imafirefly

[imafirefly]

Abby didn't stop, only turning to look back when she was near the building again in the others direction but she was nowhere to be found. The rustling of leaves and cracks of branches was faint, but enough that Abby knew that's where she was. Just as she said. The best she could hope for was that she would either come to her senses and come inside or that they would see her there in the morning. Wasn't holding her breath on either option. Getting back inside and up to the room was eerily silent, more so than when they had all first entered. She knocked against the door with the middle knuckle of her index finger to alert Lev she was back before heading inside. The first thing she was greeted with was a look of concern from both human and dog. The lack of rifle was immediately noticeable and she didn't exactly look happy. "Abby, your gun..." "She's alive, if that's what you're wondering. Sleeping outside." Her last statement was punctuated with a shrug as she was too tired to give a shit right now. "Do you need me to go to her?" "No." Her answer was short and sweet. Letting her be was the best both of them could do.

Flopping down onto the couch, Abby shimmied out of her backpack straps and placed it on the ground near where Jack was quietly laying and observing. "Do you need to talk?" Lev's voice was quiet, always so in tune with how she was feeling. Shaking her head in his direction, she laid back on the couch and turned so that her face was to the cushions, back facing outwards. "Get some sleep, we have a long day tomorrow." The room was silent once more, the only sounds the quiet breathing around here and some adjusting here and there every so often. There was barely any sleep to be had but whatever she did get was plagued by restlessness and near nightmares. When she finally woke in the morning, Lev was already up and watching her. Jack was too and it was a bit unsettling to have so many eyes on her first thing. "Morning to you too," she mumbled and sat up. The sun was already creeping through the blinds and she knew they needed to get a move on soon. "She's still here. I checked this morning." With a nod, Abby stood a bit groggily and swung her bag over her shoulders. "Keep me sane today, will ya?"

With that, they were quick to pack up. Food could be had on the road and Abby didn't want to spend any more time in this godforsaken place. Outside it was warm and she was grateful for the fresh air. Jack was quick to bark as soon as they were outside and Abby waved him off to make a beeline to Ellie. "So fuckin help me," she muttered under her breath, shooting a glance over to the man. No words were needed and Lev simply nodded as they approach the makeshift camp. Abby was quick to take her rifle back, taking a couple of steps backwards frm the camp to keep her distance. "Good morning, did you sleep well out here?" Lev asked, far more polite than Abby would have been.

This woman is fucking unreal, Ellie thought with a derisive snort. Selective hearing much. She damn well knows what I mean. Halfway through that little speech about not holding a gun to her head, she had tuned Abby out altogether and didn’t even bother to make it look like she was listening. Better to keep her blood pressure low after an emotionally strained day like this one had been. Why had she bothered to waste her breath on Abby in the first place? Ellie dragged a hand down her face, turning away from the other woman to stare off at the darkened sky and stand with her arms akimbo. Baring holes into nothing and seething. While she heard Abby add something else, the words didn’t register and she didn’t acknowledge her departure at all.

And she didn’t need Abby’s damn rifle.

Ellie walked off toward the nearby trees and cut off the thickest, low-hanging branches she came across with her trusty hatchet. She did end up taking the gun from where it was left on her way back to the hospital but didn’t wear it on her shoulder like Abby did, instead carrying it by the barrel until she reached the old campsite she used all those years ago. The crates were still there and she put it atop one of them and pretended it wasn’t there while she gathered stones to put around the fire. It took a couple more minutes for her to finish cutting the wood and leave the rest in a pile to add to the flames throughout the night. After detaching the small bedroll from her bag, she unfurled it and laid down with a heavy sigh. She watched the fire until sleep took hold.

Ellie awakened as the sun was rising and the air was still chilly. The grass was damp with morning dew but thankfully she was lying in a spot that didn’t get much light and was mostly dirt. She welcomed the birdsong as music while she stoked the fire and brewed tea using a small pot she filled at the watering hole. It was one of the few camping items she took with her from Joel’s house along with a small metal cup that kept its contents nice and hot even in the blistering cold. The herbal tea was from Dina. She wanted to save what was left of her coffee beans for when she really needed the caffeine kick. It wasn’t long before Ellie was reminded of the fact she wasn’t alone in her travels; she looked over at the rifle with bleary eyes as she sipped her tea.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

He had a fair point though Abby didn't really consider herself much fo a book worm in that aspect. Yes, she enjoyed reading but it wasn't manuals and how to's she dove in to when picking up a book They were mainly works of fiction, a way to get out of the world she was in and into another that was more idyllic than the hellish reality they all were a part of. If anything, she felt like she was street smart, not book smart. Her dad was full of book smarts but Abby, not so much. It was experience and not text that taught her more than anything. "I read for fun, not to learn. Hand me some manual and I will fall asleep." Speaking of sleep, she was absolutely zapped and was glad that they had decided to make their getaway. Any longer, she might have fallen asleep on the sand and woken up entirely fried. A nice shower and some dinner would do her well.

With a bit of a yawn, Abby slouched down low into the passenger seat to get comfortable. "I am great right now, if you want to go slow be my guest. I can at least fall asleep if I wanted." She lazily looked in his direction with a bit of a grin and returned the leg bump. "Wake me when we get there?" she quipped, knowing full well he wouldn't actually go five miles an hour. "Spending an hour prepping meals when it takes 15 minutes to eat feels like like kind of a waste of time unless it's a really, really good meal. But speaking of movies - what movies are in the lineup for tonight? Need a good one, no drama or romance or anything. Need some action, maybe scary." She had already scooted to sit up again, her slouched posture not all that comfortable.

Owen just shrugged and replied with a smile, “I’ve learned a bunch of things from people who have been fishing way longer than me. Sometimes being taught through someone is better than reading up on the thing you want to learn to do. I’ve always been more of a hands-on learner—not as much of a bookworm as you.” He was feeling pretty good but exhausted and he could tell Abby was in the same state. Hence the eagerness to haul ass (er, burn a little rubber?) and get home so they could start prepping their catches. “Yeah, I’m good. Takes more than two beers to get me buzzed.” It actually took a whole case and he could only make it halfway through another before he passed out drunk.

More than once, Ian—his housemate—had to help drag Owen’s sorry ass to bed or make him a smoothie in the morning that was light on the stomach to make his hangover a bit more bearable. Ian’s father had been a heavy drinker and so Owen would feel like shit about it every time he got too drunk himself and Ian took it upon himself to be a good friend and help when he really didn’t have to. Ian knew about Owen’s losses in Seattle so he had a deeper understanding as to why the older man would reduce himself to such a state. It had been about two weeks since Owen’s last bender and he wanted it to be the last. Hoped it would be. Opening a bottle was always risky.

“We got all the time in the world do we?” Owen parroted Abby. He shifted the vehicle out of park and pulled out onto the road. “Tell that to my stomach and yours then. I suppose you wouldn’t mind if I take it easy and coast along at a good five miles an hour while you keep marinating in your sweat. That shower can wait, huh?” He gave her leg a playful shove, his grin broadening. “The only time we can really relax is once we’re sitting and watching movies. Food prep is no joke. I sometimes spend a good hour prepping meals for when I go out all day.”

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

"Since when did you become an expert on human crab euthanasia?" she asked, arching an eyebrow upwards and holding back a grin. That definitely wasn't in any of Lev's books about the sea but maybe it was in some sort of cookbook and that wouldn't have surprised her. There was a reason Owen was the chef between the two of them. Abby wasn't clueless in the kitchen but the sort of feast Owen was whipping up in his mind was definitely something that was out of her realm of ability. "I think I'm good, thanks. Not sure how often crab will come up on the menu but if I need to know, I know where to find you," she added with a click of her tongue. She wouldn't have pointed at him if her hands weren't full but that wasn't the case.

Ready to walk, she stood in anticipation of directions until the plans changed. "You sure? You're good to drive?" Not that she was up for much arguing. The heat was taking its toll and so had the overall trajectory of the day. It had been a busy (but great) one, there was no doubt about that. She trusted him and it showed when she didn't fight in handing over the handful of items she had prepped to haul. He sure was eager to get back and she laughed as she helped open the door up more and hopped into the seat. And there it was, her full name. Still was one of the only people that could use it and get away with it. "Slow your roll, Moore. We got all the time in the world, fish and crabs here aren't going anywhere." She nodded towards the pail that was behind his seat. "The hard work is done for the day, it's all about relaxing now."

Owen was wiping his hands off on a towel he had stowed in the back of vehicle. “I’m not cooking it alive, Abbs,” he told her with a laugh. “You just have to do this process called ‘spiking’. Crabs have two nerve centers that you sever and it’s quick and painless for them. For lobsters I just spike the head, easy peasy. Only requires a good knife. I could show you…?” He picked up his tackle box and slid it into the back then stood there with a hand on his hip, his brows furrowing slightly in thought.

She was talking about how much she wanted that shower as she started to pack up the rest of the gear and he realized that he really didn’t want to have to carry anything after they’d been out on foot for the last few hours. He was only two beers in and wasn’t a lightweight so… “Screw it,” he suddenly declared with renewed enthusiasm, redoubling his effort with loading up the rods followed by the cooler. “I’m driving there and saving us a trip back tomorrow for all of this stuff we’ve got.”

He patted her shoulder as he passed to get into the driver’s side with the keys already in hand. His stupid grin was hard to miss. “It’s only like ten minutes, tops. There’s no time to waste so get your sweet ass in here, Abigail.” The engine rumbled to life and he was now leaning over to open the passenger side door for her to climb in.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

Funny how that worked as it turned out that Ellie was also getting on her nerves too. At least they had that in common. All she could think of was reminding herself that the end result would be worth it. If all this bullshit led to being able to combat cordyceps, it would all be worth it. How was she supposed to know the other was armed? It was dark and it's not like she was doing once overs checking for weapons. to Abby, it just seemed like she had ventured out unarmed. In her eyes, she wasn't being unreasonable and she hadn't raised her voice. Lev didn't have the same baggage with her as Ellie did. Was she expecting a cool and calm attitude towards her? Especially in a place that held such heightened emotional meaning for her. She didn't back off as Ellie stepped up to her, squaring up. If the purpose had been to intimidate her, it wasn't working.

"I asked if there was really no way to get you back inside and you act like I'm interrogating you. Did I demand you go inside? Am I holding a gun to your head? Am I dragging you in there? Hm?" She paused, waiting for an answer that she knew wouldn't come. "Didn't think so." If this is what Ellie considered worked up, then so be it. Abby wasn't here to make a friend of her. She was here to make sure she got to Catalina. Just because Lev had faith in her didn't mean that she felt the same way. She had no reason to trust her like he did. If anything, she had all the reasoning in the world to be apprehensive. Call it survival instinct.

Everything in Abby wanted to lose it but she couldn't. Nothing would feel better than unleashing a sharp Fuck you but it wasn't advisable as things currently stood. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm and quiet. "If you died, you wouldn't know any different. You're gone. But if you die? I failed. I'll have failed everyone I ever cared about and everything they stood for. Maybe consider that when you think I'm getting worked up over small shit." With that, she removed the strap of her rifle from over her shoulder and laid it gently to rest against a crumbling stone road barricade. "Sleep well," she mumbled, turning to head back towards the hospital. This was the best she could do and her attempt to be a bigger person instead of blowing up.

Ellie wasn’t trying to be stubborn. They just had different ways of operating while travelling and it was causing more friction than it should. Ellie had done her fair share of wayfaring just like anyone else who had the means and the gumption. She wasn’t stupid—she knew the dangers and how to survive, just like Abby did. She’d survived this long, hadn’t she? Well, it was time to use her words instead of getting annoyed at the other woman. “I’ve camped out here before,” she said, twisting the cap back on her flask and putting it away before lifting her eyes to look at Abby. “I’ve got my pistol and my knife and I didn’t want to carry the rest around. I left Jack with Lev to reassure him I wasn’t going to take off… He wanted me to stay in there but I left anyway.”

Ellie paused to think over what she wanted to say next then continued on without raising her voice at any point. She kept her tone low and firm—perfectly calm. “I came with you by my own choice, Abby. And I get that you want to get us there in one piece because it’s your job but you’re actually starting to get on my nerves by always acting like I’m going to bolt if you let me wander out of your sight for too long.” The breeze picked up again and loosened a few strands of auburn hair that she didn’t bother to tuck behind her ear. “I haven’t changed my mind about doing this. I won’t be. So maybe ease up a bit and stop riding my ass.” She took a step closer, standing at her full height with her arms falling to her sides. Not so much a threatening stance but one that exuded how she was uncompromising with this. Unshakable. Making her point.

Because in her eyes Abby needed to grasp the fact they were in this to the end and she wasn’t going to hightail it back to Jackson at any point. She was going to see this through. “I won’t ask for your opinion or your approval and if I wanna sleep outside, that’s what I’m going to do.” Another pause. “Maybe take a page from Lev’s book and ask me like a normal person instead of getting all worked up over the smallest shit.” That disapproving look Abby would give her all the time made the childish part of Ellie want to piss her off even more, which wouldn’t be doing Abby any favors whatsoever. It wouldn’t kill Abby to ask Ellie what she wanted of her or say something to the effect of, ‘Hey, I’d feel better if you actually stuck close while we’re in this area’. Perhaps the pride was really too much for her to swallow? There needed to be some give and take here.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

As if being out here wasn't difficult enough, Ellie was stubborn and Abby was coming to quickly learn that about the other woman. Logic told her it wasn't smart to stay outside. Especially without company or any firearms to protect herself. With her hands on her hips, she took in a deep breath to calm herself before letting it out through pursed lips. "Seriously? You're going to stay out here alone? No gun?" Even saying it out loud, it seemed like a dumb idea but she was willing to bet that she wouldn't be able to convince Ellie otherwise. "Jesus Christ," she mumbled under her breath, the annoyance at the situation clear. It felt too risky to leave her alone out here but she also did not want to sleep on the ground and out in the open when there was a perfectly okay couch behind a barricaded door with her name on it.

The offer of alcohol was surprising to say the least. It was a gesture you normally didn't offer up to someone that you hated. Not to mention she was responsible for Ellie's wellbeing and getting her to Catalina in one piece and how was she supposed to do that without a clear mind. Not to mention she didn't necessarily trust the other to not run off. Shaking her head, more curses were mumbled in a barely audible whisper before she finally let her hands drop and stood up straight. "I don't want to be in there either but it's easier to stay safe in there than it is out here. There's really no way you're going back in there?" she asked, raising an eyebrow up.

In her periphery, Ellie saw Abby stand up and walk off. She took another minute to silently reflect then she fixed Marlene’s grave marker. Repositioned the stones with care and weighed the pendant’s chain down with one of them so it wouldn’t be washed away by flooding. A quiet and final goodbye was whispered to the wind before Ellie rose to her feet with flask in hand. She was still holding it as she approached Abby and her tone was hushed when she spoke. “Gonna camp out front tonight.” Ellie sighed through her nose. “My bow and rifle are inside and Jack’s with Lev. You’ll know where to find me in the morning.”

She looked down at the flask in her hand (a Christmas gift from Tommy three years ago) before making a gesture to offer Abby a drink from it. Strong stuff. It really helped take the edge off. She lightly cleared her throat and decided to throw another offer out there, “Can sit by the fire if you want. Beats being in there.” The talking was over for today. And at least she would sleep better under the stars. If Abby wanted to enjoy the fire a bit before rejoining Lev then Ellie wouldn’t protest although there was still the matter of gathering wood first before it got too dark.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

How the hell did she manage that indeed. It felt almost more difficult to not catch something of substance. Instead, she had met her match in the form of a damn crustacean though a particularly good sized one so at the very least she had somewhat contributed. "You know, that's a good question. I really don't know how I landed this. Took a lot of determination." With a skid and a scuttle, their crabby friend landed in the pail and was eager to try and make his way out, scratching against the sides while chilling on top of the bass. Owen was right, he did have beady little eyes. "You're gonna have to be the one to toss that thing in a pot because I am not doing that portion." For someone who had killed an inordinate amount of infected (including the absolute behemoth in the Seattle hospital), dropping a live crab into boiling water was where she drew the line at this point.

Tying the fishing line off so it wouldn't continue to unravel, Abby shook her head with a laugh. "I don't know if I would call that getting better but I won't turn down a sort of compliment." She collected her beer as well and finished it off, tapping the empty glass against her leg. The feast Owen was describing was enough to make anyone drool and Abby could feel her mouth watering at just the sound so she knew the actual thing itself would be an experience. "If you make that tonight, I may die from happiness. Haven't heard of a better meal in forever." He didn't need to say anymore. She was already beginning to pack up, collecting the empty bottles and tossing them into the cooler for the sake of time. "Please tell me your place isn't too far, we gotta get this feast going ASAP cause that dinner paired with a hot shower, I may just pass out after." But in a good way of course.

Laughing to herself, she collected up his rod as well after tying it off and had them secured on top of the cooler. "Well c'mon now. Lead the way, can't wait to see the place and eat all the food. And a hot shower. A hot hot shower."

Owen was too hungry at this point to cast out again. An eight-pound bass would be a proper feast for two people. His housemate was more than likely out on a supply run but would appreciate any food Owen left for him in the fridge. They shared pretty much everything except Owen’s fishing gear and the stuff in the garage he used for personal projects like art supplies. There was a mountain bike in there that he rode often. Gathering dust was the swimming gear he took from his sailboat (that he hadn’t gotten around to actually using yet). The rest was mostly car and boat parts he collected over the years.

The garage was really just a space he’d converted into a well-used workshop.

He was removing his lure from the rod when Abby reeled in her own catch and he glanced up when she spoke. Out came a hearty chuckle at the sight of the crab dangling there like a spider, suspended from the fishing line and slowly spinning about. Poor thing was probably hoping for an evening snack but was now being laughed at by this giant land creature who would soon turn it into dinner. “Task failed successfully, Abbs. Damn. How the hell did you manage that?” He brought out his knife again to cut the line and lower the crab into the pail. “I don’t like the way he’s looking at us… Such beady little eyes.”

He pushed his glasses low on the bridge of his nose and squinted down into the pail at the crustacean that was clacking its claws at them. “Sorry, dude. Today’s not your lucky day.” Owen tucked away his knife and placed the lid on the pail. “Great catch. I told you you’d get better, right?” He drank his beer until only foam remained at the bottom and hummed thoughtfully. “A seafood boil with beer-battered fish on the side would be fucking delicious. I’ve got corn to go with the potatoes. Lemons. Fresh herbs… Garlic.” He flashed a grin at her. “Fuck yeah! Let’s load up and start walking.”

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

It was quite exciting though she felt so useless. Even if he didn't need any help, she still found herself antsy to jump in and assist in some sort of way. Abby waved her arm towards her rod, clearly no activity there at the moment. "Forget about mine," she called out though she did take a quick peek over her shoulder. Alas, nothing. It still sat there gently bobbing with the waves with no movement that warranted stepping away from the current excitement. She watched his every move, ready to hop in at a moments notice if he called for it but Owen was a true pro. Abby followed after him with the pail and her smile was infectious at the sight of what would be dinner. "Holy shit, look at that thing." Alright, he definitely won the competition that she had started. Careful what you wish for, Abbs.

Looking back to her own setup, she found herself laughing. "There is no way I'm hauling in anything like that. My bait is probably gone anyways, probably missed it." Making her way back to the rod, she removed it from the sand and gave it a small tug. Nothing. "See?" she remarked as she began to reel it in. Maybe one more cast but what Owen brought in was more than enough for a good meal. There were small little pulls at the end of her line though it was most likely seaweed or some sort of greenery. As she reeled in closer, she saw the culprit: a large crab, tiptoeing the line between red and orange with black on the tips of its claws. It clamped down onto the hook and was finishing up the last of the bait that was on there when she lifted the line out of the water to hold it up. Oh come on. Looking towards Owen, she raised her eyebrows up and pursed her lips while holding it over the pail. "Well that's uh -- it's not a fish but I mean, is there room on the menu for a seafood boil?" Did one crab constitute a boil? Regardless, could be an appetizing addition.

Every touch between them had more of an impact on him than Abby realized. He hadn’t been with anyone since… Seattle. It took a long time for Owen to find himself again after that. He’d checked out mentally almost that entire first year. He liked to think he had made a lot of progress in the years since but it was the loneliness that really got to him at times. Being around Abby helped a lot… Her and Lev were the people he cared about most in this world. “I’ve got it!” he called out to her, having reeled the fish halfway to shore by the time she brought the pail to him. “You should check your rod in case you get a bite, too. Don’t worry, I’ve got this one.” A wink.

This fish was a fighter but he was a hungry man. He would wrestle a damn tuna with his bare hands if he had to. The largemouth bass he reeled in was at least seven or eight pounds. It flapped about vigorously, the hook still latched in its mouth until he freed it and brought it to the rock he’d been sitting on earlier. He used his knife to quickly and humanely euthanize it, severing the spinal cord before it could suffocate. It was just a fish but no animal deserved to suffer. He placed it in the pail and grabbed his beer. A cheeky grin was plastered across his face as he turned to Abby. “Easily eight pounds. Largemouth can weigh up to twelve pounds so… not bad, huh?”

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

Despite being the very final resting place of her dad, it didn't feel like it. What was deep within the soil was just a body. There was no essence of him anywhere in the ground. That had been bled from him within the operating room. Being outside felt more emotionless than anything and she wasn't sure why. Had so many years gone by that being at her dad's grave felt...normal? Was the hope that it was just a bad dream finally faded away? Took long enough. With a quiet laugh to herself, Abby shook her head. Maybe she finally dissociated enough to the point that there was no emotion left to be found because she was irreparably broken beyond repair. Her dad. Owen. Manny. Mel. That was just the short list too. Far too many people had been lost over the years. As she stared aimlessly at the ground, she was reminded of what she was doing this for.

A whirlwind of thoughts stormed through her brain though she couldn't put any of them into words. What needed to be said was done so at the blood stain and repeating anything now would lessen its impact. Actions spoke louder than words and after unzipping her bag, Abby produced several small objects that she turned over between her fingers: coins. Quarters more specifically. Though her, his hobby continued on and she'd brought with her a collection of ones she'd accumulated over time. Ones that she knew he didn't have. Washington. Oregon. California. His journey had come to an end in SLC so she was bringing a little bit of her west coast adventure to him.

With the end of her knife, Abby scooped at dirt, digging out a small hole a couple of inches deep to place the quarters in to. Deep enough that they would remain despite the elements, not that she planned on ever coming back here. A few brushes of dirt later, she patted it down firmly so that they wouldn't be going anywhere. With that, Abby was content. There was nothing further for her here. Collecting her bag, she stood to brush herself off and make her way back to the edge of the road where she would wait. She didn't have to like Ellie but she wasn't going to disturb whatever mourning or closure she needed.

Ellie wasn’t appreciating the scenery like Abby was. Her eyes stuck mostly to the ground, her mind not quite present with her body. Lost in her head like she usually was during that long week of travelling. The only memory she had of this place that could be considered good was of her and Joel petting the giraffe. Not many people could boast about having touched such a large and majestic creature. Oh how different things would be if she had agreed to turn around and leave like he suggested they do as the two of them watched the herd together. She nearly stumbled straight into Abby when the other woman came to a stop but she recovered in time and mentally scolded herself for not paying enough attention. Her eyes drifted from Abby to the spot that was Marlene’s final resting place. Twelve years. It took her twelve fucking years to visit the grave of the woman who had been her guardian since birth. Her last tie to Anna.

She knew the full truth now and even after all this time it still stung. The people buried in that makeshift graveyard were all casualties of Joel. And five years later Ellie would perpetuate this cycle of violence by forming another graveyard in Seattle. Ruminative, she lifted her gaze to look beyond the burial ground to where she would spot deer grazing close to the water. She avoided letting her eyes land on Abby who had wandered further away. Then she finally lowered into the lush grass before Marlene’s grave and sat with her hands in her lap. Her fingers found a loose thread in her jeans that she began tugging at. “Hey, Marlene,” she breathed out. So quietly—sotto voce—that it could have been the wind. She’d been talking to Joel’s ghost for so long that this didn’t feel weird. Talking to bones deep in the earth. Where she would be one day, too.

Ellie had heard the prayers Dina would utter at Joel’s grave or at the small memorial they helped Jesse’s parents make enough times to have them memorized despite the scripture being in Hebrew. She did believe in there being some kind of beyond after death but still didn’t consider herself religious in any way. Nonetheless, she muttered a brief prayer for Marlene before reaching out to take the Firefly pendant that had been placed within the arrangement of stones. It was eroded and almost unreadable from many years of rain. Her thumb brushed over the metal with reverence, making bits of rust flake off. She put the pendant back and pulled out her flask of whiskey to wash away the taste of sorrow and replace it with something more astringent instead.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

Such a small gesture brought an immense amount of comfort to Abby. It wasn't their normal contact. Not a hug or the constant (and sometimes rough) shoulder bumps that they would exchange. This was just a simple hand hold but it spoke volumes. Abby found herself in almost a trance like state of relaxation when she snapped out of it at the sound of the rod and Owen's movements. Her eyes opened up rather quickly and she sat up, ready to spring into action if needed. Always the gentleman, she smiled and shook her head at the small kiss. From the looks of it, he had something pretty good on the end of his line. Definitely not the case for her own set up but that couldn't have mattered less.

"Got it!" she called out, up in an instant and jogging back to the truck. It didn't take too long to find but she was scrambling anyways, glancing back towards the beach every so often just to make sure he still had the fish on. Most of the time was spent trying to extract the pail from beneath a load of more supplies but finally she was able to free it and jogged back towards the water line. "Do you have it? Where do you need me at?" she asked, already having stepped ankle deep into the water with her focus locked in on where the fishing line entered the water a little ways off. She may not have been entirely useful if it was up to her to reel the damn thing in but she would do her best to ensure they brought this thing home.

As Abby’s fingers curled in between his like they were made to fit, Owen smiled up at the sky and let his eyes close. Fortunately, his skin tended to darken under the sun rather than burning but this made his scars all the more noticeable when he wore tank tops. He was almost tempted to lie down with her but thought nah, they could have that opportunity later after eating. Instead Owen idly brushed his thumb along the outer side of her index finger as they enjoyed the sun and waited to catch their dinner.

Eventually, there was a slight tug on the line and he began pulling with his free hand. He didn’t slip his hand out of hers until he had to reel in his potential catch but he did pause to press a light kiss to her shoulder before hauling himself to his feet and continuing to reel in. More tension on the line now. The fish was strong. He was hoping for something big but it was too early to tell. “Grab the bucket for me in the truck, would you?” It was more of a pail that used to contain salted pork but it also worked with fresh catches and preventing any fish from making a daring flop for freedom.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

There wasn't a single thing she could find wrong with this moment. It was gorgeous as the sun beamed down on the both of them with a comfortable warmth. Not enough to send them running to the shade for fear of overheating, but the kind of sun that warmed you down to the bone. A steady breeze would blow through every so often, offering a refreshing coolness as it carried the sea air over them. The sound of the waves was one she could fall asleep to and needed to be careful that she didn't do just that. Not very good technique to fall asleep while fishing, that much she knew. With her head tilted back, her chest rose and fell with long and relaxed breaths. It was pretty close to perfect at Seal's Cove.

How long had passed, she wasn't sure but she didn't startle or shy away like she had in the past at his touch. For a long time after getting to Catalina, Abby wouldn't allow herself to open up. Already in a vulnerable state after escaping the Rattlers, in her mind she couldn't let her guard down and open herself up to further hurt. It wasn't fear that he would hurt her, it was fear in losing him or losing herself and hurting him. Goosebumps trailed along the skin that his hand had trailed along and there wasn't barely any hint of hesitation from Abby to lace her fingers between his when the opportunity came. Much less than there had been before. There was a small smile that pulled at the corner of her lips but she didn't move nor did she look his way. It was a simple show of affection that didn't need any extra attention drawn to it. She gave his hand a small squeeze almost if to say hi to you too.

His competitive streak had come and gone that day after he had started that impromptu race down to the boardwalk. Although he’d gotten a head start, he didn’t pace himself effectively and didn’t push through all the way which allowed Abby to cross the finish line before him—smug and victorious. If not for the fact that they rode to the beach, Owen would have worn himself out before they even made it to his place. His stomach was already rumbling. And pretty soon those rumbles would turn into roars. “You’re right,” he conceded with one corner of his mouth twitching. “Not my best.” A few minutes went by. Owen was staring out at the water until the sound of Abby’s voice roused him from his tranquil daydream to glance over at her.

Even the movement of his head was languorously slow. He would go from being relaxed like this to as lazy as a dog dozing in the sun once he had food in his belly. Wordlessly, he took a drink of his beer and lowered it back into its makeshift holder in the sand. Then moments later that same hand would reach over to slide along the length of her left arm in a gentle caress. His fingers glided over her palm to fill in the spaces between hers, calloused and still cool from the frosty bottle it had been holding. He shifted to sit cross-legged to keep his fishing rod in place and suddenly found himself hoping it would take a little while longer before a fish decided to bite.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

Whether or not Ellie saw the obvious eye roll that her words elicited didn't concern Abby. Maybe she should have lied. Acted like she had all the answers only for everything to potentially be incorrect when they got to Catalina. Would have have preferred that instead of honest? Sure seemed like it. Both her thoughts and words were kept to herself as she started off across the road that still lay littered with broken down ambulances and vehicles. She still remembered the mass extraction of bodies that took place across this road. Truck bed after truck bed had been filled with casualties of Joel's massacre to relocate them to an area where the ground was soft enough for a mass grave. The closest place was by what had become known as the watering hole, aptly named for the wildlife that would frequent it as their source of water. Zebras, giraffes, warthogs. Manny swore he saw a rhino on patrol but Abby had promptly called him out for being full of shit (or was he?).

The closer they got to the edge of the watering hole, the more dread and fondness crept up on her. There were certainly good memories that had been located in this area but it still didn't change the fact that it was the resting place for a large number of Fireflies. The road gave out more and more until finally, the crunch of rocks was no longer present. Instead, they found themselves on dirt with the gorgeous body of water before them. Abby's eyes settled across the hole where they had rescued the zebra so long ago. There was the briefest hint of a smile before it quickly faded away. A little ways ahead to the left was a mound that looked out of place considering the rest of the landscape. Under it were bodies, long lost and now feeding the earth. There were smaller mounds scattered around it that weren't nearly as noticeable, remnants of folks who wanted to bury their loved one separately and not in mass. "She's there," Abby said quietly, nodding towards one of the smaller mounds. A top it lay a large collection of stones. At one point they had been organized into some sort of M but the elements and time had erased the definition.

Abby's focus was elsewhere as she began to walk up the waterline to a mound that lay a little farther away from the others. It was a grave that Abby had dug herself and marked with a single stone, the largest and most circular she could find. It was here that she buried her dad. The silence was deafening and she found herself lowering to the ground slowly so that she could sit quietly, setting her bag beside down beside her.

Her expression did not give away her thoughts. At least, not at first. By the time Abby turned so they were facing each other and asked if her response was good enough, Ellie was wearing a deep frown. Her eyebrows had knitted together and her lips were pressed into a hard line. Hard to believe those same lips had been quivering only minutes ago when she’d apologized for what Joel did to Abby’s father. Her face was etched with creases that did not smooth out until she had straightened her shoulders and drew in a deep breath. It was expelled through her nose before she stiffly replied with, “Let’s get moving.” She started the discussion and wanted to end it before her frustration gave way to resentment. In no way was Ellie satisfied with Abby’s words but clearly she didn’t know any more than what she was telling so Ellie would let it go.

She would get all her answers on Catalina before she let them do anything.

Ellie gripped the straps of her bag to shift its weight against her frame, more so out of restlessness from being idle than anything else and waited for the other woman to lead her the rest of the way to Marlene’s burial spot. They were losing light as it was.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

Ellie sure was asking a lot of questions. Not that they weren't valid but Abby wasn't in a particularly chatty mood considering the circumstances in which they were in. At this point, she figured the best thing to do was try and get her off her back with whatever she was able to provide. "Yes," she answered once more, watching her steps as she navigated around some roller chairs that had also been tossed down the staircase. The Fireflies of old certainly didn't have the best reputation at the start of the outbreak and she was well aware that the reputation still somehow followed despite decades passing. A radical group like them versus ultra militant FEDRA made for violent interactions in the beginning but gone were the days of fighting. "They're good people. It's about preservation of people, not just Fireflies. They know that." It was the same message her dad had engrained in her. It was never about hoarding all to themselves for leverage. It made no sense to him (or to her) to only help out select few in a world where humanity was dwindling. Every single person mattered and if this helped save people from the unfortunate fate of infection, it was well worth it. She was all too familiar with the pain of a bite being a death sentence. Too many good folks had been lost to it, her own mother included.

Approaching the door to the outside, she stopped at her words and took in a deep breath. Abby could feel the tension spreading throughout her shoulders once more. She wasn't keen on having conversations of this depth and certainly not right now. Shaking her head to herself, she pushed the door open to step out into the cool night air and was thankful for no longer being in an enclosed space with her. "I'm not a scientist. What was required then may be optional now. I don't know what else to tell you about that." Shit, what else was she supposed to say? She wasn't the one staring in microscopes consistently. They had her dads research. Any advancements in research over the years was above her level of comprehension. The term grunt stopped her in her tracks. Yes Abby was more than that but duty and doing what was expected was still a large part of it as well. Turning to face Ellie, she shrugged her shoulders. "The fuck do you want me to say? I don't know the medicine behind it. You want me to lie to you and tell you I know exactly what they need to do? I've always been a grunt and I'm good at it." More like a soldier, grunt felt more demeaning than anything. The WLF had molded her into a soldier and the mentality was a hard one to drop. "I don't want the glory or the credit. I'm trying to finish what my dad started. That's it. Is that good enough or do I need to justify myself further to you?"

What if Joel had let the surgery happen? What if he had gotten her out without the bloodshed? What if… No. No. Ellie firmly shook her head like she was physically dislodging those thoughts. What good would it do now? There was no point in finding rationality where there wasn’t any. She couldn’t dwell on the past—it couldn’t be changed no matter how hard she wished or regardless of how many times it surfaced to haunt her. All she could do was accept it. Not repeat it. Meanwhile, Ellie found herself deeply unsatisfied with Abby’s answer. Maybe even a little bothered because it did not feel reassuring to her and it left room for doubt to creep in, to seep into any cracks it could find in her resolve. There were too many unknown factors at play. Perhaps she could have phrased it better and so she attempted to as they continued to make their way out of the building. “Okay, let me rephrase: are they good people? Decent people…? Will they be doing this to help get the vaccine out there as much as they can or will they just keep it in-house and be damned with everyone else? I guess that’s more what I meant.” Ellie wasn’t looking to start an argument here but she wanted—needed—answers. Confirmation. Something that was concrete in all of this. ’If you don’t want to be put under then you won’t.’ Well shit, Ellie thought sourly.

Stated so matter-of-factly like she was telling Ellie what they would be having for dinner which earned an incredulous huff from the cure for mankind herself. “You and I both know it’s never that simple, Abby. If putting me under the knife was optional from the beginning then we wouldn’t be here.” She couldn’t deny there was turmoil waging war in her head every since Abby came to her. Their goal was clear though. Get to Catalina alive and in one piece. What happened once they arrived was a whole other chapter. A whole other can of worms, as Joel used to say. She was relieved to breathe in the fresh air once they were outside. “Or I guess you can just tell me you’re a grunt and that they don’t keep you in the loop with this. Which is kinda fucked up if they don’t considering what you just told me back there. You’re not part of the medical team, sure, but don’t you want to be considered more than just the guide who brought me to them?” Was that enough for Abby? “You can have the limelight and glory because I sure as shit don’t want it. It’ll be bad enough the whole island will be watching me like I’m some kinda science experiment.” That was something she would be dreading. When it wasn’t just Abby and Lev who knew her face, knew who she was.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

"Now you're just sucking up, course I'm cool," quipped with a faux cockiness to her tone. Owen was incorrect. It was 100% a contest. For someone as naturally competitive as Abby, he should have known that. Absolutely everything was a contest and the more competitive the spirit, the better. Even as his cast settled in near hers, she shook her head as if she disapproved greatly. "I've seen you do better," she remarked and took another sip of her beer. If she didn't have sunglasses on, it would have showcased the playful look in her eyes but he knew her well enough to gather when she was being serious or not.

Something that Abby was still practicing with fishing was patience. It had improved loads since he first taught her but it still wasn't her best virtue. Action packed had always been more her style and sitting around and waiting was new but she was learning to find enjoyment in the calm. She leaned back to lay in the sand, her weight on her elbows so that she could still be upright enough to keep an eye on the rod though admittedly there was a chance she wouldn't be able to sit up and snatch it quickly enough if something were to bite. "So..." She wasn't sure how to fill the silence or if she even needed to. "This is fun." It wasn't a sarcastic remark but considering the low key vibe while waiting, it could have come off that way. She meant it though, this was a fun hang out.

There was that laugh again. His cheeks were actually aching from how much he had been smiling that day and there were no signs the smiles were going to cease anytime soon. He was okay with that. “Hey, told you I don’t mind sharing. Cool doesn’t really have to expressed through appearance but it’s more so an air you have about you,” he told her with a wink to punctuate that statement. He stood and watched Abby find her spot to cast out like a teacher observing their student (in a way he was) and the end result was a beaming smile that would be all the praise she’d need. “Abby,” Owen said, perfectly deadpan now as he delivered his next jab. “It’s not a contest.” He got himself another beer, popped it open and guzzled down maybe half of it before readying his fishing rod.

It was with the same practiced ease he had baited their hooks that he cast out a couple of feet away from Abby’s line. The whirring of the reel was a comforting sound to the backdrop of ocean waves and the cries of seagulls roosting further down the beach. There was much peace to be found here in Seal’s Cove. It was idyllic and worthy of a postcard. Owen lowered to sit in the sand with his legs bowed and arms slung over his knees. His bottle was packed into the wet sand to keep not only upright but to stay cool under the sun and he would take a sip now and then while waiting for the fish to start nibbling. Unlike Abby he kept both hands on the rod. Not wanting to miss the slightest tug.

Now all there was to do was wait.

#mothinked

[imafirefly]

WLF Reversible 🧡

#x; you don't know me (abby)

[imafirefly]

* 𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓  𝐎𝐅  𝐔𝐒:  𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓  𝐎𝐍𝐄.

  feel free to change pronouns / wording!

“ fun day at work, huh ? ”  

“ i do not have the energy for this. ”  

“ has anyone come in here ? ”  

“ holy shit. you got blood all over you. ”  

“ did they say how many are dead ? ”  

“ you ain’t seen what i seen. ”  

“ they’re gettin’ through the fence ! ”  

“ there were hundreds and hundreds of bodies lining the streets. ”

“ you wanted to be left alone, remember ? ”  

“ hands on your fucking head. ”  

“ it’s like we’re on a date. ”  

“ fuckin’ hate the smell of the city. ”  

“ don’t even think about cuttin’ in line. ”  

“ it’s been a while. ”  

“ put your gun down. ”  

“ that is a stupid idea. ”  

“ we can sneak by them, even though i know that’s not your style. ”

“ justice waits for no one. ”  

“ what’re you, like twelve ? ”  

“ your watch is broken. ”  

“ you mumble in your sleep. ”  

“ i hate bad dreams. ”  

“ beggars can’t be choosers. ”  

“ this rain ain’t gonna do us any good. ”  

“ don’t do anything stupid. ”  

“ hey fuck you man i didn’t ask for this. ”  

“ do i need to remind you what is out there ? ”  

“ you hear one clicking ? you gotta hide. that’s how they spot you. ”

“ oh … you got something on your shoe. ”  

“ you can’t deny that view. ”  

“ guess what, we’re shitty people. ”  

“ our luck had to run out sooner or later. ”  

“ i can buy you some time but you have to run. ”  

“ i will not turn into one of those things. ”  

“ what you say goes. ”  

“ you’ve never been here, have you ? ”  

“ doesn’t seem right. ”  

“ i’m a pretty good shot with that thing. ”  

“ get off your ass and on your feet. ”  

“ thanks for the heroics and all. ”  

“ i need you to shut up. ”  

“ okay … don’t be a dick. ”  

“ it’s the normal people that scare me. ”  

“ i can handle myself. ”  

“ i suggest we move quietly. ”  

“ we’re sittin’ ducks here. ”  

“ you’re doin’ a good job. i figure you should know that. ”  

“ this make you all nostalgic ? ”  

“ why are these all stuck together ? ”  

“ i’m just fucking with you. ”  

“ i’m not even tired. ”  

“ that is a lot of people that didn’t make it. ”  

“ i don’t think these guys were infected. ”  

“ keep your voice down. ”  

“ oh good, somethin’ else you can drive me crazy with. ”  

“ where did you learn to shoot ? ”  

“ endure and survive. ”  

“ you get people desperate enough they’ll do just about anything. ”

“ i really miss coffee. ”  

“ you scared the shit outta me ! ”  

“ i shot the hell outta that guy, huh ? ”  

“ why didn’t you just hang back like i told you to ? ”  

“ i should’a let your ass die back there. ”  

“ survival of the fittest. ”  

“ sarcasm … makin’ progress. ”  

“ so … this is awkward. ”  

“ what’re you scared of ? ”  

“ i’m gonna get that gun from you, okay ? ”  

“ thanks for not blowing my head off. ”  

“ that’s pretty impressive. ”  

“ you survived because of me. ”  

“ they’re all dead. ”  

“ i guess we’re both disappointed with each other then. ”  

“ what are you so afraid of ? ”  

“ you are treadin’ on some mighty thin ice here. ”  

“ come on, i won’t laugh. ”  

“ should we have seen someone by now ? ”  

“ stay here. i’m gonna flank this asshole. ”  

“ can you walk ? ”  

“ then fucking walk ! ”  

“ you gotta tell me what to do ! ”  

“ everything’s cool. this place is not creepy at all. ”  

“ any sudden moves and i put one right between your eyes. ”

“ you really shouldn’t be out here all on your own. ”  

“ i don’t like company. ”  

“ you hear that ? they’re on the roof. ”  

“ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ”  

“ you kill to survive. ”  

“ for a second you shook my faith. ”  

“ i knew you had heart. ”  

“ don’t fucking touch me ! ”  

“ this everything you were hoping for ? ”   

“ i ain’t leavin’ without ya. ”  

“ i can’t imagine losing someone you love like that. ”  

“ get up. i said get up. ”  

“ don’t come any closer. ”  

“ take it easy, drugs are still wearing off. ”  

“ feelin’ my age now. ”  

“ let’s just wait it out. y’ know, we can be all poetic and just lose our minds together. ”

“ i struggled for a long time with survivin’. ”  

“ no matter what, you keep findin’ somethin’ t’ fight for. ”

[imafirefly]

Bloody and Badass

#x; you don't know me (abby) #blood tw #( the 80s skin is so lovely )

[imafirefly]

i have this disease called i will open your message and get distracted and forget to reply and then the notification will be gone so i will not have replied for ages and you will think i am ignoring you but. i am not. it’s incurable