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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I know. [ Royce snaps, fear rising up in his throat. ] I know, I need to go. I can't - you need to sit with her. You have to make sure she doesn't get worse while I'm gone.

[ He's so scared of what might happen if he's gone for too long. ]

I won't leave her side. Not ever.

[Only immediate danger would drag him away.]

I - alright. [ He swallows hard. ] I need to - I'm going to go tell her. Give me a second.

[ And he does, moves back to her side to push her hair back out of her face and rest their foreheads together. She's awake, aware, and she gives him a smile, stroking the side of his face. They talk quietly for a few moments, and then Royce kisses her, more gentle than he's been with anything else. He pulls away, reluctant, and then goes to tell Mercy he'll be back, letting her hug him and pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

And then he's gone, slipping out the front door to try to find something, anything.

The girls are left behind, Gwen shifting to try and sit up so she can talk with Mercy, trying to look like she feels okay if only for Mercy's sake. ]

Gwen.

[Alfie puts a hand on her shoulder.]

Stay lying down, yeah?

No, it's alright. [ Gwen says, reaching to rest her shaking hand on top of Alfie's. ] I won't move around more than this, promise. I just want to sit with you and Mercy for a while.

[ Mercy watches the two of them quietly, solemnly. She has some measure of an idea that things are starting to be Very Wrong. ]

[Alfie, again, is able to keep his voice calm - but there's a heavy seriousness in his eyes.]

All right. But I don't want you to waste your strength.

[He gives her hand a squeeze, then lets go briefly to settle Mercy in between him and her mother.]

We want you in tip-top shape for hide and seek.

[ She smiles, with a little huff of a weak laugh. She sees the heaviness in his expression - there's a little bit of guilt, for her, watching this affect the people she considers family. ]

That's right. Of course. I'll rest. [ Gwen says gently, which has Mercy reaching to take her hand and hold it. Gwen links their fingers, rubbing at Mercy's hand with her thumb. Mercy being quiet is concerning for her. ] It's okay. I promise I'm fine, just a little fever. Daddy's going to make sure I get better.

[Alfie doesn't say anything. He just lets mother and daughter have their moment.]

[ Mercy frowns, and then looks up at Alfie. Very solemnly: ] Is Mommy gonna be okay?

[ She trusts Alfie's opinion, here - Gwen's expression twists a little, but she doesn't interject. ]

[He can't lie to Mercy. He's never been able to. Not with something as big as this, not even to make her feel better. Because what if Gwen isn't okay?

His breath hitches.]

I hope so. We're gonna do our very best to make sure she is.

[ Mercy watches him for a good couple of second, and then nods a little, looking down at her lap. Gwen opens her mouth, and then closes it, having no idea what she could possibly say. The silence is oppressive until Gwen can get her throat to work. ]

Sweetie, you know what you can do to help? [ Gwen asks, and Mercy looks up, eyes watery. Gwen lets go of her hand to reach and wipe away the tears with her thumb. ] You can draw me a picture. A really good one, okay? Can you do that for me while I talk to Alfie?

[ Mercy sniffs, and then mutters a little okay. She hugs Gwen first, tightly, kisses Gwen's cheek, and then slides off to go get her drawing stuff. Gwen sinks down on the bed, resting a hand over her face to try and compose herself. ]

[Alfie leans in a little closer, so they can talk quietly.]

Gwen.

[Even he can't keep his voice entirely steady now.]

[ He leans closer, and Gwen pulls her hand down away from her face. She's dizzy and nauseated, sweating and feverish, but she's still going to do her very best to reassure him. ] It's okay. Royce is looking for antibiotics. I trust him to do the best he can.

But - but if he can't find them... [ Gwen starts, almost hesitantly. ]

[He wants to tell her don't think about that, but that's naive.]

I won't leave them, not for anything. They'll be taken care of.

[ She smiles, teary. ] I know you won't. You've been there for us from the start, I know you'll take care of them.

Mercy is - Mercy is so young, she won't remember so much. She'll miss me, but it isn't her I'm worried about. Alfie, Royce - if I... [ She's very, very concerned about Royce, because she knows the self-destruct he'll spiral into if she dies. ]

[He closes his eyes.]

Royce is harder to help. I don't know how much I could do.

Just be there. [ She says softly, reaching up to wipe the tears away from her own face. She's a little scared. ] Don't leave him or let him go on his own. Please. He's going to shut down and do whatever he can to find a way to let the awful, terrible world we're in kill him.

[ Shivery breath. ] He won't do it himself, but he'll be so reckless. I don't want that.

I'll never leave him.

[Alfie looks over at Mercy, drawing a short distance away.]

He'll stay for her.

[ She nods a little. ] I think he will. She's... she'll need both of you.

[ But it does soothe her a lot to hear that Alfie won't leave. She rests her head back against the wall, slumping a little. A beat, and then weakly: ] I'm afraid to look at my wound. It hurts badly enough that I don't think there's - there's anything good under the bandages.

Then don't look.

[He takes her hand again.]

I'll clean it, when we need to next.

[ She squeezes his hand, just as weak as her tone. ] Thank you.

And... and thank you for knowing what to say. Especially to Mercy. You've been so good to us, I don't know how I could ever really tell you how I feel.

[He leans in, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek.]

You're family. You always have been. There aren't words big enough to describe that properly.

[ Ah, no, she's going to start crying again! She sniffs, trying to smile. ] You're so sweet.

[ She brings her free hand up to cover her face, hair falling down to hide it as well. ] Sorry - I'm sorry, I don't want to let Mercy see me cry.

Gwen, he'll find something.

[He squeezes her hand tighter.]

With his eyes, his hearing, his speed - there's no better supply hunter out there.

No, I know. I - I know, I do believe in him. More than anything. [ Gwen says, voice cracking. Softer: ] I'm just a little frightened, is all.