Zach x Rachel

The Move

Zack and Rachel made their way back to the garage with street tacos from a vendor that seemed to sympathize for Zack and his condition. "He totally bought it", Zack explained later to the guys, laughing almost hysterically. They informed him to be careful and that anyone on the street could recognize him.

"Mm, nm," Rachel crunched through bites, clearly enjoying the innutritious, greasy taco. 

Zack threw a piece of tomato at her head, "HEY, quit talkin' with your mouth full." She smiled at him in return with full cheeks and he looked away quickly, making a face. They continued eating and when Rachel went to sleep for the night Zack sat at the poker table, clicking chips together and rolling them around. 

"Isa-," Mordecai cleared his throat, "Zack, I have an untraceable mobile home for you to use if you want it. You will need to find a way to bypass the alarm though, I don't use it for that reason. There is a pinpad just inside on the left wall. If you can figure that out the mobile home is yours."

"Tch," Zack propped his feet up on the poker table, "You think I can't handle some security box? That's what the girl is for." Mordecai stared at him for a moment, waiting for an explanation. After a few beats of silence he shook his head and dropped the keys onto the table before heading to bed. Zack studied them for a moment, flipping them over in his hands, thinking. His thoughts were interrupted by Rachels's shrill scream, a terrifyingly loud noise to come out of such a small person. Zack was to his feet in an instant, dropping the keys on the ground to sprint towards Rachels bed. He barrelled around the half-wall searching for any sign of an intruder. Rachel was on her bed in fetal position, screaming in her sleep. 

Zack sat down next to her, "Ray," he shook her gently, "Ray! Wake up, you're having a nightmare." Rachel stiffened abruptly and her eyes shot open, her breathing was heavy and ragged. Her eyes found Zack and she sighed slowly before letting her eyelids drop once again. Zack patted her arm awkwardly before getting up to leave. 

Rachel reached out and clasped onto his jacket sleeve, stopping him, "Stay?" she whispered. Zack looked around the room for an escape but retreated and sat down next to her on the bed. He watched her drift off to sleep and he sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees and running his hands through his hair. What am I doing? This isn't normal, she's-she's...All these years, I kept both of us alive, promising her to be the one to kill her. He looked over at her sleeping body, her chest rising up and down slowly. Now the time has nearly come and I can't. I should be able to, her face is perfect, her eyes always have that pleading look to them and her smile...the way she smiled at me earlier sh-. 

Zack froze for a moment, not moving a single muscle as he muttered, "Oh my god.." Suddenly getting nauseous he clamped a hand over his mouth and let himself fall backwards onto the bed. Tears rolled down his cheeks as his mind reverted back to the first time he had ever encountered this feeling. Images of his mother, his father, the sun shining on him as he played outside, then fire. His chest heaved and raising his scythe to his neck hesitantly, his shaking hands held it briefly before letting it clammer to the floor. He turned his back towards her and sobbed silently as she slept.

I love her.

-

Rachel woke and her shoulder felt heavy but sturdier today. She sat up and blinked a few times before yawning and stretching, turning to stand she bumped something solid. After identifying the solid as Zack's knee, she blushed, realizing he had slept beside her instead of in his own bed across the room. She searched for signs of life and when taking in Zack's simple sleeping mannerisms she smiled. His shallow breathing, his hair covering his entire left eye, the corners of his mouth twitching as he dreamt. His right eye openin-