to this... just a small child denying something so horrible could happen.]
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