It was hard to run after three days without sleep, then again you don't have to run unless you fall behind because you need rest. It was an endless circle and some days you had to wonder was it all worth it.

The sun was just peeking out from behind the apartment block and Bruce was grateful not to have to run in the dark. Unseen pieces rubble or even bodies could make all the difference between making it or not, every second counts and without a gun he was reliant on his aching legs and burning lungs. He couldn't look up and instead kept his eyes glued to the ground, calculating each step, grass was a killer for running but luckily it hadn't been raining which meant that puddles and mud weren't a problem.

He could hear the beep of a horn and his head whipped up, he spotted a car tearing through the path between the buildings as it turned towards him it scraped against the wall causing a horrible grinding noise. The boy inside had dark hair stubble he wore sunglasses which hardly seemed necessary in the dim light but Bruce barely noticed this as he chanced a glance backwards and almost stumbled on the uneven grass. He was ten meters in front of his pursuers, they must be in their first wave judging by the speed they were going at. Decomposition was slowed down by the virus but after two weeks brain function began to slow and so did the person. Not person, zombie, Bruce had to constantly remind himself of this. The whole situation, the way the virus developed and attacked, the way the pack could hone in on prey would have all been fascinating if he weren't the prey.

The car drove onto the grass before the driver pulled the handbrake and it swung around, for a moment Bruce thought that it would run him down but it didn't and instead the boy inside shouted to him.

"Hurry up, get in!"

In another time and another place Bruce may have hesitated before accepting a lift from a random stranger but right now he was trying not to get eaten or infected so the choice was clear. He tore the door open, jumped in and barely had time to fasten his seat belt before the boy put the car back into gear and they sped off.

"Show me your neck." The boy ordered.

"What?" Bruce was bewildered by the strange request and slightly unnerved that the boy didn't seem to think it odd, completely natural about just swooping in and saving someone's life.

"Your neck, your neck, show it to me." The boy repeated, a hint of urgency in his voice. Bruce decided that he must have his reasons and so he pulled at the collar of his shirt. The boy driving turned and looked carefully at the right side of it, not seemingly bothered by the fact that he wasn't watching the road. "You're fine."

The adrenaline was wearing off and Bruce felt light headed as the realization of what had almost happened hit him.

"Shit, shit, shit." He mumbled to himself, covering his face with his hands. He could have died, he would have died.

"Hey, don't get sick in the car." The boy said but he seemed sympathetic this time. Bruce looked up at him and was surprised to see a bottle of water being shoved in his face while the bot kept his other hand on the wheel. "I'm tony." He offered, smiling in an attempt to put the shaken boy at ease.

"Bruce." He said grabbing the bottle and finishing half of it before stopping to focus on getting his breath back, he had learned a while back that people didn't offer fresh water unless they meant it and if you said no then they wouldn't offer again.

"It's good to meet you Bruce. You should stay away from gangs like that, They are terrible influences." He joked and laughed, Bruce laughed along and it was a mix of relief and wonder at the events that had just taken place.

"Where are we going, how did you know that I needed help?"

Tony shifted in his seat, not looking over at Bruce.

"I can't say but once you've been cleared it will all be explained and you'll have a place to stay. It's really just better if you hold off on questions for now." Bruce nodded, not wanting to push the matter after what the boy, Tony, had done for him. He sat back in the seat and finished off the bottle of water since Tony hadn't asked for it back. It was only fair, he wasn't going to push his luck for answers that didn't seem to matter all that much seeing as he was still intact.

The sun showed that it was almost midday and so did the digital watch on Tony's wrist. Bruce must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, Tony was nudging him with his elbow.

"Sorry to do this to you buddy but you have to put on the hood." Bruce looked around but couldn't see what Tony was talking about. There were no longer burned out cars on the side of the road, no abandoned belongings or people. Tony tapped the dashboard. "It's in the glove compartment but don't worry, it's temporary and things will only get better afterwards" He assured him. "We'll be there in half an hour."

Bruce opened up the compartment and took out a thick black hood. He looked at Tony to see if he was joking but he only received a shrug. "It's protocol and it's there for a reason."

"I get it." Trust wasn't something that was simply a given anymore. "It's fine."

He slipped the hood on, it was heavy but it served its purpose, the moment it covered his head the light and sound around him ceased.

"I'll make it up to you." Tony muttered to himself. He had been circling around the entrance to the compound for the seventh time in two hours, he had radioed ahead already but he still had to wait for a while longer. Bruce didn't seem like a bad guy but none of them ever did. You couldn't trust anyone these days.