"David…"
He glanced down at the gloved hand enclosing his forearm. Warm leather against his skin.
"Hm?" He looked back to the unusually serious police officer. Dark circles stood beneath his eyes, and his body sagged from exhaustion. David could have thought he was looking in a mirror, if it wasn't for the shorter hair.
Tiredness had seeped into the survivors bones, into their very souls. Running for hours on end, living off of first aid sprays and herbs didn't make up for the lack of food and real sleep.
They stood together in silence, David waiting for Kevin to say something and the officer doing nothing more than staring.
Is this the right decision?
Kevin didn't speak and David let his mind wander, 'Why are we stopped? Shouldn't we keep up with the others?' A glance back down the hall showed the rest of their bone weary companions trudging along the street ahead.
It was a miracle that they had made it this far…
Nervously casting a glance at the survivors ahead, Kevin looked back to David.
Yes…
"David…"
I don't know where to start…
"Look, I'd like to just stand here all night but if you hadn't noticed the city's gone to Hell." David made a move to free himself from Kevin loose grasp but stilled as the grip suddenly tightened. Pain registered but he refused to show it. He hardened his eyes, feeling his free hand curling into a fist.
"David, I wanted to give you something."
"What is it?" Venom dripped from his words.
He didn't like dealing with this cop already, his cocky attitude grated his nerves, what little he had left, and his sudden change of behavior had him on edge.
The pressure on his arm vanished leaving behind a throbbing ache. He fought the urge to rub the afflicted limb, denying the sensation of pain. If he looked he was sure that he would already see bruises developing.
Kevin dropped his hand to his holster and David followed the motion with his eyes, watching, studying, as he withdrew his .45. Kevin held the firearm out towards the plumber, gazing at him calmly through his unruly brown hair.
Something nudged him in the corner of his mind.
"Here. Take this." Kevin's voice was flat.
Can I trust him to do this?
David furrowed his brows. That was a .45, the only one of its kind that he'd seen during this fiasco. That was Kevin's gun.
He was exceptional with the firearm, any firearm it seemed. More than once he had saved them with a few well placed rounds. Scrounging bullets for the thing was not an easy task but he made them last.
Why was he giving it to him?
He made no move to take it, instead using the brief moment to study Kevin more closely. He had been acting awfully strange…
Just take it. Don't make it harder than it already is.
Ahead, George leaned around the corner calling out to them and waving them on.
Kevin lifted a hand in understanding and the doctor disappeared around the corner. Their eyes met again and he gestured with the weapon.
The feeling grew, multiplying like the virus, to settle nervously in his stomach.
Slowly, tentatively, leather brushed leather as he slid the weapon from the officers' hand.
It was heavy, heavier then it thought it would be. He broke eye contact to check the magazine, finding it strangely empty. He wasn't sure if the dawning realization made him pull back the slide or if was his newfound survival instinct. Inside the gleam of copper and brass reminded him of blood. One bullet remained in the chamber.
Does he know?
It blossomed. The dread, the absolute disgust of Kevin's unasked question hit him hard in the stomach.
Will he understand?
With a resounding click the slide settled into position, safety set. With a quick flip he placed the gun back into Kevin's hand.
"No." His answer was severe and clipped. The plumber turned his back on the emotionless face and walked to join the others.
David didn't need to know why, or argue the point. You never give up. You keep walking with your head held high and you fought to the last with honor. Who gives a damn about dignity now?
A heavy hand settled on his shoulder and spun him around. He used the momentum to slam his right fist into Kevin's face. He watched, detached as Kevin fell against the wall from the force.
"I'm not an executioner." He voice swelled with quiet anger. "You wanna die before we even try to make it out of here, that's your thing. I'm not going put you down. You can forget it."
Kevin stared at him blankly, raising his hand to rub at his tender skin.
David could see that he hadn't expected that. Maybe he thought that David would've had a different reaction then denial. The plumber knew he acted cold but that didn't make him less of a human. He understood mercy.
"David…"
Again. His name spoken in such a needful way, Kevin was pleading, demanding, with just that one word. It made David want to hit him again.
"No." he paused for a moment before turning slightly. His eyes settled on the dingy concrete, blood flecked on the weather worn wall. He could see Kevin in his peripheral vision, that was enough.
"Get your priorities straight." His voice was strained as he emphasized his next sentence. "We get out of here first. If it comes to that we'll take care of it." He needed to show Kevin he meant it and turned. "I'll take care of it." It took an eternity for their eyes to meet and when they did Kevin's eyes showed with reserved hope. It made David sick.
His boots echoed against the stained concrete buildings lining the deserted street, he didn't look back.
A/N: gasp, gasp I posted it.
YAY!
It seems like I couldn't write anything else until I finished this. Okay so the first chapter is in third person and the next few will be in Kevin's POV. I will also be posting Chapter 2 today so please look it over and review! (Both please! I would really like to know what you think!)
There are a few more chapters waiting in the wings and I only need to proof read them before posting. Please send encouragement, I mean… reviews!!