A/N: Sorry I haven't updated 'seeing smoke...' life has been pretty hectic lately and I'm working on it every time I get an opportunity to do so. This is just a little something I needed to get out of my system. I apologize if it doesn't make much sense, it does in my head though. lol Anywho, I have no beta. All mistakes are all my own. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: This is the work and play of fanfiction. I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their respective owners.
your skin is alive and it's moving
She hates the scent of putrid flesh. The sight of it causes a wave of revulsion to pass over her and bile rises in the back of her throat, but she swallows it down. It's time to be brave.
Diana knows what's about to happen next, it's happened countless times before. This time it's different though. This time she's the one holding the ax. This time their survival is in her hands.
Diana doesn't have to turn around to know he's there, standing a few feet away; far enough to give her space and keep guard but close enough to intervene if necessary. She knows what he expects. What he needs her to do.
'I'm teaching you how to survive. I won't always be there.'
Jake's words run endless circles in her mind. The last part haunting her more so than anything because it's true. It's the surest thing she knows. He isn't always going to be there and the reality clings to her like a second skin, unable to shed it.
The dragging sound of feet causes her to instinctively take a step backwards. Her hands clench tighter around the wooden handle of the ax as she watches the walking corpse get closer.
Anxiety and fear are coursing through her system and it is taking everything she has and everything she doesn't to stop herself from just turning around and running back to Jake's side. To hand him the ax and let him do what needs to be done.
She knows it isn't fair to Jake. To expect him to keep both of them alive, to burden him with the responsibility of it and the guilt of not being able to keep up to such expectations. Not after what happened. Not after Adam, and Cassie, and Melissa, and Faye. No. She isn't going to submit him to such a burden any longer.
Diana takes a step forward and braces herself. She raises the ax high enough and swings across. The head rolls off and lands near her boot cladded feet.
She turns and walks back to Jake. His face is expressionless but she knows him well enough to be able to read his body language; the tension that was visible when he had given her the ax is gone.
She stops in front of him and hands over the ax. He stares at the bloodied blade and shifts the ax from one hand to the other.
He looks up and meets her gaze. The ax still in one of his hands, now.
Jake releases a deep breath as she slides one of her hands into his empty one and squeezes it in reassurance.
They both know they don't have to try and stand on their own, but if there ever comes a time when they do, they won't have to disable their muscles and bones.