Violence In Hi-Def Ultra-Realism [2/3]
Title: Violence In Hi-Def Ultra-Realism [2/3]
Author: meiloslyther
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Graphic depictions of gore and violence
Pairing: Rydon, Joncer, Gabe/Vicky-T; hinted at Tennessee/Z
POV: 1st, Brendon's
Summary: Bets, injuries, and secret communities, oh my! The post-apocalyptic AU set in 2018, six years after mutated animals began to roam the earth, nearly wiping out the entire human race.
Word Count: 4,933 [this part], 15,731 [total]
Disclaimer: Entirely created from the recesses of my own diseased and fragmented brain case. This is what snorting word dust will do to you. :D Oh, and don't Google yourselves. Ever.
Beta: ezdeeppornkittn
Author Notes: And you guys didn't think I'd continue this one, did ya?
Part 1 | Part 3 | The Mix
We all learned a lot about each other over the next several days. VT was only a year older than Jon, who was the oldest out of the original four, a bit quieter than the rest of us, and she seemed to be a real deep thinker. She was always the most logical and practical one, sometimes almost painfully so. Her real name was Victoria, although she preferred to be called Vicky-T. She didn't mind VT, but she said it was just her radio handle and that the guys only ever called her that in emergency or desperate situations where anything longer would just take too long. I told her life was a desperate situation these days. The name stuck.
Gabe, once he stopped sulking over Nate, Ryland, and Alex, just so happened to be the loudest, even more than me, which was surprising, considering he was five years older than VT. He was a real joker, and loved to wrangle me into pulling pranks on everyone else. The two of us hit it off pretty fast, and he actually started likening me to a little brother after a while.
VT and Gabe were also apparently a couple, and had been for years. There had supposedly been plans for marriage before everything. They were just doing their best to survive.
Jon and Spencer were a lot like Ryan and I; survivor hunters. Every morning, one of them was on the radio, scanning the channels for anything and everything. If there was nothing, which was most days, they would go out in the M-ATV and search the surrounding area for activity. Sometimes they'd go alone, other times we would join them. They weren't openly a couple, but they weren't denying anything either. I had my suspicions. Like that one time they 'left' and were back barely a half hour later; not a sufficient amount of time to have gone anywhere. But I kept my thoughts to myself.
Ryan and I definitely considered ourselves a couple and, well, we just tried to be courteous to everyone else.
"Stop breathing so loud," he whispered in my ear, never missing a beat with his even thrusts.
"Stop being so damn good in bed," I hissed back, trying to calm down a little and clinging to him tighter.
He bit down on my earlobe in response and I squirmed, doing my best not to make a sound as his panting turned shaky in my ear. He was pounding right into my prostate, and all I could do was claw at his shoulder blades and come with a silent moan, stars exploding in front of my eyes in the dark.
"Fuck." I just barely heard him curse under his breath before he bit down on my shoulder to stay quiet as he suddenly came to a stop, his hips pressed tightly to the back of my thighs. He trembled in my arms as he came down, hips twitching involuntarily with the aftershocks.
"You bit the bruise you left the other day," I told him breathlessly, reaching for the tissues hidden between the mattress and the wall.
He pulled out carefully and helped clean up. "Sorry, babe." He collapsed at my side and tugged me close, kissing my abused shoulder before trailing up to my lips. We kissed lazily for a moment before curling up in each other and easily falling asleep to the symphony of Jon and Spencer's light snoring from the bed beside us and the synchronized breathing of VT and Gabe from the sleeper sofa.
***
"We need to go out for supplies again," Spencer announced the next morning as he turned off the radio, once again getting nothing. Ryan, Jon, and I took that as our cue to get dressed.
"Do you want us to go with you?" VT asked from her place on the pull-out bed, a half-asleep Gabe still curled around her.
"Under different circumstances, I'd tell you to stay put," Jon muttered, pulling his shirt over his head. "But we might need Gabe, and we're not leaving you here by yourself."
"Someone call me?" Gabe muttered sleepily into VT's side, his eyes still closed. He was not a morning person at all.
VT petted Gabe's hair until he opened his eyes. "Yes, hon, it's time to wake up." Gabe grumbled something unintelligible and rolled over to find his clothes. "But I'm safer here," she pointed out to Jon then.
"That's your call." Spencer sat down on the love-seat to pull his boots on. "But we don't really like leaving anyone alone anywhere, safe or not."
VT crawled out from under the blanket and grabbed her dress, pulling it on right in front of Spencer. Spencer didn't look up.
Ryan was already at the gun cabinet, checking his ammo. He handed Jon and I our weapons before standing aside and waiting for everyone else. Spencer came over when he had his boots on, grabbing his holster and handing VT hers when she sidled up next to him. Gabe was hopping around on one foot trying to get his shoe on as Ryan opened the blast door, letting everyone out.
"Come on, slowpoke," VT called to Gabe, and he finally got his shoe on, running over to grab his rifle before following everyone else out.
Ryan was driving the M-ATV and VT's permanent seat was Gabe, so that left Spencer, Jon, and I to figure out who would get a seat by themselves and who would have to sit on whose lap. Jon offered to let me sit in his lap, and that totally blew my relationship theory, but then again it didn't once I thought about it for a minute.
You tend to think a lot in an end of the world situation.
Unfortunately, Sacramento was the closest city that we hadn't ransacked for supplies yet, so we were up for a long drive. To keep ourselves entertained, we played silly games and told stupid jokes, Jon and I would sing a little, and Gabe would join in if he knew the words. I tried to get Ryan to sing too, but he complained that he was too busy driving. As if driving across the desert took that much concentration.
We reached a large grocery store in Sacramento a little after noon, and we all took a moment to eat something. Then we piled out, and Jon dictated who would be where. Ryan and I would stand guard outside the front door to prevent the fiasco that happened at the gas station, VT and Gabe would gather supplies inside, and Jon and Spencer would search the surrounding area for anything they could use.
So we split up, and Ryan and I leaned against the front windows casually.
"You totally owe me," Ryan announced triumphantly, picking the dirt out from under his fingernails with a grin.
I scoffed at him. "No way. No way, they are totally together! You can't just call that shit now, Ry." Okay, so Ryan and I were kind of betting on whether Jon and Spencer were together or not. Ryan was kind of winning.
"Jon offered to let you sit in his lap, not Spencer. I think that counts."
"No, they're just trying to be covert," I argued, my theory already rock solid. "They don't want us to know they're together, so they're trying to throw us off."
Ryan just laughed at me.
"No, I'm serious! Why do you think they always go off together?"
Ryan shook his head. "You're pushing it, B. They're always together because VT and Gabe are a couple, and we're a couple, and that makes them the only two left. Simple as that."
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I had to pull out my secret weapon. "What about that time they only left for a half hour?"
Ryan froze, staring off into space.
"And that one time that you thought VT and Gabe were having sex? Those noises were not coming from the sleeper."
Ryan scuffed the heel of his boot against the ground. "Okay, so that's like, two times. And the second one you were half asleep just like me. Doesn't mean anything."
"You just don't want me to be right," I sing-songed, grinning mischievously at him.
He rolled his eyes. "You're still sucking my cock later."
I punched him in the arm and he wrestled me up against the window, pinning me with his hips as he pressed a soft kiss to my lips, both of us grinning.
"Hey, you two, none of that here," VT called from the front door, but she was grinning, and we pulled apart slowly. We helped her and Gabe get all the supplies in the trailer before wondering about Spencer and Jon.
"They shouldn't be too far," Ryan assured us, and as if on cue, a sharp whistle broke through the silence of the empty town. We quickly followed the sound, finding Spencer and Jon next to an almost brand new SUV covered in dust, both of them staring at the ground like it would give them the answer to life.
"Found it half buried in a pile of debris," Spencer explained as I stepped up next to him, trying to figure out what the hell they were looking for. "Looking to see if we can find the key."
I clapped him on the shoulder. "Twelve eyes are better than four."
We all spread out then, scanning the ground of the surrounding area for the key. I only found some rocks and a small piece of torn denim, and no one else looked like they were finding anything either. I was about to give up when I heard Spencer squawk indignantly.
"Shit," he muttered, and I turned around just in time to see him fall over backward, trying to scramble backwards and grab his guns at the same time. It was then that I saw the Bird, probably eight feet tall at least, looming over him.
"Oh. Fuck," I breathed and, since no one else was close, I grabbed my guns and went after the Bird myself. It screeched in pain as I got it right in the eye on the first shot, the second cracking its beak. It flailed wildly, stomping down with its huge feet, and Spencer screamed as one of the Bird's huge talons ripped through his right leg. I aimed my next four shots at its head, and it finally flopped over and died.
"Spencer?" Jon called worriedly as he ran over, the other three behind him. "Shit."
By the time Jon reached us, I had gotten Spencer's belt off and wrapped it tight around his leg just above the giant gash in his thigh. He was gritting his teeth against the pain, one hand clenched in my shirt, and I helped Jon carry him back to the trailer where he immediately ripped Spencer's pant leg open wider, exposing the extent of the damage. The gash was at least a foot long, but it didn't look deep enough to cause permanent damage.
Jon handed me his handkerchief. "Sit behind Spin and gag him." As I moved, he dug an old clothes iron out and lit a match, holding the metal of the iron to the flame. I knelt behind Spencer, the handkerchief stretched between both of my hands where I held it in Spencer's mouth, his hands gripping my thighs. Jon looked right at Spencer, poised over Spencer's leg with the hot iron. "Ready?"
"You guys might not want to watch this," I could hear Ryan telling VT and Gabe, leading them around to the side of the trailer.
Spencer gave one sharp nod, and Jon pinned Spencer's leg with his free hand, pressing the iron right over the wound. Spencer writhed against our hold on him, screaming bloody murder through the gag, his nails biting into my legs. The sound of skin sizzling was too loud and the smell was worse, and it felt like the ordeal went on forever. Finally, finally Jon pulled the iron away, Spencer's skin red and angry where the iron burned it, the wound completely cauterized.
I dropped the handkerchief on the floor of the trailer so that I could pet Spencer's hair as he shook a little, trying to keep his breathing slow and deep as Jon spread some kind of salve on Spencer's thigh and wrapped it with gauze.
"Brendon, I had the key when the Bird showed up," Spencer muttered shakily, hissing a little when Jon accidentally moved his leg.
"Sorry."
Spencer laid his hand on Jon’s bicep, squeezing a little. "But I dropped it. It should still be over there."
I hugged Spencer close, nuzzling into his hair. "Don’t worry, Spence, I’ll get it."
I made sure that Spencer was comfortable leaning against Jon before hopping out of the trailer and making my way over to the Bird’s corpse. At first glance, I couldn’t see the key anywhere, and I walked around the entire thing looking for it.
"What are you doing, B?" Ryan must have followed me over when he realized I wasn’t in the trailer anymore.
I shook my head. "Spencer said he found the key but he dropped it over here. I can’t find it, though."
"Maybe the Bird fell on it."
I snapped my fingers and pointed at him before cupping my hands around my mouth and yelling for Gabe and VT. The four of us put together were able to move the Bird enough for VT to spot the key, and we returned to the trailer with it.
"Hey, Spence, Jon, we found- oh."
Jon opened his eyes and gently pulled away from Spencer’s lips, who pressed his face into Jon’s shoulder. From what I could see, Spencer was blushing. I quirked a triumphant eyebrow at Ryan.
Jon cleared his throat. "Right, so. Spencer and I will take the SUV, since it has bench seats he can lie down on. You guys can fight over who gets to drive the M-ATV and who gets to ride with who."
"Well, if you’re driving the SUV, Gabe and I can come with and we can tend to Spence," VT offered, looking over at Gabe.
Gabe shrugged.
"Sure thing," Jon agreed, turning to Ryan and I. "Guess that leaves you two with the M-ATV."
I saluted and Ryan punched my arm. "Gotcha, Chief."
"You guys got Spin?" Ryan asked, searching pockets for the key to the M-ATV.
Jon nodded. "Hey, bud, think you can walk?"
"I don’t know, maybe."
Jon steadied Spencer before jumping to the ground, reaching out to help Spencer down. Gabe and VT stood close just in case, but Jon got Spencer upright, Spencer putting all of his weight on his good leg and Jon. The two hobbled back towards the SUV, VT and Gabe following them.
I elbowed Ryan with a smile and jumped into the M-ATV, and he got in on the driver’s side. I looked out the window to find Jon and VT helping Spencer into the SUV as Ryan turned the key in the ignition.
"So, who owes who now?"
Ryan turned his head to look at me, snorting and shaking his head. "Don’t even start with me, Bren."
"No, fucking tell me that them making out in the back of the fucking trailer doesn’t count."
The SUV came hurtling around us, and Ryan took off after it. "It doesn’t count. Spencer’s hurt and Jon’s the best and oldest friend he has."
Ryan may not have voiced it, but I heard the, "that’s still alive," that ended that statement. And fuck, I knew exactly how that kind of shit went down. Ryan had been my only friend and companion for years.
"But we... do you think...?"
Ryan reached over to ruffle my hair. "It took us a while to figure it out too. Give 'em time."
We made it back to the shelter before sundown and somehow managed to get Spencer down the stairs and onto his bed. Jon busied himself with undressing Spencer while the rest of us brought the supplies in. By the time we'd brought everything in and locked up, Jon and Spencer were under their blanket, Spencer on his back and Jon on his side next to him, running his fingers through Spencer's hair.
Ryan grabbed a book from where they were stored in the gun cabinet and plopped down on our bed. I brought a few cans over for the four of us, sitting quietly between Ryan and Spencer.
Gabe and VT were eating on their bed when VT finally piped up with, "Do we have a needle and some thread, maybe some extra fabric? I think I can fix Spencer's pants."
Jon frowned thoughtfully, looking down at Spencer. "I don't know, maybe. Check the cabinets over the sink."
We all were always collecting things that could be useful, so god knows what kind of odds and ends were stashed away in there. VT went searching and eventually found something she could work with. She came over by the beds to grab Spencer's pants before going over to the table, sitting down and diligently beginning to fix the gash in the fabric.
"I would have just worn them like that until I found some others, but thanks, VT," Spencer called across the room in between sips of his fruit.
"Don't mention it," she replied with a smile. "It gives me something to do."
"Isn't it strange how one moment you can have a closet full of Armani suits, and the next moment you're stuck in a getup like this for the rest of your life?" Ryan muttered from his spot on the bed, turning a page in his book. "Hundreds of different outfits and then snap!-" he snapped his fingers as he said it "-all gone, and you have to wear the same clothes day in and day out."
"How tragic," Spencer muttered, rolling his eyes.
"You never had a closet full of Armani suits," I pointed out to Ryan. I didn't actually know that, but based on common sense...
"Well, no," he admitted, shrugging. "But the principle of the thing. I'm exaggerating to make a point."
Jon snorted, a quiet, "As usual," slipping out.
"We could just be naked all the time instead," Gabe suggested, and I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or completely serious.
"There's an idea," I agreed, but hoping my tone was just as ambiguous.
"Well, you boys can get naked all you want, I'm not joining you," VT muttered from her place at the table.
"I'd be the only one even mildly interested," Gabe put in, and I looked over at Spencer and Jon worriedly.
I just barely caught the back end of a smile between the two that I probably shouldn't have seen, and Jon just shrugged. "He's got a point."
Ryan was the only one that seemed surprised, looking up from his book and giving Jon then Spencer curious glances. "Wait..."
"Maybe," Spencer answered, raising a challenging eyebrow at Ryan, and shit, we had barely been around these guys for a week and those two were already talking with their eyes.
They stared at each other for a moment longer before Ryan gave up, giving me a look that said, Fine, you win, before going back to his book.
"Okay, so maybe it should be me not getting naked," Gabe thought aloud, but there was a slight curl to his lips.
"We're not interested," Jon, Spencer, Ryan, and I all replied at pretty much the same time, and suddenly the whole room burst into laughter.
Gabe was still smiling when he clapped a hand to his chest and gave us a mock-hurt look. "Ouch, you guys. Way to raise a guy's self-esteem."
We continued to banter until Spencer passed out, the rest of us getting the idea quickly afterwards. VT left her work at the table and went over to turn the light off, the room going pitch black and silent but for the breathing of six bodies.
"I love you," Ryan whispered, almost too quiet for even me to hear.
I snuggled back against him and squeezed his wrist in response. I love you, too.
***
Waiting for Spencer's leg to heal was like watching water boil. Jon had officially made it his job to wait on Spencer's hand and foot; changing his dressings, helping him to the toilet, and distracting him as best as he could when the pain was too much. There seemed to be a lot of Jon lying next to Spencer in bed, Spencer's face pressed into Jon's arm or chest with Jon petting Spencer's hair.
When Jon helped Spencer up one day the next week and Spencer swatted him away, the rest of us looked up curiously.
"I got it, Jon," Spencer muttered, most of his weight on his left leg. Jon tentatively pulled his hand away from Spencer's back and Spencer managed to stay upright. He tried to take a step forward and stumbled, Jon moving to catch him around the waist before he fell, steadying him.
"You okay?"
Spencer nodded and Jon let go again. I could tell he wanted to keep helping Spencer, but he knew that Spencer needed to do this or he'd never walk properly again. Spencer eased into another step, catching himself on the back of the couch when he felt like he was going to fall. He took another step, and then another, and when he managed to limp all the way over to the toilet by himself, all of us applauded, Jon grinning like mad.
"Yeah, yeah, fuck off and let me piss in peace," Spencer grumbled, but I could hear the smile in his voice.
Jon sat back down on his bed and I collapsed back on mine next to Ryan, nuzzling into his shoulder as he read yet another book. Ryan smiled, only taking his eyes off the page to kiss my forehead. VT and Gabe were humming a melody quietly, something they were making up on the spot, revising and correcting each other every so often.
"Jon, did you check the radio?" Spencer asked as he limped back over to the beds, sitting down carefully before scooting up the bed to lie down.
"No, I was too worried about you," Jon answered, slapping Spencer's ankle and standing up to go over to the loveseat, sitting cross-legged as he fiddled with the controls.
"Because I'm going to fall and die, right? Oh dear."
Jon shot Spencer an unimpressed face. "The floor is made of reinforced concrete. Not a very soft landing. You could hit your head."
"Just because-"
Suddenly there was a blip of noise on the radio and everyone froze, going silent. Jon cursed softly, trying to get back to the channel as quickly as possible.
"...anyone there? We're just outside of a large fenced in area with a couple of vehicles that look like they've been used recently and what seems to be the entrance to a blast shelter. If you have a radio and can hear us, please answer," came a rather deep female voice, and the signal was so clear because they had to be practically on top of us.
Jon grabbed the mic quickly. "Ten four, ma'am, this is Jon. There's six of us down here in the shelter."
"Awesome. This is Z, and there's just two of us. This is my companion, Tennessee."
"Hello, there," came another female voice, Tennessee I presumed, with a distinctly British accent.
"We recently caught wind of a community up in northern Canada where it's too cold for the Things to survive. Perhaps you all would like to join us?" Z continued.
Jon looked around at us.
"Let them in; I want to hear more about this place first," VT piped up, looking around to see if the rest of us agreed. We did.
"Alright," Jon agreed as well, going back to the mic. "Why don't we let you ladies in and we can talk more about this?"
"Sure thing," Tennessee answered this time. "It would be nice to take a rest from driving all this way."
"Be right up. Out," Jon told them, turning off the radio. He got up then and grabbed the keys before venturing outside.
I frowned, skeptical. "Maybe someone should go with him," I muttered, getting up and following Jon before anyone else could offer or protest. Jon turned his head to figure out who had followed him as he unlocked the outside doors.
"What, you think they're going to eat me?"
"No, I just don't really like having anyone alone anywhere, safe or not," I told him, and we both smiled when we realized I sounded a lot like Spencer.
He pushed the doors open and turned to clap me on the shoulder. "You're a good man, B."
We made our way outside and found a small silver car parked just beyond the gate. Jon went over to unlock it and let them drive in.
"God, have you ever driven so long your legs start to cramp?" Z sighed as she stepped out of the driver's seat. She was fairly tall, about as tall as Jon and I, her blonde hair cropped short at the nape of her neck. She was wearing a long-sleeved, red-orange flower print dress and knee-high brown boots, and she looked sweet but like she could kick your ass at the same time.
"No, but I have walked that far," I told her, offering my hand. "I'm Brendon, that's Jon over there."
Tennessee walked around the car just as Jon came back, shaking Z's hand as well. "Brendon, yeah? I like that name." She had on a knee-length black and white plaid dress with frills at the cuffs and the collar and an ancient pair of saddle oxfords. She was a little taller than Z, but the two seemed to be the same age. Her long brown hair fluttered a little in the wind, and she pushed it away from her face with her free hand, as Jon was shaking the other.
I smiled at her. "Tennessee, right? I like that name too," I replied, shaking her hand when Jon let go.
"Well, come on down with us and meet everyone," Jon offered, leading us back down the stairs to the shelter.
Introductions were made all around and the two girls gushed over how nice our shelter was. We got them to sit down after a moment and we began to trade stories, mostly explaining how everyone met and why Spencer didn't want to move from the bed.
"So about this place in Canada," VT began when there was a lull. "How did you two find out about it?"
"Well, we actually heard about it a year ago, when our friends Alex, Annie, and Laena were still living out in LA with us. We didn't think it was such a good idea, but they did. They found the place and came back about a week ago to tell us all about it." Z crossed her legs and leaned back against the couch. "We didn't go with them immediately because Tenn and I had some things to work out, but."
The two shared a quick glance before looking back at us.
"What kind of resources are there? Are there a lot of survivors there?" VT prompted, ignoring Tennessee's awkward fidgeting and Z's stiff posture.
"Alex told us it was a lot like New York before the Things, except smaller," Tennessee explained, pressing her palms flat against her thighs. "There's a hospital, plenty of food and water, shelter, a library-"
I felt Ryan sit up a bit straighter at that, and I elbowed him playfully. He shouldered me back, never taking his eyes off Tennessee as she talked.
"-and there's even a local power source for the whole community. It's like this one little place was isolated from all the chaos or something."
"Sounds pretty badass to me," Spencer muttered from his place on the bed, and Jon nodded his agreement.
"If those three can survive there, anyone can," Z commented, and Tennessee laughed easily.
"Well, I'm convinced," Gabe piped up, looking over at VT. "I vote we go."
VT looked over at Ryan and I, then Jon and Spencer. "Boys?"
"Totally," I answered, and I could practically hear the other three nodding.
VT smiled at the two other women in the room. "Well, I guess that settles it."
"You two should rest before we get going, though," Jon added, meaning Tennessee and Z. "We can leave in the morning."
We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening talking about anything and everything, sharing food and laughing at each other. Jon offered the girls a place to sleep wherever they could fit, so Z curled up on the couch and Tennessee claimed the edge of the pull out bed closest to Z. I smiled and snuggled closer to Ryan when I saw Tennessee reach out for Z's hand just before Jon turned out the lights.
"There's so much love in here," I whispered to Ryan, unable to stop smiling. Everything just felt so right in the world, even in our situation.
Ryan kissed my cheek, pulling me closer with a strong hand at my back. "It's the only thing that keeps us going. You're the only thing that keeps me going."
I smiled harder, even if he couldn't see it in the dark, and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, twining our toes together beneath the blanket. "I love you too, Ry."
-----------------------------------------
A/N: Not dead yet, guys!
More of my work here.
Author: meiloslyther
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Graphic depictions of gore and violence
Pairing: Rydon, Joncer, Gabe/Vicky-T; hinted at Tennessee/Z
POV: 1st, Brendon's
Summary: Bets, injuries, and secret communities, oh my! The post-apocalyptic AU set in 2018, six years after mutated animals began to roam the earth, nearly wiping out the entire human race.
Word Count: 4,933 [this part], 15,731 [total]
Disclaimer: Entirely created from the recesses of my own diseased and fragmented brain case. This is what snorting word dust will do to you. :D Oh, and don't Google yourselves. Ever.
Beta: ezdeeppornkittn
Author Notes: And you guys didn't think I'd continue this one, did ya?
Part 1 | Part 3 | The Mix
We all learned a lot about each other over the next several days. VT was only a year older than Jon, who was the oldest out of the original four, a bit quieter than the rest of us, and she seemed to be a real deep thinker. She was always the most logical and practical one, sometimes almost painfully so. Her real name was Victoria, although she preferred to be called Vicky-T. She didn't mind VT, but she said it was just her radio handle and that the guys only ever called her that in emergency or desperate situations where anything longer would just take too long. I told her life was a desperate situation these days. The name stuck.
Gabe, once he stopped sulking over Nate, Ryland, and Alex, just so happened to be the loudest, even more than me, which was surprising, considering he was five years older than VT. He was a real joker, and loved to wrangle me into pulling pranks on everyone else. The two of us hit it off pretty fast, and he actually started likening me to a little brother after a while.
VT and Gabe were also apparently a couple, and had been for years. There had supposedly been plans for marriage before everything. They were just doing their best to survive.
Jon and Spencer were a lot like Ryan and I; survivor hunters. Every morning, one of them was on the radio, scanning the channels for anything and everything. If there was nothing, which was most days, they would go out in the M-ATV and search the surrounding area for activity. Sometimes they'd go alone, other times we would join them. They weren't openly a couple, but they weren't denying anything either. I had my suspicions. Like that one time they 'left' and were back barely a half hour later; not a sufficient amount of time to have gone anywhere. But I kept my thoughts to myself.
Ryan and I definitely considered ourselves a couple and, well, we just tried to be courteous to everyone else.
"Stop breathing so loud," he whispered in my ear, never missing a beat with his even thrusts.
"Stop being so damn good in bed," I hissed back, trying to calm down a little and clinging to him tighter.
He bit down on my earlobe in response and I squirmed, doing my best not to make a sound as his panting turned shaky in my ear. He was pounding right into my prostate, and all I could do was claw at his shoulder blades and come with a silent moan, stars exploding in front of my eyes in the dark.
"Fuck." I just barely heard him curse under his breath before he bit down on my shoulder to stay quiet as he suddenly came to a stop, his hips pressed tightly to the back of my thighs. He trembled in my arms as he came down, hips twitching involuntarily with the aftershocks.
"You bit the bruise you left the other day," I told him breathlessly, reaching for the tissues hidden between the mattress and the wall.
He pulled out carefully and helped clean up. "Sorry, babe." He collapsed at my side and tugged me close, kissing my abused shoulder before trailing up to my lips. We kissed lazily for a moment before curling up in each other and easily falling asleep to the symphony of Jon and Spencer's light snoring from the bed beside us and the synchronized breathing of VT and Gabe from the sleeper sofa.
***
"We need to go out for supplies again," Spencer announced the next morning as he turned off the radio, once again getting nothing. Ryan, Jon, and I took that as our cue to get dressed.
"Do you want us to go with you?" VT asked from her place on the pull-out bed, a half-asleep Gabe still curled around her.
"Under different circumstances, I'd tell you to stay put," Jon muttered, pulling his shirt over his head. "But we might need Gabe, and we're not leaving you here by yourself."
"Someone call me?" Gabe muttered sleepily into VT's side, his eyes still closed. He was not a morning person at all.
VT petted Gabe's hair until he opened his eyes. "Yes, hon, it's time to wake up." Gabe grumbled something unintelligible and rolled over to find his clothes. "But I'm safer here," she pointed out to Jon then.
"That's your call." Spencer sat down on the love-seat to pull his boots on. "But we don't really like leaving anyone alone anywhere, safe or not."
VT crawled out from under the blanket and grabbed her dress, pulling it on right in front of Spencer. Spencer didn't look up.
Ryan was already at the gun cabinet, checking his ammo. He handed Jon and I our weapons before standing aside and waiting for everyone else. Spencer came over when he had his boots on, grabbing his holster and handing VT hers when she sidled up next to him. Gabe was hopping around on one foot trying to get his shoe on as Ryan opened the blast door, letting everyone out.
"Come on, slowpoke," VT called to Gabe, and he finally got his shoe on, running over to grab his rifle before following everyone else out.
Ryan was driving the M-ATV and VT's permanent seat was Gabe, so that left Spencer, Jon, and I to figure out who would get a seat by themselves and who would have to sit on whose lap. Jon offered to let me sit in his lap, and that totally blew my relationship theory, but then again it didn't once I thought about it for a minute.
You tend to think a lot in an end of the world situation.
Unfortunately, Sacramento was the closest city that we hadn't ransacked for supplies yet, so we were up for a long drive. To keep ourselves entertained, we played silly games and told stupid jokes, Jon and I would sing a little, and Gabe would join in if he knew the words. I tried to get Ryan to sing too, but he complained that he was too busy driving. As if driving across the desert took that much concentration.
We reached a large grocery store in Sacramento a little after noon, and we all took a moment to eat something. Then we piled out, and Jon dictated who would be where. Ryan and I would stand guard outside the front door to prevent the fiasco that happened at the gas station, VT and Gabe would gather supplies inside, and Jon and Spencer would search the surrounding area for anything they could use.
So we split up, and Ryan and I leaned against the front windows casually.
"You totally owe me," Ryan announced triumphantly, picking the dirt out from under his fingernails with a grin.
I scoffed at him. "No way. No way, they are totally together! You can't just call that shit now, Ry." Okay, so Ryan and I were kind of betting on whether Jon and Spencer were together or not. Ryan was kind of winning.
"Jon offered to let you sit in his lap, not Spencer. I think that counts."
"No, they're just trying to be covert," I argued, my theory already rock solid. "They don't want us to know they're together, so they're trying to throw us off."
Ryan just laughed at me.
"No, I'm serious! Why do you think they always go off together?"
Ryan shook his head. "You're pushing it, B. They're always together because VT and Gabe are a couple, and we're a couple, and that makes them the only two left. Simple as that."
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I had to pull out my secret weapon. "What about that time they only left for a half hour?"
Ryan froze, staring off into space.
"And that one time that you thought VT and Gabe were having sex? Those noises were not coming from the sleeper."
Ryan scuffed the heel of his boot against the ground. "Okay, so that's like, two times. And the second one you were half asleep just like me. Doesn't mean anything."
"You just don't want me to be right," I sing-songed, grinning mischievously at him.
He rolled his eyes. "You're still sucking my cock later."
I punched him in the arm and he wrestled me up against the window, pinning me with his hips as he pressed a soft kiss to my lips, both of us grinning.
"Hey, you two, none of that here," VT called from the front door, but she was grinning, and we pulled apart slowly. We helped her and Gabe get all the supplies in the trailer before wondering about Spencer and Jon.
"They shouldn't be too far," Ryan assured us, and as if on cue, a sharp whistle broke through the silence of the empty town. We quickly followed the sound, finding Spencer and Jon next to an almost brand new SUV covered in dust, both of them staring at the ground like it would give them the answer to life.
"Found it half buried in a pile of debris," Spencer explained as I stepped up next to him, trying to figure out what the hell they were looking for. "Looking to see if we can find the key."
I clapped him on the shoulder. "Twelve eyes are better than four."
We all spread out then, scanning the ground of the surrounding area for the key. I only found some rocks and a small piece of torn denim, and no one else looked like they were finding anything either. I was about to give up when I heard Spencer squawk indignantly.
"Shit," he muttered, and I turned around just in time to see him fall over backward, trying to scramble backwards and grab his guns at the same time. It was then that I saw the Bird, probably eight feet tall at least, looming over him.
"Oh. Fuck," I breathed and, since no one else was close, I grabbed my guns and went after the Bird myself. It screeched in pain as I got it right in the eye on the first shot, the second cracking its beak. It flailed wildly, stomping down with its huge feet, and Spencer screamed as one of the Bird's huge talons ripped through his right leg. I aimed my next four shots at its head, and it finally flopped over and died.
"Spencer?" Jon called worriedly as he ran over, the other three behind him. "Shit."
By the time Jon reached us, I had gotten Spencer's belt off and wrapped it tight around his leg just above the giant gash in his thigh. He was gritting his teeth against the pain, one hand clenched in my shirt, and I helped Jon carry him back to the trailer where he immediately ripped Spencer's pant leg open wider, exposing the extent of the damage. The gash was at least a foot long, but it didn't look deep enough to cause permanent damage.
Jon handed me his handkerchief. "Sit behind Spin and gag him." As I moved, he dug an old clothes iron out and lit a match, holding the metal of the iron to the flame. I knelt behind Spencer, the handkerchief stretched between both of my hands where I held it in Spencer's mouth, his hands gripping my thighs. Jon looked right at Spencer, poised over Spencer's leg with the hot iron. "Ready?"
"You guys might not want to watch this," I could hear Ryan telling VT and Gabe, leading them around to the side of the trailer.
Spencer gave one sharp nod, and Jon pinned Spencer's leg with his free hand, pressing the iron right over the wound. Spencer writhed against our hold on him, screaming bloody murder through the gag, his nails biting into my legs. The sound of skin sizzling was too loud and the smell was worse, and it felt like the ordeal went on forever. Finally, finally Jon pulled the iron away, Spencer's skin red and angry where the iron burned it, the wound completely cauterized.
I dropped the handkerchief on the floor of the trailer so that I could pet Spencer's hair as he shook a little, trying to keep his breathing slow and deep as Jon spread some kind of salve on Spencer's thigh and wrapped it with gauze.
"Brendon, I had the key when the Bird showed up," Spencer muttered shakily, hissing a little when Jon accidentally moved his leg.
"Sorry."
Spencer laid his hand on Jon’s bicep, squeezing a little. "But I dropped it. It should still be over there."
I hugged Spencer close, nuzzling into his hair. "Don’t worry, Spence, I’ll get it."
I made sure that Spencer was comfortable leaning against Jon before hopping out of the trailer and making my way over to the Bird’s corpse. At first glance, I couldn’t see the key anywhere, and I walked around the entire thing looking for it.
"What are you doing, B?" Ryan must have followed me over when he realized I wasn’t in the trailer anymore.
I shook my head. "Spencer said he found the key but he dropped it over here. I can’t find it, though."
"Maybe the Bird fell on it."
I snapped my fingers and pointed at him before cupping my hands around my mouth and yelling for Gabe and VT. The four of us put together were able to move the Bird enough for VT to spot the key, and we returned to the trailer with it.
"Hey, Spence, Jon, we found- oh."
Jon opened his eyes and gently pulled away from Spencer’s lips, who pressed his face into Jon’s shoulder. From what I could see, Spencer was blushing. I quirked a triumphant eyebrow at Ryan.
Jon cleared his throat. "Right, so. Spencer and I will take the SUV, since it has bench seats he can lie down on. You guys can fight over who gets to drive the M-ATV and who gets to ride with who."
"Well, if you’re driving the SUV, Gabe and I can come with and we can tend to Spence," VT offered, looking over at Gabe.
Gabe shrugged.
"Sure thing," Jon agreed, turning to Ryan and I. "Guess that leaves you two with the M-ATV."
I saluted and Ryan punched my arm. "Gotcha, Chief."
"You guys got Spin?" Ryan asked, searching pockets for the key to the M-ATV.
Jon nodded. "Hey, bud, think you can walk?"
"I don’t know, maybe."
Jon steadied Spencer before jumping to the ground, reaching out to help Spencer down. Gabe and VT stood close just in case, but Jon got Spencer upright, Spencer putting all of his weight on his good leg and Jon. The two hobbled back towards the SUV, VT and Gabe following them.
I elbowed Ryan with a smile and jumped into the M-ATV, and he got in on the driver’s side. I looked out the window to find Jon and VT helping Spencer into the SUV as Ryan turned the key in the ignition.
"So, who owes who now?"
Ryan turned his head to look at me, snorting and shaking his head. "Don’t even start with me, Bren."
"No, fucking tell me that them making out in the back of the fucking trailer doesn’t count."
The SUV came hurtling around us, and Ryan took off after it. "It doesn’t count. Spencer’s hurt and Jon’s the best and oldest friend he has."
Ryan may not have voiced it, but I heard the, "that’s still alive," that ended that statement. And fuck, I knew exactly how that kind of shit went down. Ryan had been my only friend and companion for years.
"But we... do you think...?"
Ryan reached over to ruffle my hair. "It took us a while to figure it out too. Give 'em time."
We made it back to the shelter before sundown and somehow managed to get Spencer down the stairs and onto his bed. Jon busied himself with undressing Spencer while the rest of us brought the supplies in. By the time we'd brought everything in and locked up, Jon and Spencer were under their blanket, Spencer on his back and Jon on his side next to him, running his fingers through Spencer's hair.
Ryan grabbed a book from where they were stored in the gun cabinet and plopped down on our bed. I brought a few cans over for the four of us, sitting quietly between Ryan and Spencer.
Gabe and VT were eating on their bed when VT finally piped up with, "Do we have a needle and some thread, maybe some extra fabric? I think I can fix Spencer's pants."
Jon frowned thoughtfully, looking down at Spencer. "I don't know, maybe. Check the cabinets over the sink."
We all were always collecting things that could be useful, so god knows what kind of odds and ends were stashed away in there. VT went searching and eventually found something she could work with. She came over by the beds to grab Spencer's pants before going over to the table, sitting down and diligently beginning to fix the gash in the fabric.
"I would have just worn them like that until I found some others, but thanks, VT," Spencer called across the room in between sips of his fruit.
"Don't mention it," she replied with a smile. "It gives me something to do."
"Isn't it strange how one moment you can have a closet full of Armani suits, and the next moment you're stuck in a getup like this for the rest of your life?" Ryan muttered from his spot on the bed, turning a page in his book. "Hundreds of different outfits and then snap!-" he snapped his fingers as he said it "-all gone, and you have to wear the same clothes day in and day out."
"How tragic," Spencer muttered, rolling his eyes.
"You never had a closet full of Armani suits," I pointed out to Ryan. I didn't actually know that, but based on common sense...
"Well, no," he admitted, shrugging. "But the principle of the thing. I'm exaggerating to make a point."
Jon snorted, a quiet, "As usual," slipping out.
"We could just be naked all the time instead," Gabe suggested, and I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or completely serious.
"There's an idea," I agreed, but hoping my tone was just as ambiguous.
"Well, you boys can get naked all you want, I'm not joining you," VT muttered from her place at the table.
"I'd be the only one even mildly interested," Gabe put in, and I looked over at Spencer and Jon worriedly.
I just barely caught the back end of a smile between the two that I probably shouldn't have seen, and Jon just shrugged. "He's got a point."
Ryan was the only one that seemed surprised, looking up from his book and giving Jon then Spencer curious glances. "Wait..."
"Maybe," Spencer answered, raising a challenging eyebrow at Ryan, and shit, we had barely been around these guys for a week and those two were already talking with their eyes.
They stared at each other for a moment longer before Ryan gave up, giving me a look that said, Fine, you win, before going back to his book.
"Okay, so maybe it should be me not getting naked," Gabe thought aloud, but there was a slight curl to his lips.
"We're not interested," Jon, Spencer, Ryan, and I all replied at pretty much the same time, and suddenly the whole room burst into laughter.
Gabe was still smiling when he clapped a hand to his chest and gave us a mock-hurt look. "Ouch, you guys. Way to raise a guy's self-esteem."
We continued to banter until Spencer passed out, the rest of us getting the idea quickly afterwards. VT left her work at the table and went over to turn the light off, the room going pitch black and silent but for the breathing of six bodies.
"I love you," Ryan whispered, almost too quiet for even me to hear.
I snuggled back against him and squeezed his wrist in response. I love you, too.
***
Waiting for Spencer's leg to heal was like watching water boil. Jon had officially made it his job to wait on Spencer's hand and foot; changing his dressings, helping him to the toilet, and distracting him as best as he could when the pain was too much. There seemed to be a lot of Jon lying next to Spencer in bed, Spencer's face pressed into Jon's arm or chest with Jon petting Spencer's hair.
When Jon helped Spencer up one day the next week and Spencer swatted him away, the rest of us looked up curiously.
"I got it, Jon," Spencer muttered, most of his weight on his left leg. Jon tentatively pulled his hand away from Spencer's back and Spencer managed to stay upright. He tried to take a step forward and stumbled, Jon moving to catch him around the waist before he fell, steadying him.
"You okay?"
Spencer nodded and Jon let go again. I could tell he wanted to keep helping Spencer, but he knew that Spencer needed to do this or he'd never walk properly again. Spencer eased into another step, catching himself on the back of the couch when he felt like he was going to fall. He took another step, and then another, and when he managed to limp all the way over to the toilet by himself, all of us applauded, Jon grinning like mad.
"Yeah, yeah, fuck off and let me piss in peace," Spencer grumbled, but I could hear the smile in his voice.
Jon sat back down on his bed and I collapsed back on mine next to Ryan, nuzzling into his shoulder as he read yet another book. Ryan smiled, only taking his eyes off the page to kiss my forehead. VT and Gabe were humming a melody quietly, something they were making up on the spot, revising and correcting each other every so often.
"Jon, did you check the radio?" Spencer asked as he limped back over to the beds, sitting down carefully before scooting up the bed to lie down.
"No, I was too worried about you," Jon answered, slapping Spencer's ankle and standing up to go over to the loveseat, sitting cross-legged as he fiddled with the controls.
"Because I'm going to fall and die, right? Oh dear."
Jon shot Spencer an unimpressed face. "The floor is made of reinforced concrete. Not a very soft landing. You could hit your head."
"Just because-"
Suddenly there was a blip of noise on the radio and everyone froze, going silent. Jon cursed softly, trying to get back to the channel as quickly as possible.
"...anyone there? We're just outside of a large fenced in area with a couple of vehicles that look like they've been used recently and what seems to be the entrance to a blast shelter. If you have a radio and can hear us, please answer," came a rather deep female voice, and the signal was so clear because they had to be practically on top of us.
Jon grabbed the mic quickly. "Ten four, ma'am, this is Jon. There's six of us down here in the shelter."
"Awesome. This is Z, and there's just two of us. This is my companion, Tennessee."
"Hello, there," came another female voice, Tennessee I presumed, with a distinctly British accent.
"We recently caught wind of a community up in northern Canada where it's too cold for the Things to survive. Perhaps you all would like to join us?" Z continued.
Jon looked around at us.
"Let them in; I want to hear more about this place first," VT piped up, looking around to see if the rest of us agreed. We did.
"Alright," Jon agreed as well, going back to the mic. "Why don't we let you ladies in and we can talk more about this?"
"Sure thing," Tennessee answered this time. "It would be nice to take a rest from driving all this way."
"Be right up. Out," Jon told them, turning off the radio. He got up then and grabbed the keys before venturing outside.
I frowned, skeptical. "Maybe someone should go with him," I muttered, getting up and following Jon before anyone else could offer or protest. Jon turned his head to figure out who had followed him as he unlocked the outside doors.
"What, you think they're going to eat me?"
"No, I just don't really like having anyone alone anywhere, safe or not," I told him, and we both smiled when we realized I sounded a lot like Spencer.
He pushed the doors open and turned to clap me on the shoulder. "You're a good man, B."
We made our way outside and found a small silver car parked just beyond the gate. Jon went over to unlock it and let them drive in.
"God, have you ever driven so long your legs start to cramp?" Z sighed as she stepped out of the driver's seat. She was fairly tall, about as tall as Jon and I, her blonde hair cropped short at the nape of her neck. She was wearing a long-sleeved, red-orange flower print dress and knee-high brown boots, and she looked sweet but like she could kick your ass at the same time.
"No, but I have walked that far," I told her, offering my hand. "I'm Brendon, that's Jon over there."
Tennessee walked around the car just as Jon came back, shaking Z's hand as well. "Brendon, yeah? I like that name." She had on a knee-length black and white plaid dress with frills at the cuffs and the collar and an ancient pair of saddle oxfords. She was a little taller than Z, but the two seemed to be the same age. Her long brown hair fluttered a little in the wind, and she pushed it away from her face with her free hand, as Jon was shaking the other.
I smiled at her. "Tennessee, right? I like that name too," I replied, shaking her hand when Jon let go.
"Well, come on down with us and meet everyone," Jon offered, leading us back down the stairs to the shelter.
Introductions were made all around and the two girls gushed over how nice our shelter was. We got them to sit down after a moment and we began to trade stories, mostly explaining how everyone met and why Spencer didn't want to move from the bed.
"So about this place in Canada," VT began when there was a lull. "How did you two find out about it?"
"Well, we actually heard about it a year ago, when our friends Alex, Annie, and Laena were still living out in LA with us. We didn't think it was such a good idea, but they did. They found the place and came back about a week ago to tell us all about it." Z crossed her legs and leaned back against the couch. "We didn't go with them immediately because Tenn and I had some things to work out, but."
The two shared a quick glance before looking back at us.
"What kind of resources are there? Are there a lot of survivors there?" VT prompted, ignoring Tennessee's awkward fidgeting and Z's stiff posture.
"Alex told us it was a lot like New York before the Things, except smaller," Tennessee explained, pressing her palms flat against her thighs. "There's a hospital, plenty of food and water, shelter, a library-"
I felt Ryan sit up a bit straighter at that, and I elbowed him playfully. He shouldered me back, never taking his eyes off Tennessee as she talked.
"-and there's even a local power source for the whole community. It's like this one little place was isolated from all the chaos or something."
"Sounds pretty badass to me," Spencer muttered from his place on the bed, and Jon nodded his agreement.
"If those three can survive there, anyone can," Z commented, and Tennessee laughed easily.
"Well, I'm convinced," Gabe piped up, looking over at VT. "I vote we go."
VT looked over at Ryan and I, then Jon and Spencer. "Boys?"
"Totally," I answered, and I could practically hear the other three nodding.
VT smiled at the two other women in the room. "Well, I guess that settles it."
"You two should rest before we get going, though," Jon added, meaning Tennessee and Z. "We can leave in the morning."
We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening talking about anything and everything, sharing food and laughing at each other. Jon offered the girls a place to sleep wherever they could fit, so Z curled up on the couch and Tennessee claimed the edge of the pull out bed closest to Z. I smiled and snuggled closer to Ryan when I saw Tennessee reach out for Z's hand just before Jon turned out the lights.
"There's so much love in here," I whispered to Ryan, unable to stop smiling. Everything just felt so right in the world, even in our situation.
Ryan kissed my cheek, pulling me closer with a strong hand at my back. "It's the only thing that keeps us going. You're the only thing that keeps me going."
I smiled harder, even if he couldn't see it in the dark, and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, twining our toes together beneath the blanket. "I love you too, Ry."
-----------------------------------------
A/N: Not dead yet, guys!
More of my work here.