ZRP-2: Chapter 3, The Coming Storm

=As I made my way to the hotel, this was the first moment I had to really think on recent events. My mind was still in a state of disbelief, even though it was pumped into my head that every bit of my past since Abernathy's second appearance at my home was a lie=

Think about it...almost everything you fought for was the truth...except for the major foundation of why you fought...

=I try to banish the though from my head, but it just wouldn't leave=

Every memory...every belief, the thing you most fought for...all lies...

=As I went into the hotel, my heart and mind--with all that I used to believe--broke. I found a private spot where there was very little people and wept bitterly, taking my .45 from its holster and putting the barrel to my temple=

If I'm going to die, I'm going to die an honest man...not a liar...

(James)
"Wait, there's a bar?"
=Maybe it was in the cafeteria and I never noticed, but damn. That was news I could have used=

"I'll check it out. You cover me."

I said in a trembling voice. Slowly but surely I make my way over the door. Nothing but our combined breathing is heard.
Whatever was, or still is, behind the door is silent. Which makes it that much worse for me. And I can't seem to turn the knob.

(Sam)
=I woke up, though it was more where I was still groggy, and still having my face pressed into the pillow. I felt something against my hair, like I was being petted, so I waved my arm to swat away whatever it was=
"Leave me alone....."

Eve drew back, not freaking out this time. Instead she caught Sam's hand.
"You don't have to hit me." She said softly.

(Sam)
=I turned away from the pillow, looking up at Eve's face=
"You don't have to pet me while I'm sleeping eve. It's kinda creepy."

(James)
=We arrived back at the hotel, and our first stop was the cafeteria. Thankfully, Cooper was there, talking to some people at a table=
"Cooper! We need to talk!"

Eve looked at her lap embarassedly. "You hair was so soft...I'm sorry." She said, resting her hands on the bed.

Hibiki sighed. Of course. Cooper and a Bar were inseparable. You had a better chance separating Shaggy from Scooby Doo for more then one movie or episode.

=Cooper looked up, turning from his friend. He didn't exactly smile at the sight of James and Hibiki, but at least he wasn't glowering at them=

*Cooper*
"James, what is it? Are the people settling in okay?"

(James)
"They're almost done clearing out the building, but there's a problem: Marcus wants a share of the electricity for the building, and the plumbing. He said you'd know how to get that done."

*Cooper*
"That I do. But getting it done....different story entirely. Not sure the higher ups will approve."

(James)
"Come on man. Those people need power, and working toilets."

"They almost got blown off a bridge, killed my Shepherds and walkers, and lost a few people. And a child. We drew the walkers away, killed a lot of Shepherds, and brought these people to safety and didn't lose a person getting here. So for the love of God Cooper, give us a break." Hibiki said somewhat harshly.

Eve sat there quietly.

=He blinked in surprise, not expecting the agitation=

*Cooper*
"Alright, alright.....no need to bite my head off Hibiki. I'll make the necessary arrangements, have someone sent over to check the plumbing as well. Excuse me."
=And then he left, leaving James and Hibiki standing alone, save the one soldier at the table=

(James)
"Hibiki I get all tingly when you get aggressive like that."

"People deserve better. It's about time they get it." She said quietly.

Eve shifted a bit. "Please don't stay creeped out or mad at me...I won't do it again."

(Sam)
"Eve.....look, it's fine. Just, try and remember that there are boundaries. When I'm in the bathroom, let me piss or shit in peace. When I'm asleep, let me sleep without touching me, unless it's an emergency."

(James)
"That they do. Come on, we may as well give them the good news."

"I usually leave you at peace in the bathroom..." She said. "And...Ok...." She carefully got off the bed and sat on the floor, back to the bed. She started humming to herself, a slow tune that probably came from some video game.

Hibiki nodded. "Alright."

(Sam)
"Nice tune. Where did it come from?"

(James)
=We walked back out of the hotel, and towards the apartment building. I kept a slow pace, wanting to talk to Hibiki again=
"So, what do you see us doing here for the next few days?"

"Kingdom Hearts - Dearly Beloved." She answeredd promptly, continuing to hum it as best as she could.

Hibiki shrugged. "Dunno. Rest. Relax. We could actually get married?" she answered.

(James)
=I draped an arm over her shoulder, gently pulling her close=
"More than likely, yeah. Where do you want to get married? I mean, we can just have Book say a few words while we stand in a plain location."

(Sam)
"It sounds....peaceful."

"Just plain...I don't want anything big...You...Me...Sam and Eve as witnesses...then I'd like the honeymoon suite, some wine, and the best bed this place has." She chuckled.

Eve continued to hum it for a minute, then stopped. "It was one of my only comforts, letting that song play. It, my stuffed cat toy...were really all I had." She said. "And my back." She added miserably.

(Sam)
=Arching a brow at her, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up=
"Your back?"

(James)
"Yeah, that would be nice. Doubt either of us would really leave the room. Hey, didn't you say that once I was out of the chair, we wouldn't leave the room for a few days?"

"Yeah. Then the town happened. So let's make sure everything is gone because I have waited long enough to have you again." She answered.

Eve nodded miserably. "I would show you, but it would require me to remove my shirt. I don't want to do something wrong again."

(Sam)
=I grew concerned, so I got off the bed and walked towards the girl. Getting on my knees, I eyed her, worried=
"Eve...it's okay. You can show me what's wrong."

(James)
=That put a certain spring in my step, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear=

Eve looked at her lap, then turned around. She pulled her shirt over her head but left her arms in it to show her back.
It ran from her right shoulder down to her left hip and under her pants. It was pretty jagged, and slightly larger then an ordinary knife. It obviously was well-cared for, so it didn't cause the problems of some other scars. But on such a young girl, it just seemed like someone tried to cut her in half. Maybe someone had.
Eve just looked at her lap, silent.

Hibiki moved closer. "Someone is getting excited." She said teasingly.

(James)
"What can I say? I know all too well what something like that involves."

(Sam)
=I sucked in a breath, shocked at what I saw. A scar, running from shoulder to hip, all across her back. The pain she must have endured when she got it, made me want to cry=
"Eve....what happened?"

Eve sniffed, some tears forming. "I didn't want to do an excercise. The man jabbed a knife in and every time I said no he cut an inch. I wouldn't do the excercise. Once he got below my hip he...he killed the person he was telling me to kill." She started crying. "After daddy had me cared for and after some kind words he left. Then I was again left with my stuffed animal and games."

Hibiki laughed "You just want to be on top."

(James)
"Or under, watching you move."
=That statement was said with a leer=

(Sam)
"My God Eve.....I'm sorry."
=My hand, of its own accord, hovered a hairsbreadth over the scar, and moved along it=

Eve could feel the heat from Sam's hand.
"It doesn't hurt...it just seems to tug a bit when I move sometimes. You can touch it." She started to play with her shirt a bit, her tears mostly hanging on her cheeks.

"After you pulled that bridge stunt, I think I deserve to let you do all the work." She countered.

(James)
"Maybe. But I think I'm still a little sore...."
=There was a teasing tone to my voice=

(Sam)
=I didn't want to touch it. Maybe it was a way for me to deny that it was real. if I didn't touch it, it wasn't really there and she was never hurt. But there it was, right in front of me=

"Then I guess we'll have to wait. I mean, I can't have you cramp up in the middle of it all. That would make me upset." She parried.

Eve blinked some tears away. "It won't bite."

(Sam)
"No...God that's not why I won't touch it Eve."
=I reached up for the hem of her shirt, pulling it back down over the scar=

"It hurts me, to see that on you."

(James)
"Well, we could always hop in the shower..."

Eve, once clothed, scooted around to face Sam. "I'm sorry I can't do anything right in this relationship besides having revealed I love you...I...I...I've only known the manipulative love of my dad...my stuffed animal..." She looked at her lap. "I...I will keep trying...but my back is...is a constant reminder I only know how to be brainwashed."

Hibiki chuckled. "Right, so we'll just, like, defeat the purpose of the shower while using one?"

(Sam)
=I pulled the girl into hug=
"Eve, it's okay. You're doing fine."

(James)
"What? Warm, hot water. I hear it's very soothing for the muscles."

"Then I will wait on the bed." Hibiki again countered.

Eve went limp into the hug, resting her face into Sam's shoulder. "Every time you turn around I do something wrong...it doesn't feel fine to me..." She placed her hands on Sam's sides, scared to return the hug. "It doesn't feel like I am doing fine

(Sam)
"Relationships, are never easy Eve. They tend to be rocky, here and there because at the end of the day, it's just people in them. And people, aren't perfect. But we can try."

(James)
"What, no hopping in? Maybe help ease the stress out of my muscles?"

"You are trying too hard now." Hibiki said.

Eve nodded. "I guess..." She didn't pull back. "I'm sorry for waking you and then making you upset..."

(James)
"What can I say? Subtly is not my strongest skill."
=The topic was cut short, when we got back to the apartments. Marcus was out front, looking up at the building=

*Marcus*
"She needs some work.....but we'll make a home out of her yet. How'd Cooper respond to the requests?"

(James)
"He agreed. He's setting it up now as we speak."

(Sam)
"Eve, it's fine. I keep telling you."
=Then I realized how that could be interpreted=

"Sorry....look, just don't worry so much. Learn to relax."

Eve smiled into her shoulder.
"I think...I might be able to do that right..."

Hibiki smiled. "With a dash of 'I am fucking pissed right now' he was very accommodating."

=I take a deep breath, bracing myself until I felt something akin to a gentle tap on the shoulder=

Andrew...don't do it...you still have something to live for...don't do it!

=I then feel my arm shake a bit, the pistol wavering=

You still have Miranda to look out for...You have a war to fight, and a future to create for James's kid...don't do it...

=I sigh and take the pistol away from my temple, holstering it. Even though I felt a small surge of confidence, my mind still felt shaken and weak. I wheeled out from the area, and headed towards the apartments, my expression ashen=

I don't know how I'm going to tell Mira this, or anyone for that matter, that the hope of a better life saved me from myself...

=I continued to wheel myself to the apartment complex, knowing the multiple objections that would be coming my direction. Knowing those objections, I could honestly care less about them=

*Marcus*
"Heh, well good thing Cooper always had a soft spot for women. Alright, I'll spread the good news, and we'll work on eating in a bit. But James, Hibiki, don't feel obligated to wait on our account. You've had a long day, so get some food in you."

(James)
=As if in agreement, my stomach grumbled=
"Will do."

After a couple century long seconds I find the will to turn the knob. With a deep breath, I open the door inwards.
Mice come shooting through the doorway. I jump from pure frieght. I wasn't expecting that. I just stand there, frozen.

=I wheel out for a few seconds, then I feel my stomach rumble=

Damn...I must've worked up an appetite...

=I went to the cafeteria to get a bit of food in me; something I know the doctors would agree with whole-heartedly=

If it's one thing that'll really help...it's a bit of food in me...

(James)
=Despite the fact that I was hungry, I didn't feel like eating just yet. Instead, I decided to walk with Hibiki, just around the block. Moments like these were rare, though lately they were becoming more frequent=

Eve moved her arms completely around Sam now. "Your hair is still soft." She said in a monotone version of her soft voice.

Hibiki was silent, but stayed close to James.

Once I regain my senses, well. Most of them. That scare took a couple of them. I realize that now as I charge into the room.
To my luck, there's nothing in here. Besides the furniture left behind by the owners. Oh, and there's a hole in the wall, leading outside.

(James)
"So, how much you wanna bet that within the week, people will be demanding an attack on the Shepherd camps?"

(Sam)
"And not an ounce of conditioner was used either..."

"What can we bet?" Hibiki asked.

Eve reached up and petted a lock of her hair softly, then withdrew her hand. "Must be magic." She said.

(Sam)
"Doubt it. Though hey, the dead are walking the earth, so maybe."

(James)
"Good point.....okay, bets aside, do you think people will want blood soon?"
=I was curious, as to why I was asking the question. It almost seemed like I was eager to attack the Shepherds myself=

=I roll into the cafeteria, noticing the atmosphere had changed since Slate's "departure". I smile, loading up what I thought I needed onto a tray and looked for a table=

Wheelchair accessible, of course...

=I find one, rolling up to the table, content with being alone with my own thoughts=

I'll tell them...in due time...

=I dig in, knowing that my stomach might be paying for it later=

"People already want blood. They just don't have a way to get it." She responded.

Eve smiled. "I guess..." She adjusted herself so her back was against Sam. Eve placed her hands over her girlfriend's. "I love you Sam."

Okay, so what was and where was the thump? Why did it only just now happen and not earlier?

I practically facepalm at the shattered lamp on the floor. More then likely a bird knocked it over. Or a mouse.

(James)
"Yeah and now they do. We have weapons, and the means to get to the camps. It's only a matter of time before people put two and two together, and begin raids."
=I realized that in a way, we would become raiders. Good raiders at least=

(Sam)
"Heh, love you too Eve."
=Honestly.....while I meant every word, and it felt good to say it, it all felt stale, way too quickly. I wasn't planning on anything sexual mind you, but right now, where things stood, it just felt like we were churning out the same old hash over and over again. Maybe it was just because it was all so new for her=

Hibik nodded. "We should act quickly. If we can at least secure a portion of the citty, we can offer readily available shelter..."

Eve fell silent, mouthing the words. Ones so foreign to her, ones she forever yearned to say to...someone. now she could.
But Sam was getti g creeped out and annoyed. Could her using the words she yearned to say cause distress?
Or would her asking cause more distress?
The only thing she could think? Relationships were fucking complicated.