-Ruthie Mercras, District 6-
Ruthie stared out the window of the hovercraft as it took off from District Three. Even as the craft was taking off and they were encouraged to buckle up, Coda and Tessa were hugging each other. She turned around to look at them, and Jace who was sitting with Malloy and Jo, already teasing them by pretending to act like Camellia would when she saw her partners after so long of them being separated from each other, clasping his hands by his face and fluttering his eyelashes.
"Oh, I missed you so much!" he said in a terrible impersonation as he made a kissy face and started leaning toward Malloy.
"Stop that!" Malloy complained as he leaned into Jo and the hovercraft took off, sending him the other way and right into Jace as Jo laughed at him – but not laughing at all when it also sent Pointer into her, who was coming along for more detailed talks with Stellan himself.
She sighed and looked over at Keelan, who was drumming his fingers on the floor, and then to… Kaoru. She still couldn't believe him. She trusted him. And this whole time, he was using her.
Ruthie Mercras didn't have friends. She didn't have anyone looking out for her back home. Sure, there was Arthur Spokes, but he only cared about one thing and once Ruthie rejected him, he's been making her life hell. There was Paya, but… Paya was just constantly trying to show off and it felt a little demeaning to Ruthie when she tried to put Ruthie second. Ruthie just wanted someone that just wanted to be there for her. And Kaoru was that person, it was why she stayed with him and was going to help protect him. Then, she learned that he was just using her too. Using her to try to show off to sponsors. To get himself further.
She couldn't believe she trusted him. He just reminded her of her Dad a little bit, but he was younger and he was fun, he was a brother to her. But she was only a pawn to him, this entire time. She couldn't trust anything he said anymore, not after that. How heartless he had to be to do that. And if they even had a day in the Arena, if they even had a Bloodbath, she wouldn't even be here. How fucking silly he would have felt then. Maybe…
She looked over to where the boy was sitting by himself and not even looking out the window, he was just staring up at the ceiling, maybe counting the bolts or something equally mindless.
As soon as the hovercraft stabilized, Vyka was going over to Tessa to talk to her, glad to see someone from her home District and having so many questions about what it was like to be rescued and have a secret identity, and of course, some very invasive questions about her love life. If she felt betrayed when Bonnie cheated on her or whatever, Ruthie didn't follow that besides what she heard Riggs and Gian talking about in their face masks late at night. She turned again to look out the window. She didn't want to trust anyone ever again.
She could see the railroads of her home just barely on the ground below and let out a small sigh. She thought about her family there, and how they might be handling life without her. Did they think of her often? Did they miss her? She didn't even know.
She looked over when she heard an uneven gait and someone sat down by her to look out a window, squinting his eyes and leaning over to look. Coda's brows were knit together tightly. They both sat in silence for a moment. She didn't remember a lot about last year, but Coda stood out because of his fiery personality. Nothing like he was acting now. It was like a different person. Well, Ruthie already felt like a different person too. He said something under his breath and Ruthie looked over. "Huh?"
Coda looked over at her, his cheeks getting a little pink. "Nothing," he said quickly.
"Oh," Ruthie said, also blushing a little as she thought he was talking to her. "Sorry."
"Nah, it's fine," he said, sighing again as he looked out the window. "Is your District, like, are they… Aight?"
Ruthie squinted her eyes. "I don't know how to answer that. Depends on who you are I guess. Why?"
"No reason." Coda stubbornly looked at the light and blinked a few times.
"It's fine," Ruthie said. "Are you looking for someone?" She thought his ally was from Three, but it was obvious he was looking for something. Coda opened his mouth to say no, but Ruthie continued. "I can tell. What is it?" She could use a way to get her mind off of shit.
Coda tapped his fingers on his prosthetic leg for a few seconds. "I mean, it's not a big deal," he said first, putting up his finger. "I have someone important on a mission there, s'all."
Ruthie looked back out at the massive transportation networks and it all made her brain spin just looking at it all. "Oh. I'm sure it'll be fine."
"I'm not," Coda said, before pointing at her. "Don't tell her I said that, she'll make me do crunches."
Ruthie looked at him for a moment, and then chuckled. "Kat?" she asked. She hadn't talked much to Malloy, Jo, and Coda since they got picked up, but she picked up on a few things when they talked and knew who it was that made them exercise. "Aw, I didn't know you guys were that close."
Coda puffed out his cheeks in a little pout. "It's whatever," he grumbled a little bit, but he was still squinting out the window, looking at the ground below, even when the railroads turned to woods. "Yeah. She did a lot for us. And still is, really. Crazy how attached you can get in a traumatic situation." He finally broke his gaze from the window to look back at where Pointer was talking without even a breath and Jace had that look of bewilderment on his face that someone like this exists while Malloy was sneakily squeezing Jo's ass to distract her from having to listen to him. "Okay, you keep talking to me," he said quickly, turning around before Pointer could make eye contact with him.
"Oh, I had to live in his weird little convent for way too long before anyone came to rescue us," Ruthie said. "We got food, water, and shelter. But at what cost?"
Coda laughed a little at that before he just sighed and looked out the window again, his expression going back to worried. "I just hope everything's okay. All this made me wish I appreciated my family back home a little more. You need that shit to survive."
"No you don't," Ruthie said right away, getting upset again and shaking her head. "Everyone's out for themselves."
Coda chuckled lightly. "I used to think that too, when I was your age," he said as he rested his head against the window. "Not so much now. Wild how it only takes one person to change everything."
"Henley?" Ruthie asked. "Was that her name?" she asked. She honestly wasn't sure, but she thought her memory wouldn't fail her.
"Yeah. Ow, still hurts a little bit thinking about not being able to protect her," he joked a little bit with a laugh, but it didn't meet his eyes. "Then Kat and Coyote forced me to be family with that bunch and it changed everything. But then the family parted ways and then Numitor did what he did and – oof, let's pretend that isn't real." He still hadn't settled enough to fully grieve. "Things are different now, y'know."
"Yeah, they're different alright," Ruthie said, glaring at Kaoru.
"What?" Coda asked, following her view and still not getting it because he was still Coda. "Who are we glaring through."
"Kaoru," Ruthie sighed. "This whole time he claimed me as a little sister, when his plan was always to kill me day one to prove something to sponsors," she said, still shivering a little bit thinking about that. "Who does that?"
"Someone that's thinking about their own life," Coda said with a sigh. "Damn. That's fuckin' rough, man."
"Yeah, gee, thanks," Ruthie said, sighing about it because at this point she was all cried out and just felt numb. "If your people had come even an hour later, I would have already been dead."
Coda shook his head. "Damn. You know I wish I could even blame him. My life would have been easier if I was so focused on protecting myself. But we're humans, we're not made to do what they put us in the Arena to do."
"Guess he was," Ruthie said, looking over at him again.
"Oh please," Coda said with a chuckle. "You think that is someone that was happy about their decision? Even I can tell that dude is a total husk."
"Yeah, but…" Ruthie shook her head. "I don't know, I can't trust him after that. That whole time I thought our relationship meant something to him other than killer brownie points."
Coda's stomach grumbled at the mention of brownies and he put a hand over it, leaning back on his other hand. "Maybe it was, maybe not. But… Well, the Games make us into different people," he said, looking at Malloy and Jace. "They do shit to our brains. If you were to shut out everyone that thought they were going to kill in that Arena you wouldn't have anyone at all. So my advice, it's best to just put it in the past because we're not forced to kill people anymore for our survival. Maybe your relationship was or wasn't real then, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't form a real relationship with him now. Because my chosen family…" he brought down his voice. "Kind of saved my life. Don't tell them I said it."
"I won't," Ruthie said with a chuckle, looking back at Kaoru and… Yeah, she did feel bad for him. Maybe Coda was right… Damn, never thought anyone would say that. The hovercraft was flying in the landing area of District Thirteen, into the darkness and artificial lights.
"Woah!" Pointer said when the craft was landing and held onto a handle to keep from falling over again.
"So close, so close so close!" Malloy said eagerly. Ruthie wasn't in a huge rush to get out of the craft when it opened up, but Malloy and Jo were practically racing each other, Tessa on their tails with Jace and Coda hobbling out after them.
"Wow, I think I know what my next book is going to be about," Vyka said when they were on their way out. "Celebrities, fashion, performing, high-profile love. Maybe even a double-identity!"
"I'd read it," Keelan said encouragingly as he ruffled her hair a little bit and helped her out of the craft. Ruthie was following and turned around to where Kaoru was behind them with Pointer and… She just sighed and slipped back to go over to him.
"Hey." Pointer raised his brows and Kaoru just gestured him along.
"I'm sorry Ruthie…" he said again with a sigh as he shook his head.
Ruthie knew that he was. And Coda was right. The Games did change people. "Maybe what we had before the Arena wasn't totally real. But maybe we can… Make a relationship that is real now."
Kaoru's brows went up before the corners of his mouth went… Up a little bit. "Oh," he said, blinking a few times, before he reached down to pat her head a few times. "I would like that." He went first to help Ruthie down the stairs of the hovercraft. When she did, she could see the happiness on Stellan's face having the small group returned to him safely as he was hugging Tessa tightly.
"Stellan!" Pointer clasped his hands together and then went running over to give him a big hug, and Tessa just laughed and let him in, even though Stellan himself didn't seem all that thrilled about it.
"You're here to negotiate with me!" he protested.
"Doesn't mean you're not cute," Pointer said with a wink.
"Aye yay yay," Stellan said, shaking his head, before he let go of both of them when he saw the tributes coming over. "Welcome to you, we are glad to have your company," he said with a smile. "The ruins of District Thirteen aren't glamourous, but they are safe. And we hope to keep other tributes like you guys safe as well. And- oh, here come the others! Excellent timing!"
Maggie was there to usher them inside along with a small group of intimidating people with all those piercings and tats, but Ruthie stayed out – and Kaoru with her – to watch the other craft land.
"EVERYONE STAY CALM!" Malloy said loudly.
"I'M NOT CALM AT ALL, THAT'S OUR GIRL!" Jo said more excitedly as her nose was already getting snotty and her eyes were tearing up, lapping his shoulder in excitement as the craft landed carefully. As soon as the fans stopped whirring, the door was lowered and Ruthie could see the girl right at the entryway, running out before the ramp even landed, to come running. She stopped in front of Jo and Malloy, who were standing apart with their arms open, looking between them and not sure where to go first.
"Why are you standing APART?!" Camellia asked them both, tears already streaming down her cheeks just seeing them as she grabbed their arms and pulled them closer, needing to be in both of their arms immediately.
"Aw," Coda said as he watched them with his eyes narrowed. "I wanted my five bucks."
"I should have known," Tessa said with a giggle. "Guess we both lose."
"You really should have known," Jace said, shaking his head a little bit.
"I never want to be separated from you two again," Camellia said, sobbing into someone's shoulder as she was just hugging them both so tightly. "I have so much to tell you!"
"Us too," Jo said, also crying and wiping her nose on her shoulder.
"EW!" Camellia said with a laugh. "Girl, that's disgusting! We have a boyfriend, that's what his shoulders are for, not mine!"
"I can't help it!" Jo protested with a laugh through her tears.
"Stay away from my shoulders with your snot," Malloy said, but he was crying almost more than both of them and holding them both tightly.
"I love you," Camellia said, grinning and crying and just a little bit of a hot mess.
"Love you too," Jo said, putting her face back in Camellia's shoulder.
"Me too," Malloy added quickly.
"Is that… A little shadow?!" Camellia asked, reaching up to rub his cheek. "Oh, I missed that beard most of all!"
"Nooooo," Jo whined at that right away, but she could barely stop crying and rubbed her nose a little bit. "I liked his clean face!"
"Well too fucking bad!" Camellia retorted quickly, standing up finally to give both of them a kiss. "I need to hear everything."
"Us too," Jo said, smiling and putting her arm around Malloy again as her other three bandmates went over, Jace quick for the first hug and the others following. Ruthie smiled as she watched them all, how happy they were to see each other, and she longed to feel something like that too.
Some of the fellow tributes were coming out of the hovercraft as Camellia went over to Stellan, her face that was dry immediately becoming wet again with more tears when she went into his arms.
"I'm proud of you, dude," he told her, and Camellia grabbed the back of his shirt hearing that and the grin went ear-to-ear.
"Thank you," she said, and it was the sincerest of thank-yous.
Mary, despite being the youngest, led the charge out of the hovercraft, with Ember behind her. Ruthie barely knew them, but she was still so happy to see them – at least there were some familiar faces. She didn't know them and once wanted to kill them, but when Ember gave her a smile and a hug hello, she believed it.
"OOOOOO!" said Malloy loudly when he saw Freddy's arm around Vasilisa when they approached the group, and that proud smile on his face. "What are you up to?!"
"Oh oh, Oliver – I mean, Malloy – you will never guess what happened to meeeee!" she said excitedly, putting up Freddy's arm to get him to spin her. "EEEE!"
Malloy just grinned at her and she beamed proudly at his laughter and praise – and yes, at his hug hello too!
"Heard you went through it, little man," Stellan said when he shook Freddy's hand and hugged him hello.
"You have no idea!" Freddy said with a laugh at that as Vasilisa hurried back to his side. Damn, how did he end up with a babe like her!? The world was weird sometimes.
"There's one more," Camellia said, and she could see him sitting on a box, waiting for further instruction. "Be right back," she said, before leaning toward Malloy and Jo. "Act super throupley, okay? Like, turn it up by like ten. Thousand!"
"You don't have to ask me twice," Jo said with a laugh as Malloy just squinted his eyes in confusion.
Camellia went and came back with the vaguely blue drummer for One Man Circus, and the whole room changed when he arrived on the landing pad. Ruthie could see the way he wasn't looking at anyone, and how Camellia was holding onto the bottom of his shirt. He definitely looked like a prisoner. She heard a little discussion from Malloy and Jo about him.
The group was quickly ushering back the new arrivals, but Ruthie still lingered a little bit, interested to see how they would react to him.
"Aha," Stellan said, still not sure what to think of him and it showed. "That's right."
"Look at my two partners!" Camellia proclaimed loudly, and went over, still holding onto his shirt, to put an arm around Jo and pull her in. "Three rocks! Oh yes it does! Look at the hugs," she said, letting go of him to hug both of her partners. "Oh yes, it's very comfortable, way better than just one partner."
"I don't know what she's doing, but I also don't disagree," Malloy said to him.
"Oh, I do love my two partners," Jo said, giving Bonnie a look who was just watching them with his mouth agape. "Two separate asses I can spank."
Camellia laughed at her saying that and shrugged. "Yeah, threesomes can get a little wild. He broke her belt once when we tied him up. Oh, and then there was the day we broke a record for times going in one day if you know what I mean."
"I'M GOING INSIDE!" Jace said loudly, and Coda cried out in horror as he hobbled along with Jace to leave the landing pad and go back into the bunker. But their fellow bandmate lingered.
"Aw, they're no fun," Camellia said with a laugh as she just grinned and looked at Stellan. "Alright, alright. Look at this kid, there's no way he's gonna hurt anyone. In fact I think someone's got an Extra-Large heart in there!" she sang a little bit and grinned as she pointed at Bonnie's chest and pointed to his bag. "He has Lester's teddy bear in there!"
"What?!" asked Malloy and Stellan was obviously trying real hard to not change his face.
"Wait, Lester has a teddy bear?" Jo asked, squinting her eyes.
"Oh yes and we were cuddling Koooooooodi on our chest on the couch, eh?" she asked, poking him, but Bonnie didn't even look up. "And Kodi forced his way on the mission to save Leeeeeester! It's perfect, EEEE! It's perfect!" She shook Jo a little bit and Malloy's eyes were just wide.
Stellan looked at Bonnie looking like that. "Well… You haven't given anyone trouble since Trap picked you all up. So I will let you wander freely. For now."
Bonnie sunk a little bit even though he was actually taller than Stellan. "Yessir."
"Wait, is this actually a poly ship? Are we allowed to do that?!" Malloy asked, still drinking all of this in.
"Yes of course!" Camellia said, slapping Bonnie's shoulder and glad that Stellan had a little mercy on him after he had lost his brother just like she lost hers. "I'm going to be his big sister and make sure the only trouble he gets up to while he's here are hilarious romantic shenanigans and the occasional horny misadventure!" She put her hands on her hips and stood up taller, proud of herself.
"Well then, I will trust you to do that," Stellan said with a smile. "Come on, let's all get shelter and figure out living arrangements," he said, but their eyes went up when Tessa cleared her throat.
"I feel like I'm watching a soap opera," Kaoru said, and Ruthie nodded in agreement.
"You were right all along about us," Tessa said with a small chuckle as she was facing him for the first time after so much happened. "That stupid big brain of yours," she said with a small laugh. "It was one of the things that drew me to you in the first place. I had no idea I was being manipulated until I stumbled on it by accident." Ruthie tilted her head to the side, and then looked over at Kaoru for a second.
"I'm sorry Tessa," Bonnie said quietly, and it was a little sad to see how he was practically quivering under her gaze, not meeting her eyes.
"Tessa," Camellia said, but before she could protest, Tessa opened her arms and just gave him a big hug.
"Maybe that big brain'll be used for good now," she said, a hint of a smile on her face as she hugged him.
Bonnie practically melted into her arms and Ruthie's eyes filled with tears as she moved closer to Kaoru, leaning on his side a little bit. She smiled just a hint when he put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her.
She closed her eyes and it felt like a huge weight was picked up off her chest. Like she could truly just start clean again after everything they had been through. And… Yeah, it was impossible to do it alone, it really was. But her eyes opened again when Tessa let out a squeal and pulled Bonnie back.
"I didn't know you were into Lester!" she said with a grin. "And O-M-GEEEE, not THE Kodiak Chay!" she said, putting her arms around his waist because she couldn't reach his shoulders and grinned widely. "You have to tell me everything!"
Forgiveness…
Can you imagine?
~.~.
-Dalton Thackeray, Capitolite-
He was tired. Hungry. Worn out, beaten down. He had no idea what they were going to see when they finally left that old bomb shelter and he wasn't ready for it. He'd never in his life experienced death and now he felt like he had experienced enough of it for three lifetimes.
Did Jem get back to Cadmus? Was that even possible? Were they both dead? Lost? Buried? Burned? Severely injured? They were in the middle of fucking nowhere so maybe there was a chance there were some survivors back there. But Jem was driving back through the heart of the District if he was trying to go straight back to Cadmus. He had no idea what was going on out there.
And in here, well… There was a unique ability to be able to deny it all. It was a safe little pocket of a place where Thack could live with Calliope and the few tributes they still had under their wing. They couldn't see the outside. They were totally safe, didn't have to be aware of every single little detail, didn't have to fear for their safety constantly. And… He could pretend that there were no bombs dropped. That everything was alright. It was a big sigh of relief after how stressful the past days had been.
But it couldn't last forever. The food and water rations they had ran out pretty fast – even with the Thack and Calliope taking less than they wanted or needed. They had asked for reinforcements and knew that help was on the way. And as soon as that door opened and they stepped back out into the sun… All of those things he was burying deep inside would be quickly brought back to the surface.
He never would have guessed he would end up here. Growing up, he was the pride of his father, he had such big dreams and hopes, and he lived the safest life possible. Squeaky clean. The biggest worry he ever had was getting a good parking spot at school.
How obtuse he was back then. He once thought he knew what it was to be obtuse – when he earned the nickname Thack. He thought he really wised up then. He was relatable to the other guys, and he really honestly thought that he understood them, their struggles, insecurities, hopes, dreams, and their lives. Their problems.
But sitting here, he realized that none of it was real. His view of the world completely changed again on the best, and the worst, night of his life. It gave him Calliope – what a beautiful and special moment – and then stole Phil from them all. And Thack just hid under a table. It just wasn't fair…
He realized then that he didn't understand anything. And honestly, now, he thought he never would. He gently smoothed Calliope's hair, cuddled up with her on the little mats for sleeping. The other two girls didn't make any noises – maybe that meant they were sleeping, maybe not. Thankfully, they would get the chance to have more permanent safety soon. Very soon.
Thack started out this war saying he would do anything. Selflessly keep fighting and fighting until there was nothing left to give, for his friend. But he was quickly realizing that there was no way he could continue to live like this. He wasn't well. He was exhausted, he was hungry, he was tired, and he was so stressed that any appetite he should have had wasn't there. He was worried sick about those he was responsible for, his friends, his girl. He just wasn't cut out to do this any longer…
Would they think less of him? Would he be looked down upon for giving up? Did he ever give up before?
(Yes. Too many games of Monopoly. But that was different!)
This just wasn't who he was. But he felt like he owed some kind of eternal debt to Phil, and his other friends that cared so much about this. He couldn't ever understand how deeply the oppression affected his friends that suffered. He wanted to be the hero, the selfless friend that jumped in head first and didn't stop.
But he honestly didn't know how much more of this he could handle. He just felt so deeply scarred by everything he had to witness. And he wasn't sure he was strong enough to handle anymore of it. He barely even felt like a human being anymore, he just felt… Numb. He wasn't a hero like his friends. Not even like Calliope… He just wanted to be able to live out the rest of his days, he was too young to die!
…He seemed so selfish when he thought like that… He felt like such a failure to them all.
"We're touching down in District Nine." Thack jumped at the voice he heard on his earpiece, but quickly sat up straight, pushing it more into his ear.
"Copy," he said. Oh, what relief he felt hearing that. He was so ready to be out of here. Away from the battlefield. He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't strong.
"Are we getting ready?" asked Calliope, sitting up straight at that. He should have known she was never truly asleep.
"Yeah," Thack said, getting up and squinting in the dim light to find their things and start collecting them.
"Alright ladies, we're almost to safety," Calliope said, trying to put some energy behind her voice. "Let's go."
"Safety," Nadia repeated, sitting up and sighing as she looked at the ruby necklace that hadn't left its spot around her neck since the beginning of this ordeal, closing her hand around it for a second.
"Thank God," Odessa said. She was exhausted. "I'm tired of feeling like I'm going to die all the time."
"Me too," Thack said quietly, but he blushed when Calliope looked at him. "Alright, pack-"
"I'm not doing it."
The sudden interruption made all eyes go to Nadia, who squeezed her ruby necklace and let it go.
"I can't." She shook her head. "This whole time I've been focused on living. Keep living, keep living. But I… ugh! I just can't do it anymore. I don't care if I can have safety, if it's for a cause I don't believe in. I can't be here taking shelter with people that are attacking the way of life of my home, my family, and me!" She rubbed her face. She wasn't sure what was out there, but she knew that she couldn't do this. "I'm not going to selfishly take refuge with people that are attacking my home. Putting my way of life in danger. The whole reason I was here in the first place was to make a statement, and I wish I had never even gone with you after hearing all the things that you have to say about my people. Just for that I feel like a traitor. And you should all feel the same! You are going to lose friends, family, and fortune. For what!? It's not our place to put our noses into this business. Those other Districts just whine and complain, instead of making their tributes, and themselves, better. If they spent even half the energy on self-improvement, training centers, and community outreach that they have on this war, they would be able to understand that the Games move our society forward. The glory, the competition, we are the best of the best! And the best of the best from District Two is not going to go with you people to watch her home get destroyed by you and be thankful for her life. That would bring even more shame upon my family, and Remus's grave."
"Remus surely realized that nothing was worth a young life as bright and with as much potential as his own," Thack said, trying to stay level. Didn't she see what the Capitol was doing?! Turning Districts against each other?! The culture there brainwashed these kids, and they never realized it until it was too late.
"DON'T you DARE talk about my best friend!" Nadia yelled at him, and Calliope put a hand on his arm. She knew what he was just figuring out. There was no way to talk down Nadia Beatrice from what she believed in. She stopped yelling but gave him a cold, heartless glare. "Keep his name off your fucking lips."
"Let it go," Calliope said. Thack flirted with the gun on his hip, wondering if it was better to just eliminate Nadia now if she would pose a threat – she would have information that they couldn't stop her from sharing if she had the opportunity. They told the tributes as little as humanly possible, just to prevent something like this from happening. Calliope just stepped in front of him, pulling a little holo from her bag. "Here. This has a map of Panem on it. It's completely cleared out but maybe you can use it."
Nadia took it from her, giving her an untrusting look. "Why are you helping me? Are you not afraid of me?!"
"No," Calliope said honestly, squeezing her arm. "I just wish you the best. You're a young adult setting her foot into the world for the first time. You're grieving your friend, someone who was important to you. I'm no stranger to that grief… Over the course of these few days, I've come to understand you. I'm not going to try to stop you but if I wanted you dead, I woulda shot you already."
Nadia put the holo in her pocket, knowing that she was right and Nadia was the unarmed one, but too prideful to say it. "Thank you." She at least could give them that much. "If we meet again in a different situation, I will not be nearly as merciful."
"I know," Calliope said. "And I have to say the same. Such is war. But we have to give our all for what we believe in. And if this is yours, then we can't stop you. Godspeed." She pulled the releases to open up the bomb shelter, and they all shut their eyes in anticipation for the sun, but… There was barely even a little bit of it hidden behind the smoke and the dust.
Nadia turned to look at them all one last time, and it seemed she almost would ask them for more help. But then she stubbornly turned back around, holo out, her shirt over her nose armed with a little knife, a holo, and her great self-assurance in the decision she was making. Calliope was busy getting masks for Thack and Odessa to wear so they wouldn't choke on the particles, but Thack watched her disappear into the dust. All by herself, slightly malnourished, she just looked… Small. He was so much different at eighteen than he was now, and if this all happened years ago, he would have done the same thing as she did. But now that he had grown, he knew so much more now…
"Here," Calliope said, putting a mask over his face, and they all ducked behind the doorway as they could see the dust being whipped around by a tiny hovercraft that was landing in it, with just enough room for the three of them to comfortably sit. Out of three, they were only able to get one home…
When the hovercraft doors closed, they took the masks off and Thack looked at Odessa. He could see himself in her – big dreams, great aspirations, a certain patriotism that was smashed by the things her young eyes had to witness. And he could relate to her. Hell, he felt like a scared child and he was twenty-five.
"Are you okay?" Calliope asked Odessa, seeing how she was hugging herself. And how she looked so pale, thin, gaunt. With her white hair, it was so clear when her roots were showing and it made her look even more disheveled. "Well… I mean…"
"As okay as I will be," Odessa said, closing her eyes and letting out a slow, smooth breath. "I don't want to fight out there, not for either side. Hell, I barely even know what I believe anymore," she said, her eyes tearing up a little bit. "Does that make me a bad person?"
Thack frowned because he was wondering the same thing at this point.
Calliope spoke first. "Of course not," she told her, leaning over to pat her leg. "You only have one life to live. It doesn't make you a bad person to treasure that life, and protect it. Our job was always to protect you."
Odessa smiled a little bit, but hung her head.
"I don't want to keep doing this," Thack finally confessed honestly, looking at Calliope because honestly? He didn't want her to do it either. Not front-lines like they were. "I-I mean, I'm glad that we did what we could, and it was worth every second even just for you," he told Odessa. Because he had people come to save him, and he was happy to do it for her – especially because of how she reminded him of himself. "B-But… I don't know how much more I can take – or want to take… Even if that makes me a failure to Phil."
"You could never be a failure to Phil," Calliope said right away, hugging him tightly. "Even doing what you did was strong, and brave. You were the one that went to the Arena and risked your life, I just drove the car. We worked together, but you were the one that had the answers when I didn't. Phil would be proud. But… I have been thinking about that," she confessed, putting her hair behind her ear. "And I know how you feel. But… At the same time, Phil wouldn't want us out there risking everything just because we felt like we owed him something. And I don't want the rest of our lives to be ruined by any more paranoia and PTSD than we already have. I don't think it'll ever be enough to take Phil's death off of our conscience."
"You saved my life," Odessa told them, going over to gently take each of their hands. "Without you I would have been a dead woman walking. I…I just need time to process what I've seen, and time to feel all of these feelings. And if I do, I can't even imagine…" she frowned and sighed. "I already think you're heroes. You are my heroes. I didn't know Phil like you did, but I am still so thankful to him too. And you are both so special. You can prioritize yourselves, each other, your love. Get married and have lots of adorable babies," she said with a glimmer in her eye.
"O-Oh!" Thack said, blushing quickly at that and shrugging with a nervous laugh. He was already thinking about marrying her of course, but they had only been dating a year so that was kinda weird.
"Wowzers," said Calliope, her cheeks also getting real red. "Y-Yeah, maybe not all that… Yet." She giggled and then grinned at Thack.
"I'm just sayin', he's gettin' older," Odessa teased with a laugh at the age difference between them before she let go to lean back against some boxes and let out a sigh.
"Oh-kay, that's enough of that," Thack said with a head shake, but they were already descending. Damn, he loved Capitol technology with its great timing.
"Well, if we agree, then I think we should rest for a little bit," Calliope said as they watched the light of the outdoors disappear again and they landed on the landing pad. "Not kill ourselves trying to be heroes, because we just have too much to lose right now."
Thack nodded a little bit, glad that she felt the same. "I couldn't agree more."
The door opened for them and Odessa gestured for them to go first.
"Go ahead," she said, before grinning.
"Go get your showers and brush your teeth so you can get biz-zaaaaay!"
~.~.
"Jesus, I thought you said you could fucking drive!" Pluto's sister Morrigan grabbed the handle of the door when Tartarus ran over something that made them all yell in surprise an da few heads hit the ceiling.
"What am I doing?!" Tartarus asked, stepping on the gas now that they were getting close to where they were going to meet the others. "I'm driving!"
"I've only ridden in like, three cars in my life, and even I know this is no good," Kodi said, holding onto the door handle tightly and squeezing his eyes closed. "Jesus."
"You've only ridden in three cars ever?" Harper asked. Pit's grandson shook his head a little bit. "Damn. I need to hear more about outer District living, it sounds like a riot – oops. Pun intended I guess!"
"Now's not the time for jokes," Morri said, giving them a stern look, before she cracked a smile. "Jk, that was funny."
"Aye yay yay," Kodi said, slapping his cheeks a few times. He was fucking terrified for this. All the body armor he wore was so heavy and he was still not totally confident he could land a shot. But he had to do this, he owed it to Ryder, and now to Bonnie to get Shani and Lester back safely to them. He leaned over to Amiah. "You okay girlie?" he asked her, still concerned about her. They didn't live together in the Capitol bunker for too long, but… Well, he still cared.
Amiah nodded, but not even she was dancing anymore, staring out the window. She crossed her fingers in an R shape and made a circle above her head before opening her fingers to shine on herself. Ridley's name sign from her. R and sun of course.
"We're gonna get him back," Kodi said. He barely knew any signs, but she did that one enough that he could recognize it quickly. Then the few that Ryder taught him. I love you, hi, Ryder, Shani, nice to meet you, safe with me, promise. Hopefully that would be good enough. "It's Ridley, I'm sure he's just been enjoying being the bait and eating out this asshole Peacekeeper's fridge."
Amiah giggled, right back to smiling when he said that and nodded, giving him another sign he knew. Thank you.
"Are we there yet?" Harper said. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
"I will turn this car around!" Morri said with a laugh in a gruff dad voice.
"I'm glad you're all so chipper," Tartarus said as they thumped over something else with a big bump up and down and they were driving off the road, finally slowing down a little bit from such a lead foot and out of his window, Kodi could see a Peacekeeper van coming in sight. It looked absolutely pristine.
Kodi took a deep breath, trying to remember why he was here and let that tramp over his fear. But now that he was here, armed up, he was fucking scared. He touched the various places on his person where he had different weapons, just praying he didn't have to get creative with using them. He would just have to use his best judgement on if he could trust any of these people.
"We're all gonna be fine," Harper said with a smile as he punched Kodi's arm. "Don't underestimate the power of angry Queers."
"Okay, now that's so true," Morri said with a laugh. "Yeah this car is full of 'em. And Rafa, straight boy. But he's alright."
"If you're sure," Kodi said. But really, he had two goals. Shani, and Lester. And that was all that was on his mind. He knew exactly what Lester looked like, and only saw one picture of Shani before on the list of prisoners, but had no idea what they were going to look like after spending so long here.
"Alright," Tartarus said, taking a deep breath. "First wave goes with them, second wave stays with me."
"That's us," Morri said, turning back to grin at Amiah. "We got it. Nothing bad's gonna happen to you with me there."
Amiah saluted at her, but she turned to give Kodi a hug. There was something about that hug and Kodi teared up a little bit, so worried about this. He hated that he had to wait to go in, but also, he wanted to be the one that actually retrieved Shani and Lester so he could make double sure they were safe.
"Good luck," he said as she got out of the car. She smiled and waved to him one last time.
Morri narrowed her eyes at the ginger opening the van for them.
"You're not going to fuck us over, are you Van Buren?" she asked, still not totally sure she could trust this kid even as Amiah smiled and held up her hand for a high-five.
"If I fuck you over, then I'm fucked," Val said, taking a deep breath. "We don't have a lot of time. My Dad's trying to get intel out of Luke and Ridley over burgers and fries right now and his focus won't be shifted forever. We gotta get moving so we can get this done. And hopefully we swing by and get Luke and Ridley after."
Amiah nodded quickly as Morri slid in the car where Rafa was in the driver's side. She squinted to see him in the dark. "Wazzup straight boy?"
"Just do your job," Rafa grumbled, sipping on coffee.
"Oh, me," Morri said, reaching over and he sighed as he let her take the coffee and have a few sips of it. "Not gonna shit your pants out there, are you?"
"What? Of course not," Rafa complained as Val got back in the passenger's side. He looked over and gave her an elbow. "Hey. We got this. Auri's gonna be proud."
Val hugged herself a little bit, knowing that her Dad was going to give her hell for this if he ever got the chance. She had to make sure that didn't happen, whatever it took. "You think Felix will be at the safehouse when we get there?"
Rafa sighed thinking out his brother and the address and time he gave him, knowing he would take his bike. "As long as he's not an idiot." He just couldn't leave him behind. Rafa made sure that Tat, Kodi, and Harper were done boarding all the windows of his car. It was a risk for them to not do the same, but they had to act completely normal. "Aight, hold on folks. It'll be a little bumpy."
Lester had no idea what time it was even anymore. He was passing the times counting threads on a part of his shirt that was ripped up, pulling them apart using his nails, by now ignoring the dried blood on them and the shaking of his fingers. His stomach had stopped growling – even it knew that it was pointless at this point to hope they would get fed.
He wasn't even sure how many days it had been. But he was starting to reach the end of his willpower by this point. He didn't want to, but his body was slowly shutting down. The more time went by, the less they needed him alive, and the less he received in return. It also did mean less attention and beatings.
Shani sat against the wall, thumping it with his fist a few times. He knew better at this point than to try talking to Lester. They had beat him enough times for him to get the point. But he still needed to know he was there. So there he was, bruising his fist further by beating the wall. He sat up a little taller when he felt Lester thump in response. That little reassurance that at least he was still there, even if nobody else was. At least they still had each other. He didn't hear well, but he listened closely for every sound every sigh Lester made, every little vocalization when they stretched. He needed something to hold onto now.
Val put her helmet on for the last time, Rafa by her side as they went to the entrance.
"You did good, Is," Rafa said, stumbling a little bit on that. He knew her, they shared many a smoke late at night… Until both of their Dads flipped about it. "We did aight."
Val looked at the door, a lump forming in her throat, before she finally said it, in public, out loud, for the first time.
"It's Valerica."
She looked around, unable to see Morri and Amiah who were masked and hidden, and knew that it would all start with them. But she couldn't let the guards switch out. It was too risky having them driving home past the other cars.
"Have a good ni-" he didn't even get to finish his sentence before Val fired the first shot that made all hell break loose.
"GO!" Val said loudly. They were trained, but not like Val. Val wasn't allowed to like anything else, breathe anything else, be anything else but the best. Rafa went to the security office with his gun taking out anyone charging at him on the way, and as soon as the first gunshot boomed, Amiah and Morri were following up behind Val. The pure queer femme energy in the room was palpable as voices cried out and yelled and fought, guns booming.
"Fuck this place!" Val said loudly, stomping on a body just because. She didn't hear any sirens, so Rafa must have figured the system out and shut it down quickly. In that case, this whole damn place was theirs for the taking. But they couldn't waste time.
Amiah was firing at someone stumbling towards him and Val turned around quickly to place a final shot just as they all heard the footsteps coming in of the second wave.
Lester was the first to hear the gunfire and let out a yell, opening their mouth and trying to figure out any way to tell Shani, to get him to protect himself, but they couldn't, they couldn't speak a word.
"Lester!" Shani said, unable to help it hearing him yell, shoving a stool up to the window and filled with fear for him.
Lester saw him looking and pointed out to the hall. Gun.
"Shit," Shani said, seeing Lester going to hide under his bed and quickly going to do the same. "Or maybe not shit." He hoped this was good gunfire. Soon, he started to hear it too, getting closer to them.
Kodi and Harper had one goal in mind, and Harper was leading as he had longer to study the maps of the elaborate security prison. With Val's card in hand, he scanned into the deeper sections, toward the heart of the prison.
"Behind me!" Harper said, firing a round of bullets at some Peacekeepers before they could figure to fight back.
"Thanks," Kodi said breathlessly. He thought he would be terrified, but… He wasn't. He was just focused.
Harper scanned the card one last time, and as soon as the doors opened, he let out a small grunt when he got hit with bullets on the chest, where the armor protected him, and then one true yell when he got hit in the stomach.
"Harper!" Kodi said, not thinking and just aiming and shooting. Harper shook his head as the guards fell over finally and they both looked around for a second.
"Come on," Harper said breathlessly, his face growing determined. They didn't have much time, and now they had even less.
"I'm behind you," said Kodi, putting aside feelings in that moment. "Here?"
Lester heard their voices first and their heart started to pound. Could it really be!? They let out a yell, running to the glass to try to see and pounding it with his hand desperately. Now that he was so close to getting out of there, he needed it.
"LESTER!" Kodi said, hearing the pounding and running over there quickly. "Cover yourself, we're blasting you out of here." Lester nodded and hurried under the bed again as Kodi slapped an explosive on the window.
"SHANI!" Harper said loudly, looking around for him. Shani just barely heard him yelling and looked out. When he saw a familiar face, he let out a cry.
"I'm here Harper!" he said, overwhelmed at seeing him there – and realizing he was bleeding a lot. His eyes prickled with tears as he started to panic, but he needed this.
Harper quickly made a motion for him to go back, and Shani nodded and ran backwards, his eyes wide as he was watching the disk Harper slapped up on the glass.
"Get back," Harper said, going back into a corner as far away as possible from the shrapnel. Kodi saw him and stood in front of him, not wanting him to lose anymore blood after that and trying to protect the pretty face.
"Go."
Some Peacekeepers from the west wing were running over just as Harper hit the button and the disks exploded, sending shards flying and the energy wave sent the two Peacekeepers flying. Kodi aimed a few shots at the bodies on the floor just to be sure they weren't going anywhere. He shook out his arms – which were cut up, but he barely felt anything except for that adrenaline pumping through his veins.
Kodi's ears were ringing and he could hear his own long breaths, but he couldn't stop now. He put his gun up, scanning the area, before he kicked in some of the glass that hadn't been blown up, carefully and quickly moving over the cracks on the floor toward where Lester was under the bed, his heart pounding in his ears. "We got you," he said, but there wasn't a lot of time.
He held his hand down to Lester to help them up, but when he saw the state of them, he gasped. He couldn't even recognize them. They had lost so much weight and… They were emaciated, pale, bloody. Kodi took the bulletproof piece off his back, putting it up on Lester before he gave his back to him. "Let's get out of here." It was like carrying nothing. Lester held on, pressing his face into Kodi's neck as Harper was helping Shani over the cracks. He didn't even have shoes.
"Fuck." Kodi couldn't even help it, he went over to Shani's skinny frame and scooped him off the ground. "You okay?" he asked Harper, who was slowing down, but still gave a nod. He liked Harper, but he only had one thing in mind now that he had both of them. Kodi went back the direction he came, as fast as his feet would carry him while holding onto both of them as tight as he could. Harper followed quickly. When they got close, they could see Val and Rafa's car driving away, presumably with the girls inside, and right at the meeting spot was Tart's van. Harper jumped in the passenger side while Kodi practically threw the escapees in and jumped in. Tart was driving as soon as Kodi's feet were off the ground, even before he closed the door all the way, the other direction. But there were no alarms, no sirens, and that made it a clean getaway for both.
"Damn you kid, I got tan seats," Tartarus said as Harper was wrapping it in bandages around his stomach with shaking hands.
"W-Well sor-ry," Harper said through his teeth, but it was obvious he was in a lot of pain and was getting weaker, and the bumpy backroads he was taking did not help.
"Y-You're bleeding," Shani said quietly to Kodi, noticing the ripped sleeves and cuts on his arms and looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Sh," Kodi said, shaking his head a little bit. This twink was so emaciated he could barely talk and he was trying to tell Kodi he was bleeding?! "Just close your eyes."
"Well, ya did good for what you did," Tart said, looking at the others in the mirror before he slammed into something hard and turned back to the road. "Probably a rabbit."
"Some rabbit," Kodi said under his breath as Harper started crying out with all the pain as Tart dropped the car, knowing that a big suspicious van was going to be noticed.
"Alright, one last sprint," Tart said, looking at Kodi and knowing he was the only one that could really operate at full capacity besides himself. "I would ask if you're good, but you don't got a choice."
"Yessir," Kodi said. Tartarus got Harper over his shoulder.
"I-I'm fine," Shani said in a small voice, but Kodi didn't believe that and he promised that he would get them back, so he picked up both of them again the same way and followed Tart. He didn't like putting all his trust in Tartarus, but he didn't have a choice. As they were going, Shani craned his neck to look up. "I-I know where we are," he said softly, before he closed his eyes again. Kodi followed Tart around a side door that led into the garage to a very large house, his heart still pounding.
"Cowabunga, let me the fuck in," Tartarus said as soon as he pounded on the door, and the door opened to a very concerned man waiting. Tartarus pushed a few glasses unceremoniously off of the dining room table inside the door to lay Harper down on it.
"Shit," the man hissed as he went to get all the first aid things he could possibly think to collect.
"I got him, you get the others," Tartarus said, as a woman put a towel on Harper's forehead.
Kodi watched, his eyes wide in shock, and barely noticed the man coming over to him until he gently touched his shoulder.
"Come in now." He looked at the two that Kodi had and his mouth went open a little bit in horror. "I'll take him."
"No!" Kodi said, hugging Shani to him protectively. "I promised Ryder."
"Uncle Angelo?" Shani asked, and Kodi stopped, his face softening.
"You're safe now," the man said, raising an eyebrow at Kodi and holding out his arms again. Kodi put Shani in them and Angelo hugged him a little bit and carried him inside, limping a little bit but looking stubborn.
"Wait!" Shani said feebly, starting to cry again. "I want Lester. Lester!"
Kodi hefted up Lester again and went into the house. It was so… Nice. Well, besides Harper bleeding all over the floor and the dining room table. "I've got Lester," Kodi said.
Angelo took Shani in and sat him down on the couch. But Shani didn't sit still and got up to run back over to Kodi, who was coming with Lester in tow.
"Give me him give me him!" Shani said, looking at Kodi and grabbing his arms to try to get him to let up.
"Okay okay," Kodi said, gently letting Lester down on the couch, who just fell over a little bit into it. "He's alright. There he is."
Shani threw his arms around Lester and hugged him tightly, the tears starting to come even though he barely had anything to cry. He crawled into Lester's lap and squeezed him. "I'm not letting you go ever ever ever," Shani said, shaking a little bit.
Kodi watched that for a moment, not really sure where he fit – and feeling dumb for not taking off his shoes. Wait, there were so many other matters that weren't shoes!
"You can come help me bring them some water," Angelo said, putting an arm around Kodi to take him there to the sound of Harper's moans and Tartarus grumbling to himself as he treated him. "We have to feed them slowly, one thing at a time. Water first."
"Yes Sir," Kodi said.
Angelo looked at him for a second and then turned to get a third glass of water. "This one is yours," he said, his eyes warm, his lips turning up just a hint in a friendly manner. "Thank you for putting yourself on the line for my nephew. You are very brave."
"I'm not brave," Kodi said quietly, shaking his head and looking over at Shani and Lester, and the woman that was kneeling in front of them.
"You promised Ryder? That's their Mom," Angelo said, putting a hand on Kodi's shoulder and rubbing it softly.
"O-Oh," Kodi said, and yeah, he could see the resemblance… "I see."
Angelo went over with Kodi. "Ania," he said, giving her a look. It was obvious she was worried about her step-son, but he needed some space. "Give him a minute."
"Right," said Ania, but she was a wreck with her baby gone, her wife in prison, and having even part of her family back was so exciting.
Kodi put the water down next to the two other boys and Angelo took his arm and pulled him over.
"This is the man that carried them both," he told her, squeezing Kodi's shoulder.
"Oh, Kodiak," Ania said, barely recognizing him in person but when she saw that helpless look in his eyes, it was so easy to tell. She couldn't stop herself from giving him a big Mom hug – she never could before, especially not now.
"Oh!" said Kodi, but to have a nice clean-smelling warm hug was exactly what he wanted right then. His eyes filled with a few tears and he didn't even know how to react to such kindness.
"Thank you," she said, for so much more than just this.
"Oh, Ryder talks about you all the time," Kodi said. "They wanted to come, but for their own safety weren't allowed."
"I would rather they be safe," Ania said, her eyes tearing up a little at just the mention of Ryder.
"Oh, they are," Kodi said, nodding quickly and happy to reassure her. "I'm happy to tell you everything. I-" he jumped when Lester let out a small sob and they all looked over.
"He needs Kodi," Shani said quietly, holding Lester tightly.
In just a second, in only three words… Something changed in Kodiak Chay. He had never been needed before. It felt like his heart opened up a little bit, and warmth poured out from it in a glowing stream that he could feel in his fingertips. He turned to the adults, his mouth open to speak, but he just was met with smiles.
"Go ahead," Ania said softly, making a bit of a shooing motion.
Kodi nodded quickly, making a quick few steps to the couch where Shani and Lester were holding each other, still cowering a little bit and taking up only a little bit of the big huge space. He went over and gave them space still, sitting beside them and getting a glass of water. "I'm here," he said, sipping the water before putting it on the coffee table and gently putting an arm around Lester's shoulders, trying to not interfere with Shani hugging him around the stomach and sitting in his lap. "You're never going to be treated that way again," he reassured them, trying to keep his voice steady. He never ever thought he was going to see something like this. It was horrifying. Was this… His fault?
Hearing him talking soothingly made Lester cry a little more and Shani took his other arm to put it around himself.
"Hug," he said quietly, and pulled a little more. It barely even felt like pulling to Kodi. But he could tell that just like him, they just needed it, so he went ahead and moved closer, hugging both of them to his chest tightly.
"You're safe now," he said quietly, leaning over more so he could put his arms the whole way around them both and taking deep breaths. "Nobody's ever going to hurt you again. I'm going to protect you, and make sure you get to safety." He put his hands in Lester's hair and his eyes widened at how stringy and greasy it felt. "Oh, oh this won't do," he said quickly, shaking his head. "Is there a shower? Let's get you cleaned."
"Upstairs, on the left, there's a bathroom with a walk-in attached to the guest bedroom there," Angelo said.
"Want to get clean?" Kodi asked.
"I want him," Shani said, clinging to Lester. "And he wants me and we want you. Don't leave us." He looked at Lester and Lester nodded.
"Then I'll help you," Kodi said. It was just too sad to see them over here cowering like they weren't even human. He squeezed them to his chest before he got up and put down his hands. Lester grabbed his hand and Shani stayed nestled in Lester's side. "Thank you," he said to the adults, before doing most of the heavy lifting to help those two up the stairs, for which they could all three barely fit. He went in the bedroom attached to the bathroom and closed the door for privacy. "Clothes on or off?"
Lester grinned and took off his shirt right away.
"Oh!" Shani said, giggling and clapping his hands, but… It was pretty gruesome seeing Lester shirtless, there was barely a patch of closed skin under there.
"Wow," Kodi said quietly. He was amazed that Lester was even alive. "I'm going to make you feel better, honey."
Thank you, Lester signed to him.
"You're welcome," he said softly, looking at Shani who was still staring at Lester's underwear, trying to see his package. Lester grinned and posed for him when he saw him looking.
"Alright you," Kodi said lightly, "Go get the water running." Lester looked at Shani for a second before going to do it, keeping the bathroom door open so they were never too far apart.
Kodi saw Shani fiddling with the bottom of his shirt a little bit, and put up his hands to sign.
You're safe with me. Promise.
Shani's face softened when he watched him sign to him. "Did you learn that from Ryder?" he asked quietly, his voice so small.
"Yeah," Kodi said quietly, offering him a smile. "They talked so much about you. I'm going to patch you both up and make you feel better. Then maybe you'll be ready for some broth."
"Lester told me a lot about you too, Mr. Chay," Shani said with a weak smile at him, before looking to the bathroom and frowning as he lowered his voice. "Kodiak, I think he's an Avox."
Kodi's eyes widened. "No," he said, but… Lester didn't say a single word since he got here and… that wasn't like Lester that Kodi knew at all. "Oh my God," he said, his eyes welling up in horror. What was Bonnie going to say?!
"Just…Don't say anything right now," Shani said, frowning. "I'll be there to translate for him. I just… Yeah. Wanted to get it off my chest to someone, and… I trust you." He took his shirt off slowly, still ashamed of his body, especially now, beaten and bruised though not as severely as Lester's, and just so skinny he could see his bones.
"I'm glad. I'm here because Ryder couldn't be there for you, so I'll care for you," Kodi told him, but… He couldn't help but blush thinking about what else Ryder wanted him to do – marry Shani! But that was stupid.
"Lester told me that Ryder betrothed you to me when you were together," Shani said with a giggle at his blush and blushing a little bit himself.
"Is there anything Lester didn't tell you?" he asked, smiling at the little laugh from Shani, glad to have him smiling and laughing.
"Hm… Nope," Shani said with a bigger grin. "Sorry, I've heard every detail about your fat dick and way too much about Bonnie Bunsen's glaring inability to give a BJ without choking."
Kodi blushed immediately at that – and about that info about Bonnie that honestly surprised him! "Fat isn't a nice word," he said with an eye roll.
"Well in ASL we don't really have a specific sign for girthy," Shani said with a grin. "He would tell you everything about us I'm sure, but there's not much to say there. Mostly he promised to drop his pants for me, and we said once we got out of here we were gonna watch the stars together."
"Well, now you can do that," Kodi said, before his mouth fell open when Lester stood in the doorway to the bathroom completely naked, thrusting his hips to be extra distracting. "Oh-kay!"
Shani turned around to look and made a squeal of surprise, but that got a full hearty laugh out of him. "Stop that!" he said, but he did strip off his pants, thinking for a second.
Take it off! Lester sighed, grinning at him and shaking their booty, flirting even though they were both so beat up.
"Alright, fine," Shani said, before pointing at Kodi. "I'm a grower not a shower."
"I'm not even thinking about that right now," Kodi said, or he wasn't until now. "Aye yay yay."
Lester gave a chirpy little giggle and that made Kodi smile, even though it did confirm Shani was right about him… So Kodi just sighed but he had to put on a face to not upset them. Lester sat down in the water and Shani sat his naked ass down beside them, closing his eyes and still holding onto him tightly. Despite himself… Still a little afraid that if he let go, they'd be ripped apart, separated by glass and bars again…
Kodi watched them for a second, but when they made no move toward the soap, he sighed and took off his shirt, getting shampoo out first. "Alright, alright, I'll help you."
Lester grinned at Shani and signed with a titter. Hot guy washing us makes this worth it.
Shani rolled his eyes at him but he grinned in response. Hopefully I don't get hard when he touches my hair!
Kodi hummed quietly, not trying to be invasive and just gently massaging shampoo into his hair, getting his scalp too and watching it all get foamy and give a good thorough clean. He made sure to get all of Lester's long hair, gently scratching his head and putting a ponytail on top of his head to massage it all more. "You're gonna be okay."
I'm more than okay.
"Thank you, Kodiak," Shani said. He was starting to feel like a human again.
Why? Lester signed.
"He wants to know, and so do I…" Shani frowned a little bit. "Why? Why put your life on the line for us?"
Kodi found a washcloth and some soap, getting it nice and sudsy and taking Lester's hand to gently wash off the dried blood. "Oh…" he shrugged. "Ryder is family to me now. They stood up for me to Parker and loved me like a brother, I wanted to help them. And… Besides Lester gifting me the best night of my life… Bonnie was kind to me. He is so nice, and you are a lucky man to have him," he said with a bit of a blush, trying to hide how jealous he was about that. "I wanted to help since they couldn't be here. Do something good." He smiled as he gently started washing dried blood from Shani's chest hair. "I don't really got much, so… No big deal if I go kablooey."
Lester protested vocally and signed. It is a big deal.
"It is a big deal, Kodi," Shani said, a frown on his face, feeling so sad at that thought. "You have us now." Lester nodded quickly.
"Either way," Kodi said, blushing as he gently washed Shani's arm. "I promised Ryder and Bonnie I would protect you and bring you back." That was always the most important driving thing to him. "They asked me who I am, and that's it." A smile appeared on his face and he sighed quietly.
"I am Kodiak Chay, and I am the man that keeps his promises."
~.~.
A/N: Okay I have to stop there before we get to 12K of content lol.
Resident Renegades update encouraging me to knock out one of this story, love to see it! And I've been so excited to get to the Big Gay Jailbreak, hopefully it lives up to expectations!
Next Chap: Possibly a check-in on a plotline idk if anyone remembers at this point depending on how much I care about it, the minivan-Buren gets more passengers, and some good Twin Angst (TM).
Second Wave
Tartarus
Harper
Shani
Lester
Kodi