A/N) Ok so this is what I have written up to, which means two things. One: this is the end of an arch finally. Two: I need to look for my arch outline because I have no more of this written. Sooo - hiatus until further notice. Sorry guys.
But it will come back.
See you guys around,
"You aren't coming?" Bubbles eyes are wide and blue and Boomer doesn't like the hurt he sees in them as she helps him unwrap his head.
I'm sorry.
"Butch can hardly sit up – and we can't – we can't leave him."
"But you'll die out here alone! The defenses are weak, what if the Zombies attack and – and - I'll never see you again."
Boomer's heart does this weird flipping thing that he doesn't know how to control when she reaches for his hand and holds it, hers, small and soft, with some rough skin on her palm, probably from moving crates and stuff.
"I'll –um – we'll be ok, Bubbles." No we won't. "When Butch gets better, we'll come find you guys." How the hell are we going to do that? "So, you know, we'll be fine, don't worry." I'm scared. "We'll be ok." We're going to be all alone and probably murdered before the weeks out.
He smiles weakly at her. Stupid – stupid liar. He's a liar, she gives him a water eyed smile and nods, sniffling a little.
"Yah – ok."
Liar, liar, pants on fire – at one point they might have been – probably.
"How have you been sleeping?"
He shudders. Sleep? What's that? He's been having nightmares so strong he thinks the battle wasn't over yet. Sometimes he's falling off the wall and died by a swarm of Zombies piling on top of him and ripping off his limbs. Sometimes he's burning alive – or was it Brick? Sometimes he's choking – sometimes the horde of Zombies chases him across endless black space – red eyes mixed with yellow – fast, disjointed bodies – That – that horrible hissing voice when it said – it spoke.
"Fine." Boomer fights a shiver. "Fine,"
Bubbles looks at him like she doesn't believe him at all. Her blue eyes narrowing slightly and makes a jolt of guilt shoot through him –
"Ow!"
They jolt at the sharp slap and groan from the other side of the tent. Butch was awake and -Buttercup? Boomer hasn't seen her since, if feels like so long ago. Was it when she talked to him at the fire? He can't remember. She looks terrible, skin all scrapes and bruises, hair a messy black puff, arms and hands bandaged, but she's here – and she's glaring so hard at his brother, Boomer's surprised Butch hasn't melted to death yet.
"Idiot. You are the biggest moronic retarded human I have never met in my entire life!" Buttercup hisses and raises another bandaged fist.
"Wait! Hold on crazy girl I – I'm recovering man, ow." Butch whines and flinches and rubs at his sore spot. "Your bedside manners suck."
"Shut up! You and Mitch almost died! Do you know what kind of crap you put us through!" Her voice cracks and Boomer suddenly thinks they've forgotten about him and Bubbles.
Butch's mock scowl fade, and his eyes go solemn as he looks up at her.
"You – you have no idea how many times – how hard we – I just – "She takes in another shaky breath and digs the heels of her hands into her eyes. "Dammit. Dammit, Dammit!" She hisses, turning away, shoulders shaking.
Boomer looks away. Buttercup was all a bundle of emotions wrapped up in a kick butt personality but still – sometimes… Boomer knows how hard it is to not be scared.
"Shut up." Butch's voice is quiet. Quieter than Boomer's ever heard it. Bubbles flinches and actually burrows herself closer to his side. Boomer automatically leans against her without realizing it, warmth and sadness swelling painfully behind his ribs.
"Y-you shut up. You – you -" The short raven haired girl's voice is thick.
And Boomer's eyes are watering. Seriously? He takes in a deep breath and looks away when Butch's shaking hand reaches up and takes Buttercup's in a way that was so gentle Boomer feels utterly embarrassed for having seen it.
"Ok – ok, let's both shut up." Butch says, voice as soft as his hold, "Come'er" And he tugs Buttercup down into the cot next to him and Boomer realizes she really was crying when she curls up instantly and buries her face in her knees.
"I think -do you want some air Boomer?" Bubbles whispers in his ear, already helping him to his feet as he nods numbly, eyes lingering on his brother and friend for one more second before Bubbles takes him outside.
Boomer retreats it the minute he steps out. It smells horrible. Smoke still thick in the already grey smoggy sky, everything is black and scorched. Buildings look like they have been eaten and people mill around – a sense of urgency in their steps as they complete the remaining preparations to leave. Boomer's heart clenches. They're leaving tomorrow at sunrise.
And we're not going with them… Are we. The thought makes him shudder.
Bubbles grips his hand and pulls him away from the acrid smelling scene. There's the sharp smell of gun powder and something else in the air – something more – rotten.
Burnt flesh. The Zombies they'd burned - they were still surrounding the Haven – and the sickening smell was rising with the smoke and Boomer gags.
Ugh -he's the one who helped burn them, just the thought makes his stomach churn uncomfortably and he has to take in small gasps of breath through his mouth or he'll lose the precious small food Bubbles managed to get him.
"Mitch – we can't." Blossom's voice startles them, it's sharp and upset. Bubble's nudges them around the tents to see Mitch and Blossom in some kind of heated argument.
"Forget it Bloss. Buttercup already chewed me out – I feel like I'm dying still, I'm not going with you guys. I can't."
"We can't leave any of you behind. I don't care what Brick says."
"You're the one that's concerned with being slowed down."
"I am not! I mean – I am but – but not at the expense of you two – you're alive Mitch. You're both alive and healing, that's never happened before!" Blossom waves her hands around him to make a point. "We can't just leave you guys behind now."
"You would've if we were still sick – better yet, you would've killed us." Mitch doesn't sound bitter – he sounds – sad.
Blossom fumbles for words, biting her lip before turning away. "I'll speak to Professor and the others again, we'll find a way to get you two more time, even on the road. You're healing. We'll be fine."
Boomer's brain buzzes – they want to take them with them? Really? Butch wasn't going to have to stay behind?! Boomer doesn't understand. But maybe Blossom has a point. Butch dying was one thing, but he was ok now so – there is no point in abandoning him. He hopes Brick knows this.
I've gotta find him. The first thrill of hope runs through him since forever ago.
"This is great Boomer, if Blossom can figure out how to get them transported – " Bubbles smiles wide and shakes his arm in excitement. "You won't have to stay behind either!"
Boomer nods. "I need to find Brick."
"Ok – I'm going to talk to Blossom, be careful, your leg's still healing." She calls as he waves at her and rushes to look for his eldest brother.
Boomer finds him and he instantly wishes he hadn't.
Brick's hiding behind stacked crate. Boomer doesn't see what he's doing at first until he hears a horrible hiss and strained curses under Brick's breath, he pounds a fist into the ground next to him and – and – Boomer's throat closes. Tears – there are tears streaming down his brothers face.
He's hiding – and he's trying to cry as quietly as he can – from pain.
Boomer's eyes widen as Brick raises his burnt arm – the burn mangled and hideous, flesh discolored, some parts swelling, putrid white bubbles running all over, red, blistering, almost blackened skin. He's trying to put the balm professor gave him on it.
Boomer's eyes water at the sheer will and force it takes Brick not to cry out loud. That burn must be agonizing and Boomer rubs at his own arm in phantom pain.
Brick – Boomer's unsure what to do – should I leave? Help? Brick doesn't like getting help – he's always doing things on his own, he's always . . .
"Dammit." Brick's voice is strained, he's breathing heavy as his chest heaves and eh squeezes his eyes shut. "Damn it all." He moans and his head lolls to the side as he tries to breathe through this nose.
Boomer backs away shaking his head.
No – Brick doesn't want help. He doesn't want anyone to see him. He doesn't want – Boomer turns away, fists shaking. He doesn't want us to know he's in pain.
With a shuddering breath Boomer walks away, pretending like he didn't just witness his immovable oldest brother crumbling at the seams in pain.
Nobody sleeps that night.
Boomer walks around, antsy and uncomfortable, the heavy edge in the air so thick he feels like he's choking on it. They're ready to leave.
The moment that the sun's first rays come up – the Haven will be no more. Boomer takes in all the gaunt, uncertain faces. They had been so brave and lively the first time he'd seen them. Now – most were bandaged, faces grim, hair dirty and – they're waiting, looking up at the Professor who's speaking to them.
What's he saying? Boomer doesn't know, his brain is everywhere and nowhere at once. Brick isn't here – Butch is still in the tent.
Boomer doesn't know what's going on right now.
"…And when we do – we'll starts anew – " The man was saying.
A new what? People are going to die before they find a new place. There might not be any left by then.
"Hope should never leave us."
Boomer wishes it wouldn't. But it's hard- it's hard when you're confused and in pain and –
"… Thank the miracle of those three boys."
Huh – what? Boomer's head snaps up. What did he say?
Subtle murmurs go around and several people look at him. Boomer feels small and embarrassed as Professor beams at him.
"Thank you Boomer and your brothers. Without you we would have lost Mitch and wouldn't have found that silver lining. A cure is possible, and I know, once we find our new home, we will be able to win against these fears, and we will see a future someday. Because it is now a, glorious, possibility." Professors voice rings out, emotion thick as he starts clapping.
Boomer's never heard the sound.
One by one, people around him start clapping, it's gets louder and louder and the thick somber cloud over them is still so heavy but – but for a moment Boomer sees the silver lining thing Professor was talking about.
They might have a future?
Because – because of him and his brothers? Really? An odd sensation runs through him and he doesn't know if he's happy or sick.
"Now – let's prepare, we move out in an hour."
And just like that the people separated and the noise starts up again.
"Boomer!" Bubbles bounds up to him, face gaunt but a smile on it nonetheless, she grabs his arm and pulls. "C'mon! Come see what Blossom figured out! She's so smart!" The blond girl squealed.
Boomer's heart does a little flip of excitement and hope flitters in –just like the Professor said. They were hope – there was hope – and he was part of the cause.
"I feel stupid." Butch was grumbling inside, in a strange looking half crate contraption. It was like several planks of wood tied together enough for Mitch and Butch to lay in it side by side, their flat cots under them and wheels underneath.
"Would you rather be left behind, stupid?" Buttercup snaps, her anger without heat.
Brick nods slowly, Boomer averts his eyes from the burn. "It might work – but how are we going to move it."
Blossom sighs, brushing a strand of fire colored hair back. "We'll have to take shifts. It's take at least two men to move it – so –
Boomer swallows, it'll take two men – Butch and Mitch will be helpless out there, maybe this isn't such a good idea.
"Naw man, I can walk. I can, see – " Butch pales and falls back into the cot with a thump when he tries to move. "Dammit"
"Yeah – you can totally walk." Buttercup rolls her vibrant eyes and flicks Butch's head.
His brother groans in response.
Mitch hasn't said anything, he's just sort of staring into space, brown eyes dull and – Boomer shudders. He's not with them right now.
"Whatever – this is the best we can do." Blossom sighs and looks at Brick one more time. "No man gets left behind." She seems to be trying to make a point.
Brick shakes his head. "We'll probably die out there before the nights out."
Boomer shivers. Thanks for that hope Brick.
"We'll just have to try our hardest to live, now won't we?" Blossom counters, face pulling into a frown at Brick's dull tone.
"Girls." Professor's head comes in and sees all of them, his smile is dim. "It's time to go."
A chill runs through the entire room and they all look at each other, each having the same thought.
Boomer swallows.
It's time to go outside.
Ooookay! So that's it guys, this is what I've got so far. I'll let you know if and when I find my outline. Thanks for tuning in ;) see you guys around. Hopefully.