The new black

Disclaimer: I don't own iZombie or any of its characters or other property. I do not make profit off this work and do not intend to. This works purpose is entertainment.

Warnings: discrimination, depression, references to intent to kill zombies, references to zombie genecide, zombie hate crimes, eating issues, gun violence

Spoilers: Set in season 4. May need to have seen to at least season 3 to avoid spoilers.

Pairings: Liv/Ravi friendship

AN: Set during Season 4

START

Liv ignored the stares when she walked to her car. She ignored the offensive objectifying gestures some zombie men gave her. She ignored the offensive spray painted slurs and threats she saw on her way to work.

She didn't turn on the radio because she expected no different. This new zombie city had the same problems the human city did.

As she walked into work she ignored the posters showing a raged out zombie and listing the warning signs. Telling the world how dangerous they were and how to kill them. The cross of a sniper rifle sight over a raged out zombies head.

It made her feel sick.

Sure the violence in zombie killings disturbed her but now the zombie hunters didn't have to hide a crime. The zombie hunters weren't lumped in with fringe lunatics. Because zombies were real.

She could have 'dyed and tanned', but really it felt like a lie. This is what she looked like now. She was a zombie. That was only the truth. If her pale skin and hair didn't give her away, her pulse would.

Her phone vibrated. Ravi. 'Where are you?' he had texted.

'Outside the police station. Sorry I was late, had to deal with some anti-zombie idiots.' she replied.

'Would a coffee make it better?' he replied.

She smiled. Ravi knew what she needed to feel better. 'Yeah, meet you outside?' she texted.

He appeared, looking pleased to see her. At least someone was...

"Shall we?" he asked with an excited grin, holding out his hand.

She frowned. "We discussed this. You don't want to be seen as a sympathiser to one of us. Trust me, it sucks" she said firmly.

But he still held out held out his hand and she couldn't refuse him. So she grabbed his hand. It was safer for her anyway, but it made him a target.

They walked into the coffee shop. Immediately the crowd parted and glared at her. They ignored him, she was more a threat than a sympathiser. He was upset but tried to smile and be kind. "Look, I'm buying. Completely human. See?" he spoke, offering out his arm.

The owner nodded and he managed to place the order. He noticed that while she looked morely uncomfortable, she was frozen in fear. If just one human had a gun here...if they decided killing her was worth it...

He grabbed the coffees and left, practically leading her away from the gathered humans. "I'm sorry Liv. It will get better, just wait for the humans to get used to zombies." he reassured.

They made it to the office, only getting stares, glares and some muttered insults. Ravi looked big and strong. Picking a fight with her meant picking a fight with him. The raged out zombie stories helped her too. Made unprepared humans wary before violent.

"We are safe here. The police upstairs would help." he assured.

She didn't point out the flaws in that logic. She wanted his optimism to be right. So she just smiled in reply.

She didn't tell him about the anonymous threats she received between the files she received. Or the threats some officers made that they wouldn't cause harm to her but wouldn't stop it. Or the comments that her only use around the station was as eye candy. Some had offered protection detail in exchange for sex.

She just picked up the day sheet detailing the expected bodies to arrive and work still to be done. He knew she wasn't telling him everything but now wasn't the time.

They finished late. It was a depressing day. Three of the bodies had been zombies. All killed in the human-zombie violence of late.

She and Ravi prepared to go home. They had started living togther. It was safer than Liv living alone. The alley was empty but that didn't mean they were safe.

He heard the human before he arrived, hand gun in hand. Aimed at her head. "You dead types are disgusting. Brain eaters. I would be doing my civic duty to rid the world of you." he threatened.

She didn't know how to react. Pre zombie world, she would have raged out. Then blamed any witness to her raged out zombie eyes as crazy. Now, zombie-human tensions were too high. She would just prove that she was a dangerous zombie and give him an excuse. So she took a deep breath and faced him. "What do you want?" she asked.

Beside her Ravi pulled something from his belt. She recognised it instantly. A gun. Where did he get that? When? "I suggest you turn around and leave." he said with unnerving calm.

The man backed down. "I'll get you next time, freak!" he yelled before running.

Ravi put the gun away and they walked to the car.

It was a relief to get home. Her room was more appealing than ever.

"I'll start dinner. Want to put on a movie?" he asked, if was an option. Watching tv wasn't. Anti-zombie propagana played. Shooting ranges or gun companies played ads where they showed their products on zombie head targets. Once that might have been a fun laugh...now it had sinister overtones. 'Buy my guns so you can kill zombies'.

She nodded numbly...she didn't feel like watching a movie but they both knew sleeping wasn't an option. So she picked out a movie and put the disc in. She zoned out, trying to put the events of the day out of her mind. Trying to ignore the impact all this anti-zombie violence was having. She had almost died today. For being infected with the zombie virus. Nothing more.

"Whats wrong? Speak to me." he prodded.

She broke and with it came her tears. She was sobbing hard and had him in an iron grip. He rubbed her back, letting her cry it out. Then she told him everything. The looks and comments in the street. The fact she had to order her groceries online or shop when it was late. The fact she couldn't even order coffee. What she was facing at the police station. Everything.

He didn't know what to say. "Its not fair." was all he could come up with. He couldn't tell her it was all okay...she would face the world again tomorrow. The same unfair world. He couldn't tell her it would be okay...who knew what this world would bring?

He only experienced a fraction of what she did. He was human. And he got his share as a zombie sympathiser but that was nothing like being an actual zombie. Being seen as a monster... feared... attacked for no reason. Killed.

It was all good and well being one Chase's zombie army. They had authority. They didn't need to be liked. Even then, there was more news everyday on attacks on them.

Liv was so much more than a mere monster. A hungry wolf to be killed for killing the sheep. She had even learned to resist zombie mode. She should have raged out at the gunman but hadn't so much as shown anger. She knew what was at stake.

This wasn't fair. So he held her tight and promised to protect her. He couldn't help the anger on her behalf. If he couldn't resist when he merely heard these acts, how much self control did she need?

If only he knew it would get worse...