Fandom Tale of Two Survivors { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

At first all Kaleb could register was numbness, like everything had been turned to static within him. He didn’t hear Carlos come over, his eyes were focused on the arrow in his side. He didn’t feel him grab onto Kaleb, and his head moved almost automatically when he felt Carlos lift it to look at him. Kaleb couldn’t speak, he didn’t even hear Carlos ask him too. He was just numb, just a shell. He finally felt something when he heard Carlos yell for Nate. An overwhelming sensation of pain in his side. “C- Carlos.” Kaleb managed to speak finally. Kaleb heard Nate drop beside him, telling Carlos what he needed. But that bark from his partner, that command. There was no rational thinking anymore. Just raw pain and emotion. Kaleb felt tears race down his cheeks as the pain flooded his body when the shock and adrenaline wore off.

Alex could only stare as Nate went over to help. Kaleb was hurt, Carlos was upset and all Alex could do was keep watch. They really should move further away but that wasn’t going to happen. So he stood guard, taking Kaleb’s position from him while he was down.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

“Yeah, it’s me, love. It’s me. Hey, hey, baby look at me.” His shaky hand patted Kaleb’s cheek, insisting that the attention come back to him. Look at me, Kaleb, look at me. “Kaleb, my heart, no no don’t you cry.” He brought both his hands up to wipe away tears. His breath caught as his fingers left a trail of blood across his pale skin. Carlos gasped, ragged breath teetering on the edge of maybe. He stared at the streams of tears intermingling with the blood, a diluted run unsure where to fall. His jaw hesitated, falling open, snapping shut, quavering with uncertainty. As he shut his eyes, his own tears fell until they played with the tips of his chin. He whipped his head to the side, snarling so viscously that the drips flung away. “Nate! Fix my Kaleb! Fix- F-Fix-“ but his voice was choked away with the sobs that clung to his throat with claws that embedded themselves into his pores. His nerves. His bones. “Fix…” His voice fell quiet as he tried to stifle the cries that begged to be let go. He pulled his attention back to Kaleb’s face. “You’re gonna be okay, okay, baby are you listening to me? You’re gonna be okay. Kaleb, Kaleb.” He breathed. “Kaleb, I love you. Stay with me. You’re gonna be okay, love.” He pressed a kiss to his forehead and stayed there as the tears fell down his cheeks. “I love you so much. Don’t you leave me.”

Nate hesitated for a moment, unsure what exactly he could do in this moment. There wasn’t much. He was out of supplies. They had a lot of injuries these past few days. He could do more when they weren’t in imminent danger. They should have raided some of the places on the way out of the city. They should have taken more time. They didn’t have time to take. He pulled out his knife and sawed at the bottom of Kaleb’s shirt so that he could see the wound better. He ripped it up and around the arrow. The blood was skewing his view, but it was bad. Very bad. He needed something to keep him together until they were in a safe place for him to take out the arrow. Not here. He needed something big-

“NATE!”

He turned to Carlos, his heart breaking at the pain in both of them. Carlos who was handling this not at all well. He needed- “Carlos, give me your shirt.” Without question, Carlos took off layers and handed him the shirt, then his hands were back on Kaleb. Always together. Nate took that knife and ripped into it. He wrapped it, stuffed around the arrow. Stifle the bleeding. This would create far more pressure than the gauze could ever do. “Alex,” he said as calmly as possible. “We need to find somewhere we can stop. And we need it now. Carlos.” He physically moved himself beside Carlos, drawing his attention from Kaleb. “Carry him. Be careful of here. Don’t let it move.” Carlos stared at him, barely able to sit up straight. “I will save him, but we have to go. Pick him up. I can’t.”

Carlos didn’t hesitate any longer. It finally sunk in what they had to do. They had to get Kaleb somewhere that Nate could save him. He carefully readjusted to pick him up, cradling him in his arms so that the arrow stuck out. In the calmest voice he’d had since it happened, he whispered, “I’ve got you, love.” And then they moved.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb was registering more, even as the pain wracked through his body. His nerves were all firing off at once and he could feel the tears running down. Kaleb looked at Carlos, his eyes watery, wide with pain and he couldn’t speak without it hurting. It was like any motion pulled at the thread of pain emanating from his side. Kaleb felt Carlos bring his hands up to wipe away tears, and Kaleb could taste the metallic of his blood mixing with the tears when they ran down over his face, some of it getting on his lips as he opened his mouth.

Kaleb heard Carlos yell for Nate to fix him. Can this be fixed? Was this the end for Kaleb? He couldn’t leave Carlos behind. No. Kaleb was not dying from a stupid arrow. “I k- know. I h- hear you.” He managed, eyes watching with just as much hurt seeing Carlos crying. “I l- love you t- too baby.” He managed, feeling the kiss to his forehead. “I- I’m not going anywhere.” And then he sucked in a gasp as he lost Carlos’ hands. What happened? Then they were back and he let out a yell of pain at the shirt being packed around the wound. His vision swam as he bit his lip hard enough to bleed. He felt Carlos pick him up, and Kaleb hissed at the motion before his head dropped against Carlos’ chest. He was fighting hard to stay awake but he had to, he knew it. Carlos had him and it would all be okay.

Alex had never seen such pain and hurt in his life. He froze in place, coming too only when he heard Nate calmly tell him they had to move, find somewhere safe. Alex nodded, waited for them to be ready before he walked forward. He moved with purpose, walking faster than normal. They needed shelter, safety now. It was about two hours roughly into the walk when he saw a small cabin up ahead. “Wait here with them.” Alex told Nate, before he jogged up to the cabin. Knife in hand, he pushed the door open. Right away he could see that it was one room, a bed on the far wall, a kitchen opposite it, with a bathroom just down a small hall. The animal heads on the wall spoke of this being a hunting cabin. Alex walked through, looking in the bathroom and around the entire place, even under the bed. He stepped back out and waved them in. “Clear. Safe.” He called. This would work to fix Kaleb. It would have to.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Wounds like this meant that Kaleb needed to stay awake. If he passed out, that could create complications they could not afford to handle. As they moved quickly, Nate looked at Carlos. “Keep talking to him. He’s going to listen to you better than me.” Nate could probably keep him going just fine, but he knew Carlos could do better in the same way that Alex would be able to keep his attention better than Kaleb. If Kaleb and Alex hadn’t been looking for a place to rest, both of them probably could have kept Carlos going after his shot better than Nate could. At least he was easily swayed by strong arms and farmhouses.

Carlos nodded and did just that. He kept talking to Kaleb the entire time they moved. He spoke only loud enough for Kaleb to hear the words. Nate lost the conversation after a while, but that was okay. As long as he could hear Carlos talking and occasionally look back to make sure the packing was staying together. He kept an eye on Alex as he scouted. He smiled as he heard Carlos talk about the farmhouse. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we can name all the little baby horses after all sorts of silly things. Maybe places we would have liked to go if the world didn’t die. Like… Ireland. I don’t even know what’s in Ireland. Or was in it.”

Nate stayed outside the cabin as Alex checked it. He was antsy as it took so long, but Carlos, who he worries was not going to handle this well from how poorly it was going earlier, was doing beautifully. “Alex found some cabin or something. It looks tiny. And as soon as he gets back out here, he’s probably being a hero in there kicking everyone out for you, Medicine Man is going to do his thing, and you’re going to be all better. Like it never even happened.” Nate wouldn’t have known it was so bad if he hadn’t caught the glimpse of Carlos looking up and away, breath caught somewhere inside, eyes burning. He was just barely hanging on for Kaleb.

Once inside, Nate pointed towards the bed. Was that about to ruin it for the rest of them? Possibly, but he didn’t care. This was important. Carlos laid him down and knelt on the edge so that he was holding onto Kaleb’s hand as Nate started to unwrap the packing. “Carlos,” Nate said firmly. “Keep him awake as I work. It’s going to get real rough for him.” Nate pulled out the arrow and began.

Carlos, holding onto Kaleb’s hand with one of his, also ran a hand over Kaleb’s cheek. The blood was dry now on both of them. They could deal with that later. “Do you remember the mural I painted back at the QZ? The one that was beautiful and everyone hated but you? I made that for you. It was always for you. You with your beautiful eyes and your strong arms. That’s why I had to find the blue, you know. I couldn’t start it without the blue that matched those beautiful eyes of yours.”

​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb heard Nate telling Carlos to keep talking to him. He kept his head on Carlos’ chest listening to every word he said. At times he could feel himself closing his eyes, but then Carlos would mention the farmhouse and the baby animals. Kaleb wanted to laugh at the mention of naming one of them Ireland. Then it begged the question from Carlos about Ireland as a country.

Kaleb felt like this was the longest time in his life. It was painful, it was hard, it hurt. It hurt so bad. He wanted the pain to go away, to leave him alone. They’d fought through a city of crazy hunters, and they still had to deal with pain. How was that fair? Kaleb remained still, as every motion hurt. He heard that Alex had found someplace safe after a while of listening to Carlos.

Kaleb felt Carlos lay him down and he hissed at the pain and motion. His eyes immediately found Carlos as he held Kaleb’s hand. Another softer hiss of pain as he felt Nate moving the packing around the wound. Kaleb felt Nate pull out the arrow and he couldn’t help the raw scream that came out. He’d experienced pain before but this was different. Kaleb felt tears coming again, as he looked at Carlos. He felt the hand on his cheek, listening to him. His heart swelled with love even as his body screamed in pain, hearing about that mural back in Denver. Just for him. Alex stood guard at the door, wincing at every pain filled noise from the bed.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Carlos choked on every choke of Kaleb’s. Every wince of pain he shared. When Kaleb hurt, so did Carlos. Always. The scream that ripped through Kaleb tore into Carlos too. With tears stinging his eyes, threatening to take away his vision, he squeezed the hand he held as tight as he could. He rubbed at Kaleb’s cheek. His words became more insistent. Listen to me, Kaleb. I need you to listen to me. “I know I always told you that it was after that, when you smiled instead of punishing like you were supposed to. I know I told you it was later, and that’s what started it. I lied. You took my breath away before then. You were this entirely new kind of person. So strong and commanding, but I could see your heart. I wanted to know it. But you were a guard, and I was so scared. I- I was afraid that if I was going to fall in love with someone who stood for everything that felt like it was against me, then who would I be?” He kept their faces close. If Kaleb was going to scream, it could be his scream. “So I did the only thing I could do. I made my best work with you at the center. This beautiful guard who just didn’t feel the same as the rest of them. And I was right. You never were. You were always you instead. You haven’t ever just been Officer Price. I knew it then too.”

Nate kept his mouth closed, focusing on the agonizing work that had to be done to close up this wound. He was running out of rags with how many molotovs they used. He was running out of alcohol too. He only had a little bit left of his first aid kit. And as he used strips of Carlos’ shirt to wipe away the blood and the remaining alcohol to clean it of infection, he realized this might be the last of his sewing kit as well. It was just enough to put Kaleb back together. He pulled at his own clothes, ripping apart one of the over shirts, and tying them as tightly as possible around him. They were going to need more soon.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb felt the hand on his tighten in a squeeze. The rub on his face. Carlos. He was there. Holding on. Kaleb had never heard this part of their story. He’d noticed the man in the QZ before the mural incident, and Kaleb had felt drawn to him. This beautiful man, this artist had known something about Kaleb before Kaleb had known it about himself. Kaleb hissed in pain at the application of the alcohol, eyes wet with tears.

“I- I saw you before the mural. This b- beautiful man who’d n- never want to..” He paused as he grunted in pain. “..to be with a guard. S- Someone that you should h- hate. B-but instead you f- followed me. Left b- behind everything you knew. F- for me.” Kaleb finally finished. He didn’t know how much longer before Nate was done, nor did he care. All he wanted was the man holding his hand, face close to his. He focused on Carlos, focused on his person.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Carlos smiled at the memory of a time where there was so much uncertainty but the promise of amazing things to come. He remembered it so fondly it was almost like they had not been stuck in a horrible place. Maybe it wasn’t so horrible, because they had each other or at least the prospect of it. He looked over at Nate who nodded. He was done. Good. “I would follow you anywhere, love. Leave it all behind, because you are my everything.” Carlos climbed onto the bed, gathering him in his arms but working so hard to make sure he didn’t move too much. Carlos would lay there with him until the end of days if he had to. “There was nothing there for me. When I looked at you, I knew it. I knew that’s where I belonged. Anywhere with you.”

Nate backed away to give them space. He retreated to Alex, his own voice constricted with the pain of the moment. He reached down to grab his hand. “That was a close call.”

​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb believed him. Believed those words. He was Carlos’ like Carlos was his. They were connected long before they knew it. From glances in the QZ to surviving in the country. Kaleb sighed when Carlos climbed on the bed, and Kaleb curled into him, head on his chest. He hurt, but being wrapped up in Carlos’ arms made everything else go away. They were together like they were also meant to be. “C- Can I rest now or do I need to stay awake?” Kaleb asked, not moving.

Alex had watched the whole thing quietly, his own heart hurting. The moment Nate came over and took his hand, he shifted. He wrapped his free arm around Nate and hugged him. “You did so good. My medic. My Medicine Man.” Alex had faith that Nate could fix Kaleb and he did. He fixed him up and they’d all survive and make it to the Farmhouse together.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Carlos held him close, the tears drying out now that everything was falling together. His heart still hurt with the memory of what he could have lost. Everything. He could have lost everything. “I don’t know, love.” He turned his head towards Nate. “Nate?” He voice was quieter than he normally spoke, but he didn’t want to do anything that could hurt Kaleb. “Can he sleep?”

From Alex’s warm embrace, he looked over to Carlos. He nodded. “Yeah, he should be good. Watch-“ But he didn’t have to say anything else. Carlos already was there watching. Nate knew that he would stay up all night with him. There was no reason to even suggest it. He fell into Alex’s hug, breathing in deeply. He closed his eyes and he buried his face into Alex’s shoulder. “It could have been so much worse,” he whispered. Having dealt with the wound, he could see how bad it was. These were things he would never tell Carlos.

​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb waited, forcing his eyes to stay open. He heard Carlos ask Nate, and the moment Kaleb heard Nate say that he should be okay to sleep, he was. Curling into Carlos’ chest, he allowed himself to sleep. Wrapped in his partner’s arms, he was fast asleep.

Alex wrapped his other arm around Nate when he felt Nate fall into the hug. Alex stayed still, providing support. Alex felt Nate bury his face into his shoulder. He kissed the top of Nate’s head gently. “It could’ve been. But it’s the little pieces of luck for us that it wasn’t.” Alex whispered as he rested his head onto Nate’s with a sigh. Alex didn’t want to but he pulled away. They hadn’t traveled far, and it wasn’t quite night but Alex was drained and tired. “I’m with Kaleb. I could use a rest.” Alex said softly, he grabbed their blankets and made a bed on the floor. “You with me?” He asked.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Carlos held his breath until he could feel Kaleb asleep. He gave it a little longer, just in case, and then he closed his eyes and silently let all those tears fall. He almost lost him. He almost lost everything in one moment. But not today. Today, he kept him. Today he held his love as close as possible, blood staining his skin where he did not care that he should have cleaned it off. He would not move.

Nate nodded, following Alex to his makeshift bed on the floor. “Where else would I go?” He asked with a little smile. He sat on the blanket, looking up at Carlos and Kaleb on the bed. He was going to be okay. It was going to be horrible for him, and they were likely going to need to do additional work with it later, but he was going to make it. He laid down and opened his arms for Alex. “I am always with you.” It would be hard for him to go anywhere else, and he knew that must be how Carlos was feeling right now. There was nowhere else he would want to be. If something happened to Alex like that, Nate would never leave his side. He already didn’t.

​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Alex smiled himself at that. He knew that there was nowhere else that neither Alex or Nate would rather be. Like Carlos and Kaleb, they were tied together and Alex could only imagine how he’d feel if it had been Nate instead of Kaleb. “And I’m always with you.” Alex said, laying down beside Nate. His head went to Nate’s chest and his arm over his stomach just like always. Alex heard Nate’s heartbeat and sighed. He could feel himself falling asleep, but he also didn’t want to sleep either, just wanting to enjoy Nate’s company.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Nate ran his cheeks and nose and lips across Alex’s hair. A large part of him felt guilty. So guilty. He got to lay on the floor with his love snugly wrapped in his arms without fear, true fear, of what could have been. What still could be if things went wrong in the night. Carlos lay on a bed with his love carefully cradled in his arms full of debilitating terror of what did and could still happen. Nate’s fear was a question. Carlos’ was a reality. If he were to swap sides, Nate got to lay on the floor with his love draped across him without any fear, true genuine fear, or what did happen to him. Kaleb lay on a bed, curled into his love with all of the fear Alex could never dream to have. Even if now it seemed like things would be okay, they could not possibly matter. What was still was. Did he fear dying in the night? Would he dream of the horrors that just came?

Two attacked by vicious creatures, both with injured legs- one could have been devastating but it wasn’t. Two shot, both different implements, but one that too could have been devastating but wasn’t. Wasn’t? He hoped. He dreamed.

“Promise?” It was a horrible thing to ask of Alex. No one could truly make that kind of promise, but the events of the days scared him more than anything else. “Promise you’ll always be with me?” He asked that before when he was sad and hurting in every way. He clung to the idea that the next person wouldn’t leave him too. Not like his mama or Max or Ben. Not even like his daddy he never knew. What he asked of Alex was selfish, and he wanted it more than anything.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Alex felt Nate run his face in Alex’s hair. He smiled, his fingers swirling absentmindedly on Nate’s stomach. It was heart breaking to know that he was here, held in Nate’s arms safe and on the floor while Kaleb laid injured, cradled carefully by Carlos. Injuries, they all had them now. Alex was first with his leg thanks to the bear, then Nate with what could’ve been a devastating injury by the infected, and Carlos shot trying to cover their escape and now Kaleb. An arrow to the side, just outside the city. While they found Kaleb and Carlos, they’d suffered at the same time. Alex tipped his head up to look at Nate when he spoke.

“I promise that I’ll always be with you.” Alex told him. He meant it too. He was never leaving Nate’s side again. No matter what happened to them, where Nate went, Alex would follow. Where Alex went, he was sure Nate would follow as well. “As long as you promise that you’ll always be with me.” Alex said quietly. He knew these promises would be difficult to keep but Alex would do his hardest. He knew it was a lot to ask of Nate as well.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Nate looked down at Alex, eyes narrowed, brows furrowed, and he nodded so fervently that he was afraid that he might hurt Alex. “Always. I will always be with you.” He tilted his head down and twisted so that he could kiss Alex. He needed him to understand just how much he never planned on being anywhere else. He didn’t care about Fireflies and Washington and dream farmhouses if he didn’t have Alex. “You and me forever, okay? My monkey man and your medic. My light.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Alex looked up at Nate, his eyes watching him. He watched his eyes narrow and brows furrow before nodding. Alex smiled at the answer, and his heart fluttered like always when Nate twisted and kissed him. How Alex had lived without these kisses, he’d never know. There was nothing out there for Alex without Nate by his side. “Yes. You and I. My medic and your monkey man. Forever.” Alex repeated, leaning up to kiss Nate again. Then he rested his head back on Nate’s chest with a small yawn. He wanted to enjoy this, but he was fighting a losing battle. His eyes closed and Alex fell into a dreamless sleep. Soothed by Nate’s presence and his heartbeat.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Nate watched Alex, studied him. Learned the lines of cheeks and jaw. Captured his nose and eyes and ears in a mental image he would forever remember as though he might close his eyes to fall asleep and Alex would be gone when he awoke. Was this how he would feel for the rest of his life? Afraid that if he fell asleep, what he had today may not be there tomorrow? Why was it so frightening? He thought that his life was better now that he had his Alex, and it was. It was so much better. But part of him felt like it was also so much worse. If he lost Alex too, would it feel like the loss of his family? If he lost Kaleb and Carlos, would he be just as devastated? Would it be worse? He forced his eyes to close, willing away tears that he did not need to shed, and asked for the thoughts to go away. No more. It was time to sleep. And eventually he did. He fell asleep before Carlos who wrapped his entire body around Kaleb’s as his love slept. He steadied his breath each time he felt it becoming more ragged. He breathed. He breathed. A silent tear would fall, and he would breathe. Until finally he too fell asleep as the exhaustion took him.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb thought he hurt yesterday, thought he was in pain. It was much worse today. Wounds healing are just as painful as when they are created or taken care of. Kaleb felt Carlos wrapped around him, and while it was soothing, it was a tiny bit suffocating too, like being wrapped in a thick fleece blanket during summer. It was hot, and Kaleb went to shift just a little to adjust himself, and gasped softly. His shifting had shifted the still very painful yet healing wound. Kaleb froze, afraid he’d waken up Carlos who needed sleep too.

Alex was half awake when he heard the gasp, lifting his head to look over at the bed. Kaleb was awake. He must’ve shifted and moved his wound. Alex knew first hand that injuries the next day hurt just as much if not more than the day they happened. Alex shifted himself so he was on his side, facing the bed. “Kaleb?” He asked softly, and the head turned to look at Alex, well as much as he could.

“You okay?” Kaleb shook his head, before he looked at his side. Alex sighed, knowing there wasn’t much they could do for the pain. “I’m sorry.” Kaleb managed to say. And Alex shook his head. “Not your fault.” He said. When he’d shifted, he’d moved his arm and used it to prop his head up, while they talked. He tried to be quiet so they didn’t wake up the other two. Though they probably did anyway.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

Carlos woke first, though his body woke before his brain. He shifted as Kaleb shifted, though there was no rhyme or reason to it. As the sound of words drifted through the air, his mind began to awaken more and more. His mind drifted to events of the day before and to the world as it was then. Words filtered through, but he did not really understand them. Finally, he lifted his head, eyes slowly opening. His body uncurled as it forgot what it was doing. “Love?” He blinked several times before readjusting to almost sitting up as he registered the other words. Not just his voice. Ice dripped into his veins as the reality came back at once as truth. His gaze snapped to Kaleb’s side. Terrified. “Are you okay?” His voice oozed with the desperation he could not hide. His hand hovered close but did not touch. He touched nothing. He did not move.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb had sighed heavily when he went to say something else to Alex. His attention was drawn back towards Carlos when he felt the man's body uncurling. He looked at his love when Carlos looked at his side. "No.." Kaleb said quietly. "It hurts Carlos. A lot" He knew lying would not fly with him. They had known each other long enough to know when one was lying and when one was not. Alex could hear the words from Kaleb, shifting back over to his other side, and gently nudge Nate. "Nate.." He didn't know if there was anything they could do or if it was a simple wait and see. "Nate" Alex tried once more, concern in his voice.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana

He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to make this better for Kaleb. All Carlos could do was sit there like a statue, because every time he moved, he was afraid that he would make it worse. “I know, I know it does.” He shifted again so now he was fully sitting up, his large body out of the way as best that he could. He couldn’t stay like that. He was too physically affectionate a person not to touch. He held out his hands as an offering. Where do you want me? Where do you need me? “I’m so sorry. So so sorry.” There was no keeping the broken pieces from his voice. It shattered and no glue was going to mend it again.

Nate opened his eyes, concern immediately coursing through him. “What’s wrong?” He looked to Alex first and then remembered. He sat up quickly as he snapped his head towards the bed. “Kaleb?” He stood without another thought, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and made his way to the bed.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb looked at Carlos, seeing him move away. No... Don't move. Come back to me. Kaleb went to take one of Carlos' hands but when he shifted his arm to do so, the skin pulled at the wound and he winced, immediately putting his hand back. Kaleb heard the broken pieces in Carlos' voice and swallowed hard. He went to speak when he heard Nate, coming over to the bed. "It hurts, I can't move my arm or my body. But it hurts at the wound site." Kaleb said with a low huff. He hated this so much.

Alex sat up after Nate had sat up and then headed over to Kaleb. Alex stood up himself, but he went to stand by the door. He'd guard again today, and he'd keep guard until they could move.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews and Carlos Da Silva
Former Firefly, Aspiring Artist | 21, 25 | Current location ;; Montana


Carlos’ breath caught in his throat as he watched Kaleb since and pull back. It hurt more to watch Kaleb hurt than to be hurt himself. His shoulder was nothing. He didn’t even remember that it was there hurting, which it was. It would have hurt like hell except that this was so much worse. He reached out but didn’t touch. So afraid. “I don’t know what to do,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Nate bent down, moved Kaleb’s shirt out of the way, and carefully examined. There wasn’t much he could do. It was just going to hurt. There was not medicine to give him. No topicals. No… herbs. Oh. Wait. He pulled back suddenly all but running to his pack. He opened it up, tossing everything out. Food, materials, supplies. Ah yes. The journal of remedies and uses. “Alex, want to go on a scavenger hunt? I think we might be able to find something here that could help.” He looked back to the bed. “I know it hurts, but if I can find this, I think I can make it better.” His voice was fast and energetic with the confidence and excitement of his normal self. The self he was before everything got bad. He looked at Alex. “I can do this.” He lifted the journal and pointed to it. “I can do this.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan and Kaleb Price
Former Seraphite, Former FEDRA officer | 19, 27 | Current location ;; Montana

Kaleb let out a soft noise mixed with pain and a little upset. "Hold me.." Kaleb said softly. He just wanted Carlos near, holding him. "Just like you were when we were sleeping. Please" He added, looking at him. He was hurt, but when he was being held by Carlos, it almost made it better. Kaleb twisted his head and looked at Nate. "Okay." He said quietly.

Alex watched as Nate checked the wound, then he watched as Nate all but run to his pack. He watched with widened eyes as Nate grabbed his journal. "I'll go on a scavenger hunt with you. Anything to help Kaleb." Alex said, nodding. "We'll get this stuff and you can help him." Alex said, turning to the door and opening it. He looked out and checked before looking at Nate. "Let's do this" He said, holding his hand out.​