POV – Namur, Haruta and Thatch

"This doesn't look good…"

"C'mon Namur! Be positive!"

Namur gave a look to his brother, "The doors were busted, the shelves are empty, the floor is covered in blood."

Haruta rolled his eyes, "Every door to every public building… and not public buildings are busted and have we ever entered a store where the first shelves we passed were not empty? There's always something left in the back."

"Rotten something yea."

"No fighting, no fighting. See the positive side." A tall brown haired man with a moon shaped scar on his face said with a smile.

He was looked at with unimpressed looks, "yeey the building is not collapsed?"

A soft laugh was there, "indeed! And aaaaanddd, the blood is dried! So at least the fights that happened here aren't recent and we haven't passed too many zombies either."

"…probably already finished everyone here…"

"Oh c'mon, maybe they j-"

The trio grew silent as a noise was heard further into the shop.

"Zomb-"

"shh"

"Don't shush me!"

"Haruta, shut up. You're going to lure it here!"

"It's probably deaf or it should have already been lunging at u- Marco?"

Namur and Haruta both looked to Thatch like he was fucking crazy. Marco? They lost the blond already 6 years ago. Got separated when they suddenly got engulfed by a horde of zombies breaking loose out of a building, the same indecent in which they lost Izou… though no one had seen Marco gone down so they all just hoped that he and the others that were with him had gotten away… without too many casualties.

"… Maybe your brain was located in your pinky alright.."

"Yea and since ya lost it you've grown more stupid then before and are seeing things."

A tiny tickmark appeared. These two are never going to let him forget he lost his pinky. He didn't think the knife he found was that sharp! "Shut up, and I know we haven't seen Marco in years… and the chance he's alive is… but I swear that's him! Or like he did have an kid we don't know about and it's his child! Because I would recognize that stupid hairdo from anywhere!"

"Thatch…" It wasn't the first time they thought they found someone, only to be wrong every single time.

"Maybe we should just go…. There's other stores around to check."

"Screw you, I'm going to Marco!"

Namur and Haruta quickly ran to next to thatch as he stomped off, "wait wait, we'll go together. We're stronger together."

Haruta nodded along, "where did you see him."

"Clothing section."

With nods they made their way over, looking over the shelves to find movement. And-

"Oh my god."

At Namur's flabbergasted tone, they turned to where he was looking.

A shuddering breath left the previous chef cook and tears were welling in his eyes. That was Marco. Their oldest brother. The bird-fanatic everyone loved so much! "Mar-"

Thunk

Next to them Haruta had dropped her saber, eyes also full of tears. And just like the others she was a mere fraction of a second away from running and jumping their big brother.

…

Up until the moment Marco heard the sound and turned to them. Gasps left them, hands going to their mouth from shock as lifeless eyes greeted them. And if that wasn't enough, the sunken eyes and veiny skin were tell-tales enough… and the fact that there wasn't a greeting for them… not even a smile… a look of recognition, hurt so so much more.

"H-he's- he's- oh god."

"M-marco, no. please."

Every little made up fantasy the trio had about their blond brother, that he was surviving somewhere, vanished in an instant. Replaced by horrible thoughts and questions of how he met his end. And if Marco was dead, what about Ace, Jozu, Sabo, Deuce. They had all been together when they separated. Was… was everyone gone?

"He-He's turning… away?"

Tears streaming down their face they watched stunned as the blond continued walking… looking at the clothes around him.

"Do we- we need to-" Namur swallowed, "… We can't let him stay like this."

Haruta sobbed but nodded, soon followed by Thatch. They had all talked it over already a week into this hellhole. If any of them turned… They would end the other. No one wanted to keep walking as a zombie, to hurt and kill others even if they were not away of it.

"H-how do we- I can't do it."

"… I'll do it." Thatch whispered, voice empty. "He-… he would have done the same for me. He always came to our rescue no matter what… Now it's time to-" he swallowed harshly, clenching a baton In hand, "i-it's time to- to r-res-rescue him."

With deliberate steps he walked closer and closer, Marco still ignoring them as he was touching some fabrics. And wasn't that hilarious, he was touching a button up with pineapples. Thatch's face was filled with tears as a wet chuckle left him. Marco was shopping. He always loved shopping. Never said it out loud and would even complain if Izou dragged him along. But he knew that Marco really enjoyed browsing around, not necessarily buying a lot, but browsing. Feeling for soft fabrics, funny patterns.

He was almost close enough now. This was it. One solid hit. He would give one solid hid to the back of his head. End it before the blond realized what happened. Not that a zombie would but… he didn't want to beat his brother to the ground, see him fight back…

"Thank you, Marco" He whispered. "For e-everything you've done for me, for us, everyone… y-you w-were the best- the best big brother I ever had." He swallowed as he raised his baton into the air, "I'm sorry." With one last whispered and he was about to swing down when there was a yell further in the store.

"STOP! DON'T HURT HIM!"

"Ace- Namur- Is that-"

Namur could only nod as now their youngest was running to them.

"THAT'S MARCO! COME HERE MARCO!"

"He doesn't know."

"What?"

Ace was yelling for them to not hurt Marco… did he also just stumble upon the blond but hasn't realized he's dead? He's a zombie? Oh god, their baby brother and Marco were so close. They can't- they can't let them meet like this.

"END HIM THATCH!" Namur yelled, "ACE DOESN'T KNOW HE'S- WE CAN'T LET HIM SEE HIM LIKE THIS!"

The next seconds flew by very fast. Both Haruta and Namur ran for Ace. Passing by Marco and Thatch as they went to barrel into the raven, holding him back from getting closer as the raven yelled to let him go. The raven had however grown strong during their time apart, and Namur yelled for Thatch to hurry up.

"I'm sorry Marco, thank you for everything!" He yelled at the zombie that had turned away from him now and was growling madly at his brothers before swinging down hard.

SLAM

The breath of relieve caught in his throat as he didn't find blond hairs on the body laying before him, but raven. "ACE!?"

Namur and Haruta were both crying and screaming.

"He broke lose!"

"He just jumped in between at the last fraction, p-pulled Marco back!"

Running they surrounded the falling duo.

"A-ace-" They stuttered out, relieve filling them when Ace pulled himself up a bit. "Ac-"

"Are you okay, Marco? You're not hurt right?"

Not knowing what to do they watched Ace talk to their blond brother, their obvious zombie brother, like it was a normal thing.

Marco ofcourse didn't reply, because ofcourse he didn't, he was a zombie.

"A-ace, get off, quickly! Before he attacks you!" They didn't know why Marco wasn't tearing Ace to shreds yet, maybe zombie could get stunned from hits? But it didn't matter, the still had to get away. Ace was in shock, he had to be as he was ignoring Marco's state!

Their hands pulling at Ace's shoulders were however pushed away by the raven himself.

"Marco won't attack me. Isn't that right, birdy." Ace smiled down at his lover, gently swiping hairs out of his face, pulling the few that were stuck to his eye out. Marco not caring in the slightest.

A trembling pale and veiny hand moved up and the trio was panicking, Ace was going to let himself be killed and they would stand by and watch!... however… Ace wasn't pulled down. Wasn't bitten. Instead the hand touched the blood flowing out from ace's hairline and onto his forehead. The raven even bringing up his own hand to cover Marco's.

"I'm okay, Marco. I'm okay. I'm not seeing blurry, it feels more like a scrape, he didn't hit me head on. It will heal."

The words were repeated a few more times before Ace brought Marco's hand back down to the zombie himself while he got off.

The second Ace was out of the way, Marco's undead eyes focused on the chef and to the baton before back to the chef and the zombie scowled, a loud menacing growl was there which made the three jump back and raising weapon. Now realizing Marco hadn't been growling besides now and when they were holding Ace back.

"Shh shh shh" Ace was back before the blond's face, cradling his cheeks, "Don't be mad. No mad. It's okay. Okay. Thatch wanted to protect me. Protect me like Marco protects me."

They wer stunned, though that word didn't even seem to cover it as the zombie seemed to listen. But the growling didn't stop and Ace sighed at it.

"Kissy?"

Kissy? Ace is asking for a kiss?

They watched as Ace pointed to his forehead, repeating the question a few times, even after the growling stopped he repeated it and eventually the zombie moved closer and closer before he was resting lips against Ace's forehead for just a few seconds before pulling away, revealing Ace smiling brightly.

"Thank you, Marco, Love youuu" He smiled and gave a own kiss, proper kiss, to Marco's forehead. "Now let's focus on getting up okay, can you do it? It's been a while since you fell over."

…

Once more they watched the living and zombie duo interact. Ace helping Marco up, giving short instruction, directing him to do a certain move before he was pulling the blond up. Holding onto his shoulders firmly for a few seconds to make sure he wasn't going to tip over.

"There we go! Goodjob Marco!"

"hhmmmrr"

A hand was once again moving to the blood, making Ace chuckle and grab it to hold in his own, "Okay. It's okay. I'll treat it at home. You're such a worrywart!"

"Ace…" Haruta started, "what- what's going on? Why isn't he attacking you? He's a zombie right? Marco is- Marco is dead?"

"I'll explain everything at home." Ace said without even looking to them, just focusing on fixing Marco's outfit and hairs, wiping the blood if his hand. "This area doesn't have a lot of zombies, but that doesn't mean they don't show up eventually so talking here for hours isn't smart."

"Ehm where… where's home?"

"I'll show. Just need to finish shopping." They never showed their home to other living beings but… he knew Thatch, Haruta and Namur for years before everything went down and… they hadn't yet bashed Marco's skull in so… he could trust them, hoped he could trust them.

"But before that" He smiled at Marco. "Did you find anything?"

"No we just got here, everything seemed empty."

"Not you three. Marco." Ace rolled his eyes like it was obvious, "He was browsing the clothes, and I wasn't expecting any living being around, the reason I left him alone for minute, which I won't do anymore. I can't lose him again." The last thing was said in a sad empty whisper before the smile was back. "So did you find anything, Mar? Clothes?"

The zombie stayed silent, just… watching…. How Ace could stay smiling like it was normal was… a little tarrying.

"e-ehm" Thatch started, "he was feeling a shirt… ehm before…"

"Ooooh which one?" Ace eagerly turned to him and Thatch pointed to the rack with the pineapples shirt, making Ace laugh.

"Pineapples! Marco! You're so funny!" He laughed pulling his boyfriend with him to the clothing rack and taking one out, "There's even pineapples with sunglasses! Did you see that mar?"

"rrr."

"Hahahahha you always have the best finds!" The raven chuckled before he was searching through the shirts, he found one one-size up from the one Marco usually had and held it in from of him, "hmmmmmmmm this should work, tiny bit big, but it will be extra comfy!" he put it over his arm as he looked around, "Did you find anything else?"

This time Marco did move, he started to walk and pulled Ace along as they held hands. The grip seemed painfully hard though… yet Ace didn't say anything of it.

"hrr hrr"

"hmm? Oh" Ace giggled and reached down to pick up the single shoe on the floor. A dark purple indoor slipper with a huge bright purple pom pom on top of it. "This-? Ahah okay okay!" Another laugh escaped him as Marco was already reaching for it and grabbed it in a harsh grip.

"Let me see if there's another one, it would be good for at home, out slippers aren't so fluffy. I would love to find a second pair too, then we can match!"

…

"This is crazy, crazy…." Thatch whispered as his youngest and oldest brother searched the shelves, -Ace searched, Marco followed-, for freaking fuzzy slippers.

And lo and behold… they found the slippers! Not all matching colors and one seemed to be a other model but 4 slippers so they could make two pairs.

They were soon out the store and following Ace to who knows where. But to their surprise, … almost everything had been a surprise but still… Marco hadn't stopped moaning since they got out, while before he barely made noise. Ace had been trying to shush the blond but nothing seemed to work. Not even changing him into his new shirt had helped… even if the zombie somehow sounded more satisfied…

They had walked one full street before Ace stopped and threw his hands in the air, "fine! You win! Geez Marco, you really are stubborn!" But even though Ace said that, he was smiling as he …. Handed over his shopping trolley? And yes, Ace had a trolley. One of those bags on wheels you could pull and old ladies often brought to markets. Before they had left the store, Ace had disappeared into one of the other isles in the food corner and had returned with it, wheels squeaking softly.

"Thatch? Namur? Haruta? You three coming?"

"y-yea, we're right behind ya" Was stuttered out by the group as they followed the duo once more. No more moaning coming from the blond as he, -besides holding Ace's hand-, was now dragging the trolley behind him in his previously free hand. Somehow seeming satisfied now.

The apocalypse was taking a weird turn….

sekiriin has made another drawing for this chapter! As always the drawing is visable on my AO3 and Wattpad, you can find me under the same username on all platforms. It's a drawing of the ending scene of Zombie Marco being the perfect boyfriend and carrying the bags on their way home! He loves helping his raven boyfriend!
You can find their Instagram with the name sekiriin , On AO3 is also a link leading directly to it!

Yes. Marco was moaning because he wanted to carry the groceries for his loving boyfriend. The blond is a gentleman even in death!

Everyone ready for the big time-skip? The reveal of the happy ending?