Now we've rewritten history

The one thing we've found out

Sweet taste of vindication

It turns to ashes in your mouth

There wasn't much to be said about the dawn anymore. Except, perhaps, that the sun was simply coming up again, as it had for millennia. It rose on the days before humanity, on the day they invented fire, on the day of the empires of Egypt and Rome; and on the days of the crusades. It crested the hills on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, and again when Hitler was laid to rest, and it rose when the fears and terrors of that fateful September morning became realized, and the days after, again and again, despite whatever the human turmoil. The sun knew no date, the sun was there, a forever constant.

It was amazing to just about everyone now that the sun even kept appearing, each day, again and again- a miracle each time. Much like the older civilizations that wondered if it would come back after it descended down the horizon each night, terrified each night that perhaps it wouldn't. The gods could be displeased, unhappy, not quite complacent in the sacrifices offered by mere mankind, and would choose not to bless the world with caring sunlight that fed the plants and lit the world with it's glow of life and sustenance.

Now that the world had returned to that primordial state, there were no longer poems about the sun's beauty. No more lessons about it's scientific nature or praises of it's divine purpose. Religion wasn't gone completely, just singed to a crisp along with the rest of the world. Dying slowly, if it wasn't already nearly instantly annihilated with just about everything else.

Instead, when the sun rose, everyone would stare blankly at it, depressed more than overjoyed, almost saddened over the memory of once was. Those that farmed still rejoiced, as did the business owners, the hunters- but not the thieves and rapists-the bands of roaming derelicts that took an almost glee in the new world- as there was nothing but free reagn for their heinous activities. They would rather the world stayed dark for their nefarious doings to remain under cloak and shadow.

Yet the average survivor, the traveler, the trader, the scavenger…The barfly. They just shrugged their shoulders, knowing it didn't make a damn either way. They were fucked.

That sun crested over a barren landscape, dotted only by the occasional wind-swept plant that sat alone, sometimes half-dead, sometimes daringly full of life. There were shacks, dilapidated and disparaged houses that were either blown down to their basements, or remnants of frames with the occasional blown-back sway that faced backwards from the blast center. The ground was at times dusty, the grass that died no longer holding the soil together. Dust storms weren't uncommon, even if was simply the east coast, far from any desert. Climate, however, didn't mean much anymore.

The sun's rays touched upon the inner recesses of a cave. A rare site for this part of the world, but now that most of the trees had died, the holes in mountainsides became that much easier to see. A ramshackle door was covering the front, made of iron that crossed the front with occasional slats. It was very notibibly a relic from before, perhaps someone's stashing spot for their moon shining or what-have-you. Something like this was too hard to make in times like these. Nearly impossible, as a matter of fact.

It illuminated two forms behind it, both male, one carelessly leaning against each other. At first glance, anyway. In reality, they were very obviously cuddling. The brunette's head was snugly wedged into the chest of the other, slightly bulkier man, who's masculine arm held the other close for good reason. A thick, if dirty, blanket was around them, keeping in all the warmth possible, despite doing their best using just their body heat.

The eyes of the black-haired male fluttered just a little, and groaned as his eyes met the sun's rays. His back was against the cave wall, it's cold surface biting into and making him generally miserable. That was, perhaps, if it wasn't for the extreme comfort that the other male in his arms provided, a reason for living if there ever was one.

Gentle kisses rained down on the longer, leaner male in his arms, who's eyelids squished together and brows furrowed in annoyance. It was too fucking early to get up- once upon a time he was an early bird, but no longer. Circumstances didn't seem to change the other male, however, whom seem nearly overjoyed to get up at the crack of dawn.

It didn't stop him from placing one last kiss on the top of the brunette's head, however. Sitting back, the black-haired male took a deep breath and sighed; looking around him as he yawned, surveying the little hidey-hole they discovered from last night. The fire ring was still smoking a little, the embers just now dying out. The bones from the rabbit they'd ingested were singed to a crisp, hastily thrown in the fire and not outside; as to avoid predators at their doorstep. Or human interest, even.

"Lemme sleep…" Came the Bostonian accent, thick after all these years.

"'Am tah-ed…"

The dark-haired male chuckled, his hand messily grabbing at his hair and giving it a rough run-through.

"I did get 'yah good last night…"

"Mmm-hmmm." Came an annoyed confirmation from the younger male, readjusting in his lover's arms as he pressed further against him, using the fully adult male as a pillow and bed all in one.

Closing his eyes, he allowed himself what had to be about an hour more sleep, before stirring awake once more. Of course, nobody knew the real time anymore. It was best to guess using the sun, and the body's own innate internal clock. It bothered him to sleep too late, though. Sticking around in a temporary hide-out like this worried him, as he never knew just who else could either be tailing them or using this place as well. Looking about, he finally sat more upright, waking the other male by his movements.

"Cartuh." He slurred; "Shit, y'ah can neva'h sit still…"

There was once a time when he would have been called Lieutenant. It really wasn't that long ago, either. Yet it felt like ages, and not a scant two years. Yet that title meant nothing anymore, not even being a cop. It was hard to be a police officer when there was no laws, no jails, no precincts, and especially no federal, unified authority. Now he was just a hopeless survivor, just like all the others. Doing what it took to get by and escape death or dismemberment for another day.

"Norm, you know we gotta get moving.. I'd told y'ah we'd sleep allll fuck'n day when we get to a settlement…Hopefully fuck'n soon."

Blake said this as he stood up, the fairer-skinned individual weekly sliding from his hold and sitting up in a hunched fashion as he yawned, doing his best to wake up. His lover, protector…his everything got up, standing as he put a hand into the arch of his back and flexed it, making a very audible 'crack' as he limped over towards the pile of badly-worn backpacks that was their lifeline in every situation.

They had dressed hastily after last night's lovemaking- and that's what it was, as simple fucking had been done away with a year ago. Their movements slower and better paced for each other's total satisfaction- kisses, moans, embraces- absolutely accepting in their bodies and the warmth they shared. Though even to this day, Carter Blake still found himself completely vexed that he ended up with the one man he considered his opposite, his enemy, his antithesis in every sense of the word. He couldn't fucking stand the prick.

The end of the world as they knew it sort of changed that, however.

Norman Jayden, whom was once Agent Norman Jayden, and perhaps would still be if the FBI central office wasn't a pile of smoldering ruins- still sat, his tattered pants the only barrier between that smooth, firm ass and the cold stone floor, eyes closed as he did his best to fall asleep sitting up.

'Fuck, Norm…'

The man was notoriously hard to wake up, and really by now he should be used to it. It really didn't irritate him so much anymore, and in fact he usually saw it more as a cute character trait to the more slender male. Jayden was thinner then him, despite Blake's attempt to fatten him up on a daily basis. He'd go without food, pushing his share towards the younger male and watching him devour it with gusto, only to regurgitate it not long after, to his disappointment. He always had a hard time keeping food down ever since he came across Jayden after what had been routinely called by many as "The End", their second meeting. Their last, he'd imagine; the young man had become a virtual other half, there was no way he'd let him leave his side again.

Ignoring him for now, the former lieutenant briskly looked through Norman's backpack, finding his water jug nearly empty. Seeing as there was near a reliable water source nearby, he found it quite convenient. Nothing was more aggravating then finding a fresh, radiation-free water source when you already had a full jug. Sure, you could always dump it out- but water- clean water, was a hard enough thing to find in the wasteland. Dumping perfectly good water for any reason was paramount to murder.

It was also quite convenient, as they were two males who regularly participated in anal sex- therefore needed to keep themselves relatively clean. They'd bathed last night before the act, and planned to do so again before they went back on the road. Though they wouldn't completely stop their inhibitions if they weren't near a bathing area, it sure made it more attractive. Last night they went for what had to be hours, taking full advantage out of being cleaner then they'd been in weeks.

Nearby was a waterfall, though it wasn't massive or too picturesque, it sure was a sight for their sore eyes. One watched while one bathed, unable to enjoy one another's company while the act ensued, but today Blake was willing to put such thoughts aside- they hadn't seen anybody, raider or scavenger, traveler nor slaver, for days. Even the houses weren't as picked over as he was used to. They'd hit a rare pocket of the world that had yet to be fully ruined since the last bomb fell.

'Not that that didn't ruin it…' He thought with some disdain.

Putting the water jug back, he left the top open as a general reminder to head down to the waterfall after breakfast. They were out of leftovers from last night, but had plenty of stored goodies put away. He went to his backpack, unzipped it hastily as he reached in and fished out some relatively fresh crackers. They didn't taste too horrible. Remains of food looted from a purged and gutted grocery store. He reached down further for a can of EZ Cheese, the processed food stuff better then nothing…and it lasted forever.

"Com'on, Norm…" The ex-cop pried, "I got breakfast!"

Norman gave a smirk and did his best to stand up, pain shooting throughout his ass as he sought to move his muscles, tighten certain groups and ligaments that just so happened to pull and tug on his rectum- only to wince and sit back down on the cool floor. Even after being with Carter for a little more then a year now, the man's thick cock still stretched him to his limit, and no matter how slow and careful the pace, how much lube or spit, it didn't stop him from feeling as though a telephone poll was just crammed up his ass.

"Pancakes?"

"No, Norm." His tone sarcastic.

"Eggs, bacon?"

"Sure thing, right here…I got a griddle at the bottom of this motherfuck'n backpack…I'll just plug it right in!"

Norman smiled wide at the irritated voice of his partner.

"Waffles?"

"Norman! It's fuck'n…Just come here, all right? Making me hungry, you goddamn prick…"

Carter's voice trailed off as he walked towards the iron door, peeking out to be sure they were still alone.

"Yeah…Yeah, gimme a sec…"

With a sigh, he once more attempted, and this time succeeded in lifting himself from the floor, steadying himself with his right hand on the cave's floor as his face visibly cringed. Standing up, he half-hobbled, half limped towards the man as he stood there, greedily downing the crackers with a liberal amount of EZ- Cheese on each one.

"Haven' difficulties there, mister FBI?"

"Fuck off."

'Some things never change.' Carter smirked.

Even now, they teased one another, even if their titles meant nothing anymore. They had first met back when the world was connected, the air was relatively clean and the water free of deadly radiation- they had met near some train tracks under a rainy sky; clean rain…rain they now wished they could have back. Back then they wore pressed, intact clothing, used fully functioning guns and Jayden had those fancy glasses of his- glasses he had since lost and unable to recover. Something he never thought he'd live without, gone back in the rubble of D.C.

Handing Norman the sleeve of expired, stale crackers and can of EZ Cheese, he walked himself over to their backpacks once again, grunting as he took out his own jug of water and took a swig. Despite coming from the same waterfall, Carter knew there was a good possibility that the water was radiated. He had no way to know for sure, but the fact that it was running and from a farther location then when the bombs dropped, it was better than nothing. There was no getting around not taking in radiation in a world now bathed in it- but they did the best they could by not drinking standing water, limiting the eating of wild food, and taking any and all radon-removing pills they could.

Such pills, Potassium Iodine, were easier to find then one might think. Before the end came, the world was thrown into a flurry of nuclear fears thanks to the previous earthquake in Japan, and the recent very founded fears of Iran's nuclear weapons program becoming more pronounced. All the paranoid fucks of the world had whole basements full as it was, and in the last days before the final amberian dawn the government made the pills available at every pharmacy for free- five per customer, of course. Needless to say, nearly every house had them, as did every pharmacy. This made them available from nearly every town or trading point, even the occasional traveling scavenger looking for a buck or a fuck.

Looking for said pills, he found a box of the government issue type in the pop-out foil papers he lifted out, popping one of the big red and white pills as he drank the water down. Without hesitation, their morning ritual was repeated as always as he handed it to Norman, who took it from the man by instinct and repeated the action as he slugged the water back, taking a large guzzle to satisfy his morning thirst.

"Breakfast of champions." Jayden smiled, looking up towards his partner as they caught eyes and shared a laugh.

"We are fuckin' champions, aren't we?" Carter mused, a smile in his eyes as he titled his head and clicked in his mouth.

"…Survived a fuck'n nuke, right? Come on, let's get going…I'm sure the sun's warmed things up by now."

Author's Note:

Easily one of the most random things I've ever done- a Blayden fic that takes place amongst a post-nuclear apocalyptic backdrop? Wut?

In case you're wondering, yes, I am still working on Uploaded. I just had the perfect string of inspirations for this idea and had to start it. In fact, it's making me work on Uploaded even more. Why a post-nuclear apocalypse? A nuclear attack/war has always been a big fear for me. To me, there's nothing more catastrophic and/or horrifying then a nuclear warhead and it's after effects. The fact that it scares me, also fascinates me. I've always been a fan of the movie and game genre, and for some reason, these two would almost seem at home in it, for me. Their tone matches the slightly dystopian atmosphere. I will also add that despite having many similarities to Fallout, this fic is NOT, NOT, NOT, I REPEAT NOT, a Fallout crossover. Despite having many similarities, it has no 50's styling, no mutants, no vaults, ect. What I retained from that idea are things I believe would exist in a post-apocalyptic world, regardless of Fallout.

Yes, this will continue for a few more chapters. It is not, however, going to be overtly detailed or as long as my other stories. I might even update this one more often. Whoa, amazing concept, amirite?