[log] Did the devil say to you, you can make it through [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Steph, Zach, Al, Church, Luna, Kesara, Watson, Quark, Tifa
Location Building 58 and environs
Date: Days 157/158
Summary: A meeting of many people
Warnings: In comment headers, please!

58: A simple single-story building, the snow weighs uneasily on it, and it creaks and groans under the strain at the best of times. It's very dark, and only the kitchen and living room are intact. The kitchen has a back door. Two snowmen have been built outside. A message has been written on the wall in blue ink: "Don't wreck the snowmen! That's super mean!" "ALPHONSE ELRIC, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAY FORTY ONE, TRAVELLING EAST." has been carved into one of the walls. The following has been written on the wall in blue pen: "This is Building 95 97 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a fairly accurate map showing the house in relation to the school and buildings 29, 35, 35, 37, 40, 41, 47, 48, 50, 53. House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator". The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed".

Comments

Midday 157, ~E14

[spoileralert]

[ As she had the first time she met up with Zach, Steph left all of her belongings in the building she had spent the night in and went out to meet up with him. It was well into the day when she spotted the group in the distance, but she didn't care. She waved hugely, shouted Zach at the top of her lungs, and broke into a brisk jog.

By the time she actually reaches the group she slows, but doesn't stop. She goes straight to Zach and pulls him into a fierce hug. ]

[majorlazer]

[They've been walking steadily for most of the morning, and Zach knew that they obviously getting closer, but it felt like every step was harder to take, like his feet were wedging themselves deeper in the snow, like his legs were made of lead. The darkness surrounding him has been bringing his mood down, even with Al's constant reassurances that he would get his sight back. At the moment, it was what it was, and it made every thought in Zach's brain a little blacker.

That is, until he hears her voice.

His knees buckle, and he grips Al for a moment - he didn't dream that, did he, it was Steph, it was her voice, did he imagine it? But then he hears the rapid footsteps creaking in the snow, and he almost falls over when a body collides into his, gripping him into a strong hug, and, yeah - yeah.

Zach closes his arms around Steph immediately, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he fights back tears once again, fingers digging into her side and her back. He can't speak.]

[spoileralert]

[ She holds him tight for a long time, reassuring herself that he's real, and whole, and alive. There are definitely tears in her eyes, tears she can't fight. Finally she moves her hands to grip his face and presses an equally long, hard kiss to his lips. ]

[majorlazer]

[Zach doesn't let his surprise take over - no, he'd rather kiss her back, a hand moving to frame her jaw as they kiss with something desperate at the edges of it, like more reassurance that both of them are alive.]

[spoileralert]

[ She doesn't pull away until a sob wracks her body, and then she's hugging him again. ]

God, I'm so glad you're okay.

[majorlazer]

[He nuzzles her neck, reminded of when she told him she loves it when he kisses her neck. He pushes to do just that, chapped lips against the soft skin of her neck - nothing bruising or inappropriate, he's aware they have an audience, but. Still.]

I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.

[spoileralert]

[ She would have sighed, but it comes out as another quiet sob. ]

Don't you ever scare me like that again.

[armoured]

[It's such a relief to see her.

He keeps his distance at first, seeing her eyes fix on Zach and her attention solely focus on him, and lets them have their reunion. He's not going to intrude, he doesn't even make a sound until they've finished embracing and conversing, only then stepping forwards with a dorky wave of his hand.]

Hey. Long time no see.

[spoileralert]

[ She doesn't wait. The moment she releases Zach she attacks Al with a hug just as tight as the one she gave Zach. She's crying, yes, but they're tears of joy and relief. ]

Hey.

[armoured]

[He doesn't see her leap at him, the scarf he keeps wrapped around his helmet obscures his vision somewhat, so he almost falls before he manages to right himself and wind his arms around her in return.

He can't speak all of a sudden, throat feeling so tight it might as well be closed up.]

[spoileralert]

[ It's difficult to squeeze a suit of armor, but she manages it. She really has missed him terribly, and even though she knows he won't be staying it's good to see him again. ]

[armoured]

[He slides a hand up to cradle the back of her head, his voice a tiny echo from inside his chest plate.]

I missed you so much.

[spoileralert]

[ She sniffles quietly. ]

I missed you too. I wish you could stay with us.

Re: Midday 157, ~E14

[blueteamproblems]

[Oh, great. There are hugs and kisses going on. Seeing other people happily reuniting with their loved ones is just about the last thing Church wants right now.

He hangs back, turning away and trying his hardest to pretend he's anywhere but here. Maybe if he just aggressively ignores everyone, he won't get pestered.]

[spoileralert]

[ NO SUCH LUCK. Once Steph is finished hugging Al she turns to Church, arms open and eyebrows raised. ]

You want in on this?

[blueteamproblems]

[He raises his arms defensively, almost backing away from the threat of hugs.]

Hell no.

[spoileralert]

[ She inches closer, arms still open like a venus fly trap. She's grinning now, even with tear tracks running down her cheeks. ]

Come oooon. No kissing, I promise.

[blueteamproblems]

[He does back up now, taking long steps to get away from her.]

I don't do hugs, okay.

[spoileralert]

Oooh alright. Don't say I didn't offer.

[ She puts her hands up in surrender then drops them, hooking her thumbs in her utility belt. ]

Thanks for taking care of my boys.

[heavensreader]

[Kesara hasn't travelled such a great distance that day, but she's very tired, and her legs are short. It stands to reason, she thinks, that she gets there last, when a group is already gathered. Even when she tries to walk faster - tries; the snow is deep and her pack is heavy and even with her heart buoyed up by hope she's tired - she takes time to cross the final stretch of distance.

Thankfully, though, her lungs have all the strength her legs lack. She can't contain the tidal wave of emotion that crashes through her at the sight of familiar forms and faces. Her voice carries across all that distance, high-pitched and elated, almost singing the names - ]

Zach! Zach! Steph! I'm here, I'm here!

[majorlazer]

[Hearing her voice, hearing her call out for him here, real and not through a tablet and alive and and and - Zach's heart lurches, with relief and exhaustion and joy.

Even though Steph is holding him, walking along with him, he falls to his knees. The snow soaks his jeans immediately but he doesn't care, smiling like a loon as he opens his arms. He feels like he hasn't seen her in so, so long.]

Kiddo!

[spoileralert]

[ Steph sees Kes and smiles and waves, but when Zach falls to the ground her first instinct is to pick him back up.

She figures out what's going on though, and lets go of him so that their only contact is a hand on his shoulder. She doesn't want to let go of him entirely, not when he can't see. ]

Kes! I wasn't sure you'd make it this early.

[heavensreader]

[No pack, no exhaustion, no short legs in the world could stop her from breaking into a run. It's a limping little lope, through the deep snow, but even when she stumbles it's very much like a pup tripping over her own feet in her dizzying excitement.

She launches herself into Zach's arms like a little cannonball, solid and warm in all her layers, sticking her mane of hair against his chest and face.]

And you're here! [Now she's crying. She hasn't in days. It froze in her. But now grief melts into joy with not as much as a breath in between and she bawls out both.] I had to go quickly. But I had to. Oah, Zach! How do you feel? Can you see yet? And Steph, I'm so glad you're here, I'm so glad you're all right!

[majorlazer]

[Zach laughs into her hair, the impact of her body launching into his almost sending him backwards into the snow, but he holds tight, wrapping his arms around her middle, his eyes stinging with tears.

He laughs harder, refusing to pull away even as one of his hands squeeze her shoulder, her arm.]

You okay? How's the elbow?

[He shakes his head at her questions, reaching up to brush a tear from the corner of his eye.]

No, still blind. But I'm okay. I'm fine. I got you guys back. [He reaches up, squeezing Steph's hand on his shoulder before turning his head, kissing the top of her hand, gloves be damned.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph smiles at the little kiss, giving his shoulder a squeeze. Then she turns to Kes. ]

No place in the world I'd rather be.