Author note : the next two chapters were originally just one, but I felt it was more digestible if posted separately ! Enjoy your read !
It had already been a few days since Rafael and Bob teamed up. At first she wasn't willing to trust him, but by the second night after taking watch she fell asleep exhausted, and woke up to a daydreaming Bob who greeted her with that
warm and friendly smile he was so keen on having. Plus, Legacy seemed to trust the man to the point of sleeping next to him as to keep him warm, and so after a while Rafael herself warmed up to him, occasionnally revealing how clumsy and distracted she could be when her life wasn't in immediate threat.
They had hidden for the night in a cabin in the woods were they had managed to find substantial supplies on display. It was apparently one of those places untounched by the end of the world, and Bob and Rafael couldn't be happier to catch their breath somewhere that made them feel a little more like before.
Rafael woke up in a warm bed, Legacy sleeping on a blanket on the floor beside her. She opened her eyes and just stared at the ceiling, not moving until her dog came to lick her fingers in order to get some food. Rafael smiled a little, before heading for the kitchen, where she could smell the heartwarming scent of hot food. Bob was waiting for her, preparing some of the canned foods they had previously acquired.
- Good morning ! Ready for some not-homemade tomato soup ?
Back in the day, Rafael would have made a face, but in this world, there was no point on being picky. Instead, she felt quite grateful to wake up to a warm breakfast.
- Yeah, why not. Thanks for the food.
Rafael opened her bag she left near the entrance, where she could grab it in a hurry she took a can of dog food, and served a gleeful Legacy before joining Bob at the table. They ate in silence for awhile, Rafael daydreaming while looking through the window.
- There's more dog food than human food in there, isn't there ? Asked Bob.
She looked up at Bob.
- That's because you're the one carying the human food. Team work, remember ?
Bob laughed a little, seemingly pleased to see Rafael warm up to him. She sat in silence again, sipping her soup until she couldn't help but break the awkward silence with a horrifyingly mundane question.
- How is this even possible ? You know, us, just sitting at a table eating hot soup when just a day ago we were fighting off those things, fighting for our lives.
- That's life, I guess, one day good, one day bad, but always one day at a time.
A shadow of a smile appeared on Rafael's mouth, but her eyes were still glued to the horizon. She was trying to think of ways to make the conversation less vague and more personal, and there was something that had bothered her from the moment she met Bob, and so she didn't wait to ask.
- What is it with you and careful optimism ?
He laughed at the ton of her voice, swallowing a sip of tomato soup.
- I figure on days like these, careful optimism is better than bitter pessimism.
She finally looked at him, an expressionless look on her face, before getting up and putting her plate in the sink, when she realised that old habit made no sense anymore. She went back to her room to get the rest of her stuff, not seeing the empty bottle of alcohol carefully hidden behind the kitchen counter. She couldn't help feeling how excruciatingly pointless ordinary tasks felt in this world, as she walked back into the kitchen.
- Ready ?
Bob looked up at her with a surprised look.
- We're leaving ?
- Well… yeah. No point on staying in one place for too long. We've got supplies, a little ammo and a good night sleep, what more do you want ?
For a second, they looked at each other, both genuinely confused.
- A regular life, at least for a while would be nice. I mean, this place is wonderful. We've got food, shelter, even gas for the stove ! What more do you want ?
Rafael looked at Bob with a strange look. She snapped, not sure if her sudden anger was aimed at him or herself. Because of everything she did, and more specifically, because of everything she didn't.
- I want my friends back. I want to go back to the farm and get the stuff I left behind. I want my mom to harass me about getting a job. I want to go to the park with Legacy so she can play with other dogs. I want this whole shitstorm to just be a fucking nightmare. I want to wake up in my bed and not have this gut-wrenching feeling I might die today, or that Legacy might die today.
For the first time in a while, Bob lost his smile. Rafael broke eye contact, putting her bag on the floor.
- Whatever, we can stay for a few hours. Legacy looks like she could use a few more napping hours anyway so let's just… whatever.
She angrily emptied her bag and started putting everything back in perfect order. A heavy silence plagued the room for a good minute, only broken by the sound of Legacy happily devouring the rest of her meal. Finally, Bob started smiling again.
- We should stay another night. Just to catch our breath. Let's just… spend a day here. Relax. Feel good. We've earned it. You've earned it.
They both shared a comprehensive look, and Rafael sat back down on her chair, faking being frustrated when she somehow felt a little more cheerful. Sometimes it was better to get it out of your system.