Lost and Found, Departure, and the Beheading Squad - 9:45 P.M.
Once everyone hopped off him, Gene sat back and looked over himself briefly. He was fine, save for a few scars. Ah, they’d heal eventually. Oz passed him some food and set it in his hands.
“So I guess my coat’s gone, huh?” He finally said, stirring the bowl. “I mean, isn’t too bad, I can always use my others.” He squinted a bit. “I think the missing glasses’ll be a pain in the arse for a bit, though.”
“Yeah, everyone lost a bit of there stuff, since I guess that can’t really be revived...ah-- wait, actually!” Oz floated over Gene and dug in his jacket pocket for something, Gene watching curiously and tilting his head. He took out the cracked glasses he had been keeping there this whole time.
“What is it?” Gene asked, squinting more.
“Here, hold still.” Oz approached him and held out the glasses, carefully slipping them onto Gene’s face. Gene shut his eyes as he did so, a smile growing on his face. Oz brushed a stray tuft of hair away from his face and backed up. “Okay, open your eyes.” Gene opened up and blinked a few times, looking around.
“You...really kept these?” He asked quietly. He certainly couldn’t see very well due to the scratches and cracks, but what he could see was at least a clear image.
“Yeah. Well, actually, Skuggy found them back when you were out there…” Oz turned and motioned to Skuggy, who was curled up and sleeping undisturbed. “...but I kept them safe for you. We can get ‘em repaired, outside town.”
“Thank you.” Gene smiled.
“Speaking of outside, I need to get these folks out of town.”
“Oh!” Amos spoke up. “I’m going to take Sarah out of here. I’m heading to Rockport.”
“Hey, Rockport...are any of you from there? I studied that place.” Gene looked back to them.
“I am,” said Mick. “Sheriff.”
“Oh hey, I interviewed one of your teammates then, I think!” Gene smield. “You’re the sheriff who went missing after the thing attacked, right?”
“Yessiree.” Mick nodded.
“It’s nice to meet you formally. My name’s Gene. I’m a doctor here, if you need anything.”
“Mick. It’s a pleasure.” His lips twitched into a smile, nodding to him.
“Alright, everyone get ready to head out. I’m gonna allow Amos and Rascal pack up their home belongings before we go. It’s currently…9:46 P.M. Meet me in the main room once you’re ready.” Oz went down to Gene and left him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m gonna head out and help these people go back home. I’ll be back, everything’s safe now.”
“Alright. Wait, Rascal, you’re going?”
“Yeah.” Rascal stood and nodded, slipping on his backpack. “I’m going to stay with my family for a while. I’ll come back eventually, though, so don’t give my house away.”
“I wish you the best.”
“Thanks.” He looked down to Skuggy. “Hey, can you tell him thank you from me when he wakes up? My cat and I are still alive because of him.”
“I’m sure you can tell him right now,” Gene laughed, setting down his bowl and walking over to them. “I don’t think he’ll mind if I nudge him up.” He kneeled down beside Skuggy and tapped his shoulder. “Hey, Skuggy.”
“You sure? Everyone was sleeping soundly….”
“Nah, we were just normal sleeping, this guy’s probably awake,” Gene chuckled. “Hey, buddy. It’s me, Gene. I just want to tell you something really quick.” He shook him gently.
“Hop off my dick, Gene,” Skuggy muttered, shifting around into a more comfortable position. Suddenly, going over his words again, his eyes flashed open. “Gene?”
“That’s my name.” Skuggy turned over and looked over his shoulder to see Gene besides him, Rascal standing next to him.
“Holy shit, what’s up, Gene?!” He stood up to his knees and hugged him tight, Gene patting his back.
“Nothing, really,” he said jokingly. “You were out cold, weren’t you.”
“Nah. I just wanted to get as much sleep in as I possibly could.” Skuggy clung onto Gene, yawning loudly. “Everyone’s alive now?”
“You bet. Rascal wanted to say bye before he left, though.”
“Oh, right...he ended up not going when we were out there?”
“It appears not.” Skuggy broke out of the hug and looked to Rascal.
“What’d you want?”
“I just, uh...I wanted to say thanks. For saving me and stuff. I’m glad I didn’t, uh...die. And stuff.” Rascal held onto his own arm sheepishly. “I think we made a good team. With, uh, the coffee and stuff, I mean. And hanging out. And Jugg hunting, I guess, but mostly the coffee serving. Which is cool because I thought you were a joke. But I guess not. You like my cat and that’s cool.”
“Yeah, kid, I was saving the cat, not you.” Skuggy let a shit-eating grin spread across his face. “Kidding, kidding. You’re pretty good yourself. You did a good job out there.” He held out his fist for a fist bump. “I hope you find a better town than this shit-hole. You’re still tiny, you can aim for better.”
“You’re only, like, a few years older than me,” laughed Rascal. “But thanks, really.” He looked down to his fist and gently held up his fist, but stopped. “...Goodbye hug?”
“...Fine. Goodbye hug.” Skuggy pulled him into a tight hug, Rascal getting his life squeezed out but hugging back anyways. “Beheading squad?”
“Beheading squad,” Rascal said, grinning. They pulled apart and bumped fists.
“I didn’t get to see that. Did Rascal behead someone?” Gene asked concernedly.
“Yeah, he beheaded Farrow again,” said Skuggy.
“Oh, nothing, just the Juggernaut.” Rascal looked over his shoulder to Gene, who looked on in confusion. He laughed and gave Gene a thumbs-up. “...I think that hug broke all the ribs in my body.”
