Sorry for the long wait, im trying to get regular updates to yall just be patient with me. sorry im only postin one chapter of this while I posted two chapters of Your Pretty Face IS Going To Hell. I just had those typed up for so long and it took me forever to type this one up believe me. I was hating myself so much while I typed it up to, that slowed me down a shit load. So hope you like this, it was a shit load of work to complete and now that im done im happy about it.
Lizard
I can't let them get to Dizzy, I just can't.
They hurt Papa, they hurt Pluto a little to. Pluto is serious, Papa is a whole 'nother level. Papa is…Papa. He knows these mountains way better than we do and he knows how to hide, how to fight, how to protect himself and if they hurt him as bad as Goggle said then we had a problem. I jumped up onto the boulder, clenching the curve of my spike strip so hard I could feel the points start to break the skin. It took a lot for that, my fingers were calloused and rough, my skin thick thanks to the radiation. Dizzy was safe at home, as safe as she could be out here and Pluto should be close to the house by now. They would be ok, for whatever that was worth. Dizzy was a tough bitch, she could handle herself and the baby. Why was I so worried about this? Guess I really did love the crazy fucking broad.
I shook my head, narrowed my thoughts back to the task at hand and continued to climb, sliding into a crack in the rocks and letting myself fall into a cavern. It was small, lit by old oil lamps and a few small fires. This was where we drug anyone hurt in the mountains. We didn't bring them back to the village, which would put everyone in the village into a panic. That's all they needed, the whole village in a panic while one was in pain and possibly dying. I turned left, going down a tunnel that was cramped and unlit. My eyes adjusted quickly, helping me see as I ran through the curves and drops in the tunnel. On one turn I saw a faint flicker in front of me, far down the tunnel so it was merely a dot that grew as fast as I ran. Goggles head popped out of the wall it seemed, but I knew there was a room right there and slowed my running, stopping beside Goggle and Cyst in the doorway. Papa was lying on an old creaky bed on the opposite side of the room, his chest heaving up and shaking as it went down. Blood dotted his beard and lips, his leg was propped up in one of Goggles first aid attempts.
I swallowed hard and looked between my brother and uncle, they were staring at Papa in concern and hate. They were angry that this happened, and so was I. But my role as his son overpowered anything else and I eased towards my father's side, crouching at his side and touching his shoulder. His eyes flickered open, dark eyes falling on me and shaking. He smiled, teeth coated in blood peaking from under the cracked hood.
"Lizard, you made it."
I nodded. "Why wouldn't I?"
He chuckled then frowned, reaching a shaking hand up to his chest and knotting his fingers in the fabric covering him. "It hurts like a bitch, they broke ma leg and shot me in the chest." He looked over at me from his chest, placing his hand on top of mine that rested on the edge of the bed. "I not gonna make it son."
I grit my teeth. "Hell yeah ya gonna make it!" I growled. "You Papa, you stronger than dis. Ya can make it."
"Lizard, he's woun-"
I whipped my head around and glared at Goggle, a growl slipping past my lips. "Shut the fuck u' Goggle. Ya don't know what cha talkin bout."
A hand came down on my shoulder, tender and familiar. I looked back over to Papa, biting the inside of my lip so I wouldn't cry. No, I was a man. I didn't cry. Papa would make it through this, he had to. He was Papa, he was the strongest of all of us. He could make it through anything. He was tough as nails, a broken leg and a gunshot was nothing. Right?
"Lizard, I'm not gonna make it. This is where it ends for me, but it begins for you."
My brow furrowed. "Whatcha mean?"
He shook his head and coughed into his hand, blood everywhere again. "They attacked me while I was with Goggle, they didn't see him but he saw them. Its humans, there hiding pretty damn well out in the desert. Goggle found where they are staying, I want you all to wipe them out. Ruby is waiting to lure them out. She looks weak, but Ruby is coming into her mutations. You must go assist her, see her strength and see if she is a fighter." His eyes sparkled in the candle light. Tears, Papa was crying.
"I gots ta head back to the village." Cyst mumbled, waddling out the doorway. He stumbled to a stop, hesitating beside Goggle. He looked back over his shoulder to Papa. "Sorry Jupe."
He was gone after that, I could hear his nose sniff in snot. I looked over at Goggle, saw his eyes leaking water. He was crying to? Why? Papa would make it, he would. I looked back at Papa, saw how his chest was slowing its heaving. Pap's eyes were closed, when he opened them I saw weakness in them. He looked over at me again, squeezing my shoulder tightly.
"Lizard, the family is yours now. You are their leader now, they all look to you to keep them alive. Make…make me proud boy…"
I opened my mouth to speak but he gave a deep gasp, slow and drawn around his lips where crimson splashed again. His chest stopped its heaving completely, his hand fell limp to his side and I knew my Papa was gone. I sat there for a few moments, my mouth open in shock. My hands were shaking against my knees and my heart was thumping loudly in my ears. No no no, it couldn't happen like this. Papa wasn't dead, he couldn't be. But there was the body, cold and lifeless beside me. I felt that one tear leak onto my lips and lost it, jumping up and slinging a chair into the opposite wall. Splinters flew around in the air, Goggle ducked around the wall to the tunnel, his beady fucking eyes watching me with tears practically pouring onto his cheeks. I screamed, one I heard Papa give many times we lost a family member. It was guttural and animalistic. I charged out of the tunnels, aggressively forcing myself back through the crack I had fallen into. The sun beat down on me, but I didn't care about that. Usually I shielded my eyes or something, but right now the pain was welcome. I sniffed and wiped tears and snot from my face, growling low in my throat.
This was possibly the worst fucking day of my life, and there have been a lot of days that have been bad. Like the day I fell from a high cliff and crushed my left arm. It took the group two days to find me. We didn't have Goggle then, he was only about two so no uses. There was that day I got attacked by some coyotes, they kicked my ass pretty dam good. Then there was the day I got hit by that jeep….fuck that hurt. But this pain…this was something far worse. I couldn't get this fixed up with bandages or pain killers, no I was stuck with this until it decided to fade out of me. I hope that would be soon.
I kicked open the front door to the main house. "Dizzay!"
"Upstairs!"
I passed Mama in the kitchen. She gave me a curious glance but I just passed her, stomping up the stairs. Dizzy was sitting on the bed, holding up baby clothes of all sizes and colors. I noticed her bulge and my gut twisted, but I stayed focused on the task at hand. Slamming the door and falling into her so I could cry like a bitch. I was careful to not hurt her belly, but right now I was broken. I squeezed her, not hard, but enough to make me feel better. Her hands stroked my head, long fingers massaging my scalp in comfort.
"Lizard…Lizard calm down. Tell me what's wrong please." She whispered into my hair.
I pulled back from her a little. I didn't want her to see my face, I don't see how she stuck with me when I looked the way I do, now with my face covered in tears and snot she defiantly would regret this. She placed both of her hands on the sides of my face, got a good grip and forced me to look up at her. Her face was stern but caring. Her eyes flickered all over my face, searching for an answer to why I was acting this way but when she found none she looked into my eyes.
"Tell me please." She whispered, pressing her forehead against mine.
I swallowed hard. "Papa's dead."
She froze up, her entire body giving a physical jolt. Her eyes were wide, downcast to my chest. I bit my lip for a moment before shaking her a little. She looked back up at me, tears already spilling down her cheeks. She gave a sob and pulled me against her chest, letting me cry as well. We cried together, rocking each other back and forth in comfort. I could hear Mama cry out downstairs, a deep whine that all women give once in their life. It was more painful than Papa's death. Hearing my Mama cry was like an extra slap to the face. I sniffed and untangled myself from Dizzy, standing up on shaky legs and dropping my spike strip to the floor. Dizzy followed me downstairs, me helping her swollen self down the stairs. I left her in the foyer and walked into the kitchen. Mama was at the table crying into her hands while Goggle cried into her arm. I sat on her other side, putting my arm around her shoulder. She jumped and looked over at me, her eyes squinting as if in pain. Im sure she was in pain, I was to. I rested my head on her shoulder and started to cry to, letting her cry into my shoulder.
Dizzy stood in the doorframe, rubbing circles on her belly while she laid her head against the wooden frame, tears soaking her shirt and neck. I saw Big Brain through the door opposite her. He was facing the window, not even shaking like he normally did. He was alive though and awake, I could see him blink from here. I closed my eyes and bit back a sob. How would I do this? how would I lead the family like Papa did?
