Along with Lost Mirror, I've been working on a short story too! Because I'm trying to work on both at once, updates may be a bit slow sometimes. So please bear with me. Also, everything I know about guns comes from The Last of Us, and from a little bit of research using Google. Haha, please correct me if anything is horribly inaccurate. I suck with this sort of thing, and having only handled a gun once in my life... eee, yeah.
Oh, and to anybody who's never played The Last of Us, no worries! You don't need to have played in order to understand the story considering it has nothing to do with the game's actual characters or events.
Genre: Post-Pandemic, Romance, Tragedy, Horror, AU
Pairing: SaruFey, slight TenFey
WARNING: Strong Language, Violence, Blood & Gore, Alcohol, Minor Torture, Sex, & Death.
Note: The cover used for this story was my commission from Rinji over on Tumblr. Go to my profile to get the url! I recommend checking her blog out. Her artwork is gorgeous.
Chapter One – The God of Death & the Firefly
February 2032 (WINTER)
His breath painted the air with it's icy haze as he warily crept down the eerie alleyway. His shoes sank into the snow, generating more sounds than he would have liked as he continued forward, his gun poised in his steady hands as his violet orbs examined the blood splatters that stood out against the pure white blankets of snow.
Saryuu's gaze was hard as it followed the fresh blood trail through the small gap between the two crumbling skyscrapers. His thoughts were calm and collected, unwilling to yield to panic. He'd cleaned out the Infected in this area just the other day... Stragglers? Had he missed some? If so, who had they killed? Either way, if there was a dead body, then he could hopefully loot it of useful supplies.
Saryuu held his breath as he rounded the corner, carefully listening out for the usual groans or clicks of the Infected. The sun was beginning to set, and a few flakes continued to drift from the sky. The city was unnervingly quiet, almost seeming peaceful in it's own eerie sort of way.
Though that didn't seem to be the case for the corpse that lay propped against the brick wall around the alley's corner.
The Survivor with hair as white as the snow itself found his violet gaze drawn to the body almost instantly, snapping his gun in it's direction – indicating the paranoia years of surviving had caused him. He lowered it as he took in the body, preparing to check it for any sort of supplies he could swipe for himself.
The dead weren't in need of them...
Though Saryuu was quick to realize that 'dead' wasn't the case at all. His eyes widened through surprise when he took in the boy's fluttering eyes, and the way his hands desperately clasped at his side, blood streaming from between his quaking fingers and pooling onto the snow below. His teeth chattered loudly as he struggled to slow the rate at which his crimson red life force poured from him.
It appeared Saryuu's apparent corpse was very much alive.
At this rate, however, the teenage boy would die if he left him this way...
"What happened to you?" Saryuu knelt down before the dying boy, cocking his head slightly. He kept his 9mm pistol on hand, just in case. "You look like hell."
Saryuu watched as the boy's head flew up, and his violet eyes locked with minty coloured ones. Panic swam in their depths, though a bitterness was soon to replace it when a dark smile tugged at his lips, his voice weak. "If you're gonna kill me, just do it..."
"Now why would I do that?" Saryuu's voice was crisp in the winter air. His eyes searched the boy's face as he thought of what to do with him.
He could put him out of his misery.
Leave him.
Wait for him to die and then search his body later. Or even forcefully search his body right then and there.
Eventually, Saryuu's analyzing eyes took notice of the Firefly pendant that hung around the boy's neck. His violet eyes narrowed, his tone less friendly than before when he spoke next. What the hell would a member of the Fireflies be doing all the way out here? There were no Quarantine Zones close by. FEDRA wasn't around for them to pick a fight with... only Infected. Hunters lived in the town over, but as far as Saryuu knew, this city was as abandoned as any.
"Who did this to you?" Saryuu asked, reaching a hand out to grasp the Firefly pendant between his fingers. It read 'Fey Lune,' and the Fireflies emblem marked the opposite side. "If you're a Firefly, you better not tell me that you led FEDRA all the way out here."
Saryuu had prepared to move locations sometime soon, but if FEDRA was lingering about, he'd do so sooner in order to avoid them.
He released the pendant, letting it fall back against the boy's chest.
"So... you're not with them?" the green haired boy, Fey Lune apparently, asked almost hopefully. "Not FEDRA... The Hunters, I mean..."
"A hunter?" Saryuu frowned, "In a way, I suppose. Though I only kill if necessary." He may have robbed the dead, but he didn't wait around to murder the innocent. Not like most Hunters did. He was more so a scavenger, if anything. "Why? Are they the ones who hurt you?"
Fey nodded, though winced in pain afterwards. Saryuu watched as his fingers stiffened against his side, a whimper escaping him. "Y-yeah. In the town over. I was hungry... I didn't think there'd be so many of them..."
"So what? You stole their supplies?" Saryuu raised an eyebrow, a melodic laugh sounding from him. It seemed he found the situation entertaining, much to Fey's disbelief. "And you managed to make it out half-alive? You have guts. Then again, you're a Firefly. I suppose you'd need them. That, and a certain degree of skill. So tell me – I bet all of that 'follow the light' bullshit so wasn't worth it, by this point, now was it?"
"You're kind of a jerk," a weak, trembling smile found it's way to the dying boy's lips, "But you know what...? This sounds so, so stupid. But I was always scared of dying alone... That's how I always pictured it'd be. But jerk or not... thanks for finding me. It's not so lonely..."
Saryuu's heart stopped in his chest at the words, despite his earlier amusement.
Lonely...
Saryuu thought back to his friends.
How many of them had died on their own? How many of them had been pried away from this unforgiving world by icy fingers of death, living their final moments as they drowned in the depths of loneliness and despair - realizing that their life was swiftly ticking away.
When would it finally be his turn?
The mere thought left a cold pit in Saryuu's stomach...
Setting his pistol back into it's holster with a sigh, Saryuu shrugged his backpack off, unzipping it and rummaging through it's contents. A shotgun was attached to it's side, which Fey had begun to eye.
Even through the intense chattering of his teeth, the greenette managed to murmur. "Could..." he choked on his words, "Could you put an end to it? Take it all away?"
"If you're implying that I shoot you, then no. Ammo is hard to come across. I don't intend on wasting it." Saryuu didn't even raise his head from where his eyes were glued to his bag as he responded, but his senses were all on high alert – listening out for even the faintest trace of approaching Infected or any other sort of threat. He hated staying in one spot for too long, but it wasn't as if he could carry the boy back to his safe haven. Not in his condition.
"I suppose that's only fair..." Fey remained lighthearted, despite his misery, "It was selfish of me to ask... Still makes you a jerk though."
Saryuu smirked as he fished out a kit of sorts, tossing his bag to the side before shuffling closer to the fallen greenette and hastily opening up the kit's lid – revealing a few medical supplies inside. It didn't seem there was all too much left.
"Well this 'jerk' isn't going to shoot you, because you're not going to die, got it?" Saryuu said in his silvery voice, looking over his medical supplies before grabbing for a bottle of alcohol and stating, "This is gonna sting like a bitch, but we need to disinfect your wound."
Fey blinked at the other, fairly astonished. Why help him? It didn't seem like he'd planned to before...
"But...why?" he clutched more tightly at his wound, gathering the courage to peer down at it and take in the startling amounts of blood that tainted both the snow and his ragged jacket. "I don't want you to waste any of your medical supplies on me. Those sorts of things are scarce... Save them for somebody else... I'm probably gonna die either way by this point..."
Saryuu pried Fey's hands away from where they clasped at his side, unzipping the boy's jacket and carefully peeling it from his body before draping it over him like a blanket instead. It would keep him as warm as he could be, while giving Saryuu enough access to treat his wound.
"Do you want to die?" Saryuu's tone was calm, despite his words as he tugged Fey's shirt up and inspected the wound, "I'm already aware that my medical supplies need replenishing, so how about you shut up and accept my offer before I change my mind about it?" Before Fey could say anything in return, the white haired Survivor concluded in a softer voice, "You'll be fine. It looks like a knife wound? It isn't too deep. You probably would've died from the cold before bleeding out completely."
Blood was smeared against the boy's porcelain skin, and so Saryuu dabbed the area around the wound with a cloth before preparing to apply the alcohol. His violet eyes looked up from where they'd been locked on the greenette's side, meeting troubled minty orbs. "Are you ready?" he asked, "I'm going to start by disinfecting the wound, and then from there, I'll apply stitches. Both will hurt a lot, but you'll live."
Fey nodded his head silently in quick, shallow motions. The look in his eyes, however, swam with the question of 'why.' Why would he even bother when they were strangers?
But he didn't protest, instead resting his hands underneath the warmth of his coat. One hand curled around the fabric of his pants as the fingers of his other held his shirt in place for Saryuu, preparing for the onslaught of pain that was to come as he took an unsteady intake of air. He assured himself that he'd be fine... He could handle it... He'd been through unbearable amounts of agony before. Hell, he was already in pain presently.
He clenched his jaw the moment the alcohol came into contact with his skin, hissing through his teeth before his lips were forced apart and a scream tore it's way from his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly in an automatic response, his side feeling as if it'd been set aflame. His heart throbbed wildly in his chest as his head was overcome with dizziness and racing, unintelligible thoughts.
Nothing made sense anymore, just the pain as his vision flashed white behind his eyelids.
When he finally managed to catch his breath, it was shallow and raspy. Eventually, his eyes reluctantly fluttered open, and he fuzzily made out the sight of the white haired boy as he tugged at the black goggles that rested on the top of his head, and placed them over his eyes before he began suturing. The way their pale yellow lenses narrowed his vision helped him focus.
"You're doing fine," Saryuu's tone indicated his utmost concentration as he carefully wove the torn skin back together. A bead of sweat ran down his face, his calm exterior doing a flawless job at masking his inner worry. The boy's prior screams would most definitely attract any nearby Clickers or other types of Infected. He could only hope that he really had cleaned them all out the other day...
He listened out for any indication of their approach the entire procedure, though it bugged him that he'd be delayed in his actions by a few seconds considering he'd have to reach for his bag and then ready his shotgun. A few seconds delay alone could result in certain death.
"Talking may help you cope with the pain, assuming you're capable of even that," Saryuu offered as he continued with his work, hoping that maybe speech would help him ease his own nerves also. "I mean, I'd offer to hold your hand and all," he teased, his lips turning up in a smirk, "But I need them both, as you can see. Though, I suppose it's best to assume you're too badass for that, being a Firefly and all."
"Are you always a dick?" Fey's voice trembled, but Saryuu could hear the attempted smile in his tone.
As messed up as the entire situation was, Saryuu couldn't keep from thinking that it was somehow... nice. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spoken with somebody, and frankly, he liked to talk. Normally, he'd talk to himself considering that was the only option available to him, but it wasn't the same when there was no response.
This however, well it was soothing. He hadn't ever admitted just how much he'd missed the company; of how much he'd missed conversations, asides from those he shared with those attempting to kill him.
"It seems your impression of me is final," Saryuu laughed, a musical sound that was pleasant to Fey's ears yet tinged with a sort of sarcasm that the injured boy couldn't decipher. Saryuu seemed quite complicated. "And here I thought I'd redeemed myself."
"Hmmm," Fey closed his eyes at the discomfort that followed as Saryuu continued to draw the needle and string through him repeatedly, the pain sharp and the wound continuing to ache from it's prior exposure to the alcohol. It hurt like hell, and he was beginning to feel nauseous. A whimper coming from him, he responded breathlessly, his faint laugh unsteady, "I'll decide once you're finished."
Any facial features that indicated Saryuu's earlier amusement diminished as he became absorbed in focus yet again, his mouth a tight line. "Which will be soon. It won't take much longer now."
He strained his violet eyes, as the sun had now sank into the sky, leaving him with nothing but silver tinged moonlight. With a frustrated sigh, he dragged his backpack closer towards him with his foot, holding the string and needle in place with a single hand as he outstretched the other to click the button on his flashlight. It had been attached to his bag's strap, and he angled it as best as he could before picking back up from where he'd left off.
Fey's eyes grew soft as he continued to watch the stranger, his appreciation evident. It still troubled him that a complete stranger would come to his aid. In this cruel, unforgiving world most people were out for only themselves.
This white haired boy, no matter how cynical, was like some sort of guardian angel. Fey's saviour. The gentle swirl of snowflakes that danced around him, and the silver light of the moon that highlighted his features really weren't helping Fey with that belief.
"C-could..." Fey paused, gritting his teeth through his pain, "What's your name?"
Saryuu blinked, astonished at the incredibly simple question. But he was quick to recollect himself as he answered rather coolly, his gaze unflinching from where it was fixated on Fey's side,"Saryuu Evan. But you can call me Saru."
"Saru?" Fey repeated the name, "Saru as in monkey?"
Saryuu laughed musically, "Fey Lune, correct? You should be the last to question name meanings. Your name is hardly appropriate for our ruthless, post-pandemic world." He paused. "Well, this may sound dark, but it may be that it IS fitting that makes it highly inappropriate. I don't believe anybody would wish for such a cruel reminder." When Fey didn't answer, Saryuu suspected that the boy had no idea what it was he spoke of, so he added, "In Old German, your name's meaning was either 'Doomed' or 'Fated to die.' Not exactly the sort of name I'd wish upon myself."
"Yeah, tell that to the injured kid, mister insensitive."
Saryuu's smile grew more gentle as he added, "On another note, in French, your name means Faith."
The Survivor didn't admit such to the Firefly, but he found Faith far more fitting to the greenette. Despite the hopelessness that'd long ago consumed him, Saryuu found himself feeling even the least bit hopeful with the discovery of this boy. Instead of witnessing death all around him, he'd somehow managed to preserve life. For once...
"How can my name have two completely different meanings?" Fey asked, his tone both amused yet disbelieving.
"I don't know... The world was strange before the pandemic hit," Saryuu shrugged his shoulders, though just barely considering he didn't wish for the vibration of the motion to cause Fey any unnecessary pain. "From books and magazines I've found and read throughout my travels, it all sounds like what they referred to as Fairy Tales. I mean, I can't imagine what it must have been like to live that way. Where their biggest issues were deciding what clothes to wear ; which social groups to be apart of ; what to do with their long lives."
Fey nodded in agreement, though what appeared to be longing clouded his minty eyes. It wasn't until Fey spoke as brightly as he could manage through his body's trauma that Saryuu understood why. "But have you ever seen anything in any magazine or book that you really wish you could see or do?"
"Oh?" Saryuu's smirk returned, "You clearly have."
Fey clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath before replying, "You could say that." A small smile found it's way to his quivering lips. "I've been learning about it through whatever I could, mostly magazines and my papa. It's called soccer, and if I could do one thing from their world, it'd be that."
"Soccer?" Saryuu repeated the word, an eyebrow raised, "Isn't that what the old world called a sport? The one where one kicks a ball around?" It was a strange mental image to have. The last thing he could imagine himself doing was kicking around some ball, especially when all he ever did benefited his survival somehow. Did all Fireflies have time to think about such unrealistic things? Why waste time fantasizing when he could be improving his shots and other skills? Or hunting for essential supplies?
'Maybe because he still has faith...'
Perhaps Fey's name suited him more so then Saryuu had first considered.
"That's the one," Fey closed his eyes, gritting his teeth one final time as Saryuu finished with the last of the sutures. The white haired Survivor withdrew, wiping the cold sweat from his brow and lifting his goggles from his face in order to place them back onto the top of his head. Attentively, he helped the boy back into his jacket. "Papa's the one who told me about it... He was around before the pandemic hit, so he's really knowledgeable."
Saryuu stored the med kit back into his bag, swinging it over his shoulders before returning to where he knelt at Fey's side. "You're all patched up. But it's best that you don't move for a while, so I suppose it'd be acceptable for me to take you with me to my safe house."
As much as he detested the mere thought of carrying Fey the entire way... It would be dangerous.
If they were to run into any enemies... well, he'd need to hope that he would notice them before they knew of his own presence. Only then would Saryuu be granted enough time to place Fey down safely and then ready his weapon of choice. But if he was spotted, chances of death – for Fey, in particular – would increase significantly.
He was hardly fond of such odds, but it was too late to ditch the injured boy. There was no point in that, not after Saryuu had used medical supplies on him. They'd only go to waste, otherwise. He'd chosen to take temporary responsibility of him, whether the greenette was currently useless or not.
"A-are you sure that's okay?" Fey furrowed his eyebrows, almost worriedly, "Is it far? How will you defend yourself if -"
Saryuu carefully scooped the boy into his arms, silencing him. Fey was rather surprised as the white haired boy's strong arms snaked beneath his legs. Saryuu's second arm supported Fey's back, and the Survivor lifted himself from where he'd been kneeling as he lifted Fey and cuddled him towards his chest. Despite his earlier protest, Fey's arms automatically locked around Saryuu's neck for extra support.
"Shut up and let me handle it," Saryuu breathed out into the icy, night air. "Or would you rather I leave you here in the snow?"
The greenette fell silent, and so Saryuu made his way forward, hoping not to hear anymore protests as he made his way through the alleyway, emerging out onto a dark street packed with decaying cars and snow dusted debris. It would be difficult to maneuver his way back, considering he wouldn't be able to climb over such obstacles this time.
Saryuu decided to take the detour, squeezing in-between what cars he could before reaching the opposite side of the road. He avoided ice patches that indicated areas that had been flooded in the warmer temperatures, entering a glass skyscraper that'd once been coated in bright green vegetation. Now, however, the only thing indicating such were the dead vines that continued to entangle the dull building's glass surface. Several windows had been shattered, and so snow had drifted into the building's interior.
The survivor crept down a snow dusted hallway, it's walls peeling and crumbling in areas. Firefly graffiti coated less damaged areas of the wall's surface, including both their emblem and their motto, 'follow the light.'
Saryuu narrowed his violet orbs as he intently listened out for any noises that indicated that they were not alone...
Eventually, Saryuu came to a halt as his flashlight illuminated the large gap in the floor. A plank had been set there by another who had obviously needed it to cross in the past, but Saryuu inspected it suspiciously, unconfident that it would hold. The cold temperatures had most likely coated it with ice, making it prone to snapping in half underneath both his and Fey's weight...
Cursing, he peered down into the splintered hole, his flashlight shimmering against a surface that must have been water. A flooded basement...
Saryuu didn't know how deep the water's level was. It would be unimaginably cold, and if it was deep enough, they would most likely drown if they fell in.
If not for Fey, he may have even been able to jump the distance.
Taking a reassuring breath, Saryuu concluded that he had no other choice and so took his chances with the plank. He tested it with his foot first, checking that it still contained any strength at all. Focused, he took a step forward. Fey must have realized what they were doing also, because Saryuu could feel the boy's hold tighten around his neck as he pressed his face into him. "What?" Saryuu mocked in an attempt to help sooth his own nerves. He flinched at the groan the plank made as he achieved the half way point. It was slippery, but manageable, at least. Now, if only it would hold for a few more seconds. "Don't tell me you're scared of heights."
"No," Fey didn't lift his head, which left his voice muffled, "I just don't like dark, ominous basements."
"What? Have a bad experience?"
"Who hasn't." Fey added, "My impression of you hasn't changed, by the way."
"Ouch, how about I drop you r-"
Saryuu choked on his words when he could feel the wood that supported him begin to give away, a piercing crack echoing through the narrow hallway. He leaped the last little bit of distance, landing on the other side of the gap with a thud just as the plank snapped in two with a deafening crunch behind him.
"Holy crap," Saryuu heard Fey just barely breathe into his coat, unmoving as his arms remained stiffly wrapped around his neck.
Saryuu chuckled a bit, recollecting himself before continuing down the hall. He could feel it as Fey gradually began to relax in his hold again.
As tempting as it was, Saryuu fought the desire to investigate the several offices he passed, telling himself that he'd have to come back and search them for anything useful when he wasn't preoccupied with Fey. For now, he wanted nothing more than to hurry back to his safe haven.
He froze when they managed to reach the rear side of the skyscraper. They'd taken a few more detours, having to go up and down floors as the path ahead of them was blocked. But now, Saryuu found himself at an opening. Snow and wind whistled in through the window's jagged hole. It appeared large enough for Saryuu to climb through.
What had halted both his heart and motion, however, were the faint clicking noises that sounded from the other side.
"I'm going to check things outside beforehand," Saryuu mentioned as he knelt to the ground and set Fey down on the floor. He placed him against a wall, which supported his back. The greenette hissed in pain, his hands shooting to his side.
With that, Saryuu dragged a nearby desk over to the opening in the wall, using it as a boost before peering outside. The road here was far clearer than the previous one. He'd be able to move along it without worrying about any obstacles slowing him down. The only thing he'd need to be wary of were ice patches that indicated the flooded areas.
Continuing forward would have to wait, however.
The clicking noises from before were far clearer, and it didn't take long before Saryuu took in the form of the Infected Clicker as it walked through the snow with it's distinctive limp. It wandered aimlessly a few feet below, having not noticed him. As it was blind, it didn't take notice of Saryuu's flashlight as it washed over it's grotesque form. The Cordyceps Fungus, like all Clickers, had protruded from it's face, concealing it's eyes and framing it's facial features like some sort of monstrous masquerade mask.
Saryuu frowned as he crawled back down from the desk and back into the safe interior of the building. Well, it was safe for now, at least...
He scooped Fey back up, carrying him onto the top of the desk's surface before resting him back down. Saryuu grabbed for his 9mm pistol, releasing it from his holster and pressing it against Fey's fingers until he took it uncertainty.
"There's a lone Clicker out there, and there could be more nearby." Saryuu whispered, readying his shotgun as he took it from where it'd been strapped to his bag. "You need to stay here, and just in case, if you had to, do you know how to use that?"
Fey nodded. Thank god. He'd been a Firefly. Saryuu would've been concerned if the boy couldn't even handle a firearm. "Yeah, but-"
"No buts," Saryuu continued firmly, "You're useless to me like this. But I do have to ask you to do one painful thing for me. Do you think you can handle it?" He nodded a second time. "Good. Once I jump from this window, I won't be able to get back in here. So when I give the okay, you're going to have to stand up and jump from this opening. Got it? Don't worry, I'll catch you."
"Saru, why don't you just take a shot from up here? Wouldn't that be safer?"
He'd considered it, but shook his head in response. He'd use his shotgun if necessary, but if he could preserve ammo, then that would be best. Having loaded it, just in case, Saryuu placed his shotgun back onto his backpack. "No. Like I said, there may be more of them, so I'll try and stealth kill it. I don't want to attract more than I have to." His violet eyes narrowed as he asked a second time, his tone sharper then it'd been previous. "You didn't answer my question. Do you think you can handle it or not?"
"Okay," Fey tried not to think about the scenario where his sutures burst open at the performance... His frown, however, was more so the result of his own self-deprecation. He hated feeling so useless. First, Saryuu had patched him up, and now he had to lay around as Saryuu threw himself into Clicker territory. He couldn't keep from feeling bitter. "Be careful."
"Perfect," Saryuu directed a small smile at the greenette before climbing through the window and jumping through it. It wasn't all too high, but the crunch of snow beneath his feet as he landed was still enough to grab the Clicker's attention. It stiffened, ceasing all movement asides from the swivelling of it's head as it cried out into the night with it's bone chilling clicks and groans.
Saryuu remained the way he'd landed – crouched. He moved at a slow, careful pace, his hand brushing along the edge of the shiv he had prepared. The sounds of his feet in the snow, however, made stealth almost impossible.
Saryuu bit the inside of his mouth as the Clicker went to investigate where he had first landed. But it was quick to catch on to the quiet shuffling of his boots in the snow as he moved, no matter how slow. It's head snapped in his direction, and it crept towards him in it's clumsy array of movements.
"Fuck," Saryuu lipped, his eyes searching the ground for any sort of safe spots – an area that was free of snow, maybe. But he spotted something far more helpful instead.
An empty liquor bottle.
Saryuu crept over to it, eagerly taking it into his hands before bringing his arm back and throwing it into the wall of a nearby building.
It shattered on impact, exploding into a hundred glass pieces against the wall before spraying onto the snow's surface. It's piercing scream filled the air, and the Clicker was quick to back off, turning it's back on him as it hurried over to the source of the earsplitting noise.
Saryuu quickly approached it when it's back was still turned, coming up behind it and wrapping an arm around it firmly before driving his shiv into it's throat, it's shrill clicks and miserable screams dying along with it as it sagged to the floor.
He moved away from the corpse as if it were poison, crouching back down to the ground as he listened out for any signs of any other approaching infected. His heart pounded in his chest as he did so, the adrenaline that'd been pumped into his veins still very much present. The thumping made it difficult for him to distinguish any other sounds as it rung madly in his ears.
When he was confident that he was alone, Saryuu stood up straight, storing the shiv that would most likely be capable of surviving one more use before the abuse rendered it unusable.
He moved towards the jagged opening of the building he had been inside previous, his voice seeming louder than he would have liked in the empty air around them once he spoke. "Fey?" he called, "Fey, are you alright? It's safe now, so hurry up. But watch out for the glass edges."
An unnoticed sigh of relief followed when Saryuu directed his flashlight's beam towards the shattered window, and he watched as Fey's illuminated form shakily stood and peeked through the gap. He'd stuck the 9mm in his pocket for now, his facial features twisted by the agony of standing.
He whimpered, clutching at his side before warning Saryuu that he was ready to jump. The white haired boy reassured him that he was prepared, readying his arms and trying to coax him into jumping.
Once he did, Saryuu caught him with ease, though the impact left Fey hissing through his teeth, the pain dizzying to him.
Saryuu inspected his clothes for any blood leakage that would indicate broken sutures, but it seemed Fey was fine. Or, as fine as he could be, at least.
"We're almost there." Pain or not, Saryuu couldn't keep from thinking that they had no time to stop. He continued down the snow covered road, keeping a look out for any eerie shapes that moved about in the shadowy light of his flashlight. "You can rest when we're safe."
Just a few more blocks...
"I'm fine," Fey said, "You're the one who just had a one-on-one with the Clicker. It didn't hurt you, did it?"
"A lone Clicker?" Saryuu laughed, "God no. Do I seem so pathetic?"
Fey's pained expression lit up faintly with a small smile as he teased, "I didn't take you as the type to be so sensitive."
Saryuu simply smirked at that, carrying Fey the remainder of the way in silence as his senses remained on high alert. He grew more and more relieved once the building's dark form came into view, the silver moonlight bathing it as if it were the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
His flashlight flew over the worn out sign as he approached. It appeared that it had been made up of incandescent lights of some kind, though it had long ago stopped working. A few of the glass letters were severely cracked and the X in Extreme was broken and resting on an angle.
It read 'The Extreme Rabbit.' In smaller font underneath was 'Nightclub.'
Inside, broken glass from liquor bottles and overhead lights coated the vast, open floor. A stage of some kind resided in the back, and there was a set of stairs to the right that led to an upper floor. But their metal had already been twisted and broken by the time Saryuu had first come across it, making exploration of the upper floor impossible.
Strange, plastic appearing chairs and tables that seemed to match were strewn all around, littering random areas of the room. Silver moonlight shown through the windows, acting as the room's one and only light source.
Light amounts of snow coated the dark coloured floor, having seeped in through any broken windows.
Saryuu ignored the surroundings, making a beeline for a heavy duty door that was located in the back corner of the apparent nightclub.
He managed to swing it open, despite the awkwardness of having Fey in his arms, and then locked it behind him before making his way down a set of concrete stairs into the nightclub's basement.
A few pieces of furniture that Saryuu had taken from the upper floor decorated his living quarters, and a bright gas lamp lit it's space as it sat on a centre table. High windows hung on the walls, allowing for the moonlight to flow inside and also aid with lighting the dark room.
A mattress without a bed frame rested in one of the room's corners, and another corner was occupied with many of his findings and other supplies. There were some cans of food ; a few magazines ; some backup weapons...
Saryuu went right to the bed, gently laying Fey onto it's surface. He was surprised to see that the greenette had already drifted into sleep somehow, probably having done so when he was still in Saryuu's arms. It didn't look all too peaceful, however. The boy's eyebrows were knitted together and his lashes seemed to flutter ever so slightly. Not even sleep could help him to escape the pain.
Now that the boy was asleep, Saryuu took the time to inspect him for any bites. He wanted to believe that Fey had told him nothing but the truth, but he couldn't be too careful. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when the world was littered with many who were crooked. The last thing he wanted was to wake up to a Fey who attacked him through the disorientation and increased aggression that the infection caused in earlier stages. Glad to find him clear, Saryuu pulled the thin bed blankets over him.
"I've done all I can do for him," Saryuu muttered, violet eyes flickering over his sleeping form. He wished he had some type of pain killer to give to him. The Hunters in the town over probably did... But bargaining with them was out of the question. Saryuu was proud to say that he was more then confident that he could most definitely take on a group of them in a gun fight, hands down. But that was also out of the question. Not only would it be a large waste of ammo, depending on whether the Hunters had a large amount stashed away for him to take after he'd won, but he was also wary of their tendency to hold grudges.
Groups always seemed to be affiliated, and the last thing he wanted to do was earn himself a grudge from various groups of spread out Hunters who would become hell bent on avenging their buddies.
For now, however, Saryuu placed his bag next to a chair he seated himself upon, fetching his shotgun and resting it in his lap. Reluctantly, he closed his eyes and told himself that it was okay to sleep now.
It took quite a bit of time before his instincts settled down enough, allowing for him to relax into the chair, his hands loosely settled upon his gun. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to sleep. All it brought upon him were more nightmares, though these ones weren't real and only a figment of his imagination. That, or resurfaced memories that his guilty mind forced him to relive.
'You have purpose now... Think about protecting him... Fey...'
Saryuu turned his head in his chair, taking one last glance at the boy before hesitantly closing his eyes yet again. It was when he encouraged himself that sleep would help him protect the greenette that Saryuu gradually found himself drifting off, his mind growing hazy as he settled into a pit of darkness. Though this time, it didn't feel so cold...
The rain splattered against the pavement, falling heavily from the dull sky. It ran through Saryuu's white strands of hair and across his tanned skin, staining his face with it's misery as Saryuu's violet eyes dilated in horror.
He gathered the silver object from the ground with trembling fingers, his mind blank in it's inability to accept what it meant.
"M-Meia?" the words just barely escaped his lips as fear entangled his heart and turned the blood in his veins cold. The silver object in his hand was undoubtedly hers... It was the engagement ring Giris had given to her a few months before. But she wouldn't ever lose it. No way... She never even took the damned thing off her finger.
It didn't make sense... Not unless she was...
He couldn't process it.
Placing the ring into his pocket, Saryuu continued onward, his stomach in knots as he repeatedly chastised himself for letting them split off into groups... "We should have stayed together... Why didn't I stay with them...? First Pino... then Nike... Imusu, Yuuchi, Yokka, Om, Sheep... Why?"
So much death.
Too much.
"Meia... Giris... Please don't leave me... Please...You're all I have left..."
Not too much further from where he'd found the ring, Saryuu found their bodies.
Saryuu clasped a hand to his mouth, holding in a strangled cry as the horrors that had once been his friends filled his vision. Mutilated bodies, blood and tangled hair were all that was left. If not for the long, purple hair that was distinctly Meia's, and the black framed glasses of the boy next to her, their corpses would have been unrecognizable...
This wasn't the work of Hunters or Infected...
Cannibals.
Saryuu bowed his head, fighting the burning sensation that tormented his eyes as he fought the urge to throw up. He couldn't look any longer... not at the bodies that had been left mangled, their limbs viciously torn from them so that the cannibals could carry them...
"Oh god..." Saryuu choked, squeezing his eyes shut as the tears finally came, spilling down his face and mixing with the rain water. "I can't. I can't!"
"Saru!"
The white haired boy's eyes snapped open at the distant voice.
"Meia?" he murmured hopefully, "Giris?"
The voice answered with another call of his name.
So what? He was going crazy now?
Saryuu answered thickly, his shoulders quaking as he desperately called out to the voice in which he couldn't see, "Hello!? Is somebody there! Please help me! Don't leave me alone! I can't stand being alone!"
"Saru! Saru, wake up!"
The white haired boy's eyes snapped open, his heart hammering through his chest and a gasp tearing it's way from his throat. He could feel hands on him, and so thrashed in response to their touch, his shotgun slipping from his lap and clacking onto the floor below through his panic.
It wasn't until he'd pushed the greenette to the floor roughly that Saryuu's eyes fluttered, his confusion diminishing when he realized he'd been locked within a nightmare and now resided in reality.
"Fey!" Saryuu shot up from his chair, staring down at the boy who lay at his feet. He didn't know whether to help him up, or to feel so ashamed that he couldn't even manage to do so. Instead, he tried to appear nonchalant, turning his head away as he muttered, almost bitterly, "I'm sorry..."
Fey picked himself up from the ground, clutching at his side as he shook his head. "You were having a nightmare... You don't need to apologize. You were crying out in your sleep..."
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Saryuu seemed to snap, falling back into his chair as he crossed his arms over his chest and avoided the boy's eyes.
"I'm fine," Fey sat down in the chair opposite of Saryuu, his soft facial features highlighted by the light of the nearby gas lamp as he directed a reassuring smile at him. "I feel a lot better, thanks to you."
"Good," Saryuu's tone was sour, the words tumbling from his mouth before he could even think in his desperate attempt to avoid the subject of his nightmare. He didn't need some stranger to witness him in such a state. It was embarrassing. "Once you're healthy again, it's best for you to leave. So think about where it is you plan to go. Go back to your Firefly friends, or whatever."
Fey pressed his lips together tightly, peering into his lap before his minty coloured hues flickered back to Saryuu's violet gaze. "I can't..." he murmured, "I ran away."
"Oooh, what a rebel. I'm sure they'll take you back, regardless."
The greenette furrowed his eyebrows, the first trace of anger on the boy's face that Saryuu had witnessed thus far. Fey's tone sounded slightly lower, more warning. "You don't know what happened. I'm not going back."
Saryuu shrugged his shoulders before leaning down to retrieve his shotgun. He set it on the table next to his chair. "I honestly don't care whether you go back there or not. But you need to sort something out. Trust me. Nothing good would come of it if you stayed here."
Everyone around him seemed to meet death. He was a reaper.
"We're both on our own! So we may as well help each other out," Fey insisted, raising his voice, "Besides, I owe you! You saved my life, so the least I could do is help you survive. You're like..." he searched for the word, desperate to convey how it was he felt, "You're my saviour!"
Saryuu couldn't hold back his mocking laugh, which only caused Fey to fight the topic further.
"You think it sounds stupid? Well, of course you do. But you know what? You're a complete asshole, so what should I expect?" Fey's facial expression was mocking in it's own sort of way right then, though it was quickly consumed with sheer determination and raw emotion when he continued, "But if it weren't for you, I would've died today. I would've rotted in some alleyway, alone and scared as I lived the last of my moments wondering if an Infected would find me, or if there was anybody out there who would even remember me!"
Saryuu's amusement faded from his face as the images of Meia and Giris haunted his mind...
Had they been scared, knowing that the end was approaching? Had they still been alive as the cannibals had torn their bodies apart?
And what about him? No one remained who would even remember him if he were to die... What did that mean for Meia and Giris, and all the other Survivors he had considered his friends? If he died, who would remember them?
"You're persistent..." Saryuu propped his elbow against the chair's arm, resting his chin against the surface of his knuckles as he watched Fey with an unwavering gaze. The golden light from the lantern glowed in those fierce eyes. He didn't like it... he didn't like it at all. He wouldn't be able to stand it if he witnessed another ally die. Why was he hurting himself like this? Because he was lonely, and longed for the boy to stay? Because of what he'd said? With an unnoticeable sigh, Saryuu's eyes narrowed and a slight furrow appeared in his brow as he said with a hard gaze, "I'll permit it. But only if you can promise me that you'll never die on me."
"What?" Now it was Fey's turn to fight the sardonic look from his face. "But-"
"Either you promise, or you can leave," Saryuu stated, his voice cold.
Fey hesitated, finding the promise to be a childish one. But the serious glint in Saryuu's eyes displayed to him that Saryuu was in need of it. He wasn't joking. Either way, Fey believed that keeping such a promise was an impossible feat in such a harsh world. But despite that, he accepted, regardless. "Okay. I promise."
Pleased, Saryuu gave the boy a slight smile through the dimness. "Good..." his tone was warm, "Now get back to bed. It's still the middle of the night."
Fey glanced towards one of the many high windows, realizing that Saryuu was indeed correct. The sky was tinged ebony, it's twinkling stars and glowing moon embraced by it's shadowy blanket.
Fey hesitated at the suggestion, his eyes watching Saryuu and his body unmoving. "You know..." he began cautiously, his minty orbs glowing with both sympathy and a soothing gentleness. "Before we go back to bed, we can talk about your nightmare, if you'd like? I imagine it must be scary to go back to sleep after having it. It might help if you talk about it."
"There are a lot of scary things in this world," Saryuu responded, "But you know what? That's life."
"That doesn't mean you can't talk about it if -"
That spiteful laugh from before returned and Saryuu shook his head at the boy. "And what about the Fireflies? Do you want to talk about that? To tell me why you left?" When Fey silently shook his head, an emotion that looked an awful lot like guilt crossing his facial features, Saryuu laughed even more bitterly, "See? There's some things we each need to keep to ourselves."
Fey bowed his head, troubled orbs staring into his lap as he bit at his lower lip. He felt bad for prying, as Saryuu was right. If Fey had been in his shoes, he probably would have grown agitated as well. He couldn't stand it when others tried to include themselves in his business.
Hoping to maybe make it up to him, Fey proposed, tilting his head to the side as he forced a smile, "Then is it okay if we just talk? Not about anything personal... I don't know. Just talk. Talk about anything. I'd like to get some air anyway."
"You're hardly fit to go out for a walk," Saryuu mentioned. But the longer he found himself staring into Fey's face, the more he could feel himself soften somewhat. "Buuut," he added musically, "If you'd really like, I can take you upstairs and we can lay on a table or something. The windows are mostly shattered, so there'll be plenty of fresh, winter air for you to breathe in. Besides, talking with you sounds charming, so how can I decline?"
Fey beamed, watching as Saryuu stood from his seat and wandered over to his side. He gently took the boy into his arms, carrying him up the basement stairs.
Just as he'd proposed, he set him down on one of the many tables once they emerged out onto the open, upper floor, sitting down next to him. The air was cold to his lungs, but it was refreshing in a way. He glanced over at Fey, following the eyes that stared up at one of the large windows. A perfect view of the moon was framed there.
There was something alluring about him... Maybe it was the way he'd fought to stay by his side, despite knowing him for only the past few hours. Or the faith he'd given him by showing him that he was capable of more then just death. Or maybe it was the fierceness of those eyes. Or perhaps it was even the way the moonlight washed over his form right then...
"So," Fey turned towards him, catching his stare. He didn't question it, however, instead tilting his head faintly as he asked, "To start, tell me a bit about yourself. I mean, we're partners or something now, so help me get to know you better. Hmmm, what's your favourite colour? Yeah, we can start there."
Saryuu thought about it, realizing how rusty he was with simple conversation. "I don't know," he struggled, bringing a hand to his chin in thought, "Orange, maybe?"
He thought of sunsets and how witnessing one always reminded him that he'd survived yet another day. That, and the way they painted the sky with swirls of different shades was breathtakingly beautiful. He thought about how he wanted to maybe watch a sunset with Fey someday.
Definitely orange.
"For some reason everybody always thinks that's my favourite colour," Fey smiled, "It's nice, but mine would have to be red."
"Red can mean many things," Saryuu smirked, "Do you associate it with danger? Fire? Passion? Blood? Anger? Beauty? Sacrifice?"
He was satisfied when he brought on a pleasant sounding laugh.
"What are you even going on about? I like it because I like it," Fey let his laughter settle before adding, "What about food? Do you have a favourite food?"
Saryuu shrugged, "It's not like we have a choice in what we eat. I'm happy, so long as it gets me by. Why? How about you? You've tasted that one thing in particular that you now crave? How charming for you."
"I mean, with conditions the way they are, I'm always more than happy to eat whatever it is that's available, but I'll never forget this one type of cereal that my papa found and gave to me when I was little. It was cinnamon flavoured, and I haven't come across it again since. But that just makes the memory all the more special." Fey smiled, a look that almost seemed sad and somehow nostalgic. "My papa was always looking out for me."
Saryuu decided not to ask any questions, concluding that he avoid personal discussions. In such a cold, desolate world the outcome to such questions could be any. The possibilities were countless, and having endured plenty of loss of his own, Saryuu would much rather avoid causing Fey any unwanted thoughts or memories.
Fey realized that he must have left their conversation off on an awkward note, and so picked up from where he'd left off, switching topics with a forced grin. "You knew that my first name meant Faith, right? How about Lune. Does that mean anything?"
"It means moon, which is also French..." Saryuu paused as he gazed up at the moon above, "It suits well with Faith. I mean, the moon itself is a beacon: a light in all of this darkness."
Fey blushed, uncertain on whether he should take the statement personally or not. Had Saryuu intended to direct the compliment towards him – using his name meaning to indirectly flatter him? Or had Saryuu said such without intending that at all? Fey didn't know how to respond, and so merely found himself staring into Saryuu's violet orbs.
He couldn't imagine that it'd been meant for him. How the hell was he like a beacon? A light in the darkness? If anything, that was exactly what Saryuu was to him. He'd saved him, after all.
The air around them fell silent as Saryuu seemed to look off into the sky, gazing at the stars that shone brightly in the sky alongside the moon.
Fey chose to embrace that comfortable silence, ignoring the ache in his side as he withdrew his stare from the other and followed suit by watching the sky also.
He didn't know how much time had passed before it was broken, but it'd been long enough for Fey to settle into it considering he jumped when Saryuu next spoke, grasping at his side when a sharp pain followed after the startling motion.
"What are you thinking about?"
Fey scrambled for a response, shrugging his shoulders in a shallow motion as he replied rather sheepishly, "I don't know. That the sky's pretty, I guess." He didn't admit that it was pleasant to be in the other Survivor's company. He hadn't been around anybody his age in quite a while. Hell, he hadn't been around anybody he could consider an ally since he'd left the Fireflies. He added with a teasing smile, "It's about time you asked me a question. Go ahead and throw me another one."
"Which weapons are you skilled in using?" Saryuu looked the boy up and down curiously, trying to picture what it was he'd seen Fireflies use when it came to their weapons of choice. He'd seen some wield firearms, while another's skill resided with a bow and arrow. Saryuu shook his head in disapproval at the thought. He liked their ability to stealth kill, but he couldn't keep from finding them to be inconvenient. Perhaps it was his bias for firearms talking. He'd always had a good shot when it came to guns.
"Right down to business, huh?" Fey gave Saryuu a knowing smile.
"Well I'd like to know that I can trust you to take care of yourself. I'm not going to babysit you."
Fey rose an eyebrow at him challengingly, "I've used a variety of weapons. I'm more an all-rounder then anything, but give me a melee weapon and a rifle, and I'll be just fine. I've also handled molotov cocktails before, so you can trust me with explosive type weapons too. Hmmm, but I don't babysit either. You're not the only one who's worried about being slowed down."
Saryuu gave him a dry smile in return to the comment, though he admitted to himself without actually stating such that he was impressed.
"Go ahead. Ask me another one."
"You really like these questions, don't you?" Saryuu smiled, though it wasn't one of his insulting or sarcastic sort of looks. He liked to talk, and having somebody around who didn't mind that... He couldn't remember the last time somebody had given him the inner strength to manage a real smile. "Fine, but after this, I'm taking you back to bed. It's incredibly late, and you need to rest. I'm shocked you're even up." It took him a few moments of thinking before he asked curiously, having come up with a question for the boy, "Describe what you think of me in five words."
The greenette smiled slyly at that, and Saryuu smirked in return, telling himself that he should have known not to expect a sincere answer. "What I think? Well, I think you're sort of passive-aggressive ; a bit of a sarcastic jerk ; an asshole ; somewhat bossy ; stubborn ; moody; complicated." Fey paused, his sarcasm fading into something that appeared far more genuine as he added, his tone kind, "A saviour."
"That's more than five..." Saryuu frowned, "I was being serious, you know."
"Oh?" Fey tilted his head to the side innocently, "So was I." Despite that, his facial features betrayed him in the end, a wobbly smile striking his lips as he tried to keep from laughing.
"You're so ungrateful," Saryuu mocked upset, peering into his lap as he thought about getting up and taking Fey to bed now that he'd asked his last question. But at the thought that it was over, the moment they'd shared suddenly seemed to truly sink in. He processed just how precious moments like these were. He didn't ever know when it would be his last. His eyes drifting back up to the sky, he asked quietly, "Is it okay if I ask you just one more question? I promise this will be the last one."
Fey nodded his head, his eyes blinking over at the other as they seemed to gently regard the delicate tone of Saryuu's voice.
"Why did you fight to stay here?" he asked, his gaze unable to break away from the sight of the dark sky as he held his breath, awaiting Fey's answer. He was almost scared to try and locate any sort of reaction that flickered upon the greenette's face. "You keep saying that I'm your saviour, but that doesn't mean anything in this world. You hardly know a thing about me. I could be a psychotic freak who hopes to do all sorts of horrible things to you. The Infection isn't the only thing out there that effects the brain and makes one crazy... Why devote yourself to somebody you hardly even know when you may not even live to see the next morning? Why not just live for yourself?"
Saryuu's lips pressed together into a tight line as his question neared it's end. He couldn't keep from feeling that he'd said too much. Had he seemed too personal? Too emotional? It wasn't often that he displayed his feelings. He'd always been stubborn that way.
"How is what you did any different?" Fey shuffled closer, angling his head in a way that allowed for him to peer up into Saryuu's eyes considering they wouldn't turn to meet his own. A sense of warmth glowed from those minty pools as Saryuu reluctantly met their gaze, taking in the small smile on the boy's lips. "I'm a complete stranger too, and yet you decided to use your medical supplies to safe my life. You decided to risk your very own life just to bring me here. Yeah, maybe there are psychos out there. But I could've been one too. I could've been pretending to be hurt, and then jump you when you least expected it. Besides, I'm not going to worry whether I'll be around to live my life the next day or not, because I already made a promise that I'm not gonna die."
His smile twitched, appearing more reassuring at that last bit.
"Fey..." Saryuu merely found himself murmuring the boy's name, taken aback as he remained locked within those welcoming eyes. How had he been so lucky? How had he found something to believe in after hopelessness had engulfed him in it's torment so long ago?
Fey smiled sweetly. "Come on, Saru. Let's go to bed then. You look exhausted."
Saryuu stood from the table, stretching before bending back down to take Fey into his arms. The boy seemed to cuddle into his chest, pressing his hands towards it in an attempt to warm up. The winter air was cold, especially when it was so dark.
As Saryuu approached the basement door, he found himself glancing down at the top of Fey's head, his strands of hair shining dimly in the moonlight.
Narrowing violet eyes, he had decided. He couldn't lose another person. He couldn't lose Fey.
He wouldn't let death win this time. Not this round.
Note:
The Fireflies: An anti-government miltia group. They are fighting a losing war against the military, whom they view as tyrants. They are spread throughout the country, and are one of the few organized groups still searching for a vaccine for the Cordyceps brain infection. Members carry pendants engraved with the group's symbol, and then their name on the opposing side.
FEDRA: The Federal Disaster Response Agency is the last remnant of the pre-outbreak government. Post-Outbreak, they took control of the Armed Forces and declared martial law, removing all other government departments from power. FEDRA became a military dictatorship, exercising absolute power over the quarantine zones, which prompted the creation of the Fireflies.
Hunters: Hunters are hostile survivors who have the tendency to kill anyone entering their territory in order to steal their clothes, supplies, and food.
Tourists: A term used by Hunters which refers to those who enter their territory.
Bandits: Bandits raid areas inhabited by other survivors. Unlike Hunters, bandits are known to have a leader, and are also more independent, free-roaming hostile survivors.
The Infected: Cordyceps brain infection (or CBI) is a parasitic fungus devastating mankind. Nearly 60% of humanity has been either killed or infected by the Cordyceps fungus.
The fungus infects the human brain, growing inside the brain tissue and killing the brain's cells. This erases the host's memories and drives them insane, modifying their instincts to seek no goal other than spreading the spores to others. Eventually, the fungus will indeed kill it's host and the host's body will release infectious spores. These spores thrive in enclosed spaces, and are unable to spread through open air areas. The Infection can also be spread through bites from living hosts.
Quarantine Zone: In order to contain the Fungus, FEDRA had the military move all uninfected civilians into large quarantine zones. FEDRA and the Military struggle to maintain control of the various quarantine zones due to a combination of the authoritarian government, growing food shortages, Firefly attacks, and further Cordyceps brain infection outbreaks.
Those who are clear of infection are ordered by martial law to reside within a quarantine zone. They execute anyone suspected of infection on sight.
I thought I'd leave a note of the different groups of survivors and such, just for those of you who aren't familiar with the game! I hope you enjoyed reading, and I'd love it if you left a review! Thank you! =)