ZRP-2: Chapter 3, The Coming Storm

(James)
"Shelter for who? We already have the apartment building secured, and that's more than enough for everyone from town."

(Sam)
=Deciding to do something in the silence, I started to do what she did to me: touch her hair. Like mine, it also felt soft=

"A house divided cannot stand." Hibiki stopped, gripping James' arm. "James. If you insist on being the Zeus of the army, then let me be the fucking Athena. Strategy. If we secure a city, a CITY, and offer sanctuary to others, we can effectively draw more people in. Caravans. Lockdown towns. If we make St Louis a sanctuary, then we can form an army, and more importantly, a fortress. And then we can draw the Shepherds in, or go after them. Or both."

Eve blinked in surprise, then angled her head just a bit, enough so Sam could have better access to her hair.
"Is it soft?" she asked.......softly.

(Sam)
"Yeah..."

(James)
"I wasn't exactly thinking long term in this instance Hibiki. But yeah, the city needs to be secured, and yes it can and will serve as a gathering point for others. But right now Hibiki, I'm talking about the next few days. Chances are, people are going to want to hit the Shepherds close by, and if that's the case than they can't do so unguided."

"Right. Short term." She paused. "We need them settled, secured, and safe, before anything. As soon as those three are met, I'll steal the tank and we can ruin someone's day.

Eve smiled a bit. "You can pet me all you want." She pauses. "Does giving permission take the creepy out of it?" She asked sincerely.

(James)
"Well, so far they're getting settled, and they'll have power soon. Maybe we wait a day, before pitching the idea. And we'll need more than the one tank Hibiki. Doubt it can carry enough people for an assault."

(Sam)
"Well, giving me permission is a bit creepy. Makes you sound like a domin-- uh nevermind."
=Was not going to use that word around her=

"Battlebus. Tank. I'm sure we can cobble together some armored vehicles." She sighed.

Eve visibly looks down. "Oh..." She cocked her head to the side. "It feels nice though..."

(James)
"Those could work."
=I stopped walking, staring off down the street=

"Makes you wonder though: how do we get the message out there? Not like we have a list of other towns or caravan routes."

(Sam)
Yeah it does.

"It would be risky, but we could send small teams of two or three down the roads and try and find people." Hibiki said. "And we leave the messages with Caravans we find."

Eve seemed to...nya a bit, relaxing and closing her eyes.

(James)
"Assuming there are still any out there. But I guess that's just an unhealthy bit of cynicism."
=Still though, I was skeptical about finding other caravans. Before I left, we had met at least two others, one of them bigger than our own. They had traveled West, the other North, and that was when we were in Oklahoma. As for towns there were actually a few I remember passing through.....all of them too far away though to make a difference=

(Sam)
"Tired?"

"Clarissa might know of people we could ally with." Hibiki suggested.

Eve nodded slightly. "It's...tiring...I...I have to fight my urges to...to regress...." She grips Sam's free hand. "That's why I'm afraid..." She finally admitted quietly, the feeling of Sam's fingers through her hair soothing.

(Sam)
"You have urges to regress?"

(James)
"Most likely. Maybe there are other towns nearby we could talk with."

"Yes." Eve admitted sadly. "Brainwashed...like...like programming. You're constantly fighting...fighting a virus, hacking it, blocking, quarantine...or..." She trails off, not sure what to use as a good comparison.

Hibiki nodded. "Hopefully."

(Sam)
"Pulling against someone with their hand clamped around your wrist?"
=I kept feeling her hair, letting it run through my fingers=

(James)
"One can hope....."
=Was all I could say in agreement=

"Yeah. That." Eve agreed. "It's a fight...a fight I gladly will take...if it means I can hear you say "I love you too" every time I say it to you..."

Hibiki nodded, then resumed walking. "One can hope her fiance actually gets around to the wedding."

(James)
=I blinked, caught off guard=
"Hey, I promised I'd get to it. But you try getting thrown off a bridge and focusing solely on a wedding."

(Sam)
"It's dangerous, focusing on one thing like that, relying on it to be what keeps you going. You always need more than one."

"I don't need anything else as long as I have you." Eve said, this time in a different voice. It had conviction in it; Eve was fighting for what she had.

"..." Hibiki didn't know what to say for once.

(James)
=That fact that she was speechless, made me let out a long belly laugh=
"Oh....oh man, there's a first."

(Sam)
"Eve....don't. Don't make me the center of everything in your world."

"You must like chastity." She parried, walking faster.

Eve fell really quiet before speaking.
"I don't have any other world I can believe in."

"Alright. There's nothing here. Let's finish clearing out the apartment?"

He studdered in agreement as I turn back around and leave the room. Fear creeps right back onto my spine as I enter the hallway.
I've forgotten just how dark it is in here. I bring my flashlight back up and search around the hall. Two more rooms left.

(James)
=I matched her pace=
"Oh hey, I didn't mean it like that."

(Sam)
"What about your mom, Hibiki? What about James?"

Hibiki giggled. "Got you right back now, didn't I?"

Eve blinked, feeling tears form. "I'm afraid...afraid mommy doesn't...doesn't love me like she used to...and James hated my Father...I'm afraid he still has trouble...trouble loving me." She whimpered. "I don't know. I just don't know. And I'm scared because I don't know."

(James)
"That you did. I'll be sure to get you back later"

(Sam)
"Eve....they still love you. But with Hibiki, she's focused on James, and their child. As for James, yes he hates your father with a passion, but he doesn't hate you. He loves you."

Eve presses back against Sam, just wanting to be against her. She had to know this was real.
"But what if you're wrong?" She cried softly. "What if I'm wrong? Which is the right one?"
Eve covered her face. "I'm sorry I can't believe it. I'm sorry I'm a difficult girlfriend." She manged.
Eve just didn't know what to do or what to believe now. All she knew was she wanted Sam to hold and and tell her it was all right.
But she wasn't sure Sam would.

Hibiki laughed. "Good luck."

(Sam)
=Deciding it would help, I embraced the girl, holding her against me=
"Eve.....it's time to let go of that pain, of that fear. Otherwise you'll never leave this place you're in right now."

(James)
"Doubt I need luck."

Eve rested her head against Sam's shoulder.
"I don't know how to let go of it." She said through her sobs. "I don't know how to let go of the only things I have known for years."

Hibiki laughed. "Oh, you'll need it."

(Sam)
"You let go of them, by embracing new things. Me, James, your mom. Sammy, everyone around us that we've met. There's a whole world waiting for you, but you need to let go of the pain."

(James)
"Well, I'd be lying if I said you were easy. You know how to make a man work for it."

I move to one of the last rooms and stop at the door. I allow myself one quick, deep breath. I let it out a moment later, then take in one more.
Just trying to shake it off, honestly. At least that's what I tell myself as I try the door. Finding it unlocked and going inwards.
With one quick search around the room later and I deem it clear. I move back into the hallway and stop at the window.

Eve managed to twist around to tuck her head below Sam's chin, embracing her tightly.
"Then let me start with you and work my way out." She said. "Every...every journey begins with a single step...no?"

Hibiki rolled her eyes. "And you don't make it easy. I offer you decline."

(Sam)
"The step is part of it. But it also takes courage Eve. So can you be brave? For all of us?"

(James)
"Well, at those times I didn't exactly feel it was appropriate. I mean, everytime I hope to get that far, something happens that kills the mood."

Eve didn't look up.
"I will." She finally managed. "As long as you keep forgiving me for my faults, keeping being here for me, and keep returning the I love yous...I will have the courage to take another step...I promise."

Hibiki rolls her eyes. "If anyone ruins our honeymoon, I'm stealinga nuke."

(James)
"Where are you going to steal a nuke?"

(Sam)
"I promise."

"Russia." She said.

Eve snuggled up into Sam's warmth. "I promise I will be better. I promise."

(James)
"And how exactly are going to get there. Last I checked, you have no wings under that shirt."

(Sam)
=With nothing left to say, I held her tight against me=

"Teleportation using my latent Anime Powers." She replied.

Eve sighed softly. "I want to say something funny to lighten the mood...but I have nothing. Can you do that?" She sniffs. "I want you at least to smile...for me?"

(Sam)
"When did I become the comedian here? I thought that was the cats job...."

(James)
"Latent anime powers? Really, you're going with that?"

Sammy looked up from licking her paws, then looked back. Eve shrugged.
"I was going to say is this a bad time to ask how far away from being able to kiss you...but that's a wrong thing to say, right?" She asked, her voice sincere and serious.

Hibiki nodded. "Yep."

(Sam)
"Ha, I guess."

(James)
"Well, explains a few things I guess...."
=Not that I was planning on sharing=

Eve laughed a bit. "Thank you Sam..." She closed her eyes but didn't fall asleep. She merely rested. "I promise I will have more courage...because you're probably sick of me devolving into this..."

Hibiki glared. "Speak up. Now."

(James)
=I smirked a little, almost challenging her=
"Make me."

(Sam)
"Honestly.....it's cute. But don't OD on cute Eve."

"Then I'll try and do this without...without the doom and gloom then." Eve said softly. "And the only thing I can OD on is T-Virus." She giggled.

Hibiki merely stopped, turned, and placed a hand on her sword. "You want to have a honeymoon that involves a bed or a hospital?" She said conversationally.

(James)
"Well it would be kinda hot, you in a nurses outfit...."
=I was probably digging my own grave here=

(Sam)
"Yeah....well, at least I have the hair to be Claire."

"Claire was my favorite character." Eve said. "Then does that mean I am Sherry?"

Hibiki pulled the sword out. "Nah, it means I'll be locked up for ensuring you don't get me pregnant again. Speak." She continued nonchalantly.

(Sam)
"Maybe.....unless you have superhuman healing abilities?"

(James)
"Well, if you must know....that fiery temper of yours reminds me of some anime characters I used to watch. Then there's the way you are in bed and I guess that needs no explaining....."

Eve shook her head. "I wish...No, I'm just the emotionally unstable girl who fell in love with you and promises to do her best to be better. And try and avoid OD you on cute."

Hibiki smirked. "Oh good." She sheathed the sword and resumed walking. "You know you love me in bed. Not that you've had me more then once or twice."

(James)
"Yeah.....we need to change that, methinks."
=I finally noticed where we were: we were right by the river=

"Huh, nice view."

(Sam)
"Good."

Hibiki looked at the water, missing the pool at the gym. "Wish we could swim."

Eve didn't answer; instead, she nuzzled Sam's neck, enjoying the warmth of the embrace.

(James)
"Pfft, and get caught in the current? I already had enough trouble with the last river."

(Sam)
=I really had no idea what to do now=

"There goes skinny dipping." She mused out loud. "We better get back then..."

Eve didn't know what to do. Anything that came to mind besides breaking the safe embrace was wrong.
And she didn't want to leave it just yet.

(James)
=Walking over to the railing, I leaned against it=
"And waste this view? Come on..."

"You want me naked, you can take me to our room." She replied, leaning on the rail. "Not exactly going to bare all in public just for you. I do have modesty outside of private settings."