[cw: gore, violence]
“Devo?” The former medic doesn’t seem to hear you. He sits in the corner of the storeroom, muttering to himself. You gently creep up. It does not notice you until the third tap on the shoulder.
He spins, startling you, looking straight through you at the open door. A satisfied smile opens like a gash in its face as it lurches towards the opening, staggering into a shelf. You move to catch it, trying to propel its legs towards the exit.
You reposition yourself, almost as a crutch under his forearm. You can feel his bones digging into your shoulders as you carry practically his whole weight. He makes ineffective clutches at a shovel and as you place it into his hands you feel that grip on your shoulders once more, for just a moment. You grab a coil of rope too, slinging it over Devo like a necklace. He doesn’t seem to care.
The way out of the Bastion is clear, thankfully. Early enough in the morning that even Kathleen isn’t awake yet. The gate squeaks open reluctantly to allow you to escape. You make a mental note to find some oil for it.
As you reach the edge of the woods, Devo pauses, watching some invisible mote settle on the tip of his finger. “We have to move,” you hiss, but it just runs a hand through your hair like a child idling searching a patch of grass for bugs. A nudge is enough for it to start falling forward and you catch that momentum, turning it into a step deeper into the forest.
You flinch at every scurrying dormouse, sure that it’s Raindrop and that she’s found you. Sure that any second that gunshot will ring out and you will be left carrying a corpse. You can feel her feet on your shadow and Devo can sense it too, casting glances back every so often and tightening his collar before hurrying on. You quickly learn to anticipate these moments, scampering ahead to make sure he doesn’t fall.
It’s easier like this, when he doesn’t even register your presence, staring right through your eyes into the trees behind. Easier to forget the feeling of his hand on your shoulder, his voice in your ear, his wire at your neck, his devotion at your feet. Easier to pretend you’re not doing this out of fear because you’re not, it’s for Devo and for Raindrop and for Lottie and for the chance to be actually helpful for once and… Well the point is that it’s easier.
“My darling.” Devo speaks at last. A familiar smell permeates the air. “We’re moving today. Isn’t that exciting?” A gurgling murmur in response. Before you can stop it, Devo tumbles into the pit, joining his wife in a gnawing embrace. That vaccine had better work.
After a moment, they separate. Devo makes an attempt to climb back out, but slips, falls, tries again. On the third attempt, you gingerly offer a hand, wincing as he scrabbles at it with muddy fingernails. Next, its wife, who snarls with yellow teeth as you drag her by an arm which feels ready to unravel. You quickly back away as Devo takes her hands. In a moment of terrible clarity, its head snaps to you, eyes clear.
“Hurt her and this world dies.” Then you he turns back to his wife, and you are invisible once more.
They lean on each other, lurching every so often leaving you to rush in, trying to support Devo when you can instead of… her. You keep looking back, searching for some glimpse of Raindrop through the bushes. But there is never anything there.
After some time, Devo stops. It releases its wife, inexplicably. You hurry to tie her up, leaning away from her clumsy attempts to bite. As soon as she is secure, you make some distance.
And then you hear the click of the safety coming off. You turn to see Raindrop, the gun levelled at Devo. Before she can pull the trigger, you run to intercept, the barrel lined up between your eyes.
“Move out the way, Nio.” She won’t shoot you. She can’t. “He’s dangerous.”
“You don’t have to do this,” you plead.
“Move.” Her voice is firm. Her eyes set. And then they shift to what’s behind you, widening. You turn to see the wife, bursting at you and there’s no time but you’re ready, if this is what needs to happen to make sure Raindrop is safe and Devo is safe and–
Arms colliding with your shoulder, the ground meeting your cheek. Through the mud, there is Raindrop, arms still outstretched as the zombie’s teeth meet her arm. You kick it away into Devo's arms who drags it away, but it’s too late as the blood soaks through her sleeve and it should have been you, it should have been you saving her but instead you’re fine and she’s not.
Raindrop seems in shock for a moment as she stares at the bite. Her eyes lift to you, full of concern. Why does she still care, even now? Why would anyone?
The gun lies abandoned in the mud. The cost of your life. You crawl over, hugging it tightly. No one else is allowed to die.
“Are you alright?” It seems a ridiculous question to be asked as you watch Raindrop's blood drip down into the mud. “Nio, are you alright?”
And all you can do is nod.
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