To Wild Blue Sonder: I'm sorry that my story messed you up, but at the same time, I'm really happy to hear that it left quite an impression on you! To hear that my writing has people on the edge of their seats is what I'm striving for ;) And thank you so much for your review!
To Saweela: thank you! I hope to one day get it published, and I'm so honored that so many of my readers like this story enough that they'd buy it for their own literary collections. It means the world to me, and I'm so happy to hear you like this story! :D
To Guest: thank you so much! I'm honored you like it that much ^_^
To DeadMemez98: thank you! Love your username btw, haha
To Little Otter: Thank you so much! I'm so happy you're enjoying the story ^_^ As for how long this story will be, I'm not sure honestly. Every chapter kind of writes itself; I'm still trying to figure out a few things, but I can say with complete honesty that I'm not going to give up on this story, I'm not going to drag it out, and I'm not going to end it abruptly.
Sooo a bit of an update. I'm finally done with school! I should have more time to dedicate to this story now, but I can't promise that updates will be any faster. I did want to let you guys know, though, that when or if I do get this story published as an original work, there will be a few major changes. I found some stuff that needs tweaking, but it'll still be the same story, just with some polished edges, y'know? And if I do get it published, I can let you guys know in case you'd like to read the original, polished version. Sound good or nah? Definitely let me know what you guys think!
And thank you for being patient with me, I know updates have been hecka slow and I see that a few new folks have followed/favorited this story. Thank you guys!
One last thank you to so many of my readers who review, and even the ones that quietly sit back and enjoy—I see you guys and I appreciate all of y'all!
.: 21 :.
The sound of the person's voice was all it took for the bat to drop from her hands, a metallic clanging noise echoing as it bounced off the floor once, rolling away from her feet with a final clunking sound. Bubbles' eyes widened and her mouth fell open, shock filling her as if someone had dumped ice-cold water over her.
"Boomer?"
"Holy shit," his voice came again, this time sounding relieved. "Bubbles, I'm so glad to hear your voice... Open up, please?"
She practically tore the doorknob off trying to get it open. As soon as the door swung open, she came face-to-face with the one blonde who had plagued her dreams for the past week. He looked as he always did, dressed in khaki shorts, a blue button-down shirt, and worn white sneakers that had seen better days, yet... He looked a little worse for wear. His button-down shirt was ripped up, practically in tatters, and his shorts were dirty, as if he'd been rolling around in mud. There were streaks of dirt, sweat, mud, and something else caked onto his legs and arms, his face not much better off; he smelled like body odor and something disgusting, like... garbage?
But despite all of this... Boomer was alive! That was all that mattered.
Tears filled Bubbles' eyes and she threw herself into his arms, a strangled sob escaping her. Boomer held her tightly as she cried, peppering the crown of her head with kisses, tilting her face up so he could continue kissing her cheeks, nose, forehead, and finally, her lips.
They kissed as if they would never be able to do such a thing again. Boomer gripped her face hard, initiating kiss after kiss, while tears continued to run down Bubbles' cheeks as she fought to match his intensity.
When he finally pulled away to look at her, both of them panting for air, Bubbles was happy to see those same baby-blues staring back at her, filled with the same slivers of mischief and mirth as they always were. The only difference was that now they held a sort of weariness to them, as if Boomer had been through the ringer since departing from the campgrounds.
Bubbles leaned on her tip-toes to place one last soft kiss against the corner of his mouth, and he smiled, crushing her against his chest, his own eyes growing misty at how much he'd missed her, how happy he was to see her again. She wanted to speak, to yell at him for taking so long, to ask where he'd been and what had happened, to cry and tell him how much she loved him, missed him, needed him by her side, but all she could manage was a weak, croaky, "I missed you so much."
As he held her, he kissed her temple once more. "I missed you too, Bubbles, more than you know. I'm sorry I took so long. You don't know how happy I am to see you after—"
He sniffled, tears beginning to dribble down his cheeks, and he angrily tried to wipe them away, quickly winding his arms back around Bubbles' waist to keep her close. To have her here, to feel her, see her, breathe her in... She was the only one he had left now, and it was her that was keeping him from falling apart.
"Oh man, I-I'm so happy to see you a-after the shitstorm I just came from."
Bubbles looked up at him after his voice cracked, a teardrop landing on her cheek that wasn't her own. It was then that she realized Brick and Butch were not with him, and she frowned.
"What do you mean? What happened with..."
Her words trailed off as something in his eyes broke and Bubbles watched as the tears began to fall faster than he could wipe them away. "My brothers, uh... Th-they're not... They're not themselves a-anymore."
She stiffened at the realization that something had happened to Boomer's brothers. Her brain was trying to process this new information, but it was difficult to realize that Brick and Butch, two perfectly capable young men with strength and cunning, had somehow fallen. She gently cupped his cheeks, her thumbs carefully wiping away the mix of grime and tears, those baby-blues of his conveying more emotion than he probably wanted to verbalize.
"How did... What do you mean they..." She blinked rapidly, unsure what to ask and whether or not she should ask about the fate of the other Jojo brothers. Boomer was just barely keeping himself from falling apart; was it really fair for her to push him when he was already at an emotional breaking point?
"There weren't any weapons at all, they were just trying to get us to..." He paused, looking away before he shook his head. "Fuck, they almost killed me! If I hadn't outrun them and hidden myself in a dumpster for a whole fucking day..."
Bubbles was at a loss for how to reply to that.
"I... I just... I'm so happy to see you," he continued. It took him a moment to regain his bearings, and he managed to get a handle on his emotions so he could address the actual matter at hand. "But I also came here to warn you and help you get out of here."
His eyes met hers again, determination extinguishing the grief that had been clouding those baby-blues. "Brick and Butch are after me, and since you're with me, they'll be after you, too. We have to leave this place now, while we still have a head-start. We don't have much time, so we have to leave."
Bubbles didn't like the sound of that. She cocked her head to the side curiously.
"How much of a head-start do we have? Do they know where we are?"
"Not specifically," he replied. "And we're pretty well ahead of them right now, but we have to keep moving. Besides, I think I might have a clue as to where an evac zone is."
He took her hand and led her into the office building, gesturing for her to sit down as he took a seat across from her. Retrieving a map from his backpack, he smoothed the wrinkled paper out onto the table and pointed to a faded red X marking.
"That's Townsville," he explained. "I think we're located a mile away from the tunnels."
His finger moved up north, to where a big, more recent-looking X lay.
"That's where we need to go. It's about twenty miles from here, but I think if we move our asses, we should be able to get there within a few days."
"Wait," she held up a hand, her mind spinning with all this new information. "Hold on a moment. How do you know all of this? What exactly happened between you and your brothers?"
A haunted, hurt look flashed in Boomer's eyes and Bubbles opened her mouth to apologize, to take back her question, but he swallowed the emotional lump that had formed in his throat, preparing to speak.
"They got turned," he began, his voice shaky. "Um... S-so I emerged from the tunnels and I went to go see them at our house, y'know, because that's where they said to meet them. When I got there, something didn't seem right, but I figured, 'hey, what could be wrong? Brick and Butch are here, they're alive,' and so I went in and started talking to them, but... They didn't look right, Bubbles, and they weren't acting like themselves. Something was wrong."
Her gut sank with dread.
"They were acting like they knew something I didn't, and things only got worse when we went outside."
He worried his bottom lip, eyebrows knitting together as he lost himself in the memory. Bubbles reached over to take his hand in hers, and he offered a small squeeze as thanks.
"They wanted to turn me, but I said no, and then... Fucking hell, Bubbles, they were so fast and strong! Butch punched me in the stomach at one point, and it hurt so bad, I thought he was going to break me in half with how strong he was. I don't know how I managed to outrun them, but I did; I had to hide in a dumpster, and then your family's basement for three whole days because Brick had a bunch of infected patrolling everywhere. I don't know how, but somehow Brick and Butch have power over those things and it's fucking scary."
"What about the tunnels?" she asked. "Did he somehow know they were down there?"
"No, thank God, but when I tried exiting them, I saw a few infected lurking around the woods. They seemed like they were looking for something, or, well, someone, so I stayed in the basement until the coast looked clear. Today was the first day I checked outside and saw the woods free of infected, but there's no guarantee that they'll stay gone."
A nasty chill traveled down Bubbles' spine at this new information. Her mind flashed to when she'd been considering leaving the camp on her own; what good would that have done with infected prowling around?
"For a while there, I thought I was trapped, but then the infected started leaving towards... Well actually, I don't know where; I'm just glad they left. I tried to get back here as fast as possible, and here I am."
Thinking back to what Boomer had initially said when they'd reunited, Bubbles asked, "Did you really have to hide in a dumpster to throw them off?"
"Brick and Butch were right about the infected sniffing us out," he explained. "They have wicked-good senses. It really sucked that I had to sit in, like, months-old garbage, but it was either that or getting caught, and with how hell-bent they were on turning me..."
A violent shiver rippled through him. "I'm just glad I made it back to you in one piece. Sorry if I smell bad, though."
Bubbles managed a small smile, but it left as quickly as it formed when another thought popped into her mind.
"You weren't bitten... Were you?"
"Huh?" Boomer blinked at her before his eyes widened. "Oh! No, no I wouldn't have come back to you if that were the case. I don't think I was bitten, anyway.."
He rolled up the baggy sleeves of his torn shirt and examined his arms. Bubbles watched as he stood and checked his legs as well. As he did so, she moved to examine his neck, but there didn't appear to be any blemishes. Aside from the occasional freckle here and there, Boomer didn't sport anything that resembled bite marks.
"I think I'm okay," he said, brushing himself off. "Um... Should I strip down naked and ask you to help me look for a bite mark, or...?"
"No, no, no!" Bubbles blushed. "Th-that's not necessary, I was just asking because, well... Worth asking about, right?"
"Of course!" He nodded. "I swear, I wasn't bitten. Pretty sure I would've felt it if one of those monsters sank their teeth in me, and if that happened, I... I would've let them kill me."
Bubbles frowned. She hated it when he said things like that.
"Boomer..."
"Hey, I'm just saying!" He held up his hands in mock-defense. When he saw how upset his words had made her, he tried to offer a reassuring smile. "Seriously, though, I think I'm okay."
She gave a slow nod, accepting his answer. Boomer wasn't the type to lie, plus... She'd seen how the infected acted. It wasn't possible for them to talk or act human... Or, for that matter, have the ability to be charmingly awkward like her best friend. As long as he was okay and
"I'm not trying to guilt-trip you, but I was really worried for a while there," she admitted, lowering her gaze to her feet. "I thought something had happened and I was the last person alive, and I would never get to see you again, and—"
She shook her head. To think all that fussing had been for naught... "I'm just glad to see you safe and alive."
"I promised you I'd come back to you." Boomer was serious now, a meaningful look in his eyes. "I don't make promises unless I can keep them."
And then the goofy, sheepish guy she'd grown to love was back, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"Okay, so maaaybe that's not entirely true... I used to promise Mojo I'd clean the house all the time, and that rarely happened, but still! I care about you—I love you—and I promised you I'd come back." He shot her one of those genuine, sweet smiles that always reduced her to a puddle. "And that is a promise I will always keep no matter what."
Bubbles could feel another round of tears starting up, and she was out of her seat, pulling Boomer into another hug within a split second. It seemed like everything they'd both experienced over the past week hit them full-force because soon, they were both sobbing softly as they clung to one another, holding onto each other as if the world around them would fall apart if they didn't.
"I'm so happy you're alive," Bubbles croaked, ignoring the twinge of garbage-stink that clung to his clothes. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." He nuzzled his nose against her hair. "I promise, we're sticking together from now on. You're all I have left, and I'll do everything I can to protect you."
After Boomer and Bubbles managed to pull themselves together, they quickly took stock of their supplies. Seeing that they had enough food to last them for however long it would take to get to the evacuation zone, Boomer took a quick bath in the lake to wash off all the grime and filth that coated him, changed into a fresh pair of clothes, and then they were off.
As they walked through the woods, Boomer held up a hand to shield his eyes from the sun as he squinted at the map in his hands.
"If this thing is correct—and I'm pretty sure it is—there might be a place up ahead where we can take shelter tonight."
"Are you sure it'll be safe?" Bubbles asked, maneuvering over a particularly large log. "You said the infected are swarming the woods, right?"
"That's an excellent question that deserves an excellent answer." He smiled sheepishly. "I think most of them left, but... I could be wrong."
"Maybe we should just keep moving? Better not to risk it."
"But they move around more at night, so they'll probably be out and about. We risk getting caught by one if we're still walking around once the sun goes down."
Bubbles chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "So either way, we're screwed."
"I don't think so. If we can find someplace to take shelter, we have a slight chance of not getting mauled." Boomer stepped over a particularly large bramble bush. "I mean, we could always hide somewhere inside. Who knows? Maybe there's something there that we can use to mask our scents."
"Like cologne, or cleaning stuff?"
"Like cologne or cleaning stuff," he affirmed. They continued walking for some time, a comfortable silence between them as Boomer tried to figure out other possible routes to the evac zone, just in case this one didn't work out.
Bubbles, on the other hand, took in her surroundings with a mix of wariness and delight. The weather was rather pleasant and the sunshine was doing wonders for her mood. It helped that her best friend-slash-boyfriend was back in action, safe and sound and still human, still alive. She was content to enjoy the chorus of nature around them, the fresh air filled with occasional twinges of floral scents teasing her nose, but at the same time, she stayed alert to any odd noises that didn't sound like nature.
Eventually they came to a two-story cabin that looked like it doubled as a gift shop. Boomer glanced from the map to the building, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
"Huh, that's weird..."
"What is?" Bubbles was pleased to find a decent-sized rock that she could rest on for a few minutes. As soon as she sat down, relief flooded her sore legs and she sighed.
"I thought this place would be a lot bigger. Guess they downsized before the outbreak?"
Boomer folded up the map and shoved it into his pocket, giving her a halfhearted shrug. "Still, a house is still a house. Stay out here, I'm gonna scout ahead and see if the coast is clear."
She went to stand up. "I can help if you want—"
He held up a hand. "Nope! I got this, just relax for a little bit. Besides, your ankle just started feeling better, and if we gotta run, I'd rather you be out here where you have a head-start to get away."
"B-but what about you?"
He grinned. "C'mon, now, I just managed to get away from an entire army of undead weirdos. You think one infected can take me down? Or even two? I eat those freaks for breakfast now!"
He flexed his bicep and kissed it, and Bubbles couldn't help but giggle. He was such a dork, but he was her dork.
Boomer grew serious again after a moment. "It'll be fine. We've lucked out so far; just stay out here and rest. I'll give you the A-okay if things are, well, A-okay."
She hesitated. "Are you sure?"
He gently cupped her chin and pulled her in for a searing kiss, leaving her slightly dazed. His kisses always made her feel all fuzzy inside, but lately, they left her feeling even more dopey than usual. She supposed that absence really did make the heart grow fonder.
"I'm sure," he whispered, his breath ghosting over her lips. "Be back soon. Stay on your guard, okay? You need anything, just yell."
With that, Boomer stood up and ascended the porch steps as quietly as he could. He tried the front door, which appeared to be open, and disappeared into the dark depths of the cabin.
Bubbles leaned back on her palms, happy to give her body a moment to rest. Anxiety poked at her stomach as she kept her gaze trained on the cabin that loomed before her, hopeful that Boomer didn't encounter anything that would create a problem. The sun was still shining brightly, tendrils of light snaking down through cracks in the overhead foliage and creating a hazy glow.
If she didn't know any better, she'd think this was all a dream. She had gone through all that worrying over Boomer, scared and dreading that he would never return, or that she'd try to go after him only to find a corpse, and for what? He was here with her now, as healthy and human as ever. She wasn't alone anymore; she wasn't the last human on earth.
Everything felt surreal, though; part of her wondered if there was a chance she'd lost her mind, and was hallucinating her blonde companion.
After about fifteen minutes, Boomer emerged and gave a small wave.
"All clear," he called. "There's a few cans of food in here, too. Come on in!"
Bubbles got to her feet and stretched briefly before she joined him inside. The shopfront was rustic-themed, full of little knick-knacks and camping-themed souvenirs. An archway to her left led into a small living room, complete with a plaid sofa set, a worn coffee table, and a television that looked like it was from the 1950s.
All in all, the cabin was homey.
"Think it's safe?" Bubbles asked, and Boomer nodded, fiddling with something small he'd picked up from one of the little baskets near the register.
"There's nothing here but us. We should be fine for tonight, but tomorrow we have to keep moving."
Bubbles headed into the living room and let her backpack fall to the floor with an unceremonious thump. She plopped down onto one of the sofas and heaved a sigh of relief. Boomer entered the room not too long after, a wide grin on his face while he hid something behind his back.
"Hey, can you close your eyes for a sec?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"It's a surprise. Nothing bad, I promise."
Bubbles smiled before obliging.
"Okay, now hold out your hand."
She did so, and something soft and fuzzy was placed in her palm.
"Alright. You can open them again."
As soon as she opened her eyes again, she squealed at the sight of a teddy bear in her hand. It was small, no bigger than three inches tall, but it had a big blue ribbon tied around its neck and it was absolutely adorable.
Bubbles beamed up at Boomer, hugging the stuffed animal to her chest. "You got this for me?!"
"It was the only one in the gift shop, but I figured it would make you smile." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I hope you like it! I tried removing the price tag because, y'know, it's never classy to give a gift that shows the receiver how much you paid for it... Even though I didn't pay for it, but you know what I mean..."
Bubbles placed the stuffed toy on the sofa before springing to her feet and pulling Boomer in for a kiss. He seemed shocked for a split second, then relaxed, winding his arms around her waist and holding her close. As they kissed, he nibbled on her bottom lip to tease her and she giggled against him, pulling back to look at him.
If there was one thing Boomer could never get tired of, it was Bubbles' smile. When her face lit up with happiness, nothing could compare to the sparkle in her big blue eyes, the slight dimples in her cheeks, and the perfect smile that was bright enough to rival the sun. It was in that moment, frozen in time with her, that he realized how truly happy he was that he'd made it back to her in one piece. Seeing her so happy was worth the hell he'd gone through in evading his brothers and their army of undead.
She was worth surviving for.
"Thank you," she whispered, nuzzling her nose against his affectionately. "But you didn't have to do this. The best gift I ever could have gotten is standing right here with me. You came back to me, and that's all I'd ever want. As long as I get to be with you, I'm happy."
Boomer felt his cheeks heat up. He was at a loss for what to say, his heart swelling at her words.
Definitely worth surviving for.
After they'd found the main bedroom and settled in, Bubbles made short work of a can of raviolis while Boomer settled for a granola bar. They were both exhausted after the hike to this new place, Boomer even more so because of his initial journey to return to Bubbles, and it wasn't long before they both retired to the upstairs bedroom to rest up for the long journey that was in store for them again tomorrow.
Bubbles fell asleep quickly, her small frame curled around his body as she slept. He kept an arm wound around her protectively, relieved and content to have her back in his arms again after wondering whether he'd ever be able to see her again.
He kept thinking about his brothers, replaying all of the events of the previous week in his mind over and over again. He still couldn't believe that Brick and Butch had been turned, that they were advocating this new life they'd been thrust into. How could anyone think bloodlust was an okay trade-off for super-senses? After all the horror and carnage they'd seen in Bonsai Gardens and City Hall, how could anyone just brush that off and decide that becoming the creature responsible for all that is okay? After fighting to stay human, doing everything they could to keep the infected at bay... It just didn't make sense.
And then there was still another matter he needed to address: the fate of Bubbles' sisters. How could he ever find the right words to tell her that her sisters were turned? Were there even right words for that kind of thing? He didn't want to just come out and say it, not when she was already sort of fragile... Okay, so she wasn't exactly fragile, but... Boomer was already having a hard time with the idea that his brothers were monsters; he could only imagine how much harder it would be for Bubbles to learn that the people she'd been staying alive for, the people she hoped to be reunited with were now, well...
Not to mention Boomer hadn't even grieved over his brothers yet. What use was he to her if he hadn't even been able to deal with his own emotions? It wouldn't be good if his own grief crept up on him while he was trying to be there for Bubbles.
Speaking of the blonde beauty, Bubbles stirred in her sleep, gently tightening her hold on Boomer before she relaxed again, sighing contently. He ran his fingers through her hair, glancing down at her and trying to make out her features in the thick darkness around them. He imagined that she looked peaceful, happy to at least have company again. He felt horrible for leaving her on her own for so long, but he supposed it was worth it; now he knew that there was a bigger danger out there, and now he could actually be useful and help Bubbles get to safety.
His eyelids began to grow heavy at that thought. Maybe... Maybe for right now it was best to keep this information to himself, at least until he could figure out the right time and the right words. Their main objective now was getting to the evacuation zone quickly and safely; he could worry about delivering the bad news to Bubbles later.
For right now, after everything they'd experienced... She deserved to be happy, even if it only lasted for a short while.
