"How did he make it back here? how did he survive?"
"I dont know. Its amazing. He was so close to the end of his half life to begin with... and then that crash, the war rig was completely totalled."
"I know, I remember. He should have been in a million burning pieces."
"And then the time! its been over three weeks since we left. And he walked into town, the Wretched are saying. Do you suppose he walked all the way back?"
"impossible. Without food or water, and with his leg as bad as it is? impossible. We'll have to wait and see if he wakes up. Wait and see if he remembers."
The voices were there, floating around his head like a thousand buzzing flies. He couldnt tell who was talking, and it was difficult to figure out what the words meant. Explosion made sense. He remembered that. How had he made it out? he knew he shouldnt have. He knew, remembered, looking into Capables eyes when it became apparent that he wasnt going to 'follow along after them' that he had felt... relief... of a sort.
It was going to end. It would be over. He hadnt tried to fight, tried to live. So how had he? his mind shied away from the details of his trek back home. He remembered thinking: anything. Anything to avoid dying Pathetic on the ground. Anything to keep the dignity. The chance to live another day, so that he could Die Well and Proper. He may have been ready for death, looking into her eyes in that moment, may have craved it- but he wouldn't settle for a death that would leave him to the Void. Locked away from Valhalla's gates forever.
He was pretty sure... fairly certain... he may have eaten human flesh. Charred. Rictus? his mind shied away from the idea again and he let the darkness over take him. Maybe he would just tell them, if he woke up, when he woke up- maybe he would tell them that he didnt remember.
In the end, it took almost two weeks before Nux was up and about. He had suffered burns over most of the lower half of his body and up the left side of his torso, and it was looking like the limp in his left leg was likely to be permanent, cause by a large chunk of shrapnel that had lodged itself in his knee so thoroughly that even with proper rest (which he hadnt had) and proper treatment (weeks later than he should have received) the appendage was fairly trashed.
The rad sickness should have eclipsed him in his weakened state- Larry and Barry had massive opportunity to chew straight through his windpipe and infection after infection had ample time to set into his burns and wounds. But somehow, he made it through.
War boys still gathered every morning in their hall for a rough breakfast before heading to work. Only now, instead of Immortan Joe standing upon the pedastel to give out the orders of the day, Furiosa stood. Beside her, Capable and Toast the Knowing. Nux stared up at them from an off-to-the-side doorway. This was his first day out of the infirmary, nearly healed and pumped full of fresh blood from the strangest source he'd ever received it from- an actual bag. Capable had been the one there to help him get it, and had said it was from a willing donor. Her arms were covered with long sleeves despite the warmth of the day. Nux didnt question it, but smiled and felt warmth in his heart.
Furiosa banged on a table, silencing the hall.
"Alright boys. Todays the day. We've had a chance or oragnize a bit, and know its all pretty rough at the moment, but thats how it is. Scavengers have likely taken chunks out of the war party wreckage, but its still up to us to gather up as much as possible. Thats our shit, and we should take it!"
A roar went up, war boys whooping and hollering. Calls could be heard accross the room "Yeah! our shit!", "Fuck em up!", and the ever present "We Are War Boys!". Nux couldnt help but grin from his place in the door. Looked like even with the death of the Immortan, the war boys didnnt change. It felt comforting to know that even though his live was completely turned on its ass, some things would always stay constant.
Furiosa let the carry on for a few moments before stomping to get their attention. Nux noted that if this had been before, had been Joe, they would have silenced immediately. As it was it took them a few solid seconds to settle down again, but the air in the hall was one of anticipation. So it wasnt all bad. He could see the serious look in Furiosas eyes though, knew she was calculating. She was a smart one, a natural leader. She knew these boys needed normalcy, needed structure. Hunting down the war party remains? that was a smart idea. Let the boys see where their leader fell, and pick apart the skeletons of the war beasts that they had built. Shred the old life, recover the useful bits, come home and build something new.
He nearly bolted out of the room at her next pronouncement.
"Theres someone I would like you to see! NUX! come out. War Boys! your hero of the rig! holler for him! he saved us all!" His eyes were wide when they met hers. They hadnt discussed this at all. He could see a twinkle, a shine- she was up to something. It felt a little... exciting.
The last time he had the eyes of the war boys on him, it was on the road and they were screaming at him, calling him a traitor. Apparently these boys hadnt been told that version of the story. They screamed even louder than they had for Furiosa, hooping and hollering and banging on the tables, stamping the ground. He did all he could to not limp to heavily as he jogged his way up the stage to the podium where the Imperator was gesturing. Capable was grinning from ear to ear at her side and when he got to them, she subtley placed a steadying hand on his back and guided him to face the boys. Toast came beside him and grabbed his right arm, throwing his fist into the air in a motion of victory.
He was so fucking confused.
If it had been impossibly loud before, it was deafening now. All the boys, and behind them at the back of the hall, all of the pups were losing it over him. His heart seemed like it was going to thud through his chest as he stared out.
He felt- its was more than he could have imagined. It was what he had always wanted. The recognition that Joe had promised him. Like he was already in Valhalla, Awaited, Precious. That his crew was below him, Praising. Praising HIM! of all things. It was overwhelming. He looked to Furiosa desperately, arm still raised.
She had an eyebrow raised, like she had expected a little more enthusiasm out of him. With a small had gensture, she indicated that he should drop his arm. As he did, she turned back to the hall and shouted,
"Your War Boy hero! Nux!"
A chant began almost as if rehearsed. "Nux, nux, nux, nux!" they all shouted. Over the din, Capable took a step forward and called out to the throng,
"On this day your Imperator Furiosa will take a party out to recover the remains of the fallen! On this day, Nux is returned to you! On this day, the hero you have been waiting for is here as your new leader! until Furiosa returns, he is who you shall look to. Nux! Nux!"
His was very likely on the floor.
Furiosa leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I was trying to get Max up here to take control of them, and then you came out of death and made your way back. You know them, Nux. And I know that you are trustworthy. They need you, and I need them. Just go with it. You'll be fine."
Leaning forward on his good leg, he raised both fists in the air and screamed at the top of his lungs. A primal roar from the depths of his chest.
The War Boys screamed back.
A new day began.