“A bunker. A while ago,” Rigel replied, as they slowly began to walk again. In any other situation it would have felt awkward -Rigel helping Enlyn walk while he was still shirtless- but it was necessary for survival right now. And gosh darn I need to find another shirt later…
Enlyn tried to put most of her weight on herself not wanting to slow Rigel anymore. With ever step she winced the pain showing on her face. "A bunker. It would have been safe. Why didn't you stay?" It hurt more then it should have, and this worried her.
“It wouldn’t have lasted long. Not enough safe food,” Rigel explained quickly as he evaluated her. She was definitely in pain. Rigel sighed, stopping to wrap his arm around Enlyn’s waist and trying to force her to put her weight on him, “You’re hurting yourself, I can see it on your face. Let me help, or you’re going to make it irreversibly worse.”
"Its fine." Enyln let out a sharp breath trying to reassure him. "You could have started a garden?" She sounded unsure and wiggled away from Rigel a little uncomfortable.
Rigel crossed his arms over his chest and huffed a breath, “It’s not fine, if you hurt yourself more -it already looks bad enough- it’s going to be a whole different level of trouble. Unless you want me to carry you, you better let me help you. Plus you’ll bleed more, leaving a trail, in you keep walking on it like that.”
"Its fine I can walk," Enyln narrowed her eyes, "and if you cared so much why not just leave me?" it wouldn't be the first time. and maybe that's why it was so hard for her to except someone's help. Because after her brother passed no one cared about her anymore.
“You’re the first person, Enlyn. The first real person. I’ve seen mutated humans before, but not people. Enlyn, I want you to live too. Not just survive, not just exist, but live.” Rigel said fiercely, staring down Enlyn. She couldn’t die on him now. At least not after he showed her the scars, not after all that.
Enyln's eyes widened a bit at that, to live. how long had it been? Years? Maybe even since before the war. "Fine." She mumbled shifting her weight again and pinching the pain from showing on her face. "But you can't worry about a stranger. Never trust a survivor untill you know what they did to survive."
“You’re not a stranger,” Rigel said quietly as he resumed his position at her side, then let out a light laugh and attempted a bit of a flirt, “After all, I don’t think I’d let a stranger look at my bare chest for so long.”
"I-" Enyln felt a bit of pink rise to her cheeks. "Not a good time to try something like that. I'm in the perfect position to jab you." She scowled at Rigel a little but then laughed happy to have a friend.
“You wouldn’t do that, it’d be too much blood, attract too many animals. And I know you’re too smart for that, love,” Rigel added the little pet name out of habit, sweet memories of his past. He laughed lightly at himself as he helped Enlyn limp along. At least they were at a faster pace now.
"Not with a knife you idiot, and Why would I stab you?" Enlyn shot Rigel a glare but knew her face was probably a bright pink. maybe I should have never shown myself. she thought, but then she knew she'd most likely be dead by now. Or at least dying.
“Exactly, you would never hurt me,” Rigel twisted her words teasingly with a mischievous grin. Gosh, she’s so pretty. The thought entered his mind before he could think. He immediately stiffened, looking forward instead of at her. Rigel couldn’t drag her down like that.
"Oh wow twisting my own words agents me now?" Enlyn shot Rigel a glare but quickly looked back away and focused on her walking trying not to let the pain show on her face.
(Sorry there's this really bad storm where I am and notebooks been crashed for me all day.)
(Ur good, Notebook hasn’t been working for me either all night…)
Rigel kept on waking without a word, reminding himself not to get to close. He chewed on one side of his lip. Just stop, she’s better off without you. Rigel stared at the ground in front of them, almost glaring. Besides, I need to be moving, he’s right behind us. Rigel made a quick glance over his shoulder from just the thought of it. Paranoia had always been a big part of his life since the dieseases started.
Enlyn looked to Rigel "how close do you think he is?" She knew he'd probably been thinking of what used to be his brother. how close was he really? How long did they have? her mind went to dark places.
“What?” Rigel snapped accidentally, misinterpreting the question at first. How close is he to me… He shook his head and said quietly, “He isn’t far. He’s never too far.” Rigel stared ahead, focusing on what was in front of him. Focusing on what was important.
"Oh." Enlyn tried to pick up the pace not wanting to slow them down. stupid stupid stupid of all times to get a bad graze. she felt the pain again, throbbing. She clenched her jaw and hoped Rigel didn't see, "lets pick up the pace." She said keeping the pain from leaking into her voice.
“You can’t pick up the pace,” Rigel reminded her with a pointed look, “You’re going to hurt yourself more.” He held on to Enlyn tightly, making her take her weight off her bad leg, “And if it gets worse you probably wouldn’t be able to walk at all.”
"We have to pick up the pace. If he's not far behind then we have no choice." Enlyn glared "and if I can't walk then I'd be perfect bait for your brother." she didn't know why she was so mad all of a sudden but she was. Being around someone else was new to her. It'd been so long since she'd actually talked with someone, let alone having someone trying to care about her.
Another switch flipped. Rigel jerked away from her, staring at the ground for a few wilder breaths. Shut it down, make it stop, don’t let it come out, stay focused, she didn’t know, Rigel’s mind kept on making excuses as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Just the way she said it… Shut it down, Rigel, he internally ordered himself.
"I- sorry." Enlyn looked down at the ground and limpped back a step "its- never mind." She hadn't snapped like that in years. Not since her brother. The last big fight she'd had was days before he'd died, she wasn't there for him. Maybe it'd broke something in her. She didn't really know for sure.
“You can’t take it back,” Rigel snapped again. No, Rigel gritted his teeth at himself. She doesn’t know, she didn’t mean to- Rigel just needed to punch something so dang badly. He took a few breaths, but couldn’t make himself turn around to help Enlyn walk again.
No, Enlyn couldn't take it back, but she could at least try to apoligues. "Sorry." She said again not moving her gaze from the ground. "I just…its a defense mechanism." And it was, after years of death and abandonment she'd developed a way to push others away by targeting their week points. "I didn't mean for it to sound like that." She looked up and started moving again. "We- I should go."
Rigel wanted to slap himself. It’s not her fault, and see what you made her do? Now she wants to leave. Rigel finally turned around, “C’mon, we aren’t going to make it to Paradis if you’re walking like that.” He came over with a sigh and resumed his position at her side.