ZRP-2: Chapter Two, Paradise in Hell

"So... uh. Do you know when we're leaving to attack?"

=I smile and shrug=

That, however, I do not know.

=I really was clueless=

Abel was in one of the designated rooms that the 'Elite' set the group up with.
He just sat on the bed, not having a weapon to sharpen, or a gun to clean, he just sat silent, a tune beginning to hum, but died soon after it began. He wasn't exactly one hundred percent sure what it was he was supposed to do here in a bit, he figured he'd just wait and see.

Abel sat forward with his fingertips together, but his palms far from each other. He had his chin resting in his thumbs.
You killed a man... Shot him...

"Ended his sick and twisted as fuck life."

Or maybe not, maybe he just joined the Sheperds so that he could live. But he didn't live did he? you killed him.

Abel sank his head into his hands, leaving them on top of his head, his shaggy hair between his fingers.

"It's too bad that I just took a shower, now I gotta go kill some Zombies."

(James)
=I lost track of how long we both lay there. Granted, the feeling of uncomfort helped give me some frame of reference, but I was too busy holding Hibiki close to me to care=
"So, I take it you had a chance to try out the showers here?"


(Sam)
"Maybe we should take a walk, try and grab a bite to eat?"

"Their fantastic." Hibiki said. "But no, you couldn't share the first one. You had to get shot."

Eve nodded. "Ok."

(James)
=My cheeks flushed red as I realized what she had just suggested, and the host of mental images that thought created was enough to make my heart skip a beat, and also very glad I had a thick blanket covering my lower region. I coughed=
"Yeah, sorry about that. Maybe when I start feeling good enough to walk, I'll join you for the next one."


(Sam)
=Smiling, I rose from my spot, Eve's hand in mine, and guided us out of the hospital. Now, I had no idea where we would find food in town, but I had a decent enough feeling that asking wouldn't hurt=

"I'm holding you to that." Hibiki said, kissing him.

Eve followed quietly, taking extreme interest in her sneakers.

(Sam)
"Eve, I know what happened is probably making you feel awkward and unwilling to look anyone in the eye....but try and look up. If you keep looking at your feet like that, you'll send off the wrong kind of signals."

(James)
"So....so much for shopping for a wedding ring then. Sorry Hibiki."

"I'm sorry...I just had hoped that it would have ended...not as awkwardly..."
She looked up, a small smile on her face for Sam.

Hibiki laughed. "You need to work on your proposal time."

(Sam)
=I blushed a little, thinking back to the details of that conversation=
"I hear ya Eve. Believe me, I've been in that spot before. It's not easy to get out of, but it's doable."

(James)
"Hey, I figure I might as well propose now while I'm still kicking, right?"

"Ok." Eve said. She went silent, still trying to smile.

"Pff." Hibiki said. "When you can get down on one knee without cringing in pain, you'll get a yes."

(James)
=I grunted a little=
"Looks like we're going to be waiting a while then."

(Sam)
"Cheer up Eve. So confessing didn't go as planned, it's not the end of the world."
=Irony. There was so much of it in that statement=

"Maybe not..." She said softly. "But...you won't treat me different, will you?"

Hibiki sighed. "I've waited two years for love. I think I can wait a bit longer."

(Sam)
"Of course not Eve."
=We were outside in a large courtyard area, in the streets of the city. They were barren, vacant save for pairs of soldiers who marched around=

(James)
"Two years? Come on, beautiful girl like you, you had to have had guys lining up, throwing themselves at you."

=I had, through most of the period, kept a silent vigil, getting the occasional stare. I muttered an occasional curse in German, and they got the idea that I wasn't going anywhere without some manner of violence being involved=

Damn right...I'm not going anywhere just yet...

=I hummed an old tune to myself, the only thing at this point keeping me from going insane=

"You obviously never have been to Wisconsin." Hibiki retorted.


Eve smiled a bit brighter. "Thank you."

(James)
"What, you're telling me that in your entire life, I'm the first and only guy you've ever had feelings for? I don't know if I should feel special or a little creeped out."
=I said that with as much love and care as I could manage=

(Sam)
"God, where's a girl supposed to get a bite around here?"

"Dunno. None managed to get past the fact I might cut your head off." She said.

Eve shrugged. " Iunno. I'm just following you."

(James)
=Despite the pain it would cause, I laughed at that statement. Sure enough, there was a sudden bloom of pain right in my stomach=
"Oh man....guess that makes me the bravest guy you ever met."

(Sam)
"I'd ask for directions, but I feel like these guys would shoot me if I tried...."

"Guess so. Now rest..." She said. "Don't die before the wedding now."

Eve shrugged. "If they do, then know that Katniss Everdeen and a Female Jackie Chan will kick their asses from here to the Arctic Circle."

=I kept humming the tune, a smile playing on my face=

I have my girl by my side, I'm in a nice place...I just doesn't get any better

=I then set down my pack, and take out a small picture that I've had for two years. I then have a flash of memory looking at the picture, and nearly lose myself to my emotions=

I wish you were here, Sarah...I just wish you were here...

=I bury my face in my arms in order not to cry=

(James)
"Hibiki, I'm a guy with an attractive woman in the same bed with him. Rest is not exactly on my mind right now...."
=But again, not like we could really do anything without crippling me or making my condition worse=

(Sam)
=I chuckled=
"Nah, I doubt it would come to that. Maybe they've got food back in the hotel, come on."

"You just said I wasn't your fuckbuddy, yet you want to have sex?" She stuck her tongue out at him again. "Make up your mind."

Eve nodded, silently staying with Sam.

(James)
=I couldn't help it. Two days without really feeling her, or any kind of intimate contact beyond the kiss. I leaned closer, my lips wrapping around her tongue as my hand went behind her head, pulling her into the kiss. Sex wasn't on the agenda, but just feeling that kind of kiss, and deepening it......it might not have paved the way for a speedy recovery, but the promise behind it would encourage me (and my body) to recover quickly=

(Sam)
=We walked back into the hotel, headed for what I guess was the dining room. When we passed through the doors, my nose was assaulted by a collection of smells, all of them delicious and all of them making my stomach growl in hunger=

Hibiki went in as well, her arms staying back to avoid hurting James. It was obvious she hungered for more, despite her earlier words.

Eve blushed as her stomach growled loudly. "I wanna eat now."

(James)
=Despite how good the kiss felt, the feel of her mouth on mine and our tongues entwined.....I broke it off. Mostly because I had the will to beat the desire down, and mostly because the sudden pain in my gut encouraged me to stop. I was breathing hard, eyes closed, and my face pulled back from her=
"I really, really wish we could go on....but, doc could walk in."

(Sam)
=They had a buffet table arranged, mostly of fresh vegetables and other assorted green foods. There were meats that looked dried, like jerky, while others looked freshly cooked. I had no idea how they had managed to keep the stuff preserved, but I was thankful for it=

"I don't know where to start." Eve said.

Hibiki glanced at the door. "There's things we can do that can stay under wraps if the docs walk in." She said quietly to him.

(James)
=It was stupid, but she had my attention=
"Going to regret this, but such as?"

(Sam)
=Grabbing a plate, I started piling on tomatoes, grapes, and oranges. None of them were sliced, but I was sure that could be fixed=
"Just start with whatever takes your fancy."

Eve went for the meat and sweets immediately.


Hibiki blushed. "Well...um...."
She whispered into James' ear quietly.

(Sam)
=Once both our plates were full, we found a table to sit at, both sitting next to each other as we began to eat=

(James)
=I felt my face flush as she whispered her idea in my ear=
"Oh uh...I don't know Hibiki. You sure you don't just want to wait until I'm out of here?"

"If you want." Hibiki said. She then smiled. "I think I can wait."


Eve scooted a bit closer to Sam, then began to eat quietly, her eyes flickering with thought.

(James)
"Good....would just be too awkward if someone walked in."
=I still didn't let go=

"But, if you don't need to be anywhere right now.....would you stay with me?"
=I put on my puppy dog eyes and said in a rather childish voice=

"Keep the big bad assassin's away?"

(Sam)
"Huh, wonder where they get food this fresh...."

Hibiki laughed. "Of course."

Eve shrugged. "I don't know. I just am happy I can eat something warm..." she glanced at Sam. "And share it with someone I care about."

=I sigh, looking at the picture of my sister=

(German) I just wish I could see you one last time...

=I nearly crumple the picture=

And dammit, I want to be happy again...

(Sam)
=I blushed again, and while I'd never say it outright to the girl, I did care very deeply for her. Oh no....maybe I actually did feel for her? Was probably just nothing=

(James)
=Smiling, I held her close to me. With my free hand, I moved the blanket over us both. Sleep was not on my mind, nor was anything more...physical. But having her there was enough=

Eve continued to eat in Silence.


Hibiki smiled and curled up closer, and soon fell asleep.


Mira took Andy's hand. "Andy...stop counting your losses...please...start counting your blessings."

=I sigh=

I'm sorry...it's just that recent events have made me, well...less than happy.

=I smile thinly=

It's kinda hard to keep happy.

(James)
=While Hibiki was asleep, I played with a lock of her hair, twining my fingers through it. My other hand moved to gently caress her face, and I relished the warm softness of her skin=
Maybe I shouldn't have turned down the offer.....oh well.

I was ready before the bus gassed out, I clicked the clip on my quiver as we stopped. I looked up to see Norman talking with his family. From what I have been told Norman's wife died before the outbreak so he has been surviving with his son and his family. I don't know much about his son other than he died saving his wife and daughter.

Sam: Well time to head out you two.

I looked at him and nodded. My eyes followed his as he headed over to the roof door to let us out. I walked over to Sam where we both looked, waiting for Norman to say his goodbyes.

Sam: C'mon you won't be gone long.

Norman gave an aggrivated growl towards Sam, but then again the only time I haven't seen him in a grumpy mood is when he talks to his granddaughter. She just had her sweet sixteen about a month ago. We found some twinkies in an abandon store..ha lucky us. Sam pulled down the ladder and I climbed up first searching our surroundings for the dead. I walked to the front of the bus for an easier way to the street. I could hear Norman behind. He made a heavy step and walked passed me looking at the area.

Norman: This way, we should be there in about 6 hours.

How do you know?

Norman: I use to hunt around here during the season when I had the time. There is a village not far from here. That is where they stay.

After awhile of Abel sitting in the room, alone with his thoughts, the type of thoughts that made it so he couldn't sleep well for days. He stood up and walked towards the door. Though he wasn't sure what'd he do outside of the room, he grabbed his winter cap, and covered his hair under it before leaving.

(Sam)
=A sudden thought crossed my mind=
"So uh, I gather you heard what Hibiki said....about her being pregnant?"

(James)
=I didn't quite fall asleep. Death threats have a way of ruining one's desire to sleep, so I relaxed in that bed, arms around Hibiki as I quietly thought of the groups next move=

I was walking about the camp, just doing a lot of nothing. Wishing I could tell Jennifer that I was okay. But I felt a bit... off.

Where did these sudden feeling come from anyway?

That same question kept ravanging my mind.

Why did she feel the same? Does she still feel like that? Or has she moved on?

"Yeah..." She poked at her plate, taking a bite. "I don't know how to react. I don't know what to say."
She said this matter of factly.

=I look at the picture one last time=

I know you're in a better place...and me moping around isn't going solve anything

=My conscience now feels almost, for lack of a better word, content=

Well...happy birthday, sis...

=I rest along the wall, a smile now on my face. I open my eyes and turn to Mira=

So, how'd you take the news...of...you know...Hibiki being pregnant?

(Sam)
"Well, a little person is going to come into the world, and you're going to be their big sister. How does that feel?"

"I don't know." She frowned. "I don't understand emotions...I don't understand it." She hung her head. "All I so far know is I love you and I love mommy and I want you both to be happy. Beyond that, I don't understand how I feel."

Mira sighed. "It's great...but she shouldn't be leading an assault on a Shepherd camp while pregnant."

=I nod=

I agree with you on that one, Mira.

=I rub my chin a bit=

But I was the one afraid she'd cut my head off in my sleep if I objected.

(Sam)
=I did my best to ignore her comment about loving me=
"What about James? He's the father of this child, so in a way that's going to make him your father as well."

"I need to get to know him more." She said.

Mira sighed. "Both heads, I presume?"