wickedchouette | (no subject)

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[When the car radiator overheats for the third time in a week, Alfie takes it as a sign that it's finally time for more than just another quick tune-up.

They're in a deserted area, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, most of the dangerous gangs are still in urban areas, the way they had been before the world had gone to shit. Out here in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of fields with only the occasional small copse of trees, they're not likely to run into anyone at all, much less anyone dangerous. But on the other hand, if they do come across anyone, there won't be anywhere to run to or hide. Alfie, as always, has his pistol tucked into his coat pocket, and they have more weapons stashed away in the trunk. But they're a small group - no match for the bigger gangs with armored trucks and heavy artillery. If they meet one of those, they'll be slaughtered.

With his sleeves rolled up and the hood of the car open, he leans in with his tools, carefully tinkering away. He can't afford to make a mistake here - replacement parts are rare and precious. When he hears footsteps behind him, he doesn't dare look away from his work as he says sharply:]

Stay back. You don't want hot steam to the face.

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[ Mercy flinches down when she hears the noise, but puts on a brave face when Alfie asks. She nods, taking his hand.

Outside, they'll find Royce staring down at the remains of the shattered wooden crate he'd just thrown at the wall. He's breathing hard, shakily, hand pressed tightly over the lower half of his mouth. It hurts. He can't deal with this, he doesn't know how. ]

Royce.

[Alfie gives Mercy's hand a squeeze, then approaches.]

Got someone here for you.

Not now. [ Royce says tightly, muffled by his hand. ] Alfie, not right now.

[ Mercy sniffs a little, leaning heavily against Alfie's side. ]

I think it'll do you both some good, mate.

[But he doesn't step forward, or try to force the issue beyond using his words. He's too tired and grief-stricken himself to be more convincing than this.]

[ Royce sort of just, slowly slides down to the ground and sits there, expression just as tight as his tone. He doesn't argue either, doesn't say anything else.

Mercy watches him for a second before dragging Alfie over to him and making Alfie sit, too. They're in the dirt, but she doesn't care. She climbs into Royce's lap, and Royce's hand shakes terribly when he brings it up to rest on the back of her head.

He has nothing to say, not really. They have to bury her. ]

[Alfie stays. After a moment, he lefts his eyes fall shut and his head fall back against the side of the house. He doesn't say anything either.]

[ They stay that way for a while. Half an hour, maybe. Royce moves, finally, picking Mercy up and setting her in Alfie's lap. He heads into the house, and a few minutes later, comes out with Gwen in his arms, and loads her into the backseat of the car, carefully.

When he turns to look at the two he has left, his voice is low and monotone. Lifeless. ]

Solomons. We need to move.

[Alfie still doesn't say anything, but he curls his arms around the little girl to hold her securely, letting his cheek rest against the top of her head. When Royce comes back out, he looks up.]

Yeah.

Mercy, you sit in the front seat with us.

[He doesn't want her sitting with a dead body.]

Okay. [ Mercy whispers, clutching at Alfie.

Royce drives. He doesn't invite discussion, just gets in the driver's seat and lets Alfie take care of Mercy. He's silent the whole way, until they reach the little grove of trees not far off. It might have used to be a park, or protected land - it doesn't matter to Royce.

He gets out of the car, heads to the trunk, and mechanically pulls a shovel from the depths of it, before making his way to a tree and starting to dig at the base of it.

Mercy's attempt to get his attention is ignored, and she looks up at Alfie with an upset expression, unsure what to do. ]

[Alfie lifts her, kissing her cheek.]

He's concentrating. It's all right.

[There's only one shovel, so Alfie doesn't move to help. With his back, and with Mercy, it's probably better for him to take care of her anyway. So he just watches, holding the girl.]

What's he doing? [ Mercy asks quietly, wrapping her arms around Alfie's neck and resting her head on his shoulder. ]

We're gonna give your mum a grave, Mercy. A nice place to rest.

... But if you put her in there she can't come back out again. [ This is said with a degree of alarm and a fresh new wave of tears. ]

She can't come back no matter what we do, Mercy.

[He says it gently, but he knows the words will hurt.]

[ It does hurt, because she doesn't really understand that this is permanent - and Royce, who can hear them despite his best efforts to ignore it, stabs the shovel into the dirt more forcefully.

Mercy grips tightly at Alfie's shirt. ] But - I have a lot of stuff to tell her all the time! That's not fair!

[ Her tiny voice breaks, and Royce falters, hunched over the start of a grave with white knuckles. ]

[Alfie notices. Rubbing Mercy's back, he calls out:]

Take a break for a moment, Royce.

No. [ Royce says, his own voice rough. ] I need to do this before it gets too difficult to move her.

[ To which Mercy replies with, loudly and through her tears: ] Stop being stupid, daddy!

Royce, five minutes isn't gonna make a difference. Please.

[A rare word from Alfie.]

[ It's the please that does it. He jabs the shovel into the ground, and doesn't move, just stares down at the start of the grave. Taking a break. Right. He'll take a break right here, for five minutes, unless otherwise instructed. ]

Mercy, Mercy.

[He gives her a little squeeze.]

How do you feel about going over to your dad and sitting under that tree with him? Shall we do it?

No. [ Mercy says stubbornly, wiping her face. ] I don't want to sit with him if he's going to be mean.

Is he mean because he's burying your mum?

Yes. [ Mercy insists.

Royce gets a little smaller, staring hard down at the grave. ]

He's being very brave right now, little girl.

[He pets her hair, rubbing a calloused thumb along her cheek.]

He's doing the only thing he can.

[ Royce goes back to shoveling - he doesn't want break time, he just needs to get this over with. ]

Why can't we just take her with us? [ Mercy asks, angrily. ] We're not supposed to leave anybody behind!