Chapter Text
The ground was cold, still, it crunched beneath the worn down soles of Tommy’s boots. Just as the ground was frozen, the air was brisk, and bit harshly at Tommy’s cheeks.
Part of Tommy wanted to turn back, to take the risk, because he hadn’t eaten in days, and he was so cold.
He wouldn’t though, deep down inside he knew that if he took that risk he’d end up dead. He would rather die of hunger than of what would happen to him if he got the virus.
He glanced up, his eyes watering up from the bitter cold. Had he still been at camp, he’d have made a joke about it, probably something to do with crying, and whatnot, and he winced. He’d had no friends there, he didn’t miss it, nor did he miss anyone from it. But at least there, he’d been somewhat safe.
It’d been his own choice to leave.
He’d ran, he’d been fucking terrified.
Zariovirus, he heard it referred to most commonly as the blue virus, if not just the virus.
The blue virus, as in the way your fingers and toes turned blue, due to lack of oxygen in your blood. As in the way your skin turns blue upon touch, from the drop in your red blood cell count from the copious amount of blood you’ve coughed up.
And it got worse, you’d burn up, a fever so high your body kills itself trying to save you. Practically boiling you from the inside, your lungs grow inflamed, and you couch up blood. From there, you die a horrible death, and Tommy had seen it first-hand many times.
He’d watched both of his parents die of it. They’d been in pain for every second of it, until they just weren’t. Until they were gone.
Up ahead, Tommy noticed a figure, and if he squinted, he could just about make it out.
A black backpack, albeit it looked pretty light, the boy was wearing a purple hoodie. He looked to be about Tommy’s age, with dusty blonde hair. He had on black pants that rounded out around the ankles with a band just above his worn-out black military boots.
Tied to his leg was a piece of yellow fabric, worn down, but knotted twice, and Tommy assumed it held sentimental value, rather than just style.
He seemed to be walking with purpose, as though he knew where he was going, and Tommy perked up.
”Hey!” He shouted, breaking into a sprint to try and catch up to the other.
The boy spun around, his hand flying to his waist, where Tommy could make out the form of a silver handgun. He watched Tommy with narrowed, cautious eyes.
“Hey,” Tommy slowed, panting, “where are you going?” He asked, “can I tag along?”
“No.” The boy said bluntly, and turned.
”Please, I can’t go back to camp.” Tommy begged, and the boy gave him another glance.
“Why?” The other raised a brow.
”They caught it, the virus,” Tommy explained, “I can’t go back, where are you going?”
”To the refuge,” the boy said hesitantly, “and you’ve probably got it, you can’t come back with me.”
He’d heard of the refuge, a small ruin town run by the government, protecting whatever’s left of humanity, he’d heard of it, safer than a camp, but again, run by the government.
”I don’t, I swear,” Tommy insisted, “I don’t have it.”
He hadn’t felt odd, he hadn’t noticed anything, either, and he’d had no contact with any of the ill. As soon as he’d caught wind of the news, he’d fled.
The boy had violet eyes, and Tommy briefly wondered whether or not they were natural; they must be.
“I’m not risking it, go.” He waved Tommy off dismissively, stepping forward.
Tommy grabbed weakly for the boy’s wrist, trying to pull him back desperately, and in an instant, Tommy’s legs were swept out from beneath him.
He was flipped down onto his back, and he heaved, trying to catch his breath. Where the boy had learned to fight like that, Tommy could only wonder.
”I told you to fuck off!” The boy stared down at him with widened eyes, and a scowl, and clenched his fists.
“Please, please,” Tommy pleaded, “please, I swear I’m not sick, let me come back, I don’t want to die out here, it’s cold.”
The boy stared long and hard at him, debating, before giving out a quiet sigh and digging through his pocket, and taking a step back, holding up a handheld intercom.
“What’s your name?” The other asked flatly.
”Tommy.” He replied with a smile, he let the relief flood through him, warming him down to the bone momentarily.
”I’m bringing in a straggler, says his name is Tommy, send someone out for me if it matters.” He said, before pressing buttons, presumably switching channels, repeating the message, “have medical ready.”
Tommy watched him in silence, and the boy gave him a deadpan look.
”Are you coming?” He asked bitterly, and Tommy nodded quickly, pulling himself to his feet.
Tommy tried to keep up pace, but every time he’d caught up to the other’s side, the boy sped up, giving Tommy a glare. He didn’t look down on Tommy, but rather, he seemed to see Tommy to be a nuisance.
He saw an old barbed fence come into view, and he almost grinned, he’d made it somewhere, he was safe.
”Hurry up.” The boy said blankly, and Tommy nodded.
The entrance to the fence was left opened, the bolts left rusted, Tommy could presume it hadn’t been closed in a while. If it were to be closed, it would give out a fight, and a terrible screech.
The guy entered in a cautious, yet careless manner. He practically strode in, but Tommy noticed how he glanced around warily, and how his shoulders tensed.
A man caught up with them quickly, slowing down in front of Purpled. Purpled nodded, and the man returned the greeting.
“Got your message, medical’s ready for him.” The man said.
”Thanks, Punz.” The boy said with a smile.
”That’s medical.” Punz have Tommy a glance, pointing towards a smaller tent, and Tommy nodded reluctantly.
“We’ll talk.” The boy hummed, passing him, and Tommy followed behind.
When he’d lead Tommy to the medical tent, he’d ducked out almost immediately. The tent itself hadn’t been like what he thought it would be, everyone seemed quite welcoming despite the risk of infection.
There were only three people in the medical tent, a short man who wore a balaclava-looking mask; well they all wore one, medical masks, but he was also missing an arm, distinctive. Beside him stood a woman with bleached blond hair, and the shortest of them all, who had long brown hair and wore a beanie.
There were small crates and shelves, portable setups. To be honest, there almost wasn’t enough here to be considered a medical bay.
“Hey, Purpled let us know you were coming, my name is Niki.” Said the one with dyed hair. The other two then introduced themselves as Aimsey and Ponk.
He knew he’d probably forget their names later, and he’d feel terrible for it, but he was also a little too tired to really care.
So the boy’s name was Purpled.
“I’ve had the virus before.” Aimsey spoke up, and Tommy paused.
”You lived.” Tommy said.
He remembered watching his parents writhe in agony as the illness took it’s toll on them, the way their skin had been scalding to the touch. He could only imagine it had felt worse than it looked, to have it.
”Well, yeah, I’m here, aren’t I?” They nodded with a smile.
“Was it rough?” Tommy asked.
”It was,” Aimsey nodded, “I really thought I’d die,” they hummed, before adding in quietly, “I wanted to, it was so bad.”
“Don’t scare him.” Niki scolded Aimsey lightly, and Aimsey huffed with a smile.
”We can’t do much to check you over, but,” Aimsey paused, “give me your hands,” she instructed, “Ponk, you check his temperature.”
“Got it.” Ponk nodded quickly, and Tommy held out his hands. Aimsey took them, and eyed them over, flipping them, and inspected them.
Ponk hovered a small handheld device with a screen to Tommy’s head, waiting for it to emit a quiet beeping sequence before giving them a thumbs up.
”I don’t see anything, and your temp is fine.” Aimsey concluded.
”So I’m good?” Tommy asked.
”For now,” Niki nodded, “but if you feel sick at all, you need to come to us,” she said, “and don’t wait, if you even get the chills, you come to us immediately.” She said sternly.
”Got it.” Tommy nodded quickly.
“And you’ve felt fine?” Aimsey asked, and Tommy nodded.
”Go on, then.” Niki nodded, and Tommy hesitantly gave them a smile.
”Thanks.” He offered awkwardly, taking a step back.
Looking out of the tent, he could see Purpled talking to Punz.
He didn’t seem too pleased, given his loud tone, loud enough to carry his tone, but not quite his words.
Tommy crept forward, just enough to eavesdrop.
“We can’t let him stay, listen to me!” Purpled shouted.
Tommy stalked forward, he could only assume they were talking about him.
“No, listen to me, Purpled.” Punz said in emphasis.
”He’s putting us all at risk, Punz.” Purpled hissed, and Punz sighed.
“I know, but unless medical tells us otherwise, we assume he’s safe.” Punz insisted.
Medical had cleared him, Tommy almost mentioned it, but he’d kept quiet. He shouldn’t eavesdrop, but they were talking about him, how could he not?
”He’s putting us at risk, having him here, he could expose us all to the virus.” Purpled shook his head.
”I put the camp at risk taking you in, did I not?” Punz shrugged.
Purpled stared for a moment, before glaring.
”So then, did you regret it?” Purpled demanded bitterly, “did you regret taking me in, because I could’ve been infected?”
”No, I never said that,” Punz said calmly, “but I risked us all, taking you in.”
”He’s come from a group that had the virus, he could have it.” Purpled insisted.
”He doesn’t have it, does he?” Punz asked.
”He could, we don’t know,” Purpled said, “which is why we shouldn’t let him stay, it’s too risky.”
“We can’t turn him away now.” Punz shook his head.
“It’s safer to assume the worst, and kick him out now before he comes into contact with anyone else.” Purpled said briskly.
“Safer for us, what about him?” Punz countered.
”It won’t matter when he fucking kills all of us!” Purpled shouted. He took a step back, his hands coming up to his face, taking in a sharp breath.
“I know you’re scared.” Punz said quietly, “you have every reason to be, you can be scared, the virus is fucking terrifying.” He reasoned.
Punz took a step forward, and took a hold of Purpled’s arms, lowering them.
”Listen to me, kid,” Punz sighed, “I get where you’re coming from, and you’re thinking smart,” he said gently, “but unless medical says otherwise, we let him stay, alright?”
”You’re not listening to me.” Purpled whispered desperately.
”I am, kid, I am,” Punz insisted, “and you’re right, you are,” he added, “but we can’t just turn him away now, we’d be terrible to do that.”
Purpled opened his mouth to speak up, before glancing away, letting his arms fall limp in Punz’s hold.
“We’ll take him to Phil, and he’ll decide, alright?” Punz offered.
”Okay.” Purpled nodded.