[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

[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.

[majorlazer]

It was you or me, babe. You're not - not on my watch, you're fucking not.

[There is a bitterness, an edge to his words. He's not watching her die again. He doesn't let her answer, pulls his head up and kisses her again. Goddamn the fact that they have an audience. He should probably let her say hello to Al.]

[spoileralert]

[ She sees what he's doing and helps him find his way to her actual lips. Her poor blind baby.

But yes she also needs to hug Al. ]

[majorlazer]

[He smiles into the kiss when she moves him slightly, giving them a better angle. When he pulls away, he presses his forehead to hers.]

I should let you go.

[spoileralert]

I'll be right back. Promise.

[ And then, once he lets her go, she dives into hugging Al, and then talking briefly with Church.

Then she's back, slipping both arms around his waist so they can hug-walk all the way back to building 58. ]

[majorlazer]

[He's cold, all the time she's away from him, but he listens to her voice, swaying a little in the snow. He gives a tiny yelp of surprise when she's back to hugging him, but it's all too good and easy to grip her and hold her tight. They start walking, but he stops, just to be able to kiss her again - sorry Al and Church - forehead, cheekbone, cheek, her nose. He never wants to stop touching her, making sure she's here.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph laughs as he kisses her, but drags him along the road. If they don't reach the building she left their things in they'll be having one very cold night. She does give him a quick kiss on the lips. ]

Come on, you. Plenty of time for that when we're settled for the night.

[majorlazer]

Barely, to be fair. We'll find some privacy at some point, but not tonight.

[They won't have a chance to be alone, not tonight that's for sure, and he wouldn't want either of these guys to have to deal with excessive, kinda gross PDA. He gets it. It's annoying. He's not going to do that to them.]

Soon, though. Pinkie promise.

[spoileralert]

[ She finds his pinkie and links it with hers - their first proper pinkie promise. ]

Pinkie promise.