Furiosa was swift and efficient. She'd been working with and around the war boys for most of her life, and she knew that if you got them going, you had to use them; and if you didn't get them going often enough, they'd self destruct. The loss of Joe weighed heavily on all of them and it was only through sheer force of will and smart thinking that she was managing to keep them in check.

This was a culture, practically a race of men who had very set and defined rules and beliefs, all centered around two things: death and Joe. With one gone, the other became mired in confusion. Was there still a pathway to Valhalla? would they ascend, Shiny and Chrome? their figurehead was gone, but they weren't. They were still half-lives, rad poisoned boys who'd never make it to men. Was there still meaning in glorious sacrifice?

None of these fears were being voiced though. It was more of a feeling, a charged energy that ran throughout the citadel like the feeling that lingered in the air after a thunderstorm.

Furiosa and her contingent of war boys had been gone from the citadel for almost a week on their scavenging mission. Every few days a giant trailer of busted up vehicles and bodies of the perished wheeled in, unloaded, and wheeled back out again. Nux sat on the battlements, overlooking the milling throng of the Wretched. The sun was harsh, more burning than warming, but he relished the moments he got to sit out in it. It seemed like it was the only thing that could warm him nowadays, and even then his body still shivered against his will every now and again. The night sweats were rough on him. Freezing cold but leaking water out of every pore. He dangled his legs over the edge of the ledge, closed his eyes. Wondered how much more time he had.

"Hey you." A sweet voice called from behind him. He smiled a genuine smile but didnt rise. She never expected him to. Instead, he felt her settle down beside him, legs crossed and smelling like heaven. Women. So far away from War Boys. They sounded like bells, smelled like glory and brought out a side in him he never thought he had. Tenderness.

He opened his eyes and gazed at her like she was the dearest thing in the world.

"Heya Cape. Thought you were up at the gardens today helping Dag tend to the new seedlings."

She shrugged idly and pulled her light white cotton hood over her head in an attempt to shield her pale skin from the harsh sun. Her eyes were squinted against the blinding light. Still, she came out often into the harsh world and worked hard every day to improve the lives of the people in the Citadel. He admired her for that. She had Valhalla and she gave it up for the benefit of others. For freedom.

"I was going to head up there later on. I wanted to spend time with you. My War Boy." Her smile was all gentleness and he couldnt help but reach out to wrap an arm around her, pulling her close. She was so soft.

They sat in silence for a long time, enjoying each other. He couldnt even comprehend his luck in having her for a friend. Never in his life had he ever considered that he would prefer sitting out, lounging in the sunshine with a woman over flying down the Fury Road in his Deuce Coop, spreading valor and death in the name of his God.

He placed a kiss to the top of her head, and kept his face there, nestled in the mass of clean auburn curls. She sighed in contentment.

"I cant even believe it, Nux." She said, "All I ever wanted was to get out of here, you know? and now I cant imagine ever leaving. Its strange how things can change so fast. But Im glad everything is going the way that it is, even though it isnt easy. We've been given a chance to really begin again. To do more than suffer, more than survive. And you. I really thought we'd lost you out there. But here you are, and I'm so happy for it. I hope we get to keep you for a long time, yet."

Her hand squeezed his right knee, and her voice sounded sad. She was under no illusions about him. He was inches away from death at the beginning of all the madness. Now that they were out the other side, there was no telling when he was going to go. Still. Sitting here, warm, with Capable in his arms, he thought: strange, but I wouldn't mind dying like this.

It was so very opposite to how he had felt even a few weeks ago. How he had felt his entire life.

"It's okay, Cape. You've given me more than I ever knew I wanted, y'know. I dont have any regrets. An' until I go, Ill do my best for you 'round here. Ill get the Boys on the track you wann'em to be. So they can take care of evry'thin for you when Im gone. Plus, they're pretty terrified of you women at the moment, so Im sure you'll have a fine time straightenin' them out." He grinned, "They've never seen nuthin' so shiny and chrome as you lot. Never even heard of 'hope' or 'survival' before. Gotta show em the glory they can get from livin'. You showed me. I'll show 'em."

He felt a cough rattling its way through his chest and suppressed it as best he could, not wanting to ruin the moment or worry her. She must have felt him shake a bit though, as her hand on his leg started to stroke back and forth gently, soothing.

"I never thought I'd ever have a man for a friend, you know. Thought you all were useless, shlanger chugging pigs." She chuckled and he teasingly tugged at her hair. "But," she said softly, "You proved me right wrong. I know I'll never let a man do to me what Joe did. Not ever. But its good to know you're not all bad stuff. It's good to know I can trust you. Its... thanks, you know? thank you, Nux. For being here."

He felt a prickling sensation in his eyes but couldn't figure out what it meant. The squeezing feeling in his chest was unlike anything his illness had ever caused. He wrapped his arms around her there and hugged her tightly, unsure of what to say- or if there was anything to say. Her words were ridiculous. He had helped her? impossible. She had helped him so much. Free'd him so completely. The idea that just by being there, by being him, that he had had some positive effect on her seemed unimaginable. But it felt good. And good wasn't a feeling he was used to yet. He liked it.

"S'long as I'm around, Capable, I'll do whatever you want. Whatever you need."

"Just keep being you. Keep being my friend."

"Always."

Like that was ever in question.