“S-stop” Jaire wheezed, “I need...to rest.”

The hot summer sun beat down on his exhausted body as he staggered to a stop. Beneath him, his legs trembled viciously as they struggled with all their might to keep him from toppling over. Good god, it’s only been a few minutes yet I feel like I’ve been running a marathon.

“Alright,” Zero’s voice emerged from the darkness beside him. He felt her hold him by his arm and gently tug him forward. “There a place to sit a few feet to your right, we can stop there for a minute.”

He took in a deep breath and nodded. Okay, I can do this.

With her guidance, he managed to walk the distance without crashing into the assortment of junk that littered the Sentinel base and protruded from the ground. It was slow, but as the slighest misstep could send him keeling over, he grit his teeth and beared it.

“Easy now, good. Just three more steps forward annnnd stop. Perfect. Now turn slightly to your right and ease yourself down. It’s okay I got you don’t worry, just a little further and you’ll feel it.”

The moment he sat down, a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding came gushing out as tension escape his body.

“How…how much more…” He wheezed out while desperately trying to catch his breath.

“Mmm not that far now, about twenty meters I’d wager. At this speed I reckon it’ll take another half an hour tops.”

Fan-freaking-tastic. He fumed internally. He rested for another three minutes before he felt ready to walk again. It’s just twenty meters, I can do this. I can do this.

Ten minutes later he had to stop yet again, and again just another five minutes after that. The pain in his legs was excrutiating while the burning in his lungs was so severe that he completely ignored Zero and focused solely on staying conscious. As she had the second time they paused, Zero took the opportunity to head out ahead and clear the path, leaving him along to rest.

This sucks. He thought as his breathing finally settled. His entire body trembled and he felt sticky with sweat as the heat made the stink that much worse. With an irritated grunt, he shifted in the darkness as he ran his hand along his body for the second time that day.

What he felt was beyond disappointing. Where once strong muscles covered his arms and legs, only trembling bones remained. His torso fared no better, as every muscle that had once protected him had withered away. Overall, he was a little more than a walking skeleton, one that barely hung onto life simply because that was all it knew how to do.

His hand clenched as he snarled in disgust. Pathetic. Ten years of training, and for what? To be left like this. I’d be better off dead, this is just-! Just-! He let out an exasperated sigh as he was unable to properly articulate his annoyance. None of the words he knew in common or his mothers old tongue could help.

“This is enough for today,” Zero’s voice called out from the darkness as they returned, “You’re overexerting yourself, I’ll just carry you for now and tom-”

“No” he snapped. “I’m not THAT weak. I can do it my damn self.”

“…”

As Zero stayed silent, guilt began to override his anger. Ughhh, god damn it, why am I so strung up like this? She’s only trying to help. Taking in a deep breath, he managed to briefly calm himself before he spoke again, “Look, I jus-”

“It’s fine.” She curtly interrupted, “After all, it must really suck to be as pathetically weak as you are. Hell I’d probably be just as pissed if I was in your shoes, more useless than an infant.”

...okay. I deserved that. But ouch...

Jaire sat in a moment of awkward silence before Zero sighed and spoke out, “Listen Jaire, I get it, really, but you have to chill out. Don’t think I haven’t been watching you curse whenever you trip or seethe even as you rest. This is your first day of being awake in over a month, you have to let that sink in. You aren't well, you aren't capable, and you sure as hell aren’t going to get better just because you walked a few meters. There is no shame in needing help for the next few weeks after surviving what you've been through, especially from your nurse.”

“I-”

“And,” she continued over him, “you do not get to speak to me like that. I may not have been your main surgeon but I was still busting my ass helping you stay alive, so I demand a little more respect than that. Understood?”

He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Now come on, let’s get going before you die of a heat stroke. I’ll let you keep at it on your own for now, but if you start to stagger I’m calling it okay?”

A flare of anger rose within him at the implication that he needed her permission, but he smartly swallowed it down and nodded.

I can do this.

We can do this.

------------------------------------

“Here we are, welcome to my humble abode.”

FINALLY!! Hurry upppp! Jaire desperately thought as his strain crawled through every inch of his body. In all, they had travelled for almost an hour and he had to stop three more times, bringing the total up to six. In the end, she practically supported all of his weight with his arm wrapped around her shoulder, but not once did she try to carry him or bring it up again, a fact for which he was grateful for.

As the door creaked open, his nose was immediately bombarded by an aroma that completely captivated him. Its scent was sweet and familiar, though he couldn’t pinpoint of what it reminded him of; not that he tried, as any scent that removed the smell of rotting garbage and manure were more than welcomed. For a moment, he forgot his pain as he took in a large whiff of the pleasant aroma. It smells soooo gooood.

“I took the liberty of putting tea on during your last stop,” Zero spoke, “but first, let’s get you settled.”

Not waiting for a response, she guided/dragged him into the room and he was bewildered another sensation. The moment they had crossed the threshold (or so he assumed it was that moment), the environment abruptly changed. He went from standing in an overbearing and oppresive heat, to standing in a fresh and breezy room. Coupled with the soft aroma, he could have sworn spring had lingered within it.

Suddenly, as he was still taking in the new sensation, Zero's body vanished beneath his arm. His dark world began to shift and he realized too late that he was falling. Before he could clench and guard himself against the approaching floor, he was abruptly stopped and surrounded by the softest furs that he had ever felt. His mind instantly went blank with ecstasy as he basked within their heavenly embrace. It's a bed, oh sweet heaven its a bed. I made it. I actually made it.

--------------------------------------

Hm, I guess in this situation, I have no other choice.

Sighing in resignation, Zero made her way back to the living room/bedroom from the kitchen while carrying a loaf of bread.

“So I’ve got a bit of b- oh.”

Jaire was fast asleep. From the looks of it, he hadn’t even tried to right himself onto the bed before he passed out, with his bottom half dangling off as he slept.

Hm, this worked out perfectly.

Taking a sweet bite out of the bread, Zero made her way towards Jaire, only to suddenly pause and frown.

I should have told him to change first, now my blanket’s gonna stink of sweat. Drat, I just got them too. Sighing to herself, she set the bread down on her table before rummaging through a nearby cupboard. Oh well, nothing a few rinses can’t fix. Besides, he really worked himself to the bone. Literally.

Smiling at her dumb joke, she pulled out a rag and a towel and returned to Jaires body. As gently as she could, she lifted him off the bed. He was insanely light, weighing no more than the blanket he laid upon, and felt as fragile as a glass cup. Incredible. The fact that he was able to stand on his own, let alone walk, on this body of his is a testament to his tenacity. I don’t know anyone who would have been able to pull that off in that condition. Well, maybe Violet.

She set the towel down upon the bed before proceeded to lay him on top of it, careful to not accidentally snap his delicate frame in two, and she chuckled at the irony of it. Guess it’s a good thing he refused to let me carry him that first time, I might have accidentally killed him in my stubbornness to get home.

Though, I think I’ll keep that to myself, no need to inflate his ego just yet.

Once he was properly laying down, she began to slowly undress him, patting the sweat off with a rag with practised ease. He’ll need a proper bath later, but this is fine for now.

Satisfied with her work, she reached for a bag hidden underneath her bed and rummaged through it until she pulled out a clean set of male clothing. From there, she once again took her time dressing him until he was fully clothed. The clothes fit loosely on his thin frame, but those were the best she had on hand and probably the best in the entire compound. Hopefully when you are better it’ll fit you again. If you ever do get better that is.

With a shake of her head, she returned to the kitchen and began preparing a meal for when he awoke.

Truly incredible, she thought to herself as she pulled out some smoked meat. While bread was a luxury in their little compound, meat was quiet easy to come by, all it took was going on a mission every now and then, though it had been a while since her last excursion. Not only is he still alive, but he had the energy to walk only moments after awakening. Truly he is a special child.

Or…

Pulling a knife out from its rack, she slowly cut into the steak, watching with keen interest as the blade slid straight through the delicate flesh with no resistance.

I wonder what surprises I’ll find within this little bird.

-------------------------------------------------

*Drip*

*Drip*

*Drip*

The incessant dripping splashed upon his face, disturbing his slumber. He groaned and shifted away from their path, but each time he moved they would follow.

*Drip*

*Drip*

Annoyed and restless, he finally sat up and huffed as he looked up, only to be greeted by a veil of darkness. It was vast and large enigma which expanded in all directions into the infinite. For anyone else, it would immediately cause awe and fear as it loomed powerfully upon the watcher, but he only stared at it with mild confusion. Though he did not know what it was or where it had come from, a tingle at the recesses of his mind told him one thing was certain.

He had been here before, within its embrace. But something was off this time.

*Drip*

*Drip*

*Drip*

Huffing, he made to stand to find the leak, but paused as his hand splashed upon a thin layer of water beneath him. The puddle was only a few few wide, yet, like the darkness, something about it felt off. As he looked upon it, he realized there was no reflection within it, nor was there a floor beneath it.

"Speaking of floor..." Finally, he understood why the place felt familiar yet oddly different, and looked around in confusion. "Where is the path?"

There was only darkness. Darkness and the dri-

...

No, the dripping had stopped.

“Weak.” A voice called out from the darkness as a presence passed him by. “Far too weak.”

He bared his teeth in fury. How dare this unknown foe look down on him!? He would rip it to shreds the moment it dared to show itself!!

...Yet he did not voice his threat, for reason had returned in time to bite his tongue. His entire body shook in terror, as prey does when faced with a great predator. Instinctively he knew that not only was he outmatched, but the gap was so great he could never hope to close it, not even in a thousand years.

Far within his anger continued to shout like an insolent child, but his reasoning ignored it as he calmed himself enough to speak.

“What can I do then?” He asked, “How do I get stronger?”

“I have already completed the first step.” It responded. A glint passed by below, beneath the puddle's surface, though it moved to fast to be seen and was quickly lost to the darkness. “Now, there is only one thing you must do.”

“What is it?”

“Open your eyes, and FEED.”