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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[ But they can't stay, and she gets it. She nods, pulling herself together, expression steady, and doesn't hesitate. She holds her gun close and runs, keeps low as she races for the shelves. Nobody notices - nobody sees her, not this time, and she reaches up to put a hand over her mouth, to quiet herself down.

Ten feet. It's just ten feet. She pulls her hand away from her mouth to gesture to Alfie - come on - and then looks ahead. If they can just get past the next gap, they can keep running far away from the warzone and not have to worry. ]

[Alfie runs next to her, positioning himself - and his gun - between her and the approaching cacophony. It's strategic. He has more ammunition, and he's a more practiced shot.]

The door next. Are you ready?

Ready. [ She gives him a quick smile, pushing her hair back out of her face. Ready as she'll ever be. A beat, and then she moves again - runs just like she did the last time.

Only this time, someone sees her, and this time, someone shouts, points her out. Gwen hears it, and gasps, dodging, but it's not quite fast enough. The bullet is too quick, and she feels a sharp and terrible pain in her leg for just a moment before she trips and stumbles through the door.

The man that shoots her is really the only one who noticed. Everybody else is frenzied, chaotic, and not attentive enough to the two people actively trying to get away. ]

[Alfie, still right next to her, doesn't miss a beat in grabbing her up. It's just her leg, he tells himself, taking a deep breath and remaining calm. It could have been worse, but it's just a leg. And even with his bad back, he can carry her for long enough to get away.

Alfie doesn't bother to try to retaliate against the shooter. With any luck, he'll notice that, and realize that they aren't involved; that he'd made a mistake.]

Come on, Gwen; just a bit farther.

[He whispers it into her ear, low and soothing, and keeps moving at a half-jog, holding her securely in his arms. There's another building a short distance away. It looks empty.]

It's - it's okay, I'm okay. [ She whimpers a little - but she's tough, and she nods, holding onto Alfie. ] Don't worry, just go.

[ She knows it's going to hurt his back, and she almost protests, but they can't linger, she knows. The shooter loses interest in the, caught up in the commotion, and the rest of the way is easy. Building's empty, and Gwen already is making movements to get down when they arrive, heart thudding in her ears.

Just a leg. She's okay. She's fine. ]

Thank you - thank you, it's alright, I'm fine. [ She says, holding onto Alfie tightly even as she's trying to ease how much weight she is on him. ]

I can't let you walk on that.

[So he doesn't put her down.]

We've got bandages and antiseptic things back at the car, still.

It's not bad. [ She's trying to get a look at it from where she's at. ] It doesn't hurt badly, I think it just grazed me.

[ It's a little more than a graze, but the bullet didn't get lodged, at least. She takes a deep breath and gives him a little smile. ] My hero.

[He's still tensed up, but at least that gets him to smile a little.]

I'd like to go back and shoot him in the leg too, but we'd better not risk it, eh?

[ She laughs. ] Probably not. Do me a favor and please don't tell Royce what the man looked like, or we might need to tie him to the car for the night.

[ Teasing, teasing. She's shaking a little, and her heart is pounding, but it's okay; she doesn't want Alfie to worry, and she definitely needs to be calm for Royce and Mercy. ] The car is sort of far. Are you sure you're okay to carry me? I don't want to hurt your back.

We'll compromise. You'll lean on me.

[He carefully sets her on her feet, but keeps an arm around her.]

Tell me if it starts getting worse. A bullet wound is more serious than a strained back.

Perfect. [ She says - it's only a little strained. His arm around her helps, and she leans a little heavily against him, easing up on her bleeding leg.

She lets out a shivery breath, and indicates that she's ready to walk when Alfie is. ] Are you prepared for Royce to lose his mind a little? I might need help with him. [ A beat, and she chuckles under her breath. ] He listens to you about as much as he listens to me.

Yeah, I'm prepared.

[Alfie keeps his head up as they walk, alert for more threats.]

Seeing you walking will help. Seeing you alert and lucid will help more.

I suppose you're right. [ She winces at a particularly painful step, sucking in a breath. ] Thank you. I know you wouldn't just leave me behind, but I feel like I should say it anyway.

[ However long it takes to get to the car, Gwen walks. And Royce and Mercy will absolutely be there when they arrive, both completely unharmed and anxious for the return of the rest of their little makeshift family. ]

[Before either of them can say anything, Alfie raises a hand.]

She's all right, she's all right. She'll tell you herself, won't you, Gwen?

[ Royce has already practically sprinted the distance left between the car and the two of them and is grabbing at Gwen, looking her over. His face is pale and tight like it always is when he's panicked and swallowing it. ]

I'm fine, I'm fine - Royce, love. I'm okay. [ Gwen protests, as Royce makes an irritable noise and scoops his wife up, giving Alfie a dirty look before carrying her back to the car. Gwen sighs heavily in annoyance as Mercy races over to Alfie, expression vaguely frightened. ]

What happened? Is Mommy okay? [ Mercy asks Alfie, reaching for his hand. ]

[Royce, how dare you. Even though he knows it's not his fault, that look still stings a little.

He sighs, and reaches down to lift up Mercy into his arms.]

She was hurt, but it's not bad. She walked the whole way here.

[ There will be all sorts of apologies later. For now, Alfie might hear Gwen scolding Royce lightly by the car as Royce cleans and wraps her leg.

Mercy wraps her arms around Alfie tightly. ] ... We heard guns. I got really scared at the noises and Daddy was really angry for a bit. But if Mommy's walking then it's okay, right?

Edited 2016-09-03 21:52 (UTC)

Sure.

[He kisses Mercy's temple.]

And if she's yelling at your dad, she's even more okay.

[ Mercy wrinkles her nose. ] But... it's not good when they yell at each other, though, Alfie. [ Duh! ] Did - did she get shot at? With guns? Did you get shot at with guns?

It's not the bad sort of yelling. It's the sort where she's keeping him in line.

She did get shot with a gun. A bullet grazed her leg. She'll show you, when it's all clean and wrapped up. It's not so scary.

Oh. [ Yeah, okay, she's heard that one before. She also appreciates the honesty, even if it makes her expression a little twisty and scared. Alfie says it's not scary, but she's reserving judgment.

Mercy holds onto Alfie very tightly, with a little sniff. At the car, Gwen reaches to take Royce's face in her hands and kiss him, and when she pulls away, Royce's shoulders come down from around his ears.

With a little smile, Gwen glances over at Alfie and Mercy, and then gestures for them to come over while Royce works. ]

[Alfie wanders over, sitting down next to Gwen and settling Mercy in his lap. He's close enough to talk, but not so close that he'll get in the way of Royce's work.]

Coming along well?

[ Mercy curls up in Alfie's lap happily enough, watching Royce work with big eyes and a thumb in her mouth. Royce spares a glance at the two of them but doesn't say anything until Gwen reaches to card her fingers through his hair pointedly. ]

It's fine. Clean shot. Should be easy to heal. [ Royce says, voice tight. Gwen tugs his hair a little, and Royce mutters. ] Thank you. For helping her.

[ Gwen's expression is very much the facial equivalent of good boy. ]

[Alfie gives a little hm, but doesn't say anything else. He knows those words are coming from Gwen, not from Royce.

He bends down, mouth next to Mercy's ear, and whispers loudly enough for the other two to hear:]

What do you think? Less scary up close?

[ Mercy squirms, kind of grossed out at the sight of blood. ] No... but Daddy said it's okay, so I believe him. It looks gross.

[ Gwen laughs a little, holding out a hand for Mercy. Mercy takes it immediately, holding Gwen's hand tightly. Royce makes a tsk sound and starts to wrap the wound as Gwen looks up at the two of them. ]

It is kind of gross. [ Gwen says. ] But it'll be less gross in no time. Not much worse than a scraped knee, sweetie, Mommy's fine.

We should probably go. The gunfight was still in process when we left.