Chapter Two
Zoey wakes from her unintended nap, Harry's arm back over her shoulders. A glance tells her he's still asleep, so she doesn't know how it's happening. She's getting seriously worried now. He doesn't stay out this long, normally.
"You awake, Sleeping Beauty?" Negan calls out quietly.
Zoey crawls off Harry, standing with a stretch and, "Yeah?" She looks at the man as she does, taking in his sturdier clothing choice and bag. "Going somewhere?"
Negan looks down and nods, picking at his jacket. "Yeah, we are getting low on food. I'm going to go see if I can find any. I'll be back in a few hours."
Zoey feels conflicted. She wants to go help; show Negan and Lucille that they will not be burdens to the couple but Harry is still unconscious and she doesn't want to leave him. She wants to pull her weight but she's paralyzed with fear. Fear that if she leaves Harry alone, something bad will happen to him.
"Good luck," she croaks instead, feeling torn.
Negan looks at her, eyes narrowing briefly. Then he steps closer, his hand landing on her shoulder as he crouches down to her level, "He's going to be okay. Sometimes the mind shuts down during great stress and it takes a while to remember to wake back up."
That… makes a surprising amount of sense to her. She feels some of her anxiety melting away under the assurance. "Thank you."
Negan's face softens as he pats her shoulder and stands, "Not a problem, Zoey. I'll be back soon, I'm counting on you to guard Lucille, okay?"
Zoey tilts her head, following him to the door, "Guard Lucille?"
Negan looks at her, "Yeah, Lucille ain't doing so hot today. Can I count on you?"
New purpose fills her, distracting her a little from her worry over Harry. She nods firmly, "I can do that."
Negan smiles, "Thanks, kid."
Zoey locks the door behind him and then she's alone. She checks on Lucille, peeking into the bedroom and finding the woman sleeping. Zoey quietly closes the door and tries to figure out something to do.
The pictures on the walls catch her attention. Zoey wanders up to them, taking her time to study each one intently. Negan and Lucille feature in many, looking happy and content together. Camping trips, their marriage, birthdays and special occasions. The pictures paint a story of their lives together. Some of them have strangers smiling back at her and some are of locations. One holds a cabin overlooking a lake.
The one thing she noticed in every picture is the distinct lack of children.
Movement from the room draws her attention. The door opens and Lucille rushes out, stumbling into the bathroom. Zoey hurries over, hearing Lucille heaving and splashing sounds. Her own stomach roils with nausea from the sounds. She pushes the door open wider, the hinges squealing loud enough for Lucille to hear. She looks up at the door with a startled expression that goes abruptly green and she sticks her head back into the toilet bowl.
"You okay?" Zoey asks nervously, slowly entering the bathroom.
Lucille hurls again and rests her chin into the crook of her arm, "I'm fine."
Her lie would have been convincing had she not immediately thrown up again.
"What's wrong?"
Lucille heaves again, the lack of splashing meaning she's dry heaving. Zoey decides to be useful and retreats, going to the kitchen to grab a cup. She fills it with water from the tap and then hurries back into the bathroom. Lucille pants, reaching up blindly to flush the toilet, her face hidden in her arm. The sound of her sickness flushing away is loud.
"Here," Zoey offers quietly, holding the cup out. Lucille glances up, eyeing the glass and then reaching to grasp it.
"Thank you, Zoey," Lucille tells her, sitting back from the toilet to lean against the tub. She takes a swig of water, rinsing her mouth out and leaning over the tub to spit it out. Zoey sits down where she stands, tucking her knees into her chest to wrap her arms around them. After Lucille takes a sip, she sets the glass aside with a sigh.
"Why are you sick?" Zoey asks curiously.
Lucille gives Zoey a rather fake smile, the kind her Mom gave her following Dad's death. Zoey sees right through the lie as Lucille utters, "It's nothing to worry about."
Zoey rests her chin on her knees, "I know you're lying."
"Oh?" Lucille asks, looking worn out. There are deep bags under her eyes and, now that Zoey is actually looking, Lucille is much too thin to be healthy. Her skin tone is too pale and her hair-her hair is a bit too far back to be natural. "What makes you say that?"
Zoey lifts her head a bit, "My Mom always gave me the same smile after my Dad died."
Lucille sags a little, looking much more worn out, "I'm sorry to hear about that."
Zoey shrugs. It still bothers her but she's not sharing her troubles with what is essentially a stranger, "What's wrong?"
Lucille sighs, looking away and then down at her hands. The digits are nearly bone thin. The more Zoey sees of this sickness, the more she wants to ask Harry to heal her. She knows he would do so in a heartbeat, simply because she asked him to but doing so is risky. She's beginning to feel so torn about all of this.
If Harry found out, he would definitely heal her. That's just who Harry is. Zoey feels both angry and resigned over it, interspersed with relief over not having to ask.
Lucille suddenly lets out a gusty sigh, the fake smile dropping and splays her legs out carelessly, "I am sick. But that's my business, not yours. Thank you for your concern, though." The smile Lucille gives is much more genuine than the first.
Zoey isn't happy about it but it's not like she can force Lucille into telling her. "Okay. What do you do to feel better?"
Lucille leans her head back, resting it gently on the edge of the tub and closing her eyes. She thinks for several long moments and then frowns, "Read? Maybe watch movies, though I usually end up missing most of it." She tilts her head to the toilet and sends Zoey a wry look.
Zoey only feels more sorry for her. It can't be fun to be puking so much. "Do you have any games?"
"Games?" Lucille picks up her head, confusion evident in her face and tone.
Zoey nods, "Like… board games?"
Lucille thinks, absently pushing her hair further back, showing startling baldness before pulling her hair back into place. Then her face lights up, "You know? I think we do. Upstairs."
Zoey stands, offering her hand down to Lucille, "Lets go get it."
Lucille smiles tiredly and takes Zoey's hand, using her free hand to brace against the edge of the tub. The woman is much lighter than Zoey was expecting and it was barely a strain to pull her to her feet. Lucille sways in place, so Zoey ducks under her arm. She is too short to hold Lucille up properly but the sick woman seems to appreciate the effort, if the smile she sends Zoey is any indication.
"Thank you, Zoey."
Zoey looks up, giving a small smile and nodding.
The trip up is quick but it takes a while of careful digging to unearth a box with a picture of two kids and Connect Four in blocky letters. Zoey can't say she's ever played the game but it looks simple enough.
They end up playing until Negan gets back. The clock above the kitchen sink says quarter past nine when he walks in, bag only slightly filled. Lucille looks up from the latest game, right before she slots her piece in. Zoey watches in anticipation but is disappointed when her opponent puts the piece down and gets up. She was so close to winning this game.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Lucille greets Negan, hugging him before looking him over for any injuries.
"Not good," Negan sighs, taking off his bag. He kisses Lucille on her temple. "Everything in the area is cleared out. I'm going to have to start sneaking into the more infested areas soon. How are you feeling?"
Lucille frowns, taking the bag from his hands, "That's too risky."
Negan nods, eyes moving to Zoey, "We'll talk about it later, okay? How are you, squirt?"
Zoey rolls her eyes, "Not a squirt."
Negan tilts his head dramatically and leans over a little to stage whisper to Lucille, "Should I tell her?"
Lucille snorts but sobers instantly and lightly smacks his shoulder, "Stop being mean. Go sit. Maybe you can beat that little heathen at that blasted game."
Unbidden, Zoey grins. Her winning streak only grew once she figured out how the game works. Lucille's initial smugness at winning every round faded in very little time. Now Zoey carries a layer of smugness as Lucille refuses to admit defeat.
Negan's brows go up, "You think I have a chance? Ha!" Negan mocks himself, shaking his head. He takes off his jacket and hangs it up.
Feeling mischievous as Lucille sets the bag on the counter, Zoey sniffs the air dramatically, "Do you smell that?"
Both Lucille and Negan stop to sniff the air. They exchange confused glances and Negan replies, "Smell what?"
Zoey frowns, trying her best to keep from laughing and inhales even more dramatically. Then-"Oh!" She utters, as if placing the smell. "I smell a chicken."
Lucille bursts into giggles as Negan makes a sound of outrage, "I am not a chicken."
Zoey nonchalantly resets the game, dividing the pieces absently as she responds, "All I hear is bock bock bock."
Lucille inhales sharply and snorts, trying to control her giggles. Negan grumps about upstart kids as he makes his way to the table and sits down in Lucille's chair, "Bring it, kid."
Zoey beams, taking Negan completely off guard and chirps, "You can go first!"
Negan grabs a piece and slots it carelessly. Zoey's beam gets brighter as she places her own. Lucille could only shake her head as she unpacks the bag.
—
Negan sits back, throwing the piece onto the table carelessly as Zoey celebrates her win, "How in the hell, kid? Every game? Come on!"
He's distracted from his utter disbelief by a plate being set down in front of him.
"This looks great, hon. Thanks!" Negan says, looking up at Lucille as she comes around to place another plate in front of Zoey.
Zoey is quick to start putting the game away, her stomach rumbling for the food. Negan catches Lucille's arm before she can retreat and asks, "You, too?"
Lucille shakes her head with a grim smile, "I'll just sit with you guys. I'm not hungry."
Zoey looks up at that, knowing Lucille threw up what she ate earlier. Negan frowns but nods, looking troubled as she sits down next to him. She looks even more exhausted and frail right then. Zoey slowly finishes putting the game back into the box, now studying Lucille even more closely.
Lucille notices and just shakes her head with a smile. Zoey drops her eyes and closes the box, focusing on her food.
"You see anyone?" Lucille asks Negan as he digs in.
Zoey listens to their quiet conversation as she eats. She watches their closeness, how they tilt their heads together and their hands twining. Negan's eyes are soft whenever he looks at her and Lucille's eyes never leave his face. It's like looking at her parents before the accident.
Zoey drops her eyes, unable to finish her food. She suddenly lost her appetite.
"What's wrong, kid?" Negan asks gently, having noticed her drop in mood.
Zoey shakes her head, "I'm not hungry." She pushes her plate to Lucille. "You should try something. You can't get better if you don't eat."
Zoey stands before either of them can say anything, going straight to Harry and crawling into her spot. He doesn't move - more disappointment crawls through her chest - and she tucks her face into his side. Hot tears spill out, soaking into Harry's shirt.
Why did Dad have to die?
Why did Mom stop loving her?
Zoey wishes she had the answers as she silently cries herself to sleep.
—
Zoey sobs into her hands, hiding her face from reality. This is all a nightmare. She needs to wake up. She presses her face against her hands tighter, hoping the pain is enough to wake her up.
She doesn't wake.
But David does, his teeth closing over her arm before she can even react. Something grabs the back of her shirt at the same time, yanking her back. Zoey screams, in terror and in pain, her arm throbbing with waves and waves of agony. Then David tries to bite her again but she's pulled away from him entirely.
Arms come around her, her face hidden in a warm chest. Then she's pushed away a little. Numb, she mechanically turns her head, chest heaving with sobs. David loses interest in them entirely, even though they are only feet away and crawls over Jocelyn. She can't seem to stop watching him eat his own wife. Pain in her arm flares, far away but she winces anyway.
"Hey, hey, you're okay. What's your name?"
A voice pierces the fog. She answers absently, "Zoey."
Hands on her arm register and she hears him mumble, "I wish it doesn't get infected." Was that supposed to do something?
"Okay, Zoey, my name is Harry and this is Jimmy. Were those your parents?"
The question clears the fog enough for Zoey to finally drop her eyes and stop watching. She doesn't want to explain - or maybe she doesn't want to admit - that Mom… Mom… she tries to sniff but her nose is completely clogged. She just nods miserably instead.
"I'm sorry, Zoey," Harry says, sounding far more genuine than even those who attended Dad's funeral. "I know it's hard but you need to leave them. Your Daddy would never have bit you like that. Can you trust me?"
Zoey finally looks up, taking in Harry's green, green eyes poorly hidden behind round glasses. He looks mean and he's so big compared to her. His hair is a wild mess, longer on one side than the other. The bottom half of his face has hair growing in, covering his upper lip, chin and cheeks in black fuzz. If Zoey had seen Harry at her high school, she would have pegged him as a bully.
But right now-
Right now, with her arm throbbing painfully and the sounds of David eating Jocelyn, the smell of fire and burning flesh, Zoey doesn't see a bully. The concern and care in his voice belies his appearance; it softens the sharp edges protecting the kind, gentle person hiding beneath. She can’t quite explain how she just knows, knows, he would never hurt her.
Zoey nods, numbing again. She takes his hand when he offers it, unable to help the one last glance at the couple that saved her life.
—
Fingers in her hair have Zoey waking almost instantly. Hope flares up as she opens her eyes, looking up. She expected to see Harry awake and smiling at her but he's still asleep. His arm, somehow, migrated to her shoulders again. She's starting to think he just does it reflexively.
She turns her head at the, "Hey, kid. You up?"
Negan stares down at her, once again dressed up to go out. She frowns sleepily, "Where-"
"I need to go out again," Negan says, his eyes flicking to Harry and back again. "I'm getting worried about your friend here. He hasn't moved at all, even with all the pain he must be in."
"He moves his arm," Zoey blurts out, making Negan pause. "It's always over my shoulders when I wake up."
Negan considers this. Zoey doesn't know why but she feels anxious about Negan going out again so soon. Yes, they are low on food but they won't starve tonight.
"There's a travelling doctor who should be in this area about now. I was hoping to go out and find him-"
Zoey lifts herself up with a quick, "No!"
Negan rears back, not expecting the vehement response, "Whoa, kid!”
"No one can know about Harry!" Zoey continues, fear again slithering through her chest. She doesn't notice her breathing picking up as memories flash in her mind.
"Where is the other one, hm?"
Suddenly, she's back at the Vatos, watching her brother be brutally beaten by the military man, who did not hold his punches. Every grunt of pain echoes in her ears, her sobs muted as she listens to the terrible man's taunts. Harry fought so hard but he just couldn't match and Zoey never felt more helpless and utterly useless than right then.
She wasn't strong enough.
"Kid! Hey!"
A finger snapping in her face makes her flinch away, coming out of the horrible memories with a sob. Negan makes a confused sound as Zoey tries to calm down, "You okay? What's wrong? Why can't anyone know about Harry?"
She whips her head up, catching his hand with a wicked fast grab, "Please! No one can know!"
Negan's eyes are wide and Lucille comes out of the bedroom, looking around in confusion, "Okay! Okay!" Negan says quickly, putting his free hand up. "No doctor! Kid, you need to breathe, alright?"
"Negan? Zoey? What's going on?" Lucille asks in concern.
Zoey tries to remember Harry's breathing lessons, feeling her chest constrict in a familiar way. "Breathe, Zo! In, out, in, out!" She follows the phantom voice, feeling her breathing evening out slowly.
"I was going to look for the wandering doctor for Harry and she started freaking out!" Negan explains. Zoey can't respond at the moment, still trying to steady her breathing.
"Freaking out?" Lucille asks, sounding taken aback.
"She says nobody can know about Harry. She won't tell me why."
"Wait, wait. Negan, what is that?"
Zoey feels her arm lift, her sleeve falling further down. She abruptly remembers her bite mark and she swears her heart skipped a beat.
"Shi-it," Negan says, wonder in his tone. Lucille gasps. "Kid, where-"
Zoey yanks her arm out of his hold and hides the bite, eyeing both of them warily, "Nowhere. It's nothing."
Negan scoffs, motioning to her arm, "That's-"
"Is that why no one can know about Harry?" Lucille asks, sounding incredibly knowing in that instant.
Zoey looks at Lucille, surprised by her accurate guess and can only nod. The sick woman comes to some understanding, "He can heal people."
Negan sucks in a sharp breath, eyes flickering between them. Zoey looks at him and sees the exact moment he realizes the implications. Instead of gleaming, like Shane's or narrowing, like Andrea's, they flicker desperately to Lucille. Zoey follows his gaze to the sick woman and catches her severe frown and head shake.
The relief that fills her chest at that simple reassurance is astounding.
Negan frowns as well but lets it go. "This is why you guys were in that chopper."
Zoey drops her eyes to Harry, "Kind of." Her eyes rove over his face and makes the decision to trust them. She looks back up, "I got bit and Harry wished it wouldn't get infected. The next day, the military was driving by and Harry tried to get them to take me with them. He said it would be safer that way. But I-" she remembers them laughing and mocking Harry as they drive away. "I didn't want to go. They tried to take me because they thought I was immune but Harry saved me."
"Is that how you ended up here?" Lucille asks gently.
Zoey shakes her head, "No, they ambushed us. They want me because they think I'm immune but-"
"Where is the other one, hm?"
Zoey doesn't answer, trying desperately to get out of his hold but his grip is like steel.
"You are an interesting girl but I'm far more interested in your friend." Zoey pauses, panting, staring up in growing horror. "The higher ups said I could have him if I deliver you to them. I think it's a fair payment, don't you?"
Her response is lost, both of them looking towards the warning. Harry attacks a man Zoey didn't notice approaching, the needle in his hand going flying. It breaks against the wall and falls to the ground. The man pushes her to the ground harshly and moves towards Harry with a gleeful, "There he is!"
"Harry!" Zoey yells out too late.
"-this weird guy was like, really interested in Harry. Like, super weird. I got serious creep vibes. They injected him with… something. It made Harry go to sleep."
"Hey! Let go of him!" Zoey yells out again, to no effect. The man crouches next to Harry's drugged body laying on the asphalt, studying him intently. He looks up at Zoey, barely a glance and then snorts. Zoey feels utterly helpless as he runs a finger down Harry's face. "Don't touch him!"
The man chortles, "Oh, can't do that. He and I are going to be best friends. Young, gifted fighters like him are in short supply, didn't you know? He's a good age; young enough to be molded and old enough to be challenging to break."
Zoey can't think past the terror clawing up her throat. She suddenly fears, visceral and paralyzing, for her brother laying so helpless at the feet of a psychopath.
The man tilts his head, "He looks so familiar. I can’t put my finger on it."
The distant wupp wupp wupp catches her attention. It catches the man's, too, as he looks up as well. "Time's up. Your ride is here but don't worry. Our unconscious friend here will be riding back with you while I finish things up." He looks at her then, a wide smile in place. Zoey feels fresh terror at seeing it. "Be sure to say your goodbyes, hm? You won't see him again once you land."
"They put us on the helicopter and took us away. I don't know how long we were flying for. I kept trying to wake Harry up but he wouldn't wake and they kept making fun of us. But then he does wake up but something's wrong. I remember the radio saying they're off course and he's trying to lift his arms. Then-" Harry hugging her tightly, the chopper suddenly listing and then dropping out of the sky. Screaming. Then nothing. "I can't remember." She fibs reflexively.
Lucille has her hand over her face, impossibly paler. Negan is equally blown away, brows raised nearly to his hairline, "Kid…"
"Please," Zoey pleads, looking at them with wide eyes. "No one must know he's here. They'll take Harry away."
And I'll be alone.
She watches as they look at each and kind of… have an entire conversation without ever saying a word. It ends with Negan nodding, resigned and Lucille saying, "You two are safe here. We won't tell anybody."
Zoey sinks into the back of the couch, relief seeping from every pore. "Thank you." It's surprising to her that she trusts them to keep their word. They haven't done anything to not deserve it. She's not sure when she started trusting them.
"I'm still worried about him," Negan states with a concerned tone. "He might have slipped into a coma. I wanted the doctor to confirm if he did or not. Just because he moves his arm doesn't mean he's okay."
"What?" Lucille asks, now really confused. "He reacts when I check on his leg and ankle. His eyes flutter and he groans." Both Negan and Zoey stare at her in disbelief. Lucille returns their shocked gazes with exasperation, "Has no one else been checking his legs? That's why his arm is on you. It's cute how he immediately clutches you when he's in pain."
Zoey half turns to look at Harry's legs, having completely slipped her mind that she should be keeping an eye on them. She feels a wave of gratitude that Lucille stepped up to the plate in her place. She can't see what they look like under the blanket and hopes they are healing okay.
"It's best to let him wake on his own," Lucille tells her, derailing creeping ideas on how to wake Harry. "He's probably not well enough to be awake, anyway. I've been feeding him some broth and water, not much but some. It's only a matter of time at this point, I think."
"Why when I'm asleep?" Zoey asks curiously.
Lucille winks at her, "You always growl when I look at him."
Zoey feels herself flush but smiles. Lucille gives her own smile.
"Wonderful!" Negan says, shrugging out of his jacket. "Now that we've gotten drama out of the way, let's watch a little action, hm?"
"Can we watch something Disney?" Zoey blurts out before she can think better of it.
Negan shakes his head, "Nope! I'm in the mood for explosions." He mimics the sound of an explosion, sounding corny and fake compared to the real thing but-
"Negan," Lucille says tightly. "Zoey? You okay, sweetie?"
"It's just-" Zoey knows explosions in a far less pleasant manner. "The bombs…"
Lucille looks confused but Negan's face pales, "You saw the bombings?"
"Bombings?" Lucille asks, voice a few notches higher.
"I was… I was-I thought the world was ending," Zoey admits, recalling the unpleasant memories. "There was so much fire and smoke and so many screams…"
She inhales shakily as arms come down over her shoulders, "You poor girl. I can't even imagine how brave you must have been to get through all of that."
Zoey feels a fresh wave of emotion, hiding her face in Lucille's shoulder. Why do people keep calling her brave when all she feels is terror? Her arms come up, hands lightly grasping the sick woman's upper back. She shakes as she tries to keep from crying.
"What movie did you have in mind, Zoey?"
Zoey peeks out from Lucille's shoulder at Negan. The man looks somber from what he learned but now possesses an air of resignation. Zoey feels fondness for the tall baby bloom in her chest.
She smiles.
—
"Ah, come on, get up you weiner."
Zoey looks at Negan, catching Lucille's amused glance. They share smiles, silently laughing at how invested Negan got into an animated dog. The man remains blissfully unaware as he watches Balto struggle.
Zoey cuddles into Harry's side and focuses back on the movie.
Once again she hopes she can share these movies with Harry. But she can't help feeling like her time with Negan and Lucille is coming to an end. The thought of leaving the warmth of their regard is suddenly a terrible one, filling her with anxiousness. She's only known them a few days but…
But…
Mumbling has her looking up at Harry's face, hoping surging high. His eyes flutter and he inhales deeply, arm coming up over her shoulders… then relaxes back into sleep.
Instead of being disappointed, Zoey feels so happy. She rests her head on his chest, staring at his sleeping face intently. The background sounds of Balto overcoming his own limits fade into white noise.
—
When Harry had first told Zoey about his feelings, she didn't actually believe him. She figured he was feeling paranoid about the increase in attacks.
She, on the other hand, is dying to get out and do something. She's explored every nook and cranny, heard every story twice at the least and she's finally stopped smelling the residents. Everyone stinks but old people. They have a more unique stink than younger people. Zoey enjoyed their company far more than the smell bothered her, so it was never something she felt she should bring up.
But Harry wanting to leave tonight? It's risky but she trusts him to keep her safe. As long as she stays attached to his side, she won't be eaten. They can do this.
When they actually do leave, Zoey is rendered completely blind. Without any lights, the streets are pitch black but somehow, some way, Harry guides them through with suspicious ease. He dodges her questions, not even his mumbling revealing the truth.
Zoey didn't believe Harry's feelings on something coming. She had a blast meeting new people and acquiring fresh trauma on top of her current ones. She had fun playing Tag and the fish was delicious.
When Harry told her the bad feeling went away, Zoey took it at face value; they got to go home.
Zoey's non belief turns into belief mighty fast. The slaughter they narrowly avoided is morbid proof that Harry's paranoid feelings were accurate and true.
"I feel like something is coming and we need to leave… or we won't be able to."
Zoey will never doubt Harry's feelings again.
—
"Oh, my-Negan! Come look!"
Zoey snuggles into the warmth, ignoring the hushed whispers nearby.
"That can't be comfortable."
"Oh hush. Aren't they cute? Look how he curls around her."
"I'm seriously starting to question their relationship," Negan says. "How old is Harry? Eighteen? Nineteen? She's so young!"
A sigh.
Zoey begins to surface reluctantly.
"Honey, I'm only saying this once. Trust me, there is nothing romantic between those two."
"How do you know?"
"I use my eyes, dear."
"... I don't see it."
"That's why I said trust me. Don't you dare start flinging those baseless accusations around."
"Baseless?"
"Yes, baseless. As in, not based in reality. If you paid actual attention to how she interacts with him, you wouldn't be saying that at all."
Zoey feels so warm, warmer than she's felt in what seems like ages. There are arms around her and she's tucked against someone's chest and she feels so safe. A long exhale against the crown of her head has her blinking her eyes open.
Harry's shirt greets her. She blinks a few times, not registering what she's looking at. Another long exhale against her head and she tilts her face up to look. She spies the gaunt plane of Harry's cheek, his face pressing into her hair and breathing slowly, steadily. A small wriggle tells her he's completely wrapped around her.
She's never felt more content at being trapped.
Heart surging, Zoey snakes her arms around Harry's middle and hides her face back into his chest. She wets his shirt in no time, crying tears of relief, knowing he's close to waking up. How she had come to love him so much, she doesn't know. It had just been there, almost from day one and had grown and grown and grown.
Harry is often aggravating and frustrating in his obliviousness, making her swing between intense exasperation and irritation like a pendulum. He makes fun of her height and tries to steal her food, pokes holes in her logic and messes up her hair. Some days she feels the need to hit him and other days, the need for a hug. He soothes her nightmares and chases away her demons and always makes sure she knows she's loved.
Harry is her brother and Zoey is so happy he didn't leave her. So happy she's not alone.
Singing from the kitchen catches her attention. Zoey listens, unwilling to disentangle from Harry just yet despite her complaining bladder. She can't say she's ever heard the song before but when Lucille joins in, sounding raspy and weak, she can't say she dislikes it.
Negan's voice is rich as he sings, coming from deep in his belly. Lucille, though rough sounding, is all high pitched tones. They pair exceptionally well but something about their voices sound incredibly sad.
Harry mumbles, shifting. He half turns onto his back, the arm under Zoey easily lifting her along. She's suddenly wide awake, sitting up just in time to watch his broken leg fall off the edge of the couch. She winces at the expected pain Harry must be feeling, only to feel confused instead when the leg merely rests in a bent position. Somehow, the wires loosened and allowed the metal to slide with his leg instead of forcefully keeping it straight.
"Jesus, he's like a T-One Thousand," Negan comments from above her head. Just as he does, Harry shifts again, tossing his head, mumbling. "See his leg?"
Zoey tries to push up to look, to see if she can see the moment Harry wakes. His arms around her don't let her go far.
She doesn't need to.
Harry inhales sharply and his hazy green eyes open. Zoey can barely hear Lucille's startled comment on the color of his eyes, "Harry?"
"Where am I? Who are those people? Where is Zo-oh-Hullo Zo," Harry rumbles, voice rough. It sounds like heaven to her ears. "Good morning."
Negan giggles, "Oh my God, he mutters!"
"Sshhh!"
"Who is that? He looks weird. I need to watch him. Who is that? She doesn't look too good. Is she okay?"
Zoey grows abruptly angry, feeling fierce burning hot rage.
"Oh no, Zo's mad. I did something. What did I do?"
"Yes, you did something you stupid idiot!" Zoey snaps out, finally able to take her anger out on the object of her recent anxieties. "You left me alone for five days! Five days! Because you wished for something stupid again! How could you?"
She's barely aware of Lucille pulling Negan away for some much needed privacy.
Zoey doesn't give Harry a chance to respond, fresh tears bursting from her eyes, "I thought you were dead! I thought my brother fucking left me! How could you make me feel that way, you stupid, moronic-! " Harry finally pulls her into a tight hug, muffling her insults against his shoulder. She punches every inch she can reach, sobbing anew at the sheer release of all the pent up emotions she bottled up tightly. Eventually, she stops trying to hurt him and just clutches at him instead.
—
"So, you're the famous Harry."
"Please," Harry drawls. "Anything but famous. I can feel my hives kicking in."
Negan chuckles. Zoey can't move, she can't even open her eyes but she can hear just fine.
"Thank you for looking after her," Harry says haltingly. "You don't know how much she means to me."
"She's honestly been a delight to have around," Lucille says. "She knows how to handle my husband's more childish impulses. I haven't laughed so much in… gosh, it feels like so long."
"You know, the one that looks weird," Negan sounds put out.
"What?" Harry asks in genuine confusion. He never realises he mumbles, literally, all the time. Thus, he isn't always aware of what his commentary says about people. They never seem to be malicious but they are blunt.
Lucille giggles, "Nothing, nevermind. He's just being a baby."
"Not a baby."
Zoey thinks he's totally a big baby.
"Can I ask how the fuck you two are still alive?" Negan inquires.
Zoey feels Harry's hand in her hair. The contact feels good, threatening to make her fall back under. "Zoey was right, I wished for something stupid and desperate. I knew the helicopter was going to go down any second and I knew we weren’t going to survive. I couldn’t let…” a strange pause. Couldn’t let what? “I wished she would survive because I knew my… magic would only be able to save one of us. I must have had just enough left over for myself.”
Harry's thumb smoothes over her brow.
"But she's alive and unhurt. It was worth it. She doesn't think so but I know it is. She will always be worth it."
Zoey feels her anger over the whole thing melting away. Harry loves her so much that he nearly died trying to keep her safe. She repays that by freaking out and crying. Yet, he still loves her. She doesn't understand sometimes.
"Forgive me," Harry sounds super polite, his accent thickening. "You're sick, aren't you? Cancer."
Negan and Lucille inhale sharply, "How-"
Lucille has cancer?
"Can't really explain it," Harry replies. "Sometimes these things just pop up in my head. I can heal you in a day or two, if you want."
Negan sputters but Lucille speaks over him firmly, "We weren't going to ask that of you."
There is a loaded, tense silence. Then-
Negan sighs.
"You don't have to ask," Harry retorts. "I'm freely offering. Zo's my little sister and I will do anything to keep her safe. Anything." Warmth fills her from the conviction in Harry's voice. "She's precious to me. You took both of us in when you didn't have to and kept her safe, fed and content. Healing your cancer isn't nearly enough for me to repay your kindness."
Lucille and Negan are quiet. Almost too quiet. She suspects they are doing their weird silent conversation thing.
"If you really prefer not to, I won't force it. I can't make you want to live. But you have so much to live for, if you are willing to see it."
Lucille sounds heartbroken when she quietly admits, "There isn't much of a world left to live for."
"Depends on your definition of your world. My world is made up mostly of Zoey. As long as we are together, I know things will be okay. As long as she's happy and grows up to see adulthood, I can continue to see the silver lining in everything. You two still have each other, even through the end of the world. A bond like yours can outlast anything. You just have to want to try."
Harry sounds so mature and wise. He's always acted and held himself like he's far older than his teen years. He has seemingly infinite patience and an astounding ability to just… forgive, no matter what. She has only ever seen him angry a few times, none ever aimed at her. It's like Harry's soul is old.
"I see why she likes you so much, Harry," Lucille says. "You are a remarkable young man."
"I'm just incredibly lucky. Sheer dumb luck, I think is how my professor described it."
"Mhmm…" Lucille doesn't sound convinced. "Negan and I need to talk. Please feel free to put something on, okay? Make yourself at home."
"Thank you."
A minute passes in silence.
Then-
"Bloody hell, how do I choose what to watch? How do I even work the telly? Look at all those choices, how do blokes make up their mind?"
Zoey drifts back into sleep, reassured and amused.