Main Thread

(Hope you are feeling better)


 

Duncan stopped rolling over halfway and rolled back to face her back.  “Doesn’t have to be the last time.  Give us a chance to talk - when I haven’t worked myself until I am too tired to think.”  He was glad Eleanor was turned away.  Even in the darkness he was flushed.  He was about to do something that terrified even him.  And he was scared it would freak her out.  But he slid over closer and laid an arm over her.  Then he said the only thing he could think of.  “Who needs blankets?  You got me.”  He was trembling as hormones flooded his body.  But he didn’t get any more fresh than this for some time.


 

About a minute later he started shaking the bed with silent laughter.  He half whispered.  “Wahoo.”


 

(Assumes she didn’t freak out.)


 

+++++++++++++


 

Aug 28, 2019


 

Duncan dropped the girls off at the Tanger Outlet Mall, , making sure they were well armed.  He made it a point to do a drone scan before he left.  That was more important than ever now.  He had people to protect.  He mused over the idea that men were hardwired for that role.  When he returned, having taken his time, the girls STILL weren’t done.  But there were a LOT of shops and he wasn’t at all surprised.  Before they could only carry so much.  Now they would have a place to call home again and keep more than their next change of clothes.


 

He handed them a silvery cylinder with three LED’s (red, yellow, green).  “Skeleton Key.  It is a 4D matter device my foster father and I came up with.”  Duncan smiled.  “You should have seen us when Mom caught us.  She teased him about being such a role model.  But we all knew that it would make life a lot easier if I survived.  Basically this thing is programmed with locksmithing data.  It will even memorize the key pattern and tell me what key pattern to use to make a spare key.  Please don’t lose this one.  Now you know how I get cars so easy.  You know, it is a good thing I wasn’t born with a criminal mind.”


 

It didn’t take long to grab a couple RV’s and drop them off at the base.  Then he swapped out for the SUV.  While he finished waiting he decided to gather some flowers from the flora that grew around Tanger.  Tanger Outlets was one of those malls that liked to spruce up their appearance with good landscaping.  It was one of the reasons he had volunteered for this.He didn’t bother to explain the floral arrangement he had collected by the time the girls returned.  They would find out soon enough.


 

Without traffic, the 20 mile trip to the house where Duncan garden was, took very little time.  And for the first time since they had met him he hardly spoke.  It was a middle class neighborhood, all with landscaped yards, now starting to give way to nature.  The house he pulled up in front of had the name MORAN on the mailbox.  It wasn’t hard to figure out how he knew about the place.


 

The windows were boarded up and yellow tape with the words CRIME SCENE stretched across openings.  Duncan grabbed the flowers wordlessly and calmly said, “Come on.  You may as well see.  Instead of simply taking them through the gate to the side yard, he used the front door.  He had already removed the plywood on an earlier trip and turned it into a gate using hinges.  He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.


 

The first thing they saw was the Den to their left as the entered the main hallway.  It was a southwestern Spanish styled design, with wrought iron bars filling arches.  Inside the room they could see it was filled with Turkish antique furniture with marble tops, a roll top desk, and lots and lots of shelving.  The room was FILLED with teddy bears and dolls.  There was also a collection of trolls.  Every single one has a tags with a name, brand, and year.  You could hardly walk in the room.


 

“My Mom - biological Mom - was a collector - over 1500 each dolls and teddy bears.  Compo, bisque, Steiff's, collector finds.”  He set the flowers down and stepped in, glancing about, then picked up a few of the bears before stepping back out and taking his floral arrangement.  “They were made for hugging.  My Mom wouldn’t have objected.”


 

He then led the girls further back.  “The Plague hit before they could even put the house on the market.”  There were white outlines of people and blood stains on the floor of the dining room that the entry hall opened into.  To the left was the kitchen.  There the story really unfolded.  In a corner of the kitchen near the sink was another outline.  On stands around the form were a few teddy bears.  “Time for a changing of the guard, if you two don’t mind.”  He smiled.  “Mom was partial to Humphrey Beargart.  One of her favorites.”  He swapped the bears out and replaced the floral arrangement already there.


 

The reason Duncan had stuck around Albuquerque so long made perfect sense now.


 

He took a deep breath and let it out.  “It happened before the Plague.  Twelve members of a gang.”  He stopped and shook his head.  “No, I should back up.  My brother was in a gang.  I don’t know why, but a rival gang killed him.  His gang decided to recruit me - something I think he prevented for years.  They never bothered me before that.  I said No.  I got initiated forcefully anyways.  The rival gang thought I said yes.  I think my brother must have done something to piss them off, because they came after me here.  Twelve of them.  I managed to get my little brothers out the window of my bedroom in back.  After that, the fight was on.  I was the last one standing.


 

“Hardest part is that when people get sick, you get a chance to say good bye.  When they get shot in the head, you don’t.  But It HAS been over a year.  Yes, I had some counseling.  Yes, I had LOTS of dealings with the police.  


 

“My Stepfather ended up in prison - Child Abuse and Child Abandonment.  The abandonment charge was him throwing my then 14 year old sister out of the van on the Las Vegas strip and driving off.  Never went back for her either.  The Abuse, was the broken ribs and beating he gave me when he thought I was in a gang.  Wasn’t the first beating.  Those were a daily thing.  But the broken ribs and punctured lung was new.  Yes, when all this went down I was already sporting the injuries from my brother’s gang and the beating from my stepfather.


 

“You would think I’d be more withdrawn.  But you can thank the Millers for drawing me back from the darkness.  They were more a family to me than I had had for a decade - even if it was only for a few months.  Now you have an idea who I am and where I am from.  No, I don’t expect either of you to talk about stuff - not for a long time.  I had counsellors, shrinks.  That happens when you kill people - even in self defense.  Oh, and now you know why I wasn’t at MIT or Stanford.  They were concerned about my mental state.  But I am sort of like a sword.  I’ve been broken and reforged so many times I am tough as Hell.


 

“Shall we go and see the Garden?  This place is depressing.  You are going to love this stuff.  Feel free to grab and eat.”


 

His smile was already returning as he led them into the backyard.  “Sorry about that back in there, but eventually you were going to see scars and wonder what happened.  But believe it or not, this place has some good memories for me too.”  He grinned and pointed at the bedroom window on the back of the house.  You can NOT imagine how many times I snuck out that window.” He grinned sheepishly as his ears turned a little red.  “There was this girl that lived down the street …” he paused and laughed …”who was unfortunately more interested in my older brother.”  He shrugged.  “I was only 13 at the time.  He was popular; I was not.”


 

He looked down at the peach, then over at the eastern end of the yard.  “I forgot about the raspberries.  And there is a small grapevine - that hasn’t done so well.  Without pampering this garden has not flourished.  I wonder if the potatoes are ready?  I planted a bunch.  A lot of them didn’t make it, but they are a relatively low maintenance crop.


 

“I never could figure out why our peaches were so huge.”  He hadn’t exaggerated the size of the peaches.  They were softball sized.  “I think we are all just used to the ones in stores that are picked unripe.  I never liked those.  As kids we were selling peaches left and right at ridiculously low prices to everyone around us….”


 

There was a shed set on a concrete slab that Duncan cautiously opened.  He growled a little - a habit he seemed to exhibit when frustrated.  “I forgot again.  I keep meaning to bring a large cooler to store some supplies here.  He dragged out a bag of bird seed, some dried corn cobs and a bucket of peanut butter and grinned.  “Time to replace the feeding stations.  I had to get smarter than the cats. Basically I drill a core through the corn cobs so I can string them onto a heavy duty fishing line, smear the cobs with peanut butter and roll them in seeds in layers.  Then I also have a few hummingbird feeders.  Those I have up outside the kitchen window.  There’s a ladder already there.  Plenty of sugar water, plus extra jars of honey.  The honey was so old it was starting to crystalize.  But the birds don’t mind that once it is dissolved in water.”


 

“I think I mentioned the possibility that I may move us to the Southeast?  Or did I just think it?  If we DO move it is a massive job.  I just need to decide IF … and WHEN.  When has two options - before winter and toward the end of winter.  If we do the latter we have to move really early while it is still very cold so we can start up crops at the new site.”


 
 
"I just didn't want to seem too forward," she explained softly, voice growing quiet as she exhaled a soft,"oh," when he wrapped his arms around her. She was admittedly unused to that form of intimate contact, especially from a member of the opposite sex. "You are an admittedly good blanket, and I... Don't think I'm opposed to it," she squeaks out softly, a shiver coursing down her spine. She was quietly savouring the moment, curling in closer to his touch. She would not speak of the night, especially not when Blythe was within earshot.  She allowed herself to slow her breathing, Duncan's presence somehow managing to still her thoughts and fall asleep in his arms.


To think all it took was the end of the world as she knew it to find someone like him. 


Morning. 


Eleanor had always been an early riser. A stark contrast to Blythe, who had remained sprawled across the couch in an easy sleep until just before noon or whenever anyone had built up the nerve to wake her and her notorious morning temper. 


At the mention of the mall, the very grumpy and still sleepy Viking girl immediately cheered up. "It can be like a girls day out! You should see Eleanor in light greys, it's a pretty boring colour on its own, but I guess two boring things don't actually make something supremely boring." She grins as the boring girl in question goes red. She had made herself something quick to snack on before they left, having thrown on a pair of daisy Dukes and exchanging her red sports bra for one in black. Eleanor was wearing what looked like a homemade art project as a shirt. The front was black and the back was white, one naming as many digits of Pi as she could on the front in white fabric market with her neat script. The back appeared to be the digits of Tau written in black on the white background. This little artistic display was an obvious piece from the long stretch of time where she was all alone. Something about her made one believe that she had far more digits memorized than what was on her shirt. 


Before they left, she had gently tapped on Duncan's arm to draw his attention. 


"Do you think we could have walkie talkies? Better safe than sorry," she said quietly enough, not wanting to be teased by the more outgoing girl who had already begun making her way to the vehicle. 


Blythe appeared far more excited  to go "hunting" for clothes than Eleanor, who faced the whole ordeal solemnly. It was apparent why she loathed to go to any fashion outlet while her friend was within a 10 block radius. The aforementioned friend had been excitedly prattling on and on about swimwear and lingerie throughout the entire drive. 


The DuMonte girl had been banished to the back seat by way of not calling shotgun. 


Blythe had came equipped with twin axes hanging from her hips, the same ones she had been sporting when they met the possible last man on earth. She blew Duncan a kiss farewell, winking with an expression that promised trouble for all three of them. 


Neither could argue that their adventure into the mall was not a fruitful one. They were both wearing completely different outfits by the time they left the building. The majority of their clothing and various other nicknacks appeared to have been chosen by Blythe.  Eleanor looked faintly relieved, be it that she was outside  or Duncan was there was a mystery to even herself.  They loaded up their spoils and the position of shotgun had been relinquished to the obviously exhausted girl. 


(Will finish later, phone is dying and I feel guilty for making you wait so long.)
 
Only Blythe seemed to have picked up on Duncan's rather somber mood, and she did her best to try prying the cause from him. 


"Why the sad face, Boy-Wonder? Sad that your little nerdling wasn't as excited to see you as you had hoped?" She teases him with a slightly quieter voice than usual due to the fact that Eleanor had dozed off within the first few minutes of driving."Don't blame yourself, I'm quite skilled in the art of tiring people out." She had stretched herself out across the back seat while she had been speaking, and she now appeared quite relaxed from an outsider's perspective. Without anyone to nag her to put on a seatbelt, she was freely lounging without a care in the world. 


As they pulled into the driveway, she had given the back of Eleanor's seat a shove to startle the girl awake. Her eyes snapped open and she quickly straightened herself, bleary eyes taking in her surroundings to counteract the disorientation of being so suddenly thrust out of sleep. Rubbing an eye and giving the driver an apologetic look, she finally registered the familiar surname on the mailbox partway through her apology. 


"I'm so sorry, Duncan, I didn't mean to fall asleep-- I was resting my eyes for what I thought was a moment. Oh... I presume this is your..?" She didn't finish her question, allowing the words to fall hollowly into her lap. 


Both girls had waited to be invited into his old home. They all knew how painful their family homes were to visit. Blythe didn't even have the heart to say something somewhat offensive. The closest thing to good graces she had ever displayed. Eleanor had hung behind Duncan the while time, allowing the other blonde to walk next to him. Everything about the interior of this home saddened her, but she would not vocalise it as per usual out of fear of offending someone. She had almost cracked a smile when he spoke of the teddy bears, straying from the two so she could examine a few more closely.
"Loser," Blythe coughs into her fist, smirking broadly as the more petite girl ducks her head in shame.


As they entered the crime scene, Eleanor made a strangled sound and turned to face Blythe, who in turn placed her hand atop the other girl's head and blocked the sight from her. It seemed like they had done this more than once when it came to bloody kitchens. Stormy blue eyes shoot a venomous look towards Duncan, though she couldn't have blamed him for not knowing. She mouths the words dead mom to him and gives her head a light shake. She whistles lowly without much concern for his feelings,"what a badass. I don't think swords work that way, just letting you know." 


After they had left the building, it was like nothing had never happened. Eleanor appeared completely normal and even laughed when he spoke of his brother and the girl down the road.
"There was a boy I was interested in when I was 11, he thought my name was Ah-la-nor but I used to send him messages in Morse code every night because he told everyone his dad was a soldier and I assumed he would have known. Well, I did that until he told the other kids about me and they called me Flashy for two years," she laughs like it were a funny story and Blythe rolls her eyes, the moment of protectiveness for her friend having vanished.


She holds Duncan back momentarily, gesturing for him to lean in close while Eleanor was distracted with raspberries and various other crops.


"Don't question Eleanor on what happened. She hasn't told me much, but I do know her mom died in the kitchen and it was... Kind of messy," she had muttered these words into his ear, trying not to alert the other girl to her whispered words. Said other girl had indeed heard part of what was said, and she straightens after Blythe finishes speaking and brushes the dirt from her knees. There was a brief moment of eye contact between the two girls, and Blythe snickers as if it were funny. She flicks a braid behind her shoulder and turns away, gesturing for Duncan to continue on into the shed.

The viking girl appeared more interested in the bird feeders than Eleanor, who was holding a jar of honey and examining the crystalline patterns through the glass. "I'm going to put some of those up at the base," Blythe informs the other two, earning a curious look from the other girl.


"You can also use pine cones, they're smaller but should work just as well."


As Duncan lists off the possibilities, Eleanor was first to offer her opinion."I vote we leave before winter, we could look for more survivors on our way as well." She offers a small smile, looking between the two on either side of her for their input.
"I was going to say wait, so I could show you how to garden in the winter. But Leo makes some good points and you'll probably listen to her before me. Oh, don't give me that look. You know I'm right," Blythe says, laughing at how the DuMonte girl had reacted to her words-- Red ears and a noise of embarrassment.
 
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[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Duncan felt a twinge of guilt.  He nodded at Blythe in silence,  But he didn’t quite let the matter lie.  Instead he approached Eleanor and held her arms just below the shoulders gently.  His voice was subdued and calm.  “Sorry about that in there.  Never did me much good to talk about it to shrinks.  But that’s just me.  If you even want to talk, I’ll be here.”  He pulled her in to give her a gentle hug - both arms.  “And yes, I am an idiot sometimes.”  He didn’t hold the hug long though, for fear she might freak.[/SIZE]


 

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]He didn’t speak again for some time, trying to let the matter drop.  When the conversation turned to the matter of moving he agreed.  He blushed a little gave a shy grin at Eleanor.  “Probably.”  He paused, then gave a mischievous grin.  His speech and mannerisms suddenly became excitable.  “You know …. I took Voice in school - how to speak and sing.”  He winked at Blythe, then turned and faced Eleanor and got on one knee.  Then he began to sing[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] Everything I Do, I Do It for You[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px].  He wasn’t bad either.  The classes had helped.  And he refused to stop singing.  But at the end he started laughing.  He glanced at the house briefly.  He had needed something like that.[/SIZE]


 

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Yeah … if she asked I would probably move Heaven and Earth.  And I may have embarrassed her a little.”[/SIZE]


(Really short, but work just called and I wanted to write SOMEthing.)
 
Blythe appeared somewhat betrayed by Duncan's reaction. She was supposed to be the only one allowed to make a scene. Out of some stroke of pure grace, she allowed the interaction to go on with little more than a derisive snort and folded arms. 


Eleanor had a much different reaction to having been called out. Her face flooded with colour and an expression of both shame and embarrassment arose almost immediately. Grey eyes stare decidedly down at her new shoes, fearing that if she looked him in the eyes she would see only pity there. She was startled when he took her gently by the shoulders, feeling a slight swell in her chest when she found no trace of pity on his face. "Thank you, Duncan. I feel like a coward, but talking about it would do nothing more than make me sad," she laughs suddenly, sounding more like a sigh,"but you really aren't an idiot, you're smart enough to know-- to think you did something wrong. I think, out of all of us, you're the smartest one here." She stiffened up when he first initiated the hug, but almost immediately hugged him back to the best of her abilities. She hadn't been expecting it, therefore her arms were stuck between their chests. 


 Blythe, who had been standing much too close for conventional standards, groans loudly at this awkward little display. 


"Better slow down you two, someone might get pregnant." She cackles loudly at her own joke, and gives the two a friendly smuck upside the head once they separated. 


When Duncan began singing, Blythe mimed gagging,"gross."


Eleanor, on the other hand, had covered her beet red face with her hands and gave a mortified little Yelp. Neither could deny that he had a remarkably nice voice, but one of them appeared a little exasperated with this corny display. She didn't want to stop this embarrassment for Eleanor, and cupped both hands around her mouth and stage whispered,"kiss him!"


 If Eleanor hadn't been mortified already, this was the icing on the cake. She was completely dumbstruck, at a loss for words. She couldn't seem to figure out how or what to say to either of them, and simply turned in a complete 180 and began to laugh softly. 


This whole situation was absurd and hilarious and heartwarming and mortifying all at the same time. She felt like she were in a romcom, and for this scenario to actually be happening right in front of her... It was impossible to keep a straight face. 
 
Duncan had given Blythe a warm smile.  He suspected she had been playing along, happy to see Eleanor loosening up a little.  Well, getting embarrassed constantly.  Dancan actually seemed to enjoy making a fool of himself.  But he also worried about Blythe.  He really hoped that at some point another guy would stray across their paths, preferably one they could all deal with and not some psycho.  Even better would be a guy Blythe would like.


 

++++++++


 

Duncan had made excuses about getting the 2nd RV set up so they could have separate sleeping arrangements.  Blythe probably had a very, very good idea why he was making those excuses too.  It had to have something to do with a certain blushing blind named Eleanor.  He liked the arrangements just as they were.  But then he was still every bit the gentleman he had been the previous night.  He talked awhile.  Then they slept.  Meanwhile Blythe snored.  It was a routine Duncan would have been happy with for sometime.


 

Alas, the routine wasn’t destined to last...  


 

Aug 29, 2019  0430 am (before dawn)


 

One of the laptops on the dining room table started beeping furiously, prompting Duncan to shoot bolt upwards out of bed to stagger into the dining room.  Whatever it was, it better be good.  Duncan’s fingers flew over the screens shutting down his studies.  THAT was not good.  He would have done that so blatantly unless it was really important.


 

Something had crossed the speed cables across the interstate coming out of the pass.  He hovered a cursor over the outer blip and a high resolution image from one of his drones offered a slightly blurry image.  A speed registered below of 128 mph.  He switched to the next image, and the speed was 60 mph.


 

“Company,” he muttered.  Albuquerque was turning into Grand Central Station.


 

The second image was clearer.  It looked like a streamlined custom built vehicle resembling a drag racer pulling a streamlined motorcycle trailer.  It was still pitch black out - and the guy - or girl - hadn’t been using headlights.


 

“That’s interesting.”  Duncan hit a switch.  “He must be using UV to drive at night.  No engine - or rather not internal combustion.”  Normal engines put out an RF signal - HF - that corresponds to the rpm’s.  He was seeing nothing.  That meant battery powered … at those speeds.  Duncan was a little impressed.  He watched as the newcomer’s vehicle slowed, then made a 180 and went back, crossed the speed cables and did another 180, came back pointed west and stopped right at the cables.  The driver got out.


 

“Eleanor?  Blythe?” Duncan called out, softly as first so as not to alarm them too much, then a little louder.


 

+++++++++++++


 

Cody Li Greyfeather could not believe what he was seeing.  He had passed through here before and nothing.  But since the last time he had come through, someone had put out speed cables.  Why?  He truly distrusted law enforcement.  And he first thoughts were some sort of speed trap.  But that made little sense.  Who cared about traffic laws anymore?  No, this was laid out to detect someone passing through.  That made him leery.  Well, best thing he could do was to not drive right into a trap.  He hopped up and down on the cable.  Then he got back into his vehicle and did another 180.  After all, he wanted to be pointed in the right direction to beat a hasty retreat.  But he had to at least give it a try.


 

Duncan laughed as he watched the guy hop on the cables.  It was hard to tell if it was a guy or a girl just yet.  They were dressed in a hazmat suit with night vision goggles.


 

Who would have figured?  How were they getting their electricity?  Who were they?  Were there any girls?  That was when it dawned on Cody to check his armor.  Nothing fancy about it.  Just the usual police stuff.  Well if he was going to check this place out he needed to stick to protocol - whatever that was.  He remembered being shot at.  He also remembered those crazy chicks.  This?  This smelled more like paramilitary - a bunch of hillbillies with leftover stuff from the air base here.


 

Then Cody started dancing up and down on the cables.


 

“What the hell is he doing …?” Duncan started to wonder out loud.  Then he busted up with a short laugh.  “Ohmygod … it’s a war dance.”  The guy had actually pulled a tomahawk.  And it looked like there was a feather in the guy’s hair.  “Yeah … definitely a guy.  Only a guy would do anything THAT stupid…”  He stopped and glanced at Blythe and winced.  I think….


 

“Ladies, do I check this guy out alone … or do you two want to get dressed and tag along?”  Duncan had managed to get pants on while watching the scene unfold on the computer screen.


 
 
Blythe was most certainly playing along. She had enough common sense not to chase after the guy who was obviously very keen on her little friend. 


She even helped Duncan procrastinate, insisting he help her pick out a colour to paint her nails as well as decide on what products to put in her nightly bath.  As darkness fell over Albuquerque, all three must have agreed that it was far too late to set up a second RV. 


Blythe's borderline indecent nightwear was becoming commonplace, and Eleanor was wearing another fairly cute nightie. She had a certain affinity towards them, which was surprising considering her personality. 


Eleanor seemed much more comfortable with cuddling up to Duncan than the previous night, and had made a sleepily absent remark on how he made her feel safe. She was exhausted from everything that had happened that day, and fell asleep before Duncan but after Blythe. 


Forever the light sleeper, she awoke as her bedmate jumped out of bed. She sat upright slightly slower and rubbed at her bleary eyes, waking herself enough to follow him. The girl on the couch, however, remained asleep and snoring softly. 


"What is that?" She asked immediately after seeing the figure on the screen, peering up at Duncan for answers. Upon waking the aforementioned sleeping girl, she had threatened them both without much malice. Whatever it was on that screen woke her right up and she felt a thrill in her gut. Another human. Even better, another male human. Her eyes were bright as she looked away from the screen to grin at Duncan. 


She lets out a whoop at the offer of coming along."I won't be the third wheel any longer! You two can struggle through your hormones and awkwardness by yourselves!" She ran over to pull on her clothes from earlier that day so as not to waste any time. She was excited and apprehensive, but mostly excited.  Maybe it was the tomahawk, Blythe really loved axes and the like. Hell, she even strapped her own set to the specialized belt that did not appear to help hold up her daisy dukes. Eleanor was definitely going along, mostly because she couldn't let the only important people still alive in her life just leave her while facing potential danger. She had pulled on a pair of leggings under her nightgown and had thrown a vedy flower child-esque cardigan over everything to keep warm. She felt like she looked ridiculous, but didn't want to waste time with changing. 


"Are you really bringing your axes? Couldn't that be seen as a threat?" She asked Blythe as she tied her shoes. The girl only flipped her hair and laughed. 


"My body could be seen as threatening, but for different reasons. Plus, I don't want him to think he can fuck with us," she answered the question  surprisingly seriously, after she made sure to call her physical assets to attention first of course. "What are you waiting for? Before he leaves! Let's go!"
 
Duncan watched the screen while he rapidly finished dressing.  The girls heard him laughing.  “Don’t worry; this is being recorded.  He just attacked the road with his tomahawk.  For a second I thought he was cutting the cables.  Then he started making motions suggesting war whoops dancing around like a madman and waving something in his hand.  I think it was a lump of grass.”  Duncan laughed.  “He scalped the road.  You know, I think this guy is harmless.  Maybe a little nuts, but harmless.  Bored too.  We should hurry.  SUV.”


 

+++++


 

As the SUV approached Cody could see their headlights in the distance.  He raised his binoculars to get a better look.  His eyes widened as he spotted the telltale spotlight on the side of the vehicle that every law enforcement vehicle had.  That was all he needed to see to hop in his vehicle to bug out.


 

Duncan watched as the guy peeled out.  “Crap!”  The custom vehicle was damnably fast.  Duncan COULD have jammed on the gas and tried to catch him,but he recalled the 128 mph speed the guy had been doing.  Odds were the vehicle could do a tad bit faster.  Short of getting lucky and sideswiping the guy and possibly killing him there was no way a chase scene would end well.  So instead Duncan hit the brakes and stopped at an angle in the road, then flashed the lights.  “Come on … figure it out.  Ladies, no bright ideas about the police lights.  I think we may have spooked him.”


 

Duncan’s plan HAD been to approach the guy alone with the girls as cover from the SUV.  Now he figured the girls’ plan might work better which, he guessed, was to just all bum rush the guy and welcome him.


 

Okay … maybe the girl’s plan with a slight modification.


 

“Girls … out … be visible and obvious.  Blythe … talk to the guy … in Cheerleader-ease.  Forget the axes.  Spell something out.  Both of you if you know how.  Maybe HELLO….”


 

Cody looked back through his rear video.  They weren’t chasing him.  Instead they had stopped and were getting out …


 

Girls.  Two of them.  No …. Don’t fall for it.  He remember the LAST two girls.  Psychos.  Then again, they weren’t acting all gung ho paramilitary.  Maybe they just found the police car with the keys in it.  


 

++++++++++


 

When Cody was finally lured in he began to realize these weren’t adult - so obviously not cops. They might have been cops kids.  Seeing blond chicks was a disappointment.  He had a bad history with blondes.  But he tried to remind himself that times had changed … a lot.  He couldn’t judge a book by its cover.


 

Duncan first words were cliche.  “You have any idea how fast I clocked you?”  He tried not to grin.


 

Cody actually smiled.  “Does it matter?”


 

“Hell yeah!  I want to see what you have under the hood.  Blythe, don’t say it.”  Duncan laughed a little and glanced at the taller blonde, then returning his attention to Cody.  “By the way, noone infected here.  We’ve all been around Plague victims and either never got sick or got sick and recovered.  How about you?”


 

“Same actually … what exactly does that mean?”


 

“It means you probably don’t need the outfit.  Also, as we are symptom free for weeks at least with no exposure to others that I know of, even if you aren’t immune you are safe around us so long as a new source doesn’t show up.”


 

Cody removed the mask.  It was damnably hot and uncomfortable anyways.  “Thanks.  You’re sure?”


 

“My foster mother worked at UNM medical center and mentored the last head of CDC.  That sure enough?”


 

“Well, all I have is your word, but it’s the best qualifications I’ve heard yet.”  Cody nodded.


 

“The proof is back at base camp.”  He glanced at the girls, then back at Cody.  “Tell you what though.  As much as I know they both want to say hello, how about you follow us back to base camp?  There is a hot shower waiting.  I’ll make the same offer I made them.  Use ALL the hot water. Later we have to conserve, but I am guessing it’s been awhile.”


 

Cody’s attention was on the girls.  The headlights had silhouetted them to give him a good idea of their shapes.  He couldn’t help but smile.  Duncan did not look especially pleased at that, but said nothing.
 
Blythe had seen the display, snorting on a bout of laughter."I'm simply terrified by his lawnscaping techniques. Don't worry, I think we're the same brand as crazy," she says this with a wink. She pulls herself away from the screen, slipping into her flip flops on her way out the door with Eleanor at her tail. 


As they began to near the stranger, he hopped into his streamlined vehicle and began to hightail it out of their way. Blythe smacks her fist on the dashboard."This is why you shouldn't drive around in a cop car! I'd run too if I thought the damned pigs were on my ass." This earned her a hard look from Eleanor, who was leaning between the front seats to get a better look. Slamming open the passenger door, the viking girl hopped out and gestured for the others to join her-- She had ignored Duncan's warning about her axes and kept them hanging proudly from her hips.She pulls open the door for Eleanor to get out, but doesn't wait to see if she actually does, instead waving down the escaping survivor. "Hey, numbnuts! We aren't the fuzz so get your ass back here!" She yells, for her own benefit mostly.


"Do you think insulting him is a good idea?" The smaller of the two blondes had just climbed out of the SUV, moving to stand closer to Duncan than her axe-wielding friend.


It turned out that one of Blythe's plans had worked after all, and there was no getting rid of her smugness. Her pointed look towards Duncan practically screamed I told you so. Eleanor hides her mouth behind a hand when Duncan speaks, not wanting to acknowledge that she found his opening words quite funny. It was strange to hear a different voice, and Blythe appeared thoroughly enchanted with this newcomer for reasons unknown.
"Don't act like you would be totally against me showing what I have under my hood," Blythe teases, earning her a shocked expression and red ears from one of the three, which one was easy to guess. Once Duncan had established their bonafides, she decided to take charge on the introductions, stepping forward with a mildly roguish grin on her face."Eleanor and Duncan over there have been getting all up in eachothers' personal space, so if either of them had it then the other would be showing signs," she states this matter-of-factly while somehow maintaining an almost capricious air to herself,"and I'm Blythe. The pleasure's all yours, trust me." Her wink was completely inappropriate.
"We have not!" Eleanor tried to deny the other girl's claims, red faced and looking towards Duncan for what he had to say about that too. She moves to go back to the SUV, waiting to see if anyone else was coming along before actually getting in the vehicle. This was way too much excitement for 4 in the morning.

(Kind of short, I know, couldn't quite think of what to write ><)
 
Cody had honestly been shocked that Blythe’s flags weren’t flags or even fake tomahawks, but actual Viking styled axes.  His own tomahawk was a simple hatchet.  He had guns.  But he had zero training with one, just some self-taught target practice.  And he really had no training with a tomahawk.  The rest of his weapons, however, were another matter.


 

When Blythe started taking over the conversation, Duncan adopted a passive role.  Cody actually looked slightly nervous, but only slightly.  He gathered that Cody simply wasn’t sure about him.  Duncan tried to project stability to offset Blythe’s extroverted nature.


 

Cody figure out real quick that Eleanor was the passive member of the group.  What Duncan said would go in her book.  Blythe .. was more of a question mark.  Somehow, he had a feeling that if Duncan put his foot down, Blythe would behave, though she would rebel at the first chance and likely resent it.  Duncan’s next words told Cody he was almost certainly right.


 

Duncan smiled at Eleanor with mock confusion.  “Sssooo .. sleeping together isn’t personal space?”  He grinned at Blythe.  “Eleanor and I have a debate going about whether we’d make better sex partners of academic partners.  I am playing Devil’s Advocate and taking the side of sex.  As to what is under your hood, Blythe, seen that.


 

“Anyways, let’s get you back.  This was a little early for us, but we haven’t done breakfast yet.  If you want to join us, let’s get you back.  By the time you get cleaned up some of us will be awake enough to fix something to eat.  And we won’t even hold it against you for scalping the highway.”


 

Cody flushed and laughed.  “Ahh …. You … uhm … saw that.”


 

“Recorded it.  I want to watch it again.”  Duncan laughed.  “Bored?”


 

“You have no idea.  But things are definitely looking up.”  He was looking at Blythe’s ‘hood.’  “I’m a fair mechanic too.  My foster father ran an auto shop.  I’m pretty good with my hands.”  His eyes twinkled at Blythe suggestion there was innuendo in that comment.  “Oh! And hey, My foster mother ran a Cajun Asian restaurant, sort of a food court of several restaurants.  I worked in it quite a bit.  I even have my own cooking utensils.  If you aren’t in a hurry to eat, I don’t mind showing off a little.”


 

Duncan caught the word mechanic.  “Know anything about fuel systems?  I tried to convert one to alcohol and messed up I think.”


 

“Yeah … if we can find parts, shouldn’t be a problem.”


 

“Awesome.  Oh .. by the way … 128 mph.”  Duncan gestured at Cody’s vehicle.


 

“Sounds about right.  It will do 150 in a good flat stretch.  My uncle designed and built it using parts from a couple LS218’s.  Those are the fastest electric motorcycle ever built.  Hull is same stuff used in formula ones.  And it recharges with a new kind of solar film.  My uncle owned and ran a solar research place in Arizona.


 

++++++++


 

When they got back to base camp, Cody gawked at the McLaren P1 and Lamborghini Veneno.  “Holy crap!  You know what that is?”


 

Duncan looked clueless.  “A car?  That one’s the one I sort of messed up.”


 

“Ahh!  That’s a P1!  Only 375 ever made.”


 

Duncan winced.  “Sorry?  Cool car though.  Can you fix it?  I was going to check over the Lamborghini for the girls.”


 

Cody laughed with mock anger.  “You even think about touching either one and I’ll have to use my Ginsu knives on you fingers.  I’ll see what I can do.  You want to learn … learn on a car, not a supercar.”


 

Duncan nodded.  “Okay, okay … I’ll give you the nickel tour later.  Let me show you where the shower is…”


 

++++++++++


 

Cody hadn’t exaggerated his skill as a cook.  He admitted he could have done better if he had eggs and real milk or more time to prepare ingredients.  But he wasn’t half bad.  Even Duncan agreed.
 
Blythe seemed to have control of the situation, her previous experience with men obviously helping her keep her cool demeanour.


 Eleanor was pressed close to Duncan's side, peering up at him with grey eyes that were clearly questioning if her actions were allowed. When the line of questioning was directed her way, the petite blonde covers her flushed face. "Don't put it that way! We've just been... Sharing the bed!" She exclaims, her outburst clearly surprising Blythe. 


"Don't worry, Leo, I can smell the teenage hormones from across the rv. Boy Wonder over here is probably waiting 'till I'm not there so he can put on the moves," she laughs brightly, winking suggestively at Duncan, much to Eleanor's dismay. "You aren't playing devil's advocate, she's just too shy to admit it herself." She earned herself a rather comedic reaction filled with mortification. 


"Blythe! Duncan! Both of you!" Eleanor stammers out, face several shades darker than the flush Cody was sporting. She couldn't very well go back to te SUV now, lest they begin to conspire over how best to get in her pants. What a poor little virgin. 


Blythe offers Cody a thumbs up, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. 


"Don't look so embarrassed, I like to know a man can landscape. I especially like a man who's good with his hands." She winks playfully, a hint of suggestion underlying her words-- Eleanor didn't get it. 


She appeared wholly pleased that at least someone was appreciating her assets. 


When the boys started talking about cars, Blythe retreated to stand next to Eleanor with a knowing smirk. She gestures to one of the boys and makes a crude hand gesture, busting out into laughter at the scandalized look that appeared on her little friends face. 


----


 Blythe was definitely impressed with Cody's cooking." And he can cook! Just take me now-- actually, wait until I finish eating." She wound up taking seconds, that girl can put away good like you wouldn't believe. Eleanor ate a small portion to be polite, not wanting to eat so much that she makes herself sick. She got kicked under the table for the amount she sere herself, earning a,"be polite, damn," from across the table. Blythe had been aiming to sit next to Cody, she was not being discreet. 


"Thank you, by the way, this is nice," Eleanor thanks their chef politely, still slightly groggy from her early rising. 
 
Duncan first thoughts had been distrust.  He hated to admit that.  But he had tried to bury those fears and listen.  Soon he had decided Cody wasn’t half as bad as he had feared.  Duncan’s biggest concern was for the risks of leaving one of the girls alone with him.  But he tried not to judge the book by its cover.  Odds were Blythe liked the attention.  The question was, how to broach the subject delicately.  His conclusion that there was no way.  However, he could be discrete.


 

Once the meal was over, Duncan decided to get it over with.  Cody had started to grab the dishes, but Boy Wonder stopped him.  “Blythe, Eleanor, can I get you to handle the dishes and maybe get some help from Cody with setting up the RV’s.  It will be a nice change of pace for me to have someone with two good hands … that’s good with them.”  Duncan gave Cody a poker face.  Then he showed off the scar on his left hand.


 

“Dude … how …?”


 

“Same place I got the limp.  I manage, but the help would be welcome.”  Duncan was polite.


 

“Sure!”  He looked back at the dishes.  “Habit.  Worked at a restaurant, remember?”


 

+++++++++++++++++


 

Duncan didn’t jump into the interrogation right away.  He stuck to the task at hand until it was nearly done.  Then it was Cody who started the conversation.


 

“Well?  You didn’t ask me out here alone just to do a job you didn’t need me for.   What’s on your mind?”


 

Duncan nodded.  “You’re right.  I’ll be honest, I didn’t like the looks of you for the first few seconds I laid eyes on you.  You looked like trouble.  Then we talked.  I try not to judge people like that.  However, I … feel responsible for the girls.  I need to know they are safe around you.  Nothing --”


 

“Stop right there.  Don’t think you know me.”  Cody’s voice was sharp.  His jaw clenched.  He breathed hard for several long moments holding up a hand to silence Duncan.  “I hate that shit.  But I get it.  Not the first time I’ve had to put up with this shit.”  Cody was honestly mad.  But his tells were all wrong for a fight.  He wasn’t looking to hit someone.  The anger was aimed inward.


 

“Oh crap.  I’m sorry man.  You don’t have to explain.  Sorry man.”


 

Cody just nodded silently for a moment.  “You couldn’t have had any idea what saying stuff like that to me meant.  I’ve had the halfbreed thing on my back, police always on my case, gangs, never knew who my biological parents were.  So I get it.  I come from a messed up background.  But the one thing you can definitely count on is that I won’t let anything happen to either one of those girls - any girl - that she doesn’t want.  Do YOU get me?”


 

Duncan nodded.  “Crystal … and same.  Although I have a feeling your reasons are a lot more personal that mine.  I had to have this talk … but I wanted it away from the girls.”  he smiled a little.  “Honestly, I think the one who may need protection is you.”


 

Cody snorted a laugh.


 

Duncan laughed back.  “By the way, the cold water is the one on the right.”


 

+++++++++


 

Duncan assigned the girls to collecting and packing up girls stuff to take with them to Florida.  He also gave them a scavenger hunt list.  He assigned Cody to making preserves out of peaches, rhubarb, cherries, apples, raspberries, and strawberries.  By the end of the day he had a dozen different soups going as well as Peking Duck, a Peach and orange tea, steamed dumplings with garlic sauce, … Heck, he had a buffet going.  He served the meal like a gourmet dinner.  He had used up packs of freezer bags to store the soups for later.


 

“Where the hell did you get duck?” Duncan demanded.


 

“Well, technically Canadian Geese.  You know those dried crackers noone likes from the MRE’s?  Turns out the geese aren’t so picky.”


 


 

By evening, the boys had now got a second and third RV going.  That meant the sleeping arrangements had a whole new dynamic.  Duncan no longer had an excuse.    Neither did Eleanor.  Cody had none either and just picked one.


 


 
 
Eleanor had been frightened by the way this new addition had behaved on the recordings. The way he and her friend had been checking each other out really did nothing to improve her views. At least he was a decent chef, points for that. When the two of them were ordered to do work, Blythe was the only one who put up a fight. Ultimately, she gave up and went to help Eleanor. Once alone in the RV, Blythe deemed it to be the perfect opportunity to give her clueless little friend "The Talk". 


It went about as well as one would expect with Blythe heading the conversation. There was, at one point, a horrified shriek which emanated from the unit. 


This proved to be a wonderful time to end their discussion before the poor girl blew a fuse over the fact that there was lingerie in her size tossed on the couch. 


When the boys attempted to enter the Rv, they would find their entry momentarily barred until the offending garments had been removed. Eleanor hadnt been made aware that they had all been thrown in on Duncan's bed by a certain someone. 


Blythe had pouted the entire time she and Eleanor had been banished to packing. The aforementioned unmentionables had been left for Duncan to discover. 


Eleanor was feeling rather down,the prospect  of not having her snuggle buddy was disheartening to say the least. But she couldn't very well ask him nicely to continue sharing his bed with her. 


Blythe had been meaning to corner Duncan at some point, she had some very important things to discuss with him. Namely about their mutual interests in Eleanor's favour. 


(Sorry again for length)
 
Cody excused himself to go and check out his new ‘digs’.  But he did say that if anyone wanted to drop by later for a housewarming he was ‘up for that.’  Even Duncan looked at Cody to see if the innuendo was intentional.  For a change, he couldn’t tell for sure.


 

That left one empty RV.  Duncan nodded.  “I can get us another one.  You two can share that one if you like, or … uhm …”  he squirmed and looked at Eleanor.  “If you wanted … an extra blanket … “  He turned beet red.  “I kinda wish I hadn’t set up the other RV.”  It was more of a confession.  “He laughed.  “I’ve been sleeping better the past couple days.  I just thought you two might like some privacy at times.”


(Same ... and you KNOW I don't do short posts.  Just wasn't sure where to go with your last post.  Didn't want to jump past a scene you wanted.)
 
"I'm down to throw us a bit of a housewarming party. Eleanor and I raided the NBL  yesterday so.." She grins, winking suggestively in a way that implied she acknowledged his innuendo. Eleanor frowned pointedly at the speaker, as if wishing their visit to the liquor store hadn't been brought up.  


Her face flushed deep red at Duncan's words. "I... Uhm... I'm fine with just the one blanket. I haven't been having as much trouble sleeping, either-- uh--" she stammers nervously, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Blythe snorts on her laughter, openly pointing out how awkward they were. 


"Glad you set up an RV for me, but I am gonna want some privacy," she says teasingly, wiggling the fingers of her right hand in an absolutely obscene fashion. She laughs airily at their reactions, gesturing for Eleanor to lean in close. "Can you put my new sheets on the bed? Can't for the love of me figure out how to do it myself."


"But-- I tried teaching you," she protests weakly. 


"I know, but I forget and it's too early for me to struggle with that. Pretty please? You know I love you, plus-- you might want to put some actual clothes on while you're at it," she effectively shut down any resistance from the other party. It was difficult to tell if it was because she said please or if it was her pointing out the girl's nightie-leggings combo. 


Once Eleanor had left, begrudgingly of course, Blythe locks the door behind her and wheels on Duncan. "You and I need to have a Little chat," she had an almost dangerous edge to her voice, gesturing for him to sit down with her. "It's about Eleanor. So... Tell me about your intentions." She smirks, winking."Don't try denying it, I know a lot about what boys think about when in bed. Even when they aren't getting lucky."
 
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Duncan barely even looked surprised.  He had foreseen this conversation for most of the time he had known the girls.  The dangerous edge in Blythe’s voice didn’t even phase him.  “This is funny.  I just had this talk with Cody.  Don't try denying it, I know a lot about what Blythe thinks about when in bed. Especially when she hasn't been getting lucky and the opportunity has arisen.”  He returned her wink with one of his own. “Someone has to protect Cody from a certain dual axe-wielding Viking wench.” He laughed a little.


 

“I’ll go first,” he became serious.  “My intentions aren’t the point.  Eleanor’s are.  Nothing happens until she is ready for it to happen.  It is that simple.  Sure I want exactly what you think I want.  And you are only half right.  I don’t just think about it in bed.  It’s an all the time thing.  Hormones suck.  She’s a lot like me.  Never gave all this much thought.  Now it’s the apocalypse and the world needs to be repopulated.  But my mother also recommended that no girls do so before age 18.  It was just a maturity thing.  It was a survival rate issue.


 

“My intentions?  I can wait.  That doesn’t mean I want to.  I just can.  But in the end, it will be up to her.  I’m not so sure I could tell her no.  You know, little finger, wrapping and all that.  She could tell me to move the world and I’d ask ‘where to?”  And when she got around to Heaven, I’d have to tell her I thought Earth was in the way.  Then she’d have me move Earth back.  Then she’d change her mind about Heaven.”


 

Duncan again became serious.  “Soooo … Cody.  I won’t ask your intentions.  But I will caution you a little - not about the repopulation thing.  Cody’s in pain.  If you really like him, take your time with him.  Get to know the real him.  Tell him he’s like an onion.  He’d probably either like that - or come up with a better analogy.  Either way you’d get a lesson in food.  But … I think he was hurt bad … real bad … and many times.  Some by girls a lot like you.  Make sure he doesn’t group you in with them.  He’s complicated.  I also think some really bad things happened to him in the Hell Months.  That is something I can’t help him with.  Maybe you can do something I can’t.”
 
Blythe frowns slightly, having expected more of a reaction from him. She crosses her legs and regards him coolly as he speaks, face slowly filling with colour. That was a first to see from the Bentzen girl. "What kind of girl do you think I am?" She was masking that embarrassment with indignation." Despite popular belief, I don't sleep with anyone I see," she huffs."Okay, yeah, I've been irritable but only because I was being respectful because I was just outside your room on the couch. But I'll be better after a night to myself." She offers him a grin and wink, only half-looking his way.


Hearing to him speak so highly of Eleanor seemed to soften her up, and she couldn't maintain that stony facade for long before she begins to melt."Damn," she sighs, exhaling something in Norwegian,"you really are a great guy for her. That really pisses me off that I can't chew you out for anything. Just-- don't get all gross and mushy out where I can see." She laughs, shaking her head at his display."She's really got something going for you, too," she pauses, glancing out the window before leaning close and whispering conspiratorially,"I caught her looking at some stuff when we were at the mall. " She leans away with a bright laugh, twirling the tail of one of her braids around her finger.


"Oh god," Blythe groans, staring away from  him as her cheeks blossom a light pink. Her tanned skin made it easier to hide a blush than Eleanor, it was considerably rarer to see her go red than her friend. She stands up abruptly, stalking to the window with her hands tucked into her back pockets."We've all had bad relationships. Sex can ruin things, y'know. There was this one guy, thought he was the love of my life," she sighs bitterly, tapping her knuckle against the windowpane,"sweetest guy. 'Till he took my V-card. The bastard-- Actually, let's not get into me rambling about that shit." Her smile was brittle and she angles herself away to hide the movement of swiping a finger beneath her eyes. She turns back to him, expression steeled once more."I'll let Eleanor give me advice, and I'll make sure I don't do anything you losers wouldn't do.  Get to know about his layers or whatever." She moves away from the window to twist the lock on the door, effectively unlocking it. She turned to look back at Duncan, a look of understanding crossing her face before being stamped down and replaced with her Resting Bitch Face. "Bad shit happened to all of us in the Hell Months."
She throws open the door, hopping down onto the step of the RV."You said you have fireworks, yeah? Let's get 'em," she asks with a roguish grin, gesturing for him to follow. Her next words spelled out either Excitement or Disaster. Only time will tell to see how their resident pyro treats explosives.


Eleanor had cleaned up Blythe's RV quite nicely. Folding the rest of her clothes and tucking in the corners of her bed in the way a hospital does. She sighs softly to herself, heading towards the door to see if Cody needed any help with unpacking. She had taken less time with Blythe's mess than previously anticipated, and decided to put her discomfort aside and be a good hostess. Eleanor walks the distance between RV's and stops in front of his door. She chews on her lip for a moment, steeling herself before giving the door a slight rap of her knuckles.
"Uhm, hi, Cody, it's me, Eleanor. Do you need any help with getting settled? Well-- Ah, as settled as you can get before we head off." She laughs nervously, tugging absently on a strand of hair.
 
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“Fireworks?”  he groaned.  “Yeah, but don’t light any around here.  Way too many flammables and explosives.  Look, I am tired.  It’s been a long day.  Can we mess with the explosives another time.  I wanted to take it onto the range along with some rockets - real ones, not bottle rockets.  I was going to show you guys how to blow up ugly cars - starting with that junk heap you arrived in.  Remember, I’m the one who was up late with Eleanor, got woke up by Cody at Oh-Dark-Thirty, then worked all day.”


 

++++++


 

Over at Cody’s RV, the mixed breed Native American was a little surprised that his visitor was the shy one of the two.  He glanced around.  “Nah, nothing to settle.  Just had a few cooking things to pull out.”


 

In addition to his cooking set he had pulled out a few weapons - of the martial arts variety.  He travelled light.


 

“Head off?”
 
Blythe's eager grin loses some of it's spark when Duncan doesn't immediately agree. She doesn't bother to hide her disappointment, playing it up with a huffed sigh and a dismissive wave of her hand."I guess," she pouts, playing up her best puppy-dog eyes."I haven't got to play with any real fireworks in ages. How can you dangle such a sweet reward under my nose and then not let me have it!" She demands, only half-teasing. She takes a step back, landing on the ground with a little bounce."At least you were up late with Eleanor, not like you aren't glad to have spent the time with her," she adds with a playful wink, waiting for his response.


Eleanor seemed to have not planned on what to do had her offer been denied, and stands there a beat too long before responding."Oh! Well, I guess you don't pack as heavy as two girls," she jokes, trying not to be too awkward. She peeks over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of his weapons. She acknowledges them with a small nod of her head."When I first met her, Blythe had an arsenal almost like you. She didn't know how to use half of them, so I convinced her to only keep the ones she could use. She almost broke her foot playing with a flail."
At Cody's question, her grey eyes widen slightly and she nods."We'll be leaving soon, we're going South," she explains quickly, pausing to gesture around her,"before winter."


(Aaah, I'm so sorry!!!)
 
Duncan groaned.  “Blythe … please let me sleep.  Tomorrow.  Fireworks … tomorrow.  Big Bangs.  Okay?  We can announce it officially in the morning.  Maybe talk Cody into fixing some snacks to take with us.  The range is a few miles away.  Like I said … some things are worth waiting for.  Trust me.  Why don’t you go and keep Cody company?  You and he seem like two of a kind.”


Duncan’s face turned more thoughtful.  “Honestly I was hoping you could get a little more out of him.  But only if he wants to tell you.  I don’t know what I want where he’s concerned.  Mostly I just want to get a better read on him.  He seems like a decent guy.  But I am not the world’s best judge of character.


“Say … have you seen Eleanor?”


++++++++


Cody looked a little blankly at Eleanor.  She was sweet, innocent.  But Cody had the distinct impression that Duncan had laid a claim on her.   When the girl started talking about Blythe his attention picked up.  He grinned at the mention of the flail.  “Dollars to donuts she probably doesn’t know how to use ANY of them.  Not really anyways.  I could teach her a little.  My dad and uncle had a private dojo.  So I have actually been trained with all of these.  I’m no Bruce Lee, but I know the basic - like how not to hit yourself.



“As to heading South … I don’t know.  I have a feeling that is a question to take up with Duncan.  It would be nice not to be travelling alone anymore.”  He grinned.  “You and Blythe travelled together for a long time, didn’t you.  I bet you drove each other nuts.”
 
Blythe frowns pointedly at him, but seems to have been pacified for the moment. Duncan's suggestion of going to see Cody held much more potential than continuing to hound the tired man in front of her."Oh, I'll definitely be keeping Cody company. And I'm not sure what I'll be getting out of him tonight," the way she said it implied something other than information from the newcomer, but it was very much in Blythe's style to speak that way. She pivots, angling herself away from Cody's RV and glancing back when he spoke. She offered a shrug, grinning as she teased him,"I don't know, I'll pass on the word that you're missing your cuddle buddy. I'll make sure to add plenty of X's and O's, like if you were texting her." And with that, she practically pranced away in the direction of her's and Cody's RV.


--


Cody's blank expression inspired little confidence in the DuMonte girl, and she was suddenly reminded as to why she did not try to initiate social interaction frequently. She was obviously regretting the decision to come knocking, but appeared somewhat relieved when the mention of Blythe caught his attention. His words struck her as funny, and she laughed softly behind one of her hands."She definitely knows how to use those axes. But... I do think you could help her with all that pent-up energy she has. You know, she used to drag me on jogs with her. She stopped working out as much once she realised there was no one who could keep up with her."
"You and Blythe travelled together for a long time, didn't you. I bet you drove each other nuts." Eleanor couldn't hide the smile his response prompted, glancing off to the side.
"We've been together for a while, four burnt cars later. I'm guessing she'll be adding our old one to her list of Things That Give Eleanor Unwarranted Anxiety," she said, laughing at herself and shaking her head. She caught sight of the other blonde approaching."When you speak of the devil..."


Blythe was surprised when she saw Eleanor on the front steps of Cody's RV, having expected her to of still been in their RV. She grins at them, holding a hand up in a lazy wave. She quickens her stride until she was at the lowest step, right behind Eleanor.
"Were you two talking about me? Don't worry, I know it's hard not to think of this pretty face." She flutters her lashes, placing a hand beneath her chin in a playful pose. She leans in close to Eleanor's ear to whisper, loud enough for Cody to hear,"Boy Wonder's wondering where you are, he misses his cuddle buddy." 
"Did he call me that?" Eleanor asks, cheeks blossoming with colour.
"That's not important, what is is that he's looking for you. And I was sent to keep our new boy company." The Nordic girl grins slyly, winking at Cody.
"O-oh. I... You two can... I'll be leaving," she stammers awkwardly with red cheeks, ducking under Blythe's arm to allow the other girl passage. She was quietly relieved that Blythe had arrived in time to save her from any further awkward conversation. She was drained, and was planning on heading to bed as soon as she went to see Duncan. She wasn't sure how well she'd be able to sleep alone, now that she's gotten used to having someone she liked to keep her warm.
 
Cody held his tongue while Eleanor made herself scarce, though he was smiling a little.   “Cuddle buddies, huh?  I suspected as much.  So .., uhm,” Cody actually sounded a little nervous, “company, huh?”  He looked around the RV.  It was so sparse the interior echoed.


“I’m not exactly the best host at the moment.  Boy Wonder seems to have been here awhile.  I just got here.  Can’t say as I brought a lot of entertainment.” Inwardly he winced.  He felt like a mouse that a cat was about to pounce on.  Duncan’s lecture still ran through his head.  “I get the impression you are the one who watches after Eleanor.  And if you think she’s safe with Duncan, then the guy is probably okay.  I might have rubbed him the wrong way.  But then his type usually rubs me the wrong way.  Rich, entitled, super smart or at least thinks he is.  Is he?  Played football.  I saw his letterman jacket.  He had guitars.  Wonder if he can really play.  Just my luck he’s a local rock star.”



Cody sighed.  “And I am being an idiot talking about some other guy when you are over here keeping me company.  So .. what did you want to do?  Duncan let me nap earlier.  I have gotten used to driving at night and recharging during the day.  I still haven’t adjusted.  But right now my body is saying it is time to wake up.  So if you have any ideas…  I miss people.  I miss TV - not that I watched much.  I had a job before the Plague.  You want to talk about it -any of it?  Maybe not?”  He shrugged.
 
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