Fandom The Day The World Changed { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Jacob didn't know what was going to happen anymore, he'd lost the idea of a normal life a few days ago, but this.. this was hard. He didn't have the right answers anymore, hell he didn't even know what the right answers were. He heard the whispered words from Hayden and sighed softly. "I don't know. I don't think so, but I really don't know." Jacob admitted as he held onto Hayden.

Josh knew that he was risking a lot doing what he did, but it should've worked out so much better than it had. He looked at Soren, hearing his question and shook his head. "What should I do then? Hayden probably hates me now, so why would I go somewhere like that? Besides, I need to watch Logan. He might be sick too." Josh said, looking away. "I need to keep this place safe for him, even if he doesn't understand. Or if he doesn't like me anymore."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Hayden hoped more than anything that Logan was okay. If he had to be sick, it could be any other sickness. There were medicines and cures out there for other things. Anything else but that. Anything else. Who was going to die next? It was such a horrible question to ask himself. How could he not? Everyone died. Everyone just kept dying. He squeezed one hand into the sheets of the bed, digging down to the mattress, and tried not to cry. He was tired of crying. He did nothing but that for days and nights. How were they even living? He was ultimately unsuccessful as he swallowed the tears. Some escaped. “I want to bring him home, but I don’t know where home is now.”

Soren had no answers for Josh. He had no way to reassure him. There was nothing that he could say or do that would make this situation any better. He squeezed that shoulder just a little more with a sad smile in case Josh looked at him. “Love does not die like that. Especially not love like yours.” It could be tarnished. It could be broken. It would still be there, though. Josh was going to stay out here, and there was nothing that Soren could do about that. He, however, did not plan on continuing to work after this. “I will watch over them for you. Take care of yourself.” He dropped his hand, ready to go back to the others. This was too much for anyone for one day. One week. Too much for a lifetime.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Jacob moved his head back to look at Hayden, he saw him dig a hand into the mattress and he saw a couple tears slide down his cheeks. He reached a hand out to wipe them away as he laid there, a few of his own slipping out. Wet trails down his face. "He'll be here soon. And home? Hayden, buddy, home is wherever you and your loved ones are. No matter who is there. Home is where the heart is, and right now? That's in this room. This is home." Jacob said softly as he looked at Hayden.

Josh felt the squeeze again and he looked at Soren. He was not so sure that their love hadn't died. Shot down like him shooting Kyra, ruined and scarred. "If you say so." He muttered, before he felt that hand leave his shoulder and he heard Soren's words. "Thank you." He said before he turned to make his way back to the others, back to the cells. Separating himself further from his partner, diving into this new life like it was all he had left now.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Home felt like one of those words that people used too much. The heart. The place. The people. He didn’t have any of them left. Yes, he had Jacob and Logan. He had Soren. But did he have anyone else? Did he have Josh? He didn’t even know who Josh was. Joshua Smith was his best friend. The fastest guy on the track team. Hayden’s biggest fan and supporter. His first and true love. The bravest person he ever met. And. And… His sister’s murderer. Home was Josh. Cliché and sappy, yes, but still true. Home was that living room with their whole family. Now home was a whole different place with only Jacob. So he cried. Again. Soren watched Josh turn away, walk back into the world that Soren brought him into, and willingly leave everything else behind. He made his way back to the apartment where he unlocked their door, closing it softly behind them, and stopped by the bedroom door. He knocked softly, a little frown on his face. “Hey.” No reason to ask how they were. Everyone was broken.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Jacob just held onto Hayden, knowing that this life was so different from before. He blinked at the soft knock on the bedroom door and he lifted his head just enough to see Soren, alone, in the doorway. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Hi." Jacob replied, his voice soft and quiet as he held out a hand for Soren. They all needed each other, the family they had left. Well. The family except for Josh. He didn't understand his brother, didn't understand why he did what he did, and right now, seeing the aftermath and the pain Hayden was going through? No explanation would be enough.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren thought about kicking off his boots and stripping away the clothes that still held the remnants of what happened that day. Then he looked at Jacob and Hayden, clearly not having moved since he left them earlier, and decided that he did not care enough to prolong being there for them. He moved to the bed, taking Jacob’s hand, and instead of being beside his partner, he laid on the other side of Hayden. He placed their interlocked hands on Hayden’s shoulder, and even though he did not really know him all that well, he pressed up against him. Like a weighted blanket. He squeezed Jacob’s hand, looking at him with a gentle smile. With one hand, Hayden dug into the blanket, and with the other, he left it up from below him, crossed his chest, and grabbed Soren’s and Jacob’s. He wanted to thank them, but his words didn’t work. He also wanted to ask where Josh was. Why he wasn’t there too. He didn’t know if it hurt more that he wasn’t there or that he chose to be somewhere else. After what he did, did Hayden even want him to be there? The thoughts made him cry again, but at least he had Jacob and Soren.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Jacob watched as Soren came over to the bed, their hands connected and he smiled softly as he laid on the other side of Hayden. He could feel the love for his partner growing as their interlocked hands rested on Hayden's shoulder. He kept himself pressed to Hayden similarly to Soren pressing to his back. He felt the hand grab theirs and he pressed his forehead to Hayden's. No words were spoken, but they didn't need to talk. Jacob knew, somehow that this was what was needed. A group cuddle to comfort the youngest of them. Jacob felt a few tears slip out but he stayed silent. He could feel his eyes closing as the sun set around them. This was home at the moment, the three of them.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Hayden cried until he fell asleep some time later. He had no idea how long it was. He went through waves of almost being down with the tears to sobbing and wailing to finally quieting and eventually sleeping. Soren never moved. He felt a little awkward doing this. This was not something he had ever done before. That didn’t matter. This was important for the family that was his now. When he felt Hayden fall asleep however long that was later, he temporarily let go of both Jacob’s and Hayden’s hands. His was getting cramped like that, though he would never tell them. He readjusted a little so that he could look over at Jacob. He ran his fingers down his cheek. Then he replaced is hand where it was, taking the other two once more, and put himself back into the correct spot as one end of the Hayden sandwich. He silently yawned and too went to sleep.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone
​

Spoiler: Kaiden (4-7 years old)

Jacob fell asleep pretty quickly after Hayden did. He was exhausted, drained and the day had certainly taken its toll on him. He didn’t notice Soren let go of their hands, or leave the bed. He was so wiped out it didn’t matter. Josh stayed awake through the night, never moving from his spot near the cells. And that was his new life. A single tear slipped down his face as he stood there. Guarding. Alone.

Two years passed by. For Josh, time moved quickly. He was rarely home and when he was, it was for a few hours to sleep and refresh. Sometimes he’d sleep in the bunks that they had set up for soldiers that didn’t have places to home to. He had moved quickly through the ranks, working his way to Commander of a few groups. He was proving to be a very very capable soldier, and very in demand. He was busy all the time between patrolling himself and setting up patrols for his groups. He spent less and less time at home, less and less time with Hayden. Logan moved into the civilian housing apartments, two blocks from the soldier housing.

Jacob spent all his time with Hayden and Soren when he was home. Kaiden was over almost every day as well, the now four year old was starting to understand the fighting between his parents and he didn’t like it. In fact, the fighting was really bad today, and he ran out of the apartment, Emily letting him go. Justin fighting about that too. Kaiden knocked hard on Hayden and Josh’s door, finding the man to be a safe refuge even at four. Jacob was currently laying on the bed, looking at the small silver ring on his finger. Soren had asked him to marry him and he had said yes in a heartbeat. And the wedding was coming up soon. He was so excited, and nervous. He couldn’t wait though to marry his best friend.​

​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Hayden may have had a single good night’s sleep through the next two years. Maybe. There was one night, one, where Josh came home, and they talked for a little while before Hayden fell asleep against him. One night. But other nights, when Josh came home, sometimes it was Hayden who did not speak. Sometimes it was Josh. Sometimes they would be having a conversation, and the visions that were a now permanent part of his being would take over his mind. He simply would ignore everything else then as he tried not to see what he could never unsee. When days were good, Hayden was up and running around with Kai, meeting with everyone and anyone in the apartment complex, making sure everyone had what they needed for as comfortable of a lifestyle as possible, and going to see Logan. He wished that Logan could have been with them, but that was not really an option. When days we bad, Hayden locked himself in his room and nothing could get him out of the hole that he put himself in. Well, nothing save Kai. That little one could pull him out of just about any funk. Even the ones he was there to witness. Between Jacob and Kai, they had a team of who could calm Hayden when the terrors became too much.

FEDRA changed like all things. They took over the stadium as a base of operations, and they expanded the Quarantine Zone about as much as they thought that they could safely. Procedures for patrols, civilian work, and incoming people for quarantine were finalized and now securely implemented. The scanner that could detect if someone was positive for cordyceps was a game changer. It made things so much better for everyone involved. The officials were working on better and more humane ways of taking out those who were infected but were not yet fully changed. Soren was infinitely grateful not to have to shoot anyone else who was still in their own mind. Despite the world being so dark, he was the happiest that he had ever been. He, much like Josh, rose in ranks quickly. He too was a Commander, though he took his job far less seriously than Josh. In the end, the most important part of his life was Jacob. And he was going to marry him.

That morning, Soren reluctantly got out of bed to go to work, nearly didn’t get out of bed with how utterly distracted he got by his soon to be husband, and finally disappeared to go find wherever Josh was today. Reaching him was getting harder and harder, but he did not give up. He and Josh were still neighbors and partners. Hayden was not sure if Josh came home the night before. He was not sure if he already left. The day before was one of those days that he couldn’t even look at Josh. Instead of being in the bedroom, he stayed in the living room where he read until his nightly visitors came, and then he eventually fell asleep. At least he knew he wasn’t screaming, because when he woke up, Jacob was not there. He was picking up his mess of nightly struggles when the knock came. Kai. That was always Kai. He moved to the door with renewed energy and opened it up. “Hello, little shark!”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh was setting up the days patrols, in the command room. It wasn’t nearly as fancy as the General’s offices up stairs and he had to share with the other commanders, but it worked. He had a whiteboard that they’d procured from the old elementary school and had each group and their assigned patrol routes. The night before he’d slept alone in the bedroom, and he didn’t even say goodbye to Hayden this morning. He seemed to be in one of those days where he didn’t want to see or talk to Josh. He waited for Soren so they could take their group on their patrol near the ration area. Or what used to be the old Synagogue. That place was guarded frequently especially when rations would get low. It was rare they got super low, but it was a possibility.

Jacob, after successfully distracting his soon to be husband, he got up and got dressed. There was no screaming from the other apartment so he took his time getting dressed. He did hear the knock and smiled to himself. Kaiden, right on time. He wondered if little Theo would be up soon. He was like Kaiden’s shadow, had been since they met. Kai looked up at Hayden when the door opened and had the most sad face on. He didn’t like when his parents fought and usually on those mornings, he was some kind of sad, or upset, or even a little bit mad. And that anger was usually at his dad. “Hi Hayden.” He said, before he lifted his arms up. He wanted a hug from one of his favorite people in this building.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren was late. This was not unusual. He sometimes came in a little late, because he found leaving Jacob extremely difficult. Sometimes he fell back asleep when he was too comfortable in Jacob’s arms. Sometimes they got a little carried away with the morning kisses. Sometimes they were just having a conversation, and Soren was so invested in it that he lost track of time. He got away with it, because he was a commander. Did he still get in trouble. Yes. Did he still produce excellent work? Of course, so the trouble was never that bad. When he walked into the room, one of their subordinates grinned at him. “You know, you’ll have plenty of time after the wedding for all that, right?” Soren rolled his eyes. “We are not getting started on that today.” It was a discussion they often had. He couldn’t help but smile at the idea of the upcoming wedding. He flicked a pen at two snickering group members and made his way to Josh.

That sad little face was enough for Hayden to immediately lift the little boy up and spin him gently in a tight hug. “Oh, Kai, it’s okay. Is it your parents again?” What Hayden did not ask was if it was Justin. He knew that it was. Occasionally, he could hear the arguments between Justin and Emily. He didn’t need to hear them. He and Josh had similar arguments. When they talked. They didn’t talk a lot anymore. Hayden missed him more than anything else in the world, but even when they were together, he found himself missing the Josh that he used to be. It was easier when they were apart. At least then he knew why he felt so lonely.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh rolled his eyes as he looked at Soren. Late again. He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Soren come over. “You know. Being late isn’t a good thing. One of these days the General will get fed up.” He said, his voice stern and cold. He’d perfected the tone of being in charge. Josh sighed, and dropped his arms. He hated how happy him and Jacob were. Well, he didn’t hate it, but he found himself jealous of it. He didn’t have that with Hayden, not anymore. When they talked, it was more like two stones talking to each other. And often it ended in an argument. “Let’s get moving shall we? Now that you’re here.”

Kaiden felt Hayden pick him up and swing him around gently in a tight hug. Kai held onto Hayden and tucked his head into his chest. “Yes.” He whispered. A moment later, Jacob came over and shut the door looking at the two. And another second, the door across the hall opened and slammed shut. A sign that Justin was headed out for the day. Kaiden curled into Hayden’s chest more, hearing that and Jacob sighed. He could hear both arguments, though Emily and Justin’s wasn’t as easy to hear as the ones he hears from Josh and Hayden’s apartment.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren, despite how much Josh seemed to be trying to ruin it, still valued his friendship with Josh. Nothing he said or did could harm it anymore. The shots at his tardiness only made him laugh. “Good thing I have you on my side then, huh? Besides, the General can’t deny that this is good for everyone.” He shoved a thumb over his shoulder to the rest of the guys. “They’re all in way better moods when they can make fun of me. And when they can see hope. That’s what we are, Josh. We’re hope.” He patted his friend’s shoulder and whipped around. “Yep, let’s move.” “You gonna tell us what he does that makes you so late all the time?” Soren, the joy of his life plastered all over his face, playfully shoved them out of the way. “I believe your commanding officer told you we were going now?”

Hayden sighed when he heard the door slam. Of course it was Justin. He wondered what it was that upset Kai this time. At about the same time, the door several apartments down opened. Still gently rocking Kai, Hayden looked out into the hall. A frazzled looking mom and three year old came tottering out. She frantically looked towards them already pleading for help. “Send him over!” Hayden called. She smiled appreciatively, bent down to kiss the little one, and all but ran to the stairs without even making sure that Theo made it to them. “‘Ai! ‘Ai! ‘Ai!” He still couldn’t say that hard ‘k’ sound. That was okay. Theo was barreling down the hall, and there was no telling which one of them he was going to run into.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh rolled his eyes as he looked at Soren, hearing him laugh. "Am I on your side?" He asked, looking past Soren to the other guys. His attention drew back to Soren, hearing him say they were hope. Hope. He still remembered that conversation from two years ago when they went to go find Logan and Kyra. That day was one that never left his memory. He felt the pat to his shoulder and sighed rather heavily. He heard the soldiers continue to make fun of Soren, and how the older man let it roll off his back. Josh's lips twinged in a rare glimpse of a smile before he turned to the door. "Come on you. Leave the old man alone." Josh told the younger men, smirking at Soren as he led the way out the door to head to their patrol route.

Kaiden looked at Hayden as the two of them looked out into the hall. The moment Kai saw Theo, he squirmed in Hayden's arms, wanting to get to his friend. "Theo!" Kai called, wiggling in his arms as Jacob chuckled. Yep, that was about right. Those two were thick as thieves and he could only imagine the trouble they'd get into as they got older. Kaiden loved hanging with Theo, the four year old always enjoyed his company, ever since he met him two years ago.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

“Why yes, Joshua, you are. Because you and I are a team.” Soren and the other men followed Josh out of the room as were told, though it was not long until he was walking alongside Josh. He looked back at the other men and grinned triumphantly. He pointed to himself and grinned. The other men laughed as they moved down the hall. No one could say that they weren’t one of the happier and therefore more capable groups. They may not have been the most efficient, but they were well organized and reliable. That and no one ever complained. “Also, I think it’s rude that I’m an old man. I’m not that old. You’re all just young.” Several of the other men grumbled but laughed. getting to their patrol route did not take long.

Hayden grinned and set Kai down, knowing that now that Theo was there, he was no longer as cool. How could he possibly be as cool as the other kid? Theo came charging down the hall, and decided that he was barreling into his bestest buddy in the whole entire world now that he was on the groin. Poor Kai had been down on the floor for a very small amount of time before he had all the force of a three year old crashing down on him. “Come on you two. Let’s go inside. The neighbors will be cranky if we stay out here too long.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh shook his head with small chuckle, rolling his eyes as well. They were a team, that never seemed to change over the last two years. He had Soren and even if he felt like he'd lost Hayden, he had someone who was rapidly becoming a best friend. Someone he could talk to, and took his.. grumpiness at face level. He shook his head at the others as they walked and he heard Soren's words. "It's not rude when it's the truth. Maybe that's why you're always late. You need more sleep because you're older." He said as they made it to their patrol route. They started at the ration building, went down the streets to the courthouse, over to the bank and swung back around.

Once Kai was on the ground, he was on the ground for about three minutes, and then he was bowled into by the three year old headed towards him. He laughed as they both hit the ground, and Kai wrapped his arms around Theo in a hug. Jacob shook his head as he watched the two. Yep. Best friends. Kaiden, not that much stronger than Theo, pushed the three year old. "Come Theo! We gotta get inside!" Kai said as he tried to get to his feet.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

As they reached the patrol route, Soren placed his hands on his hip and looked at Josh before looking at the rest of the men. “You hear that? Sounds like Commander Smith says I get to go home early for more rest.” He clapped Josh on the back. Another soldier shouldered next to them. “Uh, sure. So you can rest. Because that glow is because of all the rest he lets you have.” Soren narrowed his gaze. “I’m going to double your patrol if you don’t quit.” He was grinning the whole time though. Since the engagement, he’d been the butt of all sorts of jokes. He started a bunch of them. They did have to do real work though. “Okay. That’s enough for now. Less teasing and more patrolling. Everyone knows the drill. Let’s go.”

The struggle with being three was all of the inability when it came to working all those limbs. He had so little control over any of himself, and Theo really wished that he did sometimes. Actually, he wished the world wasn’t so wobbly. He for sure thought that was the problem and not himself. “Okay!” He flailed until he could stand up. He grabbed Kai’s hand and ran through the doorway, tripping over himself, and crashed into the floor. He rolled several feet in before finally stopping where he was absolutely still. “Are you okay?” Hayden asked as he rushed in after them. Theo continued to stare at nothing and not move as a response. Until he fell flat on his back with a dramatic sigh he picked up from his father. “Exasipated!”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh rolled his eyes as he heard Soren, and felt the clap on his back but the small smile on his face betrayed his 'annoyed' look. He listened to the soldier who'd shouldered next to them and shook his head. While he didn't quite get as playful as he would've before this, he did enjoy listening to the teasing of his group. They got along well, all of them. Even if Josh had his moments. "Yes, like Commander Truelson said, let's get moving." He said, moving along the patrol route, staying beside Soren. The routes inside the Zone were more for catching those breaking the rules of the Zone and this route was also responsible for watching out for the ration station.

Kaiden giggled as he heard Theo, watching him flail. Jacob chuckled looking at the two little ones, and he couldn't help but laugh at the drama that was Theo at three years old. Kaiden looked at Theo, and giggled again, before flopping down beside him on his back. They loved copying each other, and Kaiden was good at getting into trouble, and usually dragging Theo along with him, on accident at this age.. not so much accidental when they get older.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh may have changed pretty significantly from when this started, but to be fair, everyone did. Soren changed too, those his change seemed to be one of the few for the better. He appreciated so much of the world now that the majority of it was gone. “So formal, Commander Smith.” At this point, the men split apart. Not completely but less like a pack. However, he and Josh were never far. They worked so well as a team that neither of them ever seemed to want to break that. Now that they were actually moving, Soren was quieter and more serious. He was, after all, a military man first. Having been a soldier and officer before this helped with acclimation to the new world. It also helped that he could explain just about everything to Jacob so that he also understood what was going on.

Hayden stopped just in the doorway and laughed. So their day began with the two goofiest little ones laying on their backs in the living room. Theo giggled when Kaiden joined him. He loved when they were copying each other that was one of his favorite games. He loved all games. He made up new ones all the time. He could entertain himself for hours with just about anything. Well, as long as he had a lot of anythings. Hayden’s and Jacob’s apartments have been thoroughly combed by the little one. “Jacob, did we have plans for today?” Hayden wasn’t sure if there was something they needed to do. Especially with the wedding so soon. The wedding that he was excited for. So excited. So excited that it created a pit in his stomach. He really was so happy for Jacob and Soren. Really. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh never really left Soren’s side. Not too far, and that was the one thing that hadn’t changed. He’d changed, as did everyone else, but this. This working together didn’t. “So. The wedding is in a couple days right? Where were you having it again?” Josh asked. They had a few places that could be used for something like that. The hotel was still in decent condition as was the courthouse. The field near the bank was fortified enough to work too. Josh thought about his own wedding, and he just couldn’t. There was no time, he had so much to do around the Zone.

Kaiden giggled as he looked at Theo. Then he got up, and looked at the three year old. “Tag!” He cried, tapping Theo’s leg and turned to run away. Jacob watched the two before he looked at Hayden. “Well. We need to get suits but I’m not sure where we can find those. We don’t exactly have a working mall anymore.” Jacob said with a soft sigh. He didn’t care what he wore, but he couldn’t think of anything else he needed.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

When they patrolled liked this, Soren stood up straighter, walked with a purpose, and held himself like an authority. It was necessary so that others too them seriously. That was not so hard as they moved around this route. Other routes that had more civilians around did make things a bit harder. “Since all the best locations have been overrun by infected, we can’t exactly have the wedding of someone’s dreams. Imagine having a beach wedding.” Soren always loved the idea of wearing shorts and something like a Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned and brightly colored, maybe forgetting about shoes, in front of a questionably stable arch they made out of floral wire. Honestly, that would have been entertaining. And not an option. “I would marry him anywhere, really.” He paused to have the stereotypical lost in thought as he was overwhelmed with the memory of Jacob. “We are going to use the open space out by the bank. Inside any of the buildings, though secure, make me nervous. Out in the open, nothing can sneak up on any of us. I want this to be a happy and safe day.”

“Ahh!” Theo cried still from the floor. The scrambled to his little feet and went dashing after Kai. He, like many three-year-olds, was a fast little guy, though Kaiden could move a lot better than him. He still did a lot of barreling and sliding into things. He had yet to learn out to turn and slowdown effectively. Hayden understood that plight. He had been wanting to prepare for his own wedding, a wedding that apparently was never going to happen, for years now. It was not easy when they were living the way they were. As they cleared out additional spaces, Hayden stole away decorations and pieces that he thought they could use. All of those things he stole were now for Jacob and Soren. Someone should get to have a magical wedding. “Well, then we should find some suits. There are bound to be two somewhere in this Zone. Between the warehouse of junk and the buildings that they never went through because they were deemed ‘unimportant,’ I am sure we can find something.” He grimaced and scowled. There was a lot of different animosity in what he said. A lot.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked at Soren and hummed softly, something he rarely did anymore. “You know that was our original plan for our wedding? An oceanside wedding. Hayden loves the ocean. He remembered two years ago, when they were planning this. He was the same way, just wanted to marry Hayden anywhere. “Yeah, I understand using the meadow. It’s the best place.” He said, walking just as straight as Soren. He’d gotten the soldier and authoritative walk down quickly. “I’m happy for you.” Josh added as they walked. He was even as he pushed his own wedding back constantly.

Kaiden giggled, hearing Theo and he was off. He ran towards the bedroom, turning and twisting. Trying to keep away from Theo. Jacob sighed softly, looking at Hayden. “Sounds like a trip. But we’d have to bring the little ones.” Jacob said as he watched the two running through the apartment. He heard the different animosity in his brothers voice. He knew that Hayden had been planning his wedding and then.. Josh kept pushing it off. He felt bad that he was getting married though.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren could see Josh and Hayden on a beach somewhere getting married. Of course that was what they would have wanted. Though he still did not know Hayden nearly as well as he knew Josh, he knew about his love of at least sharks. Soren had a feeling that if the world had not completely turned upside down, Josh would have done anything to make Hayden happy. “Thanks. And you’re going to be there.” It was not a question. He did not want to do this without the person he spent the most time with when he could not be with Jacob. “I know you’re having a hard time with Hayden,” which was an understatement, “but I want you there.” He probably should have asked this before. “As my best man.” Who else would he ever choose? He was marrying the other person who mattered the most.

Theo ran straight into the doorframe, shook that off, and bolted into the room just to run into the dresser, and then eventually get up to keep running after Kai. This was how Kai won tag most of the time. Hayden was not worried about Theo since he spent so much of his time running into things. Theo was fine. He never ran into anything that hard. Hayden smiled at Jacob like talk of his wedding didn’t make him feel like there was something wrong with Hayden. He knew there was. There had been for a while. He wished he could talk to Josh about it, but anytime they were close to being back to where they were, he left to go be Commander Smith. A flash of large, low hanging clubs swung through his memory, and Hayden blinked them away. Not now. Now was for Jacob. “Sure. They could use a bigger, wider space. And the world could use something fun like them to bring it back up too.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh turned to look at Soren, hearing those words. It was not a question. He also heard the comment about Hayden. It was true, and an understatement really. They were having multiple days worth of hard times lately. He nodded, looking ahead as they walked. “Of course. I’d be honored to be your best man.” No matter what. He wouldn’t say no to that. Not to the one man who’d become one of his best friends.

Kai giggled as he looked back at Theo. He ran into the bed though and fell back onto his bottom. He scrambled to get up before Theo got close. Jacob nodded, looking at the two little ones. “Well, shall we head out now? Maybe let them run a little bit and get some of that energy out?” Jacob asked as he looked back at Hayden, smiling warmly at his brother.​