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Embry Hawthorn (an OC) X Fem!Reader Angsty, Cute, and Fluffy Prompt [Full Version]

• There will be more!

• This is the full version of the prompt, as promised!

• Embry’s face claim is Margot Robbie as Allison Wells [altered using AI Mirror, Duty Calls filter]

!TW: Injury detail, mention of murder, implied suffering from depression + anxiety + separation anxiety, implied previously breaking up, presence of weaponry, dystopian atmosphere/elements of horror, suicidal consideration, swearing, fainting, threat(s), mention of blood, mention of stitches/the procedure, elements of self-doubt + self put-down(s), mention of nightmares, insult(s), elements of jealousy, presence of blood - If I’ve missed any, please let me know!

The Adults Are Talking/Don’t Look Back

“You need to rest,” Embry advised gently, her voice firm, and expression trying not to soften as you stared back at her, a hurt look on your face, “if you don’t-”

“Why?” You interjected, your voice weak, and strained; your wounds were recently tended to, and lungs felt as if they were on fire, but that didn’t stop you from wondering why she’d do what she did for you, killing Pedro like that.

She sighed, shaking her head as she looked away from you, a pained expression on her face.

“Y/n-”

“Why, Embry? Why would you-”

“It’s not important,” she snapped, and you would fall quiet, looking as if something had just impaled your heart, all over again, but she tried not to show that it hurt her, seeing you like that, even after everything that had happened between you both, recently, “just-.. go lie down, please.”

You scoffed, shaking your head as you tried to recompose yourself, your eyes darkening as you tried to stand straight, as if you were still strong, despite your many injuries, before you, her, and the others, ended up where you were, now, trying to protect yourselves upon an abandoned and damaged embankment.

“Not until you tell me why,” you insisted, and Embry would falter, wincing, as she grunted, before looking away from you, not knowing what she could say, to make things better between you both, anymore; the only words she wanted to share with you were ones she was sure would break her, all over again, “Embry, please - do this, for me; just this one thing - tell me why you did it.”

She hesitated, appearing nervous, before she looked toward the tent flap separating her and you from the others.

“I did it for you, Y/n,” she admitted, dejectedly, and you would fall quiet, your heart skipping a beat, “I-.. why wouldn’t I?”

“I thought-..” You fell quiet again, your heart sinking as you bowed your head. “Ember-”

You made to inch closer to her, but she moved away, looking stricken, a pained expression on her face again; she couldn’t bear to see you like this, but she didn’t know what else to do, keeping her gaze low as you faltered, a broken look on your face as you nodded gravely, and looked away from her to hide that you were in pain as you swallowed thickly, a lump in your throat again.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” she uttered, though it hurt her to do so; to allow such a lie to slip from her lips, “I just-.. thought of you, a-and-.. I-.. he.. I couldn’t let him get away with what he did, to you - I just couldn’t, okay!? I couldn’t-”

“I know,” you reassured her gently, and she would express relief, glad to hear that you understood as she drew in a shaky breath, and glanced up at you again, a soft smile playing on her lips, only making your heart break all over again; her smile had never been so faint, before. “So, do-.. do the others hate us, now?” You asked, and she would appear taken aback, by the question, before smirking over at you, and shaking her head, evidently amused by your assumption.

“They’re probably scared, but - I don’t imagine they hate us,” she mused, and you appeared surprised, as well as amused, alongside her, evidently glad to see the spark in he eyes, again, but it didn’t take long for the pain to come back, verging on full force, as soon as she looked away from you, and set her gun down on the ground, leaning it against her left leg. “Trust me, they hate him as much as we do,” she reassured you even more, but you couldn’t help it, clinging to the sadness in her voice, no matter how much she tried to hide it.

“L-Look, you-.. you don’t have to stay here, if you don’t want to,” you suggested, your voice close to a whisper, and she would falter, a pained expression on her face as she shook her head, not wanting you to think that she didn’t want to be there, with you, even after everything; after you’d broken up with her, despite all the promised you’d made to each other - her heart sank at the reminded of it; you’d both been so close, only to have everything taken from you again, “I-.. I’m fine, by myself, I swear I am, I-.. I just-.. I’ve missed..”

“We should stop,” Embry murmured, and you would frown, your heart splitting into even smaller particles than it had, before, “t-this-.. this looping, it-.. it’s never gonna get us anywhere, Y/n; you either want me, or you don’t - do you?” You tensed up, dread washing over you again as your blood ran cold, and you found you couldn’t muster up a response to her question, no matter how much it was true; you’d wanted her ever since you first met her. You bowed your head again, your eyes still sore and dark; you wished she’d just left you to die - none of this would be happening, right now; maybe it wouldn’t still hurt, so much. The rings were still in your right pocket, cold, and painful; you knew it didn’t help, having them remind you of the engagement that could have proceeded, if you didn’t shut everything down, but you couldn’t let them go, for fear of losing sight of them completely, no matter how much it hurt you, to see them, and think of everything that could have been, if you’d stayed with her. You sighed heavily, but it didn’t make you feel any better; the weight was still there, in your chest, where your heart was supposed to be. “That’s what I thought,” Embry uttered, and you would lean heavily against the frame of your bed, not sure what to think, or even feel anymore, besides the pain, and guilt that always seemed to overtake you, even when Embry wasn’t in the room, with you, “l-look, maybe we should-”

“C-Can you just stay in here, with me? For - For one more night?” You requested, and she would fall quiet, her heart skipping a beat as she looked up at you, and frowned when she noticed the dejected look on your face.

She sighed, finding it incredibly hard to say ‘no’, when she saw you like that, looking as if you might break down, any minute now.

“Y/n-”

“Please,” you begged, your voice shaking as your face crumpled, and the tears finally escaped you, “Ember, I - I can’t do this without you; I can’t sleep without you, I just can’t - w-whenever I tried, before, all that ever happened was that I-”

“Stop,” Embry interjected, her voice cracking a little as you fell quiet, your breath hitching in your throat wetly, as you tried not to let a strained sob escape your lips, “I can’t do this anymore, Y/n - what don’t you get, about that? Just-.. go to sleep, okay? Please - you need to rest, and if you need me, I’ll be just outside, okay? Not far, at all, please just try, for me? Will you?”

You felt stuck, staring back at her tearfully as you tried to find the right words to say, but you guessed it didn’t matter anymore; why would she wanna hear anything like what was stuck in your throat, after you’d been the one to ruin things between you both, the way that you had?

“Okay,” you managed, your voice close to a whisper, and she would express relief again, though this time it was half-hearted, her eyes darkening as she tried to recompose herself, no matter how much it broke her, to think that this was just how it was going to be, between you both, after today.

“Okay?” She replied, and you would nod slowly, not daring to look up at her again. “Good,” she concluded gently, “I - I’m glad - I-.. I should-”

“It’s okay,” you reassured her gently, “you - you can go; I’ll be okay, in here - I know I will.”

“If you’re sure,” she returned, before drawing in a barely audible breath, and smiling weakly in your direction, only to have her heart sink when she noticed you were looking away, again, “I’ll - I’ll see you around, okay?”

“See you,” you replied, and she would nod again, begrudgingly, before taking up her gun, and turning around to walk out of the room, but you didn’t go to sleep that night - instead, you began packing up your things, and wondering where you could go, that wouldn’t be getting in her way, anymore.

🜚

She wondered how long two people could go on arguing, during the day, without getting bored of doing so. It had at least been a couple, or a few hours since Claire and Shyro had begun squabbling, shortly after Embry had left your room. She sighed exasperatedly, trying not to grunt as she listened to the pair, not too far away from her, despite the tent flap separating them, at the time.

“Annoying, aren’t they?” Alexa commented, Akaya following at her heels, before laying down beside Embry; she’d been walking like normal, with only a mild limp, ever since Claire had helped treat her wounds from the invasion of the Survivors’ base, a few hours ago, now.

Embry tensed up, wincing, before she forced a smile over at Alexa, and then bowed her head again, prompting her friend to frown, realising she was still being burdened by what had happened between you and her, not too long ago, now.

“They are-”

“Embry,” she began gently, but her voice was firmer than she’d ever heard it, before, prompting her to falter as she glanced over at her friend, a pained expression on her face; she knew what was coming, and wanted nothing more, but the time to stop, silently begging Alexa to let it go, but her friend didn’t wanna see her like this anymore, as she shook her head, and lifted her right hand up to her left shoulder, eyes never leaving one another. “Forget her,” she stated; commanded, and Embry would falter, her eyes darkening - even her companion’s squabbling inside didn’t phase her as Shyro spat the words: ‘if you’re that tired, just take a nap.’ It was so quiet, otherwise. You could almost hear crickets, if there were any left, after the Apocalypse had begun. She sighed, forced a nod, but her eyes told a different story; she couldn’t just banish her feelings for you, no matter how much she wished she could, right now.

🜸

Once you’d managed to pack up as much as you possibly could, as quietly as you could, you hastily closed up the makeshift trunk you’d put together, before you carried it toward the back exit of the tent, warily looking back as you went. Your throat started tickling, but you tried desperately not to cough, no matter how much the itch was trying to make you do so. You sighed, checking around each corner of the tent, until you faltered upon noticing Embry and Alexa standing together, her companion’s hands still resting upon your ex fiancé’s shoulders.

Your heart dropped, and you began to feel empty all over again. You subconsciously felt for the rings in your left pocket, faltering as soon as you felt them still there; still taunting you - none of it had ever just been a nightmare, or a dream. You bowed your head, remembering how things used to be, between you both. You drew in a barely audible shaky breath through your teeth, before you turned back toward the forest behind the tent - your best bet may be through those trees, no matter how scared you were to go through them.

🜸

“It’s not that easy, Alexa,” Embry murmured dejectedly, “I love her-”

“That’s because you’re spending too much time with her,” she interjected, “stop it; we can look after her, for you - you don’t need to be in there, with her. Not all the time, anyway, like you often are.”

“She needs me,” her friend continued, her expression firmer than it was, before, “you don’t know her, like I do. Please, Alexa, just-”

“It’s hard, I know it is,” Alexa reassured her gently, “but-.. there’s nothing else you can do, Ember; don’t forget that, okay?”

Embry frowned, before nodding gravely, and looking away from her friend as she dropped her hands, allowing her to turn away, and look toward the sunset - it was pretty, but she’d seen prettier sunsets, in her lifetime. The ones she’d spent watching with you; they had always been the most beautiful ones she’d ever seen, as long as you were beside her.

“She doesn’t want me,” she mused, her voice close to a whisper, and Alexa would frown, looking toward Embry again with a pained expression on her face, “that’s just the way it is, now - right?”

“That doesn’t make this the end of everything,” she stated, “you know that, right? Life’ll still go on; I know it will, no matter what - you just need to find someone better, than her, and you’ll see. Or you’ll eventually work out that maybe you feel as if life is better, alone.”

Embry hesitated, before nodding slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face, but no matter how much she tried to envision a future without you beside her, nothing seemed to work. You would always be the one she wanted, if only life didn’t make it so hard for you to both process such a fact.

🜸

You walked through the trees, small tears running down your cheeks as you tried not to break down, though you didn’t care if the Skin-eaters heard, and caught you anymore - at least Embry would be happy, with you gone. You sighed heavily, your eyes darkening as you bowed your head; you wished you’d never been born, in the first place - what was the point, of any of it? You bit down on your tongue, trying to swallow the lump in your throat with every heavy step you took, no matter how much it hurt you to do so, every pace taking you further, and further away from her - the woman you’d loved ever since you’d first met her; the woman who made you feel safe, and as if maybe things would be better, from now on - nobody could ever hurt you again, until she wasn’t beside you anymore, all because you were scared of hurting her.

You only hoped she’d be happier, now.

🜸

“Embry!” Claire cried, as she rushed out of the tent, Shyro hot on her heels behind her.

“Oh, god,” Embry uttered, under her breath, before turning to face them, “what’s wrong, now?”

“Claire is bullying me, first of all,” Shyro uttered, “all because I’m telling her to go to sleep, since she looks like death warmed over-”

“Shut up, Shy,” Claire spat, not even looking over at him, “the adults are talking, now - if you haven’t noticed that, yet.”

“Hey,” Shyro complained, “I’m an adult, too-”

“Sure, you are,” she corroborated begrudgingly, and definitely not with any hint of sarcasm in her voice, “it’s Y/n, Embry.” Embry faltered, her blood running cold as she looked back toward Claire, her eyes widening a little. “She’s gone,” she stated, a pained expression on her face as soon as Embry’s heart sank; she had been supposed to be keeping tabs on you, in the other room - she’d never intended on this happening, the way that it had; it was a miracle you’d not got very far, by the time Embry had got into your room to find you no longer there, confirming what her companion had previously told her though she didn’t exactly need her to.

🜸

You’d tried to run, for a little while, worried that they’d catch up to you, eventually - well, either them, or the Skin-eaters screeching in the distance. Your skin thrummed as goosebumps ran along your arms, every time you heard the monsters nearby; this was incredibly risky, to the point you wondered why you weren’t just - giving up. You breathed out, your breath wispy in the cold air as you looked around warily around you, your strength fast dwindling. Claire had recently deemed you ‘bedridden’ due to all your wounds; practically still fresh after she’d treated them, not too long ago, now, but you couldn’t take any chances anymore, especially not when Embry’s quality of life were counting on them.

Even as your vision began to darken a little, and your lungs felt as if they were on fire, you kept going, feeling weaker than you ever had before, but you didn’t stop. You didn’t stop, until your legs began to fail beneath you, your head light as you tumbled to the ground, staring blankly through glossy orbs at the tree to your left - if only you could just get a bit further, but as soon as you tried, somehow, pushing your body a little more forward, you winced, and felt numb all over, knowing it was over, even before your vision blackened completely. You just hoped a Skin-eater came along and found you, before Embry and the others could.

🜸

“A search party?” Shyro mused, as Embry paced the room, appearing anxious, and - for the first time in a little while - panic-stricken, each time she looked back toward your bed to find you no longer where you were, before.

“Yes,” she spat, dismissively, but she couldn’t stand each minute that was spent, not looking for you, leaving you at risk of being taken over, or even killed. She couldn’t shake the thought, no matter how much it rattled every part of her, body and soul.

“Of people?” He continued, whilst Claire rolled her eyes, and Alexa stood timidly beside her, Akaya laying at her feet as she whined quietly, each time Embry passed her, as if seeking out her attention for fear of what might happen to her, if the search wasn’t begun, and soon.

“What else, Shyro?” She hissed, before turning sharply to face him, prompting him to wince, and even gulp as he shrugged, and stammered a little in response to her question.

“I - I don’t know, sorry, I - I was just checking with you before-”

“We can’t send Akaya out there, alone,” Embry interjected a little more calmly, but the edge never left her voice, her eyes hard, but they could all see that she was close to crumbling, under the pressure of possibly losing you, today, if you weren’t found, soon. “Someone has to go with her, whilst others are checking the perimeter,” she continued determinedly; pointedly, certain of what she wanted to do, even before their search for you had begun - she couldn’t let any stones go unturned, not where you were concerned, and in danger of being lost, if such a risk was taken. The very thought made her blood run cold, her eyes darkening again as she looked away from Shyro, before turning toward Claire and Alexa. “Claire, you need to take the-”

“Left - I know, don’t worry,” her peer reassured her, and Embry would express relief, before looking toward Alexa.

“I’m taking the right, like you told me to,” she stated, her voice harder than usual; everything that had happened recently had made her realise the importance of strength, and loyalty; she wouldn’t let the people she had left, down, even you, after what had happened between you and her friend. Though, she did like the thought that she was doing this more for Embry, than for your sake, considering she could see that you still meant a lot to her, even if the favour, and feelings weren’t returned the way they used to be.

“Thank you,” Embry returned, smiling softly over at the two, but it didn’t last, the curves of her lips dropping as soon as Shyro spoke up again.

“But - that means - if you’re taking the back, and I’m taking the front-”

“We’re all going out there alone,” Embry clarified, and he would tense up, wincing, as he began to regret his life choices all over again, “deal with it; this needs to be done. Besides-.. we.. we need her, for-..”

She fell quiet, a pained expression on her face as she bowed her head a little, not wanting them to see that she was struggling, just thinking about you, alone and scared, out there, possibly lying in a puddle of your own blood for the Skin-eaters to claim. She scowled, and balled her left hand into a fist; she wouldn’t let you get hurt out there, that much was for sure, no matter what state you were in, when she found you - with, or without the others on her side.

“Forgive me for interrupting, but,” Claire began slowly, standing behind Embry, now, “what do we need her for, exactly?”

Embry tensed up, wincing again as she gritted her teeth a little, not sure what to say, for a moment, until she thought about you being the daughter of the man who’d created the Apocalypse’s monsters; well, the ones who were Skin-eaters, anyway, but she guessed the rebels became the rebels because of everything going to shit the way they did, shortly after the Apocalypse had come into effect, the way it did.

“We understand, y’know, if it’s just a rescue thing, or a thing between you and Y/n, but-”

“We don’t need to know, guys,” Alexa chimed in, before either of them could continue anymore than they already had, but Embry didn’t want to leave any questions unanswered, no matter how much it pained her to allow the next few words to slip from her lips.

“She’s an asset, remember? If we want this hellhole to go back to normal, then she is our only chance, right now,” she uttered, a lump forming in her throat again as her face grew hot, and her heart stung a little in her chest, “that’s the only reason why - now, do we have anymore questions, or are you guys gonna stop bitching, and actually help me, here?”

Alexa frowned, shaking her head as she looked toward the others, who also appeared taken aback, evidently surprised by Embry’s claim regarding you, in response to Claire’s question, but they didn’t dare contradict her, seeing she was in enough pain already, beneath her façade, so instead they both smiled faintly, and nodded, Claire stating ‘sure’, whilst Shyro said: ‘none at all’, prompting their leader to express relief, before she nodded alongside them, smiled her thanks to them, and turned to slip through the main opening of their tent. She just hoped they weren’t too late, already, or she knew there would be no point in going on any longer, without you beside her, like you were before.

🜚

The leaves crunched softly beneath Embry’s feet, with every step she took. Akaya trotted peacefully beside her, but that didn’t stop her from being tense, looking around for signs of life anxiously; she could sense that there were a few Skin-eaters in the area, but they weren’t close enough to suggest imminent danger, for her as well as her owner.

“Anything yet, girl?” Embry inquired, her voice gentle, and Akaya’s ears would twitch toward her companion, before she looked around again, looking as if she were still trying to pick up a scent; your scent, to make things easier. Well, it would have been harder, if she didn’t find the blood trail hiding just beneath the recently fallen leaves. “Fuck,” Embry spat, assuming the worst, and Akaya’s reaction didn’t make her feel any better, as her companion stopped at the blood trail, before hastily looking up, and lurching forward, her companion running behind her like nothing else in the world mattered, as much as what was on the end of the blood trail, did. “Shit, shit, shit!” She whisper-shouted in an exasperated manner, her heart pounding in her chest as they came into a clearing, leading toward another set of brambles, but Embry faltered before they could get to the bushes, as soon as she noticed that they were shaking, as if something had just passed them, before they could. She didn’t hesitate, sweeping Akaya up in her arms, before she warily approached the greenery, narrowing her eyes against the light of the moon to see what was before her, only for her to stop in place, as soon as she noticed the woman crouched a few paces away from her, leaning over a limp body that looked exactly like your’s. Her heart sank, even before she knew - every step now, would be the ones taking you toward either her own downfall, or an ascent to whatever heaven above there was, if there even was one.

🜸

The sky was dark in the clearing; everything felt as if it were dream-like - as if it weren’t actually real. You couldn’t help it, smiling softly up at the stars that shone up overhead, but the sight would be so much better, if Embry were with you. Your heart sank first, before your eyes darkened, and you bowed your head. Until you felt someone intertwining their fingers, with your own, and god were her fingers soft; her palm warm against your own. You couldn’t help, but allow yourself to smile again, as you looked toward her, and her eyes shone as soon as they locked with your own, except - when you closed your eyes again, the next time you opened them, she was gone.

In her place, was a figure you didn’t recognise. You tensed up, and withdrew your hand almost as fast as the unfamiliar woman had grasped it. You winced, the sharp pain in your arm taking you aback as you whimpered barely audibly, gritting your teeth, as you tightly shut your eyes, begging for Embry to re-appear, the moonlight goddess she was. Your heart skipped a beat, only to drop again as soon as you looked up to find the same woman crouched down beside you, leaving you feeling hopeless, even before you noticed that you weren’t even in the clearing anymore - you were just beyond it; you didn’t remember much of what had happened before, just that you’d got a little far away from the tent, before your legs had collapsed beneath you.

You sighed heavily, evidently dejected as your eyes darkened; you couldn’t believe you’d tried to run away, but the dread that was starting to settle in within you didn’t stop you from thinking that you hoped Embry would be happy, after today; as soon as she noticed you were gone. You let your eyelids flutter shut, but you couldn’t picture the clearing anymore. Not until you heard her voice, again.

🜸

“Who are you, and what have you done to her?” She questioned, her voice sharp as she lowered Akaya to the ground, before lifting her gun, and aiming it at the unfamiliar woman’s head.

The woman faltered, and winced as she looked toward Embry, before slowly rising to her feet, not daring to speak for a moment, until the gun was lowered a little, and Embry’s expression softened; she hadn’t noticed the fresh bandages, before, wrapped around your left arm, suggesting the woman had tried to help you, as the bandages Claire had put on you couldn’t look as fresh as these ones, were, considering they were applied more than a few hours ago, now.

“She is safe,” the woman spoke, and Embry would tilt her head partially, still not sure, as her eyes flicked between you, and the unfamiliar beside you. “She was bleeding out, but she is okay, now,” she added, her voice ever so gentle, “see?”

Embry took a moment to recompose herself, before she slowly walked closer to the bushes, Akaya growling quietly as she walked beside her companion, but the woman appeared unperturbed by the Shepherd dog, instead crouching down beside you again to carefully lift you up a little, seeing as you were too weak at the moment to keep yourself up, your back against the tree behind you, now.

“She might be okay,” she mused, her voice still cautious as she eyed the woman warily, watching every move she made, directed at you; she wouldn’t let anyone hurt you again, and wasn’t phased at all by the idea of pulling down upon the trigger, if the woman made any incriminating moves toward you, a few paces away from her, now, “but that only answers one of my questions - who are you, and what are you doing here?”

The woman winced again, as if it were a great secret, before she slowly looked up at Embry, and smiled timidly.

“I was told to come here,” she admitted, and Embry would raise her eyebrows a little, “o-our group; m-my group - it’s leader, she told me to come here, and check the area for survivors, and here you are.”

“So? What do you wanna do to us, kill us? Burn us to a stake? What’ll it be?” She questioned, still holding the gun close to her. “What do you want from us?” She pried, but the woman appeared a little nervous, for a reason unbeknownst to her.

“I’m not supposed to-”

“But you will,” Embry hissed, raising the gun again, “won’t you? If you know what’s good for you.”

The woman didn’t hesitate to raise her hands up in surrender, and Embry felt bad; she looked - frail, nothing like a rebel, or a typical enemy would - it was almost enough to get her to drop her gun, seeing the woman like that, clearer than she could, before.

“O-Okay, but-.. but - if I told you, you might not like what we have to say,” she admitted, her voice briefly trembling, and Embry would frown, cautiously looking toward your currently limp frame, again.

“That’s fine,” she replied, simply, “‘cause I wanna hear it anyway, and I think my gun’ll decide, if that’s true, or not.”

The woman nodded, and smiled faintly over at Embry, but she could see she was scared, and that only made her feel worse, but she tried to remind herself of the vulnerable position you were in, and it enabled her to keep her gun held up, where it was, now, though it made her feel bad for the woman on the other end of the barrel.

“Okay, of - of course,” the woman managed, speaking too fast to the point that her words were stumbling over themselves, “but first, I think it’d be a good idea to get your friend back to where you’re residing - the bandages’ll hold, but she’s lost a lot of blood, and needs her wound stitched up, c-can we do that, please, before-?”

Embry narrowed her eyes, thinking about questioning the woman again, but the reminder of your situation only made her blood run cold, and she didn’t hesitate to rush over to you, when she heard you whimper barely audibly, after a wince, and quiet curse. She wondered if you’d also allowed her name to slip from your lips, prompting her heart to skip a beat as she crouched down before you, Akaya sniffing at your hands as Embry cupped your face within her palms and shaky fingers, her gun laying recklessly beside her, but the woman never thought to pick it up, warily looking around her as if a Skin-eater may emerge into the area any minute, now.

“I’m here,” she whispered gently, her voice a little shaky as she connected her forehead affectionately to your own, wondering why you’d left the way you had, but there was no time to scold you for doing such a thing, right now - that much she knew, as you appeared paler than usual, scaring her more than anything else ever had, before. She could still lose you today, if she wasn’t careful. That was enough, for her, as she carefully picked you up off of the ground, and you groaned, clinging to her shoulders as she did; all whilst you buried your face into the crook of her neck, and she felt alive, again, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she turned back toward the unfamiliar woman. “Thank you-..?” She began again, her voice barely audible, and sounding a little strained as if she were trying not to break down, after seeing you like that - so weak, and close to death, if not for the woman who had found you, when she did, if only she knew her name, and could thank her properly, somehow.

“Alice,” she answered, her voice timid, and Embry would appear taken aback, “my name is Alice - and you’re welcome, by the way, but we really should move, before-”

Another screech sounded out, somewhere off to the right; the Skin-eaters were getting closer, and your breathing pattern was growing to be staggered, and uneven, your eyelids fluttered shut, and grey, like storm clouds; she only hoped you had enough strength to hold on, before she got to Claire, and the others, whom she hoped would be back at the base, by now, waiting for them. She whistled, and Akaya barked, just in case they weren’t there, yet, and luckily they moved quickly enough to evade the approaching monsters, but Embry swore she heard movement running behind them, at some point, before the steps had fallen quiet, and they were finally in the clear again - for now, anyway.

🜚

They were all there, as soon as Embry, Akaya, and Alice broke out of the tree-line, running back toward the tent, only to falter before the group for a moment, and until she noticed the worried looks on her companion’s faces, she didn’t realise tears were leaking down her cheeks. You stirred briefly, in her arms, your heart pounding faintly as you stared down at the ground beneath you, never once letting your fingers release her jacket; you felt too safe, and oddly calm, being back here with her, again, though you knew you’d failed her, having allowed her to find you again he way you had, just because you’d passed out not far away enough from the tent.

You sighed, content, even as pain continued to shoot throughout your body at every movement, no matter how small it was. You whimpered quietly as she shifted you a little in her arms, prompting her to wince, and her heart to drop as she worried she’d hurt you, again, but tried not to let your reaction scare her too much, knowing she had to stay strong for you, if she wanted to keep you with her, even after everything you both had already been though, together.

“I..” You managed, your voice close to a whisper, and surprisingly raspy, prompting Embry’s heart to skip a beat as she looked up at you, silently begging you to continue, wanting to hear your voice again as you tried, but felt much too weak to voice anything else, frustrating you as your mouth moved silently against her neck, making her heart squeeze as her eyes darkened, but she didn’t have much time to get used to the feeling, before Claire spoke up.

“Well, at least she’s still alive, right?” She remarked, and Embry rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help, but faintly smile down at the ground - that fact was true, and was certainly nothing less than a good one, despite the situation at hand, currently.

“Who’s that?” Alexa questioned, gesticulating toward the woman behind her friend, currently, who still appeared slightly tense, considering she was in unfamiliar territory, and certainly didn’t yet feel welcome by the others, excluding Embry, as of this moment in time.

“Her name’s Alice,” Embry answered, and Alice would give a timid wave, before hastily looking away from them, “she’s going to be staying for a little while, so we can sort some things out - right?”

“Right,” Alice agreed, “definitely; for - for sure.”

“She’s shifty as hell,” Shyro commented, under his breath, but still audibly, and Alice would frown, tensing up even more as Embry shrugged off the remark, not wanting to drop her guard too much around the unfamiliar, regardless of how she’d helped you, before this moment in time. She wanted to find out what the new group wanted from her and the others, before making any further judgements of their new guest, so she did just that, standing up a little taller, before she tilted her head toward the tent, and meandered around the others, who warily eyed Alice again, before following her inside, and trying not to talk amongst themselves too close to her.

🜚

“Have you gone mad?” Shyro hissed, and Embry rolled her eyes, ignoring him as she carried you back into your room, as Alexa blocked him from entering the room, behind her and Alice.

“Stay out of it, Shy,” she spat, but not too unkindly; she just wanted to give Embry the space she deserved, right now, after the scare she’d had, recently, regarding your well-being.

“This is a nice place, y’know, to - to be,” Alice commented, as Embry carefully lowered you back down onto your bed, but you whimpered again, and refused to let go of her, your chin resting upon her left shoulder as she awkwardly looked back at Alice, and smiled apologetically for your current state, though it made her thoughts cloudy, to have you this close again. Her heart skipped a beat, as you buried your face into her neck again, as if you felt safer in such a position, as long as she were with you, and - strangely enough - it made Embry feel calmer, to have you there with her, despite Alice’s presence in the same room as you both.

“I guess,” she replied, the others straining to listen into the conversation, “but it’s not at all like our last place; it’s enough, though, I suppose, for a few more days.”

“Not so many places left, now,” Alice corroborated gently, appearing dejected as she spoke, now, “but I guess.. I guess you’re right.”

Embry tilted her head partially, appearing curious as to where Alice may be staying, with her own gang of survivors.

“If I may, where are you and your friends staying?” She inquired, and Alice would tense up again, as she warily looked up toward Embry, wondering what she’d do with such information, if she gave it in, now. Embry winced, guessing this was the case as she then hastily shook her head, and leaned forward a little. “You don’t have to tell me,” she reassured, “at least - not yet, anyway. But.. if you want this to work-”

“The Boulevard,” Alice admitted, her voice barely audible, as if she were afraid of the others hearing such an answer; she felt as if maybe she could trust Embry, considering she hadn’t killed her, yet, so that was a good thing, “w-we’re staying down there; nobody’s been down there for years, I’ve heard some say, so-.. it’s kinda creepy, and decrepit, but it’s okay; rebels don’t think to go there, and the Skin-eaters we get are minimal - for now, anyway.”

“Right,” Embry mused, a thoughtful expression on her face; she’d been to the Boulevard, before, her eyes darkening. It had been with Cynthia, before the Skin-eaters had taken her away. She winced, and hastily bowed her head, all whilst she fidgeted with her slightly shaky fingers, ones you wished you could cling onto, without it hurting you to do so, considering your arm was still paining you, and some of your fingers were still healing after they’d been broken by the invasion of rebels back at the Survivors’ old base.

You sleepily shifted a little, behind her, feeling warm and fuzzy as you leaned heavily against her, wondering if you were still dreaming, except this time you weren’t in the clearing, anymore. You were back at the base, the tent being blown a little by the wind, but staying strong, despite the lack of supplies ever since the Apocalypse had been approaching its peak impact, here.

“You’ve been there before?” Alice asked, and Embry tensed up opposite her, not daring to answer, at first, but she guessed it wouldn’t help, caging herself up, if the two groups were to end up working together for whatever reason still unbeknownst to her, at the moment.

“I guess,” she answered, “I went there with a friend of mine, before-.. y’know, everything.” She drew in a shaky breath, and your heart sank; you guessed she was talking about Cynthia; her voice always sounded a certain way, whenever she was reminded of her, before, and that’s exactly how it sounded, now. Void of hope; happiness, like a blank slate - you just hoped she got rid of you, soon, still feeling as if you were responsible for everything that had happened; all the losses, even though your father had been the one who had created the monsters with his very hands, experimenting on anyone he could find in his reach. You remembered the friends you had had disappeared, eventually; you wondered if they were still out there, somewhere, gnawing on the skin and bone of other people, before taking over the remains of their bodies to expand their team, against the remainder of those still alive, and breathing - bad, or good. You frowned, your heart aching alongside your own as you glanced up at her, your eyelids still heavy, and vision still blurry; you just knew it was her, and that made you feel happy, again, to have her beside you, even after everything that had happened between you both, recently. “I-.. anyway, it - it’s not important, right?” She uttered, her last words through gritted teeth; she didn’t like being reminded of the past, compared to the future, though the only hope that still buzzed along her skin was that she could still spend it with you, whether that was just as your friend, or something more to you. She would take the second option, any day; every choice - everything she had done, would always be for you. She sighed, and Alice felt bad for asking, bowing her head alongside Embry as she tried to think of something else to say, feeling awkward, now, and as if she should try and make things easier for the woman opposite her, but she was lost for what to do, and Embry faltered as soon as she was reminded of how you still needed your stitches doing, all over again. They must have snapped, as you were on your way out, probably when you found yourself on the ground. You did remember feeling a stinging sensation, as soon as you’d made contact with the ground below you. “Fuck, her stitches,” she hissed, before looking toward the flap Alexa was standing in front of, “Claire, get in here!”

Claire grunted, before meandering around Alexa, evidently annoyed to be distracted from her squabbling with Shyro; it was endless arguments between them both, that Embry often wondered what the true tension was, behind their behaviour, but there wasn’t time to think about that, right now, as she carefully lowered you onto your bed, you complaining barely audibly as she did; you hated being away from her, your arms feeling empty as soon as they were no longer around her, the way that they were, before.

“What do you want, now?” She questioned, and Embry raised her eyebrows, as if accusing her of being ignorant, or oblivious to the situation. She groaned, before making her way around the bed, and crouching down to slide the med-kit out from under it; it had always been kept there since they’d set the tent up, considering your state, by the time they’d found you, and stolen what they had to, to survive where they were, now. The bed had been a push, but at least it was merely a fold-up one with some blankets on it.

“Just - be careful, okay?” Embry murmured, as she cautiously watched Claire take out the equipment needed for such a procedure.

“As if I don’t know anything about how to stitch wounds up,” Claire uttered, evidently annoyed by Embry’s doubt, handling you, when she’d been doing stuff like this even before the Apocalypse had begun, the way it did, “why do you even care? She’s just an asset, right?”

Embry tensed up, a pained expression on her face as she bowed her head a little, not daring to look back at you though she felt the hurt radiating off of you, in response to Claire’s claim. It made her heart squeeze even more; she’d never intended you to hear what she’d referred to you as earlier, like that.

“Claire,” she warned gently, Alice tilting her head partially as she looked curiously between Embry, and you, but it wasn’t just an expression full of confusion, it was also a look of realisation, and hope, and Embry wished she’d noticed it, before she’d agreed to listen to Alice’s leader’s proposition in the first place. She guessed she should have known that it would have something to do with you, in the end.

🜚

“You keep yawning,” Alice mused, as Embry laid beside you, her gun leaning against the left side of the bed - just in case.

Claire had recently finished up doing your stitches, again, so that was something of a weight being lifted off of both her, and your shoulders, though you’d rather be dead, than in pain, remembering what Claire had said, earlier.

“Because I’m tired,” Embry replied, simply, and Alice would wince, appearing a little embarrassed as she looked away from her, trying to hide that her face was heating up a little in response to Embry’s stating the obvious.

“Then maybe you should sleep, for a bit,” the timid girl suggested, but Embry would scoff, before sitting up a little, and appearing skeptical of her again.

“Why? D’you wanna rob us, or something?” She questioned, and Alice would appear a little dejected, but she guessed she understood that she was the one out of place, here.

“No,” she answered, truthfully, her voice small; she’d never even dream of stealing from someone trapped in a situation like this; like the one she herself found herself trapped in, alongside the others who’d shown her kindness in an otherwise crumbling world, “I just-.. I don’t know.”

Embry’s expression softened, before she laid back down, her left arm around you again; she didn’t want to be away from you, after you’d pulled a stunt like you had, earlier, in the condition that you were in, now. She didn’t want to leave your side, period, even. She hated being away from you, just like you hated being away, from her. You drew in another barely audible breath, Embry watching intently as your chest rose and fell; there was nothing she wanted to see more, than you still breathing, beside her, even after everything that had happened, recently, that had got you here, in the state that you both were - bond broken, tethers half-intact, but certainly wounded. Her heart dropped again; she wondered if you still had the rings, after you’d both decided to break up the way you had, not too long ago, now.

“I don’t wanna sleep,” she admitted, her voice close to a whisper, and sounding strained, “I-.. I keep having nightmares, a-and I can’t-.. I just-.. can’t, okay? They’re too-..”

“Real?” Alice guessed, and Embry would appear surprised, looking over at her again, before she winced, swallowed wetly, and nodded as her eyes glistened; a lot of her nightmares consisted of you; the way they’d hurt you - all the blood, and the possibility of her losing you, somehow, and she couldn’t stand seeing it any longer; she couldn’t let it become a reality. That’s why she’d vowed to never sleep again, until she knew you were safe, and this was all over, but it wasn’t helping a great deal - they had all seen that, and were all worried about her; how couldn’t they be? She walked around a lot of the time with bags under her eyes, and she was snappier than usual. Shyro was almost terrified by her presence, now, but that fact didn’t perturb her, much; she liked scaring people, sometimes, if they deserved it, not that he did, but - it was still funny, and gave everyone a good laugh, when the group weren’t warding off Skin-eaters like they usually were.

“They’re not important, anyway,” she uttered, not wanting to have to think about them anymore as she got up off of the bed - begrudgingly - to cover you with the blankets on the floor beside it; she’d noticed you shivering a little, and couldn’t let you get sick, and not just because you’d then get everyone else sick, but because she couldn’t risk anything taking you away from her, somehow. She drew in a shaky breath, listening to your own staggered and raspy breathing pattern; she’d never seen you like this before - it was painful, but she didn’t know what to do, feeling hopeless as she sat back down beside you, Alice frowning as she watched her, a sympathetic aura surrounding her demeanour; she could see Embry cared deeply for you, and she wished she could help, somehow, but she - too - was lost for a remedy that might ease the pain that you were in.

“They must be,” Alice contradicted, her voice gentle and full of her concern toward the woman before her, “you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

Embry scowled, before looking toward Alice, her eyes firmer than they were, before.

“Why do you even care? You don’t know us,” she reminded her, “you don’t know anything about us! You’ve only been here for one evening! Not even that, a few minutes! You don’t get to question us; we’re the ones who should be questioning you, so am I gonna have to kick you out, or-?”

“No-!” Alice answered, hastily; exasperatedly, not wanting to be thrown out before her leader’s intentions could be made clear, especially when they could benefit the rest of the world and people who had survived, in the wreckage of the hellhole around them. “N-Not at all, I - I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear, I just-.. I was just-.. I’m sorry,” she gave in, a pained expression on her face as she bowed her head again, “I’m sorry.”

Embry sighed, before nodding slowly; she understood, her right hand in your hair as you melted into her touch, smiling softly as you revelled in the feeling; of how she drew gentle circles on your head using her thumb; it was soothing - you wondered if you were actually drifting off, peacefully, after restless nights without her.

“I-.. It’s okay,” she reassured her, “I understand, it’s just-… y’know. I don’t want-..”

She fell quiet, a pained expression on her face as she tried to think of the right words to say, but she knew it may be hard to understand, when you’d spent so long with a certain group of people; how loyalty, and protection kicked in; the fear of losing the people you trusted, and loved like they were family. She couldn’t let that go, for anything, and certainly not for someone unfamiliar that hadn’t spent any time with her, you, or the others whatsoever, until now.

“I can leave, if you want?” Alice suggested, gesticulating to the room the others were in, now. “Give you two some time alone, together? I don’t mind-”

“Not until you tell me what you’re doing here,” she interjected, and you would frown, worried she’d leave you again, soon, as she withdrew her hand, leaving you feeling empty all over again.

“Well-.. that-.. that’s more of an issue concerning - concerning you, and your friends, away from-..” Alice gesticulated toward you, and Embry would tense up, her blood running cold as she drew in a sharp breath through her gritted teeth.

She would have snapped, if it didn’t occur to her that what might be said could scare you, but she wasn’t pleased by the idea of having to leave you, either, as she sighed, and nodded gravely.

“Okay,” she mused, “but you better make it quick, or else.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best,” Alice reassured her, before getting up from where she had been sitting, Embry begrudgingly following her, but not before she looked back at you, a pained expression on her face, but you didn’t dare look back at her, a certain four words circling your mind over and over all over again:

‘She’s just an asset,’ and you guessed you couldn’t think otherwise, now.

🜚

“She sent me here, because she knew we’d find you guys, eventually,” Alice mused, whilst the others warily looked on at her, Embry stood beside the flap leading into your room; she couldn’t leave, wanting to make sure you were safe, where you were, regardless of whether she was starting to trust the new guest, now. “She knew there was someone out there who could stop this-”

“Stop it, how?” Embry questioned, her eyebrows furrowing as Alice winced, warily looking toward her main questioner again whilst the others looked on in silence, trying not to interrupt regardless of how much they wished to do so, here and there, where there were holes in Alice’s story.

“W-Well, we - we don’t have to talk about that now-”

“I think we do,” Embry contradicted, after scoffing, her demeanour growing to be more defensive again, the way it was, before, “you say we can stop this; all of it, and if that’s the reason why you’ve come to find us, then I think that’s a pretty big damn part of it - don’t you?”

“Best you start talking, Alice in Wonderland,” Shyro commented, and Alice rolled her eyes, before sighing, and shifting uncomfortably within her seat, but she didn’t let the skeptical and dangerous looks around her deter her as she continued, calmer than any of her expected to be, in a situation like this.

“The Apocalypse is already going too far,” Alice stated, her eyes briefly flicking over to Embry, who couldn’t stop herself from scowling down at the ground; she could feel what was coming, and she didn’t like it, at all - it took her a lot, to not lift her gun up again, and shoot her then and there, “prices have already started being paid, but the biggest price of all hasn’t been given in, yet. The Metamorphosis needs to be destroyed; it’s crumbling the rest of our world, and if it’s going to be done, we need your friend to end it, for us. She’s the only one who can-”

“No,” Embry spoke up, again, her voice quiet, but dangerous, and full of hatred; she wouldn’t let you get involved in this, “that - that’s not happening-”

“It has to; what don’t you understand, about that? Nobody else can do this - we’ve looked into it-”

“I’m not letting her get hurt, out there!” She cried, and the others would fall quiet, including Alice, as Embry’s face contorted, and she began to cry quietly, but she didn’t stop; she couldn’t. “You - You can’t make her do that! You don’t know what she’s already had to go through, Alice, that’s-”

“It’s a small price to pay,” Alice interjected gently, and Embry wished she could murder her, “even more so, if she’s already been made to suffer so much, before; you don’t think she deserves a better life?”

“Fuck you,” Embry spat, and Alice would frown, before nodding gravely, and looking away from her; she guessed this reaction wasn’t surprising, after seeing how close you and Embry seemed to be, “you’re not touching her; not even touching one hair on her head - in fact, get the fuck out!”

“Oh, c’mon-”

“Maybe we should listen to her, Ember,” Alexa mused, and Embry would falter, a hurt look on her face as she looked toward who she thought was her friend, “just - give her a chance, okay?”

Embry scoffed, before shaking her head, and taking up her gun, and aiming it straight at Alice’s head. She didn’t even flinch, and Embry wondered how she’d felt bad for her, earlier - maybe it was just because Alice felt as if she knew her a little better, now; she doubted Embry would shoot her, even after what had just been suggested, to her, regarding you.

“I don’t care what they think,” Embry spat, “you’re leaving, tonight - understood?”

Alice sighed, before she nodded, and shrugged at the same time; she didn’t want to argue, knowing that doing so wouldn’t help anyone, so instead she got up, and respectfully bowed her head.

“Sure - I apologise for any upset I caused, tonight, but-.. if you ever need us, you know where to find us,” she responded kindly, before meandering around Claire, and slipping through the front flap of the tent. Embry reluctantly lowered her gun, even though Alice had already disappeared from the room, Claire and the others watching her skeptically as she tried to calm herself down, managing to do so when she could see through the flap into the other room that you were okay; still lying down upon your bed. Her heart began to slow down, and she expressed relief, lowering her gun even further as her eyelids fluttered shut for a moment.

“‘Just an asset’, indeed,” Claire remarked, and Embry scowled, shooting daggers at her, before she herself left the tent, wanting some fresh air, before she returned to your side, knowing she might easily break dole if she did, too early. She guessed it shouldn’t have surprised her, when Alexa came out of the tent behind her to see if she was okay.

🜚

“I thought I heard you thrashing around last night,” Alexa mused, as soon as she’d slipped through the tent flap before her. Embry tensed up, scowling as she shook her head, before bowing it; she didn’t want to be reminded of last night, especially not after all the vows she’d made, to stay awake and protect you to the best of her ability, no matter what. “Nightmares? Is that why you’re so tired?” She questioned, but Embry didn’t dare respond to her, staring ahead of her dejectedly as Alexa slowly advanced closer behind her. “Embry-”

“Just go back inside, Alexa,” Embry retorted, but her friend wouldn’t listen, knowing she shouldn’t just give up, like that, not even for the World’s birthday, if ever it had one, now.

“Y’know, it’s like I always tell you,” she began again, her friend scowling even more down at the ground as she silently begged the woman behind her to leave her alone, before she ended up snapping at her, too, “you don’t always have to be looking after Y/n - don’t you want to relax, every once in a while? It’s not like she even deserves your company anymore-”

“Stop it, Alexa,” she spat, sharply turning toward her friend, “just because you’re against her ever since what happened doesn’t mean you get to try and split us up, completely.” She then sighed, as Alexa appeared disheartened. “Look, I-.. Of course I want to relax, but-.. we don’t all get what we want, do we?” She reminded her, and Alexa faltered, a pained expression on her face as she nodded gravely, not daring to look up at Embry again.

“Yeah, I - I know,” she admitted, and Embry’s expression softened, “I guess that’s always been the case, right?”

“Alexa-”

“I’ll see you around, Ember,” she uttered, before dragging herself back inside, leaving her alone again; she’d not intended to upset her like that, especially not when she knew about how Alexa had seemed to feel about her, before.

🜚

As soon as Embry felt able, she walked back into the tent, not daring to look toward the others as she quietly opened the flap that led into your room, but you weren’t on the bed, and her heart sank, until she looked around, and her gaze fell upon you, limp and pale upon the chair in the corner, like you hardly had any life left within you. Her eyes darkened, as she slowly walked up to you, your breathing pattern sounding staggered and uneven, again.

“Y/n?” She cooed, and you winced, whimpering barely audibly as you shifted uncomfortably in your seat, unable to open your eyelids much further than you already had.

“I can’t sleep,” you whispered, your voice hoarse, and forehead sweaty as she tried not to break down in front of you, taking off her jacket so she could wrap it around you, seeing you were shivering again, “Ember-”

“You need to try,” she interjected gently, her voice firm, but her expression was soft, and you couldn’t bear to see that she still cared about you, even after all you’d both been through together, recently, “please-”

“But-”

“Y/n,” she continued a little more firmer, now, and you would fall quiet, a pained expression on your face as you nodded gravely, “you’ll never get better, if you don’t try.” A brief silence fell over you both as you stared at each other dejectedly, until you cracked, and looked away, unable to take the pain of it all anymore. “Those are some bad bags under your eyes,” she mused, her voice full of the worry she was holding for you, “this isn’t helping you.”

“I can’t sleep, yet,” you added, determined to stay awake for her, no matter what, “there’s - there’s too much to do.”

Embry scoffed, before shaking her head.

“Like what?” She questioned, and you would hesitate, trying to think of an excuse - clearly, but it wasn’t just because you didn’t know what to do, it was because you were afraid of her finding out about how you knew; how you wouldn’t be surprised, if none of this would go back to normal, until you were dead.

“You have to let me go, Ember,” you murmured, your voice sounding weaker than she’d ever heard it, before, “I-.. if what Alice was saying is true, t-then-”

“No,” Embry interjected sharply, her voice cracking as soon as the words slipped from your lips; she wouldn’t let you risk your life, no matter what - if this was going to be done, she wouldn’t let the fight end unless you were together the winners of the situation. “I’m not letting you do that, Y/n,” she reiterated, “Alice is gone, and we’re never talking to her, or her friends ever again, because we don’t need them; you don’t need to-..” She drew in a shaky breath, and you faltered as soon as you noticed she was trying not to cry. “I won’t let you, okay? I will never let you go,” she hissed, and you would nod, without hesitation, not wanting to upset her any further, though you couldn’t imagine why the possibility of her losing you would make her hurt the way you could tell she was, “now go. Sleep - that’s not a request!”

You hesitated, not sure, as you made to get up off of the chair, her having to quickly stabilise you as you appeared to struggle to walk, in the state that you were, now, but you didn’t mind having her as close to you as she was, now, even struggling to not glance down at her lips as you both found yourselves staring into each other’s eyes, for a moment, the air growing to be unbearably hot, between you.

“What about you?” You inquired, sounding a little breathless as she winced, and hastily looked away from you, realising she’d been staring over at you, for too long. “What will you do?” You pried, your eyes widening a little; you didn’t want her to think that she had to stay awake for you, the way she looked like she was trying to, despite her brief nightmare, last night.

“I don’t need sleep,” she uttered, as she carefully led you toward your bed, her left arm never leaving your waist, until it had to, though it pained her to let go of you, as soon as she did, “but you do, so - don’t - don’t worry about what I need, okay?”

“Ember,” you managed again, sounding exasperated as she faltered in place, before she could leave the room, her heart skipping a beat, “I, e-erm-..” You fell quiet, a pained expression on your face as the words stuck in your throat, excruciatingly, all while a small tear began to leak down your left cheek again. “Thank you,” you stated, instead, though it was nowhere near the three words you longed to share with her, “I really-..”

She nodded slowly, managing a weak smile back at you as she tried not to show that it had only felt worse, to hear you say her name like you still loved her, but she guessed she shouldn’t worry about it anymore as she mustered up a quiet ‘don’t mention it’, before she dragged herself from the room again.

🜚

That same night, she sat outside your room again, rain falling heavily outside whilst wind brutally abused the tent; rocked it, but she couldn’t think about what might happen, if it went over - she didn’t care, until she thought about it hurting you. Her heart stopped, as soon as such a possibility filled her mind. She hastily shook her head, a pained expression on her face as she looked toward the flap leading into your room. Her heart skipped a beat, but for a moment she couldn’t move, colours swirling around her as a snapping sound seemed to ring out outside, followed by screech after screech, and she was almost convinced it was real, until you shook her awake, and were leaning heavily against her chair before her.

🜸

You’d also been struggling to sleep, that night, shaking under the blankets Embry had tucked you into; it was freezing, outside. You were terrified. You still weren’t used to her being away from you, as you held the blankets closer to your chest, anxiously looking around; the shadows in the room seemed unlike any human you’d ever seen. You whimpered quietly, and that was when you heard her struggling outside, panicking you even more as you didn’t hesitate to get up off of the bed, before you did your best to walk fast out of your room, desperate to get to her, and make sure she was okay. Your blood was boiling; you wondered if anyone was hurting her, and if they knew they had little time left, before you could end everything for them.

You faltered, seeing she was alone. Well, the others were - excluding Shyro and Alexa, who were currently out on patrolling duty of the perimeter outside - asleep, in the corner, Akaya curled up at Embry’s feet. She didn’t take long to wake up (or was she already awake?) when she heard you come into the room. First, she growled quietly, before she relaxed upon realising it was you, and not an invader of unknown origin, before she began to whimper quietly, nudging at Embry’s left leg as if she were asking you to help her, as Akaya couldn’t seem to get her to wake up.

Your blood ran cold again, but Embry didn’t look limp, or as if she were a corpse, relieving you as you carefully held her close to you, but she didn’t react, crying quietly into the crook of your neck as she subconsciously clung to you, until you finally decided to gently shake her awake, and she seemed to come back to life again.

🜸

“Y/n-?” She whispered, and you would falter, your heart skipping a beat as you stared back at her tearfully; you hated seeing her like this. “Y/n, I-” You didn’t hesitate, as you leaned down to throw your arms around her again, this time not scared anymore of what it might mean as you allowed your lips to brush against her own.

She shuddered, and you expressed relief, as her body melted into your’s, and her eyelids fluttered shut, her arms around your neck. She’d not been this serene, in a long time. You just hoped it would stay this way, for as long as it possibly could.

🜚

It didn’t last long enough. Shortly after the kiss had begun, Embry pushed you away - lightly, not wanting to hurt you. You faltered, a pained expression on your face as you bowed your head, before shaking it a little.

“Y/n, what - what the fuck were you thinking?” She questioned, and you would warily glance up at her, your heart sinking as soon as you noticed the pained expression on her own face; you didn’t want to hurt her, you’d just thought… You didn’t know what you thought. You drew in a shaky breath, trying not to break down, but you couldn’t take the pain anymore. You couldn’t hide it anymore as you began to cry quietly, your face contorting.

“I’m sorry,” you managed weakly, a strained sob escaping your lips, and Embry’s expression softened, “I - I’m so-…”

“No, it - it’s okay, I promise, I-.. it’s okay,” she cooed, not wanting you to be upset as she wrapped her arms around your waist, and you expressed relief, glancing up at her as she smiled lovingly in your direction, not hesitating to affectionately connect her forehead to your own. “Don’t cry,” she continued gently, “I’m not mad, I promise, I just-.. I was surprised, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting it; I wasn’t expecting you to-”

“Embry, I love you,” you admitted feebly, your voice close to a whisper, and she fell quiet, a pained expression on her face as you both stared over at one another for a moment, and she didn’t know what to do - didn’t know what to even think anymore as she glanced down at your lips, her heart skipping a beat, before she leaned forward, and let her heart do the thinking for her - she couldn’t fight her emotions back anymore, so she let them all go, pressing her lips to your’s, and wondering if this was what heaven felt like.

🜚

As soon as the kiss had ended, she giggled breathlessly alongside you as she lifted her right hand up to your left cheek, whilst you caressed the back of her head, smiling sheepishly over at her, your eyes brighter than she’d ever seen them, before.

“I missed you,” you whispered, “so - so much.”

“I missed you, too,” she returned, a little flustered as you both stared over at each other, and it didn’t take long for your lips to meet her’s again, a final passionate kiss as she hooked her free arm around your waist, easing you even closer to her.

You expressed relief, glad that she was here with you, again, even after everything that had happened, before. You’d only ever felt safe in her arms, and now you could finally exist within them again, your heart beating fast alongside her own, like it had never soared before. You sighed against her lips, content, and she would smile softly over at you, finding it adorable that you couldn’t open your eyes, until a few seconds had passed since she’d ended the previous kiss.

“I love you,” you couldn’t help, but repeat, “E-Ember, I - I’ve always-”

“I know,” she cooed, “I know, baby, because I’ve always loved you, too.”

🜚🜸🜚

You hadn’t slept better than you did, that night, Embry in your arms as you both clung to each other, your hands in each others hair, and foreheads connected together blissfully as you slept. Neither of you let go of each other, and Embry hadn’t been plunged into a nightmare at all, you finally beside again. You remembered her leaning heavily against you, clearly tired, and how you’d led her into your room, but before you could leave her to rest, she caught your arm, begging you to stay with her; she had been afraid of the things she’d seen, when her eyelids fluttered shut.

You smiled softly, as you slowly began to wake up beside her, your eyes glinting as soon as you noticed her peacefully sleeping beside you, as if nothing had ever plagued her mind before the way her nightmares used to. You couldn’t help it, as you lifted your right hand up to her left cheek, tracing her soft skin, before you flattened your palm against it, your heart skipping a beat; you’d never seen someone so beautiful before - you couldn’t believe she felt the same way, for a supposed nobody like you.

Your heart sank, and your eyes darkened a little at the thought; why was she even still here with you? Why hadn’t she just abandoned you? You couldn’t help, but remember Claire’s words, again:

‘She’s just an asset.’ You drew in a barely audible shaky breath, your heart stuttering again as you removed your hand, and tried to hide that you were trying not to cry again, just in case she began to stir as you were trying to do so.

It didn’t take long, as she groaned, evidently still tired as her eyes began to flutter open slowly, but surely. Her lips curved upward as she looked over at you, her eyes glinting with everything she felt, and had always felt for you, but it didn’t slip past her, the pained expression on your face.

“Y/n?” She cooed, her voice heavy with sleep, and you would wince, realising she was awake as your heart skipped a beat, and you hastily lowered your hands.

“Ember,” you whispered, your voice cracking a little, “I-”

“Are you-.. crying?” Embry asked, and you would falter, your heart dropping again. “Hey, what - what’s wrong?” She inquired, but you didn’t dare answer, hastily shaking your head as you held her close to you, not wanting her to think that you were in pain, when it was obvious to her that you were.

“I - I’m fine, I promise, there - there’s nothing wrong, I swear,” you managed, and she would hesitate, not sure what to think as she affectionately connected her forehead to your own again, “anyway, you - you shouldn’t be worrying about me - what about you? You look like you haven’t slept in days, still.”

Embry winced, before looking away from you, though it made your heart sink alongside her’s to have her eyes no longer locking with your own.

“Y/n-”

“Ember, please, I’m worried about you,” you begged, and she would scoff, before turning a little to lay on her back, instead, only making your heart ache even more, “I haven’t seen you sleeping in a long time, what’s up? You - You didn’t tell me why you wanted me to stay with you, either, but-..”

“It was nothing, I just-.. I guess I just wanted-..” She fell quiet, a hurt look on her face as her eyes darkened alongside your own again. “I missed you,” she admitted dejectedly, “I miss everything about you; about being here with you, i-instead of-.. Besides, I don’t like sleeping because what if something happens whilst I do?”

You hastily shook your head, propping yourself up a little upon your left elbow to see her face better.

“Nothing is going to happen to us, I promise,” you reassured her gently, not wanting her to ever have to be scared of stuff like that, when you were all together, now, “we’re strong; we - we can survive this, as long as we stick together, right? But - Ember, why didn’t you tell you were this tired?”

“I didn’t wanna worry you,” she answered, truthfully, and you would frown; you wanted her to know that she could tell you about anything, no matter what, so of course it hurt to hear that she was still worried to hurt you by being truthful with you about her own well-being as much as your own, “but if you want to know, I guess all I’ll tell you is that I’m struggling to even-..” She sighed, her eyelids fluttering shut shortly after; the light of the sun was too bright even through the tent material above you both. “I physically can’t keep my eyes open for a long time,” she admitted, before smiling softly up at the ceiling, “you know - you keep fretting over everyone else, but you won’t even take a second to relax, yourself - some things never change, huh?”

You would appear taken aback, surprised as you tilted our head partially, before turning your head to look up at the ceiling, yourself, smiling softly up at the bright sun, less painful than it would be, if you were seeing it outside of the tent. You couldn’t wait to be like this with her again, as soon as she felt comfortable around the others to tell them about you both being together the way that you were, before.

🜚

You just wished Alexa didn’t get in the way of that. Later on that day, Embry was doing the washing up from yesterday, leaning over the makeshift sink heavily as she did her best to clean everything up despite the lack of good resources to do so. Everything was gone, after the invasion of the Survivors base not too long ago. She sighed, wincing as her back ached a little more than it did, before, but you weren’t sure what to do, knowing she may scold you if you tried to get up again when you were meant to be still healing, after all that had almost killed you, recently.

You winced, carefully sitting up as you looked toward the tent flap, wondering if she were okay; you hated being away from her. You pushed yourself up off of the bed, hearing her grunt again as if she were in pain; there was no way you could stay there, and let her suffer, and you wouldn’t have hesitated to go through, until you noticed Alexa walking toward her.

“You need a break,” she stated, and Embry scowled, before shaking her head - you couldn’t help, but smile faintly - that was a classic Embry move. “You do,” she insisted, prompting her friend to roll her eyes, “look, you can barely keep your eyes open - go lie down, and I’ll finish this for you.”

Alexa tried to guide her away, but Embry didn’t dare stop what she was doing, knowing that it may not be done efficiently, otherwise - she also just liked doing it, anyway, as it kept her distracted from the possibility that something bad might happen, someday. Something in her veins was telling her that whatever was coming in the future, wouldn’t be good, for any of you. She drew in a shaky breath - she was already thinking about it again, and she couldn’t stand it, pulling away from Alexa desperately to return to her previous station.

“I’m not stopping,” she hissed, as she made to continue washing up the plate she had been doing so, before Alexa had come up to her and tried to get her to stop, “I can take care of myself just fine, so why don’t you just worry about yourself? Because I’m not tired, at all-”

“With everything you’ve been through lately,” Alexa began doubtfully, before scoffing, “of course you’re tired.”

Embry grunted, but Alexa wouldn’t have it, removing the plate from her friend’s hands, as Shyro came back into the tent, Claire following behind him.

“Hey, Alexa, maybe you should just let her get on with her ‘I’m so tired I can’t do anything’ phase, y’know, just in case she turns feral on us again for pointing it out for her?” Shyro suggested, and both Alexa and Embry shot daggers at him as he winced, and shrugged, before sitting down to pour himself a coffee - a gross one, no doubt, with powder for milk. If only there weren’t less and less supplies left in the old grocery stores anymore. Your heart sank again; you couldn’t believe it was your father who had created all of this. You sighed heavily, turning away from the tent flap as you wondered if any of it were even worth it anymore, but then there was Embry in your head - always Embry, and her soft smile; her soft voice. Your heart skipped a beat - just the thought of her filled you up with butterflies, to the point you wondered if you could fly, if you just thought about her hard enough. Unfortunately, it never seemed to work, but you guessed gravity was too strong for inner butterflies to conquer.

“Shut up, Shyro,” she spat, before looking back at Embry, and raising her eyebrows, but her friend didn’t dare glance up at her.

“It - It’s not like I can’t do anything, I just - I’m not tired enough to sleep, okay?” She retorted, and Alexa couldn’t help, but scoff again, wishing her friend would stop being so stubborn, as it wasn’t doing anything to help her, exactly.

“Embry, please,” Alexa begged her, “we need you strong, right now-”

“Well I am strong,” Embry hissed, “you clearly just don’t know me well enough to understand that-”

“But-”

“I’m done,” she uttered, before setting the plate down, and making to go outside, but her muscles felt so weak that she couldn’t even do that, as she almost collapsed, having to catch herself on one of the makeshift tables and chairs, before Alexa rushed up to her, and threw her arms around her to stop herself from falling, somehow. “Fuck,” she whispered shakily, a pained expression on her face as you tensed up, hearing the commotion, and it grew to be painful to just stand there, your heart aching as you watched the scene through one of the gaps in the flap separating you from her, and the others.

“Come on, Embry, this - this is getting ridiculous, now,” Alexa snapped, but the worry in her voice remained, “you need to stop-”

“I’m fine-”

“I just had to stop you from toppling over,” she reminded her sharply, and Embry scowled, cursing herself for letting her muscles slip up like that, when she least needed them to, “you’re not okay.”

“Look, I - I promise I’ll sleep in a bit, just - just let me finish this, first; I’ve gotta check the perimeter again-”

“No, Embry,” Alexa interjected, whilst Claire helped her hold her friend up, Shyro awkwardly lingering a few paces away from them as Akaya stood at his feet, whining quietly at the sight of her owner struggling the way that she was, “you need to learn that you don’t have to push so hard; it’s okay to rest, when you really need to - okay?”

“Yeah, but - but I’m okay,” she continued, “I’m not even that tired, I swear-”

“You are,” Alexa contradicted again, “look at you; you look-”

“Like shit,” she managed, her voice faint, and eyelids heavy, “I know, but-.. can - can you just-.. can you help me lie down? I - I can’t move, I-.. I’m too tired.”

“Oh, so now you’re too tired?” Alexa commented, and Embry rolled her eyes, but she didn’t have the energy to continue, instead giving in as she let her friends guide her over to her makeshift bed. You just wished you could stay in there with her, if only you didn’t still feel so far apart due to the situation around you both.

🜚

She didn’t get to sleep, in the end. She missed you too much; the feeling of your arms around her - your fingers in her hair. She sighed, as she tossed and turned again, her eyes dark, and heart low; she couldn’t wait to see you, as soon as the others were either asleep, or outside. It felt like an age, or something more than that - she couldn’t quite put her finger on it - by the time Shyro was on perimeter duty, whilst Claire and Alexa were sleeping a few paces away from her, lightly snoring to confirm that she would be safe, if she moved now, especially considering they were often quite heavy sleepers.

She didn’t hesitate, easing the thin blanket off of her so she could get up, and quietly walk over to the flap leading into your room. She was surprised to see that you were still awake, too, your eyes glossy as you stared dejectedly up at the ceiling, only making her heart ache even more than it ever had before, to see you in pain, just like she was, being away from you for this long. She drew in a timid breath, and you would tense up at the sound, your heart skipping a beat as you glanced over at her, and felt as if you were falling all over again.

Her eyes were like pools of wonder; her skin light under the moon. You didn’t notice you’d forgotten how to breathe, until she finally spoke, and you clung to her every word as if it were the most important thing you’d ever heard before, a voice so soft and warm as honey - you were surprised you weren’t melting in response to it, feeling unnaturally warm every time you heard it again.

“Hey,” she began gently, and you would wince, realising she was waiting for you to respond as you tried to shake yourself out of the trance, the time no longer seeming slow around you, but blood didn’t cease to pulse in your ears.

“Hi, I - I mean, h-hello,” you managed, wincing, and she couldn’t help, but smile lovingly over at you, before she drew closer, and you felt like you were choking, until she got even closer, and sat beside you to lift her right hand up to your left cheek, bringing you back to life again.

“You’re adorable,” she stated, “you know that, right?”

“E-Er,” you answered, blood rushing to your cheeks as your throat ceased up, and your face felt too warm, “I-”

“I missed you, earlier,” she admitted, “I-.. I hate being away from you.”

Goosebumps ran along your skin, and she tilted her head partially, the way your eyes were lost in hers making her feel warm and fuzzy, and as if she owned the world, you by her side, because everything was safer; perfect, that way.

“I - I missed you, too,” you responded, your heart skipping a beat as your voice wavered a little, prompting you to wince, evidently embarrassed; you’d always been weak, around her, whilst at the same time feeling as if you could do anything, and everything, as long as she were beside you. “I - I always-” She tensed up, and you fell quiet, at the sound of movement outside, but as you made to speak again she hastily shook her head, before delicately pressing her right palm to your mouth, prompting you to shudder as you stared up at her in a dumbfounded manner, wondering why this was an appealing situation to be in, right now, with possible imminent danger just outside.

As soon as the noise moved away, she expressed relief, and you would raise your eyebrows, flustering her a little as she withdrew her hand, before hastily looking away from you, her chest rising and falling too fast, just like your’s currently was, and not because of what had just been sounded out, beyond the walls of the tent.

“So, t-that was-”

“Really fun,” you remarked, and she couldn’t help, but giggle softly, before nodding as she glanced back at you, “I, e-erm-.. Ember, I-.. c-can I-?”

She raised her eyebrows, this time, before smirking, and leaning down a little closer to you. God, was the air warm; you were almost suffocating in it, but you loved it, at the same time; it was perfect, and you wanted so much more. It was taking too long for the moment to progress, but she liked seeing you flustered as she brushed her lips against your’s, her eyes light and oh so beautiful - you didn’t know what to do with yourself.

“That depends,” she stated seductively, and your heart fluttered as her lips almost brushed your’s again, “can you help me back into the bed?”

🜚🜸🜚

“How’s it going?” Alexa asked Embry gently, as her friend was sat inside the tent, pouring herself yet another coffee after she’d gone out to search the perimeter, feeling extra anxious lately after you and her had been together yesterday; she had been worried that maybe she’d broken your stitches during your and her last guilty make-out session, but you hadn’t shown any signs of being in pain, or of losing any blood, so she hoped that meant you were okay.

She remembered your arms around her, and she smiled softly, before rubbing at her eyes, and lifting the mug to her lips.

“Not bad,” she answered, “I just-.. can’t even really - think straight anymore - everything out there was so-.. confusing, today. I don’t know why, but-..” Embry sighed, as Alexa sat beside her, a concerned expression on her face - they couldn’t know that you were just there, anxiously listening to their conversation on the other side of the tent flap again separating you from them; you were still waiting for Embry to tell the others about you both, but you guessed you understood that it was a hard thing to do, no matter how much it made your heart squeeze to think you would have to wait again to be with her without it being something suspicious to the others. “Maybe I do need sleep,” she murmured, and Alexa subconsciously nodded beside her, glad to finally hear her admit that she did, though she was looking a bit better, already, for a reason unbeknownst to her, “I just-.. I don’t know-.. I don’t remember the last time I slept, so-.. what if-.. what if I never get back to sleep, again?”

“Don’t be silly,” Alexa teased her, before gently laying her left hand upon her friend’s right one, “you’ll get there, eventually - I know you will.”

Embry smiled her thanks over at Alexa, whilst you bowed your head, a pained expression on your face; you couldn’t stand seeing them so close, the way that they were, now.

“Thanks,” she replied, and you would tense up, wondering why everything seemed to hurt even more than it ever had, before, “I-.. I really don’t know what I did to deserve you; you’ve always been there for me.”

Alexa’s eyes would glint a little, whilst your’s darkened; you couldn’t take it anymore, as you dragged yourself away from the flap, and made your way to the back one - you guessed you knew what you should do, now, whether either of them liked it, or not.

~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed it, and are looking forward to the next one! ❤️

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