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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[ It's good that he does, because her hands tremble while she drinks. She manages to get it down, but she looks exhausted by the end of it. She brings the cup down unsteadily, settling into a shiver, eyes a bit glossy.

Mercy watches them out of the corner of her eye, biting at her bottom lip. ]

I'm tired. [ Gwen sighs out softly. ] Do you think... do you think it'd be okay for me to sleep for a while? Until Royce comes back, maybe.

[Alfie hesitates. He's not a doctor, so he can't say for sure - but this is illness, not a head injury. Sleep can't hurt, and maybe it can help. So he nods.]

Think we can let your mum take a nap, Mercy?

I think she should if she's tired... [ Mercy says hesitantly, tilting her head a little. She looks at Alfie, and then at Gwen, and abandons her coloring again to curl up against her mother with a little frown. ]

I won't sleep for too long. [ Gwen murmurs, stroking Mercy's hair back out of her face. ] Someone needs to keep watch while Alfie rests.

[ Her voice slurs just slightly at the end. ]

You nap a bit with her, Mercy. All right? I'll be lookout for you both.

[ Gwen sighs again, and wraps her arms around Mercy. It doesn't take terribly long for them to fall asleep - Gwen's out in seconds and Mercy ends up following a few minutes later, thumb in her mouth. They'll sleep for a while, leaving Alfie alone with his thoughts.

It's nearly dawn when Royce returns, pale, exhausted, frustrated. The first thing he does is check the house, the perimeter - nobody but them. He hasn't slept in what feels like days but it's almost good, like punishment, because he's empty handed.

He slips into the bedroom, expression pained, silently making his way to the bed so make sure his family is okay. ]

[Alfie being left alone with his thoughts isn't always a good thing these days, and now especially. But he sits quietly, a hand on each of their heads. When Royce gets back, he looks up.]

Resting.

[He doesn't ask. If Royce found anything useful, he'll say so.]

[ Resting. Royce is quiet, settling carefully on the edge of the bed to make sure neither of them are disturbed. He takes one of Gwen's hands and links their fingers gently, staring down at them. ]

Nothing. [ Royce says hoarsely, unable to look up. ] I found nothing. Nobody has antibiotics to trade. Didn't have them hidden, either. I looked.

[Alfie exhales, long and slow.]

You'll try again tomorrow?

Yes. [ He'll try until he can't. Until it doesn't matter. He just doesn't know how much longer he has. He brings her hand up to kiss the back of it, breath hitching slightly. ] I'll bring down an army if it means I can get them for her.

Mm.

[Alfie lifts his gaze and looks at Royce, and then offers the other possibility.]

Or you could stay. With her.

[ Royce doesn't answer for a long moment. ]

Her condition worsened while I was gone. [ It must've, or Alfie wouldn't have offered that. He'd never, ever forgive himself if she died without him there. ]

Even with medicine--

[His breath hitches, very subtly.]

She knows.

[ Royce definitely can't look up at Alfie, now. ]

... I'll - I'll stay. [ His voice shakes. Softer: ] I don't know what to tell Mercy.

Let's wake them up, yeah? She wanted to sleep until you came back.

[ Royce doesn't speak, just nods. It's like industrial lights, like a huge building, a generator slowly turning off each section of the building - he's shutting down in phases.

He squeezes Gwen's hand, shaking her gently, throat too tight to form the words to wake her. ]

[Alfie says nothing - he just smooths his hand lightly over her hair.]

[ She stirs, listless, and opens her eyes slowly. Mercy yawns as she wakes, and when she spots Royce, she makes a happy little sound and throws herself into Royce's arms. Royce hugs her tightly, resting his head on top of Mercy's, watching Gwen, who struggles into consciousness.

Her hair is damp and sticking to her forehead, and her breathing is shallow and quick. But she's lucid, at least, if just barely, slowly turning her head to make sure Alfie is still here. She knows, and it's on her face, sad and regretful and maybe just a little scared.

Royce takes her hand again, squeezes it, and her grip is weak, pathetic. ]

I'm glad you're back. [ Gwen whispers, deflating a bit at the end, like that was everything she had in her. ]

[Alfie sits with his hands folded in front of his mouth, knuckles white with how hard he's clasping them together. He still doesn't say anything. This is their time.]

I'm here. [ Royce whispers in return. Mercy, confused, shifts in Royce's arms and turns to look at both of her parents, eyes wide and upset. She doesn't quite understand what's going on, and when she looks at Alfie, sees even Alfie upset and silent, her bottom lip trembles. Gwen sees, and tries to reach, but she's weak and in pain. ]

Shh, sweetheart. [ Gwen says, voice tiny, and Royce nudges Mercy, lets Mercy crawl over to her mother and hug her tightly. Royce's expression twists, but he won't look away. Not for a second.

Gwen manages a smile. In that same shivery, quiet tone: ] I love you. Mercedes. Royce. Alfie.

[Alfie, usually so good with words when he bothers to try to be, can't reliably speak. He knows his voice would shake, and he can't allow that now. So he steels his hand and reaches out to grasp Gwen's shoulder firmly - giving her a squeeze, and then a nod of his head. He knows she loves him. He loves her, too.]

[ Royce moves, sliding to curl on the bed with his wife. He sits behind her, gathering her up in his arms and holding her, smoothing her hair back out of her face. Mercy sniffs, and Gwen presses a kiss to the side of her head. She doesn't have the strength to do or say much else - her breathing is shallow and thready.

Royce knows he shouldn't let Mercy be here for this, shouldn't have to feel the life drain out of her mother slowly, and selfishly, terribly, Royce wants these last moments to himself. He wants to tell Alfie to take Mercy and go, but he doesn't. Doesn't know what the right thing to do is. He won't, anymore, not with her gone, she's always been...

He swallows his words and hides his tears in Gwen's hair.

When he takes her hand again, Gwen slowly strokes her thumb against his, and Royce lets out an almost inaudible noise that sounds like her name, desperate. ]

Mercy--

[Alfie says her name, very quietly, not really wanting to divert her attention from her mother. But he wants to make sure that she does understand what's happening. He doesn't want her to be caught by surprise.]

[ She knows something wrong is happening, and she looks at Alfie, teary-eyed and very confused. Royce is completely still. ]

[Oh, hell. He doesn't want to say it out loud - for Gwen and Royce's sake just as much as her's - but she shouldn't be confused right now. He runs a hand through his hair, steadying himself before speaking.]

Mercy--Mercy.

Your mum needs to go with my family, now.

[ Gwen opens her eyes with effort when she hears Alfie say that, so, so sad. It takes a few moments for Mercy to understand, and when she does, she almost startles. Sits straight up, and then looks at her mother with wide, frightened eyes. ]

But... [ But that means. Gwen's breathing catches, and a tear slides down her cheek as she reaches for Mercy, holding onto her hand. Mercy's face crumples up. ] But that's far. That's far away, and we can't see Alfie's family, because...

That's too far away. Why does she have to go?